Champions League - The Final: Player Ratings

Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 12:06:00 2009

We rate the Manchester United and Barcelona players in the Champions League final.

FOOTBALL Andrés Iniesta / Foto EFE - 0

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

Lee Walker / Eurosport

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  1. JJRED20 - from your name I'm asuming that you are­ 20 years old, which is about how many years ago that­ Man Yoo started to win trophies, strange that!

    Two­ words......... GLORY HUNTER!!

    From xile2k5, on Thu 28 May 10:23AM

  2. The best description to the final display by Barca is­ that they are the best indeed with the full time hope­ and determination

    From hank_malani, on Thu 28 May 10:21AM

  3. JJRED20: You said, and I quote "how many trophies­ Liverpool won in the past 25­ years?" (Copy &­ Pasted!)

    Scroll down and read your own post, do you­ have amnesia?

    From xile2k5, on Thu 28 May 10:20AM

  4. BARCELONA FAKE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE YOU ALL KNOW CHELSEA­ WERE CHEATED

    From U R SOLES, on Thu 28 May 10:16AM

  5. Liverpool
    English premier­ league - 0
    FA Cup - 3­ (1992, 2001, 2006)
    Champions league - 1­ (2005)

    Manchester united
    Emglish premeir league - 11­ (1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99,­ 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08,­ 2008–09)
    Champions League - 2 (1999 and 2008)
    FA cup -­ 4(1994, 1996, 1999, 2004)

    There are some facts you­ scousers love.

    From Joseph, on Thu 28 May 10:14AM

  6. laliga is tactically far better than premiership .. No­ doubt about it. English teams are over hyped and­ overrated by their press as usual. Same they do to­ their national team and players. Chelsea went to­ barcelona and defended like cowards that’s what gave­ them the audacity to cry wolf after the drawing against­ 10 man barca in england.

    From kevinjohnson775, on Thu 28 May 10:13AM

  7. Your rating is fairly wrong. Man-U failed yesterday­ because of tactical problem. I agree with Ronaldo,­ though I dont expect him to come out with such­ statement. As soon as the first goal went in, you didnt­ see much of the Man-U midfield. even before then,­ Anderson and carrick were struggling to keep up in the­ midfield. Park was out of the game if you replay this­ game in your mind, Rooney was the best player for­ United yesterday. He was not afraid to tackle and get­ the game on. He posed the highest danger. Park and­ Evra didnt have their game yesterday. I think they were­ too worried about the Barca's brilliance that they­ didnt play their own game. I dont think starting­ Anderson against players like Xavi and iniesta was the­ best tactical option. I would have recommended Scholes.­ On the pitch, he lacks respect or fear of any1. What­ United need were fighters in the midfield to make Barca­ make mistakes. U can see that as soon as Tevez and­ Scholes got in d game, Barca's fluid passes started­ to fail. The second goal was unfortunate though, as it­ wasnt really a build-up, just error from Evra. Barca­ have players that can punish you with 0.1% mistake you­ make. They are certainly the best team on the planet at­ this moment. ALL CREDIT TO THEM! i think my Chelsea­ would have been the only team to beat them though.

    From Mikkyporatto, on Thu 28 May 10:12AM

  8. what have liverpool this season, zero, they wish they­ were as good as man u , well done man u , and all­ manchester people who follow this great club. glory­ glory man u.

    From dec40, on Thu 28 May 10:11AM

  9. I said in the last 20 years.
    Go on. List our­ achievemnets are Liverpools achievements in the last 20­ years side by side.
    Then we will see the better club.

    From Joseph, on Thu 28 May 10:04AM

  10. barcelona where great all this @#$%
    by united of­ histroy and stuff they cant
    peform on the big stage­ liverpool are by
    far much better . we won it 5 times­ we won it 5 times
    in istanbul we won it 5 times

    From killian, on Thu 28 May 10:04AM

  11. Barcelona!!!:)))) But u have to say this ratings is­ ridiculous! Who did this have no clue on football - AT­ ALL!!!

    From Filip, on Thu 28 May 10:04AM

  12. MAKIE NO MISTAKE BARCA LOST TO CHELSEA AND SHOULD NEVA­ HAVE BEEN THERE ANYWAY ,UNLUCKY MAN U ,SOME SICK MINDED­ SCOUSERS OUT THERE THOUGH ,NOT ENGLISH I SUPPOSE

    From handyandyisalways, on Thu 28 May 10:03AM

  13. JJRED20 - List of honours from past 25­ years...

    League: 1985-86, 1987-88. 1989-90

    FA Cup:­ 1985-86, 1988-89, 1991-92, 2000-01, 2005-06

    League­ Cup: 1994-95, 2000-01, 2002-03

    European Cup:­ 2004-05

    UEFA Cup: 2000-01

    European Super Cup: 2001,­ 2005

    Not too bad considering…And they got to keep­ their European Cup ;-)

    From xile2k5, on Thu 28 May 10:03AM

  14. History doesn't have "what if's".­ Only pure facts.
    In any case @#$% Manu!

    From alexander, on Thu 28 May 9:56AM

  15. we won it 5 times ***** YNWA

    From NJ, on Thu 28 May 9:55AM

  16. Manc scum - take it like men and shut the fk up for a­ change - c#nts

    From ffogil, on Thu 28 May 9:54AM

  17. my dearest amanda-Golling that's a little bit silly­ dont you think so, however you must be ancient to­ remember that Il Duce fixed 1934 game,by the way you­ did not learn how to count in your 1st grade? I said­ Italy won FOUR WORLD CUPS that makes Italy according to­ me the winner of THREE WORLD CUPS not TWO,­ Dearest........

    From dante, on Thu 28 May 9:54AM

  18. I couldn't comment yesterday after I'd seen the­ Eurosport player rating prior to the Barca - Man United­ clash. I've always argued the superiority of the­ Premier League to La Liga up until yesterday when it­ was clearly revealed on the pitch of Rome. Man United -­ arguably the best team in the EPL - were totally­ outclassed, outplayed and outsmarted by a rampant Barca­ team. I must advise that even though eurosport is­ British it should guard against over-hyping the English­ teams over others; as was evidenced by their pre-match­ player ratings - Eurosport please take note! That being­ said, I think that even after all the slag out to­ Chelsea FC for their boring tactics they were better­ than Man United against Barca....Forza­ Barca..............

    From samuel l, on Thu 28 May 9:53AM

  19. One player I am happy for is Mr. Henry Thierry. A good­ player like him deserve such victory of lifting a­ Champions cup for once in his football carreer. He­ left Asernal F.C and joined a more focused club, Barca,­ to add a champions feather to his cap. Congrats Henry,­ congrats Barca. Up Barca. I cannot run Man. U. down­ for not equalling Barca's soccer superiority. Let­ them try again next time. It's not easy getting to­ the FINALS. I say, Up Man. U.

    From JACOB, on Thu 28 May 9:49AM

  20. my dearest amanda-Golling that's a little bit silly­ dont you think so, however you must be ancient to­ remember that Il Duce fixed 1934 game,by the way you­ did not learn how to count in your 1st grade? I said­ Italy won FOUR WORLD CUPS that makes Italy according to­ me the winner of THREE WORLD CUPS not TWO,­ Dearest........

    From dante, on Thu 28 May 9:48AM
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