Despite being soundly beaten, 3-0, on aggregate over two legs, AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti believes that Manchester United was superior to his team only in its finishing. “I didn’t see United create much more than we did over the two legs,” Spalletti told reporters of Roma’s Champions League quarterfinal defeat, adding that overall, Roma had the better of the play during last night’s 1-0 loss at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, United coach Sir Alex Ferguson saw fit to rest his superstars Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, entrusting the task of seeing the Italians off to the likes Owen Hargreaves and Park Ji Sung instead. The Red Devils absolutely pummeled the Giallorossi in the first 25 minutes, but were unable to score. Then, at the half hour mark, Roma was awarded a dubious penalty, which Daniele De Rossi sent sailing into the stands.
“The game would have changed completely if that had gone in, but when you take certain responsibilities upon yourself it can happen for it to go wrong occasionally,” Spalletti said of De Rossi’s miss. “It’s a shame, as in such crucial matches errors are highlighted even more.” The Roma midfielder, for his part, was inconsolable: “I am so upset about this, it is one of the worst moments of my career.” The Red Devils advance to the semifinal, where they play FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou on April 23rd.