Sir Alex Ferguson is nothing if not a man of his word. Even before Manchester United had secured their place in the Champions League final, he had promised John O’Shea a place in the starting line-up in Rome and it is a promise that he had no intention of withdrawing.
O’Shea has rarely ventured beyond the fringes of the United team since making his debut in a Worthington Cup tie almost a decade ago and has usually been the man to make way when the big occasions have come around. However, he scored the only goal of the semi-final first leg against Arsenal and will play at right back this evening. He is confident of dealing with whichever opponent he finds himself up against, whether it is Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi.
“Obviously you’re thinking who you might be up against, whether they start on your side or on the opposite side,” the Ireland defender said. “To be fair, the Barcelona team are like us. They pop up all over the place. You’ve got to be prepared for every eventuality. If Henry plays on the left, it could be him, but equally it could be Messi. Even easier, then . . .”
The last statement was delivered with tongue in cheek. O’Shea knows that he is not one of the game’s artists, having settled into a no-frills player in the six years since he famously nutmegged Luís Figo during a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in his breakthrough season for United.
His prospects at United have looked bleak at times over the past few campaigns, but even though, at 28, he is older than you might realise, he insists that he never for a moment considered leaving Old Trafford in pursuit of more regular football.
“I would never just stay at a club for the sake of winning a medal,” O’Shea said. “I would have to play a part. There was a case where the manager brought in a few new additions and it was probably the hindrance of me playing in so many positions that came into play. But luckily I’ve stuck at it and I’ve played a part in every season so far when we’ve been successful. Hopefully that will continue.”
Maintaining spirits and a competitive edge in such a large squad may look difficult, but Ferguson, to judge from the mood of his players as they trained at the Stadio Olimpico last night, has managed it. “It’s the man-management,” O’Shea said.
“He makes you feel involved. He might say that you’re not playing in such-and-such a game, but I want you right for that game. It’s the little things and he’s the best in the business at it.”
source : timesonline.co.uk
O’Shea has rarely ventured beyond the fringes of the United team since making his debut in a Worthington Cup tie almost a decade ago and has usually been the man to make way when the big occasions have come around. However, he scored the only goal of the semi-final first leg against Arsenal and will play at right back this evening. He is confident of dealing with whichever opponent he finds himself up against, whether it is Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi.
“Obviously you’re thinking who you might be up against, whether they start on your side or on the opposite side,” the Ireland defender said. “To be fair, the Barcelona team are like us. They pop up all over the place. You’ve got to be prepared for every eventuality. If Henry plays on the left, it could be him, but equally it could be Messi. Even easier, then . . .”
The last statement was delivered with tongue in cheek. O’Shea knows that he is not one of the game’s artists, having settled into a no-frills player in the six years since he famously nutmegged Luís Figo during a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in his breakthrough season for United.
His prospects at United have looked bleak at times over the past few campaigns, but even though, at 28, he is older than you might realise, he insists that he never for a moment considered leaving Old Trafford in pursuit of more regular football.
“I would never just stay at a club for the sake of winning a medal,” O’Shea said. “I would have to play a part. There was a case where the manager brought in a few new additions and it was probably the hindrance of me playing in so many positions that came into play. But luckily I’ve stuck at it and I’ve played a part in every season so far when we’ve been successful. Hopefully that will continue.”
Maintaining spirits and a competitive edge in such a large squad may look difficult, but Ferguson, to judge from the mood of his players as they trained at the Stadio Olimpico last night, has managed it. “It’s the man-management,” O’Shea said.
“He makes you feel involved. He might say that you’re not playing in such-and-such a game, but I want you right for that game. It’s the little things and he’s the best in the business at it.”
source : timesonline.co.uk
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