UEFA Champions League Final: Post Match Comment And Reaction

Ferguson's ascent to greatness

The first steps on the road to Moscow and Sir Alex Ferguson's ascent into managerial folklore came in the bowels of Benfica's famous Stadium of Light. It was December 2005 and Manchester United had been sent crashing out of the group stages of the Champions League for the first time in 10 years after defeat against Benfica - even the relative consolation of the Uefa Cup was denied as they were left rooted to the bottom of their group.

Ferguson's critics sensed blood as he was peppered by questions about his future, an interrogation brushed aside with a defiance out of keeping with United's display that night. He said: "We have a job to do and the rebuilding will carry on. It's a blow and you have to regroup. This club has always risen from difficult situations. We will again." Only a month earlier, he had poured out doubts about his future to his great friend and fellow managerial survivor Sir Bobby Robson as the row over captain Roy Keane's public criticism of his team-mates and the fall-out from the Glazers' takeover threatened to engulf him.

As ever, the fightback was swift in coming and started on that evening in the Stadium of Light. He had taken a look at the other side when he planned to retire in 2002 - Ferguson reversed that decision, so walking away in failure was not an option. There was a Manchester United symbolism in the surroundings. The late, great George Best announced his arrival on the world stage at the landmark stadium and it was against Benfica that United lifted the famous old trophy for the first time in 1968.