Barca-ManUtd. hmh. First time a team makes 2 straight finals. Impressive Ferguson stuff indeed. Naturally, I hope Barca lifts the trophy!

Milan, Valencia and Juve have all made it to 2 finals in a row, unless I'm very much mistaken...

They have ... But none have made it in the new format .. I think ?

Milan: 1993, 94, 95,
Juventus: 96, 97, 98,
Valencia: 2000, 01

Milan, Valencia and Juve have all made it to 2 finals in a row, unless I'm very much mistaken...

If they pull if off it's going to be the most amazing achievement I've watched in football.

They are a team built on debt but still... winning the CL twice in a row while also grabbing the championship in today's football seems impossible. And the silly CWC makes it all the more difficult because it forces the team to play a very compact schedule. Just check the 3 previous CL winners, 'fool, Barcelona and Milan were all eliminated in the round of 16 the year after they won the CL!

Sacchi is the last coach to win back-to-back European Cups but he did not win the championship in those two seasons.

Even if they lose, it would not change much in my mind I still consider it an unbelievable accomplishment.

Flash game: Help Drogbaby Slap The Ref!

Ha-ha! I love these!!

Iniesta and Xavi were out of this World.

In much, much better news.. Barca 2-0 United!

I thought you were rooting for Man U

They're always looking for trouble and the police have done nothing at all to try and stop it. As I've said before, if this was in England, for the amount of times it's happened, we'd have been kicked out. I think the FA should seriously consider boycotting European competition.

Silly subs by SAF there... he knows better than me that football is not as simple as "we'll bring on two forwards since we're losing"!

"Two United fans were arrested for assaulting bystanders and police in Campo de Fiori, a historic piazza and popular tourist hangout. Police said the men were drunk despite a ban on alcohol sales imposed by authorities in areas including the city center and near the stadium."

It's not the same I know but you are going "the whole world is against us" there.

Sweeeett!!!

It was a very good game! This has to be the most "talented" final in history. And the result was even better. I thought United would win it but they were simply outclassed tonight, Barcelona were clearly better.

Silly subs by SAF there... he knows better than me that football is not as simple as "we'll bring on two forwards since we're losing"!

Like Kurt said Iniesta and Xavi were amazing! I would add Puyol, he was very good, never lost a fight and was great going forward too. I just love all these three but Puyol more. I'd love to see him come to Milan but now that I think of it again, he'd better stay at Barcelona where he'll get the sending off he deserves...

Did CRy baby cry? He was booed when he received his medal and I think he deserved it for his attitude in the game. Did you notice Berlusconi saying something to his ear when they shook hands? I bet he told him something about Milan! Same with Eto'o. The man was trying to sign a player during their celebrations!

Barcelona have been great this season, surely the most entertaining team I have watched play and their win is great because United are also a great team!!

Messi for Ballon d'Or!!!

Subs weren't the problem, well, bringing Tevez on was. But Anderson.. he's ****, he shouldn't be at United, yet starts. Park only started because he missed out last year, there's no room for sentiment in football matches that big.


Nah, it wasn't a World vs us comment. Italy, or Rome particularly, cause alot of trouble at football games. Of course there's a few idiots that start fights, it happens at 99% of fotball matches. But to start trouble and stab people when your teams not involved? That's when it shows just how big a problem it is. How Roma have never been kicked out of Europe is a joke.

...how do you know they were Roma fans? Could have been Lazio...

Nah, it wasn't a World vs us comment. Italy, or Rome particularly, cause alot of trouble at football games. Of course there's a few idiots that start fights, it happens at 99% of fotball matches. But to start trouble and stab people when your teams not involved? That's when it shows just how big a problem it is. How Roma have never been kicked out of Europe is a joke.

I agree Messi was not at his best, but apart from the goal he was good in team work. he didn't succeed as an individual who makes runs, take shots, etc. for himself.

And Ronaldo is distancing himself from that big game choker title as far as I'm concerned. might have been his age but he's doing quite OK against big sides now. still was not consistent throughout the whole game tonight. in the 1st half was very good, in the 2nd half not much. but no one else in Man U was so he can't be blamed except for his hotheadedness.

Last season I didn't mind Man U winning it at all because of Giggs and Scholes but this time around I had no sympathetic feeling even for them whatsoever.

I don't seem to recall any incidents other than against English teams in Rome. It shouldn't happen, definetly and all the condolences in the world to the victims family. No disrespect though, but English fans have a reputation for causing trouble everywhere they go. It's not that long ago that Liverpool fans trashed Madrid. When you're out for trouble like that then you increase the chances something bad happens by alot. It's not like some English guy comes walking down the streets in Rome with a camera, a tourist booklet, and his kids while eating icecream, then a big bad Italian comes and stabs him while shouting 'hail satan'. It seems to be that picture that's painted by the English media though.

like trying to score a 'Hand of god' goal against Zenit earlier this year.. Don't give anything to a guy like that.

I think the FA should seriously consider boycotting European competition.

I'm kicking myself because I had no idea the game was on today (thought it was tomorrow). I don't think Man U has been picked apart like that from start to finish in a CL final before.

And to think that Barca brought home the gold right after dumping Ronaldinho on our doorstep. Who has the last laugh now?

According to Martin Tyler who commentates for Sky Sports, he says Platini is moving all CL finals to a Saturday from next year on, that's a shame, Wednesday night finals are great.

How Roma have never been kicked out of Europe is a joke.

Unfortunately, there's too much money involved to take such a drastic measure.

Guardiola's Mazzone invitation
Wednesday 27 May, 2009
Barcelona boss Josep Guardiola has invited veteran Italian Coach Carlo Mazzone to be his guest at the Champions League Final.

The Spanish giants will square off with Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome for European football's biggest prize.

And Guardiola wants Mazzone, who led him at Brescia in 2001-02, to be present for the mouthwatering encounter.

“I received a call and was invited to the Champions League Final at the Stadio Olimpico,” Mazzone said on Rai.

“I asked who was calling and he said 'It's me, Pep Guardiola.' At first I thought it was somebody joking around.

“But then I realised that it was a genuine call and I am really moved by it. Pep always was a marvellous lad.”

::channel4::

guardiola has dedicated barca's champions league victory to Italian football and Paolo Maldini. He says that if Maldini plays on, and would ever wish to move, he would always have a place in Pep's team.

How can Roma be kicked out of Europe for things that happen outside the stadium!??


I don't see the point in it anyway. If the English sides feel they're wronged in any way they should go, they're not going to be missed. The Italian or Spanish sides would not be missed either. If all were to go it would be a problem for UEFA but I don't see the point in leaving the competition at all.

Outside? Their fans have caused various riots inside the stadium in the past, including having games called off.

I think they would be missed. I'd hazzard a guess that about 66% of all semi finalists have been English in the last 5 or so years.

Why leave the competition? Some things are bigger than football. We get fans stabbed to death, or near, everytime we travel to Italy. It's not fair on people who want to follow their team, getting their lives put in danger.

Anyways, is this the first time United have lost in the CL since the SF in the San Siro?

Just saw that here. That's classy! It's not easy to remember others when you're on the top and Guardiola truly is there after winning the first ever treble in Spanish football. What's easy is to call yourself special...

Thanks Pep!!!

You've never heard of any other trouble in Rome, I'm sorry but that comment is pretty outrageous.

Also, you're last comment is interesting. I feel it's the other way around, it seems that English fans being terrible and whatnot is something painted by the media in other countries due to the hooliganism of the late 80s and early 90s. Just look at how many deaths, trouble and even fights there are before, during and after Italian football, even the players get involved. I'm not saying al of Italy is bad and all of England is good, it's not. But I do find that it doesn't seem to matter which European sides play in Rome, there's often trouble. Obviously it gets reported more when it's English sides because most people on here speak English, so we're going to hear about it more.

Something I do agree with though..


Which is why Maradona is a loser, regardless of his talent.

Yep. Man U went unbeaten in the '07-08 campaign. It was also the first time they were eliminated at any time in the competition since the 3-0 San Siro thrashing.

I don't think the subs were the bad point, I think the selection was. I mean Park? Not for the final. Tevez should have started up top and Ronaldo on the right, I mean if "it 'aint broke..." Everytime I've seen Ronaldo in that position he hasn't performed well, I remember Fergie doing it last season against Barca and it failed. I do believe Ronaldo was the best player in a United shirt and somewhat surprisingly the one who seemed to be putting the most work/effort into it, whether he will be playing in another United shirt, I somewhat doubt.

Messi was ok, I mean he did score, other than that quiet. Never set it alight but yes he did score, at least he's done something in a big game involving an English team now. However, Iniesta and Xavi were on another level, there simply isn't a better midfield in the world.

Barca fully deserved their win. They simply outclassed United. I do think if Fergie put a different starting 11 out it would have been a far closer match, but from what he has done for the club, who could ever argue?

Still, Milan will be in it next season and will give me a far greater interest into the competition again.

And to think that Barca brought home the gold right after dumping Ronaldinho on our doorstep. Who has the last laugh now?

Don't know why you would have any kind of sympathy for Paul Scholes. In my opinion he's a disgrace to the game. Did you see his tackle on Busquets? He tried to brake his leg... he generally behave unsportsmanslike, and always have been like that, like trying to score a 'Hand of god' goal against Zenit earlier this year.. Don't give anything to a guy like that.

And to think that Barca brought home the gold right after dumping Ronaldinho on our doorstep. Who has the last laugh now?

Which is why Maradona is a loser, regardless of his talent.

Blog: Euro master-class

Barcelona rule Europe after stylishly conquering Man Utd. Steve Wilson hopes Coaches around the peninsula noted the manner of their victory
Barcelona rule Europe for a third time. The Catalans, who have the flag of Saint Jordi on their badge, slayed the English dragon and answered the prayers of most non-English fans around the continent by beating Manchester United.

The simple fact is that this decade – in which England’s Premier League has apparently become the best in the world – ends with the League owning just two European Cups. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Milan each have that many on their own from the past 10 years. Some domination.

But enough gloating at the expense of the self-proclaimed Best League In The World™ - although I could go on, and on – what I really want to talk about is the manner of Barcelona’s victory.

Pep Guardiola – a graduate of Serie A, even if it was just a handful of games for Brescia and Roma – has his side playing with amazing self-confidence and patience. The thing that struck me most about their performance was their willingness to build from the back and wait for the right scoring chance to present itself. They never seemed rushed, never panicked.

How often did we see Inter throwing the ball forward to Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Manchester United and hoping the Swede would perform some magic on his own? And how often did we see Ibra thwarted and the ball straight back into the Red Devils control?

The Nerazzurri were so eager to get to goal and to be on the front foot, but when each move broke down it meant they had to fight and scrap to win the ball back again. It didn’t have to be that way. What we saw in Rome is perhaps as important a shake up of tactics as the Dutch ‘Total Football’ in the 1970s.

You cannot lose if you have the ball. That is Guardiola’s Blaugrana mantra. Every time they probed forward and were thwarted they turned back on themselves – sometimes right the way to goalkeeper Victor Valdes – and started all over again.

How often can you remember watching a game live and hearing fans around you shout and heckle a back pass? “We are shooting the other way!” is a favourite moan at my local ground, but after the 2009 Champions League Final I hope fans – and Coaches – begin to realise the value of possession football.

It is an approach that we already saw work for the Spaniards in the semi-final. Against Chelsea they battled and battled right up until the 90th minute, waiting for the right chance to open up. As the seconds ticked away and their dreams of going to Rome slipped away they refused to break their game-plan.

Never resorting to hit-and-hope they knew that if they kept passing and kept moving they would find that one golden chance. And they did. One shot, one goal, and Andres Iniesta sends them on their way. It is beauty over brawn, brains over barbarism – and I love it.

At all levels we see attacking players whipping in a hopeful cross, or running down a blind alley in the hope of beating the last defender only to hand the ball straight to their opponents – last night we saw the alternative.

The slower pace of the Italian game would be perfect for this patient and measured approach to the sport and I sincerely hope Jose Mourinho & Co took note. Sure, it helps to have players like Xavi, Lionel Messi and Iniesta, but I believe adopting this methodology could be the first step towards bringing the glory nights back to Italy.

Spot on. especially the underlined paragraph pretty much reminded me of how we play.

They were the champions last year Believe or not, but we went an entire campaign without getting eliminated in 07.

He is not a loser, he scored the greatest solo goal in history in the very same game