The Premiership Champions have already qualified before the game and Ferguson opted to field some second-string players against the Turkish side.

And United paid the price with a 1-0 defeat after Rodrigo Tello's goal in the first-half.

"I'm disappointed, of course," Ferguson told MUTV.

"But it was an opportunity to play some younger players and I'm not disappointed in them.

"Gabriel Obertan is 20, Danny Welbeck is 19 tomorrow, and Federico Macheda is 18."

United haven't lost at The Old Trafford in Europe throughout 23 games with their last defeat registered in 2005.

Ferguson also said his young players showed that they deserve to be part of the club's future.

"They all showed potential and playing in these games gives them incentive to improve themselves," he said.

"They know they'll get that opportunity at this club. The club's history is based on producing young players who can excite and these players can all excite."