ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa v Manchester Utd:"ALEX Ferguson is a very complicated man. He is tough. If things are all right, then they are all right, but when he thinks something is wrong, then everything is screwed. He can go from complimenting you to trashing you in a matter of minutes."
With these words did Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, the footballer known as Nani, appear to sign his death warrant at Old Trafford. Ferguson’s lifelong socialism comes with a dash of Stalin and very few inside Manchester United get away with these kind of observations about the manager – especially those on the fringes of Manchester United’s first team, as Nani was when he gave the interview to the Portuguese press in November.
What Nani said was not terribly revealing. Ever since Ferguson took charge of a playing staff of eight at East Stirling in 1974, everyone who has ever worked for him has been aware of a fearsome temper, an intolerance of the ordinary and an overwhelming desire to win. But reporters in Manchester remembered the furore stirred by Jaap Stam’s autobiography in which he confessed he had been tapped up by the Manchester United manager while at PSV Eindhoven.
The Dutchman was very swiftly sold after its publication, although Ferguson has always insisted Stam’s departure – one he came to regret – was forced by a €18 million bid from Lazio which was thought too good to resist.
In the same month Nani gave his interview, Ferguson had gone to Goodison Park to watch Benfica’s Angel Di Maria bewitch Everton in the Europa League. After that, reports began appearing of a deal that would take the 21-year-old Argentinian to Old Trafford for €13.6 million plus Nani.
The Portuguese winger did not return to Lisbon in January. Instead, he remained in Manchester where suddenly and unexpectedly he blossomed, and he will probably start against Aston Villa tonight. When he was picked to face Burnley on January 16th, it was the first time he had started a league game at Old Trafford since the 2-0 win over Blackburn in October, in which he was substituted for Gabriel Obertan.
Nani had complained loudly about his repeated omissions, claiming they had “shattered his confidence”. If so, Burnley with their neat football were a good choice for a return. It was a game Nani might have expected to do well in – as he did against Hull and Portsmouth – matches won 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0.
However, it was his electric displays, first against Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final at Old Trafford and then in the command performance at Arsenal, that confirmed the promise that had persuaded Ferguson to pay Sporting Lisbon over €19 million for a largely unproven 20-year-old. He had always relished facing Arsenal and, until that Sunday at the Emirates, his finest display was in a 4-0 rout of Arsene Wenger’s side in the FA Cup two years ago.
“He has incredible ability and, when he performs like he did against Arsenal, he is unstoppable,” United’s captain, Gary Neville, reflected.
“Players like Nani, who have such high skill levels, rely on confidence.”
When Nani arrived from Lisbon, Manchester United’s training ground at Carrington would not have appeared quite so alien. Carlos Queiroz conducted training; Cristiano Ronaldo was the central figure and Anderson was another new arrival, this time from Porto. Now there is only Anderson left and it appears Ferguson has little faith left in the Brazilian.
During Manchester United’s summer tour of Asia, Ferguson was asked about Nani and described him essentially as still immature. He had not grown up or adapted as swiftly as Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Maybe watching from the sidelines was best for him,” Ferguson said. “He has shown some maturity and we always thought that was the key to him. He is a young lad from another country and quite a shy boy really, but the assets have always been there. Some players adapt quickly to coming from another country to Manchester United and some don’t. I don’t think Nani was overshadowed by Ronaldo. It was just a lack of maturity in the boy. He was just young.”
GuardianService
