Ferguson blames Barthez for "absolute disaster"

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the "absolute disaster" at Arsenal last night was not "a collective thing" blaming goalkeeper Fabien Barthez for the late blunders which cost United a draw.

United manager Ferguson spoke to MUTV after the 3-1 defeat at Highbury as he remains in a prolonged feud with the media and refuses to give after-match press conferences anymore.

“It was an absolute disaster. We were well beaten, out-played."

"Arsenal played magnificently."

"That's the best Arsenal have ever played against us in my time at United. Give them full credit for that. That was an incredible performance by them. They were never off the bite all night and the football was terrific.”

“At half-time I was delighted with the scoreline to be honest with you. We maybe did not deserve it but we were 1-0 up and we really should have consolidated, but these terrible results have blighted us all season and I have no excuses for them."

"I think that first goal was a collective thing, but the second and third goals - I cannot say anything about them.”

Ferguson is to speak to Barthez this week and signed Ronnie Carroll from Wigan this summer as a possible replacement for the Frenchman who has been linked with a move back to France.

United face a goal-shy Chelsea at Old Trafford in their next game and have already lost four Premiership matches so far this season which they have not done since 1995.

Chelsea are dismal under coach Claudio Ranieri with former Inter coach Marco Tardelli already linked with the London club although George Graham remains an option for Chelsea if Glasgow Rangers do not press their interest in the former Arsenal boss.

The London club are not expected to expose Barthez again on Saturday but if Ferguson decides to drop the World Cup winner to play Chelsea then his Old Trafford career looks very bleak.

That is unlikely but Ferguson - operating in his last season as United manager without a coaching assistant - faces intense pressure to help out his defence with midfielder Juan Veron's continued presence in the side exposing the heart of a vulnerable back line.

United are interested in SS Lazio veteran Gianluca Marchegiani to replace Barthez if they decide to dump the Frenchman but no progress is expected on this radical option until the Champions League conludes for the year next week.