ManU's Alex Ferguson Says Bundesliga Is A Threat To Premier League's Status

ManU Manager Alex Ferguson believes that the German Bundesliga "is threatening the Premier League's status as the most exciting league in the world," according to Simon Stone of the PA. For the first time since '99, more teams from the Bundesliga made it out of the initial group stage of the Champions League than their English counterparts. With Bayern Munich, Schalke and Borussia Dortmund all seeded for Thursday's knockout round draw, "they are well placed to make deep inroads in the competition." So, "with cheap ticket prices fueling" a football boom in the country, Ferguson believes that they "offer a genuine challenge to England's position." Ferguson said, "The crowds there are fantastic, and it is very cheap in relation to English football, which encourages supporter participation. The stadiums are great, and the games are good quality with a lot of goals. Germany is creeping up but ours is still the most exciting" (PA, 12/20).