Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Manchester United 3-3 FC Basel -- UEFA Champions League

On a European night at Old Trafford, Manchester United earned a disappointing  3-3 draw versus FC Basel in Group C play of the UEFA Champions League. Here are statistics and post-match quotations from the tie:

TEAM STATISTICS (via Opta)

 

The Busby Babe	Mancester United	FC Basel
Shots (on target)	16 (9)	14 (5)
Total Passes	596	397
Passing Accuracy	85%	81%
Ball Possession	60%	40%
Tackles won	11	12
Interceptions	22	23
Fouls	5	12
Corners	3	3
Offsides	6	2

 

 

MANCHESTER UNITED 

* David De Gea (goalkeeper): 2 saves, 3 goals conceded, 20/26 passing (76%)

* Phil Jones (left-center-back): 55/60 passing (92%), 1 tackle, 5 interceptions, 5 clearances, 0 blocks, 1 aerial duelwon, 0 fouls

* Rio Ferdinand (right-center-back): 57/65 (88%), 1 tackle, 5 interceptions, 2 clearances, 1 block, 1 aerial duel won, 0 fouls

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 61/73 passing (84%), 1 tackle, 1 interception, 5 clearances, 0 blocks, 1 aerial duel won, 0 fouls

* Fabio (right-back): 35/56 passing (63%), 3 tackle, 1 interception, 2 clearances, 0 blocks, 1 aerial duel won, 1 foul

* Anderson (center-midfielder): 65/78 passing (83%), 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 1 key passes, 3 successful dribbles

* Michael Carrick (center-midfielder): 78/80 passing (98%), 2 tackles, 2 interceptions, 0 key passes, 1 successful dribbles

* Ryan Giggs (central-attacking-midfielder): 48/70 passing (69%), 3 key passes, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 2 assists

* Ashley Young (left winger): 52/61 passing (85%), 2 key passes, 2 successful dribbles, 5 fouls won, 1 goal

* Antonio Valencia (right winger): 45/48 passing (94%), 4 key passes, 1 successful dribble, 0 fouls won

* Danny Welbeck (striker): 36/42 passing (86%), 1 key pass, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 6 (3) shots, 2 goals

* Park Ji-sung (central-attacking-midfielder | substitute 61'): 23/29 passing (79%), 0 key passes, 1 successful dribble, 0 fouls won, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions

* Nani (right winger | substitute 70'): 20/23 passing (87%), 2 key passes, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 1 assist

* Dimitar Berbatov (striker | substitute 82'): 1/1 passing (100%), 0 key passes, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 2 (1) shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | Manchester United manager (courtesy of MUTV) 

(On United losing their 2-0 lead...) "I feared the worst. Some our forward play in the first half was absolutely fantastic, but there was always that lax attitude at the back and they were creating chances. We were fortunate not to have lost a couple of goals before half-time. Equally though we could have scored four or five. We said to the players at half-time you can make this game easy or hard for yourselves. And we made it hard. The attacking instinct in the team meant we got really exposed in midfield and at the back. There's sometimes a tendancy to enjoy that [attacking] part, particularly at home, but in big game situations you would anticipate better defending and better concentration.Yes, we've been making changes to the back four, too many times maybe at the moment, but nonetheless they can do better than that."

(On chasing the late equaliser...) When you look at the nature of our club it's not a surprise that we came back, and we could have won it. Berbatov had a great chance [in injury time]. If he'd have squared the ball it was a tap-in for Nani. The players realised they had to rescue the game and their character got them there."

Michael Carrick | Manchester United midfielder 

(On United losing their 2-0 lead...) "We said at half-time that the game wasn’t over. It was a bit of a shock to find ourselves 3-2 down after being 2-0 up. We’ve  no excuses, we threw it away. It’s not like us at all."

(On Ashley Young's 90th minute equaliser...) "What we expect of ourselves really is to keep going. We believe that if we get a chance, we’ll score. Thankfully Ashley Young put it away and we might even have nicked a win in the end when Berba had half a chance. But that was probably asking too much."

(On Young's acclimation to being a Red...) "He’s settled in quick and bought into everything about the club and how we approach things. He’s got bags of character, he’s kept going tonight and got his reward."

(On United's situation in Group C...) "[The situation in Group C] is not the end of the world but it's not ideal either. We’ve given ourselves a lot of hard work but we’re capable of doing it. We were looking to win those two Galati games anyway so if we can approach them as we normally do then we’re confident we can pull through. Tonight we'll take a draw yet it still feels a bit like a defeat. But we’ll not get too down about it, we’ll move on and bounce back. We have to."

Danny Welbeck | Manchester United striker

(On his mixed feelings about his brace and his side's result...) "To get two goals in the Champions League, I'm over the moon with that," Welbeck told Sky Sports. "But it's a team game and I'm disappointed. We went into half-time 2-0 up and Manchester United should be finishing teams off. It's just not like us [to let teams back into games]. In the second half we didn't start as bright as we should have. They gradually worked their way into the game and pulled two goals back quickly."

(On Basel's comeback...) "As good teams do, they came out and passed the ball well. They played it from the back well and we found it difficult. We're really disappointed with the result today. But we just have to get back into training and get on with it."