Butt bemoans Bayern shortcomings

Jörg Butt and Miroslav Klose had no doubt as to the cause of FC Bayern München's defeat in the UEFA Champions League final: an inability to produce their best form when it mattered most.

The vast majority of the match statistics were in the German side's favour – 21 shots to Inter's 11, six corners to the Milan club's two and 66% of possession – but crucially, Diego Milito's brilliantly-taken double denied the Munich giants what would have been their fifth European Champion Clubs' Cup, and left a rueful Butt admiring Inter's efficiency. "Inter deserved to win tonight and congratulations to them," the goalkeeper told UEFA.com. "Inter made it difficult for us, and we did not play the way we wanted. Inter have world-class strikers and they were clinical in front of goal. Unfortunately we did not score from our chances."

Butt pointed to last week's 4-0 dismantling of Werder Bremen in the German Cup final as an example of Bayern at their best, but having been in the Bayer 04 Leverkusen side beaten by Real Madrid CF eight years ago he must now come to terms with more UEFA Champions League final disappointment. "It is always huge to play a Champions League final," he said. "It's the biggest club competition, it's a great experience, but of course you want to win a game like this."

Klose was equally downcast, though more succinct, saying: "Inter were strong of course, but we did not play our best football tonight." The Germany striker was expertly marshalled by Inter centre-backs Walter Samuel and Lucio after replacing Hamit Altıntop in the 63rd minute and pointed to anxiety as a key factor in Bayern's defeat. "Experience is one thing, nervousness was another one. We could see that with some players. It's a final, and of course there is pressure there."

Bayern can look back with pride on a memorable campaign in which they claimed the Bundesliga and German Cup, Butt noting: "It was a great season but unfortunately we could not crown it tonight." Yet despite the presence of those two trophies in the cabinet back in Munich, the failure to add a third meant the season ended on an unhappy note for Louis van Gaal's squad. "For the moment we are not thinking about partying," Butt added. "Even if we have had a great season this year, the disappointment is too big."