We've no excuses, admits Rio

Manchester United faced up to a brutal truth today as Rio Ferdinand admitted they had no excuses for their dismal showing against Maccabi Haifa.

Although a host of big-name stars were missing last night, a team containing 10 internationals, were unable to respond once the Israeli side had overcome a poor start to seize the lead in Nicosia.

Wonder strikes from Yaniv Katan and Raimondas Zutauttas, plus a late Yakubu Ayegbeni penalty gave the home side a 3-0 win, United’s biggest European defeat since their 1994 disaster in the Nou Camp against Barcelona.

After cruising through their opening four matches, the result will not have a detrimental effect on the Red Devils’ qualification for the second phase, although a point is still required from their Old Trafford clash with Bayer Leverkusen on November 13 to top Group F and give them a potentially easier route through the next group stage.

However, it was the team’s inability to overcome a side firmly placed in the European minnow category which has raised question marks over the depth of Alex Ferguson’s squad.

Paul Scholes apart, United lacked the guile to break down a Maccabi defence brutally exposed in the previous encounter at Old Trafford last month.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Kieran Richardson both spurning good chances and Diego Forlan striking the crossbar with a volley just before Zutauttas doubled the home side’s lead.

It merely emphasised the reliance on David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and company and though Ferguson rightly claimed he had ‘not even a hint of remorse’ over his selection policy, he will know that if the present injury crisis does not abate, his team’s chances of landing a trophy this term are virtually non-existent.

"We have no excuses," admitted Ferdinand. “People are talking about a weakened team but this is Manchester United.

“It hurts to lose a match in training, so defeat in the Champions League hurts even more.

“You are always going to miss players of the calibre we were lacking last night and it will be a big boost to have them back.

“But there was plenty of experience in the squad and we are big enough to accept what happened.”

In the second game of his comeback from knee surgery, Ferdinand was one of the few United men to emerge with credit.

Britain’s most expensive defender was given a glimpse of the future when he partnered John O’Shea for only the second time this season, Ferguson taking the chance to link the duo he believes will form the core of United’s defence for the next few years.

But overall, the England international admitted the Red Devils’ display was simply not good enough.

“We didn’t play particularly well,” he said.

“We didn’t create that many chances and we didn’t capitalise on the ones we did. When that happens you are going to get punished.

“Now we have to go away and do something about it. Bayer Leverkusen would have been a big game anyway but now there is something on it.”

O’Shea echoed the comments of his defensive partner but admitted he was partly culpable in the build-up to Maccabi’s opening two efforts, even if both drives could gain entry into any goal of the season lists.

“They were great strikes but we could have done better on both occasions,” said the young Irishman.

“We looked very confident at the start but couldn’t make our early possession pay. We could talk about the players we were missing but there were 10 internationals on the pitch and we should have produced a better performance.”

O’Shea has impressed most observers with the ease he has established himself as a first-team regular. Completely calm and level-headed, the Waterford-born 21-year-old must be close to breaking into the Republic of Ireland squad after winning just a single cap so far.

But despite the acclaim, O’Shea is taking everything in his stride, insisting he still has much to learn.

“It’s always a pleasure to play with Rio and hopefully I will get more chances throughout the season,” he said. “He is a great player and we have missed him.

“It’s Laurent Blanc’s last year as well and the manager has told me to learn from him, then take his position, although I’m sure Wes Brown will be trying to do the same thing once he is fit.

“I have played a good few games so far and I just want to keep trying to improve my performances.”