Sir Alex Ferguson graciously admitted his Manchester United side simply lost to a better team after Barcelona won the Champions League final.
Defending champions United lost 2-0 in Rome and were outplayed for much of the night by the Spanish champions.
"We didn't play as well as we can but you have to give Barcelona credit," said the United manager.
"Lionel Messi wasn't the problem, Xavi and Andres Iniesta kept the ball all night and made it difficult for us."
Ferguson, who has led United to two previous Champions League triumphs, added: "We started brightly and confidently and could have been in front in the first 10 minutes but the goal was a killer.
Barcelona were the better team - Ferguson
"We didn't plan to lose a goal as early as that. We didn't deal with it well enough, it gave them the opportunity to keep possession.
"We knew what a good football team they were. We had difficulty in defending against them. Messi dropped into midfield and they kept possession and made it difficult for us.
"The disappointment was the use of the ball when we got possession. You have to wait minutes to get it back off them. Could be it was an off night. Could be it was a mountain too big to climb.
"But we've done well, it's been a long season, we've had 66 games and you've got to give the players credit for their courage and resilience. Next season we'll be better.
"The better team won and there's nothing we can do about that now."
Ferguson also explained his decision to bring on striker Carlos Tevez for the ineffective Anderson at half-time.
"I brought on Tevez simply because I took the gamble of playing two through the middle," revealed the Scot, whose side clinched their 18th English top-flight title this season.
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Brizo75
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"Ryan Giggs, in the first half, provided something and some parts of his game were good but what we needed was someone to be there all the time but they defended quite well.
"We had plenty of time and we had some half-chances, which we maybe should have done better with.
"It was a disappointing performance and some individuals will feel it themselves. It's very difficult to put a finger on every part of the game."
Ferguson also conceded United missed the protective presence of Darren Fletcher in midfield - the Scot was suspended after being harshly sent off against Arsenal in the semi-final.
"He is one big-game player," said Ferguson. "It was a loss but they had losses also and it is difficult to measure how big a loss it was."
On Guardiola, who has guided Barcelona to a treble trophy haul of the Spanish league title, domestic cup and Champions League, Ferguson added: "It is a great achievement as a coach in his first year. Well done. Fantastic. Everybody enjoys their football and it is great credit to him."
Centre-back Rio Ferdinand agreed with Ferguson that the Catalan giants were the better side, saying United did not "play well individually or collectively".
 Ferdinand looks disconsolate following United's defeat in the Stadio Olimpico
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Ferdinand commented: "You've got to give credit to Barcelona, they played well. We needed to play our best football and we didn't produce it.
"The first goal was a sucker punch, we'd had some good chances. They were two soft goals and we could have done better leading up to them and I could have done better with my positioning but we've got no excuses, they were a better team."
United winger Cristiano Ronaldo described the defeat as "one of the biggest disappointments of my career".
Everything went wrong - Ronaldo
"We were always confident before the game but unfortunately we couldn't do it," said the Portugal international. "It is always bad when you lose a final but we didn't play well.
"We did OK in the first 10 minutes but you have to say Barcelona deserved to win."
Striker Wayne Rooney was equally distressed at United's first European Cup final defeat, adding that Iniesta was the key to Barcelona's victory.
"Barcelona scored two good goals and, unfortunately for us, they came at good times," said the Englishman. "That made it very difficult for us.
"Barcelona are a brilliant team. Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world in my opinion. If you don't take your chances against them, they will punish you and that is what has happened.
"It is very disappointing and the feeling at the moment is not a good one. We are hurting but we have to forget it and look forward to next season."
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They turned up and played some great football - we didn't really
Ryan Giggs
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United captain Ryan Giggs thought his side "probably had more chances than Barcelona" but that their rivals were well worth the victory.
"At times Barcelona can make you look silly because they keep the ball so well," said the veteran midfielder, who was playing in his third Champions League final.
"At times we maybe chased it and didn't keep our shape as well as we should have but, still, we created chances - and probably more chances than Barcelona.
"We said whoever turned up on the night would win and that proved to be the case. They turned up and played some great football - we didn't really.
"I think if we had gone a goal ahead, we're capable of keeping the ball like they are but credit to them, they deserved it."
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