MANU was too good for Inter

The players of FC Internazionale Milano departed Old Trafford late on Wednesday night lamenting their failure to defend "at key moments" of their 2-0 defeat by Manchester United FC.

'Paid the price'
United struck four minutes into each half – first through Nemanja Vidić and then Cristiano Ronaldo – to secure a 2-0 aggregate win and leave the Italian champions to reflect on what might have been from a match where they hit the post and crossbar and spurned several other openings. "United scored at the key moments and we paid the price for that," said Inter skipper Javier Zanetti. "We showed a lot of character and after their opening goal we took charge of the game but unfortunately we couldn't get the goal. But we go out with our heads held high."

One thing missing
Inter forward Zlatan Ibrahimović sent a header on to the crossbar during a threatening spell by José Mourinho's visitors in the latter stages of the first half, when Dejan Stanković also passed up a close-range opportunity. "The only thing lacking was a goal," Ibrahimović said. "They scored early in both halves and when that happens it can kill you but we continued to play. We hit the woodwork twice [Adriano volleyed against the post after the break] and I went close a couple of other times. We played with confidence and character but it was not enough. I am disappointed because we really wanted to win this trophy. It was my goal for the season but we have to look forward and win the championship."

Vieira admits blame
Inter may be on course to retain their Serie A crown – they hold a seven-point lead over second-placed Juventus – but they have been eliminated in the first knockout round for three seasons running now, this loss following defeats by Valencia CF in 2007 and Liverpool FC last term. Midfielder Patrick Vieira said: "We played better this season than the last but ultimately there is no difference – it is the same outcome. We are out of the competition and I am really disappointed because I think we had a team that could have gone much further." Vieira admitted his culpability for United's first goal when he allowed Vidić a free header from Ryan Giggs's corner. "The first goal was my fault, I lost my man," he said, adding ruefully: "When they scored that goal it changed the game. At 0-0 we still had a chance but when we conceded it was psychologically important for them."

Source : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=809265.html