The game never went United's way as City totaly dominated the game from start to finish and although United started a little brightly but City came into the match and scored the first goal of the game which remained the 1 and only goal in the match.
In the 2nd Half United chased the game but their attacks were limited to the corners and set pieces while Man City had the better chances and although players
Sir Alex Ferguson has identified the trio of Lionel Messi, Anres Iniesta and Xavi as the players to watch when his Manchester United side face Barcelona in the Champions League final.
United and Barcelona will come face-to-face in a repeat of the 2009 final at Wembley on May 28.
"Obviously, Barcelona is the big one now," Ferguson told US-based radio station Sirius XM. "What we have to do is find a solution to the Xavi-Messi-Iniesta problem.
''Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers. We have our share too. In the final last time we started off really well, then gave away a bad goal. After that Barcelona kept the ball very well, as they always do.
"We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother and hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us."
Ferguson also responded to critics who have claimed United are not as good as in previous years.
"Everyone has said this is not a good Manchester United team, that we are not this or that," he said. "But we have scored more goals than anyone else. Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and we will win the league by getting one more point.
"You have to put all the criticism to one side because I have to be realistic when I look at my team and ask 'Am I satisfied?' Those players have given me everything."
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was happy to bask in what looks like a record 19th league title.
A 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday leaves United just one point away from the 2010-11 Premier League title and what would be a 19th league championship.
That would ensure that United eclipsed arch-rivals Liverpool's record of 18 league titles.
"It's fantastic to be the most successful team in the country," he told Sky Sports 1.
"The minute we won that first title in 1992 the door opened, and we've been involved in the first two all throughout that period - it's a fantastic achievement.
"For the last 17 or 18 years it's been Arsenal and Chelsea as our nearest challengers, and the last few years it's been Chelsea. Arsenal made a great attempt this year, but them losing today has finalised it.
"We deserve the title and hopefully we'll get that point now."
United now require one point from their remaining two fixtures against Blackburn and Blackpool.
"It's a fantastic feeling," Ferguson said. "If you had said to me at the start of the season that we would need one point from the last two games to be the champions, I would have snapped your hand off.
"We will give them [Blackburn and Blackpool] respect and we won't under-estimate them because it would be a dangerous thing to do and we've come too far for that. But one point ... I think we'll get that, and it's a fantastic achievement [overtaking Liverpool].
"I would never have believed it could happen, to be honest. But as soon as we got that first one in 1992-93, the door opened to us. Once we got that first title, we have just improved and improved. The club have taken off."
United were 1-0 up inside the first minute thanks to Javier Hernandez and two goals ahead after 23 minutes when Nemanja Vidic headed past Petr Cech.
Frank Lampard pulled a goal back for Chelsea midway through the second half, but Ferguson's side held on for the win and the 69-year-old was delighted with the performance.
"We could've scored six in the second half, but we expected a tough game and we got a tough game," he said.
"We were brilliant - we got a great start, but Cech made some fantastic saves.
"When we gave the ball away for their goal, we were a bit nervy but the fans helped us.
"We kept making chances and (Wayne) Rooney could've scored six today."
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased with his side's performance as they cruised past Schalke to move closer to this season's Champions League final.
United were dominant in Germany with Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney both scored in a 2-0 away win.
Giggs, who had missed a couple of fantastic chances, was played in by Rooney and finished well before Rooney added a second only two minutes later.
"Our concentration, intensity and speed of passing was excellent,'' Ferguson said afterwards. "We had less chances in the second half but were more dangerous, when Chicharito scored and it was offside it told the players they could beat the goalkeeper.''
"Juventus in 1999 will always be on the list of great performances away from home in Europe but this certainly ranks as one of them.
"The players have confidence and trust in each other and they are peaking."
Ferguson also suggested the ability to name the same starting 11 that played against Chelsea in the previous round was significant.
"The continuity of selection in these games gives us good experience and work-rate and I have good options with the likes of Nani, Scholes and Anderson. We have selection problems now but that is what we want,'' he added.
The Scot is in the market for a new goalkeeper with Dutch veteran Edwin van der Sar retiring at the end of the season and has been linked with Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer, who performed marvels on the night to keep the score respectable.
"He was fantastic," said Ferguson. "That is one of the best performances I've seen against Manchester United."
The United boss even suggested he could rest key players in the return leg as the fight to win the Premier League takes priority.
"Depending on the result on Sunday [at Arsenal] I could make two or three changes because we play Chelsea the following weekend.
"We are a bit disappointed we didn't take more chances but overall we are delighted with the performance. In the first half especially we had some good chances and we were disappointed at half time not to be in front.''
But Rooney refused to accept that United now have one foot in the final at Wembley, aware that Schalke scored five goals in the San Siro against Inter in the quarter-finals.
"Schalke are a good team and we can't take them lightly. We need to make sure we are professional and fully concentrated,'' he said.
Giggs, who became the oldest player to score in the history of the Champions League, insisted the players were confident they would be able to find a goal despite being constantly denied by Neuer.
"We knew that if we kept creating chances one would go in and hopefully I would get one on my left foot rather than my right,'' he said. "Before the game we would have taken 2-0 but now we are slightly disappointed.''
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Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he would take Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo over Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
The Manchester United manager admitted his admiration for both players.
He said: “Messi or Ronaldo? They’re two great players. I’ve got loyalties towards Ronaldo and know the qualities he’s got. He’s an unbelievable, fantastic player, with two great feet, he’s quick and great in the air.
“Messi is a different type of player altogether, but equally brings fantastic qualities to his football.”
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he can see Real Madrid defeating Barcelona in their Champions League semi.
If Manchester United reach the finals, they will confront fabled Spanish opposition and one of the two best players in the world.
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid atoned for their 5-0 League drubbing by Barcelona to beat Lionel Messi’s side 1-0 in the Copa del Rey last Wednesday, with the extra-time winner headed emphatically by United old boy Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson said: “When the draw was made I thought Real Madrid had a great chance. I think that 5-0 defeat would have hurt Mourinho deeply and he wasn’t going to be beaten like that the next time.”
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, from recent criticism.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League between the two sides, Ferguson said he thought criticism of the Italian was unfair.
"I cannot understand how you can criticise Ancelotti, who won the Double in his first season at Chelsea," Ferguson told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's the fault of the current media atmosphere.
"They invent problems where there are none. I am certain Carlo reacts like me. He ignores the media so that your decisions, your philosophy and your mental health are not affected by it. How can Chelsea think of changing a coach like him?"
Ferguson also defended Chelsea striker Fernando Torres who has come in for criticism for his failure to score since his £50 million move from Liverpool in January.
"Of course he will start scoring," the United boss said. "I just hope he waits a little bit, at least until after the tie against us.
"When Chelsea signed him, everyone said what a great signing he was, and rightly so. Now everyone says that it was a mistake. Can people be more ridiculous? Of course he needs time to adapt."
Ferguson also said that Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho would have to wait to replace him at Old Trafford as he has no intention of retiring imminently.
"Jose is a great friend of mine," Ferguson said. "We have spoken many times about his future and I understand his wish to return to England because here a coach has more freedom than in Spain, without the constant following of the media and radio.
"But it's difficult for me to say when my position will be available. It will be my health that decides. I will continue until I no longer feel the energy that has always accompanied me.
"My father, who worked in the shipyards, retired at the age of 65 and one year later he was dead. The worst you can do is to say I have worked for 45 years and now I have a right to rest. You need to always remain active and in good form.
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says managers should be free to discuss performances of officials, providing any criticism is merited.
Ferguson was recently handed a five-match touchline ban and £30,000 fine by the Football Association for criticising referee Martin Atkinson.
The Scot told ESPN: "If you speak your mind it's a problem in the game. The FA are very strong in supporting referees.
"In a way I totally agree with that, but there's got to be fair comment."
Ferguson was found guilty of improper conduct after he expressed his frustration at Atkinson's display in the 2-1 Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 1 March.
"You want a fair referee - or a strong referee, anyway - and we didn't get that," he said immediately after the match.
Craig Moore, chairman of the FA commission that sanctioned the Manchester United manager, wrote that Ferguson had "undermined the FA's Respect campaign" and added: "Respect for referees' integrity is essential for the integrity of football."
Despite his punishment, Ferguson has refused to take his punishment lightly and has continued to complain about the performance of officials in recent fixtures.
"I think the last few games we've had terrible decisions against us and you've just got to be careful you don't have paranoia about it," said Ferguson.
The five-match touchline ban began with United's 1-0 win over Bolton at Old Trafford on 19 March.
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Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Javier Hernandez’s background has helped his progress.
The Manchester United manager has admitted that his initial assessment was that Chicharito would mainly be used as a substitute in his first season for United.
However the Mexican internatioanal’s rapid development – and unerring ability in front of goal – has been impossible to ignore.
Sir Alex told manutd.com : “It’s been nothing but acceleration [by him],”.
“We tell a lot of our young players to take time to settle in, learn the language and develop physically, because it is a physical league.
“He’s now had his breaking-in period and, although he could speak English, it is now much better. He comes into training every morning at 9am, does his own work in the gym, then stays after training with the rest of the players and practices various parts of his game.
“The boy wants to be a player and the footballing tradition of his family has helped. That gives him an extra encouragement and urge to do well, which is sensational.”
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his disappointment after being given a five-match touchline ban from the FA, although the Scot admits he is undecided whether to appeal his suspension.
Ferguson was handed the ban by the FA following recent comments he made regarding referee Martin Atkinson.
He was slapped with a three-match ban for an improper conduct charge and incurred a further two-game suspension that had rolled over from last season.
Ferguson, who has until Monday to decide whether to appeal against the ban, admits he is still upset over the decision.
"It is disappointing," he said. "It is the only industry where you can't tell the truth. But it is in the past now. I've not decided about appealing."
Man United are now a best price 9/1 for the Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-finals on Tuesday night…
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Sir Alex Ferguson described Javier Hernandez as 'unbelievable' after the Mexican striker scored both goals in Manchester United's 2-1 win over Marseille.
The victory ensured United reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the fifth consecutive season.
Asked about the partnership between Hernandez and Wayne Rooney, who set up the first goal, United's manager said: "It has developed very well.
"Where Wayne has been playing in the last couple of games, he is a real threat to teams because he has got such power and speed with the ball.
"And, of course, Hernandez is unbelievable, his movement. Did you see his movement for the (opening) goal?
"He has made three different types of run - in, out, in, out - and the boy has just got goals in him."
Ferguson acknowledged that his players suffered a nervy evening, with injuries to right-back John O'Shea and his replacement Rafael Silva, causing some confusion in the United rearguard.
Ferguson said: "It was nervy because we kept having players taken off with injuries and it shook the balance of the team in a big way.
"I thought we were quite comfortable, and then O'Shea is off, and then Da Silva (Rafael) is off. We had made a substitution, which was a killer because we could have brought (Darron) Gibson on to give us a bit more height.
"The problem tonight was always going to be height. Their (Marseille's) set-piece play, of course, was very good and it caused us a lot of problems."
Asked who he would like in the last eight, Ferguson said: "You just take what you get.
"We go through this over the years and you say, 'I hope we get this or I hope we get that'. You never get what you want."
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps thought that his players could have done a better job of dealing with an understrength United side.
"It was not a great Manchester team, they had a lot of absentees," he said. "I think we missed an opportunity because we had the chances. We conceded twice but there was room to do better. Manchester have great players up front and it was the difference even if they were not on top form.
"What we lack is being used to that level. Even if they lacked some players, they played at a very high level of football. There are regrets. We were very shy in the first 20-25 minutes. The stakes, the atmosphere can explain that. I have young players in my team and it was difficult at Old Trafford.
"We improved after that and we finally competed. At 2-1, I really felt that they were nervous. Unfortunately we failed to score the second goal. In such games you need to approach them quite relaxed and I felt the players were a bit tense. We tried but it was not to be."
Man United are now a best price 9/1 for the Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-finals on Tuesday night…
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A Football Association tribunal has given Sir Alex Ferguson a five-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson.
The Manchester United manager was found guilty of improper conduct for criticising Atkinson's display in the loss at Chelsea earlier this month.
"You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that," Ferguson told MUTV. "I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."
The ban starts on 22 March and includes the FA Cup tie against Manchester City.
The Independent Regulatory Commission's sanction is made up of a three-game ban for the Atkinson remarks and the activation of a two-game suspended ban.
The three-man panel also fined the 69-year-old manager £30,000.
Ferguson chose to appeal the charge and, speaking prior to United's FA Cup win over Arsenal at the weekend, said he was looking forward to having his case heard.
"I felt aggrieved and I now face an FA charge for what, to my mind, was simply telling the truth," he wrote in his programme notes.
"I will be defending myself strongly when my FA appeal hearing comes up.
"In fact, I am looking forward to the challenge because, to my mind, I have not said anything out of place, however much the media urge the FA to take action."
The length of the ban is in part due to the two-game suspended ban he had hanging over his head for questioning the fitness of referee Alan Wiley last season.
Scunthorpe have sacked manager Ian Baraclough so are they now certainties for the drop? See the best Championship relegation odds here…
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