Manchester United 1 – 3 Barcelona, Wembley Stadium, London, 28th may 2011 at 22.00
Last night I witnessed the best football team in the world deliver one of the best display of football I’d ever seen. It was football as it should be played: it was attractive, it was attacking, it was entertaining. A real crowd pleaser. There was nothing United could have done. Even if United had brought their A game, they still would have lost. Bear in mind, this was the champions of England. In truth, the margin of victory could have been much greater. The stats makes for depressing read for United fans. Barca:67 % possession, and completed 2x more passes than United. Ouch.
However with all it’s pretty football, Barca does come with it’s flaws. Their theatrical dives and their outrageous attempts to con and pressure the referee to give decisions in their favour totally undermines FIFA’s fairplay mantra and unsporting behaviour – just ask the Real Madrid players. Certainly I’m very displeased to see it.
Barcelona deserves all the praise they get, such as the manner of their victory last night; but I have to admit, I was desperate for a Man United victory. Not just they were underdogs going into the game (despite being the champions of England) but I love the good old the underdogs story and as a representative of English football, it would be nice to know that my team next could pit themselves against the champions of Europe.
I’m not even a United fan, but I still feel the disappointment. Still, at least the the pain of disappointment is eased in the sense that United lost to a better team. There was no controversial decision, no “was it over the line” discussions”. Barca won it fair and square.
It must be depressing for opposition managers and players to watch Barca play sometimes. We all know how they play and surely someone must come up a plan to stop them. So far, those plans have failed. They have to get the ball first from them and even that is mission impossible in itself. How do you stop Messi in his tracks? As Clyde Tyldsley said after the game, it must be depressing to be a youth player at Barca – how on earth are they suppose to establish themselves alongside stars such as Xavi and Iniesta?
So, well done Barca on your fine win. This could well be the best team ever formed.
Kritt Normsaskul 