by Guy Jackson 7 minutes ago
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United fans prepared Thursday to welcome home their heroes after a dramatic Champions League victory in Moscow, as bitterly disappointed Chelsea fans began arriving back in London.
While thousands of United fans celebrated through Wednesday night in the northwest of England after the thrilling penalty shootout victory, furious Chelsea supporters clashed with police near the club's stadium in an upmarket district of London.
After a match that finished 1-1, Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dived to save the decisive penalty from Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka and the title of European champions was United's for the third time.
Poignantly, the victory came 50 years after a Manchester United team was decimated when eight players were killed in an air crash in snowy Munich.
Thousands of fans who had packed pubs to watch the match poured into the streets of Manchester and red-shirted strangers hugged and performed a victory jig.
"It's absolutely fantastic and a fitting tribute. I will be celebrating with a bottle of champagne if I can find one," Wendy Andrews, 52, told reporters.
But for Chelsea the defeat was bitter, as they were denied a first Champions League crown which would have justified the hundreds of millions of pounds invested by billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The club's emotions were summed up by the distraught reaction of captain John Terry, who had to be consoled by coach Avram Grant after he missed a decisive penalty when he slipped on the rain-soaked turf.
Back in Britain, hundreds of Chelsea supporters who had been drinking heavily in bars near the club's west London stadium reacted badly to the defeat late Wednesday.
Police sprayed tear gas to quell rioting and arrested 12 people after fans pelted officers with chairs and beer glasses. Five officers suffered minor injuries in the fracas.
"Shortly after the match ended, some people became noisy and abusive and bottles and street furniture were thrown," a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said.
In contrast, the majority of fans from both teams behaved well in Moscow.
But there was no disguising the sadness of Chelsea's followers as they touched down in Britain.
"I just burst into tears when Terry missed that penalty," said 18-year-old student Andrew Whelton after his flight arrived at Stansted airport.
The victorious United team were due back home late Thursday, but their arrival would not be followed immediately by the traditional victory parade through the streets.
City councillors decided last week to postpone any parade for several weeks after riots flared in the city during and following the UEFA Cup final between Scottish club Rangers and Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill said it was unfortunate that a parade was not on the cards immediately but that the club was considering its options.
"We were planning for that and then unfortunately some of the issues that came out of the UEFA Cup game a week last Wednesday meant that, in discussions with the two councils and (police), it was felt it was not appropriate to hold one," BBC online quoted him as saying.
"No doubt we will celebrate with our fans over the course of the summer months, we hope."
British newspapers handed the accolades to goalkeeper Van der Sar, with The Sun tabloid dubbing him "Van der Tsar," while the Mirror said his performance was "From Russia with Glove".
The Daily Telegraph's main football writer, Henry Winter, said the victory was "a beautiful way for United to mark the 50th anniversary of Munich, but what a brutal way for such an honest pro as John Terry to be treated by the sporting gods."
LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United fans prepared Thursday to welcome home their heroes after a dramatic Champions League victory in Moscow, as bitterly disappointed Chelsea fans began arriving back in London.
While thousands of United fans celebrated through Wednesday night in the northwest of England after the thrilling penalty shootout victory, furious Chelsea supporters clashed with police near the club's stadium in an upmarket district of London.
After a match that finished 1-1, Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dived to save the decisive penalty from Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka and the title of European champions was United's for the third time.
Poignantly, the victory came 50 years after a Manchester United team was decimated when eight players were killed in an air crash in snowy Munich.
Thousands of fans who had packed pubs to watch the match poured into the streets of Manchester and red-shirted strangers hugged and performed a victory jig.
"It's absolutely fantastic and a fitting tribute. I will be celebrating with a bottle of champagne if I can find one," Wendy Andrews, 52, told reporters.
But for Chelsea the defeat was bitter, as they were denied a first Champions League crown which would have justified the hundreds of millions of pounds invested by billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The club's emotions were summed up by the distraught reaction of captain John Terry, who had to be consoled by coach Avram Grant after he missed a decisive penalty when he slipped on the rain-soaked turf.
Back in Britain, hundreds of Chelsea supporters who had been drinking heavily in bars near the club's west London stadium reacted badly to the defeat late Wednesday.
Police sprayed tear gas to quell rioting and arrested 12 people after fans pelted officers with chairs and beer glasses. Five officers suffered minor injuries in the fracas.
"Shortly after the match ended, some people became noisy and abusive and bottles and street furniture were thrown," a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said.
In contrast, the majority of fans from both teams behaved well in Moscow.
But there was no disguising the sadness of Chelsea's followers as they touched down in Britain.
"I just burst into tears when Terry missed that penalty," said 18-year-old student Andrew Whelton after his flight arrived at Stansted airport.
The victorious United team were due back home late Thursday, but their arrival would not be followed immediately by the traditional victory parade through the streets.
City councillors decided last week to postpone any parade for several weeks after riots flared in the city during and following the UEFA Cup final between Scottish club Rangers and Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill said it was unfortunate that a parade was not on the cards immediately but that the club was considering its options.
"We were planning for that and then unfortunately some of the issues that came out of the UEFA Cup game a week last Wednesday meant that, in discussions with the two councils and (police), it was felt it was not appropriate to hold one," BBC online quoted him as saying.
"No doubt we will celebrate with our fans over the course of the summer months, we hope."
British newspapers handed the accolades to goalkeeper Van der Sar, with The Sun tabloid dubbing him "Van der Tsar," while the Mirror said his performance was "From Russia with Glove".
The Daily Telegraph's main football writer, Henry Winter, said the victory was "a beautiful way for United to mark the 50th anniversary of Munich, but what a brutal way for such an honest pro as John Terry to be treated by the sporting gods."
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