Red alert for more glory

Jun 1 2008

SIR ALEX FERGUSON gave Manchester United's Champions League-winning heroes five minutes to celebrate after the mayhem of Moscow - before telling them to get ready to do it again.

Scotland star Darren Fletcher admits he's still reeling from one of the most thrilling European Cup Finals of a generation.

And the standards are so high at Old Trafford that the players were talking about retaining the trophy before they were even in the showers.

Fletch said: "No one has ever defended the European Cup since it became the Champions League and we're looking to do that. The trophy was in the dressing-room after the game and it was a case of: 'Yeah, we've won it, enjoy it but...'

"It has to be like that. If you rest on your laurels at United you will stand still."

Fletcher suffered the heartbreak of being an unused sub in the clash with Chelsea. But after being crocked with Scotland in March the midfielder was just grateful to be one of the 18 stripped.

He said: "They said I had no chance of being back but I fought hard to get fit and was lucky enough to get a place on the bench. I thank God I was there."