Originally posted by zocoss:
Ferguson celebrates United's win with his
assistant Carlos Queiroz
[b]Ferguson hails 'greatest' victory
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed his side's 7-1
win over Roma as the greatest European night of his 20-year reign
at Old Trafford.
The victory gave United an 8-3 aggregate win and sent them into the
Champions League semi-finals.
Ferguson said: "It was our best ever - a fantastic performance by
every one of our players. The speed of our play and our penetration
was absolutely superb. "We had to have confidence to believe in
ourselves after some bad results."
United had lost 2-1 to Roma in the first leg last week then fallen
to a shock defeat at Portsmouth in the Premiership on Saturday. But
they bounced back in style here as Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael
Carrick both scored twice and Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney and Patrice
Evra also found the net.
"To start so well and carve up the chances and score the goals we
did was a great feeling," Carrick said. "To carry it on for the
full game was the stuff of dreams." Ferguson was delighted for
Smith, who has battled to recover from a serious leg break
sustained in February 2006.
Smith was starting his first European game since December 2005 and
had not scored since November of the same year. "He deserved it
more than anyone," added Ferguson. "He has been patient and he has
trained like a beast."
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was left stunned by his side's
collapse. "It's difficult to explain what happened, especially
because the team played well in the first 10 minutes," said
Spalletti. "Then the first time they attacked, they scored. We
failed to respond to their enthusiasm and our inexperience cost us
dearly against their counter-attacks."
[/b]
hohoho... hw can it be the greatest when he won it for the 1st
time, and the club for the 2nd, in 1999? that night pales in
comparison to this? football wise yes, but result wise no....
that night is irreplaceable.... unless man utd displays this
scintillating form right through to the final and win the
trophy....
but for those who followed 1999. man utd knocked out juventus and
inter in equally exciting matches though they din win by a 6 goal
margin. ditto the two 3-3 draws against barca during the group
stages...
