Ferguson: We paid the penalty

by Michelle Fortune , 08 December 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his squad to use their Champions League exit as motivation to drive on in the Premier League.


Manchester United only needed a draw against FC Basel to progress to the knockout stages of the competition but they struggled throughout the Group C clash and were on the back foot from the ninth minute when Marco Streller put the Swiss outfit in front.

It is six years since United exited the competition at the group stages and, while obviously disappointed, Ferguson is hopeful that his young crop of players will learn from the experience and use it as motivation for the future.

"Of course we're disappointed, there's no other way you can feel. It's part of football. You have to deal with the disappointment, and this club has used it as motivation many times," Ferguson told reporters.

"These young players will feel disappointed tonight but they'll have to cope with it and go on with their careers.

"Our results in the last few years have been outstanding. It's a loss because it's the best tournament in the world. It's a marvellous tournament."

United’s penalty for an early Champions League exit is entry into the Europa League and Ferguson admits that could have a bearing on their season as it means playing on Thursdays and Sundays.

"The (Europa League) is a competition I've never been in with United. It does mean one thing, it's right through Thursdays and Sundays, so that's got to be dealt with," he continued.

"It's not the best. That's our penalty for not qualifying tonight."

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Pos
Team P W D L +/- PTS
1.
Man City
38
28
5
5
64
89
2.
Man Utd
38
28
5
5
56
89
3.
Arsenal
38
21
7
10
25
70
4.
Tottenham
38
20
9
9
25
69
5.
Newcastle
38
19
8
11
5
65
6.
Chelsea
38
18
10
10
19
64
7.
Everton
38
15
11
12
10
56
8.
Liverpool
38
14
10
14
7
52
9.
Fulham
38
14
10
14
-3
52
10.
West Brom
38
13
8
17
-7
47
11.
Swansea
38
12
11
15
-7
47
12.
Norwich
38
12
11
15
-14
47
13.
Sunderland
38
11
12
15
-1
45
14.
Stoke
38
11
12
15
-17
45
15.
Wigan
38
11
10
17
-20
43
16.
Aston Villa
38
7
17
14
-16
38
17.
QPR
38
10
7
21
-23
37
18.
Bolton
38
10
6
22
-31
36
19.
Blackburn
38
8
7
23
-30
31
20.
Wolverhampton
38
5
10
23
-43
25
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