Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Manchester United 3-2 SC Braga

TEAM STATISTICS

The Busby Babe	United	Braga
Shots (on target)	12 (7)	10 (3)
Total Passes Completed	511	361
Passing Accuracy	90%	82%
Ball Possession	58%	42%
Tackles won	14	19
Interceptions	15	16
Fouls	10	10
Corners	8	4
Offsides	7	3

MUFC PLAYER STATISTICS

* David de Gea (goalkeeper): 8/13 passing (62%) 2 goals conceded, 1 save

* Michael Carrick (right-center-back): 59/61 passing (97%), 1 chance created, 6/7 long balls, 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 clearances (0 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Jonny Evans (left-center-back): 51/52 passing (98%), 0 chances created, 4/4 long balls, 1 tackle, 5 interceptions, 8 clearances (5 effective), 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls, 1 goal

* Rafael (right-back): 58/67 passing (87%), 0 chances created, 0/4 crosses, 2/4 long balls, 1 successful dribbles, 3 fouls won, 0 tackles, 5 interceptions, 9 clearances (5 effective). 0 shots blocked, 2 fouls

* Alexander Buttner (left-back): 46/51 passing (90%), 0 chances created, 0/4 crosses, 2/2 long balls, 1 successful dribble, 1 foul won, 2 tackles, 1 interception, 3 clearances (2 effective). 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls

* Darren Fletcher (holding-midfielder): 99/104 passing (95%), 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 13/14 long balls, 0 tackles, 1 interceptions, 2 clearances (1 effective), 0 shots blocked, 2 fouls

* Tom Cleverley (central-midfielder): 73/78 passing (94%), 1 chance created, 1/5 crossing 5/8 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 5 tackles, 1 interception, 0 shots, 1 assist

* Shinji Kagawa (central-midfield | substituted off 45'): 32/35 passing (91%), 1 chance created, 1/1 crosses, 3/3 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 0 shots, 1 assist

* Wayne Rooney (central-attacking-midfielder): 48/61 passing (79%), 3 chances created, 1/6 crosses, 2/3 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 2 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Robin van Persie (striker): 21/26 passing (81%), 1 chance created, 3/8 crosses, 1/2 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 4 shots (1 on target)

* Javier Hernandez (striker | substituted off 80'): 15/16 passing (94%), 1 chance created, 0/1 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 1 successful dribble, 1 foul, 3 shots (3 on target), 2 goals

* Nani (right-winger | substituted on 45'): 16/21 passing (76%), 1 chance created, 0/3 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 1/1 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 3 shots (1 on target)

* Ryan Giggs (midfielder | substituted on 80'): 2/4 passing (50%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of UEFA.com & ManUtd.com)

(Overall thoughts...) "It has been the story of our season at home, starting badly and losing goals. We have had to rescue games and it is the front players doing that. I must say some of our football was terrific tonight, we played some fantastic football and we created a lot of chances. But it is a concern we are losing a lot of goals. We got a result most people would not have expected us to get after being 2-0 down - being 2-0 down in a European tie is very difficult - but credfit to the players for the way we came back."

(On Hernandez...) "[Javier Hernández] is improving all the time. He trains magnificently and he has great enthusiasm. I must say he has got me thinking. I have got him, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck, and I don't know what to do with them. It was a great ball from Tom Cleverley for the second goal but Chicharito's movement in behind the defender for the second goal was terrific."

(On resting Rio...) "I think we did the right thing [to rest Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra]. It wasn’t Michael Carrick’s fault for the first goal. He did his job well. I think you have to look at the big picture with Rio’s age. We have a big game on Sunday against Chelsea, Chelsea on the Wednesday, Arsenal on the Saturday, we’ve a massive programme coming up now and it’s important to utilise the squad we have. Okay, at the moment with Vidic out and Jones and Smalling not available, then putting Michael back there in defence is not the best but he does his job well."

(On switching away from the diamond after Kagawa's injury...) "I was confident the diamond would be important for us but, when you're 2-0 down, it's easy for them to kill the game by playing it out wide. So we had to change things with Nani on the right and [Wayne] Rooney on the left. Kagawa's injury forced my hand to play Nani as a wide player and it made a difference in terms of their possesion."

(More on Kagawa's injury...) "Shinji twisted his knee. We had to take him off. He struggled on for 20 minutes after he got the injury. We'll assess it in the morning as it's too early to say what the damage is."

(On Anders Lindegaard being unavailable...) "Anders hurt his thumb on Sunday morning in training. He should be okay in a week's time but he won't be available for the weekend."

Jonny Evans | MUFC defender (courtesy of MUTV)

(On his goalscoring chances this season...) "I probably should have had another one at the weekend. I think the delivery has been better from set-plays and it has given us a chance to get on the end of things. I was devastated when I miskicked it but I turned around and managed to get a bit of a toe on it. I didn't know how it went in and thought it might have been an own goal or something but I've come in, seen it back and I got a touch on it."

(On United going behind early again...) "We lost the two goals early doors so we were glad to get the result in the end, It's happened quite a lot and is becoming a bit of a habit. Hopefully, it's something we can eradicate as we don't want to give ourselves that kind of deficit at the start of games. We need to get a better start in the future."

(On the attack...) "I think some of the link-up play was fantastic with Robin [van Persie], 'Wazza' [Wayne Rooney], Chicharito, [Shinji] Kagawa and [Tom] Cleverley. The forward play was excellent and I thought we were unlucky to go in 2-1 at half time actually."

(On United's early success in Group H...) "Obviously, we want to wrap up the group as soon as possible and give the manager a chance to maybe rest one or two players in the last couple of games as there's a hectic fixture schedule coming up for us - especially coming into December - so it'll be nice to get that sewn up."

Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) | MUFC striker (courtesy of ITV)

(Overall thoughts...) "We knew the importance of this game, but the start was bad for us to be honest, conceding two goals at home. But happily we scored three and now we can look forward to the next game which is another very important one against Chelsea."

(On the possible need to prove himself again...) "No, [I have] nothing [to prove]. I always say I enjoy it a lot here. I have been ready since the start of the season and when the gaffer gives me my chance, I have to do my best. If I score it's good. But if I don't score the most important thing is the team."

(On the team's tactics...) "Which is the best formation is a question for the gaffer. As a player I need to do my best on the pitch. It doesn't matter which position I'm in or which formation he plays. As players we need to follow the things that the gaffer says to us."

Jose Peseiro | Braga manager (courtesy of UEFA.com)

(Overall thoughts...) "We intimidated our opponent and put them back on the defensive. When we were losing we still believed we could get a draw, but it was a pity we suffered that first goal when we did. In the second half we did not control the ball as we wanted and that was due to Manchester United's quality. I am pleased with my team's performance but we could have made it better. We wanted three points but we could not get them. We still believe we can win in any stadium and the last 16 is still possible. We only depend on ourselves now."