Boss delivers report cards

After United's 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, ManUtd.com journalist Nick Coppack asked Sir Alex to assess the contributions of the team's younger players. Here's what he had to say:

"Chris Eagles and Lee Martin haven’t played enough football over the last two or three years and they’ve come to an important time in their careers.

"Lee, in particular, has been very unfortunate in the loan spells he’s had. He’s picked up a couple of long-term injuries. Of course, at that age these kids want to play football all the time.

"Meanwhile, Chris Eagles had the opportunity to go on loan last season and didn’t want to. Because of that, and the form of the team, he was dependent on Reserves football, which, at his age and the progress he’s got to make, isn’t enough for him.

"I have to find out more about those players and that’s why I bring them on tour and it’s why I played them [against Orlando Pirates].

"As for Jonny Evans, he went to Sunderland in January and did very well. In fact, I think he was very instrumental in them staying up. Jonny's a very good footballer, who reads the game well and has good composure. He’s got a career in football – there’s no question about that.

"Darron Gibson went to Wolves last season and injuries, as well as a family bereavement, derailed his time there. He needs to get football – he’s a big, powerful lad with good feet and he has a chance.

"Then there's Fraizer Campbell, who spent time at Hull City last season and had an incredible season. He has to improve in certain aspects of his game, but he has a chance as well.

"Concentration is one of the vital components of making the step across the line to be a regular first-team player. You saw the composure that Rooney and Scholes brought to the team [on Tuesday] and that tells you the vast difference between a young player and an experienced player like Scholes. His pass in the final minutes of the game to Rooney… I would have paid money to see that pass if that was the only thing I saw in the game.

"We often under-rate the value of concentration with footballers. They can practise all day long, they can have fantastic ability but if they don’t have the concentration to produce final passes in important moments then they’re never going to make it."

Aguero nafi minat United

KEHEBATAN Aguero (depan) menarik minat beberapa kelab terkemuka Eropah.

Sebaliknya, Aguero menjelaskan bahawa dia tetap akan berakhir untuk kelab Atletico Madrid.

"Saya tahu bahawa saya mahu kekal di Atletico dan saya akan terus berada di kelab ini," kata Aguero kepada saluran televisyen Argentina, La Red.

"Saya ada dengar khabar angin itu. Saya telah bercakap dengan ejen saya. Saya memberitahunya bahawa saya mahu kekal di Atletico untuk satu atau dua tahun lagi.

"Saya juga mahu terus berada di sana (Atletico) kerana saya berasa sungguh selesa dan gembira. Meskipun terdapat minat daripada Manchester atau Chelsea, saya tidak akan meninggalkan Atletico."

Dengan kejayaan menjaringkan 19 gol, Aguero muncul penjaring ketiga terbanyak dalam saingan Liga Sepanyol musim lalu dan telah dipilih sebagai Pemain Asing Terbaik.

Dia akan menyertai skuad Argentina pada Sukan Olimpik di Beijing bulan depan.

"Saya berasa selesa, gembira dan yakin di Atletico," katanya. - AP

United 'tanpa' kelibat Ronaldo

Begitupun Red Devils menegaskan, ketiadaan Ronaldo bukan kerana dia akan dijual kepada Real Madrid, sebaliknya pemain itu akan menjalani pembedahan pergelangan kaki minggu depan dan mungkin perlu berehat untuk tempoh enam minggu.

Pengesahan mengenai pembedahan Ronaldo dibuat selepas pasukan perubatan United dan Persatuan Bola Sepak Portugal (PFA) mendapat nasihat daripada pakar.

Berita itu juga dibuat pada hari yang sama United menafikan laporan daripada Sepanyol bahawa pemain berusia 23 tahun itu telah menandatangani kontrak untuk Real.

Menurut laporan terbaru itu, Ronaldo akan berpindah ke Real dalam tempoh beberapa hari lagi.

Seorang jurucakap kelab memberitahu PA Sport: "Ia adalah sesuatu yang tidak betul dan tidak masuk akal. Cristiano Ronaldo bukan untuk dijual."

Meskipun Ronaldo berminat untuk berpindah dan menerima tawaran berjumlah 70 juta pound (RM454 juta), United yakin keputusan menjual pemain itu akan memberi satu kerugian besar kepada kelab.

Selain menjejaskan gaya dan formasi permainan pasukan, ia juga memberi satu petanda awal bahawa United akan berada dibelakang Real Madrid.

Keluarga Glazer membeli United kerana mereka memandang Red Devils adalah sebuah kelab terbesar di dunia, dan mereka juga tidak boleh menerima hakikat untuk berada di belakang Real.

Mesej yang disampaikan oleh ketua eksekutif David Gill kepada Glazers adalah jika mereka bergantung kepada Ronaldo dan tidak menjualnya atau memberinya satu kontrak yang lebih besar, ia akan melemahkan lawan dan memberi pulangan untuk satu tempoh yang panjang kepada kelab.

Namun, jika mereka bersedia untuk menjual Ronaldo, pengurus United, Alex Ferguson menegaskan dia mahukan kesemua 70 juta pound bayaran perpindahan itu untuk mencari pengganti kepada pemain paling berharga itu. - AFP