MANCHESTER (AFP)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday he
wasn't concerned by rivals and newly-crowned Premier League
champions Manchester City's ability to out bid them in the
transfer market.
United lost out on successfully defending their title solely on
goal difference to City on Sunday when two injury-time goals saw
City to a 3-2 win over QPR and their first league crown in 44
years.
However, Ferguson said that he was not going to be forced into a
change of transfer policy because of losing out to their city
rivals and would stick to investing in young talent while Abu
Dhabi-owned City spent huge amounts on established players.
"We know City are going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and
silly salaries. We know that happens. We can't do anything about
that," the 70-year-old told MUTV at the United player of the year
dinner.
"We are not like other clubs who can spend fortunes on proven
goods. We invest in players who will be with the club for a long
time, who will create the character of the club and the
excitement for our fans.
"We are good at that and we are going to continue that way."
Ferguson, who is believed to be targeting two stars from Borussia
Dortmund's successful Bundesliga title defence Japanese
international Shinji Kagawa and Polish star Robert Lewandowski,
said there was no need for a large scale overhaul of his squad.
This despite finishing without a trophy, being knocked out of the
Champions League at the group stage and letting an eight point
lead over City in early April slip.
"We have set out our stall for certain players and we want to
make sure the evolution continues at United," said Ferguson.
"I have been at the club for 25 years and I have to maintain a
certain standard that keeps us there all the time.
"We don't always win it because we are always there, which is
great credit to how we view things.
"But there is nothing materially wrong with us. I know there are
some critics but we got 89 points."
