Gabriel Heinze had admitted his fall out with Manchester United
manager Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the biggest regrets of his
career as he prepares to renew acquaintances with his former boss
in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Heinze had established himself as a leading light of United's
defensive line before he attempted to force through a contentious
transfer to Liverpool in the summer of 2007. Ferguson, though,
refused to do business with his fierce local rivals, choosing to
offload the defender to Real Madrid instead.
The Argentinean's moderate success at the Bernabeu was in
contrast to United's consistent triumphs since his departure, but
he now has the opportunity to square off against his former
employers as his Mars eille side attempt to upset Ferguson's
Premier League stars in the last-16 of the Champions League.
With the dust now settled on their public bust-up, Heinze is
keen to try and end his feud with Ferguson as he claims this tie is
setting his pulse racing like few he has been a part of in his
lengthy career.
"I don't have many regrets from my career as a footballer, but
that episode with Ferguson [has] to be one of them," said Heinze.
"I'm impulsive and strong-willed and this has got me into trouble
at times, which was the case at the time when I left United.
"On reflection, it is easy to see that Ferguson was a major
influence on my career, in a positive way. I thought my mind was
set to be a winner before moving to United, but I had only
completed part of the journey. Sir Alex makes every player he comes
into contact with so much more driven and committed. He demands
that his players dig as deep for the cause and I'm sorry that we
fell out in the final days because I still have so much respect for
him."
Ferguson claimed Heinze and his agent were itching for a move
away from United less than a year after he signed on at Old
Trafford, as he believed the player and his advisor placed their
desire to make a fast buck ahead of sporting ambition.
Four years on and the 32-year-old Heinze appreciates that he
turned his back on a special club, with his affection for United
apparently running deep. "I cannot wait for the chance to go back
onto the pitch at Old Trafford because this is the most special
club of all, and I include Real Madrid in this list," he said.
''United is a club built on success. It has heritage, legends and
trophies, but for me Old Trafford is also a very human and warm
place.
"To get my point across I usually tell people about Sir Bobby
Charlton. This man is an icon, a sporting god, but also a simple
and sincere gentleman. As one of the survivors of the Munich air
crash, he wasn't too comfortable on planes, but when he heard that
I was also a poor flyer, he sat next to me during a trip abroad and
did his best to keep my mind off my fears. What a special
person.
"I have an affinity for United, but I have to make sure I don't
allow sentiment to upset me in these two games. With a place in the
quarter-final of the Champions League at stake, there's no chance
of anyone in our team taking a step back. Marseille lives for
football, just like Manchester, and I certainly wouldn't write off
our chances of winning this tie."
Heinze's optimism does not appear to be shared by Marseille boss
Didier Deschamps, who is playing a well-used card to ease the
pressure on his side by writing off their chances against United
before a ball has been kicked.
Suggesting that this is a nightmare draw for his team, the 1998
French World Cup-winning captain believes only three teams have a
realistic chance of lifting the Champions League trophy this
season, picking out United, Barcelona and Real Madrid as the
favourites to claim glory at Wembley in May.
"United were one of the teams we needed to avoid in this draw,
but we have to accept our fate and try to believe something amazing
can happen," said Deschamps. ''I respect the other English sides
and there are some strong contenders in this Champions League, but
Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the three teams
that have the biggest chance to be champions. For me, the winner
comes from those three.
"Bearing in mind Marseille hadn't reached the last-16 of the
Champions League for over a decade, our initial target to come
through the group is already something to be proud of, so anything
more from here would be a massive bonus. I don't want to say my
team have no chance in this tie as our fans have every right to
dream of winning this competition or beating a top side like
United, but you have to tell it as it is."
While there are few more intimidating caldrons than their 60,000
capacity Stade Velodrome on a big European night, United's team of
experienced European competitors have seen it all before and
Deschamps believes they offer a much bigger threat than the Chelsea
side Marseille beat on home soil in the Champions League a couple
of months ago
"You cannot say everything has been perfect for United this
season and yet they find themselves top of the Premier League," he
said. "The mark of a good side is to find a way to win when you are
not at your best and United have done this all season. I put this
down to the mentality of the club and especially the manager, who
for me is the greatest coach in football.
"Alex Ferguson is the prototype of a winner and this is the
manager I will try to emulate in my coaching career, even though I
know this ambition is impossible as no manager will ever again
remain at the top of a major club for so long.
"You don't pile up the trophies Ferguson has by accident. He has
been leading Manchester United for over a quarter of a century and
yet his hunger never fades. He has made United in his image. They
are never satisfied and will always looking forward to the next
challenge.
"Sir Alex is a great host when you meet him away from a big game
and this is the way I like to spend time with him. When he is
plotting the downfall of your team on the touchline, this is not a
good position to be in."
Marseille's Champions League adventure will end in predictable
fashion unless they turn on the style in the first leg at their
Stade Velodrome amphitheatre this week, so Deschamps has to hope
his negativity does not rub off on his players when United come to
town.
