"Sometimes when you win, you really lose...and sometimes when you lose, you really win," was Rosie Perez' zen philosophy to Woody Harrleson in 'White Men Can't Jump'. After a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on the road last night, Sir Alex Ferguson is left to ask if a tie is a win in the European Champions League.
“Obviously I’m disappointed we’ve not won here but the second leg is at Old Trafford where we have a great record," said Ferguson. "We must have a good chance of going through. The game’s not finished, obviously, but we are capable of winning it.”
When you start evaluating your options available after finishing without a victory, logic would tell you that it would be harder for Inter to score 1 goal, let alone defeat United at Old Trafford, than for United to come away victorious - Old Trafford, as well as the Champions League in general, have become a fortress for United this season. Their draw yesterday made it a record 20 Champions League matches unbeaten, and the last time Edwin van de Sar had conceded a goal in the English Premier League was in October.
"We'll improve in the second leg and will be more attacking at Old Trafford, and we know we can score," said midfielder Ji-Sung Park.
Playing a tough cup tie on the road in what had been billed as the clash of the titans - English Premier League leaders versus the Italian Serie A leaders - United deployed a 4-5-1 formation for the majority of the game at the San Siro, with Dimitar Berbatov as the lone striker. Even with the exclusion of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, United still created a boat-load of chances in the first half of this match, dispelling the idea that they came out looking solely to defend.
"We played very well and showed the right spirit," defender Patrice Evra told ManUtd.com. "We came here to win, not just to defend. So we're happy with that part of our game."
"But it's a little bit frustrating because we had a lot of opportunities to score, particularly in the first half."
"Now we have a game at home that we have to win, and I think we have the power to do that. I know the fans will get behind us and hopefully we can get the result we need to go through."
A crucial away goal may have evaded the visitors, but United's desire and commitment throughout the 90 minutes give hopes for a repeat showing at Old Trafford in two weeks time.
A lot will be made of aggregate score at this stage - if Inter score once, United would lose out on away goals in a 1-1 home draw, as away goals count as double. Saying that, all United need to do to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition is beat the Serie A leaders on home soil. United captain Ryan Giggs believes the tie remains finely poised.
"It's still a tricky tie, and we would have liked to have scored that away goal," he added. "But if we perform like we did tonight at Old Trafford then we'll win."
"Experience is going to be very important. Inter are a top side and they have got goals in them. We will have to defend well and make sure we put our chances away."
Even if United come out in their usual attacking-minded alignment with two strikers and two wingers, expect the home side to get it done on the defensive side of the ball again.
"It's not just the defenders who defend, at United everyone works together to do that - the midfielders, the forwards, the defenders and the goalkeeper," said Evra. "We all try to give our best because we all respect the shirt."
“Obviously I’m disappointed we’ve not won here but the second leg is at Old Trafford where we have a great record," said Ferguson. "We must have a good chance of going through. The game’s not finished, obviously, but we are capable of winning it.”
When you start evaluating your options available after finishing without a victory, logic would tell you that it would be harder for Inter to score 1 goal, let alone defeat United at Old Trafford, than for United to come away victorious - Old Trafford, as well as the Champions League in general, have become a fortress for United this season. Their draw yesterday made it a record 20 Champions League matches unbeaten, and the last time Edwin van de Sar had conceded a goal in the English Premier League was in October.
"We'll improve in the second leg and will be more attacking at Old Trafford, and we know we can score," said midfielder Ji-Sung Park.
Playing a tough cup tie on the road in what had been billed as the clash of the titans - English Premier League leaders versus the Italian Serie A leaders - United deployed a 4-5-1 formation for the majority of the game at the San Siro, with Dimitar Berbatov as the lone striker. Even with the exclusion of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, United still created a boat-load of chances in the first half of this match, dispelling the idea that they came out looking solely to defend.
"We played very well and showed the right spirit," defender Patrice Evra told ManUtd.com. "We came here to win, not just to defend. So we're happy with that part of our game."
"But it's a little bit frustrating because we had a lot of opportunities to score, particularly in the first half."
"Now we have a game at home that we have to win, and I think we have the power to do that. I know the fans will get behind us and hopefully we can get the result we need to go through."
A crucial away goal may have evaded the visitors, but United's desire and commitment throughout the 90 minutes give hopes for a repeat showing at Old Trafford in two weeks time.
A lot will be made of aggregate score at this stage - if Inter score once, United would lose out on away goals in a 1-1 home draw, as away goals count as double. Saying that, all United need to do to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition is beat the Serie A leaders on home soil. United captain Ryan Giggs believes the tie remains finely poised.
"It's still a tricky tie, and we would have liked to have scored that away goal," he added. "But if we perform like we did tonight at Old Trafford then we'll win."
"Experience is going to be very important. Inter are a top side and they have got goals in them. We will have to defend well and make sure we put our chances away."
Even if United come out in their usual attacking-minded alignment with two strikers and two wingers, expect the home side to get it done on the defensive side of the ball again.
"It's not just the defenders who defend, at United everyone works together to do that - the midfielders, the forwards, the defenders and the goalkeeper," said Evra. "We all try to give our best because we all respect the shirt."
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