Sir Alex Ferguson: Fall guys get decisions

SIR Alex Ferguson has cited Ryan Giggs’ paltry record at getting penalties as proof referees are reluctant to award spot-kicks when players stay on their feet.

After a fortnight of negative headlines, the Manchester United manager confirmed he had spoken to Ashley Young after he again went down too easily to win a penalty against former club Aston Villa at Old Trafford last Sunday.

Yet Ferguson also felt referee Mark Halsey was right to award the spot-kick for Ciaran Clark’s tackle as the Villa defender did make contact with Young, just as QPR’s Shaun Derry did the previous week. And, after watching the Champions League semi-finals in Munich and at Chelsea this week, the Scot is coming to the conclusion that it is almost acceptable to hit the deck because otherwise, you will lose out.

“Ryan Giggs has been here for 20 years and got five penalties. Do you know why? Because his balance is so good,” said Ferguson. “Last week, if the player doesn’t bring Ashley down he is going to score. It was a clear goalscoring opportunity.

“He did overdo the attempt to get a penalty but I watched Real Madrid and Bayern Munich the other night and it was absolutely ridiculous, players were diving and rolling about, nothing like what Young has been accused of. You see the other night in the Chelsea game, we are in an age where you expect it now.”

Ferguson does believe there is an element of Young being made a scapegoat because of the United connection. However, as with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, he has felt it necessary to speak with the winger about his conduct.

“People have reacted because it is Manchester United,” said Ferguson. “I have had a word with Ashley. He understands where we are coming from. Hopefully it makes a difference.”

Young’s actions have been part of a wider debate about refereeing standards, and whether big clubs are getting the majority of close decisions.

Ferguson has always insisted that is not true, a stance he is sticking to. “If it is a penalty it is a penalty,” he said. “We didn’t get one against Wigan during the week but we didn’t scream from the rooftops about it. It happens. We got one given against us for Newcastle, we didn’t scream about that either. You get bad decisions and good ones. Believe me, it does even itself out. Everyone is the same.”

Meanwhile, Jonny Evans does not believe United are getting the credit they deserve for their performances so far this season. United head into tomorrow’s Old Trafford encounter with Everton knowing victory would put them in line to seal a record 20th league championship by beating Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on 30 April.

Yet they are still the victims of loaded comments, with the general opinion being that this United squad is a pale comparison of previous years. That is despite the fact they have only lost four times this season and recently collected a return of 34 points from 36. “People keep saying it is a great achievement for this team, but if you look at our record, it speaks for itself,” said Evans. “People say we have not been playing well but some of the football we have played at home has been outstanding.”