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Benfica, Villarreal and Bremen into last 16, United out
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-08 09:02
"We were lucky. We knew we had to do what we could here and then hope," said
Klose, who played in a mask after breaking a bone in his face last month.
Disappointed Ferguson rues end of Champions League road
LISBON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Manager Alex Ferguson blamed Manchester United's
failure to keep possession for the 2-1 Champions League defeat by Benfica which
cut short their campaign in Europe.
Wednesday's reverse, which left them
bottom of Group D, dealt a hammer blow to United's season as they failed to even
qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Pinpointing the trouble faced by a United side whose passing was often
scrappy, Ferguson told reporters: "We got off to a good start but I thought we
gave away possession far too easily.
"If you give away possession like we did in the first half you don't deserve
to win. I think that was the main problem.
"In the second half, I'd give us 10 out of 10 for effort and determination
but when you're chasing a goal frustration and desperation come in.
"It was understandable that we got too anxious at the end...we were too keen
to win, we lacked composure in the last third."
Defeat ended United's record of nine consecutive seasons in the knockout
stages of the Champions League, including their final victory in 1999.
LOW POINT
"We're disappointed," said Ferguson. "It's a low point in the sense that
we've always qualified for Europe."
United's failure will also deny the club valuable revenue from European
competition following the 790 million pounds ($1.37 billion) takeover by U.S.
tycoon Malcolm Glazer.
The takeover has made Ferguson's own future at the club a matter of media
speculation in recent months, particularly when the team suffers a setback.
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