Ferguson demands positive reaction
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for a swift response from his side to their defeat at Everton when they take on Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United went down 1-0 in the Barclays Premier League clash at Goodison Park on Monday night thanks to Marouane Fellaini's second-half header. They now face a Fulham side who made a superb start to their own campaign last weekend by thrashing Norwich 5-0.
Ferguson is mindful of the Cottagers' threat, but is demanding nothing less than a positive reaction from his team on Saturday - and is confident they will deliver. He said: "They have a lot of experience in their team. It won't be an easy game, but we're at home and we need to make an impact quickly after losing on Monday night, and we expect that."
Robin van Persie came off the bench to make his United debut in the Everton match and the Holland striker - signed for a reported £24million last week from Arsenal - looks set to be promoted to the first XI, with Ferguson saying there was "every chance" he could start against Fulham.
The manager also confirmed Van Persie's Dutch compatriot and fellow new recruit, full-back Alexander Buttner, will be involved, most likely starting on the bench, and that he will once again be without defenders Phil Jones (back), Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling (both foot) and Rio Ferdinand (leg), who were unavailable for the Goodison Park fixture.
Buttner, whose move to United from Vitesse Arnhem was confirmed on Tuesday, is the fourth new arrival of the summer at Old Trafford following the signings of Van Persie and midfielders Nick Powell and Shinji Kagawa, while United also announced this week that striker Angelo Henriquez is to join them from Universidad de Chile.
Speaking at a press conference to preview the Fulham game and where Buttner was being officially unveiled, Ferguson said the Red Devils will not be buying any more players in the current transfer window after a deal for Chilean 18-year-old Henriquez is tied up in the next few days.
"We definitely won't be buying anyone else, that is for sure,'' Ferguson said.
The likes of striker Dimitar Berbatov and winger Nani have been linked with moves away from Old Trafford and asked if there would be any likely departures, Ferguson said: "There is no movement I can tell you about, to be honest with you.
"There is only a few days left now until the deadline and that will pass quite quickly I would imagine.''
