FOOTBALL : Sir Alex Ferguson is tipping Tottenham for a sustained tilt at gatecrashing the top four despite Wednesday night’s lamentable display at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson is tipping Tottenham for a sustained tilt at gatecrashing the top four despite Wednesday night’s lamentable display at Old Trafford.
Ferguson’s youthful Manchester United outfit cruised into the Carling Cup semi-finals for the fifth time in eight years thanks to Darron Gibson’s brilliant first-half brace. Even though he has plenty of faith in the current crop of youngsters trying to emulate that famed Class of 92, which still lingers on in the form of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, Ferguson could not have expected United to win their latest quarter-final quite so easily.
“We have to look upon this as a really good win for us,” said the United chief. “Tottenham have improved tremendously and look as if they are going to push for the top four.”
He added: “They have a strong squad and the lads who came in for them tonight did very well.
“We have played a good team so I have to be pleased.”
Harry Redknapp was so annoyed he sidestepped the post-match press conference, sending assistant Kevin Bond instead.
Tottenham spent the long journey home not only digesting Ferguson’s comments but trying to analyse why such a strong side should perform so badly.
“The longer the game went on, the worse we got,” said Bond. “Harry did not do the press conference because he probably thought he would say something he might regret.
“A one off? We certainly hope so. Hopefully this is a lesson and something that won’t be repeated.”
