Ferguson: We deserved better

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson feels his side deserved better than their 2-2 draw at home with Benfica in the Champions League.

United fell behind after a Phil Jones’ own-goal just two minutes into Tuesday’s match at Old Trafford, but levelled on the half-hour mark through Dimitar Berbatov.

Darren Fletcher gave the home side the lead on the hour, but Pablo Aimar was on hand just a minute later to secure a point for the visitors.

United need to pick up a point away to Basel in their final group game to ensure progression to the knockout stages, but the Scot refused to criticise his team’s effort.

“We didn’t get enough time to be in the lead, but we played so well tonight, we made a lot of great chances and played some really good football,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“I’m not faulting my players at all, they deserved better.”

“That’s the game, it’s a cruel game at times and it was cruel for us tonight.”

“It was very disappointing,” Ferguson said of the two goals that his team conceded.

“It was a bit freakish to be honest, an own goal then a bad kick out from David de Gea, the pass back could have been a little bit better, it wasn’t a bad pass back, but David could have just played it into the stand.”

“I think we had to get into a rhythm and our tempo, we got a bad start, losing a goal after three or four minutes I think it was, and it does take the steam out of you and takes the wind out of the sails a little bit.”

“But once they got into the game, they played really well and we should have maybe been two or three up at half-time, but we kept on playing and made lots of chances in the second half and I think it’s very unfortunate that we didn’t win that game.”

“We were missing a few players, Thomas Cleverley and Chris Smalling has just come back and (Nemanja) Vidic is suspended.”

“We had a few injuries tonight, but the squad I’ve got I have no complains about it, that’s why we’ve got that squad and they proved themselves tonight, they did really well.”

Ferguson said the trip to Basel will be a tough one for his men, but feels they will be up for the challenge.

“It’s going to be a hard game, but when the chips are down for us I’ve got every confidence in my team,” he said.

“I think that obviously Benfica should win at home to Otelul Galati and they’ll probably score goals to do that, we have to win in a good style.”