Rio adds to woe as Fergie accepts ban
Ferguson received the punishment on Wednesday for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson following the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
But with doubts about Rio Ferdinand’s fitness and whether or not the centre-back will play again this season, the United boss already has other things to worry about.
There was some positive news for the Scot yesterday, however, as the governing body accepted a request for his suspension to begin immediately, which means he would be able to return to the dugout for the league game against title challengers Arsenal in May.
Ferguson will be banned from the touchline for the Premier League games against Bolton tomorrow, West Ham, Fulham and Everton, as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
Ferguson, who was also fined £30,000, hit out at the punishment yesterday.
“It is disappointing,” said Ferguson. “It is the only industry you can’t tell the truth in.”
Feeling aggrieved at Atkinson’s performance in his side’s 2-1 defeat, Ferguson said at the time: “You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway and we didn’t get that.
“I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst.”
Even Chelsea counterpart Carlo Ancelotti believes the length of the ban is harsh.
“I think that, my opinion, is that Ferguson has always had good behaviour and I think five games now is too much,” he said.
“There is no reason he has to be out for five matches and I do not think that can change their strength and the power of Manchester United.
“I know what he said after the game. Obviously it was not good behaviour but five games is too much.”
Ferguson will find himself surrounded by familiar faces while he watches from the stands.
The United boss admitted yesterday that he is not sure if centre-back Ferdinand will play again this season having struggled to overcome a calf injury picked up against Wolves on February 5. And although the defender has publicly stated how well his gym sessions have been going, Ferguson is a worried man.
“We are not looking at Rio as a short-term situation for us,” said the United boss.
“He has been out for a few weeks now anyway and has not started training yet.
“It looks to me as if we will be lucky to get him back for some point of the season.”
In ruling John O’Shea out for five weeks with the hamstring injury he sustained in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Marseille, Rafael for two weeks with a similar problem picked up after replacing the Republic of Ireland star at Old Trafford and skipper Nemanja Vidic for at least another week with the calf injury that forced him to miss the midweek win, Ferguson has laid bare a defensive crisis with echoes of last season.
Then, United managed to get through a Champions League trip to Wolfsburg but hit a brick wall at Fulham, when Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher played in defence alongside Ritchie de Laet, now on loan at Portsmouth.
The subsequent defeat at Craven Cottage proved so costly in the end as United finished a point behind Chelsea in the league.
“We hope a similar thing doesn’t happen,” said Ferguson. “We hope it is just a bad spell.
“Apart from this period, we have been okay with the defensive part this season. It has all just fallen apart in the last week.”
The one chink of light will be the availability of Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, who could provide some company for Fabio, Chris Smalling, Wes Brown and Evra, who are currently the only fit defenders Ferguson has available after returning to training following an ankle injury.
“Hopefully Jonny Evans may be fit for Saturday, even if it is a bit of a risk,” he said. “He has trained all week but he has been out for such a long time.”
Ferguson is hoping the forthcoming international fixtures will provide a break in a packed schedule that could come to United’s aid.
Anderson is on the comeback trail, as is Owen Hargreaves, who returned to training this week.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
