Ferguson signs off with Wenger jibe

ALEX FERGUSON walked off the Premiership stage with a familiar piece of silverware tucked under his arm — and delivered a final swipe at Arsene Wenger.

While his players have to a man pinpointed the 6-2 win at Newcastle last month as the moment when the title race turned decisively in their favour, the impact of Ferguson’s assault on Arsenal’s ‘over-confidence’ as the championship battle reached its latter stages can hardly be overstated.

With the heat firmly applied, the Gunners’ wilted, finally returning to the form in the final two games when it was far too late, but giving a semblance of credence to Wenger’s statement that his team are still the best in England.

Victorious Ferguson is having none of it though. And, as he starts to shape the squad he hopes will launch a concerted assault on Europe next season, he put Wenger firmly in his place.

“Never mind all the talk that has come from south of Birmingham, we have proved ourselves to be champions,” said the Old Trafford chief.

“Our form over the last few months has been fantastic. Confidence is a big factor in football and it has gone through the team the longer we went without losing.

“There are players in my squad who have won this trophy six or seven times now and they don’t need to be reminded of the great excitement that comes with this type of success.

“No matter how old you are or what you have achieved, you never stop learning from your experiences and that showed in what we came through earlier in the season.”

Ferguson has already left little room for doubt that a big improvement is expected in Europe next season, even though his team have been Champions League quarter-finalists seven years on the trot.

The fiery Scot, who looks ready to extend his stay with the club beyond the end of his current contract which ends in two years’ time, will not rest until his side have become regular finalists and consistent challengers to Real Madrid and Juventus.

An incursion into the transfer market can be expected and the confirmed departures of Laurent Blanc and David May, plus the likely summer exit of out-of-favour keeper Fabien Barthez, will create holes in his squad which Paul Robinson, Damien Duff and Ronaldinho are prime candidates to fill.

All will have to prove their dedication to the cause, and their ability to perform under pressure before Ferguson will even thinking about risking a financial investment.

“There is always pressure at this club and players wouldn’t be here for too long if they couldn’t play under it.

“Even if it is for only half an hour in a game it can make a difference. Sometimes a player can get a few nerves which is only understandable, but over the 90 minutes you know they are going to balance themselves out and be able to play under that pressure,” he said.

Unlike last summer, Ferguson is approaching the transfer market from a position of strength. Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League makes United favourites to land Duff with a big-money offer Blackburn can scarcely afford to turn down.

Ferguson has refused to even hint at his transfer plans, preferring instead to allow the focus to fall on the players who have served him so well this season, particularly 44-goal striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and the now-retired Laurent Blanc, whose influence behind the scenes could move talented defenders into the world class category.

“We always refer to this club as ‘The Bus’,” said Ferguson. “If you miss the bus you get left behind and we can’t afford people like that.

“We want everyone on the bus to move forward and, particularly when you have been successful, we have to add, to try to improve and create a more competitive element in the club which we should have done in 1994 but didn’t.”