FERGIE SURPRISED BY ARSENAL EXIT

Last updated : 20 March 2003 By Editor
After last night’s results Fergie said:

"I thought Leverkusen would have got results, they played a
stronger side than they had been doing because they have the
problem of relegation in their country.

"So I think that was an issue in picking their team, they
thought they could have got a draw because Leverkusen is not
an easy place to go to.

"If that was the case, then Newcastle had to win their game
at home which is also a very difficult place to go, because
of the crowd's enthusiasm and passion, so I thought they
would have got a result in Newcastle."

Ferguson added: "The variations of what could have happened
in Arsenal's group should have been perfect for them - if
they had lost they still could have gone through.

"It's unfortunate and a pity that the three English teams
didn't go through."