United fans make jubilant trip home

Thousands of jubilant Manchester United fans and deflated Chelsea supporters are making the long journey back to England.A nail-biting penalty shoot-out clinched the Champions League title for the Reds after a closely fought all-English final in front of 42,000 British fans who had made the trip to Moscow.Both teams had thought victory was within their grasp as the match played out but it was the Chelsea fans who were left stunned when a save by United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar destroyed their dreams.Seconds after United became the champions of Europe for the third time in their history, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "That is the first penalty shoot-out I have ever won."United fans streaming away from the stadium were in jubilant mood.Simon Green, 50, a self-employed bricklayer from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic. I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my entire life as during the penalty shoot-out.""After Ronaldo missed his penalty I thought it was gone, but then John Terry missed his and it was back on," Mr Green said."You've got to feel very sorry for Chelsea, because they hit the woodwork twice, but we are the best two teams in Europe, so we may meet again."His friend Ian Cameron, 30, a sales manager, also from Leamington Spa, said: "I thought we had lost it after Ronaldo missed his penalty."It's funny, as soon as he stepped up, I knew he was going to miss, because he's had such a good year, and I could just see it happening. After he did miss, I had my head in my hands and my fingers in my ears."Chelsea fan Peter Slade, 56, a printer from Surbiton, Surrey, said: "I am just stunned. I'm a long-term Chelsea fan since the 1960-61 season, and I just can't believe this has happened."We hit the woodwork twice, and I thought we were going to win the penalty shootout."Mick Saward, 52, a taxi driver from St Albans, Herts, put a brave face on it.He said: "I think they gave their best. I feel so sorry for John Terry, who slid when he was taking his penalty. It was just like a deja vu of when that happened to David Beckham."But we must give it to Manchester United, fair play, and we'll be back. This is a hiccup, and I hope Manchester United are there again as well."Mr Saward and his partner, Julie van Wyk, 50, spent £2,400 between them to get to the match. He added: "The authorities here have been wonderful; everybody has been very friendly."He said Drogba getting sent off was crucial."If he had been there to take his penalty, that wouldn't have put the pressure on Terry," he said.There were no reports of trouble either inside or outside the stadium.Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, who was at the match, said: "It's been a great night for English football, and a thrilling game."What was very pleasing was that there were nine English players out there on the pitch, and that's a tremendous thing. It's been a great advertisement for English football."

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ITN | May 22, 2008

Tags:. .bricklayer. .woodwork. .nail. .victory. .partner