Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has admitted his surprise in seeing both Newcastle and Arsenal making a Champions League exit.
United secured their place in the quarter-finals several weeks ago and could afford to field weakened teams in their last two games as their progress was assured. However, both Arsenal and Newcastle were dumped out of the competition last night after suffering defeats to Valencia and Barcelona respectively.
Ferguson admitted, "I'm surprised because I thought the three of us would have gone through. I thought Leverkusen (from Newcastle's group) 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."
"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," the United boss said.
However, both Arsenal's and Newcastle's early exits could prove to be a blessing in disguise, as they will now have less of a fixture congestion that Manchester United as the Premiership season draws to a conclusion. Just five points separates the three teams at the top of the table and any advantage, such are fatigue on Man United's behalf, could play a decisive role in where the title ends up come May.
Filed by Rob Wright
