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Despondent United fans head home | Despondent United fans head home |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Disappointed Manchester United fans have been arriving home from Italy after their team's defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final. | Disappointed Manchester United fans have been arriving home from Italy after their team's defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final. |
A steady stream of weary supporters arrived at Manchester Airport in the early hours of Thursday. | A steady stream of weary supporters arrived at Manchester Airport in the early hours of Thursday. |
Many spoke of their disappointment at the 2-0 defeat, but insisted the trip to Italy had been worth the effort. | Many spoke of their disappointment at the 2-0 defeat, but insisted the trip to Italy had been worth the effort. |
Thousands of fans also watched the game in pubs and bars in Manchester. Police said there had been 11 arrests. | Thousands of fans also watched the game in pubs and bars in Manchester. Police said there had been 11 arrests. |
Ten of the arrests were for public order issues and one person was arrested for assault, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. | Ten of the arrests were for public order issues and one person was arrested for assault, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. |
I'm devastated but you have to take the rough with the smooth James Loney, Manchester United fan | I'm devastated but you have to take the rough with the smooth James Loney, Manchester United fan |
Police in Rome said United and Barcelona fans had been "good-natured" in the run-up to the game, although some arrests were made over ticket touting. | Police in Rome said United and Barcelona fans had been "good-natured" in the run-up to the game, although some arrests were made over ticket touting. |
A British man was stabbed on Tuesday night, taken to hospital and released after treatment. | A British man was stabbed on Tuesday night, taken to hospital and released after treatment. |
Greater Manchester Police are helping in the investigation. | Greater Manchester Police are helping in the investigation. |
Italian police said the incident happened on the banks of the Tiber River, close to Vatican City. | Italian police said the incident happened on the banks of the Tiber River, close to Vatican City. |
About 30,000 Manchester United fans were in the city for the final, with a similar number of Barcelona fans. | About 30,000 Manchester United fans were in the city for the final, with a similar number of Barcelona fans. |
League title | |
Among the fans arriving at the airport at 0330 BST was Steve, from Manchester, who had been up since 0445 BST on Tuesday. | |
But despite his fatigue - and the prospect of going to work on Thursday - he remained philosophical about his team's season. | |
He told the BBC: "I'm a bit down, but we stopped the Scousers winning the league and that was my main priority." | |
In Manchester, thousands of supporters had crammed into the city's pubs and bars to watch the game. | In Manchester, thousands of supporters had crammed into the city's pubs and bars to watch the game. |
At Sam Platt's pub just a stone's throw from Old Trafford, the crowd's pain at the final whistle was palpable. | At Sam Platt's pub just a stone's throw from Old Trafford, the crowd's pain at the final whistle was palpable. |
Fans arriving back on Thursday said they were disappointed | |
Lorry driver James Loney, who had travelled from Lurgan, County Armagh to watch the match, said he was devastated. | Lorry driver James Loney, who had travelled from Lurgan, County Armagh to watch the match, said he was devastated. |
He said: "There's no point in pretending otherwise, but I've been a United fan all my life, 40 years. | He said: "There's no point in pretending otherwise, but I've been a United fan all my life, 40 years. |
"I'm devastated but you have to take the rough with the smooth." | "I'm devastated but you have to take the rough with the smooth." |
Emma Parish, 34, from the Manchester United Supporters' Trust said: "I'm disappointed but we still won the League. | Emma Parish, 34, from the Manchester United Supporters' Trust said: "I'm disappointed but we still won the League. |
"It's been fantastic in here - as soon as the whistle went, within a few minutes everybody was singing again. | "It's been fantastic in here - as soon as the whistle went, within a few minutes everybody was singing again. |
"You can't win them all." | "You can't win them all." |
Plans for a victory parade through Manchester's streets have been cancelled. | Plans for a victory parade through Manchester's streets have been cancelled. |
FC Barcelona, who also won their domestic league and cup, last won the top European prize in 2006. | FC Barcelona, who also won their domestic league and cup, last won the top European prize in 2006. |