Champions League - Managers: Fergie rates ref

Eurosport - Wed, 26 Nov 13:36:00 2008

A look at the reaction from Tuesday's round of Champions League matches with Alex Ferguson applauding the referee's decision to send off Joan Capdevila for a challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester United's goalless draw at Villarreal.

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

Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

Alex Ferguson: "A strong referee is always an advantage in football today. The referee was very fair and strict with both teams. The systematic fouling on him is what is happening in our game now. That is a tactic. The referee thinks he is diving all the time and the crowd are screaming. So that is the problem. He (Capdevila) may not have got that red card in England so there is a different interpretation of the physical aspect of the game in European matches. We deserved better - we improved our possession in the second half and I was satisfied. It takes us into the next stage and that's the main thing."

Manuel Pellegrini: "It was not a rough game, and you have to challenge Ronaldo. They are not going to lose to Aalborg - that's for certain. Our objective, though, is complete - and that is to qualify. However, we did notice the absence of some of our offensive players."

Arsenal 1-0 Dynamo Kiev

Arsene Wenger: "Nicklas scored a great goal. It was not handball as Kiev claimed. It is the first step for us. What the team needs is reassurance and at least we have that now. I believe his (William Gallas's) focus was great. He wanted to do well and you could see he was completely committed in the game. The crowd acknowledged that he (Cesc Fabregas) was a committed captain and I was very happy with that reaction."

Yuri Semin: "We were more or less equal with Arsenal and we played well, but the result is what counts."

AaB Aalborg 2-1 Celtic

Allan Kuhn: "What can you say after a game like that? We have had some wonderful moments at this club in recent seasons and that is right up there, although I would say our title win last season still slightly overshadows it. It's a wonderful day for the town and everyone connected to the club."

Gordon Strachan: "I just hope it's a bad dream, to come here and have so many players playing well. At 1-0 I thought, 'Tonight's the night - we're going to get this away victory'. I couldn't see any threat at all. And then a deflection and an own goal - the game's crazy."

Bayern Munich3-0 Steaua Bucharest

Juergen Klinsmann: "We're delighted. We're through to the last 16 with a game to spare, and the way we did it was fantastic. We've felt for the last six or eight weeks that we're really gaining momentum."

Fiorentina 1-2 Lyon

Cesare Prandelli: "At the beginning of the match we gave them too much space, and as a result they had a lot of opportunities. When they doubled their lead, we did not disunite, we continued to fight and work together. I cannot criticise my players. We have been eliminated from the competition, but we can hold our heads up high as we gave it our best."

Claude Puel: "It was very tough and very disciplined. It was a very high quality match. Congratulations to my players - collectively we were very good. We knew we were coming here to win and not to lose. There was no question of us playing for a draw."

Fenerbahce 1-2 Porto

Jesualdo Ferreira: "We're in a difficult group so to get nine points from five games is a big success for us. A lot of people have criticised my players and the team but what we've achieved is the perfect answer. I want to remind them that the team is still young and inexperienced in Champions League terms. I want to congratulate the players one by one. They didn't lose their motivation or control of the game at any time."

BATE Borisov 0-1 Real Madrid

Viktor Goncharenko: "I am a little disappointed with the result, although had anyone told me six months ago that I'd be disappointed with a 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid, I would probably never have trusted that man again. I did not see a major difference between the first and the second half. Madrid took one of their chances and we did not."

Bernd Schuster: "We played very effectively and kept our goal intact. We pressed our opponents a lot and the first half was especially good because we defended far up the field. We also moved the ball around really well and I can see that we are playing better with every match. There were a lot of factors against us tonight, but Juventus helped us a little and we managed to win to secure ourselves a place in the last 16."

Zenit St Petersburg 0-0 Juventus

Dick Advocaat: "Juventus took a more cautious approach while we had to take more risks because we needed the win to stay in the race to qualify for the next round. We created enough chances, but if you want to win the game, you have to score. However, at the end of 90 minutes, I can say that 0-0 is a fair score."

Claudio Ranieri: "We didn't win because of bad luck and over-eagerness. We showed we are in a positive moment. He (Claudio Marchisio) was already playing well before his injury, and he's playing well now too. I was convinced he would form a good partnership with (Mohamed) Sissoko."

Eurosport

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  1. Based on this Stoke would have been down to 9 men­ against Arsenal, Adebayor and Walcott challenges!­ Adebayor wasn't even on the field of play!

    From Matt, on Wed 26 Nov 10:31AM
  2. none of us can deny the fact that ronaldo is a big­ diver...BUT i think the poor guy is being targeted by­ defenders every single match...i watched both games­ against aston villa and villareal and u can see that­ defenders are more aggressive and hyped up when ronaldo­ has the ball...well the bottom line is a deserved­ expulsion...gifted players should b protected from­ vicious tackles BUT also punished if they dive...YES to­ beautiful and fair football NO to diving or rediculous­ tackling

    From salim_risen, on Wed 26 Nov 10:27AM
  3. Why are you people out there always anti-Ronaldo? Come­ on... With all the defenders aiming at you every match,­ he is going to be very lucky to survive without an­ injury this season. What if there is no red card? He­ could be the next Eduardo. D R, you should be crazy to­ give such a comment. Giving red cards and yellow cards­ to those who use dirty tricks to bring down currently­ the best player in the world right now is what a­ referee should do...

    From cris.ong_89, on Wed 26 Nov 10:24AM
  4. Who cares what Fergerson says anymore? Not me­ that's for sure.

    From slivatree, on Wed 26 Nov 10:22AM
  5. Having seen the injury on live TV for once I do not­ think Ronaldo dived my goodness it could have crippled­ him.I am not a Man U fan just a genuine opinion Red­ card deserved

    From DAVID A, on Wed 26 Nov 9:57AM
  6. Go fergie. What a manager. You think some of the other­ chump managers would pay attention when the great one­ speaks.

    From Jamie, on Wed 26 Nov 9:45AM
  7. SIMPLY THE BEST.

    From L H, on Wed 26 Nov 9:20AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    All that protect Ronaldo rant at the weekend payed­ dividends! A soft challenge and a yellow card but no! a­ red card....Typical fergie red nosed scottish t**t­ tactics! You forgetting roy keane and paul inces­ antics? Go and have another bottle of whiskey!

    From D, on Wed 26 Nov 8:46AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Glad Liverpool got rid of that ridiculous Sissoko, he­ is a red card waiting to happen in every match.

    From not printable, on Wed 26 Nov 8:38AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    theres afirst for fergie , bet he was lying

    From michael d, on Wed 26 Nov 8:28AM
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