That sparked a reaction from Ferguson’s former player.

The pair have not always seen eye to eye and Strachan, who was far from happy that Ryan Giggs won a contentious penalty, believes his former United and Aberdeen boss was not doing the Scottish side justice with his comments.

The Hoops chief said: “We could have had six or seven as well so that would have been a heck of a game.

“Jan (Vennegoor of Hesselink) had the best chance of anybody in the game from the header so that would have been different. I don’t know if he is counting the penalty as one of those chances. I’m not having that as a chance.”

Strachan claims his side could have earned the club one of their greatest results with better concentration.

“I’m fine with it,” he insisted. “It was memorable and exciting game for everybody. I am right disappointed at the end of the day because I believe with a bit more concentration we could have got one of the great results in the history of the club.

“Had we stuck three passes together we could have caused them problems and we had the right weapons on the park.”

Strachan praised the commitment of his injured back four and especially Mark Wilson who played for 20 minutes with a broken foot which will keep him out for six weeks.

Stephen McManus, Gary Caldwell and Lee Naylor all played in pain.

Strachan added: “It’s a real blow for Mark because he is the best defender in the country. In terms of camaraderie and team spirit he epitomises that having played 20 minutes with a broken foot.

“The back four all had bad injuries but you couldn’t drag them off – you can’t get better than that.”

Vennegoor of Hesselink has made a big impact since signing from PSV Eindhoven with three goals in three games.

Strachan enthused: “I thought he was immense and actually unplayable at Old Trafford for an hour before he tired.

“Gary McSheffrey went to Birmingham from Coventry for £4m (€5.9m) and Dean Ashton went to West Ham for £7m (€10.4m) so make your own mind up about how much he is worth.”

The Scot, whose top-of-the-table side face second-bottom Dunfermline at Parkhead tomorrow, was critical of his “flair” men not rising to the occasion at Old Trafford.

Winger Aiden McGeady seemed to freeze on the big stage and Strachan has warned he will only be remembered as a great for his displays against the greats.

“We were all urging him on,” he said. “We know he has the ability and the talent but he will be judged at the end of his career on how he plays in the big games.

“People remember the big names and the big players and not the games against the non-league sides but hopefully he will get more big games and that is going to improve him.

“I don’t want to speak about individuals but one or two who are normally good at passing never got that going.”