Ferguson ‘loves to prove doubters wrong’

Manchester United chief executive has warned that manager Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to bounce back from last season’s disappointments.

Ferguson is anxious to return to his more accustomed trophy-winning ways after his side slipped to third in the Premiership last season and went out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

The United boss is currently looking to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign and reports have consistently linked him with a record-breaking move for Leeds’ World Cup star Rio Ferdinand.

Kenyon told the Daily Mirror: ‘‘He loves to answer people, to prove the critics wrong. He’s done that every time people have doubted him.

‘‘There’s no doubt Alex was disappointed at what happened last year - we all were.

‘‘He’s not used to finishing third in the league and going out of Europe the way we did. He has his standards and demands everybody lives up to them.

‘‘We know we had the skill and capability to do a lot better than that. It hurt all of us and only adds to the determination to put that right by winning things this season.’’

United’s last campaign was disrupted by uncertainty over the identity of Ferguson’s successor. The Scot had originally intended to retire in the summer but decided to stay on after a change of heart mid-season.

Kenyon is convinced his hunger to win is still there and fully expects him to prove it this year.

He added: ‘‘Alex has been thinking all summer about getting back with the squad and strengthening the defence and he is confident the quality is there to redress the balance from last year.

‘‘When you see the headlines about an ‘Old Trafford crisis’ it rallies people round and ensures they give their best.

‘‘I know the players are even more hungry and coming back to make sure they address what happened last year because that disappointment was acute.’’