Champions League: Ferguson still has faith in Red Devils

Sir Alex Ferguson backed Manchester United to mount another famous fightback against Bayern Munich after watching his side lose 1-0 at Old Trafford.

The Germans seized the initiative in the second half of their Champions League quarter-final, and substitute Paulo Sergio struck with five minutes remaining to leave United facing an uphill task in the return leg on April 18.

But United memorably turned the tables on Bayern - winning the 1999 final 2-1 with two late goals after trailing 1-0 - and Ferguson is confident they can score in the second leg Munich.

"We're not out of it because we've got the ability to go there and get a goal - and if we score a goal the game's turned over," said Ferguson.

"It's just disappointing because I thought we played well enough to win it.

"The goal was a bad one to lose. I'd need to see the replay, but it looked like a terrible one to lose."

Alexander Zickler, another Bayern substitute, had already rattled the United crossbar before Sergio's goal. Zickler also volleyed over when presented with a clear chance at the death.

"We didn't do as well in the second half as we did in the first, and they did improve in the second half," conceded Ferguson.

"Zickler came on and gave them some energy up front, and they worked very hard."

Ferguson drew comfort from the bookings which have ruled Bayern duo Bixente Lizarazu and Hasan Salihamidzic out of the return leg - but United did not escape unscathed with David Beckham's yellow card ensuring he too misses the Munich match.

"They've got a couple of important players missing - Lizarazu is a very good player, and so is Salihamidzic - but at the end of the day we'll just have to make sure that we go there and perform properly," added Ferguson.

"(Fabien) Barthez had a couple of good saves, and their goalkeeper had a couple of good saves too. But it's just disappointing to lose because I don't think we deserved to.

"I thought Ryan (Giggs) could have penetrated more for us because he has the ability to beat men. But we had some good performances, and I'm not too disappointed in the performance," he told ONsport.

Lizarazu was delighted with Bayern's first-leg win but insisted the Germans were taking nothing for granted at the halfway stage of the tie.

"We played well, and it's a very important result for us," he said.

"It's not easy to win at Old Trafford, and I hope we'll now qualify for the semi-finals.

"But in football everything is possible, and for us it is not finished. There is a second match, and Manchester United can play well too.

"They have to score (in Munich), but I think we will play normally to win this match the return leg. We have good offensive players."