Fergie – We can match Barca

Ferguson: Confident Man Utd can defy the odds and beat Barcelona at Wembley

Sir Alex Ferguson believes it would be a mistake to underestimate Manchester United’s chances of toppling Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final.

“We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother and hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us.”
Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes of the week

The European heavyweights meet at Wembley on 28th May, by which time they should have confirmed their status as the best teams in Spain and England.

Barcelona’s qualities have been well known for some considerable time, having beaten United in the 2009 final and supplied, amongst others, Xavi and Andres Iniesta to the Spain side who were crowned world champions last summer, in addition to containing the best player on the planet, Lionel Messi.

They will start as favourites to lift the coveted trophy after progressing to the final in great style, but Pep Guardiola has been complimentary enough about United to suggest that he will not be taking anything for granted.

And Ferguson believes that is a wise course of action, highlighting his side’s fantastic record this season despite being written off in some quarters for lacking the same sort of star quality as their rivals.

“Everyone has acknowledged how great a team Barcelona are but Manchester United are in this final,” Ferguson told US-based satellite radio station Sirius XM.

“Everyone has said this is not a good Manchester United team, that we are not this or that.

“But we have scored more goals than anyone else. Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and we will win the league by getting one more point.

Solution

“You have to put all the criticism to one side because I have to be realistic when I look at my team and ask, ‘Am I satisfied?’

“Those players have given me everything.”

Ferguson recognises that it will be difficult to succeed where others have failed in terms of containing Barcelona’s fearsome attack, but he is confident United can give as good as they get.

“Obviously, Barcelona is the big one now,” he said after Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea put United on the brink of a record-breaking 19th domestic title.

“In the final last time, we started off really well, then gave away a bad goal. After that Barcelona kept the ball very well, as they always do.

“What we have to do is find a solution to the Xavi-Messi-Iniesta problem.

“Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers. We have our share too.

“We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother and hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us.”

Ancelotti backing

Chelsea’s defeat fuelled further discussion about the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti, with reports suggesting he could leave Stamford Bridge in the summer following a trophyless season.

Ferguson is astonished to even hear that Ancelotti’s position may be under threat, considering that he has had such a distinguished career and won the Double in his first campaign with the Blues.

“It would shock me, not surprise me,” said the Red Devils boss.

“This is an industry that baffles me at times.

“Here is a man who has won the European Cup twice, he has won Scudettos. He did the Double in England last year.

“Why is that being questioned? Why is it becoming an issue? I don’t understand it.

“But the rumour mill is out there that he is going to be leaving. That is sad because he is an outstanding character.

“He is a great man, full of absolute dignity.”