Champions League holders Milan werestunned by their 4-0 defeat to Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday.
Milan led 4-1 from the first leg but they never recovered from an early Walter Pandiani goal which helped Depor to a t 5-4 win on aggregate.
“It is quite inexplicable, we made some mistakes and paid dearly for them,” Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf told Rete 4 television.
“We made errors but we battled, looking to get a goal, to create chances, but they were superior to us tonight. We gave our all but they were in fantastic form,” added Seedorf.
Milan captain Paolo Maldini was stunned by the outcome.
“No-one expected a result like that, especially after the advantage we gained from the first leg. We prepared well for the game, I don’t know what to say,” he said.
“After the game you can think of a thousand things we could have done to avoid a result like that but really no-one expected a defeat like this
“We tried to play rather than to close up. We aren’t the sort of side who can play a closed game but they produced a great performance and we were well below par.”
The Milan captain admitted that he and his team mates never really recovered from the early strike from Walter Pandiani.
“We took that early goal and then we couldn’t hit them on the counter-attack and we couldn’t make the most of the chances we created in order to calm them down. It really is very sad,” the defender added.
“Anyone who has ever played football knows things like this can happen.”
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “This was not expected, it’s inexplicable and we have to find the strength, in this moment of disappointment, to get back and focus on the (Italian) league.”
Ancelotti denied his team were complacent in their appproach.
“No, the players were very concentrated and focused and actually the defeat of Real Madrid (by Monaco on Tuesday) helped in that respect. These things can happen in football unfortunately.
“It is a bitter defeat but we found ourselves up against a very strong team throughout the 90 minutes.
“It was a very different Deportivo to the first leg, there is no doubt they deserved to win. I was really impressed by Deportivo and if they keep playing like this they could end up winning the Champions League.”
