SIR ALEX'S RESPECT FOR ROY
Sir Alex is looking forward to locking horns with Roy Hodgson again on Sunday as he's pleased the West Brom manager has been able to show his coaching class at The Hawthorns.
The 64-year-old has enjoyed a distinguished career in charge of both top clubs like Inter Milan but also national teams such as Switzerland and Finland. However, he had an unhappy spell at Liverpool, undertaking the shortest reign of any manager in the Merseysiders' history.
"Roy probably couldn't win at Anfield really," admitted Sir Alex. "Sometimes timing is bad for certain jobs and that was bad timing for him. But there is no disputing his ability, his credibility and the career he's had over the years. You can't dismiss that."
The Baggies have taken nine points out of nine since losing to Swansea with a derby day to remember at Molineux providing a real upsurge in confidence.
"West Brom are in a bit of form - they've won their last three games and scored five at Wolves and beat Chelsea," said the boss. "Roy always has his teams organised and it'll be the same on Sunday. But we're at home and we're expected to win our games at home so hopefully we can put the [Athletic Club] result behind us.
SMALLING WARY OF FORMER BOSS
Defender Chris Smalling speaks exclusively to Red View about Sunday's meeting with West Brom...
Some fans feel the toughest games are out of the way. But West Brom didn't exactly roll over at OT last term, did they?
No, definitely not. They were the team who put a little blemish on our home record last year. Roy Hodgson, a manager I know, has since gone there and done very well. No game is easy in this league. It's often the case that teams who are written off will go out and do something special, like West Brom beating Chelsea last weekend, for the first time in the Premier League. It's going to be another big test for us as we try to keep the pressure up [on City].
You were managed by Roy Hodgson at Fulham. What kind of boss is he?
He's very meticulous. We had a lot of video analysis sessions with him at Fulham, and did a lot of work on our team shape. He made sure that every player knew his job. It seems that approach is working for him again at West Brom and I'm glad he's doing well.
Could he do with West Brom what he did at Fulham and take them into the Europa League?
Yes, it could be an option. There are quite a lot of teams now in the Premier League who are getting stronger and attracting the sort of players who can maybe help them in terms of European football. It could be a possible aim for them.
Presumably the players aren't feeling complacent about the run-in?
No, we're not. We need to make sure we set our stall out, win our games and hopefully score a few goals in the run-in. There are only 11 games to go and each one will be like a cup final. We'll definitely be treating them like that.
DE GEA ANSWERS THE FANS
The Reds' in-form keeper parries questions from United Review readers...
Sir Alex sees you as United's keeper for the next 10 years - is that your goal? Shanker Vasu
Absolutely - let's hope that proves to be the case! Every day I feel more at home here so I can see myself spending my whole career at United. I am very relaxed in England and I like my football here.
Who do you get on with best at the club? Jonas Giaever
I get on with all the lads but I guess Chicharito and Antonio Valencia most of all. They were brilliant when I first arrived, translating for me and answering any questions I had. Javier is a real livewire off the field - he lifts every room he walks into and his enthusiasm is infectious.
You have great reflexes. Do you practise this or is it just a gift? Andre
I certainly work hard at it, but I believe something like that is in-born. A singer is born with a great voice, a striker can naturally sniff out a chance and I think a goalkeeper's reflexes are the same.
What music do you enjoy? jasper99
I like metal and rock bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Metallica. When I put it on in the dressing room, everyone moans! Most of the other players are into hip-hop. I also love This Is The One [by the Stone Roses], the song we come out to at Old Trafford - it gives me a big lift for the game.
Boss ponders Euro rethink
Sir Alex has revealed that he is thinking of having a rethink over how United approach European home games in the wake of the 3-2 defeat to Athletic Club.The Reds have won only one of five ties at Old Trafford this season in the Champions League and Europa League, against Otelul Galati, and conceded an average of two goals per game.
It's a far cry from last season's imperious form at the Theatre of Dreams, both domestically and in Europe's premier competition, and the manager will be assessing the situation.
"I think there’s been that slackness all season [with defending]," he told MUTV. "And, but for David De Gea, we could have lost by four or five goals [to Athletic]. He was absolutely superb.
"We’ve had a bad season in Europe, it has to be said. We’ve lost three goals against Basel, two against Benfica, two to Ajax and three tonight. That tells the story. Maybe it's just one of these years when we need to take stock in terms of assessing how we should approach games at home."
The Reds face a real uphill battle to stay in the Europa League as next week's visit to San Mames is daunting one and a two-goal victory will be required unless Sir Alex's side can at least match Athletic's three away goals.
"I’m going to need to assess our games because we’re maybe finding it difficult to marry the two competitions together, playing Thursdays and Sundays as we do normally with the Champions League," added the manager. "I think we can win the game okay.
"I made the point during the week that we’re now starting to get players back. To marry the two together successfully, I think you need the full squad.
"We tried to make the changes tonight to freshen up, particularly midfield, as best we could. We certainly could do with all the players back to marry the two together."
Sir Alex rues defending
Sir Alex Ferguson feels Manchester United could still reach the Europa League quarter-finals - but only if his side improve in defence after losing an open game at Old Trafford.The boss felt the Reds' second successive home defeat in Europe was fair, given how well the visitors Athletic Club played and how his team failed to stop Fernando Llorente, Oscar de Marcos and Iker Muniain from scoring the three away goals.
"We were well beaten," Sir Alex admitted. "Athletic Club Bilbao were the better team, they were very aggressive in terms of their attacking and pressing the ball. Their system caused us problems. All teams do that away from home - they overload the midfield which can cause you problems.
"When we went to three midfielders in the second half we seemed to get better and get a grip of the game and our attacking play was pretty good then. The attacking part wasn’t a problem for us really, but our defending wasn't very good and it kept us on the back foot all the time. It was very loose, particularly in the first half.
"Without David De Gea, we could have conceded four or five goals. He was superb. He made maybe four or five terrific saves in the game."
De Gea had little chance for the first goal - the close-range header scored by Llorente - and Sir Alex feels the second one he conceded, from Oscar de Marcos, should have been chalked off.
"The second goal put us on the back foot again. I thought it was offside and if it had been disallowed, I think we could have won the game. Maybe not deservedly but I think we could have won it."
As for Athletic Club's killer third strike, Sir Alex queried the referee's decision to stop play when Patrice Evra kicked the ball without his boot on. When the resulting free-kick was pumped upfield, Iker Muniain fired home the rebound from another stunning save.
"The ref said to the players that you can’t play without a boot. It seems a bit bizarre as Patrice only passed the ball about three feet. It was a bit unfortunate."
Looking ahead to next Thursday's return match, Sir Alex said: "We can win the game, I don't think there's any question about that. We showed tonight we can make chances against them. Obviously we're going to have to defend better, that goes without saying."
Sir Alex had praise for the opposition fans who travelled in numbers rarely seen for a European club coming to Old Trafford - "when visiting teams bring that number of fans it makes for a great atmosphere" - and also for his opposite number Marcelo Bielsa, Athletic Club's Argentine coach.
"His team probably mirror himself. The work ethic of their team is fantastic. They worked harder than us tonight. That’s the way he’s built his team to work as hard as that and press the ball everywhere on the pitch. They never stopped running. They had a two-hour training session yesterday – one hour in the morning at our old training ground and one last night so they trained for two hours and still put that effort in tonight. It tells you everything about them."
Boss lauds defensive duo
Sir Alex feels the continuity being enjoyed in the middle of the defence has helped improve United's backline.
The form of Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans has been exceptional of late and both starred again in last weekend's crucial victory at Tottenham. Evans has deputised impressively for injured skipper Nemanja Vidic and it's probably no coincidence that David De Gea has looked comfortable with a settled pairing in front of him.
"Rio Ferdinand's form in particular over the last couple of months has been outstanding," enthused Sir Alex. "It tells you that when you play two players together over long periods, rather than chop and change, it makes a difference. Jonny Evans has benefited there. That's been a plus."
Sir Alex is also very happy with summer signing De Gea, who was named the ManUtd.com Player of the Month for February.
"If you remember, we took him out for certain games in order to let him settle," said the manager. "It's not easy coming over here, as you know. Anders [Lindegaard] came in and did very well.
"We kept that process going for most of the time. But he had a bad game against Liverpool so I felt at that point he needed to get his confidence back in terms of handling that defeat.
"He was better than that performance. Since then he's been outstanding. He's grasped the nettle. His training performances have always been fantastic anyway but he's done really well there and transferred that form to the game situation. He's done really well."
The form of Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans has been exceptional of late and both starred again in last weekend's crucial victory at Tottenham. Evans has deputised impressively for injured skipper Nemanja Vidic and it's probably no coincidence that David De Gea has looked comfortable with a settled pairing in front of him.
"Rio Ferdinand's form in particular over the last couple of months has been outstanding," enthused Sir Alex. "It tells you that when you play two players together over long periods, rather than chop and change, it makes a difference. Jonny Evans has benefited there. That's been a plus."
Sir Alex is also very happy with summer signing De Gea, who was named the ManUtd.com Player of the Month for February.
"If you remember, we took him out for certain games in order to let him settle," said the manager. "It's not easy coming over here, as you know. Anders [Lindegaard] came in and did very well.
"We kept that process going for most of the time. But he had a bad game against Liverpool so I felt at that point he needed to get his confidence back in terms of handling that defeat.
"He was better than that performance. Since then he's been outstanding. He's grasped the nettle. His training performances have always been fantastic anyway but he's done really well there and transferred that form to the game situation. He's done really well."
Evans: Knowhow could count
Jonny Evans says the players will go to Bilbao knowing the odds are stacked against the Reds after the 3-2 loss to Athletic Club, but insists the team's vast experience of winning away in Europe gives us hope.
Sir Alex's men were outplayed and outscored by a hugely impressive Spanish side at Old Trafford on Thursday night, but Wayne Rooney's brace has kept the Reds in the tie.
Evans is expecting another tough encounter against Marcelo Bielsa's side in a week's time and admits the Reds must defend better if they're to progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.
"We didn't defend well tonight and virtually all over the pitch we just couldn't seem to get a good shape about us," he told MUTV afterwards.
"They had more possession than us and controlled the game. We were too open at times and allowed them to create too many chances.
"David [De Gea] kept the score down for us and pulled off some good saves, but they've got the three away goals and we have to go there and win by a couple now.
"We've got a lot of experience going away in Europe though and hopefully that will benefit us when we go over there."
RED DEVILS CAN AND WILL WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE...I HAVE FAITH IN THE BOYS' AND SIR ALEX
Boys' xxxxxxxxxxx for Sir Alex X ;)
Sir Alex's men were outplayed and outscored by a hugely impressive Spanish side at Old Trafford on Thursday night, but Wayne Rooney's brace has kept the Reds in the tie.
Evans is expecting another tough encounter against Marcelo Bielsa's side in a week's time and admits the Reds must defend better if they're to progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.
"We didn't defend well tonight and virtually all over the pitch we just couldn't seem to get a good shape about us," he told MUTV afterwards.
"They had more possession than us and controlled the game. We were too open at times and allowed them to create too many chances.
"David [De Gea] kept the score down for us and pulled off some good saves, but they've got the three away goals and we have to go there and win by a couple now.
"We've got a lot of experience going away in Europe though and hopefully that will benefit us when we go over there."
Boys' xxxxxxxxxxx for Sir Alex X ;)
