Sven v. SAF …
Sun: ALEX FERGUSON has been told: Sven is coming to get you.
New Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra wants to unveil Sven Goran Eriksson as his manager next week.
And the Thai insisted: “We will take this club back up the league. We will market it to make it as big in Asia as Manchester United or Liverpool. And I’m dreaming of a trophy in my first season here.”
Shinawatra promised former England chief Eriksson will get all the cash backing he needs to transform the club into serious rivals to Fergie’s Red Devils.
Former Thai Premier Shinawatra vowed: “We will get new players if it takes £20million, £30m or £50m.”
Shinawatra’s £81.6m takeover yesterday cleared the Eastlands of £60m worth of debts and saw him secure 55.9 per cent of its shares.
He is aiming to eventually gain 75 per cent of the shares and put in an immediate £50m for players.
Shinawatra believes that City are now in an even better position than United who are saddled with debts of around £500m following the unpopular takeover by the Glazer family in June 2005.
Shinawatra said: “In business if you have too much debt, you have to fund it with the operating income.
“That is not good for a club. To rid yourself of the debt is much better.”
On Wednesday Swede Eriksson’s agent Athole Still described claims of a meeting between Shinawatra or any of his advisors with the former England boss as ‘nonsense’.
Yet last night Shinawatra said: “I met him last week.
“He has a good reputation and is capable.
“Nobody is perfect. But as long as the new manager can do the job, likes it and is fit for it — and my advisors say he is the man — then I will support him.”
Eriksson, 59, has been out of football since leaving the England job after Germany 2006.
THERE will be no love lost if Sven Goran Eriksson and Alex Ferguson find themselves going head to head to be kings of Manchester and the Premier League.
The pair have plenty of reasons from the past to be at odds.
Fergie was shocked when he heard the Swede was one of the candidates for his job, after he announced his retirement plans back in 2001.
He also mocked Eriksson in a magazine interview, mimicking his voice and dull analysis of games.
The duo clashed again over David Beckham being rushed back for the 2002 World Cup and over Wayne Rooney’s appearance in last year’s World Cup so soon after his broken metatarsal. At least Eriksson’s record at the City of Manchester Stadium is considerably better than previous manager Stuart Pearce.
Sven’s England scored more goals in two games there in June 2004 — seven — than Psycho’s City managed in their final seven months of league action last season!
England drew 1-1 with Japan and four days later thrashed Iceland 6-1.
