BRIDGES - 'I'M READY'

[Mark]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his decision to take off David Beckham and Ryan Giggs against Olympiakos almost backfired on him.

With his side strolling to a 2-0 lead after an hour, the Old Trafford chief threw on Quinton Fortune and Luke Chadwick.

But Olympiakos scored twice in four minutes to leave the visitors on the brink of defeat until Paul Scholes' powerful drive ensured a 3-2 win and their passage into the second group stage.

Ferguson admitted: "It was a worrying time because we had put ourselves in a position of control.

"Luke and Quinton badly need first-team football but it almost backfired on us.

"Fortunately, we managed to get some control back into our play because we had been in a comfortable position before that.

"We are really thankful to Paul Scholes for getting us out of trouble."

Ferguson confirmed he had left out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because of a slight ankle knock which he feared would worsen on the firm pitch.

Beckham left the pitch with an ice pack strapped to his ankle, but the United boss reported nothing more than bumps and bruises.

Ferguson is likely to use the rest of their group games to experiment with his reserve players.

"It's good that we have got a place in the second stage," he said. "It means we can make changes next week.

"We have not been in a position, or had the luxury, to change the team around, which has been a feature of our selections over the last few years.

"Now we have an opportunity to do it."

Outplayed

Olympiakos caretaker coach Yiannis Kollias was disappointed at Scholes' late winner after his team's defiant fightback.

But he admitted the home side had largely been outplayed.

He said: "We didn't make any chances in the first hour and I can't be happy with that.

"You can't give a team like Manchester United a two-goal lead and expect to get anything from the game.

"Having got ourselves level, we stopped playing as a team, and that was the contributing factor to Scholes' goal at the end."

Kollias refused to comment on an incident in the first half which saw referee Pierluigi Collina struck by a coin thrown from the stands, which is sure to warrant a Uefa inquiry.

[Mark]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his decision to take off David Beckham and Ryan Giggs against Olympiakos almost backfired on him.

With his side strolling to a 2-0 lead after an hour, the Old Trafford chief threw on Quinton Fortune and Luke Chadwick.

But Olympiakos scored twice in four minutes to leave the visitors on the brink of defeat until Paul Scholes' powerful drive ensured a 3-2 win and their passage into the second group stage.

Ferguson admitted: "It was a worrying time because we had put ourselves in a position of control.

"Luke and Quinton badly need first-team football but it almost backfired on us.

"Fortunately, we managed to get some control back into our play because we had been in a comfortable position before that.

"We are really thankful to Paul Scholes for getting us out of trouble."

Ferguson confirmed he had left out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because of a slight ankle knock which he feared would worsen on the firm pitch.

Beckham left the pitch with an ice pack strapped to his ankle, but the United boss reported nothing more than bumps and bruises.

Ferguson is likely to use the rest of their group games to experiment with his reserve players.

"It's good that we have got a place in the second stage," he said. "It means we can make changes next week.

"We have not been in a position, or had the luxury, to change the team around, which has been a feature of our selections over the last few years.

"Now we have an opportunity to do it."

Outplayed

Olympiakos caretaker coach Yiannis Kollias was disappointed at Scholes' late winner after his team's defiant fightback.

But he admitted the home side had largely been outplayed.

He said: "We didn't make any chances in the first hour and I can't be happy with that.

"You can't give a team like Manchester United a two-goal lead and expect to get anything from the game.

"Having got ourselves level, we stopped playing as a team, and that was the contributing factor to Scholes' goal at the end."

Kollias refused to comment on an incident in the first half which saw referee Pierluigi Collina struck by a coin thrown from the stands, which is sure to warrant a Uefa inquiry.

[Mark]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his decision to take off David Beckham and Ryan Giggs against Olympiakos almost backfired on him.

With his side strolling to a 2-0 lead after an hour, the Old Trafford chief threw on Quinton Fortune and Luke Chadwick.

But Olympiakos scored twice in four minutes to leave the visitors on the brink of defeat until Paul Scholes' powerful drive ensured a 3-2 win and their passage into the second group stage.

Ferguson admitted: "It was a worrying time because we had put ourselves in a position of control.

"Luke and Quinton badly need first-team football but it almost backfired on us.

"Fortunately, we managed to get some control back into our play because we had been in a comfortable position before that.

"We are really thankful to Paul Scholes for getting us out of trouble."

Ferguson confirmed he had left out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because of a slight ankle knock which he feared would worsen on the firm pitch.

Beckham left the pitch with an ice pack strapped to his ankle, but the United boss reported nothing more than bumps and bruises.

Ferguson is likely to use the rest of their group games to experiment with his reserve players.

"It's good that we have got a place in the second stage," he said. "It means we can make changes next week.

"We have not been in a position, or had the luxury, to change the team around, which has been a feature of our selections over the last few years.

"Now we have an opportunity to do it."

Outplayed

Olympiakos caretaker coach Yiannis Kollias was disappointed at Scholes' late winner after his team's defiant fightback.

But he admitted the home side had largely been outplayed.

He said: "We didn't make any chances in the first hour and I can't be happy with that.

"You can't give a team like Manchester United a two-goal lead and expect to get anything from the game.

"Having got ourselves level, we stopped playing as a team, and that was the contributing factor to Scholes' goal at the end."

Kollias refused to comment on an incident in the first half which saw referee Pierluigi Collina struck by a coin thrown from the stands, which is sure to warrant a Uefa inquiry.

[Foley87]

how funny wud it of been if ud of lost

a taste of ur own medicine

[Foley87]

how funny wud it of been if ud of lost

a taste of ur own medicine

[Foley87]

how funny wud it of been if ud of lost

a taste of ur own medicine

[Mark]

Originally posted by Foley87@Oct 24 2002, 10:29 AM
how funny wud it of been if ud of lost

a taste of ur own medicine
dunno what he was doing though lol...why rest the players in October, they can't be tired just yet surely :)

[Mark]

Originally posted by Foley87@Oct 24 2002, 10:29 AM
how funny wud it of been if ud of lost

a taste of ur own medicine
dunno what he was doing though lol...why rest the players in October, they can't be tired just yet surely :)

[Mark]

Originally posted by Foley87@Oct 24 2002, 10:29 AM
how funny wud it of been if ud of lost

a taste of ur own medicine
dunno what he was doing though lol...why rest the players in October, they can't be tired just yet surely :)

[Spandan]

Originally posted by Foley87@Oct 24 2002, 05:29 PM
how funny wud it of been if ud of lost?


Not very! Lucky we didn't!



<!--EDIT|spandan_k13|Oct 26 2002, 02:01 PM-->

[Spandan]

Originally posted by Mark@Oct 24 2002, 07:51 AM

"We are really thankful to Paul Scholes for getting us out of trouble."


He's been doing that quite often lately eh? Charlton, Everton and now Olympiakos...turning out to be a good season for him!

[Jimmy]

Originally posted by spandan_k13+Oct 26 2002, 07:03 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (spandan_k13 @ Oct 26 2002, 07:03 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--Mark@Oct 24 2002, 07:51 AM

"We are really thankful to Paul Scholes for getting us out of trouble."


He's been doing that quite often lately eh? Charlton, Everton and now Olympiakos...turning out to be a good season for him![/b][/quote]
Alot better than last season.B)