Champions League: Ferguson - Players must win back my trust

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester United's Champions League position is "embarrassing" and challenged his under-performing stars to win back his trust.

In a strong rebuke, Ferguson admitted he was red-faced that United were still not sure of their quarter-final place going into their final match against Sturm Graz.

Even though United only need a 2-0 defeat or better at Old Trafford to qualify, Ferguson is unhappy that they have already blown two opportunities to progress following two poor displays.

The United manager wants his players to prove to him once again that they are capable of winning the Champions League.

"We all know the situation and it's embarrassing that we find ourselves in the position where we need to do something," he said.

"It's not really the result which is important, it's the performance.

"I think we need to get a performance to give us back our trust in the players and also to know what their capabilities are because they have not been reaching their capabilities in the last few weeks.

"That's uppermost in my mind and I think we will see a better Manchester United tomorrow.

"I'm very lucky that I've got players who have a decent self-regard.

"They realise themselves that they have been letting the team down and themselves down.

"Pride does come into it, and I made the point very markedly to them, that it's a test of their own pride and in fairness they have represented themselves very well in the last few years winning championships."

Ferguson pointed to the exits of Lazio, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus from this year's competition as proof for his players of what can happen if the big guns misfire.

He is adamant this fate will not befall United and he is confident they will come good if, as expected, they reach the last eight for the fifth successive season.

"I think we've seen it ourselves with the big sides which have been disappointing this year in the European Cup," he said.

"Lazio, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan - a lot of big guns have gone by the wayside.

"I suppose we can be thankful of the fact that we are still in a decent position to qualify for the quarter-finals.

"If we do so I hope that triggers better performances and I think it's fair to say that in the bigger games we generally do better."