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'Ready to compete' Confident Howard makes assured debut in Man Utd winPosted: Friday August 01, 2003 2:09 PMUpdated: Friday August 01, 2003 2:29 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) -- Tim Howard is counting on advice from World Cup-winner Lothar Matthaeus to help him become Manchester United's new No. 1 goalkeeper. Howard, the third-string United States 'keeper, made an impressive debut for the English champions on Thursday in their 4-1 victory over Juventus in a preseason friendly. The match drew a sellout crowd of 79,005 to Giants Stadium, Howard's home field when he was in Major League Soccer. United manager Alex Ferguson said the 24-year-old was "ready to compete for the No. 1" jersey after watching his new 2.3 million-pound signing gel quickly with the defenders around him. Howard, after enjoying a near-perfect night in his home state of New Jersey, credited his confidence and authority to playing with former Germany international Matthaeus at the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. "When you're new at a club you have to build respect between you and your teammates," Howard told reporters. "These are world-class defenders playing in front of me, but I still have to talk to them, to tell them where to go and to get on them [when mistakes are made]. "I learned that years ago when Matthaeus was at the MetroStars. "When he arrived, I couldn't even talk to him or treat him like a normal player because of what he had done in the game. "But that wasn't good for the team. I learned from that mistake then. In fact, in the end he told me I just had to talk to him, that he was only a human being. "The defenders at United have already told me to keep talking to them. Any good defender wants that. "But the whole team has been fantastic to me. I didn't expect everyone to be so open and forward." Howard said it was a "fantastic" experience to make his United debut at Giants stadium, his home with the MetroStars for the last six years. He saved sharply on shots by Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Niccola Legrottalie, while his handling was competent and kicking assured. He also stood no chance with Pavel Nedved's consolation goal for Juventus. "I think that was unsaveable," he said. "On the whole it was very positive. The speed of the game at this level is higher than what I was used to [in MLS], but I will adjust quickly." Ferguson, who is yet to decide who will play in goal for United's final match of their preseason tour of the U.S. against Barcelona on Sunday, said: "Tim was excellent. "He showed all the attributes that we have recognized in him. I was hoping he would have a good debut and I was pleased for him. "He's ready to compete for the No. 1 spot. That's why he's here." Veron wins Ferguson praiseEAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) -- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson lauded Juan Sebastian Veron on Thursday and said he was mystified by suggestions the Argentina midfielder would sign for Chelsea in the next few days. Veron was named man-of-the-match as United beat Juventus 4-1 in a preseason friendly on their tour of the United States, while media reports in Britain continued to link him with a move to big-spending Chelsea. "I can't answer the question of what's going on," Ferguson told reporters. "Every day the press keep seeing him with us on tour and every day someone writes about him going. "Unless he's going to be whisked from under my nose, those people are wrong." The Scot, talking later to MUTV, added: "I don't know what is going on. "The stories [about Veron leaving] are emanating from England but the media [covering the tour] are here and can see Veron every day. It's very strange." Veron joined United from Italian club Lazio for 28.1 million pounds (US$45.27 million) two years ago but has failed to live up to expectations, producing his best form in fits and starts. Better performances Thursday night was one of his better performances, helping to lay on goals for Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy as United maintained their fine preseason form. "He's a marvelous player with great imagination," said Ferguson. "He deserved the [man-of-the-match] award." Veron last week turned down the chance to join Chelsea, telling Ferguson he wanted to fight for his place. But the issue resurfaced after his agent claimed on Tuesday that a deal with the London club was still possible. Ferguson declared himself "pleased" with his side's preseason form during their tour of the U.S. They have won all three games, scoring 11 goals and conceding two. "The feature of our play has been the manner in which we've scored our goals," said Ferguson. "We had two more special ones tonight -- Ryan Giggs's free kick and Ruud van Nistelrooy's magnificent strike. "I said when I first signed him [van Nistelrooy] he had similarities to [former Netherlands striker] Marco van Basten... Ruud is still improving, we don't know how far he can go." Lippi blasts Juventus players after United defeatEAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) -- Juventus coach Marcello Lippi attacked the approach of his players after the Italian champions slumped to a 4-1 defeat by Manchester United in a preseason friendly on Thursday. "When you play a team of United's caliber you know you may lose," Lippi told reporters. "But what I did not like was players playing on their own rather than for the team. "You can be a great champion but even great champions can't play by themselves. I got mad because players lost the ball and did not go to get it back." Lippi fielded an under-strength side for much of the encounter at the Giants Stadium, and only when he made 10 outfield substitutions after 62 minutes did Juventus show any kind of promise. Pavel Nedved, one of the substitutes, was particularly lively, and the Czech Republic international was rewarded with Juventus's solitary strike 20 minutes from time. But to compound Lippi's bad night, the midfielder hobbled away from the stadium later with his left knee strapped up. Juventus face AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup at the Giants Stadium on Sunday, a repeat of last season's European Cup final which Milan won on penalties. With one eye on the Milan clash, Lippi chose to leave Nedved, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet on the bench from the start against United. It backfired as they found themselves 3-0 down after an hour. But Lippi explained that United were always likely to be superior. "It's difficult to go round the world and play these type of teams with only 10 days' preparation," he said. "It was a question of meeting a team who is more advanced in their preparation for the season. They passed the ball faster and that's probably why we lost 4-1. "But I was more happy after the second half... they played very easily and created three or four scoring chances. "I was not particularly impressed with Manchester United -- I know they are one of the best in the world." Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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