Football
Arindam Rej, Man United Correspondent 7y

Alex Ferguson regrets not guiding Man Utd to 2002 Champions League final

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken about his regret at missing out on taking Manchester United to the 2002 Champions League final in Glasgow.

The former United manager -- who was born in Govan, Glasgow -- admitted that the club should not have tempted fate by checking out hotels for the final beforehand.

Ferguson, who was speaking as Glasgow launched preparations for being a Euro 2020 host city, said: "The whole build-up [in 2002] was about taking Manchester United back to the final [at Hampden Park] in Glasgow, but we lost to Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinal.

"We were a wee bit unlucky -- we ran out of time. The referee couldn't understand my time and his time!

"I always guard against complacency. It's a disease. But, in the build-up to Hampden that season, David Gill said, 'I think you should go up to Glasgow and check out hotels because you know better than any of us.'

"On the drive back down, I said, 'I don't like it. I should never have done this.' We lost the semifinal. But that's life."

United drew the first leg against Leverkusen 2-2 at Old Trafford then went out on away goals after a 1-1 draw in Germany. In the other semifinal, Real Madrid overcame Barcelona with a 3-1 aggregate win then beat Leverkusen 2-1 in the final.

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