CFR kiss goodbye with pride intact

"A wonder goal," was the verdict of Manchester United FC defender Phil Jones, while CFR 1907 Cluj goalkeeper Mário Felgueiras said Luís Alberto's winner was one for the DVD collection. The scorer himself described his spectacular match-winning strike as the best goal of his career but it was not enough to earn CFR qualification for the last 16. The CFR players spoke of their pride mixed with frustration after a famous victory, the first by a Romanian side at Old Trafford, was followed by confirmation they had finished third behind Galatasaray AŞ in Group H.

Phil Jones, United defender 
[CFR were] difficult to break down, we knew it would be difficult and created enough chances but couldn't stick it away. It was just unfortunate but they scored a wonder goal and those things happen. Probably a little bit of urgency [was missing] in the first half but we got that in the second; we created enough chances, got enough balls into the box but it just wasn't to be. It's a concern [to concede first again] but we created enough chances to win two games, it's just unfortunate.

Alexander Büttner, United defender
We were unlucky, their goalkeeper played well – he [stopped] a lot of balls in the first half. We did well, but one chance, one goal – they were waiting for the counterattack and they played it well. [It was] the same as in Turkey, it was one chance, one goal and it's not about how we played – it was unlucky. [Luís Alberto's] shot was perfect and that's why we lost. We missed too many chances.

Mário Felgueiras, CFR goalkeeper 
At the end of the match we were a little sad but have to see that we got a great result here. It's hard to play here against United but we got a great result and the whole team deserves congratulations as we produced a perfect match. I would like to swap my saves for more points in the group but unfortunately it is impossible. Now we have to think of the Europa League. It is sad for us because we got ten points but that's life – we have to keep going forward and we'll see what we can do in the Europa League. It's important for us, for [all] clubs from Romania, as we made history tonight, I think no Romanian team had won here and for us it's good – all the players wanted to show their worth. [Luís Alberto's strike] was a goal to put in a DVD for him.

Luís Alberto, CFR midfielder 
Without a doubt it was my best goal given the importance of the game and what it meant to the whole team. Everyone in the team deserves congratulations for the effort they put in, and I want to thank God for the great shot I produced. It was a special moment. I controlled the ball and managed to get a great shot in. It's not every day you come to Manchester and get a win – it's something to tell my son about. Unfortunately in football you can't have everything and due to a quirk of fate Braga managed to lose at home.

Camora, CFR defender
It was a great victory. After winning here we knew Braga had been winning 1-0 [so] it's an enormous frustration. But we did our job, practically no-one wins here so we're happy. Everyone's proud and they should be.