Sir Alex Ferguson Reveals Regret Over 2011 Champions League Final: Should Have Man-Marked Messi

In a candid admission, Sir Alex Ferguson expresses regret over his tactical decision during the 2011 Champions League final against Barcelona. The former Manchester United manager believes that not assigning Ji-Sung Park to man-mark Lionel Messi was a critical mistake that could have altered the outcome of the match.

Ferguson reflects on the pivotal moment, stating, “That’s where I lost the final against Barca at Wembley. I should have made a change at halftime and put Ji-Sung Park on Messi. That was a mistake.”

Despite Messi’s brilliance in scoring a memorable goal, Ferguson acknowledges the collective strength of Barcelona, emphasizing, “It wasn’t just about Messi; players like Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Pedro, and David Villa were also running the show.”

The 2011 final ended with Barcelona securing a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley, marking their second Champions League triumph over the English side after the 2009 final.