ALEX FERGUSON hailed a "fantastic performance" by his side last night as the English champions put one foot in the semi-finals with a resounding victory.

United gave themselves a healthy cushion for the quarter-final second leg in Portugal in a fortnight's time with goals from David May, Eric Cantona, the inspirational Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole.

"I'd have settled for 1-0," admitted Ferguson. "But what a "fantastic performance. Every one of them worked so hard. It, was a great game.

"Ryan Giggs was unbelievable. The boy's maturer now and tonight you saw that he was marvellous, a wonderful performance.

"We've just got to be careful concentrate and not be silly over there. I think we've a wonderful chance now and I would like to think we'll take it."

Ferguson feels the experience his players picked up during the Champions' League phase of the competition has stood them in good stead for the knockout stages.

"The players are learning and listening well, and I feel the mistakes they made against, Juventus, for instance, were a good lesson for them, and since then they've really done well," the manager added.

"When we get the proper preparation and we're all fit, we have a good chance. I was sure we'd do well tonight."

Ferguson added: "We've had a lot of good performances since I've been here, but there has never been a European result like this one.

"To win 4-0 in such an important game against a team with a great record means it has, to go down as one of the best performances since I came here. I would have been happy, to win 1-0 so to win 4-0 is just fantastic.

Porto manager Oliveira refused to answer questions and walked out of the post-match press briefing after issuing a brief statement following his side's first defeat in an away-European tie in two and a half years.

He said: "I'd like to congratulate Manchester United for this result, but I must admit it wasn't one that I expected.

"There is one reason to explain the result and that is because the players of Porto just didn't perform. After this result the next stage of the Champions League.

"But we'll to do our best, to give Manchester United a proper game and proper test in the second leg."

The Portuguese arrived at Old Trafford with three away-wins under their belt.