Sir Alex Ferguson has lamented the poor quality of his team’s finishing over the course of the two legs of their Champions League defeat to Milan.
“If you look at the two games we had six good chances and we didn’t take any of them,” the manager said after watching his side go down 1-0 in Milan and 2-0 on aggregate.
“The margins at this level are very fine and that is what has decided the tie overall.
“I’m disappointed to go out but we’ve gone out to a very good team.”
United’s best chance in the San Siro fell to Ryan Giggs whose shot hit the post.
“We didn’t get the break we needed when Ryan hit the post,” Ferguson added.
“We needed to score the first goal. That was the key to the whole contest, that was the chance and unfortunately we didn’t take it.”
“If we had taken the first one it would have been a different game.
“Our decision-making could have been better but you only get that through playing and my players will get better.”
“It was a hard game. Losing the goal at Old Trafford was the killer for us,” he added.
“We had a great spirit tonight and it took a fantastic header from Crespo to decide it.”
Ferguson also believes Milan can go on and win the Champions League.
“Cafu’s performance was important – he must have two hearts the way he keeps going.
“And if (Paolo) Maldini carries on for another four or five years I think I will quit.
“We play a lot of European teams on their own grounds and have to tolerate a lot of histrionics.
“We didn’t get any of that from Milan. They conducted themselves in an impeccable manner.
“That is what makes them a little bit special. They can definitely win the Champions’ League this season.”
