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By Soccernet staff

October 22, 2008

Thomas Sorensen has hit out at Tottenham Hotspur full-back Alan Hutton after his challenge on the Stoke City keeper almost cost him the sight in his right eye.

The Danish keeper was substituted during the second half of Stoke’s 2-1 win over Spurs on Sunday following a clash with Hutton which left Sorensen with blood pouring from a cut to the eye socket inflicted by a stray boot.

”It was a millimetre off me losing my sight. I have been sewn up in the eye socket but it is miraculous there’s no more damage. We are at a stage where it is not funny any more,” Sorensen said, who is remains angry with the Scottish international because he believes the collision was preventable.

”He could have avoided hitting me. He had no chance to reach the ball but he still threw himself into it, leading with his studs. The doctor has done a very good job so my face is not totally destroyed.”

Hutton was booked for the challenge and as such is not expected to face any further investigation because the referee dealt with the incident at the time.

Meanwhile, Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has denied the Football Association charge of improper conduct he received on Tuesday and requested a personal hearing.

Dawson reacted angrily to referee Lee Mason when he sent off the central defender in stoppage-time of the defeat by Stoke on Sunday for a dangerous tackle on Mamady Sidibe.

Dawson received an automatic three-match ban for the dismissal but could now face an increased ban if the FA charge is upheld.

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If you followed every twist and turn into the early hours on a dramatic transfer deadline day, you’ll have bitten your fingers nails and benefited from very little sleep. But Sir Alex finally got his man, and new signing Dimitar Berbatov says his United move is “a dream come true”.

The classy 27-year-old striker has signed a four-year contract at Old Trafford for an undisclosed fee, and he’s immediately set his sights on success with the Reds.

Berbatov told ManUtd.com late on Monday night: “Joining Manchester United is a dream come true for me.

“I look forward to playing my part in helping this club win more honours in the years to come.”

Sir Alex Ferguson feels United have captured a player of world-class quality. He told us: “This is a key signing. Dimitar is one of the best and most exciting strikers in world football.

“His style and ability will give the team a different dimension and I’m sure he will be a popular player with the fans.”

As part of the deal, United striker Fraizer Campbell will spend the rest of the 2008/09 season on loan at White Hart Lane.

FANS: WHAT A GREAT SIGNING

Talking Reds message board is full of fans ecstatic at signing Dimitar Berbatov…

“Just picture this: Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo heading at you. God have mercy on our opponents.”
Posted by: Daniel Griminger

“I saw the pictures of Berbatov, David Gill and Sir Alex, but I didn’t believe the deal was done until I saw it on ManUtd.com.”
Posted by: Scouthead_Ste

“Great signing. I’ll get Berbatov’s name on my shirt. Surely he’ll be our new No.9.”
Posted by: Darren boult

“This has been an unbelievable day. I can’t wait till Berbatov makes his league debut against Liverpool.”
Posted by: devl

“I live in Bulgaria and I haven’t managed to do any work today. I’ve spent my whole time looking for updates on the news.”
Posted by: korniholio

“This has felt like the longest transfer deadline day ever. But it shows any doubters that you should always have faith in Sir Alex. He always gets his man.”
Posted by: KialeMUFC

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FLETCHER: LET’S KEEP FLYING

United’s current top scorer Darren Fletcher says the Reds are determined to keep up the winning habit with victory in Friday’s UEFA Super Cup final.

The matchwinner in a tough game against Portsmouth, Fletcher fully expects another close encounter with Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco.

“Zenit are a top team. I watched them in the UEFA Cup a lot last season and actually went to the final in Manchester. I’ve played against a couple of their players before in international games so I know what they’re about.

“They really are a good team with an experienced manager and I think it’ll be a really tough test; they’ll be looking to make a mark by beating Manchester United and showing how much of a good team they are.

“We’re also desperate to win Friday’s game. It’s another trophy – and we’ve got a lot of young players in the squad who haven’t won many.

“This club is all about winning – that’s a good mentality to have. It applies to every game and it keeps the appetite in the squad.

“There’s a little bit of a celebratory element involved in this match. But it’s a game between the European champions and the UEFA Cup winners, so it’s certainly a big one. We’ll be doing everything we can to win it.”

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Q & A with… SIR ALEX FERGUSON

The United manager reveals how quickly his mind turned in Moscow to thoughts of a new Champions League campaign…

As a manager, how quickly do you feel that joy of winning trophies disappears?

Oh, it goes right away for me. Once it got around to half past five, six o’clock on that morning in Moscow and I was getting to bed, I was starting to think about next season.

Is it a shame after all that work for it to go so quickly?

It’s just the way I am. The celebrations are more important for the players and for the people associated with the club who didn’t experience the fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room after we’d won the final. We had a lot of staff members in Moscow who weren’t in the dressing room. It was important for them that when we had the party after the game, they could celebrate in a big way. But for me it starts to drain quite quickly. I had a lot of my family there and some friends at the party also but they know fine well what I’m like. I drifted off to bed about half past five.

Is your job about making sure the players are focused on that next challenge?

I think we’ve always done that. We make the point in pre season that the work ethic has always got to remain at this club or it will be identified quickly. Some people might put their tools away because they’ve won this fantastic trophy, but for others it’s a driving force, they can’t get enough of it. Once they’ve experienced the exhiliration of lifting a European trophy, they want it again.

The words of Ryan Giggs stand out completely for every player in my squad. When we presented him with his watch at the party after the game, he said, “I’ve had to wait nine years for my second European trophy.” Nine years is a long time for players in modern day football, they don’t spend nine years with the same team. So Ryan has had to wait nine years to get his second (European Cup) medal and the message is I don’t think any of them wants to wait another nine years. They’ve got an opportunity to defend it, which has never been done since the competition became the Champions League. This is an opportunity for this squad, to do just that.

You have a squad of ambitious players, I presume that helps you in your quest to repeat the success…

I think so. You sense that when they lose games. The dressing room’s never a nice place when you lose a football match, particularly at this club. And there’s enough disappointment in our dressing room when we lose to remind me the players care. I think that helps us.

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