[Dirtycheat]

'I know of one football club where the owner tells the manager who to pick by fax,' claims Ferguson, but who is he talking about?

Avram Grant might be trying his best, but he should realise that Sir Alex Ferguson has been here before. He is the master of mind games.

With Chelsea manager Grant criticising West Ham's Alan Curbishley for complimentary comments about United ahead of today's Barclays Premier League meeting at Old Trafford, his rival Ferguson was quick to insist that his team have the edge on the field.

Ferguson even made the mischievous claim that he knows of a manager who is being told who to pick for matches by his chairman.

The United boss would not expand on his comment, but it was a tantalising glimpse into this new age of ownermanager turmoil at certain clubs.

Ferguson said: "Some other clubs, the owner wants to pick the team. I know of a chairman who faxes his team to his manager every Saturday morning.

"Can you believe that? He has to pick it. Nothing amazes me but I'm surprised at that. But you've got all different types of owners who come into football nowadays and you get some owners who want to be handson and things like that.

"That's where I'm very fortunate. The Glazers have been tremendous. They let me get on with the job."

Victory over West Ham today and then at Wigan next Sunday would give United the title as they have a vastly superior goal difference to Chelsea, and Ferguson clearly believes Grant is just trying to rattle him.

The United manager added: "I think they are prepared to say and try anything, Chelsea. So let them get on with it.

"I have got a team that can answer all the questions. I am getting too old for all the other stuff. I don't know why he is suggesting there will be anything untoward (against West Ham).

"They should know about that better than anybody, Chelsea. They know about these situations."

If United win today, Chelsea go to Newcastle on Monday knowing they must do the same to remain level on points. Grant had been left unimpressed by comments from West Ham boss Curbishley which suggested he would "raise a glass" if United won the League.

The Chelsea manager said yesterday: "I've never seen a comment like this. He was wrong to do that. It's not a good message for your players.

"I'm not doubting the integrity of West Ham. I don't have a reason to doubt the integrity of Alan Curbishley. But I think it's wrong to say things like this because he's involved in the games against United.

"I cannot be angry. I will not be angry. I do not know what to say about these things, but I think it's wrong.

"I've heard so many rumours in the last few weeks. I heard that the referees would be with United, that teams would play for United, that this manager is a friend of Ferguson.

"I don't know what to believe. But I hope ...

"And I'm happy. Do you want me to dance to show you I'm happy? I didn't even dance with my wife at our wedding!"

With Chelsea and United set to meet in the Champions League Final in Moscow on May 21 and still embroiled over the fall-out from last Saturday's League meeting at Stamford Bridge, it is clearly going to be a tasty climax to the season.

Ferguson suggests United will carry their anger from the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea with them through to the season's end.

He added: "They were all gutted after the Chelsea game. It was an angry dressing-room and the players will remember that."

Grant, meanwhile, continues to hope United crack under the pressure.

He said: "I don't care how it happens, as long as they drop points. I'm not convinced. I cannot be convinced. I can just hope that it will happen. He (Ferguson) was so angry after the game I couldn't speak with him." 'I know of one football club where the owner tells the manager who to pick by fax,' claims Ferguson, but who is he talking about? | the Daily Mail

I really cant believe grant's comments. What an absolute Muppet. Nearly as bad as wenger's conspiracy theories.

I cant think of another club with such an interfering chairman except perhaps fulham. Im almost certain fergie is talking about chelsea

[Torque]

Of course Fergie's right. There's no way that twat (Grant) has enough brains to pick a solid first XI. I think they got back into the title race thanks to luck and Abramovich's money. Chelsea has had so many matches when they were helped by the refs (probably thanks to the owner's money) and matches when they scored lucky goals in the injury time.

[ViSh23]

think grant dont know how to take pressure sometime and he dont know what to say...

In previous chelsea matches, they were simply winning with a lucky moment.. single one per match.. e.g against everton...

Thats for sure, fergie is right...

[funkdoctorspock]

Its either Chelsea or Man City.

Grant really should keep his mouth shut like how he did a couple of post matches ago.

Getting into with King of mind games isnt' the road you want to travel.

All you are doing is distracting your team and pissing off United. Is that the goal?

Whichever owner is doing the lineups, should just getting the coaching badges and become the manager. Really not fair to the person supposedly in charge.

[dontbotherimlost]

I think it's Chelsea that Fergie is talking about. Grant just needs to go away. I guess this might be the reason as to why Mourinho parted ways with Chelsea and Roman because of his controlling behavior.

This should show Grant that Fergie is not one to mess with mind games.

[Torque]

SIR Alex Ferguson has blasted club owners who "want to pick the team" and expressed his surprise that his Manchester City counterpart Sven-Goran Eriksson is facing the sack.

The Manchester United boss said he knew of one owner - who he refused to identify - who faxed his desired team to the manager every week.

He also said he was lucky to be given a free hand in managing United by the Glazer family since their takeover in June 2005.

Ferguson said: "Nothing amazes you but I am surprised. We have all different types of owners in Premier League football I'm afraid.

"Sometimes I read the newspapers and find it quite hard to fathom these situations, stories that first (Luiz Felipe) Scolari, then (Slaven) Bilic, then (Jose) Mourinho is going to get the (City) job.

"You have all different types of owners coming into football now and some want to be hands-on.

"That's why I'm very fortunate, the Glazer family have been tremendous. They have let me get on with my job and I think that speaks volumes for our club.

"At some other clubs the owners want to pick the team. I know at one club the owner faxes his team to the manager every Saturday morning. Can you believe that?"

source

I guess Fergie was talking about Man City.

[Dirtycheat]

Yeah i think you're probably right Zeus.

I wonder what the original context where these quotes came from was.

whats going on at shitty is very strange. Why would you sack a manager that has achieved your target and has the full backing of the players and fans alike.