Tony Adams backs Manchester United to beat Arsenal to the title: They’ve just got too many players who have won it before

EPL: Tony Adams, Arsenal v Portsmouth (PA)

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Tony Adams believes Manchester United have enough experience to pip Arsenal to the Premier League this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men currently top the table, five points ahead of the Gunners, but having played a game more.

He told Yahoo: “My heart says the Arsenal but my head says United, they’ve just got too many players who’ve won it before.

“When you have done it and you’ve crossed the line, you know when to peak and when not to peak and when to win games.

“Once you’ve done it once, you know when to step up to the plate.”

Adams also backed Arsene Wenger’s decision to bring Jens Lehmann back to the club, stating that the German is a “fantastic goalkeeper”.

The 44-year-old represented the Gunners for almost 20 years, winning four top-flight trophies, and light-heartedly quipped that Lehmann’s return at 41 had got his own hopes up of an unlikely return.
 
He said: “Well I’m thinking of getting the boots back on!

“I think Jens is a fantastic goalkeeper. I know they’ve got some injuries there including to young Wojciech Szczesny who I like.

“Arsene needs cover in the goalkeeping position and I see the logic in bringing Jens Lehman back.”

Adams has always been full of praise for Wenger, with whom he won two Premier League titles.

He said: “He is very honest, honest with his players. Physiology is his strength and he’s just been a revolution for Arsenal. 

“I honestly thought the League Cup was the one for them this season to start the ball rolling. Unfortunately they missed out on that one; I’d like to see them win a trophy soon.”

Adams was capped 66 times by England, 15 of which he was captain for, and he believes that despite the controversy surrounding current skipper John Terry, he is the right man to lead the Three Lions.

“He’s the mouthpiece; he’s someone who puts the manager’s ideas onto the pitch,” he said.

“The relationship between the manager and the captain is so important for me. Me and George Graham, me and Terry Venables, me and Graham Taylor, me and Arsene Wenger, I always thought I was carrying that manager’s ideas, game plan, structure, discipline and professionalism onto the pitch so I think you have to set an example.

“It’s really, really important – it sets the tone. He is for me of the right character.

“My captain is a central defender. If you’re a right-back and you’re playing on the other side of the pitch, you’ve got to shout to get a message over and that’s a bit difficult.

“I’d never put a forward as a captain, they’re a different breed. It would be a defender every time for me and John Terry has certainly got those qualities.”

As for the current state of the national game, Adams believes the National Football Centre is a positive step, but doesn’t think England are capable of winning major tournaments at this stage.

He continued: “The National Football Centre is long overdue and we need six regional camps. We need to educate the educators for better quality coaching and improve the whole structure if we are ever going to compete with Spain.

“We’ve got the passion but we’re lacking in some other areas. I don’t see this current group of players challenging Spain.

“From personal experience, it’s very difficult. I chose the beer option and that got me into lots of trouble. It’s education, education, education.

“I often go into the charities and do educational seminars just to share my experiences. These young players have vast amounts of money and a lot of us come from uneducated backgrounds; then it’s a case of ‘get on with that one’.

“Education is the key for me to try and educate the guys.

“It could always get better; we’re the tip of the iceberg. Sporting Chance is there in that respect but there is a lot of education going on.

“At the Arsenal for example, there is more than there has ever been so they’ve got a chance.”