By Chris Burton Last updated: 12th May 2008
Gill: Backing Ferguson
Manchester United chief executive David Gill admits that manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be given money to strengthen over the summer.
The Red Devils have just wrapped up a 10th Premier League title, but realise that they must continue to improve if they are retain the edge over their rivals.
United embarked a major spending spree last summer bringing in Owen Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez, and will be keen to bring in quality reinforcements once again should the right players become available.
Chief executive Gill has promised that the board will back their manager in the transfer market and fully expects Ferguson to get the chequebook out.
"Like any club you assess what's gone well, what hasn't gone so well and where you feel you can improve," Gill told MUTV.
"We will certainly be in a position where, if we can improve it, we will.
"Alex will never allow us to rest on our laurels.
"It is the best league in the world without doubt so if we want to continue to be at the top we have to make sure we look at the squad and improve it.
"The team won the title last year so how do you improve on that?
"But that is what we try to do. We need to make sure we don't stand still and our ability to identify those players who will make that difference has been very well sorted out the last two or three years."
With last summer's signings having adapted quickly to life at Old Trafford, Gill admits that their progression has come as a huge bonus to the club.
"When you make big money signings like we did last year, it is fantastic when you see them come in and do so well," he said.
"That shows what this club is about. All these big stars are integrated very quickly, made to feel very welcome and therefore they produce the goods on the pitch."
Ferguson has built up a wealth of experience during his 22 years at Old Trafford, and Gill feels that the continuity provided by the manager has been the catalyst for the club's success.
With another Premier League crown already safely in the bag, and a UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea to come on 21st May, the Red Devils chief executive hopes that the Old Trafford trophy cabinet will continue to swell in the years to come.
"Sir Alex has been here over 21 years now," reflected Gill.
"He has built many teams in that time and we have had that stability throughout the club as a whole.
"We are here to win trophies, so to get the Premiership is brilliant. It can set us up for the Champions League final in 10 days' time.
"The eyes of the world will be on us and I am sure Alex and the team will be highly motivated and we can look forward very positively."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Tottenham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Wigan |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Middlesbrough |
| 15:00 | Man City vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 11th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 8 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 Newcastle | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Derby 0 - 4 Reading | |
| Sunderland 0 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Wigan 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Birmingham 4 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tottenham 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Chelsea 1 - 1 Bolton | |
| Monday 5th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Sunday 4th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Man City | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton | |
| Saturday 3rd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Fulham 2 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Reading 0 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Derby | |
| Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 4 - 1 West Ham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Aston Villa | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Everton | 0 | 0 |
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