Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 12:06:00 2009
We rate the Manchester United and Barcelona players in the Champions League final.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Goalkeeper
1-EDWIN VAN DER SAR (6) Spilled a low cross from Messi but had little chance with either goal.
Defenders
22-JOHN O'SHEA (6) Shackled Thierry Henry in the opening half but left a huge goal which the Frenchman almost exploited shortly after the break.
5-RIO FERDINAND (5) Troubled by injuries recently and nowhere near his best. Not even close to Lionel Messi for the second goal.
15-NEMANJA VIDIC (5) Named Barclays player of the year earlier in the day but was culpable for the first goal with a weak challenge.
3-PATRICE EVRA (5) His aimless clearance allowed Xavi to pick out Messi for the second goal.
Midfielders
16-MICHAEL CARRICK (5) His passing was not even close to its usual standard. Failed to pick out Wayne Rooney in the second-half when he was clear.
11-RYAN GIGGS (6) Did his best to support Cristiano Ronaldo early on but then was switched to the left flank before being moved centrally to help Carrick.
13-PARK JI-SUNG (7) He worked tirelessly against Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and almost opened the scoring early on.
8-ANDERSON (4) Replaced at half-time after an ineffective 45 minutes. Andres Iniesta got past him too easily for the opening goal.
Forwards
10-WAYNE ROONEY (5) Struggled to get in the game on the left wing and was left frustrated throughout by poor service.
7-CRISTIANO RONALDO (6) The World and European Player of the Year had six efforts on goal but became increasingly frustrated in the second-half.
Subs
32-CARLOS TEVEZ (5) Came on at half-time but was another who did not receive quality service. Could be his last match for the club.
9-DIMITAR BERBATOV (5) His languid style has not always impressed United's fans and spurned a decent chance late on to give his side a glimmer.
18-PAUL SCHOLES (5) Most significant impact was a trademark scything challenge on Sergio Busquets that earned him a yellow card.
BARCELONA
Goalkeeper
1-VICTOR VALDES (6) Spilled an early Ronaldo effort but was alert to come off his line and clear danger.
Defenders
5-CARLES PUYOL (7) The shaggy-haired captain is loved by the fans for his passion and commitment. Twice came close to scoring a third.
24-YAYA TOURE (7) Drafted into central defence following the injury to Rafael Marquez and, a wild hack at a Ronaldo cross apart, was solid.
3-GERARD PIQUE (8) Spent three years at Manchester United and produced an assured performances in central defence. Two key blocks.
16-SILVINHO (7) The former Arsenal man was dependable throughout as Barca didn't miss the suspended Eric Abidal one jot.
Midfielders
28-SERGI BUSQUETS (7) Played effectively as a third central defender for much of the second-half. Did his job and let others play.
6-XAVI (8) The creative fulcrum of most of Barca's attacking play and was so close to scoring when he struck the woodwork with a free-kick.
8-ANDRES INIESTA (10) A sublime performance from the diminutive Iniesta. A constant threat with his running at pace and subtle passing.
Forwards
10-LIONEL MESSI (9) Almost as irresistible as Iniesta. Barca's top scorer in Europe, he made it nine goals with a header any old fashioned centre forward would have been proud of.
9-SAMUEL ETO'O (8) A darting run for the opening goal, his electric pace made Vidic look pedestrian.
14-THIERRY HENRY (8) Only just recovered from a knee injury in time for the final, turned Ferdinand inside out early in the second-half only for Van der Sar to deny him.
Subs
15-SEYDOU KEITA (6) Replaced Henry for the last 20 minutes and added some extra bite to midfield.
27-PEDRO RODRIGUEZ (6) Injury-time sub
Comment 317 - 336 of 336
well they beat united fair and square but the chelsea match was a joke. Their were 2 very clear penalties and a few that could have been given.
Barcelona beat Chelsea and United fair and square.
Did Chelsea think just because they got their first goal, Barca would just leave themselves open.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United are arrogant bad losers.
just very happy with the way united accepted the defeat and their poor game.i also think that early goal by Etoo killed the original spirit of the match.
@frankwill2626: Barcelona outclassed MU in both games and lost by a lucky goal by a rubbish player . MU decided to "park the bus" in both games . They made a big mistake of NOT doing the same last wednesday . Any EPL club that tries to play Barça without using dirty tactics or their signature anti-football park the bus strategy WILL get embarrased and humiliated and lose . There is more to football than the EPL's long ball nonesense !!
where was bacelona last season when they played manutd twice?
MU suck..
Everybody wants to be a champion, but noone is willing to work hard enough to achieve it. ManU reached the final and decided that if they defeated Barcelona last year that they can beat them this year with a fingersnap... also Barcelona brings them memories from 1999... SO WHAT? ManU underestimated the opponent ON THE FINAL... they forgot that the final is for the TWO BEST TEAMS. They thought they went there as favorites... sky high american type of confidence that brought them nothing but a loss.
omg u manc go on like ur city is crimefree, salford is everybit as bad as liverpool. and scruffy so get some new material, coz even everton done u
325. Puyol was top man, played with his heart on his sleeve with passion for his club, not the cash. Once or twice he played for the foul, that is professional football, 2-0 up Ferdinand would have done the same. I was worried that Puyol would be found out but no he was, if not the man of the match, then very close. Should have scored with the header, two good shots, a few good crosses not to mention actually doing his own job of defending. Top class. True pro.
aih carles puyol was amazing, c ronaldo and rooney were like 8 year old girls against him. Iniesta and Xavi flawless like always and etoo is back..and messi was just..messi! beautiiful game and the right team won!
After all MU fc is not the super invincible team that it's fans are trying to make , and as for SAF , when you reaching the top ( by being level with Liverpool , 18 times each) , and watching their performance last night , one
can only say , there would be only one way and that's down .
Football is all about hardworking and not what references are doin especially by favouring team like man united use in the premier league this has clearly shown by Barca's win against Man U.
Looks like Man U performance last night like a little boys against big men Barcalona players. Flash back as PATRICE EVRA mentioned previous comments from his team against Arsenal. Most Man U players are freaking cocky s.o.t.b, now tastes your own medicine....Very good job Barcalona.
Carles Puyol should not have been man of the match as he was rolling around trying to get people booked.
What a joke and a bad sports man
remember when they contained eto last outing one of the commentator's said he was worth nothing why would you want him in eng you see now..ha ha The only way to beat barcelona was to have close man marking not zonal marking so ronaldo is correct with the tatics bit.ball posession-key
when you contain a good side and they evaluate and plan the next time will be better.tatics from the last match and what chelsea achieved was changed -too much talent so the coach vary their play without changing their flow-eng footballers don't rate individual skill and got a lesson from it yesterday
Uafa's dream final was the most impassionate and boring game I've ever watched. It was played with the enthusiasm of a group stage match, at best...
CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL & ARSENAL would never have put in such an appauling display.
Man of the match was Carles Puyol. Played "out of position" at right back, he appeared to enjoy himself even more than his regular centre of defence.
remember when they contained eto last outing one of the commentator's said he was worth nothing why would you want him in eng you see now..ha ha The only way to beat barcelona was to have close man marking not zonal marking so ronaldo is correct with the tatics bit.ball posession-key
when you contain a good side and they evaluate and plan the next time will be better.tatics from the last match and what chelsea achieved was changed -too much talent so the coach vary their play without changing their flow-eng footballers don't rate individual skill and got a lesson from it yesterday
Now, now jj red 20.....do we really have to resort to name calling? And if we do, surely you can do better than "numb nuts". Pretty lame I'm afraid but sums up how Man Ure were last night & also how they were against Liverpool this season.
And all football supporters realise that there was life before the Premiership......but I forgot....you're a Man Ure fan, not a football fan!
And check the spelling in the dictionary......that's the big book with no pictures that explains what various words mean!
Try the junior version, ages 4-11!!!
Man'U is a disgrace to english teams what a poor performance.Barca was simple unstoppable my boy messi made it again nowonder he will be the best player in the wolrd at the end of this year.
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