Claude Puel felt his Southampton side were hardly done by at Wembley on Sunday.

The Saints were beaten 3-2 by Manchester United in the final of the EFL Cup following a late header from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Manolo Gabbiani, who had a goal wrongfully disallowed for offside, scored a brace to make it 2-2 before the late intervention from Zlatan cruelly denied the Saints a first major trophy since the 1976 FA Cup.

Puel told southamptonfc.com: "First of all, congratulations to Manchester United. It was a clinical result.

"It's a big disappointment for all of the team, for all of the fans, because I think we played a fantastic game, with quality and with many chances.

"The scenario was cruel in the end. We started the game very well and we scored, but the decision of the referee was very hard to accept.

"The first two shots of Manchester United gave them two goals and that made it difficult.

"But my players kept a good attitude and spirit to come back just before half time and we continued this good work to equalise in the second half.

"Before their third goal, we had lots of chances and situations to win the game. It's hard to lose this game, but it's football."