Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Rio: Gloss taken off season

28 May 2009 - 15:10:35

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Rio Ferdinand has admitted Manchester United's success this season has been undermined by their Champions League disappointment.

United passed up the opportunity to become the first team in Champions League history to successfully defend their European crown after losing 2-0 to Barcelona in Wednesday's Rome final.

Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi put a strangely subdued United to the sword at the Stadio Olimpico and afterwards Fedinand admitted that the gloss had been taken off their season.

The Red Devils had won the Premier League, Carling Cup and Club World Cup prior to their Rome disappointment.

"We were all aware we'd had a good season up to now and the last day of it would determine how our summer goes," Ferdinand told MUTV.

"It's a bit of a low point to finish it on but we've got strong characters in the squad and I'm sure we'll be back next season."

Meanwhile, Ferdinand admitted United did not deserve to win against a better Barcelona side.

He added: "We just didn't play well as a collective team and we didn't play well as individuals.

"If you don't do that at times like this then you don't deserve to win.

"We've got no qualms, we weren't good enough, we didn't play the way we can.

"If you do that in a final, you tend to get beat. You've got to give credit to Barcelona, they played well.

"We needed to play our best football and we just didn't produce it."