Champions League - Fergie praises pass masters

Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 12:01:00 2009

Barcelona's "killer" first goal and their ability to control a game once in front were decisive in their 2-0 Champions League final victory, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said.

Alex Ferguson, Rome, FOOTBALL - 0

"I think the first goal was a killer for us," Ferguson told ITV. "We started brightly too. We got a bit nervous after that."

United did make a good start but Samuel Eto'o netted after 10 minutes and faded badly, with their defence looking especially shaky, and Lionel Messi wrapped up victory midway through the second half.

"The first goal didn't help that's for sure," Ferguson said. "It gave them the opportunity to keep possession, which they do well.

"We didn't deal with it well enough. That really was the story. I think there's a disappointment in the performance and some individuals will say that themselves."

The Scot, who lashed out at a reporter for asking if he still had the desire to win, could only marvel at Barca's passing ability.

"At the start of game we did really well," he said. "It was a bad goal to lose. You've got to give credit to a very good Barca team. If they get in front of you they're difficult to beat.

"All the midfield players got possession of the ball and made it very difficult for us to get it back. When we did get possession after the goal we didn't do well enough with it."

He added: "They are among the best at what they do. They pursue their philosophy and don't change."

United rarely fail to score and Ferguson had no explanation.

"We had plenty of time," Ferguson told ITV. "We had some half-chances in the second half but in fairness we were beaten by a better team."

He also told Sky Sports: "They were two bad goals to lose at this level especially when we have really excelled defending this season."

Reuters

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  1. I wish Barcelona had converted the other 4/5 other­ chances they had against Man U and the score should­ have read 5-0 or 6-0, then only the foolish and­ arrogant Man U faithful would have gone into hiding and­ kept their mouth shut. It requires intelligence to­ understand that Barcelona outplayed Man U and 2-0­ doesn't mean Man U played very well. Barcelona are­ the best, the whole world knew it, but we had to prove­ to a handful of impertinent Englishmen through this­ match that Barcelona and La Liga are the best. Hail the­ greatest team of earth, with the greatest players in­ the World. Viva La Liga, Viva Barcelona. The whole­ world loves you.

    From barcelonafan85, on Fri 29 May 3:50PM

  2. I wish Barcelona had converted the other 4/5 other­ chances they had against Man U and the score should­ have read 5-0 or 6-0, then only the foolish and­ arrogant Man U faithful would have gone into hiding and­ kept their mouth shut. It requires intelligence to­ understand that Barcelona outplayed Man U and 2-0­ doesn't mean Man U played very well. Barcelona are­ the best, the whole world knew it, but we had to prove­ to a handful of impertinent Englishmen through this­ match that Barcelona and La Liga are the best. Hail the­ greatest team of earth, with the greatest players in­ the World. Viva La Liga, Viva Barcelona. The whole­ world loves you.

    From barcelonafan85, on Fri 29 May 3:50PM

  3. john o'shea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! england call­ up?????????
    are you for real???????????? Jobrien83 ­ O'.. BRIEN??????
    john o'shea?????? daa ...­ O' SHEA.
    I CANNOT BELIEVE IT....
    MANU BELL END....

    From kevin_anthony_curley, on Fri 29 May 3:43AM

  4. Barca, well done and welcome to the club of "THE­­ REAL MASTERS OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL". Liverpool and­­ the rest (Bayern M, AC Milan, Ajax, Real Madrid)­­ welcomes you.

    From Godwin, on Thu 28 May 5:35PM

  5. Man. U. ran out of luck. They got the EPL cub because­ of luck rather than capability. Against a superb team­ Barcelona, everyone could see they are not that good.­ Sir Alex should step down this year or he will be­ humiliated by the Man. U. performance next year­ onwards. It's time for them to go without luck.

    From sopheap999, on Thu 28 May 5:32PM

  6. Barca has shown the ManU is just a bubble. See­ ManU's route to final. Inter - Italian teams have­ been impotent in Europe since the fall of AC. Porto -­ weakest team in the last 8. Arsenal - half of the team­ injured, esp. in defence. The so-called World­ Championship is laughable. Even Everton would have got­ that if they met the Latam champs. League Cup - who­ cares. Well done Barca! Toothless ManU, watch out­ when SAF retires.

    From gmcleung2004, on Thu 28 May 3:58PM

  7. new helpline for man u fans... 020 2-0-2-0-2-0-2-0.­ they all look shaky

    From ftsg, on Thu 28 May 3:35PM

  8. jobrien you @#$% hole. united where @#$%. ferdinand was­ absolutely shocking so say the least and as for john o­ shea. he was uniteds best player on the pitch keeping­ messi quiet, well for most of the match and the reason­ why he dosent get a call up for england? because hes­ irish you door @#$%, from waterford in the south, so­ try and get a few things right before you go off­ shooting your mouth. the obvious better team won.

    From evosteo, on Thu 28 May 3:16PM

  9. Jobrien83, are you smoking crack or did you watch a­ different match? Denial's a b*tch ..... hahahah...­ CONGRATS BARCA!!!!! MASTERCLASS

    From strongtip4, on Thu 28 May 2:33PM

  10. well this is what i got to say. ima a man u fan and i­ am happy to make it to the final! (unlike liverpoo) at­ least SAF says barca were the best team and i bet rafa­ would say :: Our players were not fit , we were unlucky­ or even we will do better next year (like they always­ say...) NOW LETS ALL BE PROUD TO BE IN THE FINAL AND­ NOT BE SAD LIKE SCOUSERS WHO DIDNT MAKE IT!!! MANU­ 4life

    From lukecachia, on Thu 28 May 2:08PM

  11. this tactic or that!?! Doesnt matter! That final was­ about playing football!!! And Barca was in the final,­ so Barca won, cos playing football better than Newton­ Heat! So clearly! So simple! Visca el Barca!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 2:00PM

  12. oshea is not english you donut liverpool fan knows more­ about football than man u fan what a surprise

    From tomowencorbett, on Thu 28 May 1:56PM

  13. xavi is over rated so is iniesta and messi the best­ player on the pitch was rio ferdinand he is by far the­ best player in the world did you see his mid-air back­ heel and i think the only player to let united down was­ giggs i was much expecting him to use his blistering­ pace down the wing but i never seen any of it, xxxxx­ united forever xxxxx 18 league championships more than­ any other team in history and world club cup champions­ (the biggest trophy in the world) p.s why does nt john­ oshea get a call up for england he is tremendous

    From john, on Thu 28 May 1:52PM

  14. Now all you MU fans have seeing, what is Football! And­ how poor was your overrated english football! Barca­ gives some Football lessions for this so much overrated­ (by MU fans) english team! Visca el Barca!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 1:47PM

  15. Manchester United - Bad season = Premiership Champions,­ World Champions, League Cup Winners, Champions League­ Finalists, FA Cup Semi-Finalists.

    Liverpool - Great­ season = Second in Premiership, League Cup 4th Round,­ Champions League Quarter Finalists,
    FA Cup 4th­ Round

    But never mind Liverpool - Next season will be­ your season.
    One sec, didn't you say that last­ season? Or was it the one before that or the one before­ that or the one before that (ad infinitum).

    From Jonathan B, on Thu 28 May 1:47PM

  16. I think Gerrard individually is better than Iniesta and­ Xavi although they play great together Liverpool have­ the better midfield with mascherano and Alonso. Gerrard­ can play any position, score 25 goals a season, is­ quick can header a ball, tackle hard etc bloody­ superman, individually the best player in the world if­ used in best position just behind the striker,­ awesome!!!

    From tomowencorbett, on Thu 28 May 1:42PM

  17. Visca el Barca!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 1:33PM

  18. This year only two clubs having beat the s h i t out of­ united!!! Barca and Liverpool!!! They­ are both far better clubs than MU!!! And thats true!!!­ Allways was and allways be!!! I know only one MU song,­ but it sounds good! Who the f c k are man united!!??­ Who the f c k are man united!!?? Who the f c k are­ man united!!?? Who the f c k are manu!!???? ­ ha-ha-ha!!! Sing it!!! So called "united­ fans" :):):), sing it!!! :):):)

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 28 May 1:32PM

  19. It was a night on which an experienced, insightful­ manager, Sir Alex, was beaten by a green horn called­ Guardiola. Barcelona, like Arsenal, passed the ball­ well, moving from Adagio to Presto, returning to­ Alegro, doing Moderato and back to Adagio. All Man U­ could do was watch mesmerised. Unlike Arsenal, Barca­ had the defensive wall to play the passing game. I had­ hoped that Sir Alex would tell his wards to play long­ balls - post to post- in the second half and break­ Barca's rhythm. That they did not was their­ undoing.

    From Kaybee, on Thu 28 May 1:28PM

  20. Come on Bolton Wanderers, 09 / 10

    From Richard, on Thu 28 May 1:04PM
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