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Finally!
By Toyin | June 1, 2009
And so it came to pass that Barcelona are the European Champions! This represents the third time in the history of the club to be so crowned. It was an anticlimax of a final! It was also one of the most one-sided finals of all times; it could have been tops save for the 4-0 humiliation suffered by Barcelona against AC Milan in 1994.
Prior to the kick-off, a lot of point was made concerning the unavailability of Alves, Marquesz and Abidal. It was almost a forgone conclusion that the Red Devils would carry the day. How wrong we all were!
The starting line ups from both sides showed the adventurous nature and appetite for risks of both coaches. While Guardiola decided to bench the more experienced Seidu Keita in preference for Sergio Boaquests, SAF preferred to use Ryan Giggs in the midfield instead of his customary wings in place of Paul Scholes. Most significantly, Pep entrusted his left fullback position to a 36 years old Silvinho who shone like a thousand stars on the night. Where Anderson failed to make any impact, Bosquets played like a lion, winning tackles and duels that eventually allowed the mercurial and dangerous Xavi to plot his graphs and killed off any hope of a comeback for the English champions.
And it could all have been different had Ronaldo’s early blitzkrieg produced a positive end result! Rather, it was the Blaugrana’s first purposeful foray upfront that got them the all-important goal. Having scored, they sunk their teeth deeper into the pie and never let go until the final whistle.
To say ‘am disappointed is to say the obvious. In making my preview of the finals, I had carefully taking into considerations all ‘angles’ and I though that Manchester United should be able to shade the tie. I looked at the suspensions on both sides and to say the truth, Barcelona is definitely worse off than their English opponents. While the former missed only Darren Fletcher (a crucial factor as it turned out to be), the latter had to contend with the absence of three first choice deep end Players; it was a serious problem, but they handled it admirably.
What happened to Man U’s time tested and highly successful counter attacking football? I mean the one they used in tearing Arsenal apart in the last round. The team I saw against Barcelona tried too much to play and in the process struggled to hold the their lines and the result was what we witnessed on Wednesday.
Like we use to joke among ourselves: If you are better than Ferguson, then coach Liverpool to the league title! Despite this, it was obvious that SAF got his tactics wrong against Barca. I can’t still understand what he was thinking when he lined up Carrick, Anderson, Giggs and Rooney in the midfield to face the terrible trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Bosquests.
We all know that Barca’s main strength is in possession. Can any team really beat them to that? It’s also general knowledge that Manchester United play counter attack like no other team. While Pep Guardiola stuck to his guns, SAF became too ‘European’ and tried to do what he cannot really defend and the rest as they say is history.
Apart from the fact that this year’s winner is known to all (as if that’s a revelation!), the reality of who becomes the next world footballer was settled that night. Messi, the shortest guy on the field did what one of the tallest couldn’t do; score a goal with his head! Undoubtedly, the Argentianian WILL be the next FIFA player of the year and I don’t think even Christiano Ronaldo can begrudge him for it.
So, the finals was won and lost on tactics and choice of players. The great performance of Xavi has further enhanced his reputation as one of Europe’s finest and if this season is anything to go by, next year’s world cup in Africa may serve up the best from the Spaniard. But then, football is so unpredictable and one can never be too sure what its future holds in stock for the faithful.
All said and done, the finals of this year’s CL was a great script written by the happenings in football; not least UEFA and the myopic president Michel Platini. The end was both nostalgic and tragic; but this depends on which side you are!
Topics: Biz Football, Crazy Fans, La Liga, MVP, Premiership, The Champion, The Gaffer, Who Will Win |
June 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pm
messi had never scored against an english club. on wednesday, he broke the jinx. and could u beleive it, he scored with his head…… the smallest man on the pitch scored with his head for the first time. it was as though, man utd played against twenty barca players.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:03 pm
The final was a show of good football as usual by Baca. Man U went to sleep and have a tatical problem. Any way i want to say congratulation to the champion. Stand up for the champion….ion….ion…ion.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
If u remember the day of the ECL finals was Children’s day celebration ( May 27 ). It really was for Man Utd as they matched past the field for 90 minutes. Barca really meant business with Iniesta, Eto’o, Henry, and of course Messi as their talismen. Hey don’t 4get Puyol who taught C.Ronaldo how the game is played.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I still don’t undertand what came over Ferguson with the type of selection he started with. That was their undoing as Anderson just couldn’t cope with Iniesta and Xavi. Man U faltered at the last hurdle and it was criminal of them.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
What do you expect from the team I have always refered to as “the best in the world”?
Man U were completely rattled & out-classed. I think the turning point was Eto’o’s first goal, maybe if Ronaldo had scored earlier the story would have been different.
Anyway, we all know the champion now.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Hmm,gloating! Up Barca.