Neil Ruddock was desperate to play against former Team Tottenham despite injury concern
Liverpool’s new signing Neil Ruddock was pleading for another chance to face his former club Tottenham at Anfield despite his manager Graeme Souness fearing about his fitness issues. Ruddock turned his back on the North London club after Terry Venables was sacked as chief executive and he had a wages row with new boss Ossie Ardiles.
He joined Liverpool for £2.5 million and had inspired them to the early leadership of the premier league. But after scoring the first goal against Swindon he limped off with a groin injury.
Neil Ruddock said “I badly want to play on Wednesday and I expect to be fit.”
Graeme Souness said “Neil is very keen to play in the Spurs game, as you can imagine. But there is no point in taking a risk of doing something that could put him out for a month.”
Alex Ferguson excited about Manchester United’s European Prospects and his praise for match-winner Eric Cantona
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had said that he felt that his team was one of the strongest contenders for the European cup and he believed that he could repeat the glory days of 1968 by winning the cup.
Alex Ferguson said “I saw a lot of European football last year and on the evidence of that I wouldn’t be surprised if they go all the way. Manchester United are certainly better equipped than any other team I saw in Europe last season.”
Ferguson was also full of praise for his star French striker Eric Cantona and admitted that it is tough to leave the charismatic striker out because of the impact he makes on the match.
Alex Ferguson said “Its going to be a very difficult decision. I just think that with Eric in, the team is always going for a win. He either scores a goal or makes a goal.”
Tottenham manager Ossie Ardiles spoke about having to let Neil Ruddock go against his wishes
Tottenham manager Ossie ARdiles, the man who let go off Neil Ruddock to Liverpool because of the wages and game time that the striker wanted has revealed that he loved Ruddock and didn’t want to see him go. But it was not possible for him to keep Ruddock and Teddy Sherringham both together at the club.
Ossie ARdiles said “Its no secret I wanted to keep Neil at Spurs but it wasn’t possible in the circumstances. I wasn’t prepared to give him certain things he wanted and may be the real truth will come out one day. But I can truthfully say I like Neil and always did throughout our discussions There is no bad feeling, I wish him well – although not perhaps tomorrow night.”
Newcastle Striker Andy Cole set his sight on scoring against Everton
Newcastle United striker Andy Cole had set his sights on outdoing his manager Kevin Keegan when they would face Everton later that day. Keegan never scored a goal against Everton in his playing days with Liverpool, Southampton and Newcastle United. And it prompted Cole to insist that he would show his manager how it is done and was feeling confident after scoring at Old Trafford in the previous match.
Andy Cole said “I’ll just have to show the gaffer how it is done. I used to go to school with Everton’s new signing Graham Stuart and I want to make sure that I put one over him tonight.”