Premier League - Ferguson targets dozen

Eurosport - Sun, 17 May 13:22:00 2009

Retirement was the furthest thing from Alex Ferguson's mind as the 67-year-old Manchester United manager celebrated an 11th Premier League title after a 0-0 home draw with Arsenal.

FOOTBALL Manchester United sir Alex Ferguson - 0

As the champagne flowed and fireworks exploded around Old Trafford the wily Scot was already plotting to take the club past the overall record of 18 league crowns they now share with Liverpool.

"It will be more special when we get in front of them," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "We want to progress with this team, we are capable of doing that, we are a young team and next year we will go for it again.

"I'm not contemplating retiring, definitely not that's the thing....I'll carry on, I will stay as a manager and only my health will tell me when to quit. Let's pray."

United's title challenge appeared to be crumbling two months ago when they were thrashed 4-1 at home by Liverpool and followed that with defeat at Fulham.

But they scrambled a stoppage-time win against Aston Villa to embark on a seven-match winning streak which kept them above fast-finishing Liverpool.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," striker Wayne Rooney said. "It was even better this season because Liverpool gave us a great race this year."

Gary Neville, who lifted the trophy despite not playing on Saturday, said Liverpool remained a huge threat.

"They pushed us very hard and next season we will have our work cut out," he said, reserving a special mention for young Italian striker Federico Macheda who came off the bench to score the dramatic late winner against Villa.

"He won't even get a winners' medal but his goal may have won us the title," Neville said.

Captain Rio Ferdinand missed the game with a calf injury but led the celebrations.

"There's an added satisfaction to this title win because we've equalled Liverpool's record," he said. "The fact that we've beaten them to do it means it's a really sweet feeling. Overtaking that record is definitely the next aim now."

Ferguson took over at United in 1986 when they were in the doldrums and Liverpool were the dominant force in English football.

Before his first title in the 1992-93 season they lagged 11 behind Liverpool and even Ferguson said he was surprised that they are now level.

"When I arrived they were the greatest side in the land at the time," Ferguson said. "I never thought we would get 11 titles, not in a million years.

"My aim was to win one, win the first one and see where it took us. Of course, we progressed so quickly after that."

Ferguson admitted his side had wobbled badly when they lost to Liverpool, but pointed to a gritty 1-0 win at Stoke City on Boxing Day, just after his side had returned from winning the World Club Cup in Japan.

"Winning that game late on after just getting back from Japan," Ferguson said when asked what was the defining moment of the season.

"It was a big test and we came through it, it was a great result."

Reuters

Comment 130 - 149 of 149

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  1. GOOD AMBITION SIR FERGIE.. YES WHY NOT? THIS WILL­ CERTAINLY MAKE THE SPANISH
    WAITER MORE­ GREEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 18 May 3:11PM

  2. 147 nolanmargaret57
    what a load of nonsense, from your­ admission it sounds like Arsenal and Preston are the­ best teams for going through a whole season unbeaten,­ what a load of @#$%. The best team is the team who­ lifts the title and that this season is Manchester­ United. Fact like it or loathe it. :o)

    From Wigan Babe xxx, on Sun 17 May 8:19PM

  3. "I'm not contemplating retiring, definitely­ not that's the thing....I'll carry on, I will­ stay as a manager and only my health will tell me when­ to quit" - Sir Alex...

    Judging by his purple­ nose... another 5 years is a little ambitious...

    I­ just hope he doesn't go like Jock Stein...

    From Mike, on Sun 17 May 8:14PM

  4. "United fans had to put up with all­ you scousers­­ for years in the 80's.guess what our­­­ turn"...

    And haven't you lot milked it for­­ the last twenty years.... ???
    Gratifying to think that­ as­ next season sees us entering a new decade we can­ look­ forward to the same role reversal....­

    2009/2010...­ LFC Premiership champions....

    Remember­ Liverpool SET­ the standard (18 Leagues.. 5 Euro­ Cups..) and MAN UTD­ FOLLOW... FACT.

    From Mike, on Sun 17 May 8:10PM

  5. Utd and breaking records... we have always set the­­­ standards here. Liverpoo fear United.

    Manchester,­­­ Capital of trophies! ahaahahaha YOU AINT­ IN ROME!!! ­­­ please celebrate beating the bottom of the table team­­­ and keep crying in your beer. we are the only team in­­­ England to have won the league 3 times in a row twice!­­ ­ now when we win the European cup, you will­ seriously­­ be sick......! im lovin it

    the­ insurmountable record­ is gone! keep clinging onto the­ euro cups, we are in­ the final again. It won't be­ long now. Fergie­ will not retire for at least 5­ years!!! aahahhahaaha!

    From lee, on Sun 17 May 3:53PM

  6. Margaret an how many times have Arsenal won the league?­ Let me think less that United and less than Liverpool­ go back and come 49 unbeaten and see who beats you­ then...........Oh that would be United

    From STEPHEN H, on Sun 17 May 3:35PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    man -u
    never went through season unbeaten like ARSENAl­ done in 2004
    &Sheffield in 1889
    when they do then­ they can shout their mouths off
    MARGARET (arnos Grove)

    From Margaret, on Sun 17 May 11:44AM

  8. Rafa, where are you? FACTs are FACTs...... 18 times­ United.

    From lee, on Sun 17 May 11:05AM

  9. man-u have won again this season,but they have never­ gone
    through a season unbeaten like Arsenal done in­ 2004
    only Arsenal & preston in 1889 are the only­ two teams
    see if man-u can do that?then they can be­ classed as the best
    team?
    margaret (arnos Grove)

    From Margaret, on Sun 17 May 11:04AM

  10. Congrats Man U, but shall we be serious.. BRETFORD well­ done boys!! Div 2 CHAMPS!!! And a shout out to Dexter,­ englands next NO.1. Bs FOR EVER!!!

    From trevorp, on Sun 17 May 11:03AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What will Mancheater United do next season? Their best­ player, the greasy diving Ronaldo is leaving to go to a­ club with a proper history (Real Madrid.) Tevez is­ leaving to go to a club that respects their players.­ And Rooney will be away for most of the season filming­ the new Shrek film, so with all this it is safe to­ assume that Fergie will have to make sure he buys more­ refs next season to win anything.

    From Barcelona 2 0 Manchester United, on Sun 17 May 10:33AM

  12. Congratulations to Manchester United on winning the EPL­ again, a remarkable feat of endurance over a very tough­ season. I would like to encourage all Manchester United­ supporters on this site to celebrate winning the title­ again and ignore the negativity of some of the comments­ from other supporters and instead focus on those who­ are gracious in defeat like comments 49 and 51.
    Good­ luck for the Champions League final and the EPL again­ next year!
    A Manchester United supporter

    From STUART, on Sun 17 May 10:25AM

  13. Well done Man u youve battled your way to being­ champions again its been a great season what with­ liverpool and chelsea being on form.Looking forward to­ next season now but not forgetting the champions­ league finale United will be crowned european champions­ once again.Im just hoping they sort something out with­ tevez all is hard work and determination as to mean­ something to sir alex fingers crossed a.Come on you­ reds

    From martin, on Sun 17 May 9:45AM

  14. LFC, dump the manager, he is of the opinion in a Sky­ interview broadcast here in the Gulf that he can still­ win the EPL, some one needs to take him to one side and­ explain the points system, he obviously has not grasped­ it yet.

    From Roughie Toughie Northerner, on Sun 17 May 8:29AM

  15. 118...who rattled your cage, me thinks you are jealous!

    From Roughie Toughie Northerner, on Sun 17 May 8:27AM

  16. 131...why don't you lot get real, all you every do­ is live in the past, bleating on about how things used­ to be, get a life and appreciate the acheivment for­ what it is, after all you a'int won the EPL.
    No­ wonder the city is living in the past and no one wants­ to invest, muppets.

    From Roughie Toughie Northerner, on Sun 17 May 8:23AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hopefully the economic crisis will make clubs like MU­ Pool Chelsea Real Madrid etc have to deal with their­ debts and even things out a little. Until then these­ titles mean little more than some bimbo going down to­ the store and buying a new flash car

    From tom h, on Sun 17 May 8:11AM

  18. Richard A. Owen-Roberts, you did make me chuckle, man­ utd have aspired to them targets for twenty yeras?­ Maybe so, but who looks worse. The team that has taken­ their time to catch up and eventually ivertake. Or the­ one that got their and has done NOTHING for 20years!!!

    From d.papas, on Sun 17 May 7:56AM

  19. Who won the title AGAIN.....yep AGAIN
    Every team has­ & needs a rub of the green thats football thats­ life
    Fair play to the GENUINE fans that actually­ congratulate acheivments
    Liverpool had their chance­ & blew it Too many draws

    From harkinsinturkey, on Sun 17 May 7:03AM

  20. Everyday of your lives you look on in awe of LFC­ achievements.
    The records you aspire to are those set­ by LFC.
    LFC won 18 titles 20 years ago.

    From Richard A., on Sun 17 May 6:36AM
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