Ferguson pays tribute to magnificent Owen
Reuters - Sunday 20 September 2009, 17:10
MANCHESTER - Manchester United
manager Alex Ferguson paid tribute to striker Michael Owen who
scored a clinical stoppage-time goal to clinch a 4-3 derby
victory over City on Sunday.
The former Liverpool player has struggled to make an impact
at Old Trafford since his arrival on a free transfer but he
produced a trademark neat finish from Ryan Giggs's pass to send
the United fans into raptures.
"I always felt the game was going to be in their penalty box
and there's no-one better at taking these kind of chances,"
Ferguson told reporters.
"His positional play, his first touch and his finish were
absolutely magnificent. They were world class. There's no-one
better than Michael Owen."
The 29-year-old Owen divided opinion among United supporters
when he joined in a surprise free transfer from Newcastle.
He scored his first Premier League goal in a 5-0 victory at
Wigan Athletic but the strike against City will endear him to
the fans much more.
"If there was any doubt before then maybe this has sealed
the deal," Owen said. "Me coming to Manchester United was always
going to create a bit of noise. But even if they (the fans)
didn't take to me it is still a privilege to play for Manchester
United.
"You are never going to pass up an opportunity to play for a
club like this. The fact I've scored the winner in the
Manchester derby hasn't sunk in yet."
City have spent more than £120m on players in a bid to challenge their local rivals and
they fought back three times to equalise before Owen's strike.
"Sometimes you've got a noisy neighbour and you have to live
with it," Ferguson said. "You can't do anything about them and
they keep on making noise.
"But what you can do, and what we've shown today, is that
you can get on with your life, put your television on, turn it
up a bit louder and as the players showed their playing power
and that's the best answer of all."
City manager Mark Hughes was seeking an explanation from
referee Martin Atkinson as Owen's goal came five minutes and 26
seconds into four minutes of added time.
"I'm not going to question his integrity – I just want an
explanation," Hughes said.
"It would be nice to get one but I don't think I'd get one.
I've looked at the videos and I just can't see where he's got it
from."