Disappointed Ferguson blames defeat on fatigue
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt fatigue played a
major part in his side's 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea at
Wembley.
Didier Drogba snatched the win four minutes from the end of extra
time in a forgettable encounter.
'There was nothing between the two teams - neither deserved to lose
or win and it is disappointing we have lost,' he said.
'The pitch was slow and that didn't help but from our point so view
I think we were tired in two or three positions, which didn't help
us.
'What the players have been through in the last few months (their
Premiership title victory) has been exceptional and credit for that
but we couldn't cross the line today.
'Maybe the number of games they play eventually gets to
them.'
The one moment of controversy came in the first half of extra time
when Ryan Giggs slid in to meet Wayne Rooney's cross but failed to
get decent contact on the ball, deflecting it into the body of Petr
Cech before the Wales winger's momentum took him crashing into the
Chelsea goalkeeper who appeared to carry the ball over the
line.
Ferguson felt Giggs should have had a penalty for Michael Essien's
challenge on the winger and blamed referee Steve Bennett for not
spotting it.
'It is a penalty kick. The goalkeeper has spilled it behind the
line - it would have been a difficult one for the linesman to call
but the referee should have been in a better position,' he told Sky
Sports.
'To lose the game and see a replay of that is harsh to say the
least. It is a clear penalty and the referee must be in a better
position to see that.'
