Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits that he is still haunted by last year’s defeat against Bayern Munich which knocked United out of the Champions League. The year before we were beaten by FC Barcelona in the final 2-0. We didn’t deserve the crown that year but I do reckon if Fletcher wasn’t sent of in the semi-final against Arsenal we would of had a better chance.
The goal in which knocked us out last year was one that we’ll never forget, the late volley from Arjen Robben. For that goal I think our back four were to blame, surely someone should of picked Robben up who was hanging around just at the edge of the box.
Ferguson told The People: “We’ve only won it three times, which is not enough for this club, and we’ve been unlucky a lot of times. Other times we’ve just ballsed it up.
“The reality is we could have won it another two or three years. Last year still plays on my mind, that Bayern Munich game. Christ, I’m still not sleeping after that! I keep thinking about that game and keep getting angry about the way we lost it.
“We were in complete control until Rafael was sent off and then they came back into it. That result hurt and still does, but against Borussia Dortmund at Old Trafford in 1997 we had about 15 chances and about eight one-on-ones with their keeper.
“If we’d got past Bayern Munich I think we would have reached the final last year and I’d have fancied us against Inter Milan.”
We begin our Champions League campaign against Rangers Tuesday night and Ferguson is refusing to take the Scottish champions lightly by saying:
“You’ve got to respect Rangers and with their history you can’t take them for granted.
“I know Walter Smith well and just how organised and difficult to beat his side will be.
“Walter will get a good glass of wine after the match but, hopefully, that’s all he’ll get.”
