Keane: Basel loss a reality check

Keane: Basel loss a reality check

Published Dec. 8, 2011 12:15 p.m. ET

Sir Alex Ferguson's men suffered a 2-1 defeat to Basel in Switzerland, Phil Jones' late headed goal not enough after Marco Streller and Alexander Frei had put the hosts in control. The result left United winless in four meetings with Wednesday night's opponents and their fellow qualifiers Benfica, their only victories coming against Romanian minnows Otelul Galati. "I think (going out) reflects what United have done in truth, they haven't scored enough goals and they haven't beaten Basel or Benfica," said Keane, part of ITV1's summarising team for the match. "It's all about scoring goals." The last time United failed to qualify from a Champions League group was in 2005, shortly after Keane's acrimonious departure from the club. And the former Republic of Ireland captain feels United's much-vaunted class of 2011 have much still to prove. "People have talked about the young players - you've had Jones, (Chris) Smalling, (Ashley) Young coming in, everybody building them up but they've got a lot to do, it's a reality check for some," Keane said. "I'd be getting hold of some of those lads, saying 'you'd better buck up your ideas'. "I think their best player tonight was Ryan Giggs, that sums it up - he 37 or 38, you can't be depending on him. "United got what they deserved tonight." It was an assessment Ferguson evidently found unhelpful. "He had an opportunity to prove himself as a manager too. It is a difficult job," said the Scot. Basel's Yann Sommer told Sky Sports after the match: "It's incredible. A Swiss team, a little country, against Manchester United, one of biggest teams in the world - it's crazy. "But we believed in our strength and we fought until the end, this was the key. "Manchester are a good team, they had a lot of pressure and sometimes we were a bit lucky not to concede, and this is a crazy night. "We are through and Manchester are out - it's super."

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