Crystal Palace Manager Dougie Freedman has admitted that he can’t wait to pick Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s brain after tonight’s Carling Cup Quarter Final.
The game has been billed as a chance for the United boss to give run-outs to the club’s fringe players and some of the club’s talented FA Youth Cup winning side of last season.
The likes of Ravel Morrison, Ezekiel Fryers and Paul Pogba have been touted as the most promising batch of youngsters to come out of Old Trafford since the class of 92 containing Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Gary Neville.
However while United look to the emergence of their next generation of young stars, Palace boss Freedman is also on a mission to cultivate the younger members of his first-team squad.
Nathaniel Clyne, Lee Hills, Matthew Parsons, Wilf Zaha, Sean Scannell and Johnny Williams have all come through the clubs youth ranks in recent times and while they have done well at that level Freedman’s next challenge is to ensure that they continue their evolution into top class performers by working with them each day in training.
“When I see something wrong I’ll step in,” he told the Telegraph.
“I’d never ———- them. That doesn’t motivate them. Persuasion is a big tool I use. I can’t make average players wonderful but I can make them a bit better, and hungrier if they listen.”
“The problem I’m experiencing is they’ve become better but have plateaued a bit.”
“Players get a small bit of success and think they’ve arrived. That’s what I’m looking forward to picking Sir Alex’s brain on. He has created an environment of hunger and desire at Old Trafford.”
“The players will come away having improved from playing at Old Trafford,” added Freedman.
