Fergie curses luck despite latest win

12 April 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated a fifth successive Manchester United win and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals - and claimed it had been a "bad week" for the Red Devils.

After losing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Darren Fletcher in the past week already, Ferguson confirmed Louis Saha would miss up to a month with a hamstring injury suffered in training on Tuesday. And defender Mikael Silvestre now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder late in Wednesday night's game.

"Apart from the results, it has been a bad week," said Ferguson. "It is not looking good for Mikael at all."

While Ferguson is not complaining at a 1-0 win over Lille which confirmed United's place in the last eight for the first time in four years, the Scot is getting concerned about a mounting injury list.

He added: "At first, we thought he (Silvestre) had broken his arm but now it seems it is a dislocation.

"It is another big blow for us because, in the space of a week, we have lost five players.

"Louis will be missing for four weeks although, with hamstrings, you can never be sure exactly how long they will be out. Ole will not be available until March 31, Darren Fletcher is out for two months and now Henrik Larsson is leaving us."

Larsson provided United with the perfect farewell gift on Wednesday night by nodding home Cristiano Ronaldo's superb cross 19 minutes from time.

Given the developing problems on the striker front, Ferguson might have been tempted to ask Larsson to extend a 10-week stay which is due to end next Tuesday after the UEFA celebration game.

Instead, the 35-year-old Swede has confirmed his intention to head home, despite Ferguson's reluctance to lose his services. Ferguson said: "I have spoken to the lad and he is going back. That, unfortunately, is that."

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