Huge relief as Fergie out of intensive care
SIR Alex Ferguson is out of intensive care and Manchester United are confident he will make a full recovery from the brain haemorrhage he suffered at the weekend. The club tweeted last night to say the 76-year-old former manager, who has been treated at Salford Royal Hospital, will continue his rehabilitation as an inpatient. ‘Sir Alex no longer needs intensive care,’ the statement read. ‘His family have been overwhelmed by the level of support and good wishes but continue to request privacy as this will be vital during this next stage of recovery.’ United manager Jose Mourinho had earlier suggested Ferguson would make a full recovery. ‘We are positive, very positive,’ said Mourinho, whose team travel to West Ham tonight.
MANCHESTER United are ‘confident’ and ‘very, very positive’ that Sir Alex Ferguson will make a full recovery from a brain haemorrhage, says manager Jose Mourinho.
The former United boss had emergency surgery at Salford Royal Hospital last weekend. Last night, United released a statement revealing that the 76-year-old has now been moved out of intensive care and will continue his rehabilitation as an in-patient.
Ferguson has been talking to family at his bedside and even asked for the latest football results.
‘We are positive. Very, very positive. We are confident,’ said Mourinho. ‘It’s private. His family ask for privacy and that’s what I’m going to respect.’
Some of the current United squad played under Ferguson, and Mourinho believes the encouraging news about the Scot will lift his players in the final three games of the season.
United travel to West Ham tonight and face Watford at Old Trafford in their last Premier League fixture on Sunday — when there will be a huge show of support for Ferguson from fans — before playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 19.
‘I can only think that if there is any relation it is a positive relation,’ said Mourinho, who has been a close friend and admirer of the Scot since his days managing Porto. Legendary former United star Eric Cantona became the latest big name to offer words of support for Ferguson when he posted a short video clip on Twitter yesterday, declaring: ‘It’s Fergie time and you will win. You always do.’ Frenchman Cantona, who was one of Ferguson’s most pivotal signings when his United team went on to win the inaugural Premier League title in 1993, added: ‘This friend of mine, he is not doing too well. He is like a mentor to me, he nurtured me, he never judged me. He is such a fighter, he will pull through.’
United manager Mourinho, meanwhile, confirmed that top scorer Romelu Lukaku will miss the final two league games with an ankle injury as he races to be fit for the Cup final and Marouane Fellaini is out with a muscle injury as he enters the last few weeks of his contract at Old Trafford.
Fellaini’s future is not the only one in doubt after Paul Pogba’s situation came under fresh scrutiny yesterday, following reports that Paris Saint-Germain are exploring ways of signing the France midfielder.
Sportsmail revealed last month that Pogba could be sold this summer, and Mourinho was less than certain about the midfielder’s future at United yesterday.
‘I think he’s going to be here next season. That’s my feeling,’ he said. Pressed on the issue, he added: ‘I can give the guarantee that I don’t want him to leave, that the club doesn’t want to sell him and I can give you the guarantee that we don’t have any approach from him or his agent or from any club. In this moment, for me, he’s staying.’
There are bound to be changes at United this summer, however, as Mourinho tries to close the huge gap between United and neighbours Manchester City.
The Portuguese coach admitted yesterday that he could be lumbered with players who will never reach the levels he demands. Mourinho did not identify them but he has publicly questioned the likes of Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw in the past.
Asked if he needs more quality or a better mindset in his squad, Mourinho replied: ‘Both. How many points separate us from Manchester City? Not two, three or four. A lot of points. I trust some more than others that can bridge that gap.
‘I worked with the players for a couple of years. I know them better than anyone.
‘Of course, some of the players I am totally convinced are going to make it. Some others, I have good hopes that they are going to make it. And some others, I don’t believe they are going to make it.
‘Unless there is a perfect squad, you have to keep players you don’t love and players you don’t totally believe have the level of the squad. In my squad, I have some players where I would like to have better than what I have. That’s basic.’
Mourinho accepted that United’s record of beating all of the other ‘Big Six’ clubs but losing to the three promoted teams — Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield — as well as to relegated West Brom this season is proof of a deeper problem.
‘When you lose against all the teams that were promoted, it doesn’t smell right to me,’ said the United manager.
‘I will try to succeed in getting every player to have the same mentality as I have.
‘I am not afraid to play against the big teams and I respect the small teams.’