Sir Alex Ferguson: Manchester United will beat Liverpool FC’s haul

May 24 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

SIR ALEX FERGUSON says he isn’t bothered about the challenge of surpassing Liverpool’s honours list – so convinced is he that Manchester United will eclipse their North West neighbours.

United won only their third European Cup this week after capitalising on a spot-kick slip from John Terry to defeat fellow Premier League team Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out.

When first arriving at Old Trafford more than two decades ago, Ferguson declared it his intention to “knock Liverpool off their f-----g perch”.

United’s championship win earlier this month has moved them to within one of Liverpool’s record tally of 18. But the Old Trafford outfit still remain two adrift of the Anfield team’s five European Cup triumphs, and are behind Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Ajax in the all-time list.

Ferguson, though, is confident United will ease past Liverpool’s achievements in the coming years.

“We have gone a long way to eradicating our record in the European Cup,” said Ferguson.

“It was two victories, now it is three. That just has a far better ring to it.

“I don’t concern myself with overtaking Liverpool because this team will do it. They will win more titles, I am sure of that.

“But the European thing is part of my motivation. Every year I have asked why have we not won more. The big challenge is to get to a more respectable number.”

Ferguson admitted he thought United had lost the Champions League final when Terry stepped up to take his penalty for Chelsea.

“I thought we had lost,” admitted Ferguson. “When you get down to the last one you are saying to yourself ‘Ah well’. I kept thinking to myself I had never won anything on penalty kicks, so it was just the norm.”