Papers: Boss thanks City
27/09/2011 22:30
Mark Ogden writes in The Telegraph...Ferguson praises City decision to lay wreath
Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Manchester City’s decision to lay a commemorative wreath in Munich to mark the loss suffered following the plane crash in the German city in Feb 1958 which killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players. With City set to face Bayern Munich
at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League, a senior City delegation, led by life president Bernard Halford, will visit a memorial in Munich’s Manchesterplatz before laying a wreath, offering the club’s sympathy for ‘Manchester’s loss,’ in a move which has earned widespread acclaim for easing the escalating tension between supporters of the two clubs. City’s clash against Bayern will be the club’s first competitive fixture in Munich and senior figures, led by chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak, have sanctioned the gesture and United manager Ferguson admits the Old Trafford club are appreciative of City’s tribute. “It’s refreshing.” Ferguson said. “We appreciate that from Manchester United. Of course, one of their former players was killed in the crash, but it’s a sign the game is not as bad as sometimes we think. Sometimes the supporters’ contribution is not nice, but we appreciate that.”
The boss also features in The Express, as well as several other papers, giving his opinion on television’s growing influence on football. Sir Alex is quoted: “Television is God at the moment. When you see the fixture lists come out, they can pick and choose whenever they want the top teams on television.”
Elsewhere, The Independent claims Wayne Rooney will miss England’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro. The United striker is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain.