| Man United stars party all night after win
Mirror
By Jeremy Armstrong 23/05/2008
Manchester United's all-conquering heroes danced, drank champagne and sang all night in a non-stop party.
Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney chanted We Are The Champions and then bounced around to Don't Stop the Music during a disco which only started at 4am BST - and went on until they were served a breakfast of bacon and eggs.
When defender John O Shea - who did not even play in the final - tried to stagger to bed at 8.20am, captain Rio Ferdinand dragged him back, saying: "Where do you think you are going? This party has only just begun."
As the squad later emerged bleary-eyed at 11.30am from Moscow's Crowne Plaza hotel for their bus to the airport, boss Sir Alex Ferguson joked: "I can't remember going to bed."
Superstar Ronaldo called the night the best of his life. England midfielder Michael Carrick agreed it probably was - if he could recall it.
Around 300 United players, staff, wives and girlfriends partied at the hotel reception.
A first-floor banqueting suite was decked out with red roses and a giant banner with "Valday" - the Russian for welcome.
Amid emotional scenes, Sir Bobby Charlton presented a watch to Ryan Giggs, who broke his United appearance record in the final.
Sir Bobby - and other Busby Babes who survived the Munich air disaster 50 years ago - joined Rooney, Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Ferdinand, who all got up to sing and dance.
Versions of hits also included Viva Ronaldo and Giggs Will Tear You Apart Again.
Greg Scanlon, 32 - there with his dad, United legend Albert, 73 - said: "When Sir Bobby presented Giggs with his watch, Ryan told how he had started off on the terraces and ended up playing for the team he loved.
"The place was rocking after that, with the players all singing and Rio up dancing to his favourite R&B tracks. Fergie was looked a bit tired. But he ended his thank-you speech to everyone with the words, 'Believe you me, we are going to be even better next season'.
"Rooney, Mikael Silvestre, Owen Hargreaves and Gary Neville were all there to the death - they kept on going until breakfast."
Another guest revealed: "O'Shea was desperate to get away at about 20 past eight.
"But Rio pulled him back in. Paul Scholes was the only one allowed to go to bed as he had broken his nose in the game. It was funny."
Waitress Marina Konkova, 19, said staff had watched the match as they prepared a buffet of chicken, fish, salad and Russian dishes.
She said: "There were 20 staff serving and we found it hard to keep up with the players.
"I could not believe the players' energy after such a game. They just kept on singing and dancing all night. We were serving champagne and lager non-stop but it was hard to get to the tables and keep the service going.
"It was a fantastic atmosphere. One of the boys - I don't know if he was a player - was nice and gave me his phone number. I recognised Ronaldo of course and it was not him."
Red-eyed, weary but still smartly dressed in club suits, Fergie led a chorus of "Champione!" as the squad boarded the team bus.
All except 17-year-old Daniel Welbeck - a non-playing member of the 24-man squad. He had to get a taxi after oversleeping.
Wes Brown, with girlfriend Leanne by his side, managed to comment: "I got about an hour's sleep, if that. It was legend."
Ferdinand departed for England behind a pair of dark glasses and declined to comment when asked if he had a hangover.
Fan Al Williams, 22, who waved off his heroes, said: "He was on great form last night, waving applauding supporters as he made his way to the party. Now he is speechless."
Ronaldo was awake enough to say: "Next year we may do even better. It is possible." | 
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