Alex Ferguson savoured the moment after Manchester United had opened their European Champions League campaign with a 3-0 victory in Kosice last night. Goals by Denis Irwin, Henning Berg and Andy Cole ensured United travelled home from Slovakia with full points, although Juventus top the group B standings after thrashing Feyenoord 5-1 in Turin.
But Old Trafford boss Ferguson refused to worry about the ominous warning sent out by the Italians. "We're not interested in what happened in Turin," he said. "It was important to do our own job tonight and we have. The time will eventually come to think about Juventus, but it's not tonight."
Irwin, whose last goal came at Wimbledon on the opening day of last season, fired the Premiership champions ahead on the halfhour as United weathered some sustained Kosice pressure.
The visitors were also forced to survive an early second-half battering by the determined Slovakians, who should have had a penalty just after the break when Gary Pallister pushed substitute Albert Rusnak in the back as the striker broke clear on goal.
But Berg settled their nerves with the second goal on the hour - his first since his £5 million switch from Blackburn last month. Cole wrapped up the win two minutes from time with an emphatic volley that made up for two earlier glaring misses.
Ferguson said: "It was a very good result for us, a great start. We played very well in the first half and deserved to be in front, but Kosice were the better team after half-time.
"For the first 15 minutes of the second half, we came under the cosh, but the second goal killed them."
He added: "The first two goals came from defenders, but it was nice for Andy to also get one. Strikers need to score goals to lift their confidence, and after missing two chances, I think the goal was important for him."
Kosice coach Jan Bodnar, who only took the reins two days ago after Jan Kozak had resigned on health grounds, said: "Our players showed too much respect at the start of the match and made mistakes which were unbelievable.
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