Champions League - Ferguson regrets late lapse

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Apr 12:07:00 2009

Alex Ferguson slammed Manchester United's lack of concentration after Porto claimed a 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first-leg draw.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Manchester United Alex Ferguson - 0

Mariano grabbed a crucial equaliser for the visitors to Old Trafford with 90 seconds left on the clock, after Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez had responded to Cristian Rodriguez's fine early opener.

"(The result) was about right - first half they were the better side but second half we improved and got more possession," the Scot told ITV1.

"But getting the (second) goal the way they did - we should really have defended that. It was a bad goal to lose.

"It's been a hard two days for them (after playing Aston Villa on Sunday), but they were lacking in concentration."

Ferguson - who revealed centre-half Jonny Evans had limped out with a groin injury - added: "You get a 2-1 lead with four or five minutes left, you really should see it out.

"We've got a game on Saturday (at Sunderland), there's still a lot going for us, but it's a difficult game now in Porto, no question of that."

United now travel to Portugal on April 15 probably needing to win, something no English team has managed in 11 previous attempts, though a high-scoring draw would also be enough to send them through.

"You have to think the last goal was one we could not afford to lose," said Ferguson. It was a terrible goal to give away when you are 2-1 up and seeing the game out."

United, who have looked rocky at the back in recent weeks as they lost successive league games to Liverpool and Fulham and needed a stoppage-time goal to beat Aston Villa 3-2, were again all at sea in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand.

Jonny Evans, who has generally been an impressive stand-in at centre back for much of the season, had a night to forget and will be relieved that his catalogue of errors did not lead to more Porto goals.

United's midfield were ineffective for long spells, producing little in attack and looking ragged in preventing

Porto's counter-attacks from ripping through the home side's deep-lying defence.

It was all the more surprising coming only a few weeks after they were breaking records for consecutive clean sheets with Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic being compared favourably with the great Old Trafford centre-back partnerships.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar certainly earned his money on Tuesday, especially in the fiery opening half-hour when Porto scored through Cristian Rodriguez and could easily have had three more.

For all the problems, however, Ferguson will take heart from the steel shown by the likes of substitute Tevez and Wayne Rooney, whose 15th-minute equaliser came after he showed a striker's instinct to gamble on Bruno Alves's back-pass, then great technique to turn the gift into a goal.

Ferguson said he was delighted to reach halftime level and, despite the late equaliser to make it 2-2, he recognised it was the least Porto deserved.

The result, and the performance, persuaded bookmakers to lengthen the odds on United retaining their European crown, with Barcelona installed as new favourites.

Porto's home record is formidable but will they will risk a repeat of such a high-energy assault on the holders in the home leg when a 0-0 or 1-1 draw would send them through?

That dilemma is a chink in the armour that United will work on and Ferguson, never more effective than when his back is against the wall, will relish the chance to claim another European landmark.

TeamTalk / Reuters

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  1. Didn't that interview just highlight The Old­ Soak's lack of class and respect. Any decent person­ would've taken the chewing gum out of their mouths­ but oh no, not this arrogant pillock. Be thankful you­ got a draw you old fool, but for a schoolboy error of­ monumental proportions, you would've lost.

    From cameron w, on Wed 8 Apr 10:20AM

  2. United were shocked bcos they thought they wud have it­ easy with porto. SAF had already envisaged a Man U vs­ Barca final. Man u are really under pressure now.

    From preencemeka, on Wed 8 Apr 10:19AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ha ha ha, well what can I say, United are just rubbish,­ they have always been rubbish. The trophies are­ slipping, the sponsors are broke, the players are­ rubbish and want to leave(Madrid), the fans are all­ dumb and the manager is confused. What a United bunch­ of pigs

    From Godwin, on Wed 8 Apr 10:19AM

  4. Well said 130.Andy Grays anti Red, but loves the­ Mancs.so hes going to be biased.You can hear it when he­ coments on a red match. hes not worth the time of­ day,OLD FART

    From Marge Simpson., on Wed 8 Apr 10:11AM

  5. I admitted United are terrible, ever since the­ Liverpool loss, they couldn't find their usual­ form.. They are now running like headless­ chickens...Arsenal was the same in Jan/feb but luckily­ they found their form at the perfect time, Their goal,­ scissors kick goal was marvellous goal, classic...MUFC­ Fan

    From spikeymonty, on Wed 8 Apr 10:01AM

  6. Sir Alex? Not even enough etiquette to remove his­ chewing gum when he's interviewed

    From LLION R, on Wed 8 Apr 10:00AM

  7. Since Torres and Gerrard scared the @#$% out of so­ called player of the year Vidic, and Co. Every club to­ play Manure since has realised that their backline is­ weak under real pressure, How many goals have they­ conceded since the so called MEDIA BAND WAGON LED­ INVINCIBLES! got murdered at the feet of the real world­ footballer of the year Steven Gerrard! BY THE WAY, WHY­ DOESN'T ANDY GRAY BRING UP HOW MANY TIMES RONALDO­ GIVES THE BALL AWAY BEFORE HE CAN ACTUALLY GET IT TO A­ TEAM MATE? NOW THERE'S A STAT I'D LIKE TO SEE!

    From ntrguitarschool, on Wed 8 Apr 9:58AM

  8. I still beleive United though this is the first leg and­ I know that in home, their is credit as in winning but­ nevertheless, United is going to beat FC Porto in their­ second leg in Porto's Home they themself should no­ that. They are going to lose in their home. So they­ should prepear in the next coming one at home.

    From Eby.star, on Wed 8 Apr 9:53AM

  9. Sir Alex Record tells all he is the best and if you­ don't think so then show me any one who can match­ his prowess he knows that he has a mountain to climb­ but he will succeed in making history with 5 trophis in­ one year and to set the record staight Man Unt have­ played much more games than any other team thats why­ they are fatuiged but they will still come through the­ other side victories they ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE­ WORLD!!!!

    From Barry, on Wed 8 Apr 9:51AM

  10. obviously clipsy you have a lispsy, did we not bring­ young jay spearing on against
    real, have N'GOGG EL­ ZHAR, PLESISS, NEMETH, DARBY etc not played for the 1st­ team this
    year, alas lispsy lad the futures bright,­ the future trophys, you lot seem to have gone overboard­ on some young italian as did the press,

    From em.power1, on Wed 8 Apr 9:47AM

  11. who the fick is chelsea

    From irenegowing, on Wed 8 Apr 9:41AM

  12. Manchester United might have been disappointed with the­ outcome of the first encounter with Porto Football­ Club, having played this match at 2-2 draw. Their hope­ of retaining the Championship League has been dashed.­ It is not easy winning a quintuple as they have been­ boasting of doing. Congratulations Porto!. You are­ really flying the flag of your club. More grease to­ your elbow.

    From Emma, on Wed 8 Apr 9:40AM

  13. A manc pro was touting for business in salford when she­ picks up a punter,
    he takes her back to his hotel and­ quickly takes a shower, when he comes out shes
    naked on­ the bed, on 1 thigh is a tattoo of rooney on the other­ is ronaldo.
    'Tell thee wot mate if you can tell me­ who these are i'll gid ye it fa free,
    So the­ blokes takes a look and says 'i dont no them 2 but­ thats TEVEZ in the middle.

    From em.power1, on Wed 8 Apr 9:38AM

  14. em.power1: the difference IS that there will be a whole­ load of new faces from the reserve ranks cominig­ through. Your team has to go out and try and buy­ players of that quality. TRY being the word.

    From crispyduck, on Wed 8 Apr 9:33AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    to start with, M.U are not going to win anytin with­ those they won already. this league will decide by­ Arsenal, believe it or not they are still going to play­ 3 of them. M.U can't come back against arsenal the­ way they did on sunday, and Liverpool will not be lucky­ against arsenal either, Arsenal vs Chelsea is the major­ game to decide it, draw or win will see chelsea tru to­ the title. remeber liverpool vs tot is a difficult­ game. chelsea will surely win the other six games. i­ for see 2 more draw and a lose for m.u. champ. l is­ over for them. 1. chelsea 2. liverpool 3. m. united 4.­ arsenal. COMMON CHELSEA

    From john, on Wed 8 Apr 9:33AM

  16. VIVA PORTUGAL!

    From Jose P, on Wed 8 Apr 9:32AM

  17. Lost at the end largely due to the lazy Ronaldo not­ tracking back.

    From thebritishjudge, on Wed 8 Apr 9:28AM

  18. manc fans are poor losers who only spout off when they­ win. when liverpool and fulham stuffed then we didnt­ hear a word

    From irenegowing, on Wed 8 Apr 9:27AM

  19. Can't wait to see the UTD team photo next season,
    ­ no ronaldo,
    no herman munster carling cup
    no­ prem league 2 game world champs trophy
    no fa­ cup some photo thats goner be.
    no champs­ league
    no sponsor.

    From em.power1, on Wed 8 Apr 9:23AM

  20. EDWARD W, your living in cloud cuckoo land and have­ obviously never been to a football game in your life ,­ if you think Liverpool fans would root for utd in the­ european cup and vice versa you need to get back into­ your asylum I'm surprised they let you out for the­ day wa^nker

    From FoeyP, on Wed 8 Apr 9:20AM
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