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Stunned Fergie searches for answers 8 December 2011
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was left disappointed and shocked as he watched his side dumped out of the Champions League.
The Red Devils fell 2-1 away to Basel on Wednesday meaning they finish third in Group C and drop into the Europa League, the first time they have not made it out of the group stages of the Champions League in six seasons.The defeat sees United, finalists in two of the last three years, drop out of the competition, and the manager highlighted the draw at home to Basel earlier in the tournament as the moment they can look back and regret in the group.
United were coasting in that game and led 2-0, but allowed the Swiss side to come back and earn themselves a sensational 3-3 draw at Old Trafford."I think the Basel result at home is the one where it went wrong," Ferguson said."That’s the one where we’ve got to hold our hands up and say that was stupid. We threw it away that night - it was carelessness.""It was 2-0 and could have been 5-0, so we’ve only got ourselves to blame in that aspect."
"Of course it is disappointing to go out, our record in the last few years has been outstanding and it's a loss to us going out because this is the best tournament in the world - it's a marvellous tournament."Ferguson highlighted a disappointing start on Wednesday, which included Marco Streller's ninth minute opener, as an important factor in his team's defeat on the night."It wasn't a good start to the game, which surprised us," he said.
"I expected us to try and get control of the game immediately through possession but they have scored with what was really their first attack, a cross into the box that comes back in and then they are 1-0 up.""When you are 1-0 down away from home it gives you a serious job to do.""The opportunities we had we didn't take and that was really the story of the game."
As a result of being knocked out, United drop into the second-tier Europa League and the Red Devils boss admitted that was something he would need to prepare his squad for due to the schedule conflict it causes."The Europa League is a competition I have never been in with United," he said."It does mean one thing, that we play Thursdays and Sundays right through the season, so that has to be dealt with.""It is not the best news but that is our penalty for not qualifying tonight."
Bayern dangerous in knockout round, says Heynckes 8 December 2011
Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes has fired a warning shot to whoever his side meet in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Bayern lost 2-0 to Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, but with top spot in Group A already wrapped up, Heynckes used the match as an opportunity to play many of his second-string players.Despite the defeat, Heynckes said whoever draws Bayern in the knockout stages will not have it easy, especially if midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger returns in time from a broken collarbone.
"If we are at full strength and Bastian Schweinsteiger is back, it will be difficult for any team to beat us," Heynckes told UEFA's official website.The manager praised his side for their effort against City and was delighted with their efforts in topping what was dubbed as the 'Group of Death' prior to the tournament."It is a big success to have won the group on the penultimate matchday," he said.
"We had big selection problems today. Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos had to stay at home (with flu) while Mario Gomez and Thomas Mueller are two other players to have been affected and Daniel Van Buyten has been suffering from gastroenteritis.""The team showed fighting spirit, and that is all that is possible at the moment."
Heynckes also offered his thoughts on Manchester City's failure to qualify, with the Premier League table-toppers not making it out of a group that also featured Italian side Napoli and Villarreal of Spain."Players have to get to know European football; City do not have too much experience in that regard and that was noticeable in the group stage," he said.
"They have a very good team but had we been all full strength today and had to win, then we would have won here.""I see defects in City. They attack well and keep the ball well, but I see issues in their defence."The Bayern manager said he had no preferred opponents in the round of 16 draw, which will take place on December 16.
Mancini apologises for Champions League exit 8 December 2011
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has apologised to the club's players and supporters after his side crashed out of the Champions League. City beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, but it was not enough as a Napoli win against Villarreal saw them through at the expense of Mancini's men.He told Sky Sports:
"We need to improve as a team. Our group was difficult. Congratulations to Napoli for getting through.""We are a good team always. We are a fantastic team. I am very sorry for our supporters and I'm sorry for my players because players like that should be playing in the Champions League.""I think usually with 10 points (the amount City amassed) teams go through - always - 99 per cent (of the time).
This is a very strange group, difficult group.""We made some mistakes but it can happen. After Naples (where City lost to Napoli) it was difficult."City must now settle for competing in the Europa League, but their Italian coach believes his side have a chance of winning that trophy."We are going in the Europa League, it's another trophy, an important trophy," Mancini said. "We are disappointed but we want to do better next year."
"I think maybe now we think Europa League is not important, but if we arrive in the final we will think it's very important.""I think we are now on top of the Premier League but this season will be very hard and we want to improve from last year. We want to improve in the Champions League."Rivals Manchester United were also dumped out of the competition following their 2-1 defeat to Basel, and Mancini admitted he was unsure why English teams have struggled this season.
"It's strange also for United to go out. It's strange," he said.The 47-year-old also shed further light on the situation regarding unsettled striker Carlos Tevez.He insisted the club are reluctant to sanction a loan move, preferring a permanent transfer, despite reported interest from AC Milan."I don't know that situation at the moment but we want to sell Tevez, for sure," he said."It's difficult for us to loan him so for this reason nothing is sure. The only sure thing is that we will not let Tevez go on loan."
Lille boss Rudi Garcia has expressed his frustration after a 0-0 draw against Trabzonspor saw them eliminated from all European competition.
In a frantic first half at the Stade Lille Metropole, the hosts squandered various chances from Eden Hazard and other efforts from Moussa Sow and Florent Balmont.With the visitors' goalkeeper Tolga Zengin in inspired form, the French champions were unable to fashion further attempts in the second half, as the resolute Turkish club held out for a stalemate.
CSKA Moscow's late win over Inter Milan means Lille finished last in Group B, and Garcia was disappointed not to have gotten a result in front of their home fans."It is a cruel deception. I'm disappointed for my players," Garcia told Canal+. "There was a lack of success and efficiency to score that goal which would have sent (us through).""(We had) a lot of shots, but it is not enough. The first period was good, and we would have had to continue with this intensity. But I can not fault my players."
"For Trabzonspor, it was an odd choice because they (have) not even qualified."Lille midfielder Ludovic Obraniak also gave his thoughts after the Ligue 1 champions were dumped out of Europe."We missed a goal. Much has been tried tonight. There was nothing wrong," the Polish international said."We must revive ourselves in the league where we have a title to defend. And there's (domestic) cups we need to focus on.""But it's a shame (about) the Champions League, a prestigious competition."Following the setback, Lille host Dijon in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
De Laurentiis: Future bright for Napoli
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis believes things are looking bright for the club after they progressed to the Champions League knockout round.
Garde hails Lyon comeback warriors
Lyon coach Remi Garde praised his players after they sneaked into the Champions League knockout round with a 7-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Hart: City should have done better
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has lamented his side's failure to progress in the Champions League this season.
Heynckes: Bayern are difficult to beat
Despite the 2-0 loss to Manchester City, Jupp Heynckes still believes Bayern Munich will prove difficult to beat in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Mourinho: Real always play to win
Jose Mourinho believes Real Madrid displayed professionalism on Wednesday as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena.
Ranieri: All going wrong for Inter
Claudio Ranieri admits everything seems to be going wrong for Inter Milan at the moment, after they were beaten 2-1 by CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.
Mancini apologises to City fans
Roberto Mancini apologised to Manchester City's supporters after being knocked out of the Champions League and targeted success in the Europa League and Premier League.
United face anxious wait over Vidic
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic will undergo a scan after he was stretchered off during his side's 2-1 Champions League defeat at Basel on Wednesday.
Evra ashamed over UCL exit
Patrice Evra has admitted it is "embarrassing" that Manchester United find themselves in the Europa League.
Ferguson demands United response
Sir Alex Ferguson has called on Manchester United to use the misery of their Champions League exit at the hands of Basel as motivation for future glory.
Mata turns attention to Man City game
Juan Mata is only thinking of victory in Chelsea's Barclays Premier League showdown with Manchester City after helping keep their Champions League dream alive.
Kompany: We can win Europa League
Vincent Kompany insisted winning the Europa League is a realistic target as Manchester City's Champions League campaign came to an end on Wednesday.
Keane: United deserved UCL exit
Manchester United legend Roy Keane admitted his former side "got what they deserved" as they departed the Champions League at the group stage on Wednesday night.
United face anxious wait over Vidic Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic will undergo a scan after he was stretchered off during his side's 2-1 Champions League defeat at Basel on Wednesday.
The Serbian defender twisted his right knee in a challenge with Basel striker Marco Streller a minute before the break in Switzerland.
The 30-year-old appeared to be in quite some pain and had to be stretchered from the field, to be replaced by Jonny Evans.
With the Red Devils failing to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in six years, Vidic's injury completed a miserable night for the Premier League champions.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed after the game that he fears Vidic has suffered medial ligament damage, which could sideline him for a significant amount of time.
The former Spartak Moscow man has already missed the opening two months of the campaign with a calf injury, but had looked back to his best in recent weeks alongside Rio Ferdinand.
The loss of the influential captain, who left the stadium on crutches, would represent a further blow to United's chances of closing the five-point gap between themselves and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Ferguson demands United response Sir Alex Ferguson has called on Manchester United to use the misery of their Champions League exit at the hands of Basel as motivation for future glory. The Red Devils only needed to draw their final Group C game in Switzerland to book their place in the last 16 of the competition for a fifth consecutive season.
But United were playing catch-up from the ninth minute when Marco Streller opened the scoring and they suffered another blow late on through Alexander Frei's close-range header. Phil Jones did pull one back for Ferguson's side after Federico Macheda saw his shot cannon off the crossbar, however, it proved too little too late.
The Scot has seen his side overcome numerous setbacks over the years and he hopes his current crop of stars can use the defeat as a springboard for the future.
"Of course we're disappointed, there's no other way you can feel," explained Ferguson. "It's part of football. You have to deal with the disappointment, and this club has used it as motivation many times. "These young players will feel disappointed tonight [Wednesday] but they'll have to cope with it and go on with their careers. "Our results in the last few years have been outstanding. It's a loss because it's the best tournament in the world. It's a marvellous tournament."
"It wasn't a good start to the game. We expected to try and control the game by getting control of possession. They've scored through their first real attack. "When you're away from home and you're 1-0 down you have a job to do. The opportunities we had we didn't take them and that was the story of the game."
Ferguson will now compete for the first time in the Europa League with United and he admits the team will suffer by playing on Thursdays and Sundays.
"The (Europa League) is a competition I've never been in with United. It does mean one thing, it's right through Thursdays and Sundays, so that's got to be dealt with," he continued. "It's not the best. That's our penalty for not qualifying tonight [Wednesday]."
Keane: United deserved UCL exit Manchester United legend Roy Keane admitted his former side "got what they deserved" as they departed the Champions League at the group stage on Wednesday night.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men suffered a 2-1 defeat to Basel in Switzerland, Phil Jones' late headed goal not enough after Marco Streller and Alexander Frei had put the hosts in control.
The result left United winless in four meetings with Wednesday night's opponents and their fellow qualifiers Benfica, their only victories coming against Romanian minnows Otelul Galati.
"I think (going out) reflects what United have done in truth, they haven't scored enough goals and they haven't beaten Basel or Benfica," said Keane, part of ITV1's summarising team for the match.
"It's all about scoring goals."
The last time United failed to qualify from a Champions League group was in 2005, shortly after Keane's acrimonious departure from the club.
And the former Republic of Ireland captain feels United's much-vaunted class of 2011 have much still to prove.
"People have talked about the young players - you've had Jones, (Chris) Smalling, (Ashley) Young coming in, everybody building them up but they've got a lot to do, it's a reality check for some," Keane said.
"I'd be getting hold of some of those lads, saying 'you'd better buck up your ideas'.
"I think their best player tonight [Wednesday] was Ryan Giggs, that sums it up - he 37 or 38, you can't be depending on him.
"United got what they deserved tonight [Wednesday]."
De Laurentiis: Future bright for Napoli Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis believes things are looking bright for the club after they progressed to the Champions League knockout round.
Wednesday's 2-0 win over Villarreal guaranteed Napoli's spot in the last-16 of the competition, eliminating big-spending Manchester City in the process. And De Laurentiis is optimistic Napoli can use this landmark as the foundation for prolonged success in the years to come.
"The work done in recent months is equivalent to the work of three years," De Laurentiis told Sky Italia. "The important thing is that three Italian teams [along with AC Milan and Inter Milan] have passed the group stage, and this evening [Wednesday] is a turning point."
De Laurentiis admits there were periods in Wednesday's game where he felt Napoli might fail in their bid to progress, but is now hopeful the current side can go on to emulate the glory years of the early 1990s when Diego Maradona starred for them.
"I saw at the beginning that our players felt the pressure of the game, but then there was a period when Villarreal put us in difficulty. "We were a bit numb, but the Manchester City goal [against Bayern Munich] played a dirty trick to our players during the interval, and I was annoyed by our attitude.
"In the second half, fortunately things picked up, it's important to have matched the same result as Maradona's Napoli. "We passed a difficult group, and the team has matured."
Napoli are next in action on Sunday when they travel to Novara in the Serie A.
The French regulatory authority for online games, ARJEL, will investigate Lyon's 7-1 Champions League Group D win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Lyon needed a big win in the Croatian capital on Wednesday to keep their chances alive of progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League, while they also required Real Madrid to beat Ajax in the other Group D game.
Seven goals in the final 50 minutes of the match proved to be enough for the Ligue 1 giants to swing the final standings in their favour and qualify as group runners-up.
Nevertheless, suspicion arose shortly after the final whistle about the way Dinamo collapsed after the interval, and ARJEL has now opted to open an investigation.
Zagreb defender Domagoj Vida came under scrutiny in the aftermath of the game as he winked at Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis after the latter had found the net and offered him a big smile, despite his side losing heavily.
I remember someone told me Keano grab RVN by the throat and told him to do what he was paid to do ie. score goals.
He has the interest of United at heart.
Wenger: United UCL exit an accident
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger views Manchester United's failure to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League as "an accident".
Lescott: One game at a time
Defender Joleon Lescott does not expect Manchester City's Champions League demise to damage their pursuit of other honours.
Aguero: Man City will have payback
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero insists his side will have payback after crashing out of the Champions League.
UEFA won't investigate Lyon win
UEFA will not open an investigation at this stage into Lyon's thumping 7-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.
United lacking world class attack
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes a lack of world class attacking players is the reason behind the club's early exit from Europe.
Mourinho praises second-string Madrid
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho praised his players for their professionalism as they ended their Champions League Group D campaign with a 3-0 win over Ajax in Amsterdam.
Jurcic sacked from Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb sacked coach Krunoslav Jurcic immediately after their Champions League humbling by Lyon on Wednesday night.
Hamsik: Qualification is a crazy sensation
Napoli playmaker Marek Hamsik could barely contain his joy after his side’s qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 triumph over Villarreal on Wednesday.
Lehmann: City play "boring football"
Former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann claimed the Champions League was better off without Manchester City.
Villarreal look on the bright side
Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido was determined to see the positives from Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Napoli which ended their woeful run in Europe.
UEFA won't investigate Lyon win UEFA will not open an investigation at this stage into Lyon's thumping 7-1 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Their own Betting Fraud Detection System did not detect any irregular betting patterns surrounding the match.
Lyon have backed the decision of the French online gaming authority (ARJEL) to run checks on bets placed on the result, which in combination with Ajax's 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid was enough to take the French club into the last 16.
UEFA have yet to receive reports from the match referee or match delegate but say at this stage they have not seen anything which warrants further investigation. A statement from UEFA released to Press Association Sport read: "UEFA is aware of, and has taken note, of the press coverage surrounding yesterday's games and the various allegations made by the media.
"UEFA also considers the integrity of its own competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, as an absolute priority and pays extra attention to all games. "We have also implemented a Betting Fraud Detections System (BFDS) as a tool against match-fixing - a system which monitors 29,000 games a season including all UEFA matches, and utilises data from more than 400 betting companies.
"For the time being this system has not shown any irregular betting patterns around yesterday's games or their outcome that would justify any inquiry on that front." UEFA's statement continued: "UEFA also pays a lot of attention to the sporting behaviour on the pitch and we are currently waiting to receive the reports of the referee, referee observer and match delegate to see if, in their opinion, something suspicious might have happened.
"If there is anything in these reports that could raise a doubt, UEFA may then charge a disciplinary inspector to investigate the matter. But there is nothing at this stage that would justify doing so." Lyon scored six times in the second half as they came from 1-0 down to incredibly book their place in the knockout stage.
The club released a statement saying they understood the checks by ARJEL were necessary in the case of such an "atypical" result. The statement on their official website read: "Lyon have become aware of the checks being carried out this morning by ARJEL, which fit with the procedures of the agency responsible for the regulation of online gaming.
"The club agree totally that action should be taken when a result is considered atypical."
Lyon have hit back at claims that there was anything untoward in their 7-1 Champions League Group D victory over Dinamo Zagreb. The win, which gave the French side a place in the last 16 at Ajax's expense, came from a second-half deluge from Remi Garde's men despite the score being tied at 1-1 at the break.
Meanwhile in Amsterdam, the Dutch side had two seemingly fair goals disallowed in their 3-0 loss to Real Madrid, leading to suggestions that corruption had led to Lyon gaining the necessary scoreline to overturn their goal difference inferiority to qualify for the knockout phase.
An official statement from Lyon read: "Hurt by the defeat and elimination, the Amsterdam club are trying to find an explanation elsewhere - as witnessed by the distressing statements made by the club's leaders as reported by a news agency - such as conspiracy theories or worse the result of corruption."
"This is detrimental and unacceptable for OL, its players, its supporters and the fans in general.""Ajax are free to solicit all the checks in the world, but the Dutch club must know that Lyon will defend itself through every means, until the appropriate compensation is sought for the damage caused, and for every defamatory insinuation that affected the integrity and honour of its sports team, its staff and its fans."
Meanwhile, Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored four goals in the 7-1 rout, has taken to L'Equipe to hit out at suggestions that a photo of him winking at Dinamo's Domagoj Vida proves that the match was fixed."We had a laugh on the pitch. I know some words in Croatian thanks to Dejan (Lovren, Lyon defender). But that doesn't mean the match was fixed!"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger views Manchester United's failure to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League as "an accident".
The Red Devils lost 2-1 in Basle on Wednesday night, which meant they failed to emerge from the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2005.
However, Wenger - whose side were safely through before their midweek defeat at Olympiacos - feels given United's European pedigree, this season's disappointment is just a blip as they must now focus on their domestic battle for Barclays Premier League supremacy with rivals Manchester City, who will also be in the Europa League.
Wenger told Arsenal Player: "When you go out of the Champions League it is of course a big disappointment, but every team responds in a different way.
"You want to play in the Champions League but the risk is that you have to go out at some stage. You have to deal with the disappointment, that's part of being a big club.
"Let's not forget that Manchester United have played in three finals out of the last four, so for them we have to consider it [their exit] as an accident."
Like Arsenal, Chelsea are in the last 16, winning their group after a 3-0 victory over Valencia.
No London club has won the European Cup, although both the Gunners and the Blues have reached the final.
Wenger added: "We were close [to winning the trophy], Chelsea were close too - the two teams were very, very close.
"You face competition from all over Europe with some massive clubs. But maybe this is London's season, you never know."
Manchester United will investigate what impact their elimination from the Champions League will have on their finances.
The Telegraph said United chief executive David Gill would head the review as 20 million pounds is expected to be lost in revenues, mostly through television rights and prize money.
Player bonuses could be dramatically slashed by the club to save money and the club are thought to be considering a change of ticketing policies and prices as they try to fill Old Trafford for Europa League games.
The club will not force season ticket holders to buy Europa League games.Pass holders at Old Trafford were previously charged for tickets in cup and European competitions but after complaints from supporters, the club have backtracked for Europa Leage games.
United confirmed this via their official website in a statement which read: "As part of a review of the impact of Manchester United's participation in the UEFA Europa League, the board has decided to exclude the competition from the compulsory purchase of home cup tickets this season."
"This decision means that season-ticket holders do not have to buy Europa League tickets for matches at Old Trafford."
Platini blasts Ferguson over Europa League 9 December 2011
UEFA president Michel Platini has blasted Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for his comments about the Europa League.
The Premier League champions were eliminated from the Champions League by Basel, with their third-place group finish seeing them playing Europa League football in the new year.Ferguson described participation in the competition as a "penalty" for the club that have reached three Champions League finals in the past four years.But Platini has hit back, telling Eurosport:
"The world does not revolve around England. I like England a lot, its football is fantastic, its supporters are wonderful but you shouldn't criticise the Europa League just because you've played in three Champions League finals."
"The Europa League is a brilliant competition, it's amazing. I know Mr Ferguson would have preferred to be in the Champions League but so would many clubs who don't have that possibility."After the defeat on Wednesday, Ferguson told reporters: "It is a loss because it (the Champions League) is the best tournament in the world. It is a marvellous tournament."
"Now we are in a competition I have never been in with Manchester United. It does mean Sundays right through and Thursday-Sunday matches.""That has to be dealt with. That is our penalty for not qualifying tonight."
Former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann claimed the Champions League was better off without Manchester City.
Manchester City were eliminated from the competition despite beating Bayern Munich 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Lehmann, working as a pundit for Germany's Sky television, could not hide his pleasure at seeing City drop into the Europa League as Napoli joined Bayern in qualification from Group A of the competition.
"Man City play very, very boring football," he said. "They just make their opponents fall asleep with lots of possession.
"But to be honest, that is not tactically very demanding. The way they play here is the way any amateur team plays, only not on such good grass.
"They just pack men behind the ball, have five against two and just move the ball around. "The goal then just comes from a fortunate circumstance."
Lehmann, who played in the Champions League final for Arsenal against Barcelona in 2006, albeit for only 18 minutes before being sent off, was also unimpressed by the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium.
"There was no life in the stadium," he said. "It was dead. "The fans are so quiet. You have got to say, though, that they have not got anything really to get excited about here.
"They had possession all of the time, albeit in their own half where nothing was happening. "It is a shame because it is not typical English football.
"Napoli have heart and passion and I liked them. It is good that they have gone through. "We don't want to see Manchester City in the Champions League."
I remember someone told me Keano grab RVN by the throat and told him to do what he was paid to do ie. score goals.
He has the interest of United at heart.
