Andone: "We've Blown It!"

Dinamo Bucharest
By Chris O'Brien
August 12 2004

Ioan Andone has accepted defeat in Dinamo Bucharest's European Cup qualification hopes. The Dinamo boss feels his side needed a positive result from the home leg of their game against United to stand any chance of knocking out the Red Devils and qualifying for the group stages of the tournament.

Dinamo Bucharest manager Ioan Andone feels his side have missed their chance of causing a major upset of knocking Manchester United out of the European Cup and qualifying for the finals of the competition in the process.

Andone has ruled out his team's chances of overturning the 2-1 first-leg deficit at Old Trafford, and was disappointed with the performance of his Romanian side despite them coming up against more illustrious opposition.

"I am very sorry for our supporters that we could not achieve a decent result," said Andone.

"Our supporters deserved a good result because they come from all over the country to watch us but the team didn't give them one. We just didn't seem to know what to do after taking the lead.

"Our defence got careless and Manchester dominated the second half making many chances to score. Unfortunately I believe this result leaves us with a very low chance when we go to Manchester for the second leg."

Quinton Fortune put through his own net after 10 minutes, and in the intimidating atmosphere in Romania a surprise result looked on the cards. However, in true Manchester United fashion the visitors put in a spirited performance the 1,000 travelling supporters could be proud of to win the game 2-1. Bucharest will now need to score at least 2 goals in the return leg to stand any chance of getting through to the group stages, but in the likelihood they are knocked out will be compensated by a place in the Uefa Cup.