Ferguson still wants to knock Liverpool off their perch

Matt Stead

Sir Alex Ferguson has implored Manchester United to win the Europa League, and thereby become “the most successful club in England”.

Ferguson famously made clear his desire to “knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch” in 2002, with the former United boss leading the club into the greatest period in their history.

They won a 20th top-flight title under Ferguson in his final season, out-doing their bitter rivals in that regard, but still perhaps lag behind in European terms.

United have won three European Cup/Champions Leagues, one Cup Winners’ Cup and one Super Cup, while Liverpool have five European Cup/Champions Leagues, three UEFA Cups, and three Super Cups to their name.

Ferguson is eyeing a United Europa League win this season in order to bridge that gap.

“The thing is, we’ve never won the Europa League,” Ferguson told ESPN FC. “We’ve never won UEFA Cup, what it used to be. And we’ve got a great draw. I’m not saying it’s a certainty, but they’ve got a great chance.

“It gets you into the Champions League, too — it didn’t used to but it does now, and so that’s a great incentive.

“And there’s no Sevilla in it, so that’s good,” he added, of the side who have won the last three tournaments.

“If you win a trophy, it’s important,” he said. “It’s a European trophy. It doesn’t matter that it’s not the Champions League — it’s still a European trophy. And if you win it, you get into the Champions League. The incentive is greater to do that.

“And your CV gets bigger. If we won the Europa League? Fantastic. Add it to the European Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup, the Champions League. It’s bigger and bigger. We also want to be the most successful club in England.”