The dream final everyone wished for is here, UEFA Chief Platini talked about the beautiful football spectacle it will be. The blue side of Stamford bridge had cried Conspiracy in Uefa's need to get the cup back to continental roots. Make no mistake this is indeed a final which will showcase two great sides in Barcelona and Manchester United who possess such am amazing talent at disposal.
The neutrals are talking of a spectacle in Epic Rome the eternal city where the beautiful game will be played. Others talk about footballing supremacy between the technical elegance and beauty of the Spanish game and the passionate, tactical and physical prowess of the English game which has by far dominated the last few years.
The Catalan giants epitomises the beautiful game with an attacking talent that arrays from Messi, Eto', Henry and between the three of them they have romped in a lot of goals this season in the La liga. I dare say any opposition defense will be jelly with the trio in play, Messi is magical in his ball control and is often compared to his dimnunitive Argentine Maradona and the similarity of play. But Barca gets this goal and attack source from two immaculate footballers in Xavi and Iniesta. Their ingenuity and innovation in the midfield is the heart of Barca's carousel as Sir Alex Ferguson said about Barca.
'It ain't Barcelona's for another huge factor also. It isn't, not necessarily anyhow, because the name of the team in the opposite column happens to be Manchester United.' That is the real reason by the final is such a dream one.
Manchester United is now writing themselves into the history books and glory beckons Fergie's young team under the guile and experience of United legends and class of 95 - Giggs, Neville, Scholes. Of course that includes the institution that Sir Alex Ferguson, the fiery Scot has achieved everything possible and his drive for success and the hunger to reach that season after season is the mainstay of United's strength. There has been a lot of talk and comparison about this young team as the best Fergie has assembled. Debatable topic indeed, but let me not take away anything from the big occasion today which is the final.
Man Utd is a team built from the back to the top, they have one of the most mean and tight defence in the game. They let in only a paltry 24 goals this season and this could be the key against a Barca side whose weakest link is their Defence. With the eager eyes and reading of Carrick who will hold the ball well and spray those passes or the bumbling South Korean with an engine who could run at you 90+ Min's, United can close those gaps Iniesta and Xavi utilised so freely against Chelsea. One other factor you would notice is the brilliance and speed of United's attack, Christiano Ronaldo's blistering pace and sublime skills added with Wayne Rooney's tenacity and physical play might just be a Little too much for a makeshift defence in the final third of Barca's side.
If Barca take the game head on to United they will be a handful, but if United sits deep and holds the ball to start counter play the neutrals will watch the Red Devils standing on that podium to receive their medals and celebrate the success of the "Big eared Cup". Its that simple. I'm awed by the showpiece set out, certainly a final that will make history beckoning for either of these clubs.
For those of who thinks Barca deserves or Man Utd deserves to be in the final or should have won them is just another ridiculous claim. There is no one who deserves, its weakness that mainstays deserving. Winning the match in fashionable way on a high scoring encounter or going to the tilt and scoring on penalties. Whatever the result outcomes is, the final is a fitting one the world awaits. Two teams Barcelona the Spanish Champions and Manchester United the English Champions will light up the eternal city with the beautiful game of strength, courage, passion, spirit that is Football !!
May the best team win and may the Gods relinquish the spectacle.
Darel Luiz
