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"Good enough to go one better"

ALEX FERGUSON could not believe how his team squandered their chance of European Cup glory last night, but said: "We'll be back…

Thu Apr 24 1997 - 01:00

ALEX FERGUSON could not believe how his team squandered their chance of European Cup glory last night, but said: "We'll be back next year better than ever."

Ferguson said: "The question I asked was: Were we good enough? and my answer was why I was so positive before the game.

"I'll say it even more emphatically after it. we are good enough, we are a very good team."

And the United boss said: "I have a clear picture of the team for the future and we are definitely good enough to go one better next year.

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"I didn't see any parts of their game where they were better than us. They have a lot of experience and at times they did make it count. But I think they would also accept that we should have scored a few goals tonight."

"I don't think losing the goal was such a blow because we kept creating chances," said Ferguson. "But it gave Dortmund the bit of comfort to keep sticking heads in and defending with a bit of resolution and determination. If they hadn't had that cushion I think they would have collapsed:

"The chances we missed were quite incredible. If I had thought beforehand that we would have created that many I would have been delighted.

"It was a mixture of bad finishing and bad luck. But at this level you've got to take them. We can regret them all we want now but it won't make any difference."

United had looked to Eric Cantona for a big game but he missed perhaps one of the easiest chances from Andy Cole's cross midway through the first half. "He missed a great chance early on. I don't know if that affected him or not," said Ferguson.

"I wish Dortmund every success you can't deny them their victory," said Ferguson. "We have to improve our side a little bit just enough to give us that final push next year.

Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said: "We're happy to have won with a bit of luck. We got the ideal start and that gave us the psychological advantage. But we were rarely free from pressure. United were very dangerous.

"We fought, we made sacrifices and played with great passion. The whole match was a gigantic compliment to us and United they played superbly they just forgot to score the goals.

. Manchester United's home game against Middlesbrough has been put back from the night of May 6th to May 5th at noon. United have also confirmed that their match against West Ham on May 11th will kick off at 4 p.m. The date of their home game against Newcastle has yet to be arranged, but it is likely to be played on May 8th.