Fergie: It was a mistake

Sir Alex Ferguson rues his missed opportunity to bring goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar to Old Trafford back in 1999.

Van der Sar has been an ever-present in a United defence looking to record an unprecedented 12th successive Premier League clean sheet when they tackle Everton at Old Trafford.

It seems hard to imagine now but three-and-a-half years ago, before Van der Sar moved north from Fulham in a bargain £2million deal, United's goalkeeping was seen as their weak link.

After Peter Schmeichel left the club almost a dozen goalkeepers had been tried, from French World Cup winner Fabien Barthez to Italian Massimo Taibi, and none of them had proved successful.

In the end Ferguson returned to the man he first identified at Schmeichel's replacement.

"I do reflect on 1999 even more now, there is no doubt about that." said the United chief.

"It was a mistake.

"I did want Edwin but by that time (chief executive) Martin Edwards had done a deal with Mark Bosnich. It was too late to get out of it and Edwin went to Juventus instead.

"But all through 2005 we were assessing where we should be going with the goalkeeping positions.

"We got information on all the goalkeepers who were a possibility and Van der Sar's name came up all the time so we didn't hesitate."

Having lost out once, Ferguson's perseverance has been rewarded with a series of outstanding performances that have allowed United to regain the dominance they enjoyed when Van der Sar came to their attention.

And because the former Ajax goalkeeper has kept himself in peak condition, United are benefiting to a far greater extent than many people imagined.

"Edwin has brought an incredible knowledge and patience to the back four," added Ferguson.

"His use of the ball is fantastic and he has all the technical parts of the goalkeeping position, plus his experience as well, you have a fantastic performer.

"When you look at this run of clean sheets, Edwin has been the key figure.

"He might be in the twilight of his career but he is in the form of his life."

So good in fact, Van der Sar has already signed a one-year contract extension that will take him to the summer of 2010.

The player himself has hinted he will be ready to call time on his stellar career by that point; Ferguson is not so sure.

"At his age I am sure he could go on," said the United boss.

"We are playing it that way, so he has got another season just now and we will see what happens after that."