Ferguson faces defensive headache

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-07 09:52

LONDON: Sir Alex Ferguson admits he is struggling to field a recognisable back four in Wednesday's Champions League clash at Wolfsburg after Wes Brown and Gary Neville were forced out of Manchester United's 4-0 victory at West Ham.

Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson checks his watch during his team's 4-0 victory against West Ham United in their English Premier League soccer match at Upton Park in London December 5, 2009. [Agencies]

Goals from Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney completed a comfortable victory on Saturday for the reigning champions, who are now just two points behind Chelsea following the leaders' defeat at Manchester City.

But the victory was achieved despite Ferguson having to make late changes to his plans when Nemanja Vidic withdrew from the trip to Upton Park after suffering from flu.

That forced Ferguson to pair Neville and Brown in central defense, with midfielder Darren Fletcher operating as a makeshift right back.

But he was forced into further changes when Neville hobbled out of the action after just 34 minutes with a groin problem that is expected to keep the former England defender out for a number of weeks.

Midfielder Michael Carrick was introduced from the substitutes bench to partner Brown and is now certain to continue in that role against Wolfsburg.

By then Ferguson hopes Vidic will have recovered in time to partner Carrick while young defender Ritchie De Laet is also likely to start.

"It's becoming a headache to us," Ferguson said. "Losing Vidic to flu, we put Gary Neville to centerback and he goes off after 30 minutes.

"Michael Carrick did very well and then Wes Brown had to come off towards the end. I'm hoping we're going to have a back four for Wednesday. Vidic should be okay and I'll probably play Carrick and Nemanja again."

AFP