FERGUSON REGRET AT SLACK DISPLAY
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side
simply did not play well enough after they went down 2-1 to Bayern
Munich tonight.
Ferguson added on Sky Sports 2: "We didn't play well enough to
be honest, we kept giving the ball away. We caused our own
defeat.
Even as striker Wayne Rooney was tapping home a Nani free-kick
that had looped straight to him off Mark van Bommel to give United
the lead in just 64 seconds, Ferguson sensed there was something
wrong.
"I didn't think it was a fantastic start," he countered.
"We gave the ball away far too easily from minute one. It is a
part of our game we pride ourselves on and has been part of the
reason for our progress.
"But that was really disappointing for me."
Instead of going on to consolidate their lead, United found
themselves pressed further onto the back foot.
Only the wasteful finishing of Hamit Altintop and Ivica Olic
prevented Bayern from drawing level by the break.
Instead, it took a needless handball by United skipper Gary
Neville to offer Bayern a lifeline 13 minutes from time.
Man-of-the-match Edwin van der Sar appeared to have Ribery's
free-kick covered.
But when it ricocheted off Rooney, the veteran Dutchman was
helpless as the ball flew into the opposite corner.
The goal ended United's hopes of becoming only the second
English team to beat Bayern on their own ground, and ended a
six-match winning streak away from home.
Yet little were they aware the worst was still to come.
After Nemanja Vidic thudded a header against the bar, Gomez
emerged with the ball from his fateful tackle with Rooney.
As Rooney lay on the ground in obvious pain, Gomez raced
away.
Vidic knocked Gomez off his stride but Patrice Evra was then
hesitant on the ball and Olic stole in to calmly beat Van der Sar,
without whom Ferguson admitted the damage would have been far
worse.
"Edwin saved us time and time again," he said.
"He made so many fantastic saves and kept us in the game.
"Yes, we had some chances but Edwin kept us in the game.
"It wasn't a good goal to lose but the second leg is at home and
I believe we have a strong chance."
"Bayern were the better team, we can't complain about that, but
we're better than that in possession. We kept giving it away and
that was our downfall.
"The first goal was a bit of luck with a deflection but the last
goal, I don't know how you describe it.
"The game was done and we gave a terrible goal away."
The second leg is at Old Trafford next week and Ferguson added:
"Old Trafford will be a different game obviously.
"We will be much better, no doubt about that, and hopefully we
can recover.
"We have the away goal and we'll go out to win the game."
