United have plenty to play for, says Fergie

Alex Ferguson has defiantly insisted that Manchester United’s season is far from over despite their dramatic Champions League exit at the hands of Porto.

The Portuguese side struck an equaliser through Francisco Costinha in the 90th minute to prevent United qualifying for the tournament’s quarter-finals for the first time in eight years – a failure that could cost them up to £10m (€14m) in gate receipts, prize money and TV cash.

With United nine points behind unbeaten Arsenal in the Barclaycard Premiership and playing the Gunners in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, Ferguson’s side are facing the very real possibility of a trophyless season.

But the United boss said: “We have to ensure European football for next year but there is no reason to give up on the league – that has been proved by the manner in which we went out against Porto and I don’t see how anyone could have seen what happened in the last minute.

“We are in the semi-final of the FA Cup and that will not be an easy game for either side.

“Obviously we are out of the European Cup which is disappointing having done so well and qualified for Europe so often.”

United now have injury problems to three players ahead of their must-win derby against Manchester City on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo was carried off injured against Porto with a knee and thigh injury, Eric Djemba-Djemba suffered a suspected broken rib and Mikael Silvestre failed to make the starting line up after suffering an ankle injury in training on Monday that could keep him out for up to three weeks.

Ronaldo will have a scan on the injury today but Ferguson is confident it is not too serious.

The United boss added that the injuries were just part of the bad luck that he believed his side had.

He said: “You get shocked in life and I suppose you could not see that one coming. I thought that defensively we were absolutely brilliant. They had a lot of possession of the ball but I felt that we were in complete control.

“It was not a great Manchester United performance but it was laced with a lot of good play and I think we deserved to win the match.”

The United manager said he was stunned that Paul Scholes had a second goal ruled out for offside minutes after he had headed the home side in front.

Ferguson said: “To be honest I could not believe it. You can understand it maybe if there is one defender and the linesman does not see it but when there are three playing him onside you cannot understand it. That would have put us into a very, very comfortable position at 2-0 up, but then that’s football.”

Porto coach Jose Mourinho said he had buried the hatchet with Ferguson after some fiery exchanges between the pair in the build-up to the match with the Scot accusing the Portuguese players of diving and cheating.

Mourinho said: “Sir Alex said congratulations at the end and we shook hands. That’s what I like in football.

“Sometimes somebody is incorrect, I have done it before and I will do it again, and sometimes you play with words and try and put some pressure on the opposition but when the last whistle goes it’s finished, you shake hands and I am happy with that.

“I was also pleased to see so many Manchester United players in our dressing room afterwards changing shirts and giving congratulations, the Neville brothers were there and some others.”

Mourinho added that it was “an historic victory” for the Portuguese side and would give hope to the whole nation ahead of the European Championship which the country is hosting this summer.

“To play like we did was absolutely fantastic and not only for the club and the players but for the country and to the prestige of the national team. It will give them confidence that the national team can do good things in the European Championship in the summer.”