Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Wednesday that his side do not have the financial means to compete for the same players as champions Chelsea.
Ferguson has seen targets Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Michael Essien all snub Old Trafford in favour of the Roman Abramovich-backed Londoners, with Nigerian teenager John Obi Mikel’s decision to go back on his proposed move to United believed to be because he was told Chelsea were interested in him.
Although new owner Malcolm Glazer has pledged to back a major transfer initiative in January, Ferguson knows he will have to sidestep any targets Chelsea identify, and instead he is placing a lot of his faith in his club’s youth system to nurture future talent.
”I do not think we would even think about competing with Chelsea,” Ferguson told Century FM. ”If Chelsea go for a player we are interested in, we are not going to beat them, so there is no point even going for him unless, like Park Ji-sung, they are of a mind to join United.
”But any young player wanting to progress his career should think seriously about joining us because, as our record proves, we do give them a chance.”
The latest young talents to roll off the United production line will be on show on Wednesday night, when Manchester United host league-two strugglers Barnet in the League Cup.
Ferguson has always used the competition to give his fringe players a game.
Defenders Adam Eckersley and Danny Simpson, striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and midfielder Lee Martin are set for their first senior starts, while Gerard Pique and Giuseppe Rossi are expected to be given the opportunity to further their first-team education.
”It will be a very exciting night for these lads,” said Ferguson. ”I hope the fans will see the years ahead will be very good for these players. I am trying to lay the foundations for Manchester United and I want to build something that will last for years, not two minutes.” — Sapa-AFP