Ferguson admits Roo and Foster regret
by Adam Marshall, 22 July 2008
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may not make too many mistakes but he has conceded that he could have treated Wayne Rooney and Ben Foster a little better last term.
The England internationals are likely to play a key part in the club's future and both featured in the friendly win over Orlando Pirates in Durban on Tuesday.
Ferguson has often suggested he has struggled to find Rooney's best position and has now intimated that the striker's selfless attitude could have been to his cost.
As for Foster, the keeper's return from injury ahead of schedule, and subsequent contribution at Derby County that proved so vital in the Premier League title chase, has led to a tinge of regret from Ferguson.
Nevertheless, he is certain that Rooney will figure largely in a forward role next season and Foster will be rewarded for his patience by challenging Edwin van der Sar for a place.
"We need to define Rooney's role better," Ferguson told The Daily Telegraph. "And I think I have to take a bit of responsibility for that.
"I think he sacrificed himself for the team, which says a lot about the lad because he never complained.
"We've played him wide and in other positions. He will score goals but we kept using him in different positions, he'd play centre half if you asked him to.
"I think his best position is through the middle, either a front role or tucking in just behind.
"He may have benefited by having someone with more experience alongside him.
"That always happens with young strikers. At 22, he was never going to be the finished article. We signed him for his potential, which is why we paid £26 million for him.
"In a few years' time, we will be saying that is really brilliant business.”
Foster kept a clean sheet in South Africa and looked confident and ready for a big campaign after recovering from the cruciate ligament injury that wrecked his last season.
"I can see Ben being England's goalkeeper for the next few years and his return to fitness is good news for England," Ferguson stated.
"With David James, a really experienced keeper, back in the England squad, it shows that a young keeper like Ben has got a real chance.
"But Edwin van der Sar has been one of the best goalkeepers of all time and he will start the season in goal for us at United.
"Edwin is approaching 38, but he could easily go on until he is 40. Ben is young and has at least 15 years ahead of him, so there is no need for him to panic because his time will come.
"We didn't expect Ben back so quickly and that is why I did not name him in my European squad for the Champions League.
"When we saw the way he performed in his one game for us at Derby, it was something of a regret, but we were fortunate in that we had Edwin and Tomasz Kuszczak, so we weren't too bad in that department.
"Ben has real ability, though, and he will certainly be challenging for a first-team place this season."