Abidal: ‘We turned Wembley into a rondo, United were furious’

Man Utd: Beaten at Wembley

Man Utd: Beaten at Wembley

Former Barcelona star Eric Abidal has revealed the frustration that Manchester United players became in the 2011 Champions League final.

Goals from Lionel Messi, Pedro and David Villa handed Barca an easy victory at Wembley as Barca outclassed United to claim their fourth European title.

Wayne Rooney did equalise for United in the first half, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were second best throughout and managed just one shot on target, the Barca’s 12.

“They do mesmerise you with the passing and we never really controlled Messi,” said Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards and former France left-back Abidal, who played the full game, has lifted the lid on the “incredible” reaction of the United players.

“The thing I remember most about that final is the last half an hour,” he said.

“The English players were angry, really furious, because we had turned Wembley into a huge rondo and there was nothing they could do about it.

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“They kept swearing, shouting everything under the sun. It was incredible. Some of my team-mates couldn’t understand them but I could.

“That’s enough, stop ****ing about. We’re dead. And there are still 25 minutes left.

“Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Busquets, Alves, who was practically a midfielder that day, kept going.”