Barcelona wins Champions League

 

 

LONDON

Barcelona lived up to the hype tonight at Wembley Stadium, brushing aside Manchester United in masterful fashion, securing their fourth Champions League title and cementing their legacy as the greatest team of this - or perhaps any - era.
Led by a blitzing Lionel Messi, Barcelona again broke United's hearts, downing them in a final for the second time in three years. Both times the Catalans have done it with such majesty that both here and in Rome, (two years ago) it seemed there was only one team on the field.

Hyperbole? Try fact. United were out-run, out-thought and outplayed in a comprehensive fashion, made all the more startling by the fact that this team had showed real fire and grit in winning their record-setting 19th English crown. But goals from Pedro, David Villa and a sublime winner from Messi shut down the Premier League champs and capped an amazing run that has seen Barcelona win three league titles in a row and two European Cups while forming the heart of Spain's 2008 European Champions and its 2010 World Cup winning side.
"Everyone saw we played a great match," Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola told Spanish TV immediately after the game. "We were delighted to win, but this takes a lot out of you."
Perhaps more telling, Guardiola had the tactical edge over a man thought to be a master of the game. Sir Alex Ferguson's United failed to press, looked afraid at times, and allowed Barcelona to get into their rhythm with such deference that the match might well have been over inside of half an hour.
"We were beaten by a better team," said a clearly disappointed Sir Alex Ferguson. "But there is no shame in losing to Barcelona."
"We never controlled Messi," added Ferguson in a sometimes testy post-game conference. "Barcelona are the best team we have ever faced. No one has given us a hiding like that."

To be fair, there may be no team that can handle this Barcelona side, one that is making a serious case to displace the so-called "Dream Team" of 1992 as the club's best ever. Led by a scorching, harrying performance by Messi, Barcelona left United's two fine center backs - Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic - in a muddle, leaving their great goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at an utter loss.
That said, and to United's credit, Sir Alex Ferguson's men came out to play, and the contest was a riveting one for 70 solid minutes. But the exact same Red Devils lineup that had stunned Schalke in Gelsenkirchen last month found the trick harder to repeat against a team that boasts eight World Cup winners and five of the finest players of their generation. United did not try to foul in the style of Real Madrid, but perhaps they should have. On the night, their midfield tandem of Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs was nearly invisible, a weak link that was ruthlessly torn apart by a fluid, almost serene Barcelona machine fueled by Xavi, Andres Iniesta and the irrepressible Messi.
Messi seemed to relish the occasion more than anyone on the field, with the possible exception of Wayne Rooney. But it was so obvious that Rooney's supporting cast comes nowhere close to matching Messi's that to deservedly praise Rooney for his approach is to simultaneously question the resolve of those beside him.
The stats — usually meaningless in this sport — told the truth tonight. Barcelona had 19 attempts on goal, 12 on target. United had only four, and just one on frame. Barcelona made an astonishing 772 passes, completing 86 per cent of them. United could only manage 419. It’s fortunate that United put their one look on target in the goal - Rooney nicked a lifeline late in the first half out of sheer force of will - but they had no other answers for the swarm that surrounded them.

Messi was the creator, setting up one goal and scoring the match-winner, a 25-yard blinder that deserves to make highlight reels. Collecting a simple tap on from Andres Iniesta, Messi raced towards United's goal like a mad dog, jinked left to create a yard of space, and then blew his shot home. It was genius. Even a chain-link fence wouldn’t have stopped it.
Messi would not have been as potent had it not been for the fulcrum formed by Xavi and Andres Iniesta, two men rightly considered the best passers in the sport. Xavi's assist on the first goal - a seemingly insouciant flick right to Pedro that the scorer buried - was actually a brutal diagonal that took Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Giggs completely out of the play. And Iniesta's little taps, so simple in execution, were truly deadly in effect. And Dani Alves, always standing unmarked on that far touchline? He was the outlet, pulling Park Ji-sung and Patrice Evra out of the game, allowing his midfielders space to roam.
But it does begin and end with Messi. United had to expend so much energy in a futile attempt to contain him that they were unable to muster a response when they most needed it. When Messi seized the game, the jig was up for what was supposedly the home team.

There will be some who say that United played to its actual level tonight, that their league title owed much more to will power and grinding efficiency than to any real skill. That would be unfair. Manchester United tonight simply could not match the brilliance in front of them. Even the most loyal supporters of the Old Trafford side must have lost count of the near misses and late, frantic tackles that kept Barcelona to just three goals.
Ferguson was right about one thing, however: It was an historic occasion. Barcelona won their second European Cup at Wembley tonight, third in the Champions League (and of course fourth overall) and also equaled their arch-rivals Real Madrid’s total Euro haul of 11 pieces of silver. While that has to be the sweetest thing of all, there also will be a realization that they did it their wa:, with home grown talent, a defining style that others cannot imitate, and a resolve that produces the best of performances on the biggest of stages.
And for England, which hosted the final and hoped to win it, come questions. First and foremost has to be about their league. It is indeed the wealthiest, the most competitive and arguably the most enjoyable. But of late, it has struggled to produce European champions. Only two teams - Liverpool and Manchester United, who have done it twice - have won it over the last twenty seasons, after a long period of competitiveness and dominance. And Liverpool - lest we forget - was being played off the field by AC Milan before their comeback for the ages. In retrospect, that remarkable victory may have papered over the cracks now so apparent when you match the best of the Premiership against the best from Spain.
What does that say? Perhaps that brilliant, precise football, relying on tactical awareness and marvelous individual skill is superior to the cut-and-thrust of the weekly EPL game.
Or, maybe more to the point, Barcelona has three of the world's greatest players in Iniesta, Messi and Xavi. Manchester United tonight had Rooney but no one else who looked like he might have been able to perform for Pep Guardiola's cast.
NOTES: Reports that Dimitar Berbatov left the stadium after being dropped from United’s lineup were denied by Ferguson, who claimed the striker had stayed in the dressing room.

By: http://msn.foxsports.com/

Fergie fronts up to challenge

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not "afraid of the challenge" of trying to catch Barcelona, despite Saturday's humbling.
The challenge has been laid down - and Ferguson intends to spend his summer holidays working out what to do about it.
The Scot has never been scared of a challenge.
In the aftermath of United's record 19th league title, he spoke about his willingness to face the threat to his side's domestic supremacy posed by Manchester City.
On Saturday night at Wembley, Ferguson encountered a problem of a different kind.
In previous meetings with Barcelona there has always been an explanation.
Three years ago it was the story of United's sensational defending in keeping two clean sheets in the narrowest of semi-final wins on the way to Moscow.
Twelve months after that, Ferguson could point to his team failing to turn up in Rome.
They turned up on Saturday night. At times they implemented his game-plan to perfection. They even scored.
Ultimately though, United were reduced to chasing shadows, overwhelmed by one of the greatest sides to play the game, containing the best player in the world and two more from the top five.
"Finding a solution is not easy but that is the challenge," said Ferguson.
"You should not be afraid of the challenge.
"The one thing we have shown is that we are consistent in Europe. We have got better and better over the past few years.
"Maybe this could be the kind of stepping stone we had when we lost 4-0 (to Barcelona in 1994).
"We improved from that. We want to improve. Next season may see us improve even more."
Not that it is Ferguson's problem alone.
It has long been established Roman Abramovich views the Champions League as a Holy Grail.
If the Russian truly believes Chelsea can play the Barcelona way purely by luring Pep Guardiola to Stamford Bridge, he is deluded.
Arsene Wenger has suffered at Catalan hands two years on the trot. Real Madrid have been trampled, even if their manager, Jose Mourinho, can still crow about beating Barca with Inter Milan.
AC Milan and Bayern Munich, two more giants of the game, are staring up at a higher power.
"We all have a challenge with Barcelona, not just Manchester United," said Ferguson.
"It is not any consolation to say you are the second best team. We don't enjoy being second best.
"Any club with the history we have; Real Madrid, AC Milan, would stay the same."
There is comfort for United fans in believing their club appear to be on the brink of spending some money rather than talking about how much they have.
Yet even that brings questions.
Atletico Madrid's David De Gea is the man who looks certain to assume Edwin van der Sar's status as number one keeper.
De Gea's promise has been evident for some time.
However, at 20, he clearly has much to learn and must also cope with the physicality of the Premier League.
On the basis that Michael Owen is unlikely to get a new contract, Dimitar Berbatov's Old Trafford future must be in severe doubt.
United do have the option of adding an extra season to the single year Berbatov has remaining.
However, there appears to be little point in keeping a player who has slipped so far out of contention, especially as Ashley Young and Wesley Sneijder have both been tipped strongly for an Old Trafford move.
Paul Scholes is yet to state his intentions and Ryan Giggs looked every inch a 37-year-old as Xavi and Andres Iniesta buzzed around him like determined little bees.
It suggests at least one midfield reinforcement is required, along with the required emergence of Anderson into a genuine world-class talent.
All these conundrums will be fizzing through Ferguson's head before his team return to Wembley to face City in the Community Shield, underpinned by the realisation that even if he gets every call correct, it still might not be enough to even give Barcelona a decent game.
"Of course, where we start to find a way to do that is something we will mull over during the summer," reflected Ferguson.
"We are not lost on ideas at our club. Hopefully we come up with the right ones."

by: http://msn.foxsports.com/

Let's win even more, roars Leo

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has warned the world that Pep Guardiola's team are hungrier than ever for more silverware.
Barca confirmed their place among history's greatest sides at Wembley on Saturday night.

The revered Catalans earned Guardiola his second Champions League trophy in three seasons and the club's fourth in total with an awesome 3-1 win over Manchester United in London.
It was Guardiola's 10th trophy in his first three years as a top-flight coach and effectively sealed Barca's place as one of the game's finest.
Messi, who characteristically scored Barca's winner with an excellent opportunist strike in the second half, has now won the European Cup three times. But the Argentinian, still just 23, wants so much more.
"This team is incredible," he said. "I think today we can't really fully appreciate what we're doing, what we are achieving.
"We want to keep winning trophies - and we can keep going further and further."
Even the modest Messi had to acknowledge the gulf in class.
"We were superior against Manchester and deserved the win," he said.
"It is another cup for us and I managed to score a goal again. I saw a bit of space there, the goalkeeper came out a bit and luckily it went in.
"Now we're going on holiday - after taking the cup home to our people - then we will start thinking about what we can achieve next season."

Victory saw Guardiola lift the European Cup as a coach 19 years after winning Barca's first as a player at Wembley.
It came, too, against the side Barca edged in Rome two years ago when the Catalans' class prevailed in a 2-0 win over Sir Alex Ferguson's United.
This time, victory was even more comprehensive.
Pedro, the most under-rated of Barca's illustrious line-up, gave his side a deserved lead when he coolly buried from Xavi's incisive pass.
United, who had started brightly, recovered well and went in at the break level following Wayne Rooney's well-worked equaliser.
But Barca's spirit and class told after the break as United struggled to keep answering questions posed by their opponents' dominance of the ball.
Guardiola's side, so often accused of trying to walk the ball in, won it with two uncharacteristic strikes.
First, Messi received a square pass from Andres Iniesta, carried it forward casually and, looking up, bent the ball past Edwin van der Sar with deceptive power.
Barca were not done, however, and wrapped it up with a deserved third when David Villa curled home a beautiful shot to really kick-start the victory celebrations.
Guardiola was then forced to spend time deflecting questions about his future, having been linked with the Chelsea job recently.
While he is known to be keen to avoid going stale at the Nou Camp, the local boy seems content to continue building a phenomenal legacy.
"We're pleased with the win because of how we did it, against Manchester United, one of the greats," he said.
"We have produced something extraordinary, though, and we have four European Cups now, joining Ajax and Bayern Munich."
The win took Barca ahead of United, who boast three, and one behind Liverpool, with five - though they remain five off record-holders Real Madrid.
Guardiola also highlighted the progress made since 2009, when he led Barca to an unprecedented treble in his first season in charge.
"We played much better than two years ago in Rome," he said. "And against a superb team that has also improved."
Barca forward Ibrahim Afellay, who came on as a substitute at Wembley, is desperate for Guardiola to stay.
The Dutchman, who only joined from PSV Eindhoven in January yet finds himself a European champion, said: "He signed a new contract (in February), so we think he is going to stay.
"We hope he stays, because he is the best coach in the world.
"He was part of the reason I joined. If a coach like that tells you he wants you then you come. But with a club like Barcelona, you don't have to think for one second."

By: http://msn.foxsports.com/

Barca celebrations turn violent

Street parties in Barcelona celebrating the victory of the city's soccer team in the Champions League final turned violent early Sunday and at least 18 people were hospitalized, according to local media reports.
Police said more than 80 people were arrested after revelers attacked officers with bottles, flares and other objects, and destroyed park benches and bus stops. The scuffles broke out hours after Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium in England on Saturday night. About 50,000 people flooded the streets of Barcelona to celebrate.
A police officer was among those hospitalized. AP photographs show plainclothes police officers, who were wearing Barcelona jerseys to blend in with the crowds, making arrests. More than 100 other people were hurt, but they didn't require hospitalization and were treated at the scene by paramedics for cuts and bruises.

An unnamed 17-year-old woman died accidentally when she slipped and fell into a deep hole beside a fountain while celebrating the win in the northwestern town of Santa Comba, local newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported.
Soccer fans had poured shampoo into the fountain to create bubbles, which concealed an uncovered manhole that led to the fountain's pump, the paper said.
The team was expected to arrive in Barcelona with the Champions League trophy Saturday afternoon, with tens of thousands of fans expected to line the streets to celebrate the victory. The festivities will culminate at the 98,000-seat Camp Nou Stadium at around 9 p.m. (1900 GMT, 3 p.m. EDT), the club said in a statement.

Park: We all need to stop Messi

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung says the job of shackling World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi cannot be left to one player.
The Barcelona forward, scorer of the crucial second in the Catalan club's 2009 Champions League final win over United, has hit 52 goals this season but that statistic highlights only part of his importance to the side.
His link play and trickery with the ball makes the Argentina international a threat anywhere in the opposition half and, for that reason, Park believes United have to get their team tactics spot on.
"He is one of the best players in the world - everyone knows that and everyone knows one defender can't stop him so we have to defend as a team," said the South Korea international, who was omitted from United's squad when they won the Champions League against Chelsea in 2008 but played the following year when they were defeated in Rome.
"We have to keep an eye on him in the game. Some players have said to me that I can stop him - that sounds great but one man can't stop him, we have to play as a team.
"Everyone will give 100% to stop him."
Messi's roving forward role is supplemented by the passing, movement and vision of Barcelona's midfield.
Their ability to retain possession of the ball is unmatched in world football and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has to come up with a plan to disrupt their rhythm.
Park's non-stop running and high energy levels are bound to play a key role but the 30-year-old believes United have a few midfield stars of their own.
"I don't know which role I will have in the final but I have to do it 100% and play only for winning the game," he added.
"We have great midfielders as well: Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Anderson - they have great ability to stop them.
"If we play as a team like we showed against Chelsea (in their victorious title showdown at Old Trafford earlier this month), or in other big games we can match up against them.
"Javier Hernandez, Anderson and Nani have had great seasons and it is all about our squad being stronger (than it was at the start of the season) and that will help us in the final."

By: http://msn.foxsports.com/

Champions League final: Key player comparisons

Head-to-head comparisons of key players ahead of Saturday's Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley:

Attack:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) vs. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Messi is two years younger than Rooney but his feats easily surpass those of his fellow striker. Although Messi is just 23, FIFA has made the Argentina forward its world player of the year in each of the past two years, and commentators regularly suggest he needs only success with his country to join Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and Pele as one of football's all-time greats.
While Rooney's physical power and spectacular goals have helped inspire United to four Premier League titles in five seasons, Messi has scored at the rate of two goals every three games over seven years with Barcelona and won two Champions League titles to Rooney's one.
This season neatly illustrates the difference in consistency between the players. Rooney labored through the first half after a poor World Cup performance and media allegations over his private life, but ''The Flea'' led the Spanish league with 19 assists and scored an incredible 52 goals from 54 games. He helped Barcelona to a third straight Spanish title and his fifth overall.
But despite the goals, neither player is an orthodox striker. Both spend long periods in deep-lying positions, picking up possession, drawing opponents and linking with teammates before surging into the space they helped create.
Messi's movement and dribbling ability will make it difficult for United's players to decide whether he should be picked up by Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic from central defense, or marked by a midfielder such as Darren Fletcher. Likewise, Rooney could cause problems for Barcelona's Carles Puyol.

Midfield:
Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) vs. Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
Xavi and Carrick perform the role of midfield prompter in very different ways.
A pivotal figure for Barcelona as well as world and European champion Spain, the 31-year-old Xavi is the more mobile of the pair. As illustrated by the cross he sent from the right channel for Messi to make it 2-0 in the 2009 final against United, he is not pinned to a central position but drifts all over the pitch - making full use of its width.
Xavi is simply the brains of the team and his vision and ability to thread a seemingly impossible pass are arguably unmatched in world football. Much of his success stems from the seemingly telepathic relationship he has built with Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, who like him have spent their whole careers with Barcelona after progressing from the youth team.
While Xavi struck once in 28 league games this season, Carrick has been even less productive with no goals in the same number of matches.
Carrick has won four league titles with United without truly winning over fans, but any player would have struggled as a replacement for the inspirational Roy Keane. Carrick is not a snappy tackler, surging runner or frequent scorer like Keane, but instead breaks up opposition attacks with interceptions and prompts attacks from deep positions.
His long passing is especially notable, but whether he will get the chance to show that off is doubtful against a Barcelona side that enjoys about two-thirds of possession in Champions League matches.
Defense:
Carles Puyol (Barcelona) vs. Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
First choice in the heart of defense for Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Spain's Vicente del Bosque, the 33-year-old Puyol has been with the Catalan club since joining at 17. Captain since 2005, the versatile Puyol has appeared at right back, left back and, most commonly, center back to help Barcelona to five titles in seven years.
Captain for two of Barcelona's three European Cup titles, the lion-maned Puyol is only 1.78 meters (5-foot-10) tall but his timing and leap make him an attacking threat with headers from corners and free kicks.
He is also a stabilizing influence on Gerard Pique alongside him, constantly yelling to the younger player to keep him alert.
Like Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, Puyol has seen the frequency of his injuries increase with age and has played only three times since January because of a knee problem. United's Javier Hernandez could trouble him with his pace if he can turn him toward his own goal.
But the United player Puyol most resembles is Vidic, who also captains his team and is commonly cited as the best central defender in England's Premier League.
The Serbia international is commanding in the air, a superb timer of tackles and a regular scorer of crucial goals from set-pieces and open play. Only five United players managed more goals than the five Vidic scored in this season's Premier League, with one coming in the high-pressure 2-1 win over Chelsea that effectively clinched the title.
While he has four red cards over the past three seasons, Vidic has been fortunate not to be punished more often for handling the ball while trying to intercept crosses into central areas. Barcelona may try to expose him by dragging him out of position.
Goal:
Victor Valdes (Barcelona) vs. Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)
Overshadowed at national level by Real Madrid stalwart Iker Casillas, Valdes has still won the Zamora Trophy awarded in Spain to the goalkeeper who concedes the fewest goals for three straight seasons.
Barcelona's domination of possession does mean that Valdes has few shots to save but that also demands that the 29-year-old keeper maintains a high level of concentration for long periods.
Lapses in that concentration can be blamed for the occasional gaffe, but Valdes remains one of the best shot blockers in Europe. His great reflexes make him especially strong in one-on-one situations with an opposition striker.
United's Van der Sar is in many ways completely different to Valdes: Calm and unruffled where the Spaniard is volatile, commanding in the air when coming off his line, and first choice for club and country throughout his career.
The 40-year-old Dutchman is making a final appearance before ending a career that includes four league titles and a Champions League winners' medal with both Ajax and United.
UEFA's goalkeeper of the year in each of the past three years and four times overall, Van der Sar made a national record 130 appearances for the Netherlands and was still so strong that he was asked - unsuccessfully - to rescind his international retirement at 38. That season, he set a world record by not conceding in a league match for 1,311 minutes.
Still agile and mobile, Van der Sar has looked as commanding as ever this season and is retiring only to spend more time with his family following a serious illness suffered by his wife.

Giggs scandal hangs over Man United

The Ryan Giggs imbroglio consumed England for the second straight day Wednesday, casting a long shadow over the upcoming Champions League final — the biggest match in European club soccer — against Barcelona (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, FOX) and having a profound impact on British politics.
Giggs, one of the most popular and successful players in British history, is alleged to have consorted with a reality TV show contestant named Imogen Thomas. In and of itself, this would merely make for sordid tabloid fare and an awkward conversation around the married Mr. Giggs's dining room table. What made this story explosive is that Giggs apparently sought a controversial gagging order, called a "super-injunction," to prevent newspapers from reporting this. Monday, he saw that order shattered by a Member of Parliament.
The case has riveted the chattering classes and led to some ugly scenes in Manchester on Tuesday night. Journalists were attacked by masked men outside Giggs’ home, with some cars being damaged in the process. At Carrington, a frosty Sir Alex Ferguson attempted to ban The Associated Press' Rob Harris, who had asked a straight-forward question about the midfielder in an open press conference.
Sky Sports cameras and microphones caught Ferguson asking press secretary Karen Shotbolt who the questioner was and then saying, “Aye, then we’ll get him. Ban him on Friday.” Several journalists who attempted to ask Giggs’ teammates about the affair also had their interviews abruptly terminated.
The incident prompted a torrent of outrage from other members of the media, with the Times calling Ferguson in a sports editorial “a one-man Politboro.” TV and newspapers delighted in showing clips and stills of the manager attempting to sabotage one of their own Tuesday, and there was more than a whiff of getting even about the whole affair.
This turn of events has turned what was an ill-timed headache for Manchester United into an outright fiasco. Ferguson’s attempt to use the crisis to reinforce his self-built bunker mentality at the club has backfired badly, taking the gloss off a week in which his team was handed a record-setting 19th title as he won his third Manager of the Year award. While he has often tried to turn provocation into a positive, this time he has succeeded only in making himself and the club look petty.
For his part, Giggs did show up and play for a half hour at Tuesday night’s Gary Neville testimonial match at Old Trafford, a 2-1 loss to Juventus that saw David Beckham’s return to a Manchester United uniform. He did not address the media.
More details emerged about the gag order Tuesday, with the revelation that Justice Michael Tugenhadt granted it because he suspected the topless model at the center of the case was attempting to blackmail Giggs.
Justice Tugenhadt has left the injunction in force, even though it was blown open by MP John Hemming in Parliament on Monday, when he said there was compelling evidence that Imogen Thomas had sought $170,000 from Giggs in return for her silence. Thomas is also said to have claimed that the Sun newspaper — which sued to lift the injunction — had offered her money for her story.
Wednesday, the Sun did little to dismiss that impression. The paper ratcheted up the pressure by splashing a shot on its front page of Thomas wearing a skimpy Manchester United shirt and publishing a series of new accusations about the embattled midfielder.
More information about the super-injunctions — the very existence of which are supposed to be secret — was also leaked to the press Wednesday. According to information obtained by the Independent, about 333 orders are in effect, the vast majority of which are shielding children in a variety of cases.
However, according to several sources, at least 10 gagging orders are in effect on Premier League footballers to cover up evidence of promiscuity; one covers a prominent soccer manager, and two others cover up soccer players who have been threatened by blackmail. Another order, since exposed, covered Chelsea’s John Terry.
Finally, the justification that Hemming used to break the injunction — the alleged threat of legal action by Giggs’ lawyers, the Schillings firm — has itself been called into question. Schillings insists that, contrary to published reports, it never had attempted to file legal action against Twitter or four celebrities, including Piers Morgan and Boy George, who tweeted the news. Hemming on Tuesday also insisted he had in fact not used Parliamentary privilege because Giggs’ name had been made public via Twitter.
This circuitous logic may make folks’ heads spin, but it has become a matter of pressing urgency in legal and media circles as well as a major embarrassment for the government, which is now trying to deal with an ugly confrontation between the media, its elected officials and its judiciary system.
But for United — which just wants to win a football game against Barcelona on Saturday — this is a spotlight they are clearly uncomfortable with. How much of an effect it has on the team remains to be seen, but as it stands, United will have a ready-made and predictable excuse if they lose: that old punching bag, the media.

By: http://msn.foxsports.com/

What sets Lionel Messi apart?

"Messi" is hardly just a name anymore. Over the past five years, it has come to represent more than a 5'7" athlete. To those who know and love the game of soccer, the name has taken on a mythical connotation that makes it hard to see him as just a player. There are several names that have held this power over the life of this great sport, and Lionel Messi is carrying the torch now. Messi started his career like millions of others but has taken it to a place only a few have been able. On May 28th (Champions League final, FOX, 2 p.m. ET), the world will watch one of the greatest players to ever grace a soccer field demonstrate his superiority in the biggest game of the year.
His story starts like most: A young boy from a humble background falls in love with a ball, and it falls in love with him right back. From his earliest days in Rosario, Argentina, everyone could tell that this boy was different from the rest. Like most child prodigies, playing the game just came naturally to him. His talent separated him from the rest of the boys, but it was another thing that separated him from others his age; leading to his serendipitous arrival at one of the most successful youth academies of all time.
Messi had been flourishing with the club Newell's Old Boys. The pairing was ideal, as the club was close to his home, and Messi's father was a coach. However, other factors were at play that made life more complicated for the Messi family. Lionel's health was not as blessed as his feet, and his parents noticed warning signs in his early development.
At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a hormone deficiency. The expensive treatment required for this condition was a constant stress on the family's finances. Barcelona had been tracking Messi's progress, and when they became aware of these difficulties, made the Messi family an offer they couldn't refuse. The club offered to pay for his treatments of close to $900 a month if they would allow Lionel to move to Spain and continue his soccer education in their famous La Masia academy. That moment set in motion a 10-year metamorphosis of a child into a soccer God.
Messi tore through youth tournaments much like he tears through defenses today. He looked out of place against players his own age. Most talented young players need these opportunities in youth tournaments to learn valuable lessons and grow amongst their peers. However, like other prodigies, Lionel had surpassed these lessons early and was ready the highest level. At 16 years old, an age where most young athletes are balancing their high school team with looking for prom dates, Messi debuted for Barcelona - one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world.
Like the legends before him, Messi make a seamless transition from the youth to professional level while still in his teens. When asked, “why is Messi that good,” we can look at athletes in other sports who have made the same leap – ones who became one of the best right from the start. Young prodigies like Sidney Crosby, Lebron James, and Tiger Woods became greats by mastering sports' three S's: skill, speed, and smarts. Skill and speed are things that every young athlete works at from the start, but smarts is a factor that's innate in the truly great. Messi excels at all three.
He's amongst the most skilled we've ever seen. Having watched endless tape of some of the best dribblers of all time - Johan Cruyff, George Best, Diego Maradona - each used the simplest movements to get past their defenders. They were so dexterous, they didn't need to rely on tricks to beat players. Each one had a bagful of party tricks to entertain the crowd, but the art of their craft was in knowing that all they needed was to move the ball where the defenders foot wasn't. It sounds simple, but trust me: There is a sacred art in it. They had such tight control of the soccer ball - touching it, with every step they took at top speed - that your only hope of winning it as a defender was if they gave it to you.
Messi's ability with the ball mirrors those greats. He has the same top speed control. You don't see him do any step overs, drags or other fancy tricks. His genius is in making a defender believe they can win the ball from him. He baits them by presenting the ball close enough that they're compelled to challenge, stabbing at the ball, losing their balance. At that moment, Messi has them.
Most attacking players try and beat defenders with a move, but Messi waits a moment and lets defenders beat themselves. He makes it look effortless, but touching the ball every step at top speed while looking up - ready to cut on a dime, in any direction - is a skill only a handful of players have ever perfected.

By: http://msn.foxsports.com/

Ferguson at the core of United's dynasty

Barcelona squares off against Manchester United Saturday (FOX, 2 p.m. ET) in the biggest match of the year, the Champions League final at England's Wembley Stadium.
This is the second of a pair of pieces that looks back at each team's history, and the major influences on their playing style. Our companion piece examines the influence of total football and Johan Cruyff on Barcelona.
Since 1986, there's been one constant at Manchester United: the club's longest serving manager, Scot Sir Alex Ferguson. Great individual players have come and gone through the club during his tenure - Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Peter Schmeichel being just a few - but the man at the wheel has never wavered in his core belief that the team comes first.
Ferguon's brilliance lies in his ability to manage the biggest egos while convincing the least of his players that they can win any game at any time. This didn't happen overnight, but if you had been paying attention to Scottish football in the late 1970s, you would have seen everything that would come to characterize the Ferguson Way was already in evidence.
Although the English might argue to the contrary, this was an era when Scottish League football was superior to that of the old English First Division, a spell when Scotland routinely qualified for World Cups while England struggled just to join the international elite.
There were plenty of good players in Scotland and a growing North Sea oil-based economy in Aberdeen, where Ferguson first emerged as a special manager. The Dons play their games at Pittodrie, a compact ground tucked into an urban area just away from the broad beaches of the North Sea. It could be cold and wet, but under Ferguson the atmosphere at the ground was often electric, and Aberdeen rose to the challenges offered by their young boss.
It did not begin easily, however. Ferguson took over from a Celtic legend, Billy McNeill, who had actually left Pittodrie in mid-season to take charge of his former club. Aberdeen was then a team featuring a fading star, Joe Harper. Harper's goal-scoring had made him very much the local hero, but his game and declining speed did not fit with the plans the new manager had for revitalizing the Dons. That made for a fitful start: the public was not always behind the new boss, especially when it came to dealing with Harper.
But it took only three seasons for Ferguson to win the fans over, along the way producing a Scottish League title (1981-82) and linking the Dons with Dundee United - who would also win the league in this era - as "The New Firm," a term meant as a direct slap at the Glasgow giants, Celtic and Rangers.
When Aberdeen won that crown, it broke a 15-year spell in which the title had never left Glasgow, serving to validate Ferguson's approach, both on the field and (now infamously) off.
Aberdeen, like today's United, played a high-pressure, counter-attacking game, making use of the width of the pitch, liking to attack down the middle. The home support was loud, Ferguson asking for passionate backing for his players. Ferguson also began his now-legendary tactic of "managing controversy" by insisting that the Scottish media favored The Old Firm, a point of view that was shared by many in the country at the time.
This was an era in which Celtic and Rangers dominated the television screens, and when only delayed highlights of matches were aired. Cracking the Glaswegians' hegemony may have been Ferguson's greatest accomplishment, and that's saying something, given he guided Aberdeen to the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983, defeating Real Madrid in the final.
By then, Ferguson was on everybody's short list when a managerial job opened. He was mentioned as possible boss for Rangers, the club he had once played for, but he turned down job offers from England to remain with Aberdeen. In part, that was because the "right spot" hadn't come along, but also because he was deeply involved with Scotland's 1986 World Cup bid.
An assistant to fabled Jock Stein, he unexpectedly became the man in charge in Mexico when Stein died at the finish of a qualifier against Wales. That Cup also proved to be one of the few failures in Ferguson's career. With a talented side, Scotland had been expected to finally end the hex: The Scots had qualified for five Cups but never advanced past the first round. And neither did he. Even the voluble Ferguson seemed at a loss for words to explain how the Scots, needing a win in their final match against Uruguay to end their drought, could not score against a side reduced to 10 men in the first minute.
He went back to Aberdeen but stayed only until November. That's when Ron Atkinson was axed at Old Trafford.
As at Aberdeen, Ferguson didn't enjoy immediate success. In fact - though it is hard to contemplate today - there was a time in 1989 when fans were baying for his head after three years of disappointment. Banners were hung at Old Trafford calling for him to be sacked, and that winter, many in the media were speculating that he would be gone after Christmas. But the same qualities that Ferguson had brought to Aberdeen - his commitment to scouting and bottom-up coaching - had United's board of directors sold. They had privately told Ferguson he was there to stay.
That year, United won its first trophy under Ferguson, the FA Cup. Twenty-six more major titles, the shattering of Liverpool's long held first division title record and a knighthood would follow. And knowing Ferguson, the climax of the story has yet to be written.

by: http://msn.foxsports.com/

The possession like something fundamental

Profile of the finalist:
Twin Towers de Wembley was between the two where the FC Barcelona conquered his first Glass of Europe in 1992. The new stage of the London capital will welcome again in the Barcelona, that is prepared to repeat the end of the UEFA Champions League 2009 before the Manchester United FC.
Barcelona left victorious two seasons ago and is light favorite to return to gain thanks to its elegant game of combinations and you happen short. Ésto has caused that has written down 27 goals of way to the end. After leading Group D in front of the FC København, the Catalan set eliminated Arsenal FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, before disputing a semifinal flood of rivalry before Real Madrid CF.
The technician Josep Guardiola gained the Glass of Europe like player in 1992 in Wembley, and hopes to take to his entorchado equipment to the fourth continental one in the same stage. He could be his penultimate opportunity, since after to have renewed up to 2012, has commented that " every time I am more near the end than of the principle " of its mandate in the bench.
Titles in competitions the UEFA (subchampionships between parenthesis) of Europe: 1992, 2006, 2009; (1961), (1986), (1994)
of the UEFA: 1979, 1982, 1989, 1997; (1969), (1991)
of the UEFA: 1992, 1997, 2009; (1979), (1982), (1989), (2006)
National titles (most recent between parenthesis) : 21 (2011)
of Spain: 25 (2009)
Previous end in the Glass of Europe 6 (it gained 3, lost 3)
Ránking by clubs of the UEFA 2 (his rival, the Manchester United is first)
Goleador Maximo It binds: Lionel Messi, 31
The UEFA Champions League: Lionel Messi, 11
Strengths and weaknesses The instinct to maintain the possession seems to be intrinsic to the genetics of the players of Barcelona. The Catalan club has had more possession than its rivals in all the parties, as much as local as visitor, since it fell by 4-1 before Madrid in May of 2008. In individual terms, Lionel Messi is obvious the jewel of the crown. The Argentine forward has written down 52 goals this campaign in all the competitions, including eleven morning calls in twelve parties of the UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, there are symptoms of preoccupation in the azulgrana set, mainly by the physical and mental exhaustion. In addition, Carles Puyol has been four months injured and to atraviesta David Villa a bad gust of wind facing door.
Key moment In spite of his excelsa creativity and its dominion of the ball, good part of the presence of the Barça in semifinals must to the forward of the Arsenal Nicklas Bendtner, who failed a clear occasion in the Camp Nou that could have left it go to the Barça in end eighth of the competition. The Arsenal robbed the ball to him to Adriano in the right, Andrey Arshavin attended Jack Wilshere and this it left the ball for the arrival of Bendtner by the center. Badly the control of the Danish forward allowed to arrive at Víctor Valdés. " If the control of Bendtner had been better, probably we would be outside ", said Guardiola.
Player revelation He must be the impenetrable Valdés. The pressure of the azulgrana causes that many of the occasions that the Catalan doorman receives are one against one, situations in which it hopes that the attacker marks. But the levels of concentration of the doorman of 29 years are so high that it can be more than one hour without working and to react suddenly in seconds to save goals. It has only fitted 16 so many in his last 21 parties in the competition and their shutdowns during the quarterfinals before the Shakhtar will be a recurrent nightmare for the ucraniano equipment during months.
State of form Position in league: 1 (Last five parties: DVEEV)
It is the equipment that has dominated Spanish soccer in the three last seasons, and for that reason it can that Barcelona pays a price to maintain a rate so high and to play parties of Maxima exigency level of clubs considering in addition that many of the men of Guardiola play regularly in addition with their selections. They continue dominating the possession in spite of losing something of aggressiveness facing goal at will, whereas some losses in defense have allowed the rivals to generate more occasions of which he was habitual. Although champion of Spanish Liga proclaimed itself, kills time that Barcelona does not find its better soccer.
Breaking the statistic Besides to take to 140 goals in all the competitions this year, the players of the Barça have sent 28 balls against woods.
What say their rivals?
Edwin goes to der Sar, Manchester United " Jugan very well, with the great soccer. They already demonstrated it in the end of 2009. Now we must assure us that we have learned the lesson, and prepare us better and confront the party of way different from that time ".
The Barça dominates the control of the ball like no other, but also it must much to him to Valdés in his way towards his possible fourth European crown.

Giggs wants to continue making history

Although it considers to his rival in the end of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona, like " an equipment of world-wide class ", the veteran Welsh midfield player delay to continue giving successes to its equipment.
With twelve titles of the Premier League and two of the UEFA Champions League to his backs, Ryan Giggs knows perfectly what lack makes to arrive at highest. The untiring midfield player helped the Manchester United FC to obtain his second Glass of Europe in 1999, and wrote down the decisive launching of penalti that gave the title to the United in the end of 2008 before Chelsea FC.
The following season did not have so many good memories for the veteran Welsh player, since the United fell in another end before a FC Barcelona that according to many experts has improved much since then. But although Giggs respects the ability of the champion of Spanish Liga, thinks that the Manchester has learned the lesson from that defeat by 2-0.
" Barcelona has that experience and confidence that it gives you to gain the trophy. Many of their players overcame the World-wide one recently, so they have much experience, form an equipment of world-wide class. But we have learned of that end and have improved like equipment. The sets are not very different from those of two years ago, both we are good equipment, the best ones of each country ", said to UEFA.com.
He will be complicated to stop players of the stature of Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta or to try that the Manchester imposes its game to the one of the set of Josep Guardiola but Giggs insists on which the United will leave to the attack Saturday. " We must accept that it is an equipment with much talent and try to stop its players key. Once assumed that we must play as we know, to show authority in the field. The Manchester United practices a very offensive soccer and marks many goals and that is not going to change ", explained Giggs.
If the United already were strong in 2009, many experts think that now it is still better. Others nevertheless consider that the equipment of Guardiola is the best one of all the times, something that does not share Giggs: " you never can say that. The clubs are always supeditados to the successes, year after year. They are good but we also are it. We will face a great equipment, we are ready and try to gain the Champions League ".
To dispute the end in Wembley will be an additional aid for the United and also for a Giggs that has played there in numerous occasions in its 21 seasons with the network devils and the Welshman thinks that the new stage is no lost nothing of brightness. " You can continue feeling history in the new Wembley. Obvious he is different but it continues being Wembley, probably the most famous stage of the world. It is the house of soccer and is a great field where I hope that we gain the Champions League ", pointed Giggs.
When Giggs arrived at the club, the only previous success of the United in the most prestigious competition of clubs dated from obtained year 1968 in the field of the north of London. Giggs is too modest as to say it but the group of 2011 already has eclipsado to its predecessors of yesterday. Now, one fourth Glass of Europe would be the perfect legacy for the coming generations. " It is a special event since the first time that we gained it was in Wembley. You only must watch those equipment to find great players and at legend, like Sir Bobby Charlton, who still is in the club ", it pointed the end.
" It is what differentiates this club, all its history and the great players who have played here in addition to the form which we must to play soccer. I believe that it is the club of greater soccer of the world. I hope that we pruned to take advantage of our history and to increase that legacy. I would like that within 30 or 40 years people speak of this equipment, like she is spoken now on the equipment of the 68, like a great equipment ", finalized Giggs.

The defense will be the key of the United

The French defender has happened through many things during the last weeks, but he plays or final it of the Champions League he does not hope that the azulgranas can " complete the circle " winning in Wembley again.
In the month of March Éric Abidal it was enjoying one of the most successful seasons of his race. With a firm one to pass in way towards his third consecutive and classified title of League for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, the life was decidedly color of rose for the international French, but soon the hard news that would arrive it underwent a tumor in his liver.
Luckyly for Abidal the operation was everything a success, and it demonstrated disputing it to two minutes in the encounter of return of the semifinals of Liga de Campeones before Real Madrid CF. The recovery had been clearly fast, but the turbulent events of the last weeks have caused which the player of 31 years, who lost the last end of Barcelona in the Glass of Europe in Rome by sanction, does not give anything by seated, including a position in the eleven initial in Wembley the 28 of May, according to explained to UEFA.com.
UEFA.com: Which its reaction when one found out that had been him a tumor?
Éric Abidal:
UEFA.com: He will be available for the end?
Abidal:
UEFA.com: In more than an occasion it has said that Barcelona is the equipment in which always it wanted to play...
Abidal:
UEFA.com: Lionel Messi has an extraordinary talent. How he defends it? It is our small secret. If I say that to you I will be giving advantages to the other equipment... The problem with Leo is that you do not know what is going to do. It is of another planet. It can do it everything in spite of being so young. It is many years old ahead, and I hope that it continues collecting more d'Or Ballons, since it has as much talent. We saw it before Real Madrid in the Champions League. With 0-1, it haggled to four players and it marked. He is incredible.
Abidal:
UEFA.com:No played before the Manchester United in the end of Rome, but their companions said that it was the most satisfactory form in the one than he has gained a title.
Abidal:
UEFA.com:Wembley is a legend scene and the press is speaking much of the end of 1992, the first occasion in which Barcelona gained the trophy...
Abidal:
UEFA.com: It will animate France to Eric Abidal or to the Manchester United, equipment in which played Eric Cantona?
Abidal:

Patrice Evra also plays there, you do not forget to him. I believe that they will be to the 50 percent, since many French have played in Barcelona and the same he happens with the Manchester United. That was the first Glass of Europe that gained Barcelona. He would be brilliant to gain it in Wembley and to close the circle again. I have had the opportunity to play with the French selection and is an incredible stage there. That party was impressive. We wanted to play a great encounter and we did it. For that reason always we return to the motto of Barcelona: " More than a club ". Or they were the fans, the people of the bench, the players who we were in the launching slip or those that they played, all enormously mentalizados and we were convinced that we could obtain something. The players who were there and who played that day were fantastic. When he was young my ídolo was Diego Maradona, and played in Barcelona. That age I played like forward, and liked to mark I goals and to do regates. Barcelona was a dream of the childhood for me. I had to work very hard and to make many sacrifices, but today I am happy for being living my dream. I will try to recover. I am very contented to be of return with the equipment. I need to go thus step by step after an intervention. But my body is responding very well, although it would not have to precipitate to me. Until now I have felt really well, but there is no problem if nongame the next party. I have a wonderful work and most important it is to have good health. It has changed a little to me. You always imagine worse, since the nondelays that type of the news. You begin to think: ' If I am not this way, What it will happen tomorrow? How my family will survive ' We tried to seat the things, those that already had been based, but attempt not to even think much about the future distant. It is like with my vacations, never I plan them. I today formulate plans for the following day.

The defense will be the key of the United

Profile of the finalist:
The Manchester United FC is to only a step to complete the circle and it is already prepared to face the FC Barcelona in the end of the UEFA Champions League in the house of English soccer, Wembley.
It was in the old Wembley where the club of Old Trafford left its name for the first time enrolled in the Glass of Europe, with his victory on the SL Benfica in 1968, and it is there where Saturday 28 of May will return to take revenge its defeat in the end of 2009 before the Spanish club, that like the English will fight by his fourth Glass of Europe.
Invicto United is emphasizing in the competition, where it has fitted only four goals. The English equipment led Group C over Valencia CF, with four victories and two ties, and later it surpassed to the Olympique de Marseille by a global marker of 2-1 in the end eighth before eliminating in quarters Chelsea FC and semifinals the FC Schalke 04 winning both as much in house as outside.
Titles in competitions the UEFA (subchampionships between parenthesis) of Europe: 1968, 1999, 2008; (2009)
of the UEFA: 1991
of the UEFA: 1991 (2008)
National titles (most recent between parenthesis) : 19 (2011)
Cup: 11 (2004)
of Liga: 4 (2010)
Previous end in the Glass of Europe 4 (gained 3, lost 1)
Ránking by clubs of the UEFA 1º (his rival, the FC Barcelona, is 2º)
Maximum goleador Premier League: Dimitar Berbatov, 21
The UEFA Champions League: Javier Hernandez, 4
Strengths and weaknesses The trajectory of the United been has constructed from its defense, always very solid with his guardameta Edwin they go to der Sar grazing the 40 years and with a great pair of power stations: Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. The United was the less goleador set of all the semifinalists with 12 goals but soon it put six to him to the Schalke, a show of force on the part of Wayne Rooney and by more and more the surprising Javier Hernandez, a revelation in his first season. Ryan Giggs continues shining and the resurrection of Michael Carrick has compensated the absence of Darren Fletcher, something that can worry to the English club given the strength of Barcelona in this parcel of the field.
Key moment In the second day, the United was moderate to Valencia CF and had to hope that ' Chicharitó, that was not titular, marked its first goal in the UEFA Champions League that in addition supposed as much of the victory. That was the first sample of the Mexican young person and the results that were about to to come: before facing Schalke six of the seven victories of the United they had been by only a goal of difference. The champion of the Premier League arrives at the end without granting nor to a goal outside Old Trafford and thanks to his ample European experience account with many options in the great parties.
Player revelation Ji-Sung Park usually is not in the front sight but it obtained his deserved recognition when it marked as much of the victory in the return match of the quarterfinals before the Chelsea. The goal of Park, first since it in front of obtained the goal of the victory Arsenal FC in league, emphasized its paper protagonist in the important parties. Ferguson left him outside the end of 2008, but their versatility and energy have turned to him a key player. " We would like to know what eats, it must have another different diet since it runs much and it has a great energy ", pointed Rio Ferdinand on the Korean.
State of form Position in league: 1 (Last five parties: VDVEV)
The equipment of Old Trafford raised with his 19º national title the 14 of May after tying as opposed to to one the Blackburn Rovers FC, something that was celebrated by all the stop since they surpassed the mark of 18 leagues of Liverpool FC. The United, that finalized its campaign in the Premier winning 4-2 to Blackpool FC Sunday, has demonstrated to be an expert at the time of negotiating the final section of the season, since it has gained six and tied two of his last nine parties.
Breaking the statistic The Manchester United is the first equipment in the era of the UEFA Champions League that reaches the end without concender only a goal at home.
What say their rivals?
Pep Guardiola, trainer of Barcelona " the Manchester United is extraordinarily strong, very similar to Real Madrid. It is an equipment that works very it last and is very difficult to do damage to him. We must have much well-taken care of because they can mark at any time ".

The defensive system of the set of Manchester has reached its better moment of form and will be key in the great appointment before Barcelona.

Champions is centered in the end of Wembley

With the great party between Barcelona and Manchester of Saturday 28 already in mind, the official publication of the competition reviews the keys of the great appointment of continental soccer.
With the final hoped one of the UEFA Champions League around the corner, the official magazine of the UEFA Champions League Champions celebrates the most important event of the European soccer calendar.
Finalist FC Barcelona maintains that Lionel Messi, in spite of being considered to his 23 years like one of the best players of all the times, continues being one more in the group. The Champions explores its season of record and to speak with one of the players who will try to stop to him in Wembley, the midfield player of the Manchester United FC Michael Carrick.
The publication remembers 21 stellar performances in the continental end, from a Alfredo Di Stéfano to Wesley Sneijder, and we showed in addition some to the best images of the competition.
Champions in addition explores of incognito the world of the rival ojeadores, is wondered what makes a great player, gives a guide of observation to investors in clubs and speaks in exclusive right with the technical director of the UEFA Andy Roxburgh on the art to look for spaces.
It will be the sixth time that the end is disputed in Wembley, and Champions reviews the previous occasions. Nereo Rocco took to the AC Milan to the title in 1963, becoming the first Italian equipment in obtaining it. Also we remembered George Best, champion with the Manchester United in 1968. Three years later, Dutch young people of the AFC Ajax began to develop Total Soccer, based on an iron defense of four. In 1978, Bob Paisley took to Liverpool FC to his second consecutive triumph, whereas in 1992, a young person Josep Guardiola prevailed with Barcelona, in which was the first Glass of Europe of the Catalan club.
In addition, interviews with the technician of the FC Schalke 04 Ralf Rangnick, the player of the season in the Milan Thiago Silva, with Helmut Ducadam, hero of the FC Steaua Bucuresti in the Glass of Europe of 1986, and with Stevan Stojanovic of the equipment of the FC Crvena Zvezda that took the glass in 1991.

New record in Hyde Park

The Trophy of the UEFA Champions League had a hard training facing the end in the London park, and is that it was raised in 417 occasions in one hour.
The Trophy of the UEFA Champions League had a hard training facing the end in the London Hyde Park, and is that it was raised in 417 occasions in one hour.
A great number of fans hoped their turn to maintain between their hands the ' Orejoná in the Champions Festival of the UEFA. She was Patricia Martín Sanchez the one that had the honor to make the last one hoisted before the hour limit, before the surprise of its companion, Jaime Guede Cid. " I must myself laugh because I take all the morning requesting to him to come here ", the fan of the FC Barcelona said.
Stuart McKenzie, of the east of London, was first in maintaining the trophy of the Glass of Europe after giving good account of his lunch. " It is a great experience to follow the passages of so many famous players. Not every day an opportunity like this is had ", said.
A group of schoolboy of the Garenne-Colombes near Paris also had an unforgettable appointment with the homologous trophy and its feminine one, although they made lack more of a pair of hands to raise the trophy, of 73'5 cm of stop and 8'5 kilos of weight. " we were eating in the park when I saw that it passed something. All very were moved to participate and will be a great memory for them ", said professor Laétitia Dupont.
The previous record on 250 attempts was surpassed to the 36 minutes, and is that the fans were anxious to have in the center of London the most prestigious trophy of soccer between their hands.

The ambassador of the Champions Festival of the UEFA Graeme Him Saux, that was in the act of inauguration of the previous event to the end next to Gary Lineker Saturday, added: " He was brilliant that the world-wide record was obtained in Monday, a calmer day after a been busy weekend. All the people who have approached have happened it up to here and have said very well to which to come to the festival is something amused. More people will be more rewarding whatever come and participate ".
The event offers numerous attractions in which the visitors can demonstrate their abilities, including clínics that is carried out in the main field. " In determined hour strips of the day as much I eat other ambassadors we are giving classes free to some of the children who approach up to here. We have two groups of 24 boys during a session of two hours and we carried out it next to trainers of the English Federation of Soccer. It is a form to animate to the boys and to the girls to that they play the soccer and that of step they learn and they can memorizar some advice ", pointed Him Saux.

Ferguson waits for a great Manchester United

The Scottish trainer affirmed that the experience of the English set them " has prepared very well for European soccer ", while it tries to leave a new mark for history to his 69 years of age.
Sir Alex Ferguson will consolidate its position like the second trainer of greater age in gaining a great competition of clubs of the UEFA if the Manchester United FC surpasses to the FC Barcelona in the end of the UEFA Champions League, since the technician will add 69 years and 148 days this Saturday in Wembley. Single Raymond Goethals, who took to the Olympique de Marseille to the glory in the end of 1992 when she approached the 72 years of age, can more be considered like a contender to the experienced end.
The Scottish trainer thinks that the experience also supposes now an important factor in favor of its equipment. " we have acquired certain experience in the last years that now come to us very well for European soccer. We are much more patient far from house and never we were it before. That is what produces European soccer and I believe that the players have learned who the concentration levels must be very good, because each club has a form different to play and a sense and style different from the rate in the parties ", affirmed.
" Sometimes in an European party you can be making it enough good and soon lose it everything in a minute, unexpectedly. Many of our players are customary to that now, are not surprised by surprise attacks since they used to do it years back ", added Ferguson.
Having begun his collection with a title of the second category of Scottish soccer with Saint Mirren FC in 1977, the old forward of the FC Rangers has gained 47 trophies in all the competitions. He did his great appearance in the European scope with Aberdeen FC, leading to the humble Scottish equipment to an improbable victory by 2-1 on Real Madrid CF in the end of the Recopa of the 1983 UEFA.
" It was a little as a fairy tale with the Aberdeen. The players who had grown all together ones, had been developed and matured together. Young together players and all Scottish soccer players. Real Madrid had great players at that moment and was a great profit, and also it supposed stimulated to do it in European soccer well ", remembered.
The same competition with the United would begin to add to trophies to continental his palmarés when winning, surpassing to Barcelona in 1991. " That has been always the objective: to do it in Europe well. We must have gained the Glass of Europe more times, and although we have been in the end of Liga de Campeones three times in four years, must it have done better in previous years ", said the man who obtained the main prize of the continent with the United in 1999 and 2008.
Ferguson only can hope that its equipment back leaves to this badly drink Saturday against the equipment that overcame it by 2-0 in the end of 2009, and affirmed: " We could ahead have been a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes, but when we fitted the first one as much we could see a sample of the form in which Barcelona plays today, because Lionel Messi acted like front center that day, with Samuel Etóo playing in the right and Thierry Henry in the left band ".
" Messi was playing by the center until they managed to write down soon and played without the front center that now uses much, since they did in the semifinal against Real Madrid. That was the nucleus of the new Barcelona??su performance of that night. Since then, it has improved enormously. Their performances have been excellent, reason why arrived at this party, it is a better equipment than when she gained 2-0 to us ", Ferguson added.
Trainers of greater age in gaining a competition of clubs of the UEFA 71 and 231d: Raymond Goethals (Olympique de Marseille, the UEFA Champions League 1993)
66 and 142d: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United Fc, The UEFA Champions League 2008)
64 and 85d: Sir Bobby Robson (FC Barcelona, Recopa of the UEFA 1997)
64 and 78d: Joe Fagan (Liverpool FC, Glass of Europe 1984)
63 and 295d: Mircea Lucescu (FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Glass of the UEFA 2009)
Trainers of greater age in gaining the Glass of Europa/UEFA Champions League 71 and 231d: Raymond Goethals (Olympique de Marseille, the UEFA Champions League 1993)
66 and 142d: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United Fc, The UEFA Champions League 2008)
64 and 78d: Joe Fagan (Liverpool FC, Glass of Europe 1984)
62 and 124d: Bob Paisley (Liverpool FC, Glass of Europe 1981)
62 and 50d: Béla Guttman * (SL Benfica, Glass of Europe 1962)
* Date of birth: 27/03/1900
The great competitions of clubs of the UEFA include/understand the Glass of Europa/UEFA Champions League, the Glass of the UEFA/UEFA Europe League and the Recopa of the UEFA

Warning on the nonauthorized sale

The UEFA and the Local Organizing Committee of the end of the Champions League have discovered the existence of companies and pages Web that entrances and packages of lodging of illegal form supply.
The UEFA and the Local Organizing Committee of the end of the UEFA Champions League of 2011 have discovered the existence of numerous companies and pages Web that entrances and packages of lodging for the party supply. The sale of this type of packages allows them to inflate much the prices.
The fans whom they love to go to the end of the UEFA Champions League will have to know that the only official salesmen of localities are the UEFA and both clubs finalists next to their official agents (the details of such will have to be consulted with the clubs directly). The packages of lodging only can be acquired through the English Federation of Fútbol (FA).
We urged to him to that it does not buy entrances nor packages of lodging that include localities coming from salesmen nonauthorized since they will not be accepted. In the stage of Wembley identity controls will be made and the entrance to those people will be denied who have acquired the localities through sources nonauthorized.

In addition, the sale or offer of entrances for this party are a crime according to dictates the British law. The UEFA and the FA are working next to the authorities with the objective to reduce to the minimum reventa of entrances in the previous period to the end.

Etóo waits for ' pretty final'

The Cameroun forward already knows what is to gain the Champions League and this year trusts that the Manchester and the Barça carry out a great encounter in Wembley.
On the turf of Wembley, when Manchester United FC and FC Barcelona faces the next Saturday, there will be many familiar faces but there will be one will emphasize by his absence. Samuel Etóo has become synonymous of the end of the UEFA Champions League in the last years. The Cameroun has been in the winning equipment in three of last five editions, although in this occasion its equipment, the FC Internazionale Milano, fell in quarterfinals.
The champion of 2009/10 was itself surprised by the FC Schalke 04 in the quarters with a forceful defeat by 2-5 in San Siro and Etóo still laments that so early elimination. " I believe that we had the occasion to dream about playing the end but soccer is not an exact science. Him we cannot request to God impossible things, in addition already it has given much me. Nevertheless, this year stranger when not being there will be made. Next year we will try to arrive more far possible in this pretty competition ", pointed the forward of 30 years at UEFA.com.
Meanwhile, Etóo will go to the end of London and will animate to its old companions of Barcelona. " I will be in Wembley in spirit since I have very good friends who will be playing the end and therefore, my heart is with them. I hope that Barcelona wins but never you can say what is going to happen. As much the Manchester United as Barcelona has improved much from the end of 2009. I wait for a pretty end ", declared the player, author of 109 goals in Liga with the azulgrana club during five seasons.
Naturally, Etóo will be with the glance put in the forwards. Like many others, it thinks that Lionel Messi could praise/pour off the balance in favor of the Spanish champion although also wants to follow close by the new sensation of the United, Javier Hernandez. " Messi is without doubts the best soccer player of the world. On the other hand, Hernandez has had one season fantastic. I hope that he enjoys since it is a gift of end of season and you never know when you are going to have another opportunity to play it ", said the soccer player of the Inter.
Hernandez would do well in listening to the advice of Etóo. In the end of the UEFA Champions League, few have been the players in the modern era who have known to take advantage of the moment with more effectiveness than the Cameroun. In his first appearance in 2006, Etóo broke the heart of the followers of Arsenal FC doing the goal of the tie in Paris in the final section minutes before Juliano Belletti marked as much that it gave the return to the marker.
Before the goal of Etóo, Barcelona seemed very vulnerable before an Arsenal with ten. " In the first part we did not play as well as we came it doing during all the competition. Memory that I had to say to my companions in the rest who in our equipment were some of the best players of the world and which we had to demonstrate it to it to people in second half. After the rest the party was different. We were enjoying. In the end it was a very pretty victory since Barcelona many years ago that it did not gain that competition ", explained Etóo.
The Cameroun forward returned to be key in 2009 when he marked first of the end disputed in Rome before the United. Although the one was Messi that took all the flatteries after its spectacular goal of head that sealed the triumph by 2-0, as much of Etóo to the ten minutes he was crucial. " That allowed us to control the game so and as we wanted. While a party always stays 0-0 you are worried on when you mark the goal but if you manage to do first, the other equipment is the one that it has to go to by all and it becomes easier for you to play better ", pointed the ex- player of Barcelona.
After a touching goodbye of the Camp Nou, Etóo left to Milan where also it prevailed. After it was requested to him that it played a more serious role in the right band of the attack of the Inter of Jose Mourinho, Etóo demonstrated its great talent in season 2009/10. The Cameroun helped nerazzuri to gain his first Glass of Europe from year 1965 after his triumph by 2-0 before the FC Bayern M5unchen.
" For as much time that they did not gain that title that gave the sensation that was first. Memory that when I arrived was people of about 40 years who came and she said to me: ' Samuel never I have seen the Inter gain ' orejoná. We had luck and us we took it and now the fans of the Inter always will have that memory in their hearts ", concluded Etóo.

Messi duel - Rooney promises to be of candle in end of the Champions

With no need of interiorizar in the numbers of Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney it is possible to be advanced by talent that the duel between Barcelona and Manchester next the 28 of May in the end of the Champions will have to two of the best forwards of the frente.a.frente world.
The qualities of
Rebel Wayne Of the side of
A left-handed person and a right, two different styles that will give everything of if to obtain the glory in the mythical Wembley
 

By: http://www.libero.com.pe/Messi are known by all, and by anything it did not receive the prize like Better Player of the FIFA in 2010. The " Flea " registers 52 goals with Barcelona in the season, with an average of left-handed annotation of 1.04 goals by partido.Su it guarantees spectacle, and the registries that have obtained have it like serious candidate to the title. the Manchester United she will be in favor Wayne Rooney Its talent is undeniable, and the " Orejona " of the 2008 already has in his palmarés, although this season its goleador record is low. Only 14 goals, three of them in Champions in spite of it, their historical record are to fear: 0.41 goals by party.

Barcelona will play with titular uniform before the Manchester

The set directed by Josep Guardiola will be the local equipment in the end of Liga de Campeones of next the 28 of May in Wembley and, therefore, it will dress in his titular uniform, the azulgrana, before the Manchester
The agreement was arrived after a meeting that was celebrated yesterday in London and that it counted on the presence of representatives of both equipment and the UEFA
After playing the end of the Champions,

by: http://www.libero.com.pe/Barcelona Manchester United Real Madrid and the Galaxy Angels they will dispute quadrangular a friendly one in the United States in the month of July.

DT of the Manchester has the formula to win to Barcelona

The trainer of the Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson told that he is looking for the solution for the problem that generates the players of Barcelona Xavi Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi facing the end by Liga de Campeones
" What we must do it is to annul to Xavi-Messi-Iniesta. Everybody this looking for (that solution), because they are extraordinary soccer players ", explained
" Everybody says that this it is not a good equipment of the Manchester United, but we have marked more goals than nobody. Our trajectory in house has been magnificent, is imbatidos in Europe, is in the end of Liga de Campeones and will gain the league if we obtained a point more ", said the technician of

By: http://www.libero.com.pe/Ferguson the ' Reds Devils'

Manchester United watches videos Lionel Messi

With the joy to have the record of titles of the Premier League in front of the Liverpool (18), the Manchester single United account with concentrating itself in the appointment of the 28 of May in the mythical Wembley stage where it will dispute to the end of Liga de Campeones before Barcelona
The establishment of the flaming English champion already watches videos of Lionel Messi player of Barcelona and in addition it surpasses in six points the Chelsea who tied 2-2 with the Newcastle yesterday for want of which disputes the last date of the Premier. The " Reds "

of Rooney would play the last date of the Pre to mier with reservists to conserve their better players to neutralize to the " Flea " in the Champions

Penultimate stage of the Tour of the Trophy

The trip of the trophy of the UEFA Champions League by the city of
London caused that the prestigious award centered the tención on the
City council of the English capital, to borders of the Thames river.
Tower Bridge constituted a spectacular drop curtain of bottom for the
penultimate stage of the Tour of the Trophy of the UEFA Champions
League, while the attention center moved to the City council again,
where the count down for the great end of the 28 of May began in
February with the launching of the sale of entrances. With 11 days
ahead before Wembley lodges the most important event of the European
soccer of clubs, the trophy of the UEFA Champions homologous League
and its feminine one produced a great commotion between the tourists
and the near workers of offices that took minutes to throw a look to
the prestigious continental award. Jorge Correia, fan of the SL
Benfica of Lisbon, said to UEFA.com: " It is a beautiful trophy and
he is brilliant that the end is in Wembley, the capital of soccer and
one of the greatest countries of this sport ". Home of the office of
the mayor of London, the Assembly of London and the Authority of the
Great London, the City council is to stone shot of the HMS right
Belfast and to the other side of the Thames river from the famous
Tower of London. Before their arrival to the City council, both
trophies visited Panshanger FC in Welwyn Garden City, where young of
all the ages they met to put for the photographies dressing the
vibrant colors green and black the Panshanger. The club was founded
on 1969 and is one of the greater and old football teams in
Hertfordshire, with more than 20 equipment and about 300 enrolled
children and children. " it has been a great day. To have the
trophies put a smile in the faces of the children here. And that is
which is soccer. The children very were moved because he is not
something who can see every day ", said the trainer of the Panshanger,
Peter Monk. The Tour of the Trophy already has visited the old market
of Spitalfields, Canary Wharf, Craven Cottage, Trafalgar Square and
Terminal 5 of Heathrow, and will remain in Hyde Park during the
extension of the Champions Festival of the UEFA between the 21 and the
28 of May