[Elimination should not detract from the progress made since Walter Smith took up the reins at the turn of the year though, inevitably and for all the players' protestations, this was an unnerving plummet from raised expectations.] Our beginning in this group was disastrous but, although we gave ourselves a glimmer of hope, unfortunately it's not happened, ... The main aim for us [when Smith was appointed] was to restore pride and look forward to the European Championship qualifiers. That was the long-term plan and I think we're still on track. |
[There was also support for Rooney from his team-mate, the Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher.] You don't want to rein in Wayne's hunger because it sometimes spurs him on and makes him play better when things are not going his way, ... He has something inside him you do not want to take away because that is when he is at his best. |
Chelsea are the winners tonight. We lost ground again and Chelsea will be pleased as we are the closest rivals. We have to keep persisting with the way we are playing. We've just got to keep winning and stay in second. |
Fair play to them, they have been doing very well but we are going to try to catch them. We have picked up since last month. The results were not that bad but the fact we lost to Blackburn made the results before that, the two draws, look even worse than they were because we lost a lot of ground. |
He's the most naturally gifted player I have seen in my life. And Keane is still our main man. Even at 34 he's still dominating games. |
I am desperate to play and if there is a chance I can, even if it is still bothering me, then I will definitely play... it is just whether or not I risk damaging it more. |
I haven't seen the article but people have told me about it and it's nice to hear. |
It has been Arsenal vs. United over the years and Chelsea have brought something different, |
Our beginning in this group was disastrous but, although we gave ourselves a glimmer of hope, unfortunately it's not happened. The main aim for us [when Smith was appointed] was to restore pride and look forward to the European Championship qualifiers. That was the long-term plan and I think we're still on track. |
Spurs have a lot of young players and a lot of quality, and they are progressing in the right way under (manager) Martin Jol and we're going to have to be on the top of our game to beat them. |
The goals were top class - just incredible. |
We were disappointed we didn't retain the ball as much as we wanted, |
We've got to look at this result as a one-off, ... Maybe other people don't see it like that. They'll say we're back to square one, but it's about what we believe we can achieve. We've got to start off the European Championship qualifiers with confidence and good results behind us - the way we sort of finished this group. |
We've got to look at this result as a one-off. Maybe other people don't see it like that. They'll say we're back to square one, but it's about what we believe we can achieve. We've got to start off the European Championship qualifiers with confidence and good results behind us - the way we sort of finished this group. |
You can see the progress we are making under Walter and if we can match that work rate and spirit with a bit more quality in terms of retaining the ball and creating chances, then we can go far as a team. |