Champions League - Team of the season

Eurosport - Thu, 28 May 16:42:00 2009

Unsurprisingly, newly-crowned European champions Barcelona dominate our team of the season, with six players rewarded with a place in our elite selection.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Iniesta Eto'o Messi - 0

GK: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United) - Just four goals conceded during United's run to the final speaks volumes for the goalkeeper's form this season. Another two in Rome blotted his copybook somewhat, but few can argue the Dutchman has been the continent's standout keeper this season.

RB: Dani Alves (Barcelona) - A silly booking may have cost the Brazilian his place in the final, but his attacking displays over 12 previous appearances set the standard for right-backs across Europe.

CB: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) - Like most of his team-mates, the Serb stopper suffered an off-day in the final, but his form on the road to Rome cannot be questioned. Imperious. And scary.

CB: Gerard Pique (Barcelona) - The 22-year-old showed promise during his spell with United, but since arriving back home in Catalonia, he has blossomed into one of the best defenders in Europe. His outstanding performance in the final was testament to that.

LB: Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - The skilful Frenchman offers so much more than solid defensive work and his forays forward have been a feature of United's attacking play all season long.

CM: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) - The little Spaniard's midfield partnership with Xavi is second to none and while Lionel Messi gets all the plaudits for the goals he scores, Iniesta is the player who really makes Barca tick. Capped off a fine season with a sublime performance in the final.

CM: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) - Another of Barca's unsung heroes, Xavi's midfield nous has helped propel Barca to glory. Always available, and seemingly always in space, the Spain international's brilliant final performance mirrored the way much of his season has gone.

AM: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - Another seven goals for Gerrard during this year's Champions League campaign again proved his invaluable worth to his side. There is no one better breaking forward from midfield than the Liverpool skipper, nor are there many more inspirational players.

FW: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - The best player in the world debate will rage on over the summer, but the Argentine ace certainly got the upper hand on Cristiano Ronaldo in Rome. And his performances in Europe over the course of the season have done much to suggest Messi actually merits the title of the 'new Maradona'.

FW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - The forward may not have lived up to the sky-high expectations he set himself last season, but whenever he has the ball at his feet, the sense of fear in the opposition is palpable. His goal against Porto was simply stunning.

FW: Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) - In a season where goals have been Barcelona's trademark, it would be remiss not include a Blaugrana striker in our elite team. The Cameroon international (pictured with Iniesta and Messi) gets the nod for his exquisite finish in the final, although team-mate Thierry Henry could easily have made the cut.

Manager: Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) - Sure, Alex Ferguson took his side to yet another European final, but the Barcelona boss's feat - a treble in his first season in charge - is all the more impressive when you consider he is just 38 years old. A long and glittering future awaits.

Eurosport

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  1. not 1 chelsea player in dere but dey shudbeen in da­ champo league final not barca. Lampard shud b dere nd­ other chelsea players. @#$% ON CHELSEA! CHELSEA 4­ LYF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Chelsea, on Thu 11 Jun 11:59PM

  2. manchesterunited are still are ine of the best teams on­ the planet its just barcelona got the better over themm­ and ronaldo blames the tacticts i kindaa blame him he­ had about five shots and didnt score1 come on

    From hanzala_syed_619, on Tue 9 Jun 6:24PM

  3. football sucks @#$%

    From Jordan, on Sun 7 Jun 7:28PM

  4. we dont know what gonna happen if gerrard n torres not­ injurried...
    the truth MU are noting 4­ Liverpool...........

    From bayu.sakai, on Sun 7 Jun 11:26AM

  5. i would maybe know what you are talkign about chexto if­ I knew what sport are you on about? is soccer that­ thing you play with hands in US?

    In the world, THE­ GAME is called FOOTBALL, and is played with the feet.­ The largest sport in the world. good luck.

    From moon2309, on Fri 5 Jun 1:27AM

  6. are u not ashamed?
    do u think soccer is all about­ coming to the field and playing the game. Man u are not­ robbers, they have earned the respect of the premier­ league, if not, let Liverpool live up to it.
    Liverpool­ and the likes of them who r envious of THE GLORIOUS­ UNITED should learn the politics of soccer first, that­ is one thing man u utilizes very well, both from the­ players to outside the pitch and the board room.

    From Chextopher, on Thu 4 Jun 2:29PM

  7. please what i want to say is that Manchester united are­ robbers of England premier league,they normally bribe­ and influence the referees and also do match scandal ­ to enable them to lift the leagues in England,please i­ kindly ask the UEFA AND FIFA to watch all Manchester­ previous games that the lift three consecutive times.

    ­ LIVERPOOL AND ARSENAL ARE THEY NOT A TEAM IN­ ENGLAND?,WHY MAN-U AND CHELSEA ALWAYS.PLEASE LET WHAT­ HAPPEN IN ITALY SHOULD REPEAT IN ENGLAND,MAN-U ARE­ ROBERS OF ENGLAND AND MATCH SCANDALS .MAN-U ARE NOT­ WORTHY TO LIFT THE TROPHY,IS FRO LIVERPOOL BUT MAN-U­ USES THEIR INFLUENCE IN ENGLAND TO LIFT IT.

    From kingslondon24 c, on Wed 3 Jun 2:09PM

  8. go to hell you all!!

    From gflicks, on Wed 3 Jun 11:00AM

  9. and elrosso ronaldo did more than messi. MESSI SCORED­ YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!

    From Marie C, on Tue 2 Jun 10:44AM

  10. elrosso you are as deluded as the newcastle fans you­ were outplayed for 80 mins rooney was @#$% ronaldo was­ below and couldn finish his dinner!!! par vidic was­ having nightmares about torres running circles around­ him again!!!!! ji sun park should still be playing on a­ sunday in a park!!!! carrick couldn pass more than 2­ yards!!!!1 giggs couldn cross the road never mind the­ ball!!!!! van der sar was beaten on his near post again­ he shoulda went to spec savers!!!! barcelona destroyed­ the so called best team in the world and half of there­ team where out injured and suspended so elrosso wake up­ and smell the coffee your a brilliant side but­ barcelona are the new kids on the block they will­ dominate and play the final again they will destroy you­ again!!!!!!! YNWA

    From Marie C, on Tue 2 Jun 10:43AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    CHELSEA haters , chelseas defence is the only defence­ that succsed in stopping barca, and you didnt put even­ one name? shame..big shame

    From valerysh22, on Tue 2 Jun 5:56AM

  12. Elrosso, cut the c.r.a.p.! Come on United

    From United, kids, wife, on Tue 2 Jun 12:00AM

  13. elrosso, what final did you watch??? how can you say­ utd were the better team??? apart from the 1st 10mins,­ utd weren't in the game at all. barca always looked­ the more likely 2 score. and manu were lucky not 2 have­ 2 straight reds 4 scholes and ronaldo. ur obviously­ just a glory hunter as even the manager and players­ admitted that they were completely outplayed. u should­ go to specsavers.

    From THOMAS, on Mon 1 Jun 2:15PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rubbish, what about essien, lampard, ivanovic,­ bosingwa; i think this list is absolute rubbish.
    my­ list is: Da Silva (porto)
    Bosingwa (chelsea),­ Vidic(utd), Y. Toure(barca), A. cole(chelsea)
    C.­ Ronaldo(man utd) , Iniesta(barca), Essien(chelsea),­ Messi(barca)
    Gerrard(Liverpool)
    Eto(barca)

    The best­ list

    From sitamiky, on Mon 1 Jun 1:37PM

  15. For me, Sam Eto'o has had a great season for­ Barca.

    Eto'o scoring the goal against United last­ week shows he's still hungry for goals the next­ time round.

    Eto'o and Barca showed that United­ weren't what they claim out to be the best.

    Barca­ might have been rattled, but eventually the cut United­ apart and with Sam Eto'o he's got an eye for­ goal.

    Sam Eto'o for me has to be my player of this­ season.

    From peasah2005, on Mon 1 Jun 12:18PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Everyone knows Man Utd were the better team against­ Barcelona. man Utd outplayed Barcelona at a cantor and­ all that was missing was the finishing touch. If all­ chancesd had been taken Man Utd would have been three­ nil ahead after 10 minutes. Throughout the game Man Utd­ played the better football and Ronaldo did much more­ than Messi or Iniesta. All in all a fair result would­ have been 8-2 to Man Utd. Still, in football sometimes­ the better team does not win but Man Utd showed why­ they are world champions and why Ronaldo is the best­ player in the world.

    From elrosso, on Mon 1 Jun 8:53AM

  17. As for the person who said that Ronaldo will go to Real­ and will prove to Messi, who is better.......I pity you­ for your luck of intelligence, the game in Rome showed­ who was who! Anyway....enjoy yourself with your­ bitterness....you have a year to live with it!?....or­ who knows,maybe for a lifetime!

    From marilacson, on Sun 31 May 9:41AM

  18. Barcelona are one of the best teams on the planet.

    Pep­ Guardiola is in his first season and he has won La­ liga, the Copa Del rey and The Champions league. How­ much better can you get in your first season?

    Man u­ suck

    From asher.randall, on Fri 29 May 5:40PM

  19. MikeyB
    Cristiano Ronaldo, LOL. Whats it like ManUre­ fans? Whenever you get a few good players they always­ end up leaving u to go to a REAL team (get it? LOL).

    From DaGringo, on Fri 29 May 4:53PM

  20. Who even plays for Real these days?

    From MikeyB, on Fri 29 May 3:14PM
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