Van der Sar calls for defensive focus

Edwin van der Sar says it is time for Manchester United FC to sort out their defensive failings after the titleholders' 2-2 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final with FC Porto at Old Trafford.

'Start focusing'
United's woes at the back continued as they conceded an early goal to Cristián Rodríguez – after Jonny Evans had played the ball straight to the Porto forward – and then, defending a 2-1 lead with a minute remaining, left substitute Mariano unmarked at the far post to score an equaliser. Van der Sar said: "It is not that they are great goals from the opposition. We have to sort it out and start focusing. We have been successful for a long time this season and we have to make sure we get back to that."

Self-doubt
It was only last month that Van der Sar completed a record run of 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League but since losing 4-1 to Liverpool FC, United's defence has become stricken by self-doubt. Rio Ferdinand's absence with injury did not help against Porto, nor Evans' departure with a groin problem in the second period, but the statistics show that the European champions have now leaked ten goals in their last four fixtures. Central defender Nemanja Vidić said: "If you look at the last four games obviously we haven't played as we were doing in the games before that. We need to recover that mentality. I don't think it is a lack of confidence. We've played a lot of games and have a few players injured and when you come to this stage you need to have all your best players ready."

'Difficult job'
United must now either become the first Premier League club to win in Porto – where the home side have not lost in eleven previous visits from English opposition – or record a high-scoring draw if they are to progress to the last four. Vidić, who noted the speed with which Porto broke forward, added: "They have some quality – you have to expect this when you get to the quarter-final – and they had some chances. We need to do better and we've spoken a lot about it. We have a difficult job to do now; no English team has ever won there which is a big challenge. We have to prepare the best we can, hopefully we'll get some players back from injuries and make it to the semi-final."

Carrick optimism
Yet despite their defensive frailties, United midfielder Michael Carrick insisted they had the quality to come good as he looked ahead to the second leg at the Estádio do Dragão next Wednesday. "Things haven't been going right for us at the back and when defending as a team. We have to put it right and I am sure that we will. We know what we have to do, it will be a tough game because they are a good side but we are a team that can beat anyone on our day."