RANGERS REACTIONS

Last updated : 05 November 2003 By Editor
Sir Alex Ferguson:

“The third goal, I think, just killed them off. They had
players missing, which I think was important. You saw the
change in Ruud's game after his first goal, in the second
half he was marvellous.

"I expect strikers to score off a rebound. There's one here
that lived off them for almost 10 years - Denis Law. There's
nothing wrong with scoring a scrappy goal - I've scored a
few myself and I've not had a striker who was different.

"I think Diego's a different situation, he's thriving on
games and his goal was a marvellous hit, an instinctive hit.
He's capable of that, we have seen him do it many times in
training, and he's a threat.

"I took him off simply because he's played four games in a
row, including extra-time against Leeds and we have to think
about Sunday.

"Of course I am pleased with the result, and for most of the
game we played some good football with good penetration, in
the first half particularly."

Fergie went on to pay tribute to Roy Keane:

"He's an influence, he's everywhere on the pitch. He does
everything you want as a captain."

Van Nistelrooy had praise for Forlan, "He's done brilliantly
for us," and also sent a message to national boss Dick
Advocaat, "He knows what I can do, it's up to him now. We
will have to see."

Rangers boss Alex McLeish:

"I was pleased with the younger players. I thought Mikel
Arteta and Stephen Hughes did quite well. That will have
done their experience and development no harm at all.

"It was especially good to see Hughes come back and do so
well. We could have had more from some of our experienced
players but United's players had something to do with that.

"There is no doubt we were beaten by a stronger team
tonight. United are a formidable side and, despite people
saying they are off the boil at the moment, they are still
quite a side.

"We set our plan out at the start but we didn't adhere to it
and it cost us a goal in the early period. That gave United
an enormous lift and set us back. But better teams have come
here and failed. They play at such intensity week-in, week-
out that it keeps them sharp for games like this.

“We were well-beaten by a really top, top side. We failed to
take our chances at Ibrox and United took theirs tonight and
we only had fleeting glimpses of their goal.

"The start was extremely difficult for us, we were far too
bold. We did go out with a game-plan, to keep it tight, but
had players maybe too far forward and Keane was exerting his
influence.”