United facing "difficult" test, admits Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson admits it will be "difficult" for United to go through
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Manchester United will have to go away and win in FC Porto after a disappointing 2-2 draw in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford. |  |
Wednesday, 08, Apr 2009 10:18
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted his Manchester United side will find it "difficult" to progress to the Champions League semi-finals after drawing at home to FC Porto.
Despite being heavily favoured by the bookmakers to go through at the Portuguese side's expense, United now have it all to do in Lisbon after conceding a late equaliser for a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
And with two away goals and home advantage in the second leg, Ferguson conceded that Porto now hold all the cards ahead of the trip to the Estadio do Dragao.
"It will be a difficult game in Porto, that goes without saying," Ferguson said afterwards.
"Apparently, if we win there we'll be the first English team to do that - but we are going to have to now.
"This club has always set firsts so this is a chance for us to be first again."
Ferguson also claimed fatigue from a tough week of games for his players may have been a factor as his team faded in the closing stages.
"We should really have been defending when we gave away that late goal, but we didn't. It was a bad goal to lose," the Scot continued.
"Maybe it was a bit of fatigue because it's been a hard few days for them. But the draw is about right."
Porto last met United in the Champions League in 2004, when a similarly late equaliser at Old Trafford earned the Portuguese side a place in the next round - as they went on to win the competition in Jose Mourinho's final season as manager.