Speaking on the eve of the FA Cup quarter-final against Portsmouth, Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that, contrary to reports, no timetable had been set on his retirement.
There had been rumblings earlier today that the 66-year-old had targeted three more years at the helm of United, but Ferguson has now elaborated on his statement to French radio which led to the reports.
“It’s something I’ve said for quite a bit,” Ferguson began to explain. “If your health is good and you’re enjoying your job it could be two, three years, who knows?
“It could be four years who knows? It could be tomorrow if I read some bad press from your mob [journalists] - trying to get rid of me,” he quipped.
“I’ve not put a time limit on it - that’s for sure.”
Ferguson, who has won an astounding 18 trophies since taking over the Red Devils in 1986, then turned his attention to tomorrow’s FA Cup clash at Old Trafford.
“Everyone is fit for tomorrow - obviously Gary (Neville) and Mikael Silvestre are on a good programme now and I’m pretty positive about that - particularly Gary who is doing much better,” Ferguson said.
“It is a matter of sticking to that framework of what we’re doing with him to make sure he doesn’t have anymore niggly re-occurrences of the small injuries that have been holding him back.
“Everyone else is fit and obviously I have a difficult choice to make and that seems to be the norm at the moment with everyone being available,” he added.
“But that is something I’m happy to do because without that squad we wouldn’t be where we are at this moment in time.
“Obviously it’s an FA Cup tie, it’s a quarter-final, it’s at home - it’s all we can ask for as I keep saying.
“It should be a good atmosphere tomorrow and we have a test - it’s a good test for us and hopefully we can come through it.”
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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