Sir Alex Ferguson has no intention of letting any outside
forces, or footballers’ price tags, influence his Manchester United
team selection.
Despite his club record £30.75million price tag, Ferguson still
left Dimitar Berbatov out of his starting line-up to face Arsenal
on Wednesday.
The ongoing uncertainty over Carlos Tevez’s United future will
not save him either on Tuesday should Ferguson decide the Argentina
star is not what he needs for the Champions League semi-final
second-leg at the Emirates Stadium.
It is part of a focus that has stood Ferguson in good stead
throughout his managerial career, most famously when he axed
goalkeeper Jim Leighton for the 1990 FA Cup final replay with
Crystal Palace after a miserable performance in the first game at
Wembley.
And, no matter what the circumstances, Ferguson will not
change.
“Players react differently,” said the United boss.
“Some accept it, others find it hard. It depends on the nature
of the personalities. But it doesn’t deflect me from picking what I
feel is the correct team.
“In 1990, I made the right decision. I was disappointed for the
lad at the time because Jim took it badly but that is why I speak
to my players before I pick my team.
“You cannot think about how much a player costs when you are
picking a team.
“Once that player is signed it is not as if you can go to the
tax man and ask for a rebate if he doesn’t play.
“Others might not agree with my choice and the recent FA Cup
semi-final was a case in point.
“But I never allow anyone to cloud my judgement. I am very
clear-minded about that.”
Ferguson is facing another predicament for the trip to
Middlesbrough, knowing he must keep an element of freshness in his
squad for the Arsenal rematch, when his team will attempt to defend
a slender lead and set up a Champions League final in Rome against
either Barcelona or Chelsea.
The one obvious bit of good news is that Rio Ferdinand, while
not fit enough to make the journey to Teesside, could make it to
the Emirates after X-rays revealed the damage to his ribs suffered
in a collision with Edwin van der Sar in midweek is not as
extensive as first feared.
“When we saw him get a crack in the rib area, you fear the
worst, particularly because he was coughing a bit of blood,”
revealed Ferguson.
“Fortunately that has passed over now. He has a bit of bruising
on the lung but there is nothing cracked or broken so there is a
good chance we can get him ready for Tuesday.”
Jonny Evans will replace Ferdinand at Middlesbrough, with Wes
Brown returning to the bench as United look to maintain their three
point advantage over Liverpool.
Paul Scholes, Park Ji-sung, Nani and Ben Foster are all set to
be included as well, although the number of changes may not be
quite as extensive as Ferguson originally indicated.
“The funny thing is the players are quite buoyed up and want to
play,” said Ferguson.
“Our performance on Wednesday helps, although I have to make
sure there is the right kind of freshness so we get the balance in
the team right.”
On the face of it, a Saturday lunchtime kick-off is ideal for
the Red Devils as it gives them the maximum preparation time before
the crunch encounter with Arsenal.
However, Ferguson is not too impressed, believing his side would
have benefited more from a 3pm kick-off, as the Gunners will have
at Portsmouth.
Not that such a scenario was likely for a game that could have a
major impact on both ends of the table.
“Teams who play in Europe on a Wednesday should not have a
lunchtime kick-off on a Saturday,” he said.
“That goes for all teams, not just us.
“You would think these guys sitting in an office all week would
think about these things. But when you shake hands with the devil
you pay the price.
“In any case, every game is so important and the incentives so
great now, whether it is at midnight or 7am, it does not interrupt
what we are doing.”