MoN ON FERGUSON

MARTIN O’NEILL can see Alex Ferguson still prowling the touchline at the ripe old age of 98!


















http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...ll-still-be-Manchester-United-boss-at-98.html




Sunderland’s boss bristles at suggestions that Fergie’s managerial hunger has been dented by Manchester City’s title charge.

O’Neill knows the fire still burns deep in the Scot’s psyche — even if arch-rivals City dethrone the Red Devils today.

It will hurt the United boss big-time to see Roberto Mancini’s men prancing around with the trophy this afternoon.

But, typically, it will just make him even more determined to hit back — and hit back hard.

Irishman O’Neill will aim to make it one hell of an unhappy end to the season for 70-year-old Ferguson when Sunderland face United on Wearside today.

And the Black Cats boss said: “Sir Alex will leave Manchester United when he feels it’s right. It won’t be because of a setback.

“To accuse him of lacking hunger, ambition and determination would be tantamount to heresy.






YOU'RE THE BOSS ... O'Neill has hailed Fergie


“He will have that until he’s 98 — and he may still be manager when he’s 98 with five European Cups on top of that.

“Those are things the man certainly does not lack. Those setbacks will only serve to make him madder.

“Will I still be going at 70? Well, I’m very fresh for my age. I need to win a couple of matches between now and then, though.”

O’Neill knows where it went wrong for United this season as they blew an eight-point lead over their rivals.

He added: “Sir Alex will be really disappointed by the home draw with Everton. The Wigan game would have been bad enough to lose but to lose a 4-2 advantage against Everton, that would have hurt really badly.

“That result gave City a glimmer of hope and had they closed it out as they would normally, the result at the Etihad wouldn’t have mattered that much. Instead, it was a major blow.

“Evra hit a post to make it 5-2 and within 90 seconds it was 4-3. That game would have really irritated him.”

How the Sunderland chief would love to be lavished with the riches at Mancini’s disposal.

Owner Ellis Short is not short of a few bob. But City’s billions blow away the American, and pretty much everyone else.

Certainly, the thought of City’s massive spending in the pursuit of glory makes O’Neill realise what he did as a player with Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest in the 1970’s and 80’s will never be repeated.

No team will come up to the top-flight and win the European Cup, like Forest did.

O’Neill conceded: “It would be great if we were to ever be in a position to be real challengers.

“The league itself is harder than ever before.

“Who five years ago would have thought that Manchester City would have come from nowhere to be contesting the title on the final day of the season? I don’t think any of us did.

“Who’s to say that someone else with very rich owners won’t come in again?

“There might be a levelling out with financial fair play. But if one club averages 75,000 crowds and another 30,000, there’s still going to be a disparity.

“Whether we are capable of challenging, it looks a long way off at the moment.

“I think you can argue the case either way as to whether what City have done is good for football but it is what it is.

“It’s the way it’s going. Just look at Real Madrid a couple of years ago, £300million in debt until suddenly the council decided to buy the training ground and kept them going.

“And they have won the championship this year.

“I played in the 70s and loved it. Maybe the 60s were the best, it doesn’t matter. Those days are gone and they don’t look like returning for some time.

“That said, Sunderland have to come to terms with that and try to beat the odds.

“That’s why I talk about hope and ambition because without that you might as well pack in.”

What O’Neill needs to do right now is to discover just why his spluttering Mackems have not won since beating QPR on March 24.

Big changes are expected this summer and the Stadium of Light boss said: “The first thing is to speak to the owner within the next couple of weeks.

“I think he genuinely sees the potential of the club.

“I didn’t take the job on any promises of phenomenal backing, I wanted to do the job. But we definitely need to freshen things up.”