Sir Alex Ferguson won it all during an illustrious 27-year career as Manchester United manager but to this day the legendary boss admits he still harbours some regrets.
During a Q&A with his former United right back Gary Neville, Ferguson admitted he still has bad feelings about the 2011 Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley - in which his side were defeated 3-1.
Ferguson admitted he still regrets not specifically using Park-Ji Sung, who he named as one of the most underrated players he has worked with, to mark Lionel Messi from half-time at Wembley.
'That's where I lost the final against Barcelona at Wembley,' said Sir Alex during a video Q&A for SPORTbible.
'I should have changed at half-time and put Park Ji-Sung on Messi. That was a mistake... I was going to do it at half-time, then I said, "Well, we just equalised before half-time, they may see the game differently, we may grow into the game better."
'We were actually quite good in the last 10 minutes of that half. We came into it and we could have been in front.
'But if I'd played Park against Messi, I think we'd have beat them. I really do.'
The Spanish giants took the lead in the European showdown in London through Pedro in the 27th minute.
But United muscled their way back into the match, equalising through Wayne Rooney just 10 minutes before the half-time whistle blew.
However, six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi quickly came to the fore in the second half and took the final away from the Red Devils.
The Argentine scored a brilliant long-range strike to restore Barcelona's lead in the second half before putting United on the back foot with a dazzling run prior to David Villa's screamer that sealed the Champions League for the Spaniards.
Park became a fan favourite during his seven-year stay at Old Trafford, and consistently delivered in high pressure situations.
The South Korean went onto win four Premier Leagues, one Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup and four League Cups during his time with United.
AzuhDante
813
Sorry Sir Messi was just Unstoppable, and at that time there was no formula to stop him
GJGREGJO
683
When a bunch of La Masia talents mocked the then greatest so called team!
Brightberry
578
What is the Article saying? I can't hear it say it again
Bibdmoyz
526
no matter the player that he had put on the field the couldn't have stopped Messi the greatest ๐ ever to have lived
mbudzeni
502
I respect you Sir but even Park wouldn't have stopped messi that night. The genius was just at work that night and he humbled us
Hiobdksy
481
instead of you saying, if not for messi we would have win more trophies
emabkr42
475
Messi is just unstoppable player. Literally He can do everything than normal players did. A True GOAT ๐
Fauzisma
458
this the man ferguson wanted to stop
D10S_LM10
452
There was no stopping Messi at the that time. He was playing at different level..
psalmkid1111
451
instead of you saying if not for messi we would have win more trophies
10LACM17SGM
429
Nothing would have stopped a prime Messi and we all know it... Park would have been another player on the pitch and nothing would have changed... they had killers mentality and were up for just any team... That Messi toyed with everyone and left everyone in his wake
Mancitymydna
426
Pep Guardiola really disturbed sir Alex. He beat him twice in the uefa champions league finals. I think this has remain nightmare for sir Alex. Anytime he sees pep or hears pep name his heart beats.
-tanish-
409
no matter what United was a great team to be able to face that barรงa in a final of cl.Respect.
god_
340
Guess we know where Man United fansโ love for living in the past comes from.
LegolasManc
331
If VAR was present then, our equalizer would have been disallowed anyway. Thank you for everything Sir Alex. Legend.
sozcdilryz
296
Is the son of Park called Son?
garutal
277
Hmmm
docanprstz
246
I cried that very day when Sir Alex Ferguson hand was shaking while coaching the team. as a full Man U fan I cried because I saw the pain on the eyes of Sir Alex Ferguson ๐ข I hated Messi because of that match but I laterly realise that Messi were more than whatvwe thought he is a star like my beloved star CR7
sarzzymk
222
Man marking messi might even increase the scoreline
PrateekDalal
213
That 2011 Barcelona was the best team in the entire history and that Messi was the best player to ever touch the football. You couldn't have stopped them Alex. You're just telling yourself all these stories to make yourself sleep better at nights.
Tezelnty
201
Brain damage happens with old age..u couldn't mark 2011 messi
ToyarajKoirala
170
we all know that. who is he...! God off football๐๐๐ป
meubciklno
165
look at this bunch of 14 year olds disrespecting sir Alex
FaithEvans
154
Watch Messi's personal highlights from that game, the amount of times he ran rings around him and got fouled by United defenders and Valencia proves he would have ran him ragged. U can't give Messi one-v-one, he will frustrate your team and the player, you can only play him by creating a cage (as Jose Mourinho put it with his Inter Milan team in 2010)... or else u get situations like this
yuwdiko
28
What is the Article saying? I can't hear it say it again
[image]
This article is saying that Cheernaldo is a gร y
Jehblmnpuz
20
What is the Article saying? I can't hear it say it again
[image]
shivam1810
20
What is the Article saying? I can't hear it say it again
[image]
You don't have to shamelessly put ronaldo on every article. I get you are a desperate fanboy but use your brain for once.
yuwdiko
17
yet he lost to juve at ucl against ronaldo at 2020
What a nonsense reply! Ronaldo literally scored only on pรฉรฑalties. Even Mbappe is better than Ronaldo because he scored a hat-trick of open goals against the same Barcelona team
GJGREGJO
15
yet he lost to juve at ucl against ronaldo at 2020
UCL final> UCL group stage!
JimoUtd
11
What is the Article saying? I can't hear it say it again
[image]
The article is about a certain player who went to Juventus looking for "new challenge" and lost the Scudetto, which Juventus has been winning every year prior to his arrival.
wepilrsuz
10
not true man marking messi with the right player is great look at what casemiro does to messi
casemiro use to eat grasses too...๐๐๐๐๐
Ceoblsu
9
What is the Article saying? I can't hear it say it again
[image]
You are such a immature kid who post nonsense all over the place ๐ this article had nothing to do with Ronaldo but you came with s*##ing post ๐
TrinityLove
8
not true man marking messi with the right player is great look at what casemiro does to messi
it's because Barcelona attack is not deadly again remember what Messi did to Pepe and khedira in the days of mourinho and villa was just scoring freely. if you mark Messi you create more space for others to score cause he will dribble and provide the pass.