Post by Sky Sports 1 on Jul 15, 2006 12:07:01 GMT
It is business as usual for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players as the Reds take on Orlando Pirates at the Absa stadium in Durban this afternoon.
Despite news that striker Ruud van Nistelrooy wants away from Old Trafford, the Reds boss prefers to focus on his side’s first match of the 2006/07 pre season.
At a pre match press conference on the first day of the 10-day South Africa tour he said he was positively excited at the new season getting underway.
"We are looking forward to it. It’s always an exciting time for any footballer when they’ve had their pre season training and the matches begin," said Sir Alex.
"This year’s break has been particularly long for the group of players we have here, with the exception of one or two who had internationals at the beginning of June. None the less it’s been an unusually long pre season.
"There will be eight internationals starting this game so the expectation is still there and I expect them to show why they are at this club.
"Hopefully it will be a good game and I think it will be a difficult one because they [the Pirates] have graced themselves against Premiership opposition before. But that’s what we want, that’s what we need.
"We want them to stretch us, to test us, because if they do that we’ll get our fitness. It’s our first game but after 13 days preparation we should be ready."
www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=346724&page=2
Despite news that striker Ruud van Nistelrooy wants away from Old Trafford, the Reds boss prefers to focus on his side’s first match of the 2006/07 pre season.
At a pre match press conference on the first day of the 10-day South Africa tour he said he was positively excited at the new season getting underway.
"We are looking forward to it. It’s always an exciting time for any footballer when they’ve had their pre season training and the matches begin," said Sir Alex.
"This year’s break has been particularly long for the group of players we have here, with the exception of one or two who had internationals at the beginning of June. None the less it’s been an unusually long pre season.
"There will be eight internationals starting this game so the expectation is still there and I expect them to show why they are at this club.
"Hopefully it will be a good game and I think it will be a difficult one because they [the Pirates] have graced themselves against Premiership opposition before. But that’s what we want, that’s what we need.
"We want them to stretch us, to test us, because if they do that we’ll get our fitness. It’s our first game but after 13 days preparation we should be ready."
www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=346724&page=2
