Ferguson Launches Into Rant Mode to Deny United Are Feeling the Strain

Sir Alex Ferguson delivered an impassioned and forceful riposte last night to the suggestion that his Manchester United team are buckling under the pressure going into tonight's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. As rants go, it was not quite up to Kevin Keegan's "love it" diatribe but it was still a remarkable performance from United's manager as he set about dismantling the notion that his players are showing the strain.

Seven points dropped in the past four Premier League games, Ferguson's growing paranoia about referees, the acrimonious defeat to Chelsea and the sight of Wayne Rooney barely able to walk at the club's training ground yesterday have all contributed to the theory that United are in danger of unraveling at the crucial point of the season. But Ferguson took exception to being asked whether he was worried that his team were showing the strain. "I'm not worried about that at all," he responded. "We should be sitting here as champions of the league at this moment."

What followed was, in many ways, reminiscent of some of Jose Mourinho's press conferences at Chelsea. At first Ferguson seemed quite relaxed but then his body language changed. He squinted, his brow creased, he leant forward in his chair and his voice went up a few decibels.

"Decisions have gone against us," he argued. "We've had bad decisions against us. But here we are, and it doesn't matter what decisions we've had in the past. When we started out in August it was to play 30 league matches. We're going to play 30 league matches. If it means winning the last two to win the league, then so be it.

"We have two games left. It doesn't matter what has happened in the past, whether we have 50 penalty kicks turned down or 50 given to us, whether we have had terrible performances all season or great performances, the fact is we're sitting here right now with only two games left. We've got a semi-final first, then a home game [against West Ham] on Saturday and a game against Wigan away ... Disaster!"

It is unusual for Ferguson to show much emotion in any press conference when the TV cameras are on him but this was a powerful little speech, the message clearly being that reports of United's demise had been unfair as well as untrue. He lost a couple of points for forgetting there were actually 38 games in a season, but Robert De Niro would have been proud of the pause that was left for dramatic effect before he uttered the word "disaster" in his most sarcastic voice and leant back in his chair, looking thoroughly pleased with himself, albeit a little out of breath.

The irony, of course, is that in some people's eyes he will merely have been adding to the impression of a football club feeling the pressure. Yet Barcelona arrived in Manchester yesterday with their own difficulties; moreover, as often happens when it comes to United, the seriousness of their situation has been greatly exaggerated since the weekend. One Spanish journalist asked Ferguson about playing "a club in crisis". Ferguson spoke of his team having a "marvelous chance".

His confidence stems, in part, from the fact that United have won their past 11 European ties at Old Trafford, setting a Champions League record in the process. It will be a significant setback, however, if Rooney misses the game because of his injury. He was limping heavily yesterday and told his team-mates he had almost no chance of playing. Nemanja Vidic damaged several teeth and suffered concussion when Didier Drogba accidentally kneed him in the face on Saturday and he too was absent from a practice session in the rain.

"With such an important game we have got to give them every chance," said Ferguson. "But Nemanja didn't train today or yesterday. Neither did Wayne. It's a difficult one. We think both could make it but I can't be certain of that."

After the scoreless draw at Camp Nou last Wednesday United are the marginal favorites but a score draw will see Barcelona through to the final. "I thought our performance in the first leg was probably our poorest in Europe this season," Ferguson said. "That's naturally a worry as I'm looking for reasons to explain why our attacking skills deserted us.

"However, I remain confident we can come out on top. We can play better and will do so. We won't make the same mistakes. The players underperformed in certain areas and they are determined to put things right. I certainly take heart from the fact that, although Barcelona enjoyed so much possession and Lionel Messi was a handful, they were unable to capitalize."