Fergie fury over defensive blunders
Source: AFP |
October 25, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SIR Alex Ferguson admits he is baffled by Manchester United's defensive woes after watching Braga run riot before Javier Hernandez rescued a 3-2 win against the Portuguese minnows.
Ferguson's side was punished for a sloppy opening in its Group H clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday as two goals from Braga captain Alan stunned Old Trafford into silence.
For the eighth time in 12 matches this season, United was forced to come from behind after conceding the opening goal.
While Ferguson was full of admiration for the Hernandez-inspired fightback, it was revealing that, without any prompting, he launched into an analysis of his team's problems at the back during the post-match press conference.
Even more intriguing was Ferguson's revelation that he doesn't have a cure for the careless way United is surrendering so many goals.
There was no disputing the quality of Alan's strikes in the 2nd and 20th minutes: but the failure of Alexander Buttner to close down the playmaker for both goals, combined with the ease with which Hugo Viana and Eder were allowed to provide the assists, has given Ferguson serious cause for concern.
"I can't understand our defending, I can't get to bottom of it at all," Ferguson said. "If you analyze all the goals we are losing they are all different types. Today it was a cross, then a cutback into the box with players free.
"I can't put my finger on it, but we aren't getting good starts to games that's for sure. It's making it difficult for us. It's interesting that it's the home games when we are conceding early goals, but we'll sort it out eventually, I'm sure of that."
Fortunately for Ferguson, while Braga proved adept at exploiting United's flaws at the back, Jose Peseiro's side had plenty of holes in its defense as well.
Mexican striker Hernandez started the revival with a 25th minute header from Shinji Kagawa's cross, then Jonny Evans equalized with a scuffed 62nd minute shot.
That set the stage for Hernandez to head the winner from Tom Cleverley's cross with 15 minutes remaining.
Ferguson's side was punished for a sloppy opening in its Group H clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday as two goals from Braga captain Alan stunned Old Trafford into silence.
For the eighth time in 12 matches this season, United was forced to come from behind after conceding the opening goal.
While Ferguson was full of admiration for the Hernandez-inspired fightback, it was revealing that, without any prompting, he launched into an analysis of his team's problems at the back during the post-match press conference.
Even more intriguing was Ferguson's revelation that he doesn't have a cure for the careless way United is surrendering so many goals.
There was no disputing the quality of Alan's strikes in the 2nd and 20th minutes: but the failure of Alexander Buttner to close down the playmaker for both goals, combined with the ease with which Hugo Viana and Eder were allowed to provide the assists, has given Ferguson serious cause for concern.
"I can't understand our defending, I can't get to bottom of it at all," Ferguson said. "If you analyze all the goals we are losing they are all different types. Today it was a cross, then a cutback into the box with players free.
"I can't put my finger on it, but we aren't getting good starts to games that's for sure. It's making it difficult for us. It's interesting that it's the home games when we are conceding early goals, but we'll sort it out eventually, I'm sure of that."
Fortunately for Ferguson, while Braga proved adept at exploiting United's flaws at the back, Jose Peseiro's side had plenty of holes in its defense as well.
Mexican striker Hernandez started the revival with a 25th minute header from Shinji Kagawa's cross, then Jonny Evans equalized with a scuffed 62nd minute shot.
That set the stage for Hernandez to head the winner from Tom Cleverley's cross with 15 minutes remaining.
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