Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson blamed the team's defense for the 3-2 home defeat against Serie A champions Inter Milan in the Pirelli Cup on Wednesday. "We were all over the place when we lost the ball. If you defend like that you're going to lose but, in fairness to them, they stepped up and did much better in the second half," Ferguson told the club's official website. Wayne Rooney put United in front but a brace from Inter's new Honduran striker David Suazo and a spectacular strike by Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned the Nerazzurri the win. Despite being unhappy with United's defense, Ferguson was content after the Red Devils endured their first real test in the pre-season preparations. "It was a meaningful game tonight. We understand that when we go to the Far East the quality isn't going to be as high as it was tonight, that's obvious. So tonight's game was needed, we needed that tempo to the match." "The sharpness and the professionalism of the Inter Milan team was very good, their tackling and defending was aggressive. We needed that type of game too. On the other hand, Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini said he was happy with the morale-boosting win while hailing the striking partnership of Ibrahimovic and Suazo. "It was an extraordinary friendly. We can only hope that we are back here in the Champions League," he was quoted as saying by Calcio Italia magazine. "Today, Suazo and Ibrahimovic linked up well together and it was only the second time that they had ever played together."
