By EmptyRed
May 6 2007

Was that our best chance at repeating the success of 1999? After our crushing defeat at the San Siro, 'EmptyRed' analysis's the affect that United's elimination from the Champions League will have on the club.

So our dreams of another historic Treble came to an end in a rain swept San Siro. We could not raise to the challenge set by a dynamic AC Milan. Individual errors and the tiredness of such a long season finally played its toll against such a quality side as AC Milan.

The question is - is  this the end of the road for us? Well in this season Champions League, clearly it is, we can now only watch the game in Athens on TV rather than cheer on our beloved team. It is also clear that during the summer, some players will have to be moved on and replacements are desperately needed. But last night's result has highlighted a continuing weakness in our game in Europe. This year we only managed to win two games away from at Benfica and Lille, yet we lost 4 times we left Old Trafford. It is this inability to win away from home that ultimately undermined our challenge.

And perhaps our disappointment at last reflects really just how well the team has performed this year. At the start of the season, we all hoped that we could push Chelsea close for the title and maybe win a domestic cup. Well we are 4 points away from the premiership title and we have made it into the FA Cup final, facing nothing but Premiership opposition on our way to Wembley. However, it has been clear in our quest for glory that the team has began to look tired and jaded. We have picked up injuries at the wrong time and after recently twice coming from behind to win crucial matches, the game in the San Siro was our "Bridge too Far".

We have the basis of a good squad, that are capable of reaching the heights of 1999. But it took Fergie 6 years to win the Champions league after winning the inaugural Premiership title in 1993. However Fergie must skilfully wield the knife, cut away some of the dead wood and bring in players who will enhance our squad.

The players were hurt by yesterday's result, but more importantly, they will have learned a lot about themselves and what it takes to be a winner in this competition. If we compare the abject year we had last year in the Champions League, this was a 100% improvement. But we know that this team is capable of scaling the heights in Europe, we saw that in the display at Old Trafford against Roma and the comeback against AC Milan, last week. Fergie will raise the team for Saturday and they will come out all guns firing. Already the Knight of the Govan Shipyards is planning our assault on Europe. We were close to immortality this year, next year we will rule the world. So is it the end of the road? Oh no, the journey is just beginning!