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. The only reds crying into their beer will be the scouse­ scum when Chelsea win tonight.

    From vicky w, on Wed 8 Apr 9:20AM

  2. I think john m has 2 much time on his hands. united­ rule!!!

    From Karl, on Wed 8 Apr 9:19AM

  3. Fellow United,
    Substituting Park was a disastrous­ decision, he was my man of the match until he was taken­ out...........
    I will rather united play 10 men than­ have Gary Neville on the pitch, its time to call it­ quits, against villa he could only get to the abdomen­ of Carew and so was no contest as Carew headed freely,­ against Porto his rash decision as to who to mark and­ mis-time of the ball caused us the second­ goal..........., yes our defense was in dissaray,but­ the quality of a defender is seen in such a­ situation.

    Man U on the back foot is very strong,we ­ wont go down easy, we now respect porto and they are­ now confident they can eliminate united, this will be­ their mistake, it will suprise everyone that it wont­ even be a tight match, i expect a wide goal margin,­ united does well when little is expected of­ them.

    We'll talk after the match on wednessday.

    From alison a, on Wed 8 Apr 9:18AM

  4. van da­ sah.???????????????????????????????????????????????????­ ???????????????

    From TEVEZ, on Wed 8 Apr 9:17AM

  5. why no fergie after the game last nite, angainst villa­ he could,nt wait to get to a tv camera. i wonder if the­ club took the match fee from the tv company,?

    From TEVEZ, on Wed 8 Apr 9:09AM

  6. why no fergie after the game last nite, angainst villa­ he could,nt wait to get to a tv camera. i wonder if the­ club took the match fee from the tv company,?

    From TEVEZ, on Wed 8 Apr 9:03AM

  7. Whats that idiot on about ? Fergie did an interview on­ ITV after the match last night .
    United have a tough­ task at porto , many people were saying united had an­ easy draw , Porto are a very good side , and if they do­ beat united they may well reach the final .

    From john, on Wed 8 Apr 9:01AM

  8. the sooner m.u fans stop expecting to win everythik ,­ the sooner the pressure will be lifted off there now­ average team, as blue nose has always said this is the­ businees end of the season , and they are being found­ out, last season they were very lucky with injuries ,­ this time they are being tested and are falling short,­ over the past 4/5 weeeks m.u have been an average team,­ short on top qaulity replacements, nevelle is the­ pefect example , and what do you say about o,shae.!!!,­ carrick!!! , evans!!!.

    From TEVEZ, on Wed 8 Apr 9:00AM

  9. No matter what the result is Rooney was impeccable, his­ flick for Tevez was pure sensation!!!! Go on wazza if u­ keep playing like this u can gift the title to ur­ team!!!!!!!

    From roy_elias10, on Wed 8 Apr 8:58AM

  10. No matter what the result is Rooney was impeccable, his­ flick for Tevez was pure sensation!!!! Go on wazza if u­ keep playing like this u can gift the title to ur­ team!!!!!!!

    From roy_elias10, on Wed 8 Apr 8:58AM

  11. Least we now only have to play well in 4 champions­ league games. You cant perform at your best all the­ time.

    From Thomas, on Wed 8 Apr 8:55AM

  12. After the LIVERPOOL/fulham games fergie did'nt do­ an interveiw, after the villa game he could'nt wait­ to put his whiskey face in front of the tv, but once­ again after not winning last nite nothing. These are­ the antics that prove why everyone hates UNITED
    when­ you wont face the music. My mate was at the game and he­ said that on the way out some fans were singing­ 'fergie out' tut tut tut

    From em.power1, on Wed 8 Apr 8:52AM

  13. i think fergie,s head has been messed up by benetaz,­ the spaniarn is very suttle in how and when he makes­ these statements, the next couple of weeks may prove­ this point , fergie doe,nt react verbaly, and i think­ this fact , gets to his head,

    From TEVEZ, on Wed 8 Apr 8:52AM

  14. OOPS going out after getting the easy way to the final­ looks like the first all london final this year

    From U R SOLES, on Wed 8 Apr 8:51AM

  15. Comment 93
    It would bleed whiskey if he did

    From p.lloyd142, on Wed 8 Apr 8:50AM

  16. You sad gits who laugh at british clubs misfortunes­ just because you dont support them should realise in­ the european cup england are playing against uefa and­ that bigot platini. support them whoever they are.

    From EDWARD, on Wed 8 Apr 8:50AM

  17. THAT CARRICK COULDN'T CROSS A ROAD NEVER MIND A­ BALL HE'S RUBBISH, BYE BYE MANURE ONLY THE COCA­ COLA CUP FOR YOU THIS SEASON

    From jimoggie, on Wed 8 Apr 8:47AM

  18. GOODBYE MANURE......

    From johnny, on Wed 8 Apr 8:45AM

  19. would john m by any chance be a liverpool fan­ ...........

    From sooty, on Wed 8 Apr 8:45AM

  20. I BET ALL YOU REDS WERE CRYING IN YOUR BEER....

    From johnny, on Wed 8 Apr 8:45AM
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