Football: Ferguson apologises for Palace embarrassment

United manager maintains young players not damaged by defeat.

MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson apologised to United fans after his side were beaten 2-1 by Championship side Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter finals.

Ferguson was upset with the manner of his side’s defeat, which also saw the Da Silva twins and Dimitar Berbatov forced off with injuries. Palace will now face fellow Championship side Cardiff in the semi-finals, while Manchester City face Liverpool in the other tie.

“I don’t know where to start,” said Ferguson. “I really apologise to our fans because that wasn’t a Manchester United performance. I don’t want to take anything away from Palace and I want them to get to the final because it was a mammoth effort and they worked their socks off.”

But despite the frustration, Ferguson insists the youngsters have not been damaged by the defeat.

“It was hard for them to come on when the team isn’t playing well but it won’t do them any harm. There was just too much short-passing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2011.