From Russia with love

Updated 23.17 Thu May 22 2008

The victorious Manchester United team has returned home to a heroes welcome.

Around 400 people gathered at Manchester Airport for the 930 Iberworld flight carrying the team from Moscow, where United beat Chelsea in the Champions League final after extra time and penalties.

Ryan Giggs raised the trophy to the jubilant crowd as he came down the stairs

Millions of football fans watched England's two most successful clubs battle it out in a gruelling but thrilling game at the Luzhniki Stadium.

The squad departed the plane led by Ryan Giggs, carrying the Champions League trophy, followed by manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand, who was carrying the Premier League trophy.

Giggs raised the cup to the jubilant crowd as he came down the stairs.

The team then posed for photographs before being ushered onto a coach and heading out of the airport.

Supporters had been discouraged from attending the airport tonight, but dedicated fans came from across Manchester and further afield.

Jamie Crawley, 17, from the city's Woodhouse Park area, said: "It was fantastic, a night I'll never forget.

"We have been unlucky with penalty shoot-outs in the past and I admit I was fearing the worst.

"But the team didn't let us down, they did us proud."

Nick Hodson, 39, brought his wife and four children from their home in Preston, Lancashire.

He said: "I'm delighted for Sir Alex and the team, they have worked for this all season and they deserve the double."

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