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FERGIE WANTS LEGACY IN PLACE


Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping that European glory will put the foundations in place for future success at Old Trafford.

Ferguson takes his side to Barcelona on Wednesday for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Having taken the trophy just once, back in 1999, during a glittering career at Old Trafford, Ferguson is convinced that his exciting young squad can claim a memorable double this season.

If the Red Devils do emerge victorious at home and abroad, their manager has revealed that the pieces have now been put in place to ensure that the club continues to pick up silverware long after he has gone.

"My ultimate fulfilment at United was in 1999," Ferguson said in The People. "My issue is now more of a club thing than a personal goal.

"By that I mean trying to improve our record on all fronts and maintaining that success and creating that continuity.

"When I leave there has to be a continuity and we have built towards that with a squad that can stay together for a long time.

"Apart from Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs the ages of this squad are good.

"The balance of ages and positions is good, se we have longevity in this club, and that is an ongoing part of the success at United.

"I have an exit plan because there have been clubs in the past who have not recognised the need for change in their clubs and they suffer for it.

"We try and stay a step ahead and that's one reason we've put players like Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand on longer contracts.

"That gives us stability and these players gather the experience to be replacing the Giggsys and Scholesys in the future.

Ferguson is also adamant that his current squad possess the same never-say-die attitude which encapsulated the 1999 Treble winning group.

"Like 1999, this team still has that ability to win matches in the closing minutes," he said.

"That comes from the determination of the players and the expectation that forces them to go beyond the line so many times.

"That's not an accident, because we have the right players. The type of players who have good temperament, quality with a good enthusiasm to play."


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Theres is no doubt the present and future of United look ridiculously bright. I think this team could be as good as that '99 team and they have a similar resiliency.