MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson yesterday declined to comment on the Old Trafford future of Eric Cantona - and saluted his former club Falkirk instead.

Ferguson learned of first division Falkirk's progress to the Tennents Scottish Cup final on May 24 shortly after United's European Cup dream ended against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night.

That defeat sparked speculation about the future of Frenchman Cantona, but the United manager yesterday refused to discuss the matter.

Instead, he hailed Falkirk's semi-final replay win over Celtic at Ibrox under the guidance of one of his former team-mates, Alex Totten.

''Alex was a team-mate of mine, both at Falkirk and Dunfermline,'' recalled Ferguson. ''It was an incredible result to beat Celtic, but that is football for you.'' The unexpected showpiece between Falkirk and premier division Kilmarnock has finally given the Scottish Cup the kind of shock appeal more often associated with its FA Cup equivalent down south.

But Ferguson insists Falkirk will thrive in their first appearance in the final for 40 years since beating Killie in 1957 after a replay to lift the trophy.

''Falkirk have had a great run in the tournament this year under Alex, and credit to them for that,'' said Ferguson.

''The final will be a great occasion for them and I think towns like Falkirk need the buzz something like that can give them once in a while.''

As ever, Ferguson was still bullish about United's own level of achievement, despite home and away defeats by the Germans at the European Cup semi-final hurdle.

He said: ''I think on sheer ability, we were the better side. They perhaps had more know-how than us, but that's all.''

And he is counting down

to yet another Premiership

triumph - the fourth in five years - despite huge demands on his players over the current campaign.

''I've not played the same line-up twice this season,'' he added. ''I've had to keep changing, yet we are in a good position now in the title race. We will just concentrate on the next game, and take it from there.''

Ferguson was at a Glasgow hotel yesterday to attend the West of Scotland Press Fund lunch.

q STIG Inge Bjornebye yesterday revealed the steely sense of Liverpool determination that almost realised a European Cup-winners' Cup miracle - and which he believes will bring the reward of a Champions' League place.

The Norwegian full-back admitted that the Reds were fired by a desire to prove the doubters wrong as they came within an ace of overturning a three-goal deficit for the first time since entering continental competition 32 years ago in Wednesday night's semi-final second leg against Paris St Germain at Anfield.

After goals from Robbie Fowler and Mark Wright had given the French aristocrats and Cup-winners' Cup holders the fright of their lives, Bjornebye dedicated Liverpool's show of defiance to those who have branded them a bunch of fancy dans lacking the heart to match the best whenever the going gets tough. ''Obviously, we are very disappointed to have gone out, because we feel that over the two games, we were good enough to go to Rotterdam to play Barcelona in the final,'' he said.

''But there's also a sense of relief as well, because we got some pride back after that performance.''

When Fowler hammered home his thirty-first goal of the campaign - and seventh in Europe - in what was his last club game of the season with an impending three- match ban looming, Liverpool were rampant and looking well capable of avenging their 3-0 surrender in the Parc des Princes two The Norwegian said: ''We needed an early goal and we got it. When we got the second one with 10 or so minutes left I thought we were going to do it, and if we had managed to take the game into extra-time then we would have been cruising.