Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed the moaners complaining that the Premiership's foreign players are hurting England's national team.

He snapped: "I did not start the Champions League final with six Englishmen because I was making a political statement.

"I did it because they're good enough to win the European Cup.

"It is nonsense to say England do not have players capable of competing on the international stage.

"The hysteria surrounding England's non-qualification for Euro 2008 does not create the right atmosphere for good decision making.

"We have the strongest and most entertaining league in the world. We should celebrate that, not denigrate it."