Agonising night for Ferguson

MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson was full of praise for his beaten side after Alessandro Del Piero's penalty consigned them to a second successive Champions' League defeat, against Juventus.

"It was one of those agonising nights that you get sometimes," reflected Ferguson. "I thought we were very, very unlucky, we had some great chances.

"It was a rash challenge (by Butt), a penalty kick no doubt about that. But I cannot praise the players enough. They worked so hard and deserved better, but the game of football does not always go your way.

When asked about his side's chance of qualifying in the light of Fenerbahce's 1-0 win at home to Rapid Vienna which puts them a point ahead of United, Ferguson insisted he was still confident.

"I think Juventus are an honest team and I think they will win (at home to Fenerbahce on December 4th). Looking back, a draw against Fenerbahce would have been enough at the end of the day.

"I think we will go to Vienna and hope that Juventus will do the job for us in Turin," he added.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes are not convinced, pushing them out to 14 to 1 from 8 to 1 to win the competition, with Juventus now 5 to 2 favourites.

But Italian coach Marcello Lippi relieved to gain the double over the barnstorming English side to book the holders' own quarter final place, has promised: "We won't let up now.

"We will play in our usual manner. We always try to win, we never try to be calculating. We will try our hardest for victory but at the same time United will still have to do well in Vienna."

A point against Rapid would be enough if the Turks lose, sending United through on goal difference countback from their head to head with Fenerbahce.

And Ferguson believes they can still do it, insisting: "We will go out there in the frame of mind to win."

"I couldn't have asked any more of them," said Ferguson. "The speed and passing improved to a really high level in the second half and I wouldn't have thought Juventus have conceded so many chances in a match for a long time.

"But no complaints. It was a fantastic game of football and Juventus proved in the first half why they won the European Cup.

"It's a disappointing result, but not a disappointing performance because this is one of the nights we'll always remember."

Old Trafford was full of flags, many of the tricolours bearing Cantona's face.

But Lippi insisted: "The best Frenchmen were playing for Juventus tonight," and few would argue against the fact that Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane had won the Gallic battle.

It had not been a good start for Juventus who took 90 minutes to reach Old Trafford at 7.0 pm, just 30 minutes before kick off, with Lippi joking, "The police escort must have been United fans because they got us stuck in the jams.

"I was really impressed with the crowd they were absolutely fantastic, and United made us suffer when they were pressing. But we were again technically superior to them.

"Del Piero was excellent he passed well and he put away the penalty under very difficult circumstances.