Fergie targets second European title

ALEX FERGUSON has targeted at least one more Champions League triumph before he eventually quits as Manchester United manager.

Ferguson is due to celebrate 20 years in the Old Trafford hot-seat on November 6. So far, his illustrious reign has seen him collect eight Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Yet, it is a source of regret for the 64-year-old that the only time he conquered Europe was that night in Barcelona, when Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck in injury time to beat Bayern Munich.

While he refuses to put a timescale on his eventual United departure, Ferguson, who watched his side steamroll Bolton on Saturday with a Wayne Rooney hat-trick, is keen to ensure he pockets the greatest club prize again before he departs.

“It is a priority to do better in the European Cup and that will not change at this club because Europe is a motivation for us all the time,” he said.

“In my time at United, we should have done better. In some years we have been unlucky, in others we have thrown it away and in others we were not good enough.

“But the bottom line is we should have had at least one more European Cup in my time at the club and hopefully we can do that before I ride off into the sunset.”

After last season’s humiliating group stage exit, few were talking of United as potential winners this season.

Yet, the Red Devils have emerged as genuine contenders once more thanks to three successive wins that mean just a point from Wednesday’s trip to FC Copenhagen will be enough to secure a place in the knockout stage with two matches to spare.

The reason for such a spectacular transformation is fairly obvious. In six games last season, the Red Devils managed a paltry three goals. Already they have seven this term, courtesy of five different scorers with, remarkably, Wayne Rooney not among them.

“We have players we rely on in terms of goals, the most important being Louis Saha,” said the Old Trafford chief.

“I am sure Wayne will eventually go on to get us 15 and Cristiano Ronaldo is quite capable of reaching that figure too. But the real impact comes from the spread of goals in other areas.

“Obviously Paul Scholes’ return to the team is a bonus in that respect because historically, he has always given us an average of 10 a year. That was one of the things we missed last year when his season was cut down rapidly by injury.

“Hopefully, Ryan and Michael Carrick will make a contribution, as will the defenders, so we could have a healthy situation this year.”

Also on the list of potential targetmen this season is Alan Smith, now restored to United’s striking department after spending last year in midfield.

Although the former Leeds player is still short of full fitness following the horror injury he received at Liverpool last season, a 120-minute outing at Crewe in midweek was a bonus and Ferguson is looking forward to the combative Yorkshireman playing a big part for United this season.

“We tried Alan in central midfield last season because we were looking for someone with a certain type of aggression to replace Roy Keane,” said Ferguson.

“But now Scholes is back and we also have Michael Carrick, Alan would have been behind players in the queue, so we felt it was better to use him in a position he is more acquainted with.

“There are no lingering doubts about him in terms of injury now. He just needs to work on his sharpness and timing. I am sure he will be okay.”

Opta Fact: Bolton have won none of the eight games at home to United in the Premiership

Opta Fact: The Red Devils have won six and lost none of the last seven matches with Bolton.