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Manchester United Boss Sir Alex Ferguson Reveals Health Concerns
Pressure takes its toll on Old Trafford chief...
09-May-2010 1:45:00 PM
By Sumeet Paul
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his biggest fear is not whether Manchester United fail in their bid for a 19th league title this season, but for his own health.
Having postponed his retirement from the game over the past few years, many have questioned how long the wily old tactician can continue his illustrious career in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
And speculation has again arisen that the United chief could be thinking about finally stepping down in the near future after admitting he had health concerns at a charity dinner in aid of referee Mark Halsey's cancer foundation.
"I'm confident about myself, I'm not going to change what I am, I just hope my health is okay," Ferguson told the audience.
"At 68-years-old, when you go to sleep at night all you want to do is just wake up the next morning.
"In the last three or four years, three or four of my really top scouts have died, all in their 60s.
"I've been to their funerals and it's there but for the grace of God, really. You couldn't possibly do your job unless you were healthy."
Sir Alex insisted the search for his replacement has not yet begun, but stated the importance on finding the right man at the right time, in light of the volatile nature of modern day football.
The latest rumours are that the 11-time Premier League winning manager will finally retire in two years’ time, once he has successfully surpassed Liverpool’s record of 18 titles.
"A manager can have success, but then in two years' time it could be finished," he added.
"When I go, Manchester United will need a manager who has been successful, but in two years you don't know what will happen.
"You can all think about the successful managers at this moment in time, but in two years' time they may not be, may not even be in a year.
"So it is very, very difficult to say who would replace me when my time came because it is the success of the moment that people talk about."
Despite sitting a point behind Chelsea in the season's finale on Sunday, Sir Alex has still not given up hope of a fourth consecutive title.
He expects Wigan Athletic to provide stern opposition to the table-toppers at Stamford Bridge and asserted that any slip-ups from Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be seized upon by United.
Sir Alex knows the importance of concentrating on the task in hand for his side, who face Stoke City at Old Trafford, and give the fans a great end to the season.
"We have a chance to win it [the Premier League]. I am sure Wigan [Athletic] will try [against Chelsea], they won't just lie down. We live in hope," he added.
"It's the last day of the season and we have to represent the club in the way we know how and that's in the proper fashion.
"It's the only way we know. It's our last home game of the season, we owe it to the fans and we know we can win the game. After that we will see."
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Having postponed his retirement from the game over the past few years, many have questioned how long the wily old tactician can continue his illustrious career in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
And speculation has again arisen that the United chief could be thinking about finally stepping down in the near future after admitting he had health concerns at a charity dinner in aid of referee Mark Halsey's cancer foundation.
"I'm confident about myself, I'm not going to change what I am, I just hope my health is okay," Ferguson told the audience.
"At 68-years-old, when you go to sleep at night all you want to do is just wake up the next morning.
"In the last three or four years, three or four of my really top scouts have died, all in their 60s.
"I've been to their funerals and it's there but for the grace of God, really. You couldn't possibly do your job unless you were healthy."
Sir Alex insisted the search for his replacement has not yet begun, but stated the importance on finding the right man at the right time, in light of the volatile nature of modern day football.
The latest rumours are that the 11-time Premier League winning manager will finally retire in two years’ time, once he has successfully surpassed Liverpool’s record of 18 titles.
"A manager can have success, but then in two years' time it could be finished," he added.
"When I go, Manchester United will need a manager who has been successful, but in two years you don't know what will happen.
"You can all think about the successful managers at this moment in time, but in two years' time they may not be, may not even be in a year.
"So it is very, very difficult to say who would replace me when my time came because it is the success of the moment that people talk about."
Despite sitting a point behind Chelsea in the season's finale on Sunday, Sir Alex has still not given up hope of a fourth consecutive title.
He expects Wigan Athletic to provide stern opposition to the table-toppers at Stamford Bridge and asserted that any slip-ups from Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be seized upon by United.
Sir Alex knows the importance of concentrating on the task in hand for his side, who face Stoke City at Old Trafford, and give the fans a great end to the season.
"We have a chance to win it [the Premier League]. I am sure Wigan [Athletic] will try [against Chelsea], they won't just lie down. We live in hope," he added.
"It's the last day of the season and we have to represent the club in the way we know how and that's in the proper fashion.
"It's the only way we know. It's our last home game of the season, we owe it to the fans and we know we can win the game. After that we will see."
Become a fan of Goal.com India's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game!
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