Ferguson: Manchester United's Injury Crisis Is Lifting
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Injury crisis mars United's semi-final win
Manchester United booked a place in the Carling Cup final on Tuesday night with a 4-3 aggregate win over Derby County, but a raft of fresh injuries meant victory came at a steep price for Sir Alex Ferguson.
United could be without Rafael for at least a month after he sustained a torn hamstring, Brazilian midfielder Anderson left the pitch on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury and Nani, Gary Neville and Jonny Evans all picked up knocks.
With an FA Cup fourth round tie coming on Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur, Sir Alex Ferguson, already without Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra, admitted the situation was not ideal.
''There are probably six or seven of them who have picked up injuries,'' confirmed the United manager. ''It has been a bad night in that respect''.
''We finished with 10 men but it was effectively nine because Jonny was in great discomfort. We will just have to see what happens now.''
Darren Fletcher is almost certain to be called on as a makeshift right-back, while Fabio might be handed his senior debut against Spurs if Neville does not make it.
It took the gloss off victory in an entertaining contest, as Nani, John O'Shea and Carlos Tevez scored before half-time and, although Giles Barnes found the net twice for Derby, Cristiano Ronaldo split them with a penalty of his own - ending a barren run in domestic combat that stretched back to November 15 - to ensure the Red Devils made it through.
Derby boss Nigel Clough was not too downhearted either given his team's performance had been a vast improvement on their shoddy effort against QPR at the weekend.
''The first goal knocked the stuffing out of us; 30 yards in the top corner you can't do much about those,'' he said. ''Defending the second and third goals was disappointing but it was a vast improvement on Saturday - even the first half.
''It would be very easy to give up the ghost but we showed a bit of character, which after Saturday was what we were looking for.''
After the game Ferguson vowed to stick with his youngsters for the Carling Cup final at the beginning of March.
Darron Gibson, John O'Shea and Danny Welbeck have been among the unsung heroes who have been regular performers in the competition this term.
And they can all bank on retaining their spots as United compete in their 14th domestic final of Ferguson's reign.
''They will all play in the final,'' said Ferguson. ''They deserve to. It is always a great occasion at Wembley but the only way you can really enjoy it is by winning.''
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We're in trouble.....
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dont lose evans and neville can liao. the rest at least still got reliable back ups.
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Congratz
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Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:
dont lose evans and neville can liao. the rest at least still got reliable back ups.
what happen to brown? he is out for a long time liao..
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nth happen to brown, just kana drop nia
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Well at least now he'll get a chance play. Piang, Rafael out for a month. Not good. One of our brightest prospects
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Originally posted by Chris88110:
Well at least now he'll get a chance play. Piang, Rafael out for a month. Not good. One of our brightest prospects
well, light at the tunnel, we should see Rafael's brother, Fabio who is supposedly better.. imagine both of them playing.. like neville brothers...
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Originally posted by limpper:
nth happen to brown, just kana drop nia
i think he has not recovered.. his form last season was superb.
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Evans out for 3 weeks.
I think Fergie will shift Neville to CB and play Fletch as makeshift right back.
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Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:
Evans out for 3 weeks.
I think Fergie will shift Neville to CB and play Fletch as makeshift right back.
We're in trouble......... Neville does not have the pace nor power to be a proper centre back. Fletcher can deputize as right-back decently enough. How about O' shea? -
Originally posted by Chris88110:
We're in trouble......... Neville does not have the pace nor power to be a proper centre back. Fletcher can deputize as right-back decently enough. How about O' shea?Well, Fergie doesnt have much of a choice now. Unless he wants to entrust James Chester with that role.
I didnt see Chester play against Derby, so cant comment much about his abilities.
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Manchester United Suffer Injury Pile-Up
The injuries are piling up at Manchester United as Rio Ferdinand; Anderson; Nani; Rafael; Wayne Rooney; Wes Brown; Ji Sung Park; and Patrice Evra, are all sidelined for the Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup game, with many unlikely to make a comeback before the month's end.
Brazilian midfielder Anderson was taken off the field of play during Tuesday's Carling Cup clash with Derby County, with initial fears of a break. Any trepidation was allayed though when further tests revealed ligament damage that will only keep the 20-year old for up to three weeks.
"We sent Anderson for a scan and there’s no break," Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed during a scheduled pre-match press conference.
"But there was some ligament damage. We think he’ll be out for three weeks."
He continued: "Rio Ferdinand, Anderson, Nani, Rafael, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney, Wes Brown, Jonny Evans and Ji-sung Park [hamstring injury] are all out for the Tottenham game.
"Nani suffered a groin injury and he’ll be out for a week. Jonny Evans [ankle] will be out for three weeks."
Regarding whom he will bring in to cover the injuries, Sir Alex said:
"We still have Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo fit. But we will have to call on some young players," he added.
"The injuries are mainly to the defenders - I've got a whole back four out for Saturday. I could play Darren Fletcher at right back, with Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and John O’Shea, which would give me an experienced back four. But I’ve called in Richard Eckersley and Fabio, who could be involved.
"Rio and Wes could be back for the Everton game, if the match is on Monday," Ferguson added. -
Originally posted by iceFatboy:
what happen to brown? he is out for a long time liao..
Brown had an an ankle injury and is out for 3 months plus liao... I think Rio could be back soon... -
We still have west brom next midweek, i wonder how
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MAN UTD INJURY WOE
Fergie won't buy despite Man Utd injury crisis
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Manchester United duo Anderson and Jonny Evans will be out of action for three weeks after sustaining ankle injuries but ruled out any further activity in the transfer market.
Midfielder Anderson and defender Evans were both injured during the Carling Cup semi-final, second leg victory against Derby County on Tuesday.
Anderson was carried off on a stretcher after the final whistle while Evans limped through the latter stages of United's 4-2 win at Old Trafford.
Their injuries further compounded the injury crisis for the United manager who will be without an entire back four on Saturday when his side tackle Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup at Old Trafford.
If Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs fail to recover from minor knocks, the Red Devils will be missing a dozen regular members of their first-team squad.
Most are short-term injuries, with Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand among those tipped to be fit in time to face Everton on February 2.
And Ferguson has already dismissed the idea of bringing in reinforcements, even on loan, to ease United through their troubles. ''No, I won't be doing that,'' confirmed the Scot.
Instead, he will rely on youngsters such as Richard Eckersley and Fabio, twin brother of right-back Rafael, one of the men injured, plus central defender James Chester to plug any gaps, with Darren Fletcher tipped to fill the right-back berth.
''I do have options,'' said Ferguson. ''Hopefully Neville will be OK, then I can play Fletcher at right-back, so with Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea we would have an experienced back four.
''Alternatively, if we thought Eckersley or Fabio could be one of the full-backs Fletcher can play in midfield.''
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We're in trouble, Fabio out.......
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well, I think SAF doesn't want to disrupt the team unity. unless dire straits..
just feel that the players out are on their path to recovery and should be back soon..
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well, I think SAF doesn't want to disrupt the team unity. unless dire straits..
just feel that the players out are on their path to recovery and should be back soon..
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okay la...
well i got a feeling tell me that man utd will win all 4 trophy... if they are able to cross TSO
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relax, the champ can solve all this de.
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Ferguson: Manchester United's Injury Crisis Is Lifting
Manchester United's injury crisis is lifting and key players are set to make their returns to the side very soon, according to Red Devils manager Alex Ferguson, which is probably not the best news for United's Premier League rivals.
After Rio Ferdinand, Ji-Sun Park and Wes Brown made returns from injury against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Tuesday, Patrice Evra and Nani are also nearing comebacks, according to the United manager.
"Things are looking up and players are starting to come back," said Ferguson in today's Manchester Evening News.
"Patrice [Evra] may have a chance for Saturday against Everton. If the game had still been on Monday I'd say he'll definitely play. But he's still got a chance of making it.
"Nani should also be fit for Saturday as well. The ones still unavailable are Jonny Evans, Rafael and Fabio [the Da Silva twins], and Anderson."
Despite their lengthy injury list, the Red Devils still managed to destroy West Brom 5-0 on Tuesday night, although they were unquestionably helped in this by the red card that referee Rob Styles showed Albion defender Paul Robinson in the first-half of the game.
That red card was today rescinded by the Football Association.
Although things are improving on the injury front for United, Wayne Rooney is still not ready for a return to action, and won't be rushed, his manager confirmed.
"Wayne has never had a hamstring injury before and there's no way we will bring him back early," Ferguson added.
"He's doing terrific work in the gym and, in terms of his rehabilitation, is on the mend."
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Excellent
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when the players come back one by one, we can see man utd's morale slowly lifted week by week...
