Final defeat has left us devastated – Carragher

May 24 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S Jamie Carragher described his mood as “devastated” after AC Milan exacted Champions League revenge last night.

The central defender, who inspired Liverpool to European Cup glory against the Italians two years ago, had to settle for a loser’s medal following the 2-1 defeat in the Athens Olympic Stadium.And Carragher also felt responsible for the first goal after losing control of the ball in the build-up to the free-kick which Filippo Inzaghi deflected in to give Milan the lead in the final minute of the first half.

“We are devastated,” said Carragher. “It was the opposite situation two years ago so you can’t come out and moan and cry about it.

“Credit to AC Milan. They are a great side and deserved to win on the night but only slightly. I don’t think there was much in it. In the first half we just shaded it and everyone knows in football how important it is to get a goal just before half-time. Maybe I should have controlled it and cleared it rather than trying to do it first time. But at this level small details count.

“It was a soft free-kick but you know in Europe you’re going to get that. In the Premiership you may get away with it but we are experienced enough in European football to know that.”

Carragher acknowledged the part the fans played in trying to influence a repeat of the 2005 victory in Istanbul but after Inzaghi made it two there was to be no similar fightback this time, despite Dirk Kuyt’s late headed goal.

The 29-year-old felt Liverpool more than matched their performance in the previous final, but things just didn’t fall their way this time.

He added: “It makes it worse when you realise how many are there like in Istanbul, but unfortunately we couldn’t repay their support this time.

“I was just thinking in the dressing room that we probably played as well, if not better, than we did in Istanbul.

We probably didn’t create as many chances but I think we limited Milan to one chance before the second goal. The way we played second half, we really went for it but didn’t create as much as we would have liked.

“But it’s gone now and credit to AC Milan, they have a tremendous record, they are a top side.

“They feel we shouldn’t have beaten them two years ago but they’ve come back.”

Now Carragher is setting his sights on returning after the summer to launch another Liverpool comeback, not just in terms of trying to conquer Europe again but being more of a force on the domestic front.

He added: “When you lose you have that hunger to come back. We want to get closer to Chelsea and Manchester United next season.

“We’ve proved we are a very good side in the Champions League. You can’t win it every year but you want to be in the running every year and we’ll be looking to do the same again.”