Fergie refuses to blame Carroll

14 April 2012

Man Utd 0 AC Milan 1

Sir Alex Feguson refused to make goalkeeper Roy Carroll the scapegoat for defeat by AC Milan and insisted Manchester United have already proved what a threat they can be in Italy.

United will go to the San Siro stadium in a fortnight trailing 1-0 after Carroll fumbled Clarence Seedorf 's shot and Hernan Crespo, on loan from Chelsea, fired home the loose ball.

Ferguson said: "Seedorf should have been closed down. We directed him into the middle of the park and should have closed that area down and forced him out to the side.

"After that no one closed him down and he has got a free shot."

Ferguson said United should take encouragement from the match against Juventus in Turin in 1999 which they won 3-2 after being 2-0 down, en route to winning the Champions League.

"It will be a difficult game but no more difficult than when we went to Juventus," said Ferguson.

"We deserved more from the game. It was a game of high quality and AC Milan played an open game because they felt that was their best chance.

"This gives them a great advantage but we have a terrific opportunity still because we can score away from home and we have got the pace to worry them."

Ferguson also rued the missed opportunities of the first half when both Paul Scholes and Quinton Fortune passed up gilt-edged chances. Scholes fired wide from 12 yards, while Fortune stumbled at the vital moment and placed his shot the wrong side of the post.

"We were a bit rushed," said the United boss. "We lacked composure to take advantage of the opportunities and it's a pity because if we had gone in front I think we would have been okay."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of Juventus that night in 1999, and he admitted the memory makes him wary of United's threat in the second leg. He said: "I have to say that I remember extremely well what happened last time but let's just say it's better not to dwell on that.

"Of course we are really pleased with this result and it's a very important victory but by the same token we are aware this is only the first half and the second half is yet to come.

" We played Manchester United well, we gave them few opportunities and we tried to prevent them from developing attacks.

"But I think Manchester United still have legitimate hope and claims to win the Champions League, as do we and the other big clubs left in the competition."

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Fergie refuses to blame Carroll

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