porkster104
03-09-2005, 02:27 PM
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Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Ruud van Nistelrooy's Achilles injury cost Manchester United their chance of knocking AC Milan out of the Champions League.
The prolific Dutch striker is clearly still short of match fitness on the evidence of his below-par display at the San Siro on Tuesday as United went tumbling out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage.
Though he battled hard, van Nistelrooy failed in his efforts to add another goal to his incredible Red Devils' European tally of 36, screwing his two best chances well wide.
After three months on the sidelines, it is bound to take the 27-year-old time to get back in the old groove and Ferguson acknowledged a fully-fit van Nistelrooy might have turned the tie in United's favour.
"There is a fine line between winning and losing matches such as these and there is no doubt if we had been able to get more games into Ruud van Nistelrooy, we would have been in a better position," said Ferguson.
"My hope was that we would score the goal that changed the game.
"We had three outstanding chances, two of which fell to Ruud. Obviously, he is a player who would normally take them.
"But on the night, when it was really important, maybe that lack of sharpness cost him."
While van Nistelrooy would usually have at least expected to give the goalkeeper some work with the chances he was presented with, Ryan Giggs was the man who had the opportunity to drag United back into the tie.
Sent clear by van Nistelrooy's astute pass, Giggs darted into the box, drove a well-struck shot past Dida, then turned away in disbelief as it thudded against the post.
"That was the first good chance," said Ferguson. "Who knows what happens after that but that is how these games are decided."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,2483_342841,00.html
Well, I don't blame him.. He did his best but AC Milan was the better team... We lost but we gotta give credit to AC Milan. :)
Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Ruud van Nistelrooy's Achilles injury cost Manchester United their chance of knocking AC Milan out of the Champions League.
The prolific Dutch striker is clearly still short of match fitness on the evidence of his below-par display at the San Siro on Tuesday as United went tumbling out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage.
Though he battled hard, van Nistelrooy failed in his efforts to add another goal to his incredible Red Devils' European tally of 36, screwing his two best chances well wide.
After three months on the sidelines, it is bound to take the 27-year-old time to get back in the old groove and Ferguson acknowledged a fully-fit van Nistelrooy might have turned the tie in United's favour.
"There is a fine line between winning and losing matches such as these and there is no doubt if we had been able to get more games into Ruud van Nistelrooy, we would have been in a better position," said Ferguson.
"My hope was that we would score the goal that changed the game.
"We had three outstanding chances, two of which fell to Ruud. Obviously, he is a player who would normally take them.
"But on the night, when it was really important, maybe that lack of sharpness cost him."
While van Nistelrooy would usually have at least expected to give the goalkeeper some work with the chances he was presented with, Ryan Giggs was the man who had the opportunity to drag United back into the tie.
Sent clear by van Nistelrooy's astute pass, Giggs darted into the box, drove a well-struck shot past Dida, then turned away in disbelief as it thudded against the post.
"That was the first good chance," said Ferguson. "Who knows what happens after that but that is how these games are decided."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,2483_342841,00.html
Well, I don't blame him.. He did his best but AC Milan was the better team... We lost but we gotta give credit to AC Milan. :)