Ferguson’s Europa League comments rile Michel Platini

MANCHESTER United boss Alex Ferguson and David Cameron might appear to have little in common, but this week they both have a common enemy, the powers that be in France.
 
While Cameron ruffled feathers in Brussels to such an extent that French president Nicolas Sarkozy even refused to shake his hand, Ferguson was riling another Frenchman, Uefa president Michel Platini, thanks to his forthright views on the Europa League.
 
Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League this week, and now find themselves in Europe's second tier competition, much to their manager's chagrin. He described having to play in the Europa League as a "penalty" and "a disappointment".
 
Platini was unimpressed. According to The Daily Telegraph, he declared: "The world does not revolve around England.”

Then, turning on Ferguson, he said: "You shouldn't criticise the Europa League just because you've played in three Champions League finals. The Europa League is a brilliant competition, it's amazing. I know Mr Ferguson would have preferred to be in the Champions League but so would many clubs who don't have that possibility."
 
Unlike the prime minister, Ferguson showed a glimmer of remorse after being told he’d hurt Platini."When I say it's a punishment for us to be in the Europa League what I mean by that is for 20 years what this club has only thought about is the Champions League," he said today. "It's not a slight against the Europa League." ·