Aviva can prove hostile fortress, says Ferguson

A NIGHT where the scoreboard wasn’t supposed to matter but that was before Manchester United went and racked up seven goals to leave everyone with a love for the domestic game feeling a tad red-faced.

Damien Richardson had stated on Tuesday that his players would not “park the bus” and he was adamant that the margin of defeat would not have been altered to any significant degree if they had pursued such a tactic. “If any of you were under any illusions as to the test we were facing you were in a different world to the one I am. We were facing one of the best teams in world football. It wouldn’t have made any difference.

“If we harbour any ambitions to have professional football we have to take on the lessons that were starkly vivid for us this evening. The difference between Manchester United and our physical fitness was amazing.

“Whilst we will never reach the level that Manchester United are at we still have to have the ambition to reach the best level we can. Full-time professional football isn’t just required, it is a must, for us going forward.”

Richardson was rich in his praise for the atmosphere in what was the first ever soccer match played in the new Aviva Stadium and Alex Ferguson declared it to be a great success when he faced the press afterwards.

“I thought the atmosphere was quite wonderful,” said Ferguson. “It is a very intimate stadium. The crowd is very close to the pitch and the noise can be kept in. It can become a very hostile venue for opposing teams.

“I thought it was a great night. I think everyone enjoyed it and they enjoyed it even more when Ireland (sic) scored even though most of the supporters there were United supporters.

“Some of the scores were very good and the only worry was (Michael) Carrick picking up an injury that makes him a doubt for Sunday’s (Community Shield) but he should be okay for the weekend after.”

It was a big night for Wayne Rooney, too.

The England striker had been photographed smoking on a night out in a bar called the Panacea in Manchester over the weekend before joining up this week with the rest of his clubmates after the squad returned from a tour to the USA.

“I’m not getting into that,” said the United boss.

“(Wayne) has only been training for six days, him and Michael Owen, Ji-Sung Park.

“Valencia is only just ahead of him in terms of fitness. I have to play him (Sunday) against Chelsea to bring him on.”