Barca masterclass too good for United
Reuters - Saturday 28 May 2011, 21:38
LONDON - Pep Guardiola's Barcelona
cemented their place in football's pantheon when they overwhelmed
Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League Final to lift the
European Cup for the fourth time on Saturday.
Goals by Pedro, the inspirational Lionel Messi and David
Villa were a minimal reflection of the Spanish side's dominance
over United, who they also beat in the 2009 final, as they lit
up the Wembley night with their brilliance.
GEAR: Get the new Barcelona home shirt with Kitbag. Free delivery on orders over £40
Wayne Rooney briefly levelled the score but United were
powerless to stop Barca making it three European Cup triumphs in
six years.
In an emotional presentation ceremony the giant trophy, for
long the symbol of Barca's existence in the shadow of Real
Madrid, was hoisted by French fullback Eric Abidal, back in
action after an operation to remove a liver tumour in March.
LIVE: Our interactive coverage as it happened
"It's the way we played I'm most proud of," Guardiola said
after his side consistently passed their way through and around
a defence that had previously not conceded a single Champions
League goal away from Old Trafford this season.
"The people watching could see that we not only won but we
played a brilliant match," he added, before picking out Messi
for special praise.
"Messi is the best player I've seen and probably the best I
ever will see," he said of the Argentine man of the match.
"We have great players but he makes the difference and
without him we would not have that difference in quality. He is
unique. A one-off."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had no complaints as his third
final in four years ended with a second defeat.
"Nobody's given us a hiding like that but they deserve it
because they play the right way and they enjoy their football,"
he said after his newly-crowned Premier League champions
mustered only one shot on goal all night.
"We never really controlled Messi but many people have said
that. We never closed the midfield well enough to counter them."
In fact, for the first 10 minutes amid a fantastic
atmosphere, they did - snapping into every tackle and pressing
hard. However, just as in Rome two years ago, Barcelona settled
into their rhythm and soon took control.
United defended desperately at times but were eventually
undone after 27 minutes when Xavi delayed his pass just long
enough to create space for Pedro to calmly tuck the ball beyond
Edwin van der Sar, who endured a night to forget in the final
game of his career.
UNITED UNDONE
United fashioned a well-made equaliser after 34 minutes when
Rooney played a one-two with Ryan Giggs before sweeping the ball
high into the net but if that lifted their spirits going into
half-time it was not long before they were back fighting fires.
After more near misses, Barca duly went ahead in the 54th
minute when United fatally stood off Messi on the edge of the
box and the Argentine maestro drove the ball in for the 53rd and
most important goal of his remarkable season.
It was also his 12th in 13 Champions League games this
campaign, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy's record tally for
United in 2002/03.
Villa then curled a superb 18-metre shot into the top corner
after 69 minutes and it was game over.
While the match was not the showdown many had hoped for,
Barcelona's performance will live long in the memory of all who
saw it and will further fuel the debate about where they sit in
the game's all-time pecking order.
Guardiola, a midfielder for Barcelona when they won the
first of their four European Cups by beating Sampdoria at the
old Wembley in 1992, again refused to be drawn into comparisons,
saying it was impossible to compare his side with the great
teams of previous eras.
Ferguson, in charge of United for 25 years, was at least
prepared to give them top billing in his period at the top.
"Great teams do go in cycles and the cycle they are in at
the moment is the best in Europe," he said.
"In my time as manager I'd say they are the best team I've
faced."