It's hardly surprising Manchester United pair Ben Foster and Nani complain when Alex Ferguson never plays them

By David McDonnell

Published 10:56 23/11/09

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So Ben Foster and Nani were the unwitting victims of a manipulative media when they complained at their lack of first-team opportunities at Manchester United?

Their words were twisted by the journalists with whom they spoke when they both made the not unreasonable claim that they needed to play more, especially with the World Cup on the horizon?

So said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who once again picked on his favourite target in disputing that two of his players would have the temerity to say such things.

"It's one of these things when players go on international trips," said Fergie. "They get trapped by journalists. It happened with Ben and Nani.

"They get Nani away in Portugal and trap him. They give him a couple of questions about Manchester United and he gets an explosion of interest in the media.

"Then he has to come back and face me, the same way Ben has to do, and they're all regretful and sorry and repentful. It happens all the time.

"We get used to it and deal with it. They don't say anything critical, they say one word and it's a headline because that's modern journalism and it's Manchester United."

So where were Foster and Nani at the weekend, neither of whom were injured, when United beat Everton 3-0 at Old Trafford?

Not even in the 18-man squad. I rest my case.