One night in Rome

I can’t say last night’s result wasn’t the one I was looking for.

 

Well, I suppose Barca might have stuck a couple more in for good measure. Thankfully, it’s getting some pick-up in the press today (and was pointed out by Ruud and Graham on Sky last night), but what yesterday’s Champions League final really did prove wasn’t that Barcelona are the greatest team on the planet, but how great a performance Chelsea’s was in the semi-final earlier this month.

 

I won't deny still feeling bitter about that game, but the team and manager were criticised in some quarters for what was considered overly-negative tactics, when in reality it was a ruthlessly executed plan to stop the world’s best footballing side from playing their game.

 

The simple facts are that, in 90 minutes of football, Barcelona scored twice against a creaking Utd defence because Utd failed to adopt a game plan to contain them. It took Barcelona 184 minutes to score half that tally against Chelsea, by which point they were fortunate to be still in the tie after some lax finishing and some of the most baffling refereeing decisions any of us had ever seen had gone their way.

 

We didn’t let Barcelona play their tip-tap football and were criticised for it. But where’s the obligation? Last night, Ferguson didn’t learn from the Chelsea masterclass. I’m not actually sure what he was trying to do actually – and maybe the players didn’t either. Might explain their ‘nothing’ performance. But managers, fans of the ‘holier-than-thou’ clubs and UEFA themselves should understand that the first priority in football is winning – everything else is a bonus.

 

As I said, it was good to see some of the papers pick all this up, including the ever-reliable Martin Samuel (such a shame he’s writing for the Mail), who wrote this morning:

 

“What else was proven last night? Well, something about Guus Hiddink and Chelsea, that is for sure. Without setting foot in Rome, we now know that Hiddink was even more unfortunate than many believed to have lost over two legs to Barcelona in the semi-final. Their supremacy here simply confirmed Chelsea’s success over two legs in frustrating Barcelona and bringing the carousel to a shuddering halt.

 

They were never taken for a ride like United and the criticism of their negative tactics now looks even more misplaced. As United chased darting shadows across the pitch, Hiddink’s game-plan appeared smarter by the minute.”

 

Long live Guus - he got it right.

 

nb. ok, we didn't win. But if you want to relive that Essien wonder-strike you can see it here

Comments

[KD]

Great post. Was so depressed after the Barcelona game - not only were we cheated, but we also didn't get the credit we deserved for putting in a great performance, and making Barcelona look like an average side. Manchester United made our case very effectively last night!