Manchester: Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has lamented the "cruel" nature of his side's failure to lift the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City on Sunday.
City needed to equal their rivals' result in order to seal the title on goal difference but with 90 minutes on the clock they trailed 2-1 to QPR at home. However, late goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero turned the result - and the title race - on its head, making the Red Devils' 1-0 win at Sunderland irrelevant.
“It’s a cruel way to have lost the league,” he told Sky Sports. “But you have to congratulate the other team. Any team that wins the league deserves it, and they’ve played well during the season. It’s about dusting ourselves down and making sure that we win the title back next season.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had taken an eight point lead in the title race in April following a 2-0 win at Blackburn, after overhauling City at the summit. However, defeat at Wigan and a home draw against Everton preceded a 1-0 defeat to their Manchester rivals and ensured they finished second following City's win on the final day.
“I got the word in the game that City had scored and made it two each. Then our game finished and it went flat into silence, with everyone just waiting,” he continued “Then the cheers from the home supporters let us know that City had scored and the title had gone to them. It’s disappointing.”
The former England captain took heart however at how United have overcome the long-term absence of centre back Nemanja Vidic and midfielder Darren Fletcher.
He added: “This year we’ve had to use our squad to the maximum, and that bodes well for the future. That’s one positive we can take from this. I don’t think any other team could have coped the way we have. But that’s no excuse. Congratulations to the other team. When you win the league you deserve it.”
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