Ferguson stumped by European failure

United knocked out by Athletic Bilbao; City lose thriller to Sporting Lisbon.

BILBAO:

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was at a loss to explain Manchester United’s dismal performances in Europe this season, after they were knocked out of the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao.

United were outplayed in both legs of their last-16 tie and went down 5-3 on aggregate after a 2-1 defeat at Bilbao’s imposing San Mames stadium.

City, meanwhile, battled back from 2-0 down on the night and 3-0 in arrears on aggregate to Sporting Lisbon to win their second-leg match 3-2, but the Portuguese side went through on away goals.

For United, only an 80th-minute consolation strike from Wayne Rooney prevented the English champions from sinking to the heaviest two-legged European defeat of Ferguson’s 25-year tenure.

“Trying to analyse this season against others is a bit difficult,” said Ferguson. “There is a trend in terms of some of the goals we have conceded in these tournaments. They have been pretty poor. It’s been a disappointing year.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson admitted Bilbao were the better team. “Athletic could do well. What we’ve seen is a team whose work rate is higher than any I’ve seen in Europe.”

Europa League quarter-finals

AZ Alkmaar v Valencia

Schalke 04 v Athletic Bilbao

Sporting Lisbon v M Kharkiv

Atletico Madrid v Hanover

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2012.