Champions League - Ronaldo blames tactics

Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 17:57:00 2009

Reaction from the players after Barcelona stunned holders Manchester United to win their third Champions League crown with a 2-0 victory.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Liga de Campeones Barcelona-Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo / Foto: EFE - 0

Cristiano Ronaldo: "The tactics were not good, everything went wrong. We have to give credit to Barcelona, but they were a bit lucky to be here because Chelsea did not deserve to lose and no-one has mentioned that. I have to congratulate Barcelona, they were better but only the winners get talked about."

Rio Ferdinand: "I don't think there's one of us out there can say we played well to be honest, as individuals or collectively. (The first goal) was a bit of a sucker punch, we'd had a few good chances before that. But no excuses, not on today's performance they were the better team. Special moments decide these games and they were deserved winners today."

Wayne Rooney: "Barcelona are a brilliant team and in my opinion Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world. Against a team like that if you don't take your chances, they will punish you. That is what happened. It is very disappointing and the feeling at the moment is not a good one. We are hurting. But we have to forget it and look forward to next season."

Ryan Giggs: "We are disappointed with the result and the performance. We didn't turn up tonight. They turned up, they played some great football. We didn't really. At times Barcelona can make you look silly because they keep the ball so well. At times we maybe chased it and didn't keep our shape as we should have."

Edwin van der Sar: "Rome doesn't bring me luck. We started well then after the first goal we suffered and we didn't play at the level we are used to."

Lionel Messi: "This is the most important win of my life. I am the happiest man alive and I am happy for myself, for my family and for my country."

Thierry Henry: "I've been waiting so long to get this title and finally today. The last five minutes were the longest of my life. You never know what can happen - we were playing against best team in the world. It's amazing. All year we played the same way, we wanted to play football. I don't think we started well. We had to play better, then we passed the ball the way we can. It's my daughter's birthday today so it's a double celebration."

Andres Iniesta: "I am speechless, the Cup is so beautiful. It's the perfect ending to a spectacular season."

Samuel Eto'o: "What we have done is historic, this is fantastic. I'm not sure that my goal was crucial for us to win the Champions League but it was certainly important. The whole team played fantastic, from Xavi to Iniesta, who was coming back from injury. It's been a great team effort from the start of the season."

****Compiled from RTP, AFP, Reuters, PA Sport, Sky Sports and ITV****

Eurosport

Comment 1145 - 1164 of 1164

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. i think man u are good but you have to admit it that­ barca are a better side.

    From khalilul, on Tue 9 Jun 4:02PM

  2. The look on Ronaldo's face on this page, love it

    From hamiltonsteve64, on Tue 9 Jun 2:44AM

  3. PMSL THIS IS STILL ON ?

    From hamiltonsteve64, on Tue 9 Jun 2:41AM

  4. Utd should have­ played to their strenghts. The EPL is­ so strong because­ of the defensive qualities of the­ top teams.

    but they are still the best......

    From greg, on Mon 8 Jun 1:23PM

  5. HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY­ HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY­ HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY HENRY­ HENRY!

    From Love of Football, on Fri 5 Jun 6:07PM

  6. NEWS AT TEN Ronaldo is to leave Man Utd to coach the­ English Olympic diving team
    must be a gold , he is so­ good at it

    From hamiltonsteve64, on Thu 4 Jun 11:32PM

  7. 2009 Season

    Man Utd = Premier League Champions, World­ Club Champions, League Cup Winners, FA Cup Semi­ Finalists, European Cup Finalists.

    Liverpool = Nothing

    From Supergosey S, on Thu 4 Jun 11:17PM

  8. hmmmm i'll like you all to check out on my­ favourite player for the fifa best player 2008-2009­ season 1.lionel messi 2. andres iniesta 3. cristiano­ ronaldo 4. xavi hernandez 5. fernando torres

    From Rassak, on Wed 3 Jun 5:21AM

  9. For all those manchester united fans out there that­ are­ still
    clinically depressed about the result at­ the­ Champions League game
    a special helpline has been­ set­ up by sir alex ferguson
    simply call
    0800­ 2-02-02-0

    THE LINES ARE RED HOT pmsl!!!!

    From hamiltonsteve64, on Tue 2 Jun 2:16PM

  10. For all those manchester united fans out there that­ are­ still
    clinically depressed about the result at­ the­ Champions League game
    a special helpline has been­ set­ up by sir alex ferguson
    simply call
    0800­ 2-02-02-0

    From hamiltonsteve64, on Tue 2 Jun 2:15PM

  11. ronaldo blames everything and everyone but himself, the­ selfish git in the CL final.

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Tue 2 Jun 7:59AM

  12. English Premiership Titles: ALL of the Scouse Managers­ - 0 Sir Alex Ferguson - 11. Enough said!

    From BRIAN, on Mon 1 Jun 9:09PM

  13. Well done to my man, Brother Sam Eto'o.

    This is a­ gifted and courageous player who can't stop scoring­ goals.

    Eto'o is just clinical and he will always­ be a gifted and courageous striker.

    Although he­ didn't get a hat-trick, he is still the deadliest­ man in the Barcelona squad.

    From peasah2005, on Mon 1 Jun 11:55AM

  14. Ronaldo was beaten at his own game.

    He doesn't­ like it when you win battles against him, he tries to­ pretend that he was tripped, this guy loves conning­ referees.

    I am so glad as an Arsenal fan that­ Manchester United lost.

    From peasah2005, on Mon 1 Jun 11:51AM

  15. before the final most manure fans dont care who they­ will face in the final because they believe they can­ easily thrash their opponent.BUT after the lose, they­ are backing up chelsea because they realize now that­ chelsea is weaker than barca.

    From anas_luqman, on Mon 1 Jun 3:12AM

  16. Barcelona are worthy champions.

    From mohanan, on Sun 31 May 5:18PM

  17. All well and good for Ronaldo to say tactics were wrong­ - who cares, he's still ugly!!!!!!

    From mambles, on Sun 31 May 2:58PM

  18. Got back from Rome totally devastated but happy to have­ witnessed 2 of the best sides in the world battling it­ out for what I believe is the premier football­ competition in the world and that includes the world­ cup. No excuses as the best team won on the night and­ we saw a fantastic display of possesion and passing­ from Barcelona. Made United look like a bunch of school­ kids. United were just lethargic and did not want to­ play ball. Hurts me to say this but Chelsea gave­ Barcelona a run for their money and they would have had­ the passion and the guts to put up at least a display.­ Spare a thought for one United Fan who gave up his job­ as he couldn`t get time off and most probably spent a­ fortune on the ticket to provide support(as did­ thousands)to his team of Prima Donna`s who are content­ with their £100,000 a week. Credit to the fans and that­ includes Barcelona fans who were generous in their­ appreciation to United and all round no trouble before,­ during and after which was refreshing. United fans­ deserved more but got a raw deal but they will always­ be United whilst some of the so called players will be­ just looking to preserve their pension pot.

    From Dilip, on Sun 31 May 11:21AM

  19. Tactics Our fomation was changed
    Positions were­ changed
    SAF wanted to experiment in a game like this­
    all i wanted is to play everyone in their places at­ least

    From murpani, on Sat 30 May 8:10PM

  20. here we goes again.. just because united lost this csea­ story is resurface again.. typical W H I N E R..! bunch­ of lousy LOSER..!
    ok, 3 epl semi-finalist against one­ la liga yet none of them winning the trophy, i can­ understand why such deluded.. better luck next time­ eh.. hahaha

    From carlamms, on Sat 30 May 5:47PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account