United lose Champions League final

May 27, 2009

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MANCHESTER United fans were left heartbroken in Rome as the Reds crashed to defeat in the Champions League final against Barcelona.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team failed to show the form which has seen them triumph in the Premier League and were outplayed by their Spanish rivals.

How the match was lost - our live text commentary

Two well taken goals in each half by Barcelona sunk United's dreams of clinching back-to-back Champions League titles in Rome's Olympic Stadium.

Ferguson said after the match: "We started brightly and got a bit nervous after that. We had time to recover from the goal. We had some half-chances... but in fairness we were beaten by a better team. We weren't at our best after the first goal."

The veteran manager predicted his players would bounce back from the disappointment. He added: "In adversity, you always move forward quicker. We can learn from this. We're still a young team and we can improve from that."

The Reds - who beat Chelsea last season to become Champions of Europe - were hoping to become the first team to defend their Champions League title since the tournament was rebranded from the European Cup.

Signs looked good early on as they made a number of goal-scoring chances but their bright start was deflated by a goal in the ninth minute by Cameroon hitman Samuel Eto'o.

Barcelona controlled much of the second half and their pressure finally told with a 70th minute header from Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi.

Thousands of United fans now face a dispiriting journey back to the UK as they take in the defeat.

An estimated 30,000 fans had travelled to Italy to see the showpiece match with millions more watching on television back home.

The United faithful who gathered to watch the match in pubs around Old Trafford put a brave face on the defeat, with many singing "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" as they walked home in the rain.

Chantelle Finnegan, 10, from Gorton, who went to Old Trafford with her mum, said: “I am devastated but we will be back next year.”

Chris Horrocks, 20, a plasterer from Blackpool, said: "I am gutted. We missed Fletcher in the middle and there was no determination. Puyol was diving every chance he got."

Some supporters had travelled across the globe to soak up the atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams rather than travel to Rome.

Han Tan, 25, a media worker from North Carolina, USA, who was on his first visit to Old Trafford, said: "I travelled 6,000 miles for the game. I drove six hours to Washington DC, flew to Dublin and got here this evening.

"I was hoping for a parade tomorrow but I wouldn't give up this experience for the world. This is what United is about. It is about the passion for the game."

How the match was lost - our live text commentary

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blue greyhound, manchester (27/05/2009 at 21:42)

happy days and theyre skint. end of an era!!!

kevodevo (27/05/2009 at 21:48)

that's that. best team won just not good enough and shown up fully tonight . Barca were superb in all departments the reds just bad bad bad

Wayne Newell, Kilkeel (27/05/2009 at 21:50)

Cant argue with the result, Barcelona were the only team that played well in the entire game & United have only themselves to blame with a host of unforced errors throughout, constantly giving the ball away needlessly, awful at finding the final pass when a simple pass looked open, they really got what they deserved from the game & that was nothing!!

sigmund fraud., strangeways. (27/05/2009 at 21:55)

Quel dommage. The phantom of the opera.

Tim1980 (27/05/2009 at 21:56)

Agree with others - Barca were simply the better team tonight - United didn't turn up - some of our players barely had a kick of the ball all night.

We should be thankful that VDS kept the score respectible...

..oh and that we still won more pots this season than City have in the last 40 years (maybe they should remember that before posting daft comments).

Champions of England.

ergo (27/05/2009 at 22:03)

Lack of penetration,bad finishing.the story of the season finally caught them out.the rest is detail. Should have had 2 before they scored that was obviously the idea.blame the heat, and Barcelona's skill for the rest, but that was expected. Changes for next year? Giggs,Scholes,Neville obviously finished.Question marks over Berbatov,Tevez,Parkes, they are good at what they do, but it is not what is needed.What is needed is a dominating midfielder a la Essien, and goal scoring strikers and midfielders. If Ronaldo did not score in that opening spell who was going to score. Well you got your answer. No one.

Ms B, Manchester (27/05/2009 at 22:18)

I am a United supporter, but have to say congratulations to Barcelona, the victory was well deserved, my team were poor tonight. And please, City supporters, you don't need to come on here spouting your venom, at least we got to the final as reigning european champions, something that City will never achieve.

jon simmons (27/05/2009 at 22:19)

United what a waste of space all that they are a disgrace

Bucko (27/05/2009 at 22:41)

In the 1999 final, Bayern Munich dominated most of the game and were possibly technically better, but United's perseverance and sheer determination won the cup. Where was that kind of spirit tonight? The players just don't seem to care anymore.

alan matthews (27/05/2009 at 23:42)

First of all I have to say how dissapointed I am with the result as are all Utd sopporters.The rest of this letter is for T&C on the 23rd March I said on one of these sites I did'nt think Utd would win the EPL,CL.and the FA Cup.T&C you said and I QUOTE that was "silly and that I was silly for saying it" well two out of three proves to me that,that statement was'nt so silly after all.An apology would be accepted if offerd.Bye the way do still think our mid-field is World class after that dysmal performance?Giggs,Anderson,Park and Carrick were terrible tonight.That was what I based my above statement on a lousy overall mid-field.

AI73, Rochdale (27/05/2009 at 23:54)

shame they lost now i have to go into work tomorrow as the parade wont be happening.

steve chew, usa (28/05/2009 at 00:09)

It was always gong to be an uphill climb for any club who is 1 goal down. But as SAF said, we did have enough time, nearly 80 minutes, to mount a comeback but sad to say there was none. The team seemed to have lost their way once they were down by a goal. We know how to retain possession and keep a lead, we know how to mount a comeback when a team packs the defense and cedes possession to us, but we seem to have no answers to a team who is will not cede possession and is also ahead. You could see the frustration on the players as the game wore on having to chase their butts off to try to regain possession. SAF was right, tonight a better team won. Although we won 3 trophies, it was still a let down tonight because we had no answers to all the Barca questions. Congratulations to Barca!

Eastie (28/05/2009 at 00:11)

United never tried-Fergies nose never went past the colour amber..... As The surprisingly successful ancient Old War leader Fergius McCaesar said as his dollared era ended-'Et'oo Messi'....

Acid, Chadderton (28/05/2009 at 00:28)

I'm really depressed. It's nearly a week since we won a trophy. God knows what it'd be like after 33 years.

JoeStalin,Gorton (28/05/2009 at 00:28)

I can't wait to hear the official "reason" or "reasons" why United lost from the horses mouth tomorrow. There's always a reason why they lose yet interestingly never a similar explanation to go with a victory. Was it the pitch again Sir Alex, was it too hot, too cold perhaps or just a little too breezy. I'm sure he'll be able to think of something!

D Vader (28/05/2009 at 00:29)

Ah, do you smell that? Fresh air, suddenly the aroma of arrogance and smugness has disappeared.

jdgreenbean, Levenshulme Boy Living in North Wales (28/05/2009 at 00:52)

Latest job vacancy!
Coach builder required to re-fit roof to open top bus, all applications to Trafford Council.

jdgreenbean, Levenshulme Boy Living in North Wales (28/05/2009 at 00:54)

Michael Carrick missed the plane home to Manchester apparently he's stuck in Iniesta's back pocket!

BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (28/05/2009 at 01:10)

fro the hilton is rome totally guttted poor effort on all departments barca wasnt good either it was a poor utd team who i thought the team that beat hull would have won,seriously.
Ronaldo,berb when he came on rooney others all let this fantastic club down,im so embarrased to be a red...
Id not pay them in buttons.
The only players to earn his money was edwin v der sar.... what does that say about the team.
Gutted and i think alot of players will be heading to the door and fergies team was awfull we played all them games to show up toothless......shame on utd tonight.....

Maynard Kitchener Lampwick Manchester , (28/05/2009 at 01:18)

Fergie Might as well put out the team he played against HULL las week, they would have played better, he rested his first team for 11 days was it, they looked so tired, they are a disgrace the money they are on, you have to feel sorry for the supporters that spent big money to go to the final and lost a few days work as well, but the fergie 11 Tonight will be still earning magabucks next week..

easylad (28/05/2009 at 03:09)

What time is the parade? I'm in a tent on Deansgate. Can't wait for tomorrow.

david bakey (28/05/2009 at 04:02)

united was boring,thought the game was rubbish,,,,,,,,,,,

easylad (28/05/2009 at 04:30)

no point commenting here

scouse mouse (28/05/2009 at 07:05)

job vacancy.
short term welder wanted to put roof back on bus.
contact sir alex ferguson

Steve Piggin (28/05/2009 at 07:38)

Outclassed in Rome and thats a FACT.

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