Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Manchester United 3-2 Fulham FC

TEAM STATISTICS

The Busby Babe	United	Fulham
Shots (on target)	20 (7)	16 (6)
Total Passes Completed	558	354
Passing Accuracy	93%	89%
Ball Possession	60%	40%
Tackles won	25	22
Interceptions	7	16
Fouls	12	7
Corners	8	8
Offsides	1	0

* David de Gea (goalkeeper): 7/8 passing (88%), 2 goals conceded, 5 saves, 1 successful dribble!

* Michael Carrick (right-center-back): 63/66 passing (95%), 7/7 long balls, 0 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 clearances, 3 shots blocked, 3 fouls

* Nemanja Vidic (left-center-back): 53/56 passing (95%), 6/7 long balls, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 4 clearances, 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Rafael (right-back): 69/73 passing (95%), 2 chances created, 0/2 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 6 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 clearances, 0 shots blocked, 2 fouls, 1 goal

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 58/63 passing (92%), 2 chances created, 1/5 crosses, 3/4 long balls, 2 tackles, 1 interception, 2 clearances, 2 shots blocked, 0 fouls, 1 assist

* Tom Cleverley (central-midfield): 69/76 passing (91%), 1 chance created, 0/2 crosses, 4/6 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 4 tackles, 1 interception, 2 shots (1 on target)

* Anderson (central-midfield | substituted off 81'): 53/56 passing (95%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 11/11 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 3 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Antonio Valencia (right-winger): 46/51 passing (90%), 3 chances created, 2/14 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 1 successful dribble, 1 foul won, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 1 shot (0 on target)

* Ashley Young (left-winger | substituted off 68'): 47/49 passing (96%), 1 chance created, 1/6 crosses, 3/3 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 4 shots (1 on target), 1 assist

* Shinji Kagawa (central-attacking-midfielder | substituted off 68'): 42/47 passing (89%), 1 chance created, 0/1 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 1 successful dribble, 0 fouls won, 4 shots (2 on target), 1 goal

* Robin van Persie (striker): 30/33 passing, 3 chances created, 1/5 crosses, 0/1 long balls, 1/1 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 1 shot (1 on target), 1 goal

* Wayne Rooney (striker | substituted on 68'): 5/6 passing, 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 3 shots (0 on target)

* Danny Welbeck (left-winger | substituted on 68'): 5/6 passing, 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Ryan Giggs (central-midfield | substituted on 81'): 9/10 passing (90%), 0 chances created, 0/2 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 1 shot (0 on target)

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of MUTV)

(Overall thoughts on the match...) "I think we saw the two sides of Manchester United. After cruise control, we made a terrible mistake for the second goal and it became a match. It should never have been a match, some of our football was fantastic. But we lost that second goal when we should have been in easy street."

(On Fulham...) "Fulham tried to slow the tempo of the match down. They do it very well because they've got several players over 30 years of age, they're a very experienced team. After their second goal, we struggled."

(On Kagawa and van Persie working together...) "I was pleased with both of them. It's early doors and they'll have a better understanding as time goes on. It's normal for us to play one up front with one in behind, whether it's Wayne who plays in that role or Danny Welbeck. Ashley Young can play there too, Ryan Giggs can -- we've got options that way.

(On the 1st half performance...) "The first-half performance was fantastic. The intensity of our game was terrific. It was a fantastic goal by Robin van Persie and by half-time we were leading 3-1, it could have been four or five."

(On Rooney being stretchered off...) "It's a very bad one. He's gone to hospital. Obviously it looks as he'll be out for maybe four weeks. I don't know what happened. I think the player must have followed through after he shot. He's got a bad one."

Robin van Persie | MUFC striker (courtesy of MUTV)

(On the experience of his Old Trafford debut as a United player...) "I think I’ll always look back on this game; that we won on my home debut and that I scored a good goal. It was different, of course. I came here a couple of times before but I always liked this stadium, the size of it. The pitch is big, the pitch is always nice. Now I’m a United player, everyone knows that and I’m looking forward to this challenge. The fans have been brilliant today, supporting us and they gave me a very warm welcome, so I’m very pleased."

(Overall thoughts on the match...) "It was a bit nervy, but we held on and the main thing was that we got the points today, so that’s out of the way and it was a good day in the end, a good three points."

(On his half-volley goal...) "I think I could only do one thing there because it came with a little bit of a bounce and so I had to time it well. Sometimes you’re lucky and I was today, luckily enough."

(On adapting to being a United player...) "Training sessions have been very good and with all the guys it’s a process. I have to get used to them, they have to get used to me, because I’ve still only been here a week. We have all the time in the world. I don’t want to rush into things."

(On his fitness...) "I’m not one hundred percent match fit, it’s my first game of the whole pre-season in over a month so I have to get fitter and fitter. I’ll get fitter by playing games, basically, so I still need a couple of weeks before I’m fully match fit."

Martin Jol | Fulham FC manager (courtesy of FulhamFC.com)

(Overall thoughts on the match...) "We said before the game that we had to play our own game, and that’s what we did in the second-half. We switched things slightly at half-time, moving Bryan Ruiz from a high number 10 to a lower number 10 and that worked better. We didn’t pick their midfielders up as well as we should in the first-half, and it was more about us than them. In the second-half they didn’t really create many chances, and at times we were the better team. On two occasions we should have scored an equaliser, so that’s how close this game was. The chance Bryan had in the last minute, from Mousa Dembélé’s cross was a good one and there were a few like that."

(On the result...) "Okay, you are never happy after losing a game, but I was pleased by our reaction after the break. We made life difficult for them - it’s just a shame we didn’t do that earlier in the game. When a team goes 3-1 down at Old Trafford, it’s almost an impossible task to come back – but we gave it a good go. David De Gea made three or four very good saves, and even at 3-2, I thought we had a chance. Everyone knows that this is a difficult ground to play at - I’ve brought teams here many times and it’s always been the way. Last season we were unlucky not to come away with a point, and if I’m honest, today, I go away thinking the same. People probably thought they would come out in the second-half and get a few more, but they didn’t because we didn’t let them play – and that should have been the way from the start. This is a game that we can learn from. I don’t think we should be too hard on ourselves because there were positives to take. We are building a good team here at Fulham and I remain very optimistic about the season ahead."