Nani says Champions League exit did hurt

Star winger Luis Nani admits he ‘wept like a kid’ in the dressing room following United’s shock Champions League exit at the hands of Swiss club FC Basel.

United were shown the door after the last season’s runner-up failed to qualify from the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition. Recalling the mood in the camp following the 2-1 defeat against Basel, Nani said:

“I wept like a kid in the dressing room in Basel. All of my team-mates were also affected because nobody could quite believe that we had been knocked out at just the group stage. It was like hell in there.

“This defeat and the loss at Wembley in the final last May have been the worst two days in my United career. I am so sad about what has happened. It is almost unbelievable. The dressing room in Basel was like a funeral.”

Nani: Ready to move ahead

Nani added that the team never took any opponent lightly and are still pondering over the reasons of their early exit. However, the Portuguese is ready to put behind the miseries and wants the team to concentrate on retaining the Premier League title which they won for a record 19th time last season.

“This squad is one which is ready to win big titles, so to go out like this is a complete nightmare. We know we are better than some of the other teams, so it is hard to be able to work out exactly how this has happened. I do not think that we were too arrogant or complacent. United are a team which always respects their opponents.

“We are damaged but this is the moment for us to soar, and try and bounce back. Now the Premier League is our main objective. It is necessary to be champions. But the boss is a man who knows how to pick his players up and will help us get back on track.”