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Larsson quashes talk of extending United stay
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Henrik Larsson moved quickly to dampen hopes he would stay on beyond his 10-week loan stint at Manchester United after a dream debut for the Premiership league leaders.
Larsson bagged the opening goal in a 2-1 FA Cup third round victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford and immediately earned the praise of manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former Sweden striker was involved in most of United´s best attacking forays and has become an instant hit with the club´s support.
But he dashed any hopes that he would stay beyond mid-March by insisting he must return to his club Helsingborgs for the start of the Swedish season in April.
"It´s a three month loan deal and I have to be back when the Swedish league opens in April," said the 35-year-old.
"The window is closing in March so no, I don´t think it´s going to happen.
"I´m obviously very delighted (to score) but we won the game and that was the most important thing.
"I was fortunate to be able to score a goal. It was a good goal, a good ball from Wayne Rooney. I was happy to see it go in the back of the net."
Larsson and Rooney appeared to have a natural understanding on the pitch.
"It´s easier to play with good players and he´s definitely a good player," added the Swede. "It´s a great team. I´ve been training for a while and it helped to build up an understanding."
Ferguson compared the Swedish striker with Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.
"I´m delighted for Henrik," said Ferguson. "I wanted to find out about his fitness and sharpness and he has proved that with this performance.
"I think he can score some very important goals during his time with us. He´s done that throughout his career.
"Eric Cantona did the same thing and I think Henrik can make a big impact too."
Czech Republic forward Milan Baros threatened to ruin Larsson´s big day with an equaliser before substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had replaced Larsson, popped up with a stoppage time winner to make it a day to remember for United´s latest signing.
Ferguson admitted his Premiership leaders had settled for a replay before Solskjaer´s clincher in the dying seconds of the tie.
"We deserved to go through because some of our football was fantastic," added Ferguson, who is chasing his sixth FA Cup triumph in the United hot-seat.
"But I was thinking about a replay when Ole popped up. Ole´s fantastic - that´s his ninth goal for us this season."
It was a particularly frustrating afternoon for Aston Villa manager Martin O´Neill.
Not only did he see a hard-earned replay snatched from his grasp, but he knows Larsson better than most after the pair achieved iconic status at Celtic together.
"Henrik is always capable of doing what he did against us today," said O´Neill.
"I never thought for one minute that Henrik wouldn´t score in any league he played in.
"It is a great arrangement for Henrik and Manchester United and it suits both parties.
"Manchester United are going for everything at the moment and this is the stage of the season when you need as many bodies as possible."
Villa have now gone 11 matches without a win, but O´Neill saw enough positives from his side´s performance to suggest that it will not be long before his players end that miserable run.
He was particularly pleased to see Baros score his second goal of the season.
"He took his goal well and that should give him a big boost," O´Neill added.
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