After two seasons largely disturbed by injury, Louis Saha is fit
again and hungry for success. But it is not the competition in the
forward line (Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani or Ryan
Giggs) at Manchester United which scares him, as he knows that he
will get his chance in the side.
Indeed, the French striker talked exclusively to Soccernet.fr about
his return from injury and his hopes of forcing his way into
contention for a starting role.
Q. You have been through two complicated years with lots of
injuries to deal with. How do you feel physically and
mentally?
A. Much better. My knee does not swell up any more after I play. I
am fit. Earlier on, I came back too quickly I guess. After the
surgery, it is necessary to return slowly. It is always a little
bit disappointing because you are part of a squad but cannot play.
This is the hardest issue a football player can face.
I have been in Manchester for four years and, since signing, I have
been disturbed by many injuries. I can say I was anything but
lucky, but I had to deal with it and have now become a Champion of
England.
Q. Sir Alex Ferguson has always supported you and given you
many compliments.
A. It is a pleasure to have the coach's trust! It is actually my
dilemma because if I had been bad, he would have left me in peace
to take my time to return step by step. But it is also a pleasant
situation to see the coach trusting you although you are coming
back from an injury. I work hard, three times more than usual in
training. Even if the physical shape is not perfect, with a good
mental strength you can realize extraordinary things. Gaby Heinze
is an example for that.
Q. With Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo, Nani, Giggs and you,
Manchester United has got many weapons in offence and so far it is
working very well. The competition must be terrible,
no?
A. It has always been intense. This year, it is even more
difficult. But it is better to have Tevez with us, than to see him
in Real Madrid. I also said the same thing for Van Nistelrooy when
he left. I prefer to have the best players in my team. The season
is long. There are fifty games, the pairing of Tevez-Rooney works
superbly well at the moment, but I know that I will have my chance.
I want to improve and I think that we have an exceptional group,
capable of winning the Champion's League.
Q. Are Manchester United even stronger this
season?
A. I think, yes. Players such as Rooney and Ronaldo, who are young
but who have been playing for four or five years at the highest
level, arrived at maturity. They bring a huge benefit to the team.
For the past few weeks, our playing quality has been the same, we
get ourselves twenty scoring opportunities each game, seven or
eight of which are shots on target and we have three or four goals
at the end. The ratio is great and we control our play better now.
We were able to see it in the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal had to
save the draw.
Q. In which sense has the team improved?
A. With players like Nani or Tevez, who completely correspond to
the play of Manchester United, we have more efficiency in the last
30 metres. Before, maybe we based too much of our play on
individual talents. Today, we are stronger collectively. There is
more precision in movement and passing. I am very satisfied to be a
part of this team, where the philosophy is offensive.
For a striker, it is like heaven - even in training. There is no
better team in the world than Manchester United. Later, you can
always ask to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. But I am a fan of the
Premier League. Every year, it is more and more difficult.
Blackburn and Everton are getting closer for example. Tottenham and
Manchester City now have money, so, right now, it is not the moment
to leave England.
Q. What can Manchester win this season ?
A. Everything! We can win the FA Cup and the Premier League title.
This squad is capable of winning the Champions League too. If there
had not been so many injuries and suspensions last year, I am sure
we would have gone to the final (United were eliminated in
semi-final by AC Milan).
It was on the first leg (3-2) that we lost that battle, I am
convinced of that. We had the strength to go to the final and it
still hasn't been digested yet. The loss still sticks in our
throats. It has been quite a long time since we picked up the
trophy, so everyone is hoping now that it is our year.
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