MANCHESTER UNITED will still have the Champions League title in their sights despite last night's hiccup against Basel, club legend Roy Keane insists.
Keane is confident that the Red Devils are in good form and can still compete with the best teams in Europe.
The Irishman believes that the 1-0 defeat in Switzerland is unlikely to hinder United too much as they've given themselves breathing space. Speaking after the game, on ITV, he said: "The big plus for United is that their form has been that good in the Champions League that they gave themselves room to slip up tonight."
Despite being in control for the majority of the game, and hitting the woodwork twice, United conceded in the 89th minute and missed out on the chance to secure qualification to the knockout stage. Jose Mourinho's side currently sit at the top of the table and have to host CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford. They beat the Russian side 4-1 in Moscow, in September, so will be hoping for similar results at home when they meet again on December 5. The ex-Manchester United captain wasn't phased by the result and highlighted the fact that the team
had been rotated, saying: "Mourinho is looking at the bigger picture - forget about tonight and move on. "They'll be competing to win this title without a doubt.
"When United have their strongest team out, they will compete with a lot of the teams in Europe." The players arrived back bleary eyed in the early hours, so as not to waste time ahead of their Premier Legaue clash against Brighton at the weekend.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who made his first Champions League appearance in 18 months, looked especially glum as he walked through the airport. But Mourinho was unusually diplomatic and quick to dispel Daley Blind's claim that he was to blame for the late goal.
He said: "I don't think it's fair for [Blind] to blame himself because he had a very positive game." "We lost so many chances that we put ourselves in this situation. It's always a risky situation when you forgive so many chances. For many periods of the first half it seemed impossible not to win."
United sit comfortably at the top of the table, but will only fail to reach the next round if Russian side CSKA Moscow beat them by seven clear goals at Old Trafford.
It leaves United in danger of finishing second in Group A and landing one of the big boys in the knockout stages.
From The Sun
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