The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Man U fans celebrate double

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. - file

MANCHESTER, England (AP)

As fans finally gathered to celebrate Manchester United's double, manager Alex Ferguson confessed he is struggling to reinforce the strike force.

"We still haven't brought in the kind of top-quality player everyone seems to be expecting," Ferguson said. "We are still researching and looking, but I have to say it is not as easy as you might think and certainly, we are not desperate.

"We might well start 2008-09 with largely the squad we had last season, and after all, they didn't do too badly! We have the right balance of youth and experience, thanks to the work we did in the transfer market the previous year."

One short

Ferguson will have to start the season without Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, leaving him relying on goals from Carlos Tevez and the relatively inexperienced Fraizer Campbell - unless he can wrap up the protracted pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham.

Security concerns meant a trophy parade in May through this northern England city was scrapped. However, 77 days after Ferguson's team added the Champions League to its Premier League title, Old Trafford was packed yesterday to celebrate the feat.

"Everyone - the supporters and the players - was disappointed that we weren't able to have a parade on an open-top bus through the rest of Manchester, so it's important we can share this moment with the fans now," defender Nemanja Vidic said. "OK, it won't be exactly the same as a celebration through the city, but the occasion will remind everyone of what we achieved and it's an opportunity to celebrate together."

Euphoria faded

The euphoria has long since faded from May's double feat, however. Instead of spending the summer basking in the accomplishment, players and supporters have anxiously watched Ronaldo flirt with Real Madrid. Ferguson has adamantly ruled out any sale of the Portugal winger, who is sidelined until at least October following ankle surgery.

Adding to the 66-year-old Scot's woes is the mystery virus Rooney sustained during last week's trip to Nigeria, with Ferguson set to rule him out of the start of the season.

With France striker Louis Saha close to leaving and not being risked, Ferguson is left with few options in attack.

Ferguson is also still searching for a new assistant after Carlos Queiroz left to coach Portugal.

He is speeding up the process and wants a successor in place next month who is an equally formidable figure as Ferguson looks to ease up his responsibilities on the training ground.

"I would hope to have someone in by the end of September," Ferguson said. "We're looking for a particular type of person to assist me in certain ways. Languages is possibly a box we have to tick, but it's not a prerequisite."