PARIS Fabien Barthez tried to bluff West Ham striker Paolo di Canio out of scoring the goal that sent Manchester United tumbling to a 1-0 home defeat in the English cup fourth round, the goalkeeper said on Wednesday.

"We were in the last minutes of the match at Old Trafford when Di Canio cut through into the box", Barthez said on his official Website. "Everybody including myself believed he was offside. So I raised my hand."

"To be honest, I tried to bluff him but he slotted the ball into the net and it was all over."

Barthez said he was disappointed by the defeat but United are 15 points clear in the league and he is keen for the Champions League to start up again.

(Reuter)