Manchester United legend Andy Cole spoke with The Busby Babe about the new season on Friday. The former Red and treble winner from 1999 talked about the new Premier League campaign kicking off, the Coast to Coast even for Manchester United fans in New York City, and the expectations for Michael Carrick’s side.
Big thanks to Andy for joining us for a conversation this morning. Any New York Reds, you can see Andy and catch the match at the Premier League Coast to Coast event at Pier 15’s Watermark overlooking
the Brooklyn Bridge.
United fans looking to attend can RSVP here.
Here’s our exclusive Q&A with Manchester United legend Andy Cole.
On watching opening day
“I’m not playing, so I’m real good. I can sit back, relax, and just watch the football. First day of the season, regardless what club, you’re always looking forward to it. (Arsenal) being the champions, always want to get off to a good start, and they’ll want to do just that.”
On the new campaign for Manchester United
“I’m looking forward to it, I think United have a good opportunity playing newly promoted clubs in the first couple of games. I think we both know it’s not an easy league. Hull, being at home, will obviously want a good start. They’ll be throwing everything at United to see if they can weather the storm through the first 15 minutes or so. You never know what can happen.”
“Regardless of the players coming in or out, the aim is always the same to win matches. Football will never change. If they get off to a good start for the first couple of games, get some momentum, you never know where you can go from there. I’m like everyone else. If you can carry the momentum from last season into this season, fingers crossed, stay away from injuries. Add more players to make the squad stronger, and go from there.”
Are you happy with the strong forward group?
“I am. We can ask as many questions as we like, but to win football matches you need to score goals. That comes from the centre forward. Goals can come from all parts of the pitch, I played in teams that did that and Michael did that as well. He understands the task ahead, knows what he needs to do to try and bring a center forward. To buy one nowadays is not cheap. You’ve got to look at it that way, this moment in time and the players they do have. Starting well and winning those first two games.”
Where should the club look for reinforcements before the deadline?
“It makes no difference what I think. Having a chat with Jason, they’re looking at positions. Luke is the only fit left back. But it’s all down to finances. To buy a left-back now is 50-60 million. In my day they’d never cost that kind of money… It’s about finances and getting the right kind of player in who is prepared not to play week in, week out. That’s very hard, to say you’ll be second fiddle to Luke Shaw, but as an individual you’d play in every other first team.”
On Denis Irwin’s worth in the modern market
“He could play left or right back just as good. You look at players like that and think what they’d cost now, it’d be more than 60 million.”
Do you see the league as wide open this year?
“I think it’s very open. Arsenal won it last year, to win it the year after is always difficult to defend. You can sit and say Arsenal are going to run away, but I can’t see it. If you look at the way they won it in the end last season, for me, personally, Manchester City imploded the back end of the season. You’d never expect that of them. This season, a lot of teams, Liverpool as well… for me it’s open. If any of those teams can have a good run… anything can happen.”
Having been part of title races, the toll it takes on you… what does that take out of you? What does it take the following season to retain it?
“It’s just that winning mentality. I’m thinking every season, preseason… (Sir Alex Ferguson) sits us down and says ‘I want to be the best team after 38 games,’ and it’s as simple as that. If you want to be here, more than welcome to stay. If not, come to my office, and I’ll move you on. That’s what he used to say to us.”
“During the season, he had this crazy habit of telling us it didn’t get started until Easter. That time of year, a lot of points were won or dropped. It was staying focused, that winning mentality, and creating the monster attitude. If you keep winning, regardless of who is winning as well, it puts you in a great position when it comes to winning major prizes.”
On US fan communities
“It’s growing! My time playing we didn’t come to the US because football wasn’t as big as it is now. Being around the Manchester United fan contingent in the US, I’ve noticed how much that’s grown as well. You see how many people get into it, and it’s really special. With tomorrow as well… we’ve got something like 500 fans coming to watch the match tomorrow. That in itself, such an early time as well… it’s crazy. I think that’s really special.”
When did you notice United’s international pull?
“We used to tour Asia, and it was absolutely crazy. I never understood the pull United had, and then I became a global ambassador for the club, having the opportunity to travel. I realized how big an institution Manchester United is. It’s special. When you’re a player, you don’t understand it as much, but you come away from playing and have the role I do now in traveling… it’s really special. It takes the fans who want to get involved, want to travel. The ones who wake up at 4:30 in the morning or travel from their countries and go to Manchester to watch games. That in itself is really special.”
Favorite goal?
“That one I’ll always enjoy because it meant so much. First part of the treble that we went on to win. Barcelona, I think the one in Nou Camp, always sticks out in my mind. Great place to play football and played Barcelona, a great game to be involved in that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
On that CL group and campaign
“Having the opportunity to play the format we played in was enjoyable. We knew we’d always end up in a tough group. Played Bayern for many years, Juventus for many years. We always thought if we could beat the Italian teams at their game, they were the strongest back then, we’d have a chance at winning the tournament. Bayern, like I said, always a good team.”
What’s your favorite moment watching United after your playing career?
“I think personally it’s when we wont he FA Cup the year after we lost to Man City. I really enjoyed that one. No one gave us the opportunity, or a chance to win. And to win it the way we won it was very special.”
