Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Liverpool and England of burning out Michael Owen during the early years of his career.
The Manchester United manager signed the 29-year-old on a free transfer and claims that the striker was over-worked following his arrival on the international scene with the England Under-20 squad in Asia back in 1997.
Ferguson claims that had he been in charge of Owen's career at the time that things would have been done differently.
“We had Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis playing in that England Under-20 squad in Malaysia in 1997 and when they came back we gave them six weeks off," said Ferguson.
“But Michael went straight into the Liverpool first team then a year later was playing in the World Cup for England.
“That was unfair to a young player to have that kind of strain and intensity one summer after another.
“I wouldn’t have done that but he was such a talent that Liverpool needed him in the team and then England needed him in the World Cup.”
John, London around 2 years, 9 months ago