Fantastic Fergie leads Utd to glory

Ferguson joy at dramatic win

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SILVER HAUL: Sir Alex Ferguson is all smiles after lifting the European Cup.

CHAMPIONS: Manchester United players celebrate with the European Cup after a dramatic night in Moscow.

HERO: Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar celebrates after saving Nicolas Anekla's penalty.

THE RACE TO GLORY: Manchester United players run to celebrate with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after he made the winning save from Nicolas Anelka.

VITAL SLIP: Chelsea captain John Terry slips as he puts his penalty kick wide of Edwin van der Sar’s left post in the shoot-out. The Blues would have won the cup had Terry scored.

THE OPENER: Cristiano Ronaldo soars above the Chelsea defence to score Manchester United’s goal.

SIR ALEX Ferguson revelled in the delight of winning the Champions League for the second time in dramatic fashion – and then looked forward to doing it all again next season.

Ferguson believes his Manchester United side will only get better after their penalty shootout victory against Chelsea, and reckons they can successfully defend the trophy which has become his driving force.

“Defending the European Cup is not an easy thing to do but I think the team is good enough. They will improve next year,” said Ferguson, who led Aberdeen to European Cup Winners’ Cup glory 25 years ago.

Edwin van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to hand United victory and sparked emotional scenes as Sir Bobby Charlton led the team to receive the European Cup.

That came after Chelsea captain John Terry had squandered the opportunity to win the trophy for the Londoners when he missed from the spot and dissolved into tears.

Ferguson said: “We’re delighted. It’s my first victory in a penalty shootout apart from the Charity Shield. I’ve lost three with Aberdeen and three with United, so this is seventh-time lucky.

“The slip by Terry gave us an opening and I thought we would win it then.

“We were fantastic in the first half, but the goal gave them an impetus and they were the better team in the second half. But in extra-time, I think we were the better team. It was tight and there were some fantastic moments.”

Ferguson singled out Van der Sar for special praise in filling the gloves of 1999 hero Peter Schmeichel and also paid tribute to Paul Scholes, who broke his nose in a clash with Claude Makelele but bravely continued.

He said: “His penalty save was not an accident. We knew where certain players would put their kicks, but the last penalty comes down to experience.”

Of Scholes, who missed the 1999 Champions League win through suspension, he said: “The disappointment of ‘99 has gone now for him. He was very groggy at half-time and we had to give him some tablets.

“I’m delighted for the boy. He is a fantastic person. People like Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville know what Manchester United means.”

Fate, however, was Ferguson’s main explanation for United’s latest triumph, decreeing that they honoured the Busby Babes, eight of whom died in the Munich air disaster 50 years ago.

Five of the survivors were in the Luzhniki stadium to witness last night’s victory.

Ferguson said: “We had a cause which was very important. People with causes are difficult to battle against and fate was playing its part. I feel very, very proud.”

Cristiano Ronaldo gave United the lead with a first-half header before Frank Lampard equalised just before half-time.

Didier Drogba was sent off in the second period of extra-time for slapping Nemanja Vidic. The drama continued as Ronaldo missed a penalty, but that proved immaterial.