Man. United struggle to find positives after Milan defeat

Manager Alex Ferguson struggled to find the positives after Manchester United's Champions League elimination by Milan.

United now have a clearer fixture list as they pursue Chelsea for the Premier League title and lessons learned in two tough games against the Italians will pay dividends in the future, Ferguson said.

Milan won the first knockout round tie 2-0 on aggregate after a 1-0 home victory in the second leg on Tuesday thanks to a fine headed goal from Hernan Crespo.

"The result frees up our fixture list a bit. Chelsea still have a lot of matches to play and you've got to remember that football is unpredictable," Ferguson said.

"Just four weeks ago Juventus had a six-point lead in Serie A and now they're level with Milan. The same kind of thing could happen to us."

Second-placed United are eight points behind Chelsea with nine games to play. Chelsea reached the last eight after Jose Mourinho's team eliminated Barcelona after a 4-2 second leg thriller.

Ferguson put United's loss to Milan down largely to a lack of experience of big European games. Only three United players on Tuesday were involved in the 1999 European Cup-winning campaign - captain Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

Youngsters Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were allowed little room by the veteran Milan defence while striker Ruud van Nistelrooy lacked match fitness after being injured. The Dutchman fluffed a good chance to equalise 20 minutes from time.

"I think the quality... I am happy with that. I am happy with the age (of the team) as well. They can grow up together. We are a good team and we will get better," Ferguson said.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his side's "perfect defence" as the Italian back-line gave a demonstration of superb marking and covering.

"Our defensive work was perfect," said Ancelotti. "Apart from when Giggs hit the post we didn't risk anything at all at the back. It was really a great performance.

"We handled two difficult games very well and there was very little between the two teams," he said.

"You expect that, though, when you have a game between two of the best teams in Europe. What really pleases me is that in both games we were able to play the way we wanted to. That shows we know our strengths and can play to them," he said.

But the Milan coach admitted that United could have made his team pay on the few occasions when they broke through a defence marshalled superbly by Alessandro Nesta.

"United attacked us and left themselves quite open. They were strong, aggressive, though their finishing could have been better. They could definitely have done more with the chances they had.

"The way they played put a big strain on our midfield, but I think we deserved the win."

While Ancelotti preferred to credit the victory to the whole team, his opposite number made no secret of his admiration for the tireless and speedy running of their Brazilian full back Cafu and the class of 36-year-old skipper Paolo Maldini.

"If Maldini plays for another five years then I'm quitting," joked Ferguson.

"With Cafu you never know, I think he has two hearts."