• Premier League

Ferguson targets three more years at United

ESPNsoccernet staff
December 31, 2011
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 70th birthday on New Year's Eve © Getty Images
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Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he hopes to remain in charge of Manchester United until 2015.

Ferguson, who turned 70 on New Year's Eve, had originally planned to retire at the end of the 2001-02 season, but he reversed his decision and has led the club to a further three Champions League finals and a further five Premier League titles.

United are currently going through a period of renewal, with youngsters like Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck coming in as the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes make way, and Ferguson is determined to oversee a successful period with the new generation.

"I think I've got three years at the club," he told MUTV. "As long as my health stays up, and as long as I'm still enjoying it and still getting the satisfaction of the team doing its best."

Asked whether he is still motivated by the challenge of new achievements, he said: "Yes. There are new players that have come in - like Jones, Smalling, Ashley Young, Welbeck - and they haven't won any league medals yet.

"We have to continue the dominance of winning leagues and, without question, winning a European Cup is important at this club. We should have been in at least another three finals, but you can't be greedy, I suppose, and having won two in my time is an achievement.

"They were special. It was terrific to win them. I think I'd be very keen to do that (again)."

Although the new-look side struggled in Europe, Ferguson is pleased with the attitude of the squad.

"You don't win every time," he said. "People maybe say we're great winners and all that type of thing, but I think we're great losers. You know why? Because we don't let it happen too many times and we've a certain attitude about that.

"The players help in that respect. They address the situation. We've had three major defeats this season and we've responded. That tells you they don't like losing. Losing those games had impact in terms of the criticism we received. We responded, and that is Manchester United."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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