by dawson99 » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:26 pm
nice words from fergie???
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he attempted to beat Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to the signing of star striker Fernando Torres.
Liverpool, who go head-to-head with United at Anfield as part of Grand Slam Sunday live on Sky Sports 1, landed Torres in the summer for a club record fee from Atletico Madrid.
And ahead of the crunch Premier League clash Ferguson has revealed Torres, who is expected to spearhead Liverpool's attack on Sunday, was once an Old Trafford transfer target.
"For years we tried to do a deal there but we never quite managed it because Atletico Madrid didn't want to sell or the player felt he was too young one year," said Ferguson.
"Then we just lost interest a bit because sometimes you get fed up with going back to the same venue all the time. He's a good player. We wouldn't have been interested in him if he wasn't.
"I think the advantage Rafa had was that he is Spanish and his dealings with Atletico were maybe better than ours because he's Spanish."
Meanwhile, Ferguson admits the trip to Anfield is his favourite fixture in the Premier League schedule.
"No matter what position either club is in, it's always a big game and each season it's always the game that I look forward to," added Ferguson.
"It encapsulates everything in British football, the passion of the fans, the ability of the footballers, the competition and the history of the two clubs. It's terrific so hopefully we can have another good game.
"The atmosphere helps the players. It's the sort of venue where the lambs are dead and you have to be men to handle their support over there. It's not easy."
Chelsea also travel to Arsenal on Sunday, but Ferguson does not believe that if one team loses then they will be ruled out of the title race.
"If we were all meeting in March or April it would be very significant in terms of the league," said Ferguson. "But as it is we're at the halfway stage and we're talking about the title decider.
"There's time for whoever drops points, and it's possible that the four of us drop points with two draws."
ncie to see he still knows this is his fave fixture, and he did want torres...
Last edited by
dawson99 on Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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