Ferguson: Retirement speculation `rubbish'

Posted Saturday, April 24, 2010 by PA

Sir Alex Ferguson is not ready to ride into the sunset just yet.

Not for the first time in his illustrious career, Ferguson has been at the centre of intense speculation about his date of retirement.

The latest rumours suggest the Scot will vacate the Manchester United hotseat at the end of next season, to be replaced by either Jose Mourinho or David Moyes.

Ferguson generally reacts with either irritation or amusement to talk of his retirement.

On the eve of a crucial Premier League encounter with Tottenham at Old Trafford, he chose the latter option, while at the same time reinforcing the message he is going to be around for a good while yet.

"It is rubbish," he said.

"There is absolutely no truth in it.

"If I did, the only people I would tell are (chief executive) David Gill and the Glazer family.

"The only thing that determines my stating here is my health.

"Unfortunately for you lot I am in rude health. So you can suffer me for the rest of your careers.

"You'll be gone before I am."

In any case, he is completely preoccupied with the title race at the moment, since a 12th Premier League crown came back on to the agenda following Tottenham's surprise victory over Chelsea last weekend.

A point behind Carlo Ancelotti's men with three games remaining, United are in action first this weekend and have the chance to reclaim top spot.

Not that Ferguson necessarily sees any advantage in that.

"We just have to concentrate on our own job," he said.

"If we do that we can let Chelsea deal with their situation.

"After Saturday there are only two games left so games become paramount in terms of where you are in the league.

"We have to win. The players are aware of that."

The experience he sees in the Chelsea squad makes it difficult for Ferguson to comprehend remarks from Frank Lampard about how badly the Blues were affected by Paul Scholes' last-gasp winner at Manchester City.

Nevertheless, it does raise an added dimension to the contest, as United bid to ensure Chelsea's trip to Liverpool next weekend is of the 'must-win' variety.

"You have to look at that game as difficult," said Ferguson.

"We would. Everyone does. But we have to address this weekend first."

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp takes his Tottenham team to Old Trafford with a message for the Premier League: "Gareth Bale is not going anywhere."

Bale has been showered with plaudits as Tottenham have chased fourth spot and that elusive last Champions League spot this season, and reports earlier this week linked the left-sided midfielder with a potential move to old Trafford.

But Redknapp, who expects to welcome back winger Aaron Lennon after four months out with a troublesome groin injury, has no intentions of losing Bale.

He said: "We're looking to build a team here. We wouldn't be looking to sell players like him. He's the future of the football club.

"You've got to keep your best young players here. He's part of that.

"Someone's always got to link someone with somewhere. There's no chance of it. I don't make those decisions but I know the chairman would not want to be selling him."

The potential return of Lennon in Saturday's lunchtime fixture is also good news for England manager Fabio Capello.

With Jermaine Jenas returning to Tottenham's squad after a virus, Wilson Palacios back in harness and Ledley King hopeful of returning, Redknapp is looking forward to pulling off one of the greatest winning sequences of his career.

A victory over United would mean Tottenham had beaten Arsenal, Chelsea and United in consecutive league games in one fabulous fortnight. The odds on that two weeks ago were 90-1.

Redknapp added: "I thought the bookies were being a bit stingy, they should have been a lot higher than that. Winning those two games (against Arsenal and Chelsea) should have been 90-1.

"They were two great victories but we have another tough game. But the sun's shining, it's a great stadium, a fantastic place to play football against a great team. We're looking forward to it."