Fergie: Champions League Better than World Cup

By David Hobbs
September 8 2005

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Champions League produces a better standard of football than the World Cup, which next takes place in Germany this forthcoming summer.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has reiterated his intentions to stay at Old Trafford despite tempting links to La Liga giants Barcelona and Real

Ferguson recently spent time with the 7th Uefa Elite Coaches Forum, where the finest managers in the world - including the likes of Fabio Cappello - discussed the beautiful game.

The Champions League winning Scotsman commented: ''I think that the Champions League and Premier League in England are of a fantastically high standard. I think people find it hard to remember when the last great World Cup was. I think the Champions League is better than the World Cup.

''It was probably 1986 and that's nearly 20 years ago. When the Champions League began nobody could have envisaged the level it would reach.

''So the Uefa Football Circle is dedicated to the overall quality of coaching standards to get them to a high, high level.''

Ferguson has the task of Villarreal, Benfica and Lille in this year's first round of the Champions League ahead of him having beat Debrecen twice in the qualifiers.

David Hobbs - Webmaster
[david@manutdweb.com]