Fergie in a muddle over Europe..

United are back in Champions League action this week when Celtic are the visitors to Old Trafford. Fergie will be hoping to improve on last seasons disappointment of finishing bottom of the group stage for the first time in over a decade.

Last season United only scored three goals in group D, and it was at home where the damage was really done. A victory at Old Trafford against either Villarreal or Lille would have seen United progress into the knockout stages, but the reds didn't even score in either game, ultimately, it was United's failure in front of goal that cost them a place in the knockout phase.

In the press conference that followed the away defeat to Benfica, the reds final group D game, Fergie was asked about his future. The United manager, didn't respond directly to those questions, but he vowed to rebuild for this season. He also suggested it was the teams lack of experience which had cost United.

"We probably lacked that experience and ability and when we needed top players they weren't there," Fergie.

In point of fact, United were without Heinze and Neville, Keane had left the club mid November 2005, and he'd only played for 68 minutes in the 3-0 home win against Debreceni in the qualifying round. For the rest of the European campaign United had all their attacking options, minus Wayne Rooney, who was sent off in the away game with Villarreal, so Rooney missed the home win against Benfica and the 0-0 draw with Lille at Old Trafford.

Today, Fergie had this to say ahead of the Celtic visit. “I want us to rely on our ability and the experience we have in European games, particularly at Old Trafford.”

So last season, it was our lack of experience that cost us, and having vowed to strengthen the squad this summer, but then only adding Carrick - who has no Champions League experience, the United manager is saying our experience is the key, yet last year he blamed our exit on a lack of experience.... many fans will be confused, to coin a Fergism...'there's no doubt about that'.