United have done the double for April
2/5/03 2:09 PM
Click for ManUtd.com´s exclusive with Fergie
Manchester United have done the double for the month of April.
Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been voted Barclaycard Premiership Manager of the Month for April after guiding United to 13 league points from a possible 15, whilst his side notched up 17 goals in just five league games.
At the same time Ruud van Nistelrooy has been voted Premiership Player of the Month for April.
Van Nistelrooy has been in typically prolific form of late, and his award perhaps atones somewhat for his ludicrous omission from the PFA’s Premiership team of the season, and his failure to land neither the PFA nor Football Writer’s awards.
United’s deadly Dutchman continued his red-hot streak with six goals in five Premiership matches to land the award.
Both Sir Alex and Ruud collected their accolades at the Reds’ Carrington training complex today ( Friday).
=>It´s a piece of cake
Alex Ferguson would rather eat cake and jelly than watch Arsenal´s title wobble. His Manchester United side can take a huge step towards the championship today by beating Charlton and going EIGHT points clear of the Gunners. Yet Old Trafford chief Fergie will not watch Arsenal´s do-or-die clash against Leeds at Highbury tomorrow as he will be at his grandson´s birthday party. Ferguson insisted: " I don´t think I´ll be watching the game. I´ve got my grandson´s birthday on Sunday so I´ll be at the party." Yet if United beat Charlton and Arsenal fail to beat Leeds the Premiership trophy goes to Old Trafford, even though the Gunners have two games to play. It is the latest twist in the mind games between Fergie and Highbury chief Arsene Wenger.
Neil Custis, The Sun
Man U not whingers
Manchester United´s ´no moaning´ policy has shot them to within an ace of the Premiership title according to Rio Ferdinand. Big-name stars, led by David Beckham, have been dumped on the bench or banished to the stands in recent weeks as Alex Ferguson has swung the axe in his pursuit of Arsenal. It has worked. United are now odds-on favourites to win the title and United´s £30million defender Ferdinand says there has never been one word of complaint from those on the receiving end. Beckham, Fabien Barthez, Nicky Butt, Juan Veron and Gary Neville have all been left out. Ferdinand said: " Of course players are disappointed if they´re not in the team, the manager wouldn´t want it any other way. You only have to look at the bench to see there are no sulkers. The team spirit is second to none. " Whatever side the boss puts out, we all know it´s a squad game and everyone is in it together, even if they don´t start.
Shaun Custis, The Sun
Ruud´s a part-timer
Arsene Wenger branded hitman Ruud van Nistelrooy a part-timer yesterday. Wenger´s dig came after Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers´ Association - days after winning the PFA crown. He pipped Manchester United´s 40-goal hotshot again and Gunners boss Wenger said: " Van Nistelrooy has played fewer games than Thierry. A better goals ratio? Well, would he have scored so many if he was not fresh and had to play more often? The awards reward Thierry´s improvement and consistency, all the more remarkable given the number of games he has played." Van Nistelrooy has 40 club goals this season - 10 more than Henry. Henry´s 34 Premiership games have brought 22 goals. Van Nistelrooy, named Barclaycard Player of the Month, has started 32 league games and hit 21 goals. United´s stars are amazed the Dutch star failed even to be named in the PFA´s Team of the Year. Ryan Giggs said: " I don´t mean any disrespect to Alan Shearer or Thierry Henry, who were the two strikers, but Ruud´s omission proves the timing of the vote should be changed. " We cast our votes two months ago and Ruud has been sensational since then."
Vikki Orvice, The Sun
We think we´ve blown it
Arsene Wenger admits his Arsenal players now doubt they can win the Premiership. The Gunners face Leeds at Highbury tomorrow having slipped five points behind leaders Manchester United, with just one game in hand. Victories for United in their last two matches, against Charlton and Everton, would guarantee Alex Ferguson´s team the title. And Wenger, whose side could only manage a draw against struggling Bolton at the Reebok Stadium last weekend, revealed: " The players are down. " They feel they blew the lead against Bolton and there is now doubt and confusion in their mind as to the league."
Sports Staff, The Sun
Veron: It´s in our hands
Juan Veron has told his Old Trafford team-mates there can be no excuses for not winning the title. Manchester United have the destination of the Premiership trophy in their own hands for the first time this year. In three months they have pulled round an eight-point deficit to reach the top of the pile. Victory over Charlton today and a draw - or worse - for Arsenal against Leeds tomorrow would mean the championship is theirs. Veron said: " We have fought so hard, knowing that we could hardly afford to drop a single point, so it would be a real shame if we were to throw it away now. There are no excuses - it is in our own hands. If we don´t win it, we will be the ones to blame. Over the last few games we have shown a tremendous amount of character and determination and we never gave up, even when we were so many points behind. It would be fantastic for me to become the first Argentine footballer to win the league here."
Neil Custis, The Sun
Fergie to turn off Gunners
Sir Alex Ferguson aimed a fresh insult at Arsenal yesterday by insisting he will not watch their title-saving game with Leeds - because he will be at his grandson´s birthday party. United take on Charlton at Old Trafford today knowing they will be crowned champions for the eighth time in 11 seasons if they win and Arsenal fail to beat Leeds at Highbury tomorrow. But Fergie is so sure of United´s ability to reclaim their domestic crown, he is adamant he will not even bother to tune in and watch the game that could ultimately hand his side the title. " I don´t think I´ll be watching the Arsenal game," said Fergie. " It´s my grandson´s birthday on Sunday so I´ll be at his birthday party instead." Fergie´s revelation is undoubtedly his latest - and perhaps last - offering in the mind-games war he has waged all season with Arsene Wenger, one which has become increasingly offensive and bitter.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Brad news for buyers
Graeme Souness has put out a `hands off´ notice on goalkeeper Brad Friedel as Arsenal and Manchester United prepare to go head-to-head for him in a transfer tug-of-war. Blackburn boss Souness knows there is growing interest in the United States World Cup star, who was voted the best in the Premiership by his fellow pros this season. Friedel is on Arsene Wenger´s wish list as the long-term replacement for David Seaman and tentative moves have already been made. United have now been mentioned as potential bidders. Souness is under no pressure to sell and Friedel is tied up on a new deal that keeps him at Rovers, where he has excelled since signing from Liverpool on a free transfer three seasons ago. The Rovers chief roared: " Brad is the best, but don´t take my word for it, look at the PFA team of the year when he was voted as their choice. Brad is priceless. He is worth 12 or 15 points a season to us. What value do you put on that over the four or five years of his contract?"
Alan Nixon, Daily Mirror
Fergie´s secret weapon
Ten years ago tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson played golf with his son Mark as Aston Villa stumbled against Oldham to hand him his first Premiership title. Victory for his Manchester United team at home to Charlton today will take the Scot to the threshold of title no. 8. But once again he will be far from a TV set as Arsenal attempt to prolong this absorbing tussle for supremecy by beating Leeds at Highbury tomorrow.
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail
Why Ruud´s so desperate to crown his year of glory
Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrated Queen´s Day with the rest of his compatriots on Wednesday but could not stop his thoughts from straying towards a coronation nearer his adopted home. The day set aside for honouring Holland´s royal family shifted its emphasis to the burning issue of van Nistelrooy´s availability for the national team - and his desire to win a championship medal.
John Edwards, Daily Mail
We plan to get even better, warns Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson last night stood on the threshold of his eighth Premiership title and warned his rivals that Manchester United will get even better. Ferguson will take the championship if a remarkable finale to the season if United beat Charlton at home today and arch rivals Arsenal fail to beat Leeds at Highbury tomorrow. " We are building for the future here," he said. " That´s the crucial thing."
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail
Gr-eightest
Ryan Giggs has won a magnificent seven Premiership medals with Manchester United. Now he is on the verge of making it eight. And that would equal the record of former Liverpool defenders Phil Neal and Alan Hansen, through the 70s and 80s. But the Manchester United ace says this one would be the best.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star
United home in
Alex Ferguson described Manchester United´s lunchtime clash with Charlton as the biggest match of their dramatic season. Acknowledging that there will be a party atmosphere at Old Trafford for the last home match, which could clinch the championship. Ferguson warned: " It is important not to forget the mission. And the mission is to win the match."
Bill Thornton, Daily Star
