Manchester United 2-1 Southampton: Statistics & Post-Match Quotes

The Busby Babe	United	Southampton
Shots (on target)	11 (5)	20 (4)
Total Passes Completed	294	421
Passing Accuracy	74%	79%
Ball Possession	43%	57%
Tackles won	17	21
Interceptions	19	14
Fouls	10	11
Corners	4	8
Offsides	3	1

MUFC PLAYER STATISTICS

* David de Gea (goalkeeper): 9/15 passing (60%), 1 goal conceded, 3 saves

* Chris Smalling (right-center-back | substituted off 63'): 24/28 passing (86%), 0/2 long balls, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 5 clearances (1 effective), 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls

* Nemanja Vidic (left-center-back): 44/51 passing (86%), 7/10 long balls, 2 tackles, 2 interceptions, 19 clearances (8 effective), 2 shots blocked, 3 fouls

* Phil Jones (right-back): 22/36 passing (61%), 0 chance created, 1/2 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 1 successful dribble, 2 tackles, 3 interceptions, 7 clearances (3 effective), 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 27/32 passing (84%), 1 chance created, 1/2 crosses, 1/3 long balls, 2 successful dribbles, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 7 clearances (3 effective), 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls, 1 assist

* Michael Carrick (central-midfielder): 44/56 passing (79%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 3/5 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 5 tackles, 5 interceptions, 0 shots

* Anderson (central-midfielder | substituted off 68'): 29/44 passing (66%), 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 4/6 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 1 successful dribble, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Danny Welbeck (right-winger): 15/22 passing (68%), 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 2 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 3 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 shot (1 on target)

* Shinji Kagawa (left-winger | substituted off 73'): 29/35 passing (83%), 2 chances created, 0/1 crosses, 4/4 long balls, 1/1 through ball, 1 successful dribble, 1 foul won, 1 tackle, 2 interceptions, 1 shot (0 on target), 1 assist

* Wayne Rooney (secondary-striker): 26/34 passing (76%), 1/4 crosses, 3/3 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 4 shots (3 on target), 2 goals

* Robin van Persie (striker): 16/22 passing (73%), 2 chances created, 2/7 crosses, 1/1 long ball, 1/1 through ball, 2 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 3 shots (1 on target)

* Rio Ferdinand (center-back | substituted on 63'): 10/12 passing (83%), 1/2 long balls, 0 tackles, 1 interception, 2 clearance (1 effective), 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls

* Rafael (right-back | substituted on 68'): 0/6 passing (0%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 3 clearances (2 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Nani (right-winger | substituted on 73'): 3/3 passing (100%), 1 chance created, 1/1 cross, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 0 shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of MUTV)

(Overall thoughts...) "In my experience at the club, when we're going for championships there's always a game where you say to yourself: 'we were a bit lucky,' and I think this was one of those nights. I thought Southampton, in the second half, gave the best performance anyone's given here this season. I think they pushed right on top of us and didn't give us time to settle."

(On the poor pitch conditions...) "In the second half, the players just found the pitch impossible. We tried to play the way we normally play and found it difficult because the pitch had dried out a lot. We lost an early goal in the first half but it didn't deter us from playing some fantastic football and we could have been four or five up at half time. We hit the post twice, Robin [van Persie]'s missed a chance, Danny Welbeck's missed a chance, we were really fabulous. But once the pitch started to dry out the players found it difficult to play a different way and it really required us to play the ball into the gaps, which we don't normally do. We can't use the pitch as an excuse, but it didn't help us. It's a worry. We've won the game and I think that's the one thing we can take out of it."

Nemanja Vidic | MUFC defender (courtesy of MUTV)

(Overall thoughts...) "We had to fight to win this game at the end. You see we couldn't have possession of the ball and they were attacking all the time. Sometimes it's important to win this type of game. Obviously, the performance in the second half, we're not really pleased with, but I think we played some good football in the first half and had some good chances. All in all, we have to be pleased with the result. If you look at the other teams, they all drew, so we're in a good position now."

(On moving on and on the title race...) "We have to now focus for the next game against Fulham. Away games are always hard so we need to think about that. It's a good position we're in. It's important to win games, especially at this stage of the season, and every game now is important. We know that we have to forget the games that come before and always focus on the next ones. Nothing is finished yet. There is a long way to go but we're in a good position."

(On grinding out the victory...) "Of course you have to show character. Sometimes even when it's not happening for you. You have to defend and I think the whole team was pushed to the limits physically. It was a hard game and the pitch did not help. Again, we went 1-0 down, and it was not a great start, but I think we had a spell of maybe 20-30 minutes of good football where we had a few chances and scored the two goals. We stopped after that. I don't know why. The last 10 minutes of the first half, we just stopped but sometimes you have these type of games and you still have to win."

(On Rooney...) "Wayne is important for the team. He is working hard. Obviously, he scored the goals and I think the more games he plays, the better he is. We need him, especially for the second half of the season, as we need all the players to be fit. We have a good squad now and it's going to be hard for the manager to choose the first XI."

(On de Gea...) "It was a great save from David [to keep out Rickie Lambert's free-kick]. Actually, I see the ball in the net but instead it was a magnificent save. He showed he has the talent. He is a good keeper and I think the more games he plays, the better he is going to be."

Mauricio Pochettino | Southampton manager (courtesy of SaintsFC.co.uk)

(Overall thoughts...) "I am very happy with the second half performance, which is how we want to play going forward. We have shown that we can play in a brave manner in a stadium such as Old Trafford, especially in the second half we played really well and I think that we deserved to take at least a point from the game. The changes had the impact that we were looking for, but the team seemed to let its hair down and push forward a lot more."

(More on his side's 2nd-half performance...) "Taking into account the second half we should have had at least a draw. And once we scored the goal we should have been able to control the game. We should have been a lot more aggressive and neutralised their attacking chances a lot In the second half we were dominating and we were taking the game to [United]. We were just a bit unlucky in front of goal. The way we went forward is the way we want to continue. [Pressing high] is the way we want to play, but in the first half perhaps we weren't able to do so. I'm proud of the way we played in the second half and that performance will give my players confidence to play on like that in the future."

(On captain Adam Lallana's return...) "We are very happy that he is back and has recovered well because he is very important for Southampton. Hopefully he can regain the rhythm to compete as best as he can. I think especially in the second half we played as we should have done for the 90 minutes, I think it is important for the team to know that we can play that well and that we did that at Old Trafford."

(On Sir Alex's praise for Southampton...) "I am very proud that he would say that about Southampton, that is very important for my players, but we still leave with nothing. We did play well, but I am upset at not drawing at least so those words don’t really console me very much!"

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