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28 March 2024

Man Utd won't change policy despite losing title

Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson applauds his players after their English Premier League match against Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. (REUTERS)

Published
By AFP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday he wasn't concerned by rivals and newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City's ability to out bid them in the transfer market.

United lost out on successfully defending their title solely on goal difference to City on Sunday when two injury-time goals saw City to a 3-2 win over QPR and their first league crown in 44 years.

However, Ferguson said that he was not going to be forced into a change of transfer policy because of losing out to their city rivals and would stick to investing in young talent while Abu Dhabi-owned City spent huge amounts on established players.

"We know City are going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and silly salaries. We know that happens. We can't do anything about that," the 70-year-old told MUTV at the United player of the year dinner.

"We are not like other clubs who can spend fortunes on proven goods. We invest in players who will be with the club for a long time, who will create the character of the club and the excitement for our fans.

"We are good at that and we are going to continue that way."

Ferguson, who is believed to be targeting two stars from Borussia Dortmund's successful Bundesliga title defence Japanese international Shinji Kagawa and Polish star Robert Lewandowski, said there was no need for a large scale overhaul of his squad.

This despite finishing without a trophy, being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and letting an eight point lead over City in early April slip.

"We have set out our stall for certain players and we want to make sure the evolution continues at United," said Ferguson.

"I have been at the club for 25 years and I have to maintain a certain standard that keeps us there all the time.

"We don't always win it because we are always there, which is great credit to how we view things.

"But there is nothing materially wrong with us. I know there are some critics but we got 89 points."