Source: Team_Talk
Fergie won't back down on Bayern
Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to back down over his criticism of Bayern Munich's players and accused the media of being anti-Manchester United.[LNB] Ferguson was irritated that his blunt comments about Bayern's conduct being "typically German" were allowed to obscure what he felt was a good performance from United.[LNB]The Red Devils exited the Champions League despite a 3-2 win on Wednesday but Ferguson felt his players deserved praise for their efforts in establishing a three-goal lead and then trying to withstand a fierce Bayern bombardment after Rafael was sent-off.[LNB]Instead, the attention fell on Ferguson's inflammatory comments, which will not bring action from UEFA, before the spotlight started to fall on where it had all gone wrong.[LNB]Ferguson's relationship with the media has never been particularly close, and when quizzed about the reporting of his post-match comments, the Scot went onto the offensive.[LNB]"It is hard to understand the press," he said.[LNB]"Someone told me that coming back from the Champions League final in Rome last year they were all delighted on the press bus that we lost.[LNB]"They were absolutely pleased that we lost; the English press.[LNB]"The person who told me was disgusted. That is a fact. He had no reason to lie to me.[LNB]"Our performance on Wednesday was fantastic. At 3-0 it could have been 5-0. We were magnificent. Absolutely magnificent.[LNB]"But that gets lost just because people want a headline out of what I said about the Germans. That is disgusting because the players deserved some praise."[LNB]Ferguson felt he was not helped by having to do a TV interview straight after the game, when he blurted out his comment.[LNB]By the time he sat down for his main post-match analysis, some 45 minutes later, he had calmed down slightly, even if the sentiment remained ahead of Sunday's now must-win Premier League encounter with Blackburn.[LNB]"The Germans let themselves down in the way they behaved in getting the boy sent off," he said.[LNB]"If they don't recognise that there is nothing I can do about it. But it was totally unfair.[LNB]"They bullied the referee into it. He is a young referee and he succumbed to that pressure because he wasn't going to send the boy off."[LNB]When informed of Ferguson's comments on Wednesday, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal challenged the British version of fair play, and insisted his team had done no wrong.[LNB]Ferguson maintains they did, particularly Franck Ribery, the player who was yanked back by Rafael to bring the fateful second yellow card.[LNB]"I know Van Gaal spoke about the fairness of English football and he was right," said Ferguson. "It (the English league) is one of the fairest in the world.[LNB]"But we weren't talking about English fairness.[LNB]"He (Rafael) has barely touched him. Ribery's done more to him.[LNB]"The issue was how the Germans reacted.[LNB]"They knew the boy was on a yellow card. They surrounded the referee and they are waving their hands with imaginary cards.[LNB]"There was an edict to referees that anyone showing an imaginary card should be booked.[LNB]"Well, there were six that should have been booked if you go along those lines."
