Ben Foster has agreed a four-year deal with Manchester United and the Champions are on the verge of signing Bordeaux winger Gabriel Obertan.

Foster has signed a 4 year contract with the Red Devils that will keep him as a player till 2013. Meanwhile Gabriel is undergoing a medical which if he clears then the 20-year-old will make a dream move to United. Foster career has not been great as injuries kept him away from playing but a four-year contract has certainly boosted England international morals.

Foster missed a lot of the season due to a injury in his right thumb due to which he had to undergo a surgery. Due to that he was forced to sit on bench for important matches like the Champions League final which the Champions eventually lost to Barcelona and also England World Cup Qualifiers.

Foster signing a new deal has made Sir Alex Ferguson (Manager) happy as he needed a backup for Edwin Van Der Sar. He also said that he is a great young goalkeeper in England and is the best alternative after Van Der Sar.

Foster wants to be the number one for the Champions whenever van der sar decides to retire but he will face a tough competition with Tomasz Kuszczk. He said that he is happy that he will be playing with United and said that I will have a great future with the Champions.

Foster arrived from Stoke City in 2005 and from then onwards he had made only 10 appearances for the club. But he took his chance given to him that of playing in the final of Carling Cup and also became a hero after saving some of the important penalties of Tottenham Hostpur and lifted the Cup with the Champions.

Foster was allowed to go to Watford where he helped them to gain promotion to the Barclays Premier League. When he returned back to United he had to undergo a surgery for a cruciate knee ligament keeping him out for almost one whole year.

Obertan who has been linked heavily with Inter Milan and Arsenal is closing near to be joining United. United have agreed a £3million fee for the France Under-21.

Barcelona reign supreme in Rome part II

A classy Barcelona side beat an unconvincing Manchester United side 2-0 in the Champions League Final at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night. Although both Manchester United and Barcelona are two of the top teams in Europe, it was the former and reigning Kings of Europe who the British media praised so highly prior to the match in Rome. And it was indeed the British media who confidently tipped the men from Manchester to be crowned Champions of Europe once again on Wednesday night. However it was not to be.

Although it’s easy to look back in hindsight and say “I always knew Barcelona would win” – I actually had tipped the Catalans to take the glory at the Stadio Olimpico almost as far back in March, and more so after Liverpool had been knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea in an epic encounter (see ‘An Iconic Night in European Football’ for more information on the Chelsea v Liverpool quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge). I really felt that Liverpool or Barcelona were the only teams who would go on to win this year’s Champions League. Bias is to some extent one of primary reasons for the reasoning behind why I felt Liverpool would win but it’s also attributed to their dominating and confident style of play this year which saw them, for example, maul Real Madrid in the Champions League. In terms of Barcelona, I was well aware of what their form had been like throughout the season in both the Primera Liga and the Champions League – absolutely awesome, and so for me, this year would either see the Catalans or the Merseysiders crowned Champions of Europe.

Of course when Liverpool were knocked out by Chelsea in the quarter-finals, there was only one other team which were going to win – and that was Barcelona. But why? What was so awesome and sensational about their form this season which would give them the ability to be able to possibly beat Manchester United? Indeed their ability to win the Champions League against United was heavily questioned when in the semi-final clash against Chelsea, Iniesta scored a goal of the utmost importance in the 90th minute which saw Barcelona controversially go through into the final on away goals. The win sent the British and Spanish press into overdrive with most of the Catalonian press praising Barcelona’s ‘deserved’ and ‘righteous’ win (it was ‘God’s will’ some even exclaimed), whereas the British and Madrid press harped on about the number of penalties Chelsea were not awarded.

Moving away from the controversial way in which Barcelona reached the final, one thing was clear for me: Barcelona had just as much chance to win the final as Manchester United. If we look at their form in Primera Liga it’s clear to see why. Throughout this season it was quite normal for Barcelona to thrash teams by at least three, four or even five goals to nil (that includes the top teams like Real Madrid who they utterly embarrassed at the Santiago Bernabéu 6-2 recently). Throughout their domestic season Barcelona made every team fear playing them and although Real Madrid should be thoroughly applauded for the fight-back they achieved to take the title to the wire, in reality it was only ever going to go to the Catalans.

Even during the early stages of the Champions League Barcelona made headlines with their pasting of French champions Lyon and German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Although Chelsea were severely unlucky not to have gone through to the final (a mixture of luck and questionable refereeing), when the match-up between Barcelona and Manchester United was confirmed, I knew United had their work cut out if they were going to walk away victorious – not least because Barcelona had this new winning mentality honed in by their new manager Pep Guardiola and not least because Manchester United had won the Premier League this season on the back of Liverpool and Chelsea’s inability to remain consistent throughout the season.

But in the build-up to the Champions League final, naturally, all of the British press and football pundits on Sky and ITV were backing United. No problem there – but what I did have a problem with (and what really annoyed the socks off of me) was certain statements being spurted out at every opportunity which I felt were quite misinformed and simply not justified but used to back the reasoning behind why the Red Devils were clear favourites to win. Here are just a few:

“The Primera Liga is not as good as the Premier League and so Barcelona may be lead into believing that they are performing at an incredible level this year in their domestic league, but when up against the best of the English league they will not be able to contend.”

“Barcelona got to the Champions League final not having had to play against the best teams.”

I heard such comments regurgitated by people who don’t really know too much about football in general (but were just expressing the ‘common’ view), football fans and also interestingly by football professionals on the TV and in newspapers. In the build-up to the final all I heard was almost too much praise and confidence in Manchester United’s ability to quite easily win and the same quite negative and misinformed comments about Barcelona’s inability to win.

Hearing such comments annoyed me – I felt that these comments were carelessly thrown around the British media without any well researched basis to them. Let’s have a look at some of these comments to see why I got a bit frustrated hearing them uttered so often.

Ok so many people for various reasons (which we need not trouble with ourselves here) believe that the Premier League is currently considered to be one of the toughest leagues in the world. Indeed many football pundits quite regularly say that it is the best league in the world at the moment because of it’s physical and competitive nature. The Premier League of course has a ‘Big Four’ – those teams in the league who regularly end the season in the top four positions – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. And then you’ve got the rest of the teams in the league. But although there is a gap between the ‘Big Four’ and the rest of the teams in the league, any team, regardless of their position in the league can put up a good fight against any of the ‘Big Four’. It is true that you wouldn’t want to place a bet on Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea being beaten by teams much lower down the Premier League table very often but you will see teams like West Ham, for example, often make it difficult for the ‘Big Four’ to win so easily.

In the Primera Liga the football style is quite different to that of the Premier League – it is much more tactical and based around ‘pass’ football. In the Primera Liga you have the four or five top teams but in reality we could say there is a ‘Big Two’ – Real Madrid and Barcelona, who consistently dominate the league. There is quite a gap between these two Spanish giants and the rest of the teams in the Spanish league and often you’ll see teams lower down in the league simply ‘accept defeat’ so to speak before the whistle has even been blown to indicate the start of a match (by ‘accept defeat’ what I’m really saying is that teams lower down in the league will sometimes not put up a good enough fight against teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona, simply choosing to defend rather than get forward and often making it a bit too easy for such teams to take all three points from a match).

So because Manchester United were crowned the Premier League champions this season and of course have dominated the English league over the past 20 years – the league which so many believe to be ‘the best’, and because Primera Liga is not thought of as being in the same sphere as the English league at the moment, many football pundits used this to justify why United were clear favourites to win the clash against Barcelona.

But we have to remember a few things when accepting such reasoning – the Premier League has not always been thought of as the strongest and ‘best league’ and so United’s dominance over it in the past cannot be used to indicate the value of their dominance over it now. And of course United won the league this season not having played extraordinarily well, rather they won it on the back of Liverpool and Chelsea’s inconsistent form. On the other hand Barcelona may play in a league not thought of as currently the ‘best’, but it does not mean that their dominance and utter brilliance in the league this season is not a true representation of their form. The viewpoint that Barcelona were not on the same level as Manchester United because of the differences in the Spanish and English leagues and that Barcelona’s form was nowhere as good as United’s I think was borne out of a lack of understanding of Primera Liga and football pundits watching too many Primera Liga highlights to gather their information on Barcelona rather than following them throughout the season, game in and game out.

In terms of the second comment that Barcelona got to the final not having had to play the best teams – I think a better version is that both Manchester United and Barcelona got to the final playing perhaps below par teams this season – and in any case it evened out. Barcelona for example played Lyon and Bayern Munich in the last 16 and quarter-final stages respectively. Both of these teams have been hugely successful in their respective domestic leagues in previous seasons but this season both Lyon and Bayern Munich did not win their league. Barcelona then played Chelsea in the semi-final stage. Although revived under Guus Hiddink Chelsea did not show convincing play throughout the whole of this season’s Champions League tournament, although they did show a solid performance against Barcelona and were severely unlucky not to have been in the final themselves after losing to Barcelona on away goals.

Manchester United had perhaps the ‘easier’ route to Rome than Barcelona had. First up it was José Mourinho’s Inter Milan – the Serie A champions who failed to live up to expectations against United at Old Trafford. Manchester United’s next opponents, Portuguese champions Porto, although giving United a bit of a fright in the 2-2 match at Old Trafford could not convert their away goals advantage into a win in their home tie. United then played Arsenal in the semi-final stage. There is no denial here from even Arsenal fans – The Gunners seriously lacked a consistent form all season in the Premier League, ending in fourth position (and were lucky Aston Villa could not remain consistent throughout the season or else Villa would have snatched fourth place from Arsenal). In reality however what with their form Arsenal were never going to contend against United in the Champions League semi-final clash.

The point is that both teams got to the final one way or another, and both deserved to be there because both had showed enough class throughout the competition. So the idea that Barcelona had not been ‘tested’ enough in the Champions League and indeed not ‘tested’ enough in Primera Liga is not justified. That Barcelona’s superb form all throughout the 2008-09 Primera Liga season was a ‘mirage’ because of the weaknesses of the Spanish league and that Manchester United’s form in the Premier League was automatically superb because of the perception that the English league is the best is quite misinformed. And in the final it was clear to see how misinformed such viewpoints were.

Barcelona simply outclassed and outshone a weak Manchester United in the final and should have never been underestimated by the British press in the first place. In some respects, such misinformed comments stem from a lack of proper knowledge on the Spanish league – unless you keep up-to-date with the league by watching every Barcelona match and do not rely on match highlights to form your judgements on a club’s form, I do not think football pundits should so freely and rather carelessly make such statements as I’ve discussed in this blog.

But then again football is all about bias – of course the British football pundits were backing Manchester United – they were England’s representative in the Champions League final. And when it comes down to it – even football professionals will be inclined to selectively use the relevant statistics, facts and viewpoints to show how United would be the favourites to win the clash. Even I try hard to remove myself from my love for Liverpool enough to be able to write an unbiased blog on their honest form in a match. But with or without a personal preference for a team football professionals should at least try and give a balanced and well-researched build-up to something like the Champions League final because at the end of the day, in this instance, both teams were good enough to go on and win. And the shock that the British press felt the day after the final when Manchester United lost would not have been so prominent had the British press given Barcelona the praise they deserved to have in the first place.

Vaishali Bhardwaj 07.06.09

The theme this week is the Champions League final. Another chance to look back at a brilliant Barcelona team beating Man Utd but more specifically an opportunity to focus on the prima donna that is Cristiano Ronaldo. Well an opportunity for me at least:

"This will never work C-Ron." "Just shut up Titi, and smuggle me to Spain before Fergie sees me."

Oh and as a bonus, have some playground humour too…

Admit it, you think the same.

The rest of this week’s gallery can be found here.

T.

Past entries.

 
 
 
My life does take some bizarre twists and turns. You may recall I mentioned about six months ago I commentated on a football match which was broadcast live on TV in Indonesia. Well, the producer that day rang me up and asked me to go to London this week and narrate a documentary about the footballer Kanu and the charity he runs. When or where this film will be broadcast I really don’t know but it was a pleasure to do.
 
*****
 
Talking of bizarre things… I had my arse waxed last Saturday. I was only planning to have my back done and eyebrows tidied up by Sylvia at Tantalize in Madeley but we got a bit carried away. The details of the waxing are not overly pleasant, especially as you might be eating while reading this, but it didn’t hurt as much as I thought. At one point, as the wax was being smeared and my backside was poking upwards, I said to Sylvia: “Don’t worry – I’m not going to fart.” It lightened the tension.
 
I’m having a manicure and pedicure this weekend (as Dale and I are off to Ibiza soon after and I like to be all clean and tidy) and am considering having my toenails painted pink. When I mentioned this to Dale, his face was a picture. I think he would’ve been less shocked if doctors told him he could never drink again. I tried to blag that it would be in support of our mate Trudy who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer; pink being the colour most associated with that charity. “You can sit on your own around the pool,” was Dale’s response.
 
I don’t actually think I’d have the bollocks to let someone paint them. Having the hairs ripped out of my ass is one thing but coloured varnish is another. There’s a line which I may have already crossed that probably doesn’t need crossing again.
 
*****
 
Regarding the recent suspected trapped nerve I had in my back, I got this response from my dad: “I’m not surprised – it’s probably the funny positions you get in!” I have no idea what he was on about…
 
*****
 
From the Shropshire Star: “A couple from Telford went on the Jeremy Kyle show and took a lie detector test to see if the man had been cheating. They’ve now announced they’re getting married.”
 
This concerns me on several levels. The woman clearly doesn’t trust him totally – but why air your dirty laundry on a national TV show? They’re obviously a certain type, if you get my meaning. You probably know my take on relationships by now. Why didn’t the bloke just say: “If you trust me, you’ll accept I’m telling the truth and haven’t been unfaithful but if you don’t trust me, why the hell are we still together?”
 
In my opinion, most people are stupid. They over-complicate simple things. You’ve got to have trust. There is no place for jealousy on any level within a relationship – I know some disagree with me but they’re probably those who aren’t as calm and measured in my approach to it. No trust = no point.
 
*****
 
Recent blog reaction:
 
Kristie: “First time I’ve read it for a while [fact] Made me lol a bit [fact – ish does anyone actually laugh out loud when they lol?] I agree with you much love to Trudy, she’s inspirational and amazing [fact!!!!]“
 
Vikki: “Love it love it love it!!! Just looked like a mad-woman at work, laughing and almost crying over your blog! The chav parts and Corndog comments were especially funny!”
 
*****
 
I was kindly invited to the stunning new Showcase Cinema De Lux in Leicester last week as some former Leicester City players took part in a question and answer session. My question to the players afterwards was: “Are we going out drinking?” The answer was: “Yes.” It was a top night.
 
*****
 
I’m not sure I believe in this whole global warming thing. It’s probably just a load of hot air.
 
*****
 
I have now become an official partner of Central Taxis, the number one service in Telford. Call them on 01952 501050 or visit www.501050.co.uk for all your taxi needs. Every customer that makes a booking will automatically get Ringback. Your phone will ring twice to let you know your car will arrive shortly.
 
*****
 
Nightclub news 1: we’ve booked controversial model Jodie Marsh and actor Elliott Tittensor (aka Carl Gallagher from Shameless) as guests on Friday 3rd July at Pussycats. Elliott’s character in Shameless is part of a dysfunctional family living on a rough-as-arseholes council estate. To make him feel at home, we’ve booked him into a B&B in Sutton Hill. (*)
 
(*) Obviously we haven’t really.
 
*****
 
Nightclub news 2: The re-opening of Athena in Telford is set to be in mid-July and it will be called Club Crush. The bar will be called Vox and The Dragons Den is the name of the restaurant in the complex. People keep asking me whether I’ll be DJ-ing there (as it’s part of the Medlink stable which owns Pussycats) but I have no idea.
 
*****
 
My latest photos from Pussycats are in the gallery at www.djwanker.com  – and you can come and follow me at www.twitter.com/djwanker
 
I’m a little bit disappointed that so few people have pledged money for breast cancer research especially as Dale is going to throw himself out of a plane for the charity. Even if you can only spare a couple of quid, it’s appreciated. You can donate here… http://www.justgiving.com/dalelloyd
 
*****
 
In the end, I actually enjoyed Britain’s Got Talent, mainly for the judges and their comments. Diversity were brilliant and worthy winners and Julian Smith, the saxophone guy, was awesome. I thought Stavros Flatley were hilarious – so great to see a father and son having a right laugh together, even if technically it wasn’t a top drawer performance. It was, however, pure entertainment.
 
I’m glad the voting public saw sense and didn’t allow the fruitcake to win. Susan Boyle only became a celebrity a month or so ago and already she’s checked into rehab. She obviously wasn’t right in the head to start with.
 
Scottish … a face like a slapped arse … something not quite right about them … finished second … Susan Boyle or Gordon Brown at the next general election?
 
*****
 
On the subject of watching thoroughly enjoyable things on the telly, let’s talk about football and the Champions League final. I was proudly and fully behind Barcelona and savoured every minute of their glorious win over Manchester United. Facebook was buzzing all night as the United contingent cried their eyes out and everyone else cried with laughter.
 
I remember last year when United beat Chelsea, the *supporters* were crowing, gloating, goading and generally being typically arrogant on Facebook. They didn’t like it this time when they got it back in spades. To illustrate their lack of self-awareness, they lashed out, saying things like: “How can people be cheering on a foreign club against an English side?”
 
Hatred towards United isn’t really borne out of jealousy. Yes, they have amazing players and are fabulously successful but they lack class and humility in most areas. And the plastic fans – glory-hunting, bandwagon-jumping tossers who only follow them because they win a lot – really grind my gears.
 
I support my club, Leicester, first and my country, England, second. I would rather see Leicester win the Premier League or FA Cup (okay, it’s unlikely) than England win the World Cup. I would love England to win the World Cup of course but my club side always comes first.
 
On the night in Rome, the better side won. Barcelona’s victory saved us from the crowing and gloating from the army of plastics. United don’t lose very often but the part-time fans need to understand that it’s about give and take. They gave it when they won in 2008 but couldn’t take it 12 months later. That’s what lets you down. Learn some humility or, better still, learn to support a club you have a real connection with. That’s how you’ll earn respect in the football community.
 
*****
 
Sad news from America – former boxer Mike Tyson is grieving after his four-year-old daughter died in a tragic accident. I would never seek to make light of such a truly horrific thing but you really wouldn’t want to be the doctor breaking the news to Iron Mike.
 
*****
 
A great put-down line, directed at a bloke: “You couldn’t pull a bird in an aviary with a loaf of bread on your head.”
 
*****

And finally – I went out with a girl once and asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She said something with diamonds would be nice. Her face was priceless when she ripped off the wrapping paper and saw I’d bought a packet of playing cards.
 
 
 
Cheers for now,
Geoff / DJ Wanker

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Tantalize Beauty Salon, Madeley 01952 585853
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The Spanish La Liga

Having gone on the pitch without the likes of their biggest stars, the Spanish Champions went down at the half hour mark; but determination and confidence allowed Samuel Eto’o to grab an equalizer seconds before the final whistle.

Click on this link to watch video now!

ehm!!,,

dapet gambar bagus nih,, tentang apa?

let the picture tell its own story

.

.

surely everyone knows the result, but does everyone know how it happened…?!? just see van der sar’s face..!! what a wonderful dumbest-ever face reaction to deal with messi’s deadly header..?!??

haha, might as well as i put this post in ’something stupid’ category…

HAHAHA!!

Before the Rome get conquered, alot had been talked about Barcelona wizard Lionel Messi, his form against the English clubs, his record that do not match to his abilties (10 match without scoring against English clubs).

Messi scored the second goal of the match against Manchester United, his 9th of the champions league this season to win the Golden Boot

However, the Champions League final broken the myth sorrounded around the 21-year old Argentina international. He scored the second goal of the match on Xavi’s cross with a sublime header that went past Edwin Van dar Saar and pronounced his talent to the English media which easily get to the act to make a point that he is just another block, who scores in the La Liga because that is easy to score in.

Well, it also ended the arguement that which football league is better, English or Spanish, on the night of May 27, Rome and neautrals witnessed the Barca’s never compromising technical skills, when Manchester United found itself helpless against a weak Barcelona defense.

The absence of Eric Abidal, Dani Alves and Rafa Marquez had put a lot of pressure on Barca, knowing the Red Devils striking force of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Dimitr Berbatov. They all failed to find the back of net once, even after Ronaldo burst with 2 attempts on the goal.

Samuel Eto’o sent United back in the groove with the first goal in the 10th minute and after that it was Barca all the way, the possessions increased and rhythm accelerated.

The start of second half gave the glimpse that Barcelona had a purpose in the match, to prove themselve better than English clubs and they attacked with aplomb in the first 10 minute of the second half and reaped the fruit when Messi headed one home- Barca 2-0United..In the end the scoreline remained same but It has put an end to the criticism of Messi who has seen a goal drought in his previous outings against the english clubs.

It was a night never to forget at the Stadio Olimpico yesterday in Rome, as Barcelona defeated defending champions Manchester United, in the Champions League final.

Barcelona Win UEFA Cup

Manchester United started the match pretty strongly with Ronaldo making a free kick just after a minute, which almost flew past Valdes. Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck again in the 7th minute, shooting from 35 yards; but unfortunately, his firing wasn’t centered enough to cross the goal line.

The Portuguese winger then came close to scoring two minutes after, as his strike from the edge of the penalty box went just across the face of goal…read more and watch match highlights

Resultado: Barcelona 2-0 Man. United

O Barcelona venceu ontem no Stadio Olímpico de Roma, a Liga dos Campeões UEFA 2008-09, batendo o Manchester United, o campeão em título da competição, por 2-0. Com esta vitória, a equipa catalã igualaram os ingleses no palmarés da prova e juntaram o mais importante troféu europeu de clubes à Liga espanhola e à Taça de Espanha, tudo na primeira época do treinador principal de Josep Guardiola.

O Manchester United chegou à final da “Champions” com um impressionante recorde de 25 jogos sem perder na “Liga Milionária”. Os ingleses entraram bem e fizeram o primeiro remate à baliza, com um livre directo muito perigoso a ser cobrado por Cristiano Ronaldo, livre defendido com dificuldade por Victor Valdés. Este livre surgiu na sequência de uma falta cometida por Yaya Touré sobre Anderson. Ji-Sung Park apenas não conseguiu a recarga com sucesso por ter sido importunado pelo seu ex-companheiro de equipa, Gerard Piqué.

Cristiano Ronaldo tentou surpreender Victor Valdés de longa distância em mais duas ocasiões, mas o Barcelona é que inaugurou o marcador, na primeira oportunidade em que chegou com perigo à área dos campeões ingleses. Iniesta subiu no terreno e colocou a bola na extrema-direita, em Samuel Eto’o. O camaronês fez a bola passar entre as pernas de Vidić e colocou-a entre Edwin van der Sar e o poste mais próximo, de pouco valendo o veterano holandês ainda ter tocado na bola.

Alex Ferguson demorou a alterar a forma de jogar da equipa, que passou a apostar nos passes longos, tentando aproveitar a velocidade de Rooney, Ronaldo e Park, e a falta de entrosamento e maior lentidão dos defesas catalães, que, ainda assim, voltaram a estar perto de marcar.Primeiro por Lionel Messi e, depois, por Xavi, o último na transformação de um livre directo, com ambos a rematarem à entrada da área e a falharem o alvo por muito pouco.

À passagem da meia-hora, como resultado do seu futebol mais directo, os “red devils” já tinham rematado por oito vezes, seis das quais por Cristiano Ronaldo, contra apenas três remates dos catalães que, por esta altura, com uma melhor ocupação dos espaços e melhor circulação da bola (Xavi acertou 34 dos 37 passes que fez), controlavam as operações com relativa facilidade.

Com o United a ir para os balneários a perder, Alex Ferguson optou por lançar Carlos Tévez no jogo, pondo-o no lugar de Anderson, o que levou Park a recuar para a linha média. Contudo, foi o Barcelona a criar perigo, na sequência de um contra-ataque, com Thierry Henry a trocar os passos a Rio Ferdinand e a rematar para defesa de Edwin van der Sar.

Praticamente no lance seguinte, Xavi cobrou um livre directo, enviando a bola ao poste esquerdo da baliza do Manchester United.

O Barcelona continuou a controlar as operações no meio-campo, como resultado da sua melhor fluidez e ocupação dos espaços e, apesar de Ferguson ter apostado o tudo ou nada no ataque, à procura do empate, com a entrada de Berbatov, quem marcou foi mesmo o Barcelona. A diminuição de elementos na zona intermediária permitiu ainda mais espaço para o talento dos criativos dos catalães, e Xavi aproveitou a liberdade para investir pelo flanco direito e cruzar milimetricamente para o mais improvável dos cabeceadores do Barça, o argentino Lionel Messi. Este saltou sem ter marcação, e fez a bola passar por cima de Van der Sar.

Imediatamente a seguir ao segundo tento do Barcelona, veio o “canto do cisne” do Manchester United. Na sequência de uma bola perdida na área do Barcelona, a bola sobrou para Cristiano Ronaldo junto ao poste mais distante. Contudo, o remate do português encontrou Víctor Valdés no caminho. Entretanto, já Guardiola fizera entrar Seydou Keita para o lugar de Thierry Henry, reforçando a consistência defensiva da equipa e contrariando a aguardada reacção do United, reacção essa que nunca chegaria.

fonte: http://pt.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15280/match=302813/report=rp.html

]]> http://soccerstarsblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/champions-league-final-barcelona-2-0-manchester-united/ Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:31 +0000 EVABZ http://soccerstarsblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/champions-league-final-barcelona-2-0-manchester-united/

Eto'o and Messi

The Match’s best moments

1’ Ronaldo’s free kick almost crosses the goal line, but Barcelona’s defenders come to Valdes’ rescue.

7’ Ronaldo tries his luck from 35 yards out, however, his shot goes wide.

9’ Cristiano Ronaldo makes another dangerous shot on goal – the ball rolls just across the face of goal.

10’ Samuel Eto’o steals the lead for Barcelona with a nice strike inside the penalty area.

12’ Lionel Messi goes down at the edge of the box, but the referee’s allows Manchester United to go away with the ball.

15’ Pique receives a yellow card for a harsh challenge on…what happend next?

Result: Barcelona 2-0 Man. United

FC Barcelona were crowned European champions for a third time – and the second in four seasons – as a vibrant display of pass and move, capped by goals in either half from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi, defeated Manchester United FC in Rome.

Holders toppled
United, bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the UEFA Champions League era, began an open contest at breakneck speed as Cristiano Ronaldo threatened three times. After ten minutes, however, Eto’o put the Spanish champions ahead and they never looked back. Xavi Hernández struck a post early in the second period and, though the clinching second goal did not arrive until the 70th minute – via, unusually, the head of Messi – Josep Guardiola’s side were worthy winners. The 38-year-old becomes the sixth man to lift the European Champion Clubs’ Cup as player and coach; United are the sixth club to lose the final as holders.

Relentless Ronaldo
Fourteen of the players who started the game had featured in a UEFA Champions League final before, yet initially it seemed United’s experience would prove more telling. Ronaldo made his presence felt by unleashing a dipping free-kick that Víctor Valdés could only parry; former United defender Gerard Piqué’s last-ditch tackle prevented Ji-Sung Park from converting the rebound. Ronaldo then had Valdés scrambling across goal twice in as many minutes with shots from distance. If an early breakthrough looked imminent, disastrously for United it arrived when Barcelona struck with their first real attack.

Eto’o brilliance
Fit-again Andrés Iniesta was the orchestrator, finding Eto’o inside the area, but there was still plenty for the striker to do with Nemanja Vidić in close attendance. One swift turn inside the centre-back later, Eto’o was free to prod a shot inside Edwin van der Sar’s near post. United’s vocal supporters were stunned into silence and their team mirrored that reaction, with Barcelona enjoying the better of the half thereafter. Perhaps not surprisingly against the competition’s best defence, however, clear chances were at a premium. Long-range efforts from Messi and Xavi, and a low Messi cross fumbled by Van der Sar, were the best Barça could muster.

United reprieves
Sir Alex Ferguson had said beforehand that his best team-talks “usually come to me about three in the morning” and the Scot sorely needed inspiration in his half-time instructions, opting to introduce Carlos Tévez for Anderson. This did little to stem the tide. Thierry Henry tricked his way past Rio Ferdinand only to shoot weakly against Van der Sar before Xavi curled a free-kick beyond the keeper, the post coming to United’s rescue. Then Wayne Rooney’s right-wing centre bounced over Park’s lunge as the holders began to edge their way back into proceedings, disrupting Barcelona’s rhythm though creating little of their own.

Messi decisive
Twenty minutes from time, that hard work was undone. Xavi was allowed to advance down the right; with time and space, the midfielder measured a pinpoint cross for Messi, enjoying similar freedom, and the UEFA Champions League’s top scorer produced a fabulous header for his ninth goal of this campaign. Valdés promptly denied Ronaldo to preserve the two-goal cushion, yet the better openings continued to come at the other end – Van der Sar frustrating Carles Puyol twice and Iniesta. Sir Alex therefore missed out on joining Bob Paisley as the only manager to lift three European Cups. Instead, Guardiola’s superbly inventive Barça became the first Spanish side to win league, cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season.

in:http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15280/match=302813/report=rp.html

Todo empezó hace mucho tiempo, por allá al principio de los noventa, donde un maestro del fútbol llamado Johann Cruyff engendró a su discípulo, un chaval de Santpedor, Pep Guardiola. El chico bebió fútbol y se empapó de la esencia de un equipo al que le llamaban el Dream Team, el equipo de los sueños que ganó la Copa de Europa en Wembley y le metío un 5-0 al eterno rival Romario mediante. Los años pasaron y el chico fue creciendo hasta que llegó lo que parecía ser el ocaso. Me acuerdo cuando le vi decir por la televisión: “Llamaré a la puerta en Italia, llamaré a la puerta en Inglaterra, llamaré a la puerta en Francia… y estaré donde me la abran”. El chico, que ya había crecido acabó en un país lejano y ya nada se volvió a oír de él, pero muchos guardaron su recuerdo en el corazón.

El Barça, su equipo tuvo durante un tiempo malas temporadas, después llegó Rijkaard y un Ronaldinho eléctrico y nos dio la segunda Champions y dos ligas, pero el proyecto se hundió pronto y hubo dos temporadas secas. Entonces, otro talento del fútbol de la escuela de Cruyff, llamado Txiki Beguiristain se acordó de un chaval que había nacido en el Barça, que prendó el corazón de la gente, que sabía hacer sólo lo que sabía hacer: crear fútbol. La puerta tardó en abrirse pero se abrió, y esta vez, un chaval casado y con dos hijos entró en el banquillo azulgrana, no como suplente sino como entrenador.

El Barça comenzó jugando como lo venía haciendo en los dos últimos años. El tradicional aficionado culé comenzaba a quejarse y a rechistar. Pep sólo pedía paciencia, porque para las obras de arte se necesita mucha paciencia. Y de ahí que el cuadro que pintó en el Calderón fuera un 6-1, y luego lo serían todos los demás: llegó el eterno rival y le ganamos en casa. Fuimos nosotros al templo del eterno rival, el Santiago Bernabéu, y les cayeron 6, sí 6, además de un chorreo, de un baño, de una paliza, de un partidazo, de un fútbol mágico, de un gran equipo… Era el dos de mayo de 2009 y el Barça entraba de nuevo en la historia. El juego de Pep se fue cociendo y encontró su punto, con otros chavales nacidos de su misma casa: Gerard Piqué, Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Carles Puyol y compañía. No salen en pasarelas de moda, ni muerden al árbitro, ni les acosan los fotógrafos. Son futbolistas y hacen lo que saben hacer: jugar al fútbol y mejor que nadie.

El 6 de mayo de 2009, llegaba este Barça a Stamford Bridge, cansado por la resaca de hacía cuatro días. El Chelsea no dejó opciones y quería dejar al mejor equipo del mundo sin ganar el trofeo que se merecía el mejor equipo del mundo. Pero no fue así, porque la fortuna sonríe a los valientes, y el campeón es dueño de la suerte. En el minuto 92, el candidato al FIFA World Player, un niño de Albacete, rompió por la escuadra en lo que sería el golazo del siglo, que celebré como recordaré toda mi vida. La RAE incluso se planteó incluir la palabra “Iniestazo” en su diccionario, y la euforia se desató porque íbamos a Roma.

Pero antes de llegar al Coliseo donde aguardaba la gloria hubo que pasar por Mestalla donde con un fácil 4-1 al mejor estilo de la máquina de Pep, nos llevamos el primer título. La Liga cayó por derribo, el mismo Madrid nos la dio. Teníamos ya un doblete y un juego envidiable, pero faltaba la guinda. La espera se hizo eterna pero llegó el día, ayer, 27 de mayo de 2009: el mejor Barça de la historia llegaba a Roma para coronarse emperador del fútbol mundial ante un Manchester que se rindió a la evidencia. Primero Eto’o, después el mejor jugador del mundo, Leo Messi, voló de cabeza hacia el balón de oro con el segundo. Clase de reyes.

El árbitro pitó el final. El sueño ya no era un sueño, era la realidad: el Barça conseguía el triplete por primera vez en la historia del fútbol español, conseguía su tercera Copa de Europa, conseguía hacer llorar de alegría a millones de personas en todo el mundo, conseguía que Canaletes estuviera a reventar por quinta vez en un sólo mes. Y el autor del sueño fue ese chaval de Santpedor y sus gladiadores, un mago del fútbol, un maestro de maestros, que hace que el Barça sea ahora un equipo al que le llaman Pep Team, como el de Johann… mejor, por encima de los horizontes que jamás Johann y los suyos pudieran haber imaginado. Felicidades Pep, felicidades Barça.

I was cheering on Manchester Utd last night.  But there wasn’t much to cheer about.  Barca, and in particular Messi, Xavi and the utterly outstanding Iniesta sent them homewards to think again.

Credit to Alex Ferguson at the end of the match.  He acknowledged that Manchester Utd (whom English commentators insist in calling The Greatest Team on Earth) were soundly beaten by the better team and that his young team would learn from the experience.  The trouble is Barca (with the exception of a few notables such as Henri and Puyol) are hardly geriatrics.

What’s more, Barca had no more than a makeshift defence and a goalie that was supposed to be a weak link.  I’d hate to think what might have been the outcome if Barca’s defence had been at full strength.  As it happens after the first ten minutes they were barely troubled.

A great match and a peerless performance.

I wonder how great Pep Guardiola will be when he gains some experience!