Inter Milan fans arriving at the San Siro stadium last night for their Champions League clash with Manchester United found themselves confronted with an almost religious exhortation that was plastered all over the stadium walls: "If you don't believe we can do it, then stay at home".

By the end of the night most of the 79,000 Inter fans probably wished they had. Their enthusiastic and noisy support certainly created a hostile atmosphere for United; but in the end, that was about the biggest problem faced by the English Premiership leaders.

After the match, the respective camps reflected understandably contrasting emotions. While Inter coach Romanian Mircea Lucescu looked like a man on death row, his opposite number Alex Ferguson was the very picture of happiness, declaring: "I don't care who we get in the semi-finals, I don't care if we get Melchester Rovers.

"I'm so happy . . . this is a fantastic night for United, this club has taken a big step forward in European football, this was a real big, big challenge for us. We showed great composure, although I did think we were lucky at moments."

"The referee was fantastic," said Ferguson. "That's one of the best you'll ever get. He called everything correct. The penalty decisions clearly weren't spot-kicks and you need someone sharp and who knows his job in those situations."

Not surprisingly, Ferguson's high opinion of the referee was not shared by his opposite number, Lucescu, who claimed that Inter had had two good penalties denied, for fouls on Zamorano in the first half and Ronaldo early in the second half.

Lucescu, too, was clearly defensive about his controversial decision to play the Brazilian star, commenting: "We felt that he had one good half in him and then at half-time, he asked to stay on for a few minutes in the second half."

However, the night belonged to Ferguson, who claimed that he came close to needing heart surgery during Inter's fight-back.

"It is in the nature of this club to take things to the limit and to put their manager and supporters through it. But I trust these players and I don't care who we play now."

And as for Scholes' goal Ferguson added: "I didn't see it go in. I'd fainted by that time."

However, Ferguson did admit he was happy to see the back of Ronaldo, who was substituted after 62 minutes.

"Ronaldo needs games, even great players need games to keep fit," said Ferguson. "But I can understand Inter playing him because he's an inspirational player."

The semi-final draw will be made tomorrow and the bookies have made United 2 to 1 favourites.