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United to shrug off Chelsea defeat, says Ferguson |
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Monday, 28 April 2008 |
 MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester United will not let their defeat by Chelsea affect Tuesday’s decisive Champions League semi-final with Barcelona, according to manager Alex Ferguson.
United’s 2-1 loss at their Premier League title rivals on Saturday rounded off a run of four league games in which Ferguson’s leaders have won only once and have allowed Chelsea to draw level on points.
“Everybody is disappointed to lose a game of football but with the incentive of a big game like tomorrow night you put that (defeat) behind you quickly,” Ferguson told a news conference on Monday.
“I trust these players and I am happy for those players to represent Manchester United in any shape or form, in any game. I think I am lucky manager to have such good lads. Character-wise they are fantastic.
“That character is part of Manchester United. It epitomises the kind of player needed to play for Manchester United and I am proud I have got these players representing myself and the club tomorrow night.
“I think we have got big-game players and we have got players who can win matches. I think we have a marvellous chance.”
EVENLY BALANCED
The tie is evenly balanced after last week’s 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp, with United hoping for good news on the injury front after striker Wayne Rooney and defender Nemanja Vidic missed training on Monday.
“We think both could make it but I can’t be dead certain about that,” said Ferguson.
A victory for United, who have won their last 11 home games in the competition, would set up a first all-English Champions League final against Liverpool or Chelsea on May 21 in Moscow.
Despite Ferguson’s bullish attitude towards the Barcelona game, he made no secret of his frustration at events in the Premier League, where his team lead on goal difference with two games to play.
“We should be sitting here as champions of the league,” he said.
“I think decisions have gone against us, we have bad decisions against us, but it doesn’t matter about decisions in the past … if it means we have to win the last two to win the league so be it.
“It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past, whether we’ve had 50 penalties turned down or 50 given to us, or terrible performances all season or great performances.”
However, the Scot could also afford a wry assessment of what his side have achieved to date this season. “We are sitting here with two games left, a semi-final tomorrow, a home game (against West Ham United) on Saturday and a game against Wigan away — disaster.” (Reporting by Pete Oliver; Editing by Trevor Huggins)
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