Tommy Docherty was one of the best loved managers at Manchester United in the seventies – despite leading the club to relegation in 1974. The Doc now believes that Sir Alex Ferguson will have to spend big in the transfer market this summer if he hopes to match Europes best. Ferguson led his side to a 19th League title last month but were well beaten in the Champions League final by Barcelona. Docherty, who managed United between 1972 and 1977 – READ HERE – admits his former side are a long way behind the La Liga champions at present but believes Ferguson is the right man to come up with a plan to thwart Pep Guardiola’s side next season.
“I wouldn’t say that Sir Alex needs to copy Barcelona, but obviously he will need to get into the transfer market in the forthcoming weeks” he said “he’ll look at where he needs to strengthen parts of the team and he has the finances to do it, as well as unloading one or two players. Of course, Sir Alex is a master of football management so you can’t really suggest or tell him anything – he’s been there and done it all. He’s just a fantastic manager.”
Meanwhile, United defender Patrice Evra has warned the Premier League his team will begin the new season hungrier than ever for success. Despite suggestions that they could rest on their laurels at the top of the Premier League, he has dismissed all such talk.
The France international insisted “We’re not finished yet. This is just the beginning. I know Manchester United can win more titles and we have to keep doing that. Of course winning 19 titles is a great achievement and we’re very pleased to be part of it, but we have the players and the quality to win more. Our aim every year is to win the league and we won’t stop here” he said.
“When you play for Manchester United your target is always to win the league. Losing it by a point last season was difficult to accept and I felt like I had not done my job properly. This year there is a big satisfaction.”
There were question marks over United as they made a stuttering start to the campaign, with pundits predicting the end of an era as Chelsea threatened to run away with the title. But, as they have done so often in the past, United proved them all wrong.
Evra added in an interview with Inside United magazine “A lot of people have criticised us – I remember some saying earlier in the season that it was the end of the empire. There were some difficult times. If you look back to when we played Bursaspor at Old Trafford in October, we were behind in the league and there were things going on off the pitch, but I remember doing an interview after that game where I said ‘You have to pay the musician at the end of the show, not now’. I always believed and I was proved right because we won the league.”
As everyone now knows, that musician has been paid in full!
Has The Doc got the right prescription?
Docherty one of the best loved managers at United, give me a break, he was one of the most hated for the way he treated players.
Yes he mjay of got us back into the top flight, and won us an FA cup, but apart from that… spent a load of cash for very little.
He was more of a dictator at the club, showed a lack of respect to Sir Matt,and legends like Law and Charlton, he’s second in the pratt stakes only to Ron Atkinson.
Is this article to be taken inconjuction with another ‘domestic’.Just asking?