United conquerers

And then Manchester United walked into the greatest force of all, an AC Milan team playing a brand of football several streets ahead of anything the three English semi-finalists had managed.

United went two goals behind in the opening 30 minutes to Kaka and Clarence Seedorf, the outstanding Milan players of the two games and performers a class above anything their opponents possessed.

Alex Ferguson gambled on Nemanja Vidic and it didn’t come off. More embarrassing for a manager of his experience was the unravelling of his game plan. Setting up his side with Cristiano Ronaldo on the left and Ryan Giggs on the right, United quickly found themselves outnumbered 5-3 in midfield.

Yet Ferguson did nothing until the 40th minute, when they had already been trailing 2-0 for 10 minutes. Despite the overpowering evidence of Milan’s superiority, he put too much faith in the attacking qualities of his own side. Fergie believed their fearless, gung-ho football would again see them through.

Seedorf drilling in the second

But this wasn’t a run-of-the-mill Everton at Goodison Park. This wasn’t a craven, callow Roma side at Old Trafford. This was the most experienced team in world football, a team heading for its third Champions League final in five years and one with, at its epicentre, a couple of the most extravagantly-talented players in the business. Only for a brief 20 minutes or so during the second half did United offer any serious threat to opponents who always appeared to have the measure of England’s champions-elect. Substitute Alberto Gilardino galloped his way en route to putting Milan beyond reach by scoring their 3rd of the night as United left gaping holes in defense in their quest to surge forward. 3-nil on the night, 5-3 on aggregate, lights out good night.

But credit to Ferguson the man. As ever, he was at his best in defeat, applauding Milan as he said: “They were better prepared, sharper, quicker to the ball and they pressed well. They were good winners.”

Despondent looking Fergie

And so Athens and Europe is spared the terrifying prospect of a Liverpool-United final and 70,000 Englishmen descending on the Greek capital. Instead it will be a re-run of the epic 2005 contest when Rafa Benitez’s Reds came back from the dead to lift the trophy after a penalty shoot-out. What a prospect we have in store with eight of that night’s Milan side still plying their trade for the Rossoneri, all hellbent on revenge.

A night that had started with so much hope saw United out-thought, out- manoeuvred and, worst of all, outclassed. And that by a team all Italians, quick to ridicule extravagant claims of English club dominance in Europe, will point out are trailing in third in Serie A.

Dejected

The better team deservedly won on the night and the author is left to rue yet another near-missed glorious opportunity of United lifting Europe's most prestigious and coveted prize.
Upbeat however, at the prospect of claiming the domestic league and cup double.

#7 out

joshua roared at 21:05.