Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised Arsene Wenger's transfer policy

[Boab]

Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised Arsene Wenger's transfer policy by claiming he is astonished that his Arsenal counterpart continues to buy so many attacking players.

The Manchester United manager, speaking to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, said while he admired Wenger's youth policy he questioned the lack of balance in his transfer policy. "He [Wenger] believes profoundly in his youngsters," Ferguson said. "He doesn't like to blend them too much with older players.

"What astonishes me is that he always buys attacking players, like [Andrey] Arshavin. He is a good player but he already has [samir] Nasri, [Emmanuel] Adebayor, [Robin] Van Persie, [Nicklas] Bendtner, Eduardo [Da Silva], [Theo] Walcott. I don't think he likes buying defenders. That lacks balance."

Ferguson went on to write off Real Madrid's chances of winning this season's Champions League, claiming they did not have the speed in their team to worry the rest of Europe. "No chance," he said. "They lack pace. They have great players, [Gabriel] Heinze, [Fabio] Cannavaro, [Fernando] Gago, but they are not fast. There is [Arjen] Robben. He is the only one who can give them some tempo but he is not a very courageous player."

Ferguson believes that Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal as well as Inter Milan and Barcelona, are United's main rivals in Europe. United travel to the San Siro to play Jose Mourinho's side in tomorrow night's first leg of their last-16 tie and Ferguson spoke of his admiration for the former Chelsea manager. "My old friend," he said. "I can see him now in his press conference saying, 'I have a good record against Manchester'. Some people don't like him because he is impertinent, too sure of himself. Me, I like him a lot. He does his job."

Ferguson also spoke of his interest in Karim Benzem, the Lyons striker, whom he has been accused of tapping up by Jean-Michel Aulas, the French club's president. "He is an excellent footballer," the United manager said. "He makes me think of Zinedine Zidane, the way he positions his body. He has big shoulders and excellent control of the ball. The ball is stuck to his feet and defenders can't get a tackle in. But it doesn't mean I want to buy him."

When asked if Benzema could play for United one day, Ferguson said: "You always have to keep an eye on all the best players and how they are developing. When we played Lyons last season, at the end of the match, he said, 'Chelsea are making me an offer of €50m (approximately £44m) for Benzema'. I replied to him, 'At that price, I'll leave him to them'!"

Ferguson also revealed he is a big fan of another young France star, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery. "He is fantastic," he said. "Always moving and incredible energy. He is always going forward but defends a lot too. He would have no problem playing in England."

[TMWWBK]

He's right in a sense regarding Madrid albeit Madrid's system is hardly reliant on pace.

[papaguy51]

Ferguson and Mourinho seem really get on behind the scenes.

He (Jose) is an absolute certainty to take the hot seat at Old Trafford when Fergie goes.

[Muff]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

[TMWWBK]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

Longshot, mate, although the team's looked totally different since Ramos took over. Mainly due to Lass.

Madrid are actually looking hard to beat for the first time in a while.

[papaguy51]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

Madrid or Inter could surprise a few this year.

One of Porto or Atletico are in the latter stages as well, so who knows. I think both could beat Arsenal/Liverpool just now.

[Jimbo.]

Very open with his views there. Quite unprofessional IMO.

[Muff]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

Longshot, mate, although the team's looked totally different since Ramos took over. Mainly due to Lass.

Madrid are actually looking hard to beat for the first time in a while.

I think they can go all the way, I'm really looking forward to them giving Liverpool a hiding.

[TMWWBK]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

Madrid or Inter could surprise a few this year.

One of Porto or Atletico are in the latter stages as well, so who knows. I think both could beat Arsenal/Liverpool just now.

Would be shocked if Atletico got anything from the Porto ties, mate.

The Porto matches are sandwiched in amongst their 'trip to the alps'. A trip to the Pizjuan and a confrontation with Barca at the Calderon at either side of the first leg, then Madrid at the Bernabeu and Villareal at home at either side of the second leg.

Their defence is absolutely shocking. Resino couldn't have wished for a tougher start.

[papaguy51]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

Madrid or Inter could surprise a few this year.

One of Porto or Atletico are in the latter stages as well, so who knows. I think both could beat Arsenal/Liverpool just now.

Would be shocked if Atletico got anything from the Porto ties, mate.

The Porto matches are sandwiched in amongst their 'trip to the alps'. A trip to the Pizjuan and a confrontation with Barca at the Calderon at either side of the first leg, then Madrid at the Bernabeu and Villareal at home at either side of the second leg.

Their defence is absolutely shocking. Resino couldn't have wished for a tougher start.

Porto it is then.

When they've both hit top form, they've looked pretty good this year. Agreed on Atletico's defence, it's as tight as a wizard's sleeve and will no doubt prove their downfall.

I refuse to write off a team marshalled by the exceptional Lucho Gonzalez though, so Porto are my dark horses.

[Muff]

I backed Atletico at home.

[Goianegra]

If Man Utd don't win the CL, can they still play in the World Club Cup thing?

[simplythebest]

I expect Liverpool to beat Real Madrid, Benitez has his critics but he knows how to get the better of a Spanish team.

[Juno]

I fancy Real Madrid for the Champions League and yesterday I stuck £50 on them at 12's.

Madrid or Inter could surprise a few this year.

One of Porto or Atletico are in the latter stages as well, so who knows. I think both could beat Arsenal/Liverpool just now.

Would be shocked if Atletico got anything from the Porto ties, mate.

The Porto matches are sandwiched in amongst their 'trip to the alps'. A trip to the Pizjuan and a confrontation with Barca at the Calderon at either side of the first leg, then Madrid at the Bernabeu and Villareal at home at either side of the second leg.

Their defence is absolutely shocking. Resino couldn't have wished for a tougher start.

Porto it is then.

When they've both hit top form, they've looked pretty good this year. Agreed on Atletico's defence, it's as tight as a wizard's sleeve and will no doubt prove their downfall.

I refuse to write off a team marshalled by the exceptional Lucho Gonzalez though, so Porto are my dark horses.

Porto don't have the depth to win the CL. It showed when they got dominated by Wenger at the Emirates.

As far as winners go I don't think there'll be much surprise; Man Utd or Barca. Barca seem to be hitting their eventual slump though, though I still don't think Lyon can pull off a win there. Inter are as far as a dark horse can go for my eyes, purely for Jose and big Zlatan. And much as I want Chelsea to win since I supported them as a boy (though not now - before Roman came in somehow!), there's no way an uninterested Drogba or a deflected Lampard long shot will win it for them.