Fergie rues late strike

"You can't do much about it when they come as late as that, I'm afraid," said the Scot. "The players are too tired to mount any real challenge so late in the game.

"Two or three players looked tired after an exhausting season...I think Cristiano (Ronaldo) looked tired today."

As for the game, he said: "There was not enough attacking momentum from either side that deserved to win the match."

Ferguson also felt United should have had a penalty when Ryan Giggs was challenged by Chelsea's Michael Essien as he tried to score in the first half of extra time.

"It was a penalty kick," he said. "That was the decision that should have been taken. I don't think the linesman was in a position to see clearly if that ball was over.

"But there's no question (about) Essien....the referee was in a really good position and should have seen that. It was a penalty on Giggs."

United winger Cristiano Ronaldo said the goal was not given because referee Steve Bennett and his colleagues had been under pressure from Chelsea.

"The ball was half a metre over the line and the referee saw it but he did not give it," the 22-year-old Portuguese said.

"The referee was under pressure all week from Chelsea. But it's over now," he shrugged. "That's football and we are still champions."

Looking back over the season, Ferguson summed up: "Like athletes, you have to prioritise your whole season -- the Premier League was really important to us and we achieved that.

"Yes, it was disappointing we were knocked out of the semi-finals of the European Cup... and the FA Cup final, given our record in it, was disappointing.

"It's hard to take...but the important thing is to accept it and get on with it."

REUTERS