Friday, July 31, 2009

Ferguson to alter Man Utd tactics

Ferguson directs Nani
Nani will be among the players expected to score more regularly

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits he will alter his team tactics in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid.

Ronaldo was United's top scorer for the last two seasons and Ferguson is keen that the shortfall is filled by others.

"Cristiano is a big loss in terms of the goals he gave us," Ferguson told Inside United. "We will have to find the goals; our tactics will adjust.

"Fans will see us playing a slightly different style this season."

Ronaldo, who left for the Bernabeu in an £80m deal at the start of July, was the club's top scorer last season with 26 goals - a tally that eclipsed Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov's 13 and 14 goals respectively.

If we are going to win the league again or do well in Europe we certainly need players to step up

Sir Alex Ferguson

The Portuguese star hit an incredible 42 the previous season and bagged 118 in all in his 292 appearances for United.

With Carlos Tevez also departing the club for neighbours Manchester City, Ferguson is likely to use Rooney as a central striker alongside either summer signing Michael Owen or Berbatov.

But the Old Trafford supremo is also demanding more goals from his midfielders as the Premier League champions chase a fourth successive league title.

"You look to score about 100 goals," Ferguson added. "If we are going to win the league again or do well in Europe we certainly need players to step up.

606: DEBATE

"Going back a few years, we could always guarantee goals from Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, who always pitched in with about 10 a season.

"Those goals from midfield have dried up a little in recent years, so we have to address that. I will be looking to (Ji-Sung) Park, Nani, (Luis Antonio) Valencia - even (Danny) Welbeck and (Federico) Macheda - to contribute 40 goals between them. The defenders will contribute a few from set-pieces too."

However, full-back Patrice Evra has denied any suggestion that the club is weaker following the departures of Ronaldo and Tevez.

"Two players alone do not make a team. We have signed some good players and, like I say, Manchester United are a team and not only about two players.," he stated.

"I can already see a good team coming along and we are all confident about doing well with this team as it is."


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