Ed: We're closing gap on Barcelona

Posted Monday, May 30, 2011 by The Sun

EDWIN VAN DER SAR believes Manchester United have improved in two years because they kept Barcelona quiet for 20 minutes!

The Dutchman tried to bring some levity to an otherwise depressing day for everyone connected to the Red Devils as he looked back on their previous defeat to Barca in the 2009 final.

Then they opened brightly too before losing 2-0.

Van der Sar said: "It took them 20 minutes to get into the game, so we doubled that from Rome!"

It was not the farewell match that the 40-year-old goalkeeper was hoping for as he now retires from football.

A game he knows he will find tough to live without.

He said: "It will be very hard probably. It is not going to be easy. I never said that."

Van der Sar tried to be philosophical about the events at Wembley as United were taken apart going down 3-1.

He was wrong-footed for the first goal, should have done better with the second - which was hardly planted into a corner - but had no chance with the third.

He said: "It would have been great to go out on a win but it didn't happen. We are disappointed, but hey that's life, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

"After equalising you hope the game is still open.

"I don't think we started the second half well and we were on the back foot again.

"You have to keep going and follow them instead of them having to chase us.

"I think you can stop them, they have lost a couple of times this season so they are stoppable.

"But they are a very good side with some excellent players."

Van der Sar (pictured right with a gutted Ryan Giggs) will now enjoy a much slower pace of life after being in football's fast lane for two decades.

His career saw him win two Champions League medals with Ajax in 1995 and United in 2008 against Chelsea.

He said: "Yes 2008, will be a highlight for me - making a big save against Nicolas Anelka in the penalty shoot-out.

"I was hoping to make another one in this final but it wasn't to be."

Van der Sar, capped 130 times for Holland, stood by his decision to retire despite manager Alex Ferguson and his team-mates trying to get him to change his mind. He revealed: "It is the right time for me.

"I have done some coaching badges in England but I am not sure if I will finish them.

"I have put myself forward to do that in Holland as well but maybe it is too soon. I think I want to take a year out and do some nice things.

"I want to have a nice meal on a Saturday night, play golf and have some family time.

"I have some friends in the game who retired five or six years ago already so I have exceeded my expectations by two or three seasons.

"I am quite relaxed. S*** happens!"