Heartbreak For United As They Lose Champions League Final

It was heartbreak for United at Wembley as they were blown away by Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Despite Wayne Rooney's equaliser, the match finished 3-1 to the Spanish side who were inspired once more by Lionel Messi. It's the fourth time that Barca have been crowned the champions of Europe.

Rio Ferdinand insists Manchester United can look back on a good season despite another crushing Champions League final disappointment. For the second time in three years, the Reds could find no answer to Barcelona.

"We have had a fantastic season this year," said Ferdinand.

"We are disappointed and this defeat leaves a bad taste in the mouth going into the summer but when you sit back and reflect on things we have had a top season.

"We reached the Champions League final again. We won the league. We reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. It has not been a bad season.''

However, raising spirits is going to be incredibly hard for Ferguson, knowing his team appear to have hit a brick wall in the brilliant Catalans, who confirmed their status as one of the best teams ever to have played the game.

"You have to give credit where it is due," said Ferdinand.

"They were the better team today and they probably deserved to win. I am just really disappointed if I am honest."

"You don't go into any final being satisfied to be second best. Today we didn't get to pick up the trophy and they did. At 1-0 down I still thought we had a good chance to get back into the game.

"We got back on level terms but then conceded a bad goal and the third killed it off.

"Regardless of what happened two years ago, we didn't really do as well as we should have done.

"They are a good side. They know exactly what their jobs are and they work well as a team and individuals. You have to try and combat that.

"We had a good game plan. Maybe we didn't implement it as well as we could have."