Evra Still Targets Trophies

Patrice Evra insists the Reds cannot be too despondent after exiting the Champions League because there are still trophies to win this season.

The full-back was clearly upset at failing to reach the knockout stagse for the first time in his United career but stresses the Barclays Premier League remains the chief target for the players. The onus is now on the champions to produce the right response, starting in Saturday's home fixture with Wolves.

"It's a big disappointment," he told reporters. "Since I played with Monaco, I've never been out in the first round. It's catastrophic and we feel very sad but we deserved to go out. It's not about tonight but throughout the competition - we threw away qualification.

"We created a lot of chances tonight and they get only two chances but they win - and deserved to win. From the beginning, we never played well in the Champions League."

Although going out of the competition before Christmas is a new experience for the Frenchman, he is backing the Reds to rally on the back of such a disappointing defeat.

"If you play for Manchester United, you have to be strong," he added. "I think the gaffer knows the players will get back because they've got a strong mentality. For six years, as I said, I've never been out in the first round so it's a new experience for us. We have got to get back and get focused on the Premier League as that's the target - to win the Premier League.

"It will be more difficult for us [with the Europa League commitments] but we deserved it with the way we played. We deserve to play on Thursday and Sunday.

"But we are Manchester United. Today is a really bad day for everyone - the fans, staff and players. We must make sure we don't throw the season away. We still have things to win and must make sure we play with heart. The fans deserve something better than us throwing away the Champions League."