MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson’s big question on Friday was whether captain Nemanja Vidic is ready to return to the team for the next day’s ”game of the season” at arch rivals Liverpool.
The Serbia centre back played for his country this week in their Euro 2012 qualifying defeat to Slovenia, having been absent from club duty since August due to a calf injury, but a start at Anfield on Saturday is far from guaranteed.
”The big question mark is whether Vidic is ready for the game tomorrow,” Ferguson told a news conference.
”He’s certainly had his first game for Serbia on Tuesday, played a full game, so it’s certainly a consideration because he’s such a good competitor.
”He came in yesterday and felt OK. But the Liverpool game is such an intense, draining game that you want everybody to be 100 percent so it maybe more down to how he feels himself really.”
Ferguson declined to be drawn into the news that his striker Wayne Rooney would miss the group stage of England’s Euro 2012 campaign after being handed a three-match ban by UEFA for his sending-off against Montenegro.
”I’m here to talk about the Liverpool game,” he said.
Game of season
Saturday’s encounter is even more keenly anticipated than usual as the bitter rivalry between the clubs has been cranked up a notch since United won their 19th English league title last season to overtake Liverpool’s record. Liverpool have won the last three meetings between the clubs at Anfield, including a 3-1 victory last season, and Ferguson said the electric atmosphere at the ground played a big part.
”I think the fans play a part, there is no doubt about that,” he said. ”In my time we’ve had nine players sent off there which is unusual for Manchester United so that is all down to the atmosphere that can be created there.” (Agencies)