Barca vs Man Utd

By Nick Roberts

Barcelona versus Manchester United. The European Cup final. It was billed by many to be the “game of games”; a game that would match up the two best football sides on the surface of this planet in an epic battle royale. Yet the sad reality of last night’s final was that only one of these footballing monoliths came to the party, as Manchester United’s 25 game unbeaten run in Europe came to a shuddering halt at the final hurdle.

With the whole world watching, Sir Alex’s men froze. Surrendering to a slick and domineering Barcelona side, United chucked away the chance to become the first side to retain the Champions League trophy – and simultaneously the right to be called ‘the world’s greatest’.

For Ferguson and his team the stage was set for a ticket to footballing immortality. Before the game, many had seen Barca’s depleted defence as the crux on which this contest would turn. However, in actual fact it was United’s usually imperious defence which creaked and groaned on the big stage.

After battering a painfully nervous Barca for the opening ten minutes, it was a hammer blow for United when Samuel Eto’o latched onto an Andres Iniesta’s pass, jinked inside Nemanja Vidic and fired home. A footballing “rope-a-dope” it seemed. To be sure United had taken the first ten minute round, but Guardiola’s men went on to take the next eight, with the mercurial pairing of Xavi and Iniesta controlling proceedings in the middle.

The goal cushion gave Barcelona licence to relax and play their measured football. No need to panic. By contrast United looked rattled. Devoid of ideas and swamped in the midfield battleground, United’s answer was seemingly for Ferdinand, Vidic and Carrick to play long balls wide and hope for the best. This was not the United we have been used to seeing destroy teams week in , week out, and all this misguided approach ensured was that Barca would soon have the ball back. You can only win games when you have the ball, and the Catalan club went onto give a masterclass in possession play.

But what of the battle taking place in the subtext of this game? Not only was it Barcelona versus United, La Liga versus Premiership, it was Messi versus Ronaldo.

Looking over the 90 minutes, it was hard to separate the pair. Ronaldo had no less than five attempts on goal in the first twenty minutes but looked frustrated for the remainder. Messi showed neat touches but was outshined by his classy midfield counterparts for the majority.

Yet as the clock clicked on to 70 minutes, Messi delivered a knockout blow in his duel with both Ronaldo and Manchester United. In one of those brilliantly poetic moments that live sport gives, my friend had just finished uttering the words, “I’ve got growing suspicions that Messi is a big game bottler”, then suddenly, bang, 2-0. Game, set and match. For those who’ve seen the website, quite simply, “Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat”.

As Xavi picked up the ball on the right flank, the diminutive Argentine pulled away from the attentions of Rio Ferdinand and was able to guide a sumptuous looping header over the beleaguered Edwin Van der Sar. Sending half of the Stadio Olimpico into rapturous abandon, the ultimate tie had been settled.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of all was the inevitability of this outcome. A two goal deficit has never been insurmountable for any of Alex Ferguson’s sides, but for some reason United never looked like overturning this score line. There was no fire, no passion, no talisman driving them on. This was all too clear to see when on 83 minutes, Rio Ferdinand had to shout and bawl just to get a corner taker in situ.

Would United have caved so easily with a Roy Keane in midfield – or even a Darren Fletcher? It is clear this was where the battle was won and lost. Today, Christiano Ronaldo is criticising Ferguson’s tactics. But who is he to question Sir Alex’s record?

Certainly something was amiss. Carrick, Anderson and Giggs were ineffectual; Rooney was left in a left wing wilderness. However, whether this was the fault of the players or the manager is a debate that will rage on.

The smart money for me puts blame at the feet of the players. Too many failed to stand up and be counted when it mattered most. Will the likes of Giggs, Vidic, and Ferdinand wake up this morning thinking they did all they could in Rome? I very much doubt it.