Owen Hargreaves Criticising United' Medical Staff

[papaguy51 912]

Owen Hargreaves has claimed Manchester United put his career on the line by administering the wrong treatment for his chronic injury problems and making a series of mistakes that left him fearing he may never play football again.

Speaking for the first time about his "guinea pig" treatment at Old Trafford, Hargreaves claimed the club's medical staff decided he needed a course of injections for his knee injury. There is no evidence whatsoever that Hargreaves was misdiagnosed or improperly treated, but the midfielder believes the treatment led to his condition deteriorating, leaving him barely able to walk and with a knee that felt "like I was made out of glass".

He claims various specialists had subsequently told him United had prescribed the wrong treatment, adding that his injury "got significantly worse through the injections". A knee specialist later diagnosed an extreme form of tendinitis that led to major surgery and put him out of the game for effectively three years.

"I've had to be a guinea pig for a lot of these treatments," said Hargreaves. "But when you're left to try to make something of a difficult situation, it's not really an option to say: 'Let's sit it out and rest for six months.'"

Hargreaves, now of Manchester City, talked of being put "in a shit position" before making the remarkable claim that the United manager Sir Alex Ferguson selected him for his comeback match against Wolverhampton Wanderers last November even though the midfielder had told the club he was injured.

"I started that game with two muscle injuries but I should never have been in that position to begin with. I was just going to try to get through 45 minutes because that would have been a start. But I didn't even last five. I wasn't surprised. I'd said to them that I had a hamstring problem, which I obviously did. I said: 'I think I've got a bit of a problem here.' I was surprised it didn't go in the warm-up, to be completely honest.

"People at times must look at it from a distance and say: 'Shit, he's made out of glass.' But I don't know many people in the world who could do any sporting event with two muscle tears."

Hargreaves said he felt so unfit he knew he could not even run at full pace. "There were 70,000 people there and, if I had walked away from the game, it would have looked like I didn't want to play. I thought: 'I'll try to play, I just won't sprint.' I know it sounds comical."

United are aware of the allegations but have declined to comment. Ferguson will be asked for his response when he holds his weekly press conference at the Carrington training ground on Friday.

Hargreaves made his City debut in their 2-0 defeat of Birmingham City in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, scoring the opening goal. The 30-year-old believes he can play 40 times this season but feels the deterioration in his knees can be directly linked to the course of injections. "I came back a week early for pre-season to get it done. They said I would be fit for the start of pre-season but, after that, I never got back on my feet. My tendon was never the same. They said my tendon was good, but it felt like I was made out of glass."

Asked if he felt United had mishandled the situation, he replied: "You'd have to ask them. There were a few crucial points. We treated it and it got significantly worse through the injections. That obviously had a huge impact. Basically, I was left to pick up the pieces, which was incredibly frustrating.

"They said it [the injections] would help and that I wouldn't have any side effects. That obviously wasn't the case and if I'd known I could have had a reaction like that I wouldn't have done it. It was a shit position to be in, to be honest. I'm not a guy who wants to bitch and complain. I was trying to make the most of it, but it deteriorated over the season and we had to do these injections. My knee, my tendon, was never the same."

United eventually decided not to renew his contract when it expired at the end of last season and, after 39 appearances in four years at the club, Hargreaves moved to City on a free transfer in August.

The midfielder said "a change of scenery, sadly enough, was essential" for his rehabilitation. He added: "The guys here [City's medical staff] have been great so far. I've been here three weeks and you can already see the difference. I knew it was all there. It was just a matter of doing things right."

I think he should shut the fuck up personally after about 11 minutes of football in two years, what about you lot?

[ScottBF2 3,540]

If he plays games, he'll be proven right. So far you can't deny he looks over the worries and that has to be down to the change in medical staff.

[tommy2212 151]

He'll be on the treatment table soon enough he is that sort of player, constantly injured another example being woodgate. I dont know maybe they didnae drink enough milk as bairns.

Very much doubt one of the biggest clubs in world has a poor medical team. This isnt bristol rovers we are talking about it manchester united.

[demise 3,517]

Hm, somehow i doubt that the Man Utd medical staff is the main reason for his injury problems. But, if he manage to stay injury free for at least few months, the shadow of doubt will rise. We'll see. Personally i hope he stays fit. It must've been fuckin horrible to be outside the pitch for that long.

[stuvey 5]

He's a wank. Its just a sly statement to get the fans on his side.

[the brown brogue 1,909]

Maybe it was mental more than physical, especially if he lost faith in the medical team and didn't trust their diagnosis. Sounds quite similar to our own situation with Webster where his injury problems seemed to be exacerbated just by being at Rangers.

[G.E.C. 18,779]

What are the odds Webster comes out with something similar?

[Duncan 23]

The mans a knob. Hadn't kicked a ball in the past 2 seasons then comes out and has a dig at Utd who paid his wages. If there was a problem with the medical staff there then im sure more than 1 player would have come out and said something.

If he plays in first manchester derby I expect someone to rattle into him

[Davy 68]

I think he's got a bit of a cheek criticising the club who stood by him and paid him a healthy wage whilst he warmed their treatment table. Tit.

[AGM_72 3,634]

Strange one, really.

I'd have to side with United on this one. Find it very surprising he's come out and said this.

It could be down to the simple fact he's been injured for so long he was just frustrated with it all. However, I do believe he won't play enough games for City to really put enough strain on him to end up on the treatment table for too long.

[RangersMedia 35,961]

Shocking that this wank has come out and criticised the club and manager who stood by him for years and paid him his wages for doing fuck all. This is just to win brownie points amongst the Citeh support.

[stampyurie 203]

What are the odds Webster comes out with something similar?

Webster was a bottle merchant,

[Amac9 2,060]

I would love to have a look at his knees and the X-rays he has had down the years.

His knees must be ruined.

[JamieD 18,948]

He'd better watch out, he might hurt himself if he falls out of the waaaambulance.

Good player but he should shut up and get on with salvaging what's left of his career. He was paid very handsomely to do bugger all by a club who showed a lot of faith in him.

[King Jela 20,361]

Found it funny.

[Goianegra 4,682]

All high and mighty because he scored a decent goal. Never been a fan of his really but I thought it was brilliant of him signing for City.

[plymouthranger 3,872]

Fergie might well just tell someone to go in high on him next time they play..just to test our City's physios.

[kaiser1041 9,088]

He loves fruit pastels

[Clemdog 39,389]

Weird one, Mancini came straight out and said City are doing no different to what United were doing.

I think he should have just kept his mouth closed, United paid his wage and tried their hardest to get him back playing. To come out and say that was unneeded. I'm sure it was a hard and frustrating time for the lad, but why not be happy with were he is now? Instead of petty remarks about the past.

I hope he regrets it

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

What are the odds Webster comes out with something similar?

He can't because he's always injured at hearts now, so it would be brainless if he did.