Ferguson remains defiant

United boss remains upbeat following Blues defeat

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 9th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ferguson remains defiant

Ferguson: Chasing title

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Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United will revel in their quest to topple Chelsea from the top of the Premier League table.

The Red Devils find themselves five points behind Carlo Ancelotti's Blues following a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The capital setback leaves United third in the top-flight standings, with free-scoring Arsenal holding onto second spot courtesy of their superior goal difference.

Ferguson, though, believes his side remain in good shape, with a fourth consecutive title well within reach.

He feels United were the better team against Chelsea, insisting referee Martin Atkinson cost his side a point in a keenly-fought contest.

Cause

The Scot has now challenged his players to bounce back from their third defeat of the season, believing United are at their most dangerous when their backs are against the wall.

"That was Manchester United we saw today," Ferguson told MUTV after the Chelsea tussle.

"We've got a great squad and today was a reminder that we're a very good team.

"We've been criticised recently by a lot of people, but that won't deter us.

"We've got a cause now, a great cause - we want to win this league. And the lead isn't unassailable, that's for sure."

Comments (49)

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Philip Michael (Manchester United fan) says...

Now I see why no one can win at stamford bridge..... its because as soon as a player has a chance to score, the whistle is blown for an offence that dont exist. Utd should have been 2-0 up in the first 15 minutes but because of yet again, poor refereeing, we had to suffer the consequences of a poor goal from a poor decision. Everyone saw who the better team was yesterday, and all will see who holds the title in May!

Posted 10:19 9th November 2009

Ryan James (liverpool fan) (Liverpool fan) says...

Utd nullified the threat of Cheslea very well, the Chelsea midfield for the most part carried no threat, Deco was poor, Ballack was poor, Essien did ok and Lampard looked out of sorts in a wider role, even Drogba and Anelka failed to influence the game. Rooney was the best player on the pitch by a distance and the only thing missing was a goal. The free kick that led to the goal was at best "generous" its one of those, Chelsea will argue that Van Der Sar would never of got it regardless of Drogba's position, the Utd fans will argue Drogba was in the keepers line of vision, therefore was offside, its down to interpritation. As for the other major talking point, I don;t think it was a clear cut pen, maybe at Old Trafford, but not away. overall I thought Utds tactics were spot on, but wasteful finishing and a debateable goal has cost them, its much the same as Old Trafford when Utd played Arsenal, Arsenal were the better side and lost.

Posted 10:13 9th November 2009

Kay Carr (Leeds United fan) says...

I cant believe that Alex Ferguson has the gall to stand in front of the Sky cameras and critisise the ref, but I can understand why, its because Man U lost the game, and its always someone elses fault. This comes from a man whos team gets more penalties, free kicks and decisions thier way because referees are scared to stand up against the mighty Man u. well I am glad that thier getting a taste of thier own medicine. I hope that other officials stand thier ground and are not bullied by this team who think they have the right to make up the football rules just to suit them.

Posted 10:13 9th November 2009

Liam Shepherd (Manchester United fan) says...

This doesn't surprise me that everyone is picking at Fergie for mentioning the referee. Yes, it was a peanlty. No, it wasn't a free kick. Yes, Drogba fouled Brown and possibly offside. However, we should have scored in open play and if any of you watch Fergies post match interview, he says exactly the same. He does say what he said about the ref, but doesn't 100% blame the ref. It makes me laugh how you all pick up on the ref comment.

Posted 10:12 9th November 2009

Pius Muzzazzi (Chelsea fan) says...

Let us wait and see what the FA will do about SAF post match comments...Drogba was rediculously fouled,but Carlo mantained his calm...Please Chelsea,go ahead,go on,push on,never look back!!

Posted 10:09 9th November 2009

Jay Madden (Manchester United fan) says...

HAHAHA u lot make me laugh, Fergie moans just as much as Rafa and just as much as Jose used to, but nothing gets said by you then. Yes it was a Pen and yes brown was pulled down before the goal. But what about in the first half when Rooney was clean through and was given offside even though Cole was playing him a yard on. but we can take it on the chin as we know that Chelski's luck will run out sooner or later. And as for the Liverpool fans comments ssshhhhh because ur gunna win the same as u did last season, NOTHING!!!!!

Posted 10:09 9th November 2009

A Byrne (Manchester United fan) says...

Man Utd were by far the better team and made chelsea look very ordinary. Yes Utd should of had 2 or 3 goals but in the end Chelsea were very lucky. Based on their performance they didnt deserve the win. The league is by no means over, and going on past years chelsea will drop points and allow Utd to make up ground. Utd to win the league but Arsenal will be there or there abouts also!

Posted 10:09 9th November 2009

Irving Green (Manchester United fan) says...

Manchester United were clearly robbed yesterday and there should be a full enquiry into officials inability to referee top matches between one of 3 teams that can win the premiership. There was several decisions that were blatantly not given and decisions that were overlooked to a degree. The Chelsea players were deliberately trying to slow the game down especially after they took the lead so the 5 minutes extra time should have been 10 minutes. Chelsea have been sore since we humiliated them at Old Trafford last season and basically have cheated their way to the last two victories over Manchester United. Does anyone not remember the Charity Shield game when Patrice Evra was clearly fowled by Ballack and Chelsea carried on playing and went and scored. Well yesterday there was 3 clear incidents of cheating. Number 1. John Terry clearly pulled down Valencia cast iron penalty. Number 2 Wayne Rooney was incorrectly blown offside when Ashley Cole was clearly playing him onside. Number 3 and the most significant Fletcher nicks the ball off Ashley Cole's toe and runs away with the ball while Cole flings himself in the air theatrically. Then Drogba pulls down Wes Brown in the box before the goal that never was went in. It just shows that some fans and officials alike are blinkered when it comes to Manchester United. Manchester United always score fair goals we do not need any help to win football matches. Just look at the statistics three premiership titles in a row and on target for an unprecedented fourth. Our team is not playing well particularly in the final third of the field but as soon as that is rectified all teams beware. By the way I fully expect Manchester United to beat Chelsea by two clear goals in the return fixture at the Theatre of Dreams. United will bounce back the Premiership Title is up for grabs for THREE teams like I said before and I do not include Liverpool they have never won the Premiership!FACT

Posted 10:07 9th November 2009

James O'reilly (Manchester United fan) says...

Its funny how all the rival supporters are only talking about Fergusons comments after the match and not the match itself. United were far the better team, if anyones looking lampard, ballack, essien or deco, they're in fletchers pocket. Forgetting about the fact its united, just looking at the decisions; 1. It was a penalty on Valencia, 2. It wasn't a foul on Ashley cole,, 3. Drogba fouled brown on the box from the reulting corner, which, yes, made all the difference. But anyway, thats football, everyone can see that on their day, united are the better team

Posted 10:07 9th November 2009

Matthew Quilliam (Manchester United fan) says...

Why the need for Liverpool and Arsenal fans to complain? United without a doubt were the better team, if you dont share that opinion I dont know what game you watch, however it was down to us to take the chances we created but we didnt. We really troubled them at that their own patch and 5 points is definetly a gap that can be made up.

Posted 10:02 9th November 2009

Shon A (Manchester United fan) says...

Well....third game in a row, we get decisions against us, Carragher foul on Carrick, Darren Fletcher kicked and yellow carded, and 4 decisions majour decisions against us this game. One has to speak whatever is the truth and then move on. But for sure decisions are going against us or now.

Posted 10:00 9th November 2009

Neil Ferguson (Chelsea fan) says...

The whole of Britain owes Chelsea a favour this morning. In preventing Rooney from scoring the country wasn't subjected to another cringing goal celebration involving sucking a dummy or cradling an imaginary baby etc.Well done.

Posted 10:00 9th November 2009

Ian Steele (Manchester United fan) says...

Paul if you think that was a solid performance by Chelsea then im afraid your not going to win the prem. Ballack was useless as was Lampard and deco ive no argument when we get beaten or out played as we were at liverpool but to lose out on a nailed on penalty after john terry had pulled down valencia didnt vidic and carrager get sent of for the same thing? at the moment we have a poor midfield eg carrick anderson who cannot create that little bit of magic to open up the defence for the likes of rooney were just workmanlike you on the otherhand have so called world superstars who couldnt live with fletcher or the others. Were poor compaired with last year but were still joint second

Posted 09:57 9th November 2009

David Thomas says...

Facts: 1. Man Utd were the better team by a country mile. We dominated Chelsea in their backyard. 2. Man Utd were denied a certain penalty when JT brought down one of our players. 3. The free-kick awarded that led to the goal should not have be given - there was NO foul. 4. The goal shouldn't have stood because Drogba pulled Wes Brown to the ground and then interfered with play.

Posted 09:54 9th November 2009

Phil T (Morecambe fan) says...

It is funny to listen to people who support the other teams in the top 4 talk about Man United. They all think they are subjective fans but they are almost only ever objective when it comes to United. The way I saw it yesterday was; Terry gave away a penalty, the free kick that led to thegoal was not a free kick and Drogba was offside and interfering with play when he swung his foot. I'm wondering if the ref was affected by the amount of press from the City game where he was deemed to favour the home team that day?

Posted 09:54 9th November 2009

Jamie Mitchell (Manchester United fan) says...

Surely anyone with common sense about football saw yesterday that man united were robbed. 1. Valencia should of had a peno. 2. Fletchers tackle was faultless 3. Drogba fouled brown in the build up to the goal. So Mr Ferguson has got it spot on there about the decisions made by the ref. as Rooney said yesturday, 12 men vs 11.

Posted 09:53 9th November 2009

Keith Davies (Manchester United fan) says...

Those who complain that this is just FERGUSON trying too find excuses are surely missing the point Referee's are constantly giving free kicks for supposed Fouls in open play but when the same type of foul is commited within the penalty box they just bottle it and wave play on United should have had a cast iron penalty for TERRY'S foul on VALENCIA. The standard of REFEREEING in this country is comical at best so often the REF'S are spoiling games it seems that they are trying to make football a non contact sport by constantly blowing the whistle at every tackle. The fact that the free kick from which Chelsea scored from was'nt a free kick plus the fact that Drogba was clearly in an offside position as he tried to make contact with the ball.

Posted 09:52 9th November 2009

Chris Murphy (Chelsea fan) says...

Well Mr Ferguson is moaning again. Yes the free kick was a soft one but everyone seems to have conveniently forgotten that Utd got a soft one in the 10mins before on the edge of the box, its not our fault that Rooney hit the wall. I watched the game with a mate wh is a Man Utd fan and we both agreed it could have gone either way. there were some bad decisions (the karate kick on Drogba, which he got booked for??? and the penalty appeal). Utd were not the innocent victims, Jonny Evans should have been sent off for his hack at Carvalho and Darren Fletcher's behaviour even before the free kick was a disgrace, he went in maliciously on a number of challenges and even ran up to have a go at Joe Cole off the ball after he accidently caught him. At the end of the day all it boils down to is Utd didn't take their chances and we did.

Posted 09:50 9th November 2009

Steve Riley says...

Terry pulled down Valencia in the box in the first half. The free kick that led to the goal was awarded for that new and previously unpublished infringement, 'taking the ball from Cole when he's not ready'. As for the 'goal', Drogba yanked Evans to the ground to clear space and then took a prod at the ball in an offisde position. He missed, but in making that effort he gave Van Der Sar two possible paths for the ball - he was interfering with play. I short, Chelsea cheated their way to a win and were helped in that by weak officials.

Posted 09:50 9th November 2009

Garey Vance (Manchester United fan) says...

I do usually disagree with overly criticising the ref but it was ridiculous yesterday. "doesn't this seem a bit familar to when we lost the Champs League semi-final last year and Fifa gave us what for so surely the FA should do the same to Man U". No, it can't be compared as it was not the same level of reaction (although granted, it wasn't as important a match). Forget whether the free kick should have been awarded (I think it possibly was a free kick for obstruction); Drogba pulled down Wes Brown and was also off-side. Easy decisions to make. John Terry up to his usual tricks when he gets done for pace (similar to Vidic, I'll admit) and Rooney flagged incorrectly offside. Ever since Fergie has made that comment, we have had nothing off the refs. It was a poor choice of comment to make and I'll bet he regrets it now. Nevertheless (as has been pointed out by Fergie) our final ball wasn't good enough yesterday. I'm not happy with the result but we played well and the signs are good; we never start the season well and were worse off at the same point last season. We also play both Chelsea and L'pool at OT in second half of season. Confident that we will win the league again this year, so Chelsea should enjoy it while they can.

Posted 09:49 9th November 2009
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