Ferguson looks to Keane for the future

Alex Ferguson is banking on Roy Keane to guide Manchester United’s new generation to glory over the next few years.

Keane’s future has been the subject of intense debate over the past month, with fluctuating estimates of his retirement date, including some that claim he will call it quits at the end of the season.

Ferguson has already told the 33-year-old Irishman he will be the man who decides when it is time to stand down and having committed his own long-term future to the Red Devils, insists he would not be surprised if Keane remained part of the plans too.

“Over the last couple of years we have been trying to reshape the team and the club,” said Ferguson.

“We have made giant strides in that aspect of our development and the great thing is that you don’t see any end to it.

“There are some very exciting young players at this club, you can see their progress and you know there is a bright future for this team.

“You could say there are concerns about Roy Keane but when you see Cafu and Paolo Maldini tramping up and down the touchline for Milan, there is no reason why he cannot carry on.

“He is only 33, looks after himself very well and he could surprise a few people.”

Keane is expected to skipper United as usual tomorrow as they launch an unlikely attempt to pull back Chelsea’s 11-point advantage over the last nine games with a home encounter against Fulham.

Ferguson described the two points dropped in the previous clash between the sides at Craven Cottage in December as a "kick in the teeth" given the Scot’s belief his team ‘should have won by six.

It is a result United will look back on with regret if Chelsea do seal their first championship since 1955.

Even before Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Brom on Tuesday, Gary Neville has already claimed it would take a monumental disaster for Jose Mourinho’s men to throw away the title now and Ferguson could find no better outlook as he assessed the present state of affairs.

“We are just hoping for a miracle,” he said.

“The situation has fluctuated to an extent but clearly not enough for us because we are still 11 points behind.

“They keep getting these 1-0 results that are good enough to keep them ahead.”

United’s position must be particularly galling for Ferguson given his side have lost just one match since their opening day reverse at Stamford Bridge and are unbeaten in 18 Premiership games since their only other setback, against Portsmouth on October 30.

Having seen Arsenal go through the entire campaign unbeaten to land last season’s championship, the Red Devils chief admits he may now have to tinker with his long-established philosophy of launching a major charge after Christmas because he can no longer guarantee any deficit can be hauled back.

“Looking back now, that first game against Chelsea could almost be seen as a title decider,” said Ferguson.

“Unfortunately, we went into the match missing half a team for various reasons. When we lost, I thought we would be able to catch those points up but it has not happened.

“The main thing now is to keep winning our matches so we are in a position to capitalise if something does happen to Chelsea.

“Our form is good and the team is looking strong. Lads like Alan Smith and Ruud van Nistelrooy are fresh, Kleberson is back too, so we have enough ammunition to launch a really big charge.”

While the odds remain heavily against United landing their ninth Premiership title under Ferguson, the club will at least be gratified to learn the most successful manager in British soccer history has no plans to abandon his position just yet.

Ferguson reversed his original plan to retire in 2002 and signed a three-year contract which is due to expire this summer.

At that point, the Glaswegian will automatically enter a one-year rolling contract which can be terminated at a year’s notice by either party.

However, with the pacemaker he had fitted over a year ago doing its job, Ferguson, at 63, still feels fit enough to cope with the demands of controlling such a huge institution and has no intention of relinquishing his post.

“I have no idea when I would want to quit,” he said.

“When you are my age, your health controls you. But at the moment I am fit and healthy, so there is no reason why I should be thinking about retiring just yet.”