Bottle job
I watched the semi final second leg last night between AC Milan and Manchester United. It was 3-0 to Milan, making them 5-3 aggregate winners. I heard Fergie start to place blame in various places. Correctly at the feet of his shambolic defence and incorrectly at the feet of the FA Premier League for failing to look after English clubs who play in Europe.
Sir Alex, it’s like this. If you’re fortunate enough to be in charge of a club fighting for the highest honours in domestic and European football, it is your responsibility to make sure you have enough players of the requisite quality to face the battles ahead. You know that if you progress in a cup, it impacts domestic league fixtures and causes congestion. This happens every season so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
Look to your big stars. Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney. None of them performed. None of them could spot a pass or shoot on target. None of them appeared able to handle the pressure inside the San Siro. They bottled it. And so you lost.
