Don't blame the kids for United's Euro exit, Keano... blame Fergie

By Brian Reade

Published 20:59 09/12/11

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There was an arrogance about Alex Ferguson in Basel which was, even for him, unusually pronounced.

"It is another big game. But we have a strong squad and that squad will see us through without question," was his emphatic dismissal of a side which had previously drawn at Old Trafford.

Without question. A withering put-down which implied he does not get knocked out of Europe by Alpine pub teams.

The comments, no doubt intended to boost his players' confidence, were picked up by his Swiss opponents and the pep-talk had been delivered. To the wrong dressing-room.

Fergie's inability to publicly accept the reality of how dismal United have been in this year's Champions League, was summed up by his petulant walk-out from a press conference, after the draw with Benfica, when a reporter suggested his team was struggling.

He wore a big smile and shook his head, but the remark had clearly struck a nerve. Maybe he feared his squad were short. Maybe he knew he hadn't done enough in the aftermath of a second out-classing by Barcelona in May, to keep United at the top of European football.

He made three potentially great signings this summer, David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young. But with an average age of 22 and no Champions League experience, all were taking a big step up. He needed at least two fully-developed, world-class talents to get closer to Barcelona, especially with the retirement of exceptional leaders in Edwin Van der Saar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.

Which is why Roy Keane is wrong to blame the youngsters for United's Thursday nights on Channel 5. It's not their fault that a gushing media, desperate for a new English golden generation, shamelessly over-hyped them.

It's not their fault that senior pros like Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, and Ji Sung Park failed to show composure and leadership in Basel.

Last year Rooney demanded to leave a club he claimed weren't satisfying his ambitions. On Wednesday he didn't satisfy the first criteria of a professional footballer – when you lose the ball you try to win it back.

The constant Twittering and showbiz distractions surrounding Ferdinand suggest his mind is too often elsewhere. And once again Evra is doing what he does best: Talking a good game about a failure he's just helped ensure.

Is it Phil Jones' and Ashley Young's fault that Fergie has shown too much faith in peripheral squad players who are past it? Or that twice in seven days he has been eliminated from competitions by arrogantly looking gift horses in the mouth?

United had the easiest draw of all the big teams in the Carling Cup quarter-finals (home to Crystal Palace) and blew it. They had the easiest Champions League group of all the big teams in Europe and blew it.

It wasn't Chris Smalling or Danny Welbeck who bizarrely stated, six weeks ago, that United were "making great strides towards Barcelona." It was Fergie.

I wouldn't blame the kids, Roy. I'd blame the manager and his senior players.

Without question.

**

After a pair of decent victories Andre Villas-Boas decided it was time to hit back at those who question his powers: "Chelsea are the most persecuted team in the country... we gave our critics a slap in the face," he said this week.

Have a look at your pay-slip Andre. Count the noughts, and realise that translates as "big club." Then get off your crucifix and back to work before the next round of persecution begins and the slap becomes an upper-cut. From your boss.

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