Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson labels international friendlies a ‘waste of time’

Sir alex ferguson – Manchester united coach

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has branded international friendlies in the middle of the domestic football season as a “waste of time.”

United had Wayne Rooney, Nani, Javier Hernandez, Antonio Valencia, Darron Gibson, Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans on international duty this weekend but Ferguson would have preferred some of them to stay at home rather than play in friendly matches.

“I am all in favour of the competitions,” he told US digital station Sirius XM.

“The players should play in the major competitions; the European Championship, the World Cup.

“But friendlies are a waste of time as far as I am concerned. We always say that.”

The Scot, who is in America to launch the club’s summer tour, explained he had sympathy for the international coaches who had to cope with multiple withdrawals for the friendly matches.

Rooney is one of six players to have been released by England coach Fabio Capello before their match against Ghana on Tuesday.

“It is understandable for the coach,” he said.

“They have the players for a period when they can influence them and can build and shape their team. I can understand that completely.

“But every time there are friendlies you get six or seven call offs. It is sometimes worthless for the manager to build on that because of the lack of players.”