ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Fergie on the Greeks' gifts:

"We never make it easy for ourselves. We were superb until we had that period where we lost the two goals through carelessness. Fortunately Paul Scholes put the game beyond their reach and we are in the next phase.

"It was a worrying time because we had put ourselves in a position of control. Luke and Quinton badly need first-team football but it almost backfired on us.

"We gave the ball away in midfield for the first goal, which gave Olympiakos a lift. Then they changed their formation to give them more pace up front and it helped them get a second.

"Fortunately, we managed to get some control back into our play because we had been in a comfortable position before that, so we are really thankful to Paul Scholes for getting us out of trouble."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was rested because of an ankle knock, while Beckham left the stadium with an ice pack on his ankle although Fergie reported no new injury problems.

"It's good that we have got a place in the second stage because it means we can make changes next week. The players who performed are the same ones who have performed for most of the season.

"We have not been in a position, or had the luxury, to change the team around, which has been a feature of our selections over the last few years. Next Tuesday we now have an opportunity to do so."

On Scholes' return from his op:

"The games are helping him now. He needed a few games and now he is at full throttle."