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Alex Ferguson: Manchester United Against Liverpool Is 'The Game'
The veteran manager says he still enjoys the fierce clashes with the old enemy…
23-Oct-2009 4:21:11 PM
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson still relishes the passionate atmosphere of Liverpool derbies, some 23 years after his first one.
The two old enemies clash again at Anfield on Saturday with Rafa Benitez's side in bad shape after a four-game losing streak.
Ferguson is still anticipating a red-hot atmosphere though.
"Of course, Manchester United and Liverpool, as I've said many times, is without question a massive game," he told reporters at his Friday press conference.
"It'll never change. It's the kind of game when I came to a club, and it's 23 years ago now, I thought 'yeah'.
"My first derby game with them was on New Year's Day. You had a complete sense of the history of both teams.
"So it's never changed in the 23 years, it's still a massive game. It's the game as far as I'm concerned. It won't change."
Ferguson also felt that his own team will head into Sunday's fixture with confidence.
"We're going in in decent form. I think that our form's been good," he added.
"There's a good confidence in our play. But it's a derby game and anything can happen in derby games."
Wayne Rooney is a major doubt for the game with a calf injury, but Ferguson revealed that holding the dynamic forward back from playing was proving somewhat difficult.
"He's always desperate to play," he explained. "It's the nature of the boy.
"You won't stop that. How he does in training tomorrow will be important."
Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK
The two old enemies clash again at Anfield on Saturday with Rafa Benitez's side in bad shape after a four-game losing streak.
Ferguson is still anticipating a red-hot atmosphere though.
"Of course, Manchester United and Liverpool, as I've said many times, is without question a massive game," he told reporters at his Friday press conference.
"It'll never change. It's the kind of game when I came to a club, and it's 23 years ago now, I thought 'yeah'.
"My first derby game with them was on New Year's Day. You had a complete sense of the history of both teams.
"So it's never changed in the 23 years, it's still a massive game. It's the game as far as I'm concerned. It won't change."
Ferguson also felt that his own team will head into Sunday's fixture with confidence.
"We're going in in decent form. I think that our form's been good," he added.
"There's a good confidence in our play. But it's a derby game and anything can happen in derby games."
Wayne Rooney is a major doubt for the game with a calf injury, but Ferguson revealed that holding the dynamic forward back from playing was proving somewhat difficult.
"He's always desperate to play," he explained. "It's the nature of the boy.
"You won't stop that. How he does in training tomorrow will be important."
Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK
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