UNITED'S Champions League exit leaves the Reds with the prospect of ending the season empty-handed and '10 million poorer.
Sir Alex Ferguson's war chest, already empty after Wayne Rooney's purchase, won't now be replenished by Euro currency.
The Premiership title looks set to stay in London with Chelsea likely to succeed Arsenal.
And the Carling Cup already rests in the Stamford Bridge boardroom, leaving United with a tough FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton on Saturday to stay in the hunt for some silverware.
MEN Sport's TREVOR BAXTER asks some high profile Old Trafford fans where it all went wrong in Europe and if Fergie can motivate his shell-shocked squad.
Tommy Docherty
"I think United lost their chance at Old Trafford - that's where the outcome was decided. But they are still a young side and can come again. But Fergie has got to say `on your bike' to some of the players. He must sort out the goalkeeping situation - that's a big problem - and I think we've seen the best of Roy Keane.
"It seemed as though a few of the team, like Rooney and Ronaldo, were at loggerheads with each other. But I think Fergie is still the man to lead United. He's probably a better manager now than when United won the Treble because he's that much more experienced. So, as long as he's fit and healthy then there's no reason why he shouldn't carry on. But he won't have much money to spend on new players because he blew his budget on Rooney."
Paddy Crerand
"I just think United lost to the better side so there can be no arguments. Milan are so experienced, especially at the back, where Maldini and Cafu were outstanding. They will be hard to beat for the rest of the competition. But United don't need that many new players. They have got enough quality. I'm sure Rooney and Ronaldo will have benefited from the experience.
"Realistically though the FA Cup is the only trophy United can win this season. But the manager has got to make sure he can lift their heads because it will be a tough game."
David Sadler
It's possible we've been beaten by the best team in Europe. And if you accept there wasn't much between the sides over the two legs, then we are not too far away. Obviously Alex will want to strengthen his team but it depends on whether the type of player he needs is available and whether he can afford to pay what will be a lot of money.
"I thought we stood toe to toe with Milan in the first leg but we didn't quite get the same impetus up against them over there. Whether that was down to their good play or whether we weren't quite up to it on the night, I'm not sure. We probably had three or four good chances over the two games and in the end the fact we didn't take any of them cost us. It was ironic that Crespo, who didn't quite come off at Chelsea, got both of the goals.
"It's going to be a bit of a job to lift the lads for Saturday but that's what happens when you've lost a big game like this. But there's plenty to play for and while it's still mathematically possible to win the title we've got to keep going."
Oliver Houston (Shareholders United):
"As a group we don't comment on what happens on the pitch. But in terms of the Malcolm Glazer situation, David Gill has said that his profit projections are extremely aggressive. And if something happens like this then it can put a serious question mark on his overall business plan.
"I'm sure he hasn't considered the implications of what this defeat might do. But that's what can happen in 90 minutes of football. As far as a bid from Glazer we are expecting one to be tabled in the next couple of days."
Mark Chilton (Lancashire captain)
"Going into the FA Cup tie at Southampton on Saturday there will be a disappointment lingering from Tuesday night. But now that match is finished. There's nothing you can do to change the outcome. It's history and they have to try and put it behind them.
"The next game is crucial. If they can pick themselves up sufficiently to get through then they can move on. But I thought United were beaten by the better team. In both legs Milan controlled the game. United didn't play that badly but they can have no complaints."
John Virgo (Snooker star)
"I just wish Sir Alex had been a more attack minded in the first game. After the first 20 minutes at Old Trafford I was screaming for him to bring on Louis Saha because they were without Stam and with Maldini playing out of position. But over the two legs I think it proved what we all thought that we are a couple of players short.
"To play wide men like Giggs and Ronaldo with only Scholes and Keane in midfield was a bit risky. And like all good sides Milan showed that when they get the ball you don't get it back. So, I was pleased to get to half-time still at 0-0 and was then expecting a bit of magic in the second half. But it never came. Sir Alex has not let us down before so hopefully he can get the heads up for Saturday."
Graham Stringer (Blackley MP)
"I believe Sir Alex Ferguson needs to have one more go at Europe. But I think he needs one or two new players to help him, including a new Roy Keane who can play like he did at Juventus six years ago. There are two or three at the moment who don't look like they will make the grade so they must go. Djemba-Djemba has gone and probably Kleberson and Liam Miller should go the same way.
"Chelsea have really upped the stakes this season because if you look at the stats United have got more points now than at the equivalent time in six of their eight Championship winning seasons. But we have the nucleus of a good squad and if you look at the two games there wasn't much to choose between the teams."
Denis Betts (Wigan Warriors coach)
"I'm just massively disappointed. I just felt we under-performed because in the first game I thought we attacked really well. I just hoped this was going to be the competition we were going to win to attract some of the attention that Chelsea have been getting all season. We had closed the gap in the Premiership and things were beginning to look vey encouraging.
"But Chelsea have got over their blip now and are playing with so much confidence. As a coach I think that you've got to take your hat off to Jose Mourinho. I read somewhere that he's like Marmite - you either love him or hate him. But I've heard from certain people that he has the respect of all his staff and players at Stamford Bridge and that's all you need. As a United fan I just hope we finish the season with a trophy."
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Losing to a team of Milan,s quality is not a disgrace. Many a team went into San Siro's stadium and came out embarassed. The first lesson is don't give the ball away so cheaply against any team. And at this stage, you have to win at home and pray that you start away in the first leg. And a little bit of luck would help, too.
The team isn't organised and disaplined enough. We can't play in Europe all attacking players and only Keane holding. He isn't strong enough to protect the attackers and defenders anymore. Scholes is a great player but doesn't defend well anymore, which makes it hard to play both him and Rooney. Silvestre is to prone to making errors that will cost us, and the goalkeeping suitation has cost us. Reality is that we got beaten by probably the best team in the world in AC Milan. The feeling i get is that we have gone backwards in Europe. We seem to be back at that stage in the 90's were Juventus kept beating us, but we were drawing experience. Eventually we managed to crack it in 1999, but we couldn't push on and join the elite in Milan, Ajax and Real Madrid. The current team has great players like Ferdinand, Heinze, Ronaldo, Rooney and Nistelrooy. They are the nucleus in which we can again win in Europe. But we do need two or three strong addition which can improve our team. Replacing Keane is a challenge and is Ferguson toughest decision. Does sentimental feeling come into it or will he do what he has done to other great players and move foward. Michael Essien has been seen by most Man Utd fans as the man to replace Keane, which i hope Ferguson will also see. If we can get him along with a solid goalkeeper then we will improve our team alot. Not only is Europe a goal but getting back our Premiership title should be the main target next season.
The comments re getting them up for Southhampton I don't understand. Southhampton are improving and are well coached but they are at the bottow of the table and our strongest team should beat them handily.
I don't understand how a team of United's size cannot go out and but the ESSIENS OF THIS WORLD IF THEY WANT TO MOVE. i KNOW cHELSEA ARE WRITTEN ABOUT WHENEVER SOMEBODIES NAME IS MENTIONED BUT how do you strengthen a side that has an international back up in every position and has cost almost 300 million pounds. Abramovitch knows squat about football but he doesn't need to. He just buys management and coaching, pays them over the top and you have a team of world beaters. There is nothing btilliant about what Chelsea have done this year. They have simply put out the money.
All I'm asking is that we supplement the nucleus by buying some quality and selling the deadwood. Please, please let Phil be one of the deadwood. Maybe Alex's time has come and gone, Keane's has but he deserves another season and some new players.
Otherwise get ready to accept mediocrity. I should know. I'm a Scot and we have aspired to mediocrity for a long, long time now.
united should look to replace scholes, giggs and keane because they do not play at the level required in the champions cup.
stam was outstanding in milano and what a terrible itty he does no longer play for united.
fpr sir alex in particular let's hope man u wins the fa cup
After losing to Milan Tuesday, Alex Ferguson rambles on about missed chances, Van Nistilrooys' being rusty, and that we as a club should be doing a whole lot better in the champions league.
Is he actually saying the players he picks are at fault for United's shortcomings in Europe? If so, he has a very short memory. Cast your mind back, to the last time we played Madrid at O.T. United were 3 - 1 down from the first leg.
For the second leg he choose to leave Beckham out for 75 minutes, and played a defensive midfield, his reason for this being, he worried Madrid might score. Well, they did. Three times to be exact!! So much for tactics or playing your best players in the most important game in the season.
Porto came to town after scoring late on in the first leg last year to hold a 2-1 lead. United take a 1-0 lead into the 2nd half at home and all but defend from front to back for 45 minutes.
Then guess what? Porto scored late. Very late this time. Tactics up in smoke again.
This time around, Milan are gifted a goal at Old Trafford because, the goalkeeping problem we have doesn't seem to register with Sir Alex.
He may argue top keepers are hard to find - well he only has to look at Chelsea for details, they have two.
And finally those missed chances against Milan. Surely he didn't expect Rudd to hit the ground running after such a long lay-off.
We all make mistakes Alex, but the idea is to recognise them so they don't happen again.
Yours sincerely,
Anthony J. Gregson
if the reds can,t afford a few million pounds we are in trouble . we need a back up goalkeeper to howard . we need to say bye bye to giggs .keane. fortune . scholes . silvestre gary. and phil that should bring in a few million and then we can get some defencemen if they can find another heinze it would be great roll on the reds for sat .
the two games against Milan show exactly what i have been saying for 2 or 3 seasons now - that united have fallen behind the competition in europe. milan are the best team in europe with chelsea and barcelona not far behind. the same im afraid cannot be said about united. ferguson comes out and says there wasnt much between the teams, yet to me it loked like there was a gulf in quality, technique and tactical play.
we need a new keeper like cudicini and we need to replace keano - hes been a great leader for the club but that cannot hide the fact that at the highest level he is not the player he was. we also need rooney and ronaldo to turn into the players we are told they are going to be.
10 years ago we played barcelona at the nou camp and lost 4-0 and we recognised how far we needed to go to have the quality to win the champions league, eventually we reached it in 99. i believe we have had that lesson again in milan - the only question is - what are united and ferguson going to do about it
I think feguson is to blame for this season. The stupid substitution. No Rooney against chelsea, Van nisteroy for Ronaldo against AC Milan and Van nesteroy for Rooney against crystal palace. All three have a massive impact and I feel ferguson was trying to be special against Morinho. It all backfired and we may end up empty handed. The team is good, the manager should be questioned. He is to blame. Kleberson is a fantastic player like stam. ?Ferguson must Fix up
Lets just get one thing right United are not way behind anybody,the problem is Alex is way behind the times,the man from Reddish is right Karl DENVER.
Milan had two old players and they played well its all about Tactics. Keane slows the game down to much instead of fast flowing football the pace is all wrong,Scholes passes every other ball to the opposition,and Giggs well he is a story on his own.
He should never have started against Milan Fortune should have.Van should never have started as he ruined the play with Ronaldo and REooney being told to get the ball to Van to blow away the chances.Rooney should have been in the middle,with Ronaldo and Fortune out wide,with Smith just behind Rooney.
Oh yeah Mary, Ronaldo really did pass the ball to Ruud at every opprtunity! What game were YOU watching?