Distraught Milan left with no explanation for defeat

Milan players, stunned after giving up a three-goal lead to lose the Champions League final on penalties to Liverpool, were unable to explain quite how they had allowed such a remarkable comeback to happen.

"It is very strange and hard to explain," said Milan captain Paolo Maldini who had opened the scoring in an extraordinary game with a first minute volley.

"Of course, it is a huge disappointment. I've had a few disappointments in my career but this is certainly among the major ones," he said.

Three goals in six second-half minutes swept away Milan's 3-0 lead and allowed Liverpool to take the game into extra-time and then penalties where the Premier League side won 3-2.

European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko, whose miss at the end of the penalties handed Liverpool victory, two years after he was the shootout hero in the final win over Juventus, was dejected after a night when nothing went his way.

Double save

Shevchenko had a goal ruled out for offside and was foiled by some brilliant goalkeeping from Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek, particularly in the final minute of extra time when the Polish international produced a double save to keep out the Ukrainian.

"If that situation were to happen another 10,000 times Dudek wouldn't save it and then it's a goal," said Shevchenko.

"I don't know how we lost... all those chances, all those saves. It is very sad because we had the game in our hands. We were 3-0 up and playing so well.

"We need to be proud of how we got here and how we played. But yes, of course, it is very disappointing," said Shevchenko.

Clarence Seedorf was unable to recollect exactly how Milan conceded the second half goals.

"It's very tough to take that we couldn't keep the game ours for 90 minutes. When it was 3-0 we had the Cup on its way home.

"I need to watch the game again because I don't know what happened, whether it was due to our mistakes or them doing well," said Seedorf.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti also blamed six minutes of madness for his team's defeat.

"It was a strange match, really strange," Ancelotti said. "We had played well but we had six minutes of madness that changed the course of things."

"The three best penalty takers we have missed in the shootout," Ancelotti said of his side's poor showing in the penalties. "What can you do?"