Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson refused to blame goalkeeper Roy Carroll after the 1-0 home defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.
Carroll failed to hold a long-range effort from Clarence Seedorf and Hernan Crespo followed up to tap in.
"Seedorf should have been closed down. We directed him into the middle of the park and should have closed that area down and forced him out to the side.
"After that no-one closed him down and he has got a free shot," he said.
"That's all I'm going to say on the matter," he added. "I've said what the mistake happened from and that's it."
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We have got to make sure we don't make mistakes - and if we score the game changes
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Ferguson, who felt his team were on top when Crespo scored with 12 minutes left, said his team were guilty of poor finishing at the other end of the pitch.
"We had some good chances - but we lacked that composure needed to finish it off.
"The match was a marvellous quality - every player had to produce a performance of a very high standard.
"In the second half I thought we got hemmed in around their box - Milan started making some mistakes and giving the ball away for the first time in the game.
"At that point we were ready to make a substitution - bringing Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre on - then they scored."
And of the second leg in two weeks time Ferguson promised: "We always attack, no matter which game we play."
But he added: "We have got to make sure we don't make mistakes - and if we score the game changes."
Milan legend Paolo Maldini said his team were worthy of their victory.
"I believe we deserved to win," said Maldini. "We had many, many chances and had the wish to score.
"We made a great game, Manchester United too, it was very balanced.
"We have many, many great players but Manchester too has a great team and I do not believe we have qualified already."
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MMIX
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