HATCHET MAN: Fergie has only himself to blame - he took a gamble against Porto and it backfired badl

Published: 08 Apr 2009 - 10:17:53

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HATCHET MAN: Fergie has only himself to blame - he took a gamble against Porto and it backfired badl

Sir Alex Ferguson got exactly what he deserved when his Manchester United team were taken to task by Porto. He made beating Aston Villa his team's priority and they achieved that target - just. But downgrading the importance of their Champions League quarter-final first leg so blatantly and reducing his players' recovery time between matches backfired badly. Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't disguise his disappointment after United were held to a draw by Porto United could have played Villa on Saturday and had more preparation time for Porto but Ferguson claimed that would not give his international players enough rest after they had played for their countries last week. More from Hatchet Man... HATCHET MAN: Sunderland boss Sbragia should steer clear of Bent08/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Newcastle fans would prefer a clear plan rather than their former hero banging them in for fun in training08/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Chelsea must stop talking about past failures if they want to win Champions League08/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Senna's brilliance shows Wenger's decision not to sign Brazilian was a mistake08/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Walcott could do with learning a few tricks from former Arsenal star Pires07/04/09 HATCHET MAN: If Ronaldo is staying at United why is Sir Alex so irritated?07/04/09 HATCHET MAN: If Spurs want to sign Zaki they can't be that serious about wanting to be a top four club07/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Chelsea's messy attempts to bring in Ancelotti show the club are now a declining force07/04/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEAs a result, his team looked tired and lacked the fire and drive of the Portuguese. That Porto's potentially crucial away goals in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford came at the beginning and end of the match was testament to their impressive approach and in contrast to their more sluggish opposition. It also exposed Ferguson's rallying cry after Federico Macheda's winning goal on Sunday for what it was: wishful thinking. That win did nothing to galvanise his team, it more likely had the opposite effect. United players were not suddenly imbued with greater self-belief, no matter how hard the manager tried to convince them of it and the weaknesses in their patched up defence persist. Maybe Rafael Benitez is right, maybe Ferguson is busy looking over his shoulder at Liverpool's challenge in the Premier League. Scared seems to be overdoing it a bit and Benitez's smokescreen claim that he only talks about United when his counterpart talks about Liverpool is fooling no-one, but the impetus is with the Spaniard on and off the pitch and Ferguson is definitely rattled. Porto panic: United held by late Gonzalez stunnerMartin Samuel: Marathon men hit the wall as they enter the final stretchMANCHESTER UNITED FC