Ferguson hits back at United critics

Alex Ferguson has responded to his critics after Manchester United failed to make the last 16 of the Champions League last week.

United's young players were criticised from some corners for not coping with the pressure of a big game.

"My immediate job is to sift through the disappointment and the criticism to get everything in perspective and I can tell you already that I still have faith in our players," Ferguson said in his programme match notes on Saturday.

"We will take a lot of stick from critics and even from people we thought were perhaps on our side but we mustn't dwell on that." After Saturday's 4-1 win over Wolves, Ferguson praised the Old Trafford crowd for getting behind the players.

"On Wednesday, we worked our socks off and didn't get a break. Today we worked our socks off and did. Some of the football was fantastic and the second goal relaxed us," he said. "The crowd got behind the players today, particularly the young ones and that was good."

United are currrently second in the Premier League, two points off league leaders Manchester City.