Keegan tips Yorke to turn United into the kings of Europe

By Ken Lawrence

Tuesday, February 16, 1999

Eric Cantona will always be remembered as the catalyst of Manchester United's spectacular return to the pinnacle of the English game.

But for all the Frenchman's impact, he could not inspire United to success in the elusive Champions League. Dwight Yorke, in Kevin Keegan's view, has that ability.

If the England manager-in-waiting is correct then the songs of celebration ringing around Old Trafford will have a West Indian reggae beat rather than a variation of the Marseillaise.

Keegan, whose Fulham side were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday, believes the value of Trinidad and Tobago striker's capture from Aston Villa at the start of the season is immeasurable.

He said: 'Dwight Yorke is superb, brilliant at linking everything up. The £12.75million spent on him might seem a lot of money but he was a bargain.

'He was the major difference between United and my side, which I know only come from the Second Division. But he will also be the major difference in the Champions League. Obviously he needs the help of other players but Yorke can take Manchester United to the European Cup, which I honestly believe they can now win. His arrival at Old Trafford is the icing on the cake for the team.'

With United's Champions League quarter-final against Inter Milan approaching next month, Keegan sees Yorke as the leader of a squad with a far greater depth of skill and strength, a situation on which Cantona could not rely. Tomorrow's vital Premiership clash with champions Arsenal might once have had manager Ferguson issuing prayers against the prospect of injury with Inter's visit imminent.

Indeed Ryan Giggs, having missed last season's Champions League quarter-final disappointment against Monaco, is fighting to be fit for the same stage of the tournament despite a similar hamstring problem.

But Keegan said: 'There is greater strength in every department of the United squad. Look at Jesper Blomqvist, for instance. He has proved he can be an ideal replacement for Giggs on the left wing.

'As for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, what other manager has the luxury of being able to split up Yorke and Andy Cole and bring in someone who scored four goals as a substitute?

'Jaap Stam, too, grows stronger with every game he plays at the back.'

While Keegan believes Yorke is so important for Ferguson, he is almost as impressed by the way Cole has discovered himself again, saying: 'One of the great strengths of United nowadays is Yorke's striking partnership with Andy Cole up front.

'Andy is now a better player than before I sold him to United when I was at Newcastle but it doesn't surprise me how much he has developed.

'The only thing that did surprise me was how long it took him to prove himself at Old Trafford. There is still more to come from him. He will improve further.'

Keegan's observations should increase optimism within Old Trafford as Ferguson's players begin a crucial sequence of games that will decide their destiny on three fronts. The Arsenal game apart, they meet Chelsea in the FA Cup, the tie sandwiched between Inter's arrival and a Premiership visit to Liverpool.

It is the Champions League which concentrates Ferguson's mind, however, and Keegan is convinced that finally the United manager may reach his Holy Grail.

Keegan said: 'Even in the past, when other people were talking about United winning the Champions League, I never believed they could do it. Now I'm convinced they can.'

Beckham on cue to inspire the triple

By Bob Cass

Sunday, February 14, 1999

Alex Ferguson believes David Beckham's successful emergence from his World Cup nightmare is the perfect vindication for the formula he believes can carry Manchester United to a unique triple triumph.

Beckham has been in tremendous form at club level, demonstrating that he has the mental and physical ability to cope with the stress of being centre-stage.

Ferguson insists that the midfielder's consistency is the reward for careful application of the three ethics which will dominate the team's preparation for vital games over the next four months: an emphasis on strength and stamina in a new training programme, grasping opportunities to allow rest and recuperation, and the freedom for players to express themselves.

'David did very well for England and he was absolutely brilliant in our 8-1 win at Nottingham Forest last weekend,' enthused the United boss. 'He is benefiting from the rest we allowed him over the Christmas period.' We planned that months ago.

United begin a crucial week with this afternoon's FA Cup fifth round visit of Fulham. And though United will be without skipper Roy Keane and Paul Scholes because of suspension, both will return for the mouth-watering Premiership clash against champions Arsenal at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

But Ferguson is not looking beyond Fulham. The Londoners' shock fourth- round defeat of Aston Villa has added extra spice to the head-to-head between two of the game's top managerial personalities.

'We won't be taking them lightly,' added the United boss. 'There is plenty of experience with players who have performed at the top level like Coleman, Brevett, Bracewell and Symons. We will have to play well to beat them.'