Rio Ferdinand has admitted he was ’embarrassed’ after Manchester United were beaten by Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final.
The Red Devils lost 3-1, with Lionel Messi scoring, as Pep Guardiola’s side lifted a fourth European Cup at Wembley.
Getty Images – Getty
Wayne Rooney had equalised for United after Pedro had given the Spanish giants an early lead, but they were ultimately undone by Messi’s magic.
Recounting the game, Ferdinand told Copa90: “Barca gave us an absolute lesson at Wembley,
“I was standing there watching them lift the trophy and me, Giggsy [Ryan Giggs] and Scholesy [Paul Scholes] were standing together with our hands over our mouths and I said, ‘I feel embarrassed lads’.
Getty Images – Getty
“He [Messi] took liberties.
“Messi was a killer. Ronaldinho was unreal, the free-flowing magician, but with Messi, he’d do all of that but there was always a goal or an assist at the end of it.”
Manchester United were outclassed against Barcelona, who were regarded as one of the world’s best teams at the time.
United have failed to reach a Champions League final or make it past the last-eight in the competition since losing to Barcelona in 2011.