Imran Huseynov, Trend commentator
On May 27, all roads led to Rome. It was in Rome, and nowhere more as the Eternal City hosted the finals of the Champions League this season. Here it is - Olimpico Stadio, a modern Colosseum. The audience is in the tense anticipation of who will win. This is "The Battle of Giants." Only in this way can be described a match of the Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona. The match was eagerly awaited not only just fans and players of the team, but all football lovers of. Two most powerful teams of not only Europe but all over the world came to the field.
So, 22 gladiators enter into the arena. They are Gladiators of a green field. Here, on this green arena, they will fight for the right to be the strongest club of the Old World. And show begins!
From the first minutes "mankunians" began press katalonians. And already at the 2nd minute they kick penalty from about 30 meters. Ronaldo hits from the center, but Valdez was unable to capture the ball, and Ji-Sung Park tries to catch it, but the projectile does not fly in the fold. Manchester United continues to press Barsa, the players of which just watched the attacks of rivals. At the 9th minute, a dangerous blow to the gate of "blue garnet" was hit by Ronaldo, but again the ball flies past. And here comes a football adage: "if you do not beat, they will beat you." This time Iniesta took the ball in front of the penalty area, passed it to Eto'o who kicked the ball to the nearest corner - GOAL!
It was only the 10th minute of the match, but it was clear that "mankunians" gradually lose not only the initiative but also the thread of the game. The first time was held in mutual combat, but the second one was dictated by dictated by Barsa. The defense of "blaugranas", which did not criticize unless the lazy, this time demonstrated a true performance. The Manchester United players actually could not create sharp points. Only once in the second half the MU was able to really seriously disturb Valdez.
However, it happened after the 70th minute when Messi, who was in a zone that was expected to be held by Ferdinand, forced to Van der Sar to capitulate, who just managed to see to ball fly into the net. This episode is worth noting also for the most exact and excellent pass by Xavi.
Despite the MU weak attack, the match turned out spectacular. And artistic. But the artistic sense, not in football, but in terms of artistic skill. Usually "Oscar" nomination for best simulation is awarded to Ronaldo, but in this day katalonians' captain Carles Puyol won this award who perhaps did not writhe in pain in the leg when the ball is kicked. Generally, a simulation of football is a different story, and I think many would agree that for this part all have to learn and learn to reach the pros in this area - the Italians.
During the game, lack of clarity of "mankunians" in the median line was obvious. Yes, the team lost its main rival Fletcher, but this is not an excuse, because the loss of the "Barsa" was much bigger and they have been more sensitive - Marquez, Alves, Abidal. All three players play in defense. Sometimes there is feeling that the MU is playing tenfold. I think this is Ryan Giggs' service. Experienced and veteran half-back could be rarely noticed throughout the game. He simply disappeared and it was difficult to understand why Sir Alex Ferguson pulled for so long with his substitution. There was a time when the left half-back Giggs alone could grind defense of the team and to score a magnificent goal. But that time has passed. And in the middle of the second half, Sir Alex changed "old" Giggs for "old" Scholes who in its best traditions earns yellow card for serious foul on Busketse only a few minutes later.
Another error by Ferguson was in the choice of attackers. In my opinion, it would be much wiser to release Berbatov from the beginning of the game and move Ronaldo to the flank from the center of attack. Just after the appearance on the field of the Bulgarian forward from "mankunians" there was trouble about the attack. But all the same, "Barsa" was better. Even there was an impression that karalonians was able to play 90 minutes more. Footballers of "blue garnet" really showed what the true team is.
As to MU, I believe that the rift in the game of "mankunians" appeared after the brutal destruction of Liverpool at the home in the English Premier League with the score 1:4. After the game the team has ceased to be similar to themselves losing in the next round to Fulham. Although the team won later, it was not confident. Yes, MU became champion. Yes, it got into the finals of the Champions League. But it got, not reached despite the apparent confident victory only at first glance in the semifinal match of the response to the "Arsenal" with the score 3:0. This is score of so much perfect game of "devils" given how many mistakes Arsenal goalkeeper made.
Perhaps many will agree that the current composition of the "red devils" composes the most talented of all the previous ones. The current players are a better composition than the "golden generation" of "mankunians" of 90s of the last century. However, talent is a talent, but watching the final match, the lack of spirit and desire to fight to the end was obvious. For an instance, you can remember the Champions League Final 99, when MU, playing to the last minute, grabbed victory from Munich's Bavaria.
In this season of success, such success of MU a decade ago, was made Barcelona, but only in the semifinal stage, where a magnificent Iniesta brought blaugranas - a voucher to final of the League at the end of the response semifinal meeting with the London's Chelsea kicking at the 4th extra minutes.
Many imagined the final game Ronaldo-Messi clash. The first did his utmost to kick a goal, but he failed ... He played more relaxed, confident and as a result brought the team a second goal and ninth goal in his personal scorers of Champions League. On the other hand, I think it was more fight of Ferguson-Guardiola. Experience, pragmatic, prudence against the youth, passion and lust for victory. Yes, lust for victory. Otherwise karalonians could have not have reached "golden triple". The team won the Champions League, the Championship and Cup in Spain.
"Mankunians" struggle with katalonians' ended up with the victory of the latter. "Red Devils" (who were "white devils" this time) capitulated.
The losers were head down and the winners were celebrating the triumph. "Barsa" this season can be described only in one sentence - "veni, vidi, vici", ie - "Came, saw, conquered."