Time to break up ManU

[mhnew]

Keane: We're just not good enough

Roy Keane admits it may be time to break up the Manchester United team in the wake of their disappointing Champions League exit against Bayern Munich.

United's bid to make the semi-finals were derailed last night as they went down 2-1 in the Olympic Stadium to complete a 3-1 aggregate defeat.

But it is Keane's outburst that will make depressing reading for teams in the Premiership after United wrapped up the championship almost unchallenged.

The United skipper said: 'The players gave it their all, but we are just not good enough.

'You have to face the facts and I think the signs have been there this season - PSV, Anderlecht, Panathinaikos - while we were also lucky to even reach the first stage.

'Maybe it's time to move on. Maybe it's the end of the road for this team, although I'm not sure.

'It's no good winning the Premier League, we need to step up a level in Europe. I keep going on about Real Madrid, but they're setting the standards we have to match.'

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson blamed his defence for United's exit and said the defeat had extinguished his joy at winning the Premiership.

Bayern capitalised on poor defending to race into a two-goal lead through Giovane Elber and Mehmet Scholl.

Ryan Giggs pulled a goal back just after half-time, but that's about as good as it got for United.

Ferguson said: 'This has taken away the joy of winning the Premier League on Saturday and I think this is disappointing.

'We look at the European challenge as the challenge we need to progress as a football team.

'We have failed and that's a disappointment.


“ We have to look at our defending as the reason why we are not in the next stage ”
— Sir Alex Ferguson
'I felt we contributed to their victory with really bad defending. Their first goal after four minutes was the last thing we wanted and although we managed to get some control of the game, the second goal was a real killer for us.

'In the second half I thought we did well and we should have scored some goals. We needed a second goal and at the right moment I think we may have won it.

'But it wasn't to be and at the end of the day we have to look at our defending as the reason why we are not in the next stage.'

Ferguson added: 'In terms of the general play, we were the better side, but you can't give teams that kind of start.

'In the first game in the second half at Old Trafford, Bayern were the better side, but I felt we were the better side last night.

'We needed a break to score that second goal, which would have meant a lot to us, and we either missed the chances or it just didn't break for us.

'We had enough time left and we had some good chances. Oliver Kahn has made two or three good saves, one from Giggs in particular, and I think if we had scored the second goal we would have won the match.

'We were a bit unlucky like that and I think Bayern were glad at the final whistle.'

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld refused to view the victory as revenge for the 1999 Champions League Final, in which United snatched a 2-1 victory with two goals in injury time.

He said: 'It wasn't really about getting revenge - just about reaching the next round.'

[sabristheway]

Salams,
brother you seem to be heavily involved with sports, music, and religion, do you have any other interests.

[mhnew]

Well there is politics but sort of with a holier than thou attitude.

[sabristheway]

Salams,
politics? what is up with that. In the most poliet way. I am not too fond of politics, it may be because i am from this side of the world, unless you are talking about issues surrounding the muslim world. To tell you the truth the most politics I have been seeing is in families...if you get my drift...

[mhnew]

Well I understand. It has more to do with ego and family pride and causes so much trouble. Guess we can't give it up.
NILU

[sabristheway]

I guess, but if NILU is for real, than brother it has to be given up. After all when it comes down to it, we are all servants of allah, and food well we all know what they say about food, and I am sure the saying applys to family members as well....make duah

[mhnew]

You are right. We can only make du'a. May Allah guide us all.