Be Humble in Defeat

I have always stressed with our teams that you should be as humble and gracious in defeat as you are in victory. Not only does that show respect for yourselves, but also for your team and the game.

As much as I am a great admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson, I was disappointed by his responses after the UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich this week.

ESPN Soccernet writers commented on feedback from the Bayern Munich camp on Ferguson's comments.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has criticised Sir Alex Ferguson for his 'typical Germans' remark following Manchester United's Champions League exit.

After United were beaten on away goals at Old Trafford on Wednesday, Ferguson accused the Bayern players of pressuring the referee to issue a second yellow card to Rafael.

Ferguson felt that United were in complete control of the game before the dismissal but, after United scored twice in the dying moments to take the Champions League at Camp Nou in 1999, Hoeness has told Ferguson to show more grace in defeat.

"We lost in 1999 but we lost like gentlemen," he said. "Now United should do the same. It's an overreaction on his part maybe because he was disappointed to lose.

"Normally he is a fine gentleman but I think what he has said is not right. We were honest and cool in Barcelona and they should be the same."

Bayern winger Arjen Robben, who scored what proved to be the decisive goal against United, also questioned Ferguson's comments.

"I can understand the reaction from Ferguson but he is wrong," he said in the Sun. "We did not put pressure on the ref to send off the player - it was just the right decision by him.

Following Ferguson's postgame remarks, Bayern Munich head coach Louis van Gaal hit back. Ferguson termed Bayern players "typical Germans" for getting young Brazilian Rafael sent off and described Bayern as lucky, insisting that United would have qualified with 11 men.

"I thought England was noted for fairness," said Van Gaal. "I have been confronted with three comments. It is not what I call fair play. I do not share Sir Alex's opinion. Control is part of being a professional footballer, every player must know his job. If you pick up one yellow card, a second means a sending-off. Every player should know that and it was a yellow card offense. It was the player who made the foul. As for United winning with 11, we will never know that, neither Sir Alex nor me, because this game will not be played again. It is easy to say these things after a loss."

Sir Alex's temper is well-documented, and in most cases, his post-game tirades are usually chalked up to being a great competitor who is very driven towards success. Ferguson did not take the loss well, which reminded of former baseball manager Leo Durocher's famous line - "show me a good loser, and i'll show you an idiot."

It can both understand and associate with how a manager would still be hot and emotional immediately following a match that was so important and hard-fought.

With young players and coaches watching the game, both as supporters of Manchester United and as fans of the game, I wish he would have been a better role model and act with the same dignity and respect in defeat that he provides us in victory. You can still be passionate and emotional without disrespecting either your own team or your opponent - in this case, when you blame others for your team's loss, I think it only makes people look at you poorly.