Ex Academy Chief Blasts Ronaldo, Madrid And Scolari
Former Manchester United academy chief Eric Harrison has admitted his concern that the club would find it very hard to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo should he decide to abandon them for Real Madrid.
he Crisitano Ronaldo transfer saga has caused a lot of unrest at Old Trafford, and according to Harrison's comments in The Lancashire Evening Post, there have been a lot of villains in the piece as opposed to protagonists.
"I'm not happy with Real or Luiz Felipe Scolari," he hissed. "If not for them driving the situation I am sure Ronaldo wouldn't have even considered it.
"Why would he want to leave? He said he would make an announcement on his future once Portugal were out of Euro 2008 and he still hasn't done it, which is disappointing.
"Alex will already have his shopping list, but that will have been made under the assumption that Ronaldo would still be at the club. If he goes they will have to change their plans."
Harrison refrained from criticising Ronaldo directly, but he is clearly aggrieved by the player's behaviour and the negative impact it is having on his beloved club.
"Alex will be disappointed," Harrison added. "Just look at the amount of time he's been there.
"Given the success he's had, there is not a team in the world that wouldn't have wanted him as manager. But he's got loyalty to the club.
"So did all those players who came through the youth system. Even the ones who left, people like Beckham, Butt and Phil Neville, they never wanted to leave.
"If Ronaldo goes or keeps on going on like this, he will regret it. He's got a wonderful life. United have just won the European Cup and the championship again.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that we are a better team than Real.
"And Real is a funny club," he added. "They change their president regularly and they throw their toys out of the pram.
"I've been there and seen how the fans react when things aren't going well and they start waving the white hankies.
"It is a very strange club and nothing like United. For as long as he is at United he knows he will be under no pressure. Even if he comes back and says he will only give them another one or two years, he will still get a great reception.
"It's not just a case of throwing a great player into another side and expecting it to work. He's been taught a lot at United.
"I want him to stay and want him to continue playing with a smile on his face. I'm not sure that would be the case if he went to Real."
Finally, Harrison expressed his concern that they do not have a ready made replacement for Ronaldo coming through the youth ranks, while saying that the only player he thinks is capable of filling his boots in the entire world of football is Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
"Bryan Robson, Ince, Kanchelskis and Hughes were all great players (that left)," he said. "But Ronaldo will be harder to replace because there is no one in the juniors to do it.
"Back then we had the golden generation. We were always confident they would eventually play in the first team, it was a matter of when.
"Ronaldo is probably the best player in the world at the moment. If you were twisting my arm, I'd say the only guy who can replace him is Messi and there are no guarantees that Barcelona will be willing to sell him. That means it might be a more difficult situation."
"I'm not happy with Real or Luiz Felipe Scolari," he hissed. "If not for them driving the situation I am sure Ronaldo wouldn't have even considered it.
"Why would he want to leave? He said he would make an announcement on his future once Portugal were out of Euro 2008 and he still hasn't done it, which is disappointing.
"Alex will already have his shopping list, but that will have been made under the assumption that Ronaldo would still be at the club. If he goes they will have to change their plans."
Harrison refrained from criticising Ronaldo directly, but he is clearly aggrieved by the player's behaviour and the negative impact it is having on his beloved club.
"Alex will be disappointed," Harrison added. "Just look at the amount of time he's been there.
"Given the success he's had, there is not a team in the world that wouldn't have wanted him as manager. But he's got loyalty to the club.
"So did all those players who came through the youth system. Even the ones who left, people like Beckham, Butt and Phil Neville, they never wanted to leave.
"If Ronaldo goes or keeps on going on like this, he will regret it. He's got a wonderful life. United have just won the European Cup and the championship again.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that we are a better team than Real.
"And Real is a funny club," he added. "They change their president regularly and they throw their toys out of the pram.
"I've been there and seen how the fans react when things aren't going well and they start waving the white hankies.
"It is a very strange club and nothing like United. For as long as he is at United he knows he will be under no pressure. Even if he comes back and says he will only give them another one or two years, he will still get a great reception.
"It's not just a case of throwing a great player into another side and expecting it to work. He's been taught a lot at United.
"I want him to stay and want him to continue playing with a smile on his face. I'm not sure that would be the case if he went to Real."
Finally, Harrison expressed his concern that they do not have a ready made replacement for Ronaldo coming through the youth ranks, while saying that the only player he thinks is capable of filling his boots in the entire world of football is Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
"Bryan Robson, Ince, Kanchelskis and Hughes were all great players (that left)," he said. "But Ronaldo will be harder to replace because there is no one in the juniors to do it.
"Back then we had the golden generation. We were always confident they would eventually play in the first team, it was a matter of when.
"Ronaldo is probably the best player in the world at the moment. If you were twisting my arm, I'd say the only guy who can replace him is Messi and there are no guarantees that Barcelona will be willing to sell him. That means it might be a more difficult situation."