FANS CRITICISE SLEEPY DEFENCE

“It was not a good performance by us against Celtic and we made mistakes, especially at the back. It is fair to say they probably surprised us a little bit with their attacking play, but I think we contributed to their success with our defending.

“It wasn't up to standard and I don't think our concentration was as good as it should have been. Little mistakes crept in when they shouldn't have at the back. We are not happy about it but, luckily, we got away with it. But if we want to progress in the competition, we have to cut out those mistakes because other teams will punish us even more.”

James Lawton in the Independent:

Sir Alex Ferguson's bullish belief that more familiar days are beginning to roll again for Manchester United was only briefly disturbed by Rio Ferdinand's latest bout of sleep-walking against Celtic this week.

At the mention of Benfica, one of the teams who so unexpectedly barred United's passage to the knock-out phase of last season's Champions' League, Ferguson's jaw tightened on the prediction that being grouped again with the Lisbon club ensured that raw wounds would be spectacularly washed. "Watch out for that result," he said with a dramatic emphasis that might have brought a nod from Robert DeNiro.

But how realistic is the old general's belief that his team can finally break the hold of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea on domestic football - and at the same time strike out again for the peaks of the European game?

If the Celtic match reminded us of anything, it was that United still have a congenital dilettante at the heart of their defence. A harsh judgement? Only when you forget that this gifted footballer is now in his 11th year as a top-flight professional.

He will be 28 in a few months time. He is capable of charming the birds down from the eves of any stadium with his effortless control and silky distribution. But once again the old question is being asked of Rio Ferdinand. Does he really have the stone heart of a born defender? Is his most basic urge to deny or to create?

When was the last time that question was asked of John Terry or Ricardo Cavalho? It has never been voiced and until it is Jose Mourinho retains a vital advantage in a battle that never before has promised to be so close.

Kevin McCarra in the Guardian:

Manchester United's declaration of intent for this season turned into a mixed message as they beat Celtic 3-2. There was enough vigour for Sir Alex Ferguson to be lured into the hyperbolic claim that his side could have scored 10, but future rivals in the Champions League will have relished the television highlights more for the flaws in the United line-up.

Rio Ferdinand was bamboozled at the opening goal even though Celtic's build-up contained nothing more than a kick-out by the goalkeeper Artur Boruc. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored with a touch, a turn and a drive that made a bystander out of the England defender. The other United centre-back, Wes Brown, was not shamed so glaringly, but he was tricked into conceding the foul from which Shunsuke Nakamura made it 2-2.

Ferguson's next game in the tournament is at Estadio da Luz, where Benfica eliminated United 10 months ago. "It will be a different bloody result," he predicted. But his prophetic powers suffer from an intermittent fault. He was badly in error when he declared United would go through against Benfica last December.