So the date is set, the teams have earned the right to be there, and oh my goodness, we could not have wished for a better final. Man United play Barcelona for the Champions League trophy at Wembly, England.
Barcelona are an incredible team, they are by far the best team in the world, and have proved it again. They are 8 points clear in La Liga,sure to win the league, and disposed of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid with ease in the semi finals of the champion's league. It was not a spectacle for the wonderful football we were hoping to see. The managers had a war of words, the players all had a turn to insult one another, and the ref. If that was not enough, the players seemed to be auditioning for something awful that could star Jean Claude Van Damme and Opera... It was not memorable for the right reasons, except for the footballing genius's (Messi) wonder goal in the 1st leg.
Barcelona are a very well oiled machine that play a wonderful brand of football. Their players play for one another and most of them are humble. Barcelona have 3 of the world's best players in Messi, Iniesta and Xavi. They have an unmatched passing game and they have a wonderful football philosophy. You cannot help but watch them without respecting what Pep Guardiola has created.
Everyone often forgets Guardiola has developed the style, the Barcelona style, and the swagger to which his team have become known for. They have a fantastic manager that allows his players to express themselves and as a result often play teams out of the game with their possession, patience and movement. They are almost perfect...
Man United offer a similar footballing philosophy. They attack until the last minute and they also use youth and develop their own identity. Man United has a never say die attitude, a mental strength and football maturity that has seen them reach 3 Champions League finals in 4 years. Man United are a team that are written off every year, and every year Sir Fergi's men prove that they have what it takes to compete, even if its not pretty at times. Sir Fergi rotated his squad and his "second string" did the business for him last night. United's "backup" players proved that they are worthy in the Semi Final. I am happy to tell you, even Anderson scored. Before, that boy couldn't hit a barn door from 2 meters away. The 2 goals he scored was only his 3rd and 4th in 4 seasons at United. Hardly prolific. Man United's young guns had too much class for the German hopefuls and thumped them 4-1 on the night, and 6-1 on aggregate to reach Wembly on the 28th of May.
Man United are the only team to go the entire team Champions League season without conceding an away goal. That is an amazing achievement. I am not sure if that has ever happened before?
What makes it even more amazing is that they used a player that has no Champions league experience at centre back for most of the games and reached the final. That player is Chris Smalling, only 21. This boy has a great future ahead of him.
Man United have a fantastic composure about them, and they showed against Chelsea that they have enough patience to wait for their moment to strike. They are well organized and very difficult to break down. They are going to need that quality if they are going to beat this Barcelona team.
I get the feeling that most people have already given Barcelona the trophy. That suites me. Man United are often written off, and have it all to prove to people at times.
Man United's midfield have been written off, and been called "not good enough", and "2nd rate compared to Barcelona's". That may be true on paper, but those players are perfect for the game plan that Barcelona play. Maybe, Man United have the right type of players in midfield for the type of game plan that is needed to beat Barcelona. I am talking of experienced, organized, hard working players that have an eye for a through ball and goal.
Barcelona played Man United off the park in 2009, and deserved to win the Champions League trophy that year. Something in my gut is telling me that Man United's maturity, patience, organisation and will to win could just see the Red Devils home against all the odds in 2011. Don't send the trophy to Catalonia just yet, I have a feeling Chicharito's match day prayers may be answered.
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