Editorial

Goal.com Worldview: Reflections On Barcelona's Champions League Win

Goal.com's International team looked at the balance of play at the Olimpico...

May 27, 2009 1:45:39 AM

Barcelona players show off their latest trophy in Rome after winning the Champions League against Manchester United

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Barcelona players show off their latest trophy in Rome after winning the Champions League against Manchester United

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As the dust settles in the Stadio Olimpico, Goal.com editors worldwide have reflected on just how Barcelona found their way past the European and World champions, Manchester United.

Here are the thoughts...

"After ten minutes of United domination, Samuel Eto'o showed that, just as he can never be written off, neither can Barcelona. As soon as that opening goal went in, it was Barcelona all the way. Manchester United, almost uniquely in their recent history, were not only second best in terms of ability, but also tactics. Meanwhile Pep Guardiola can be proud of a fantastic evening from each one of his players. And all this without his full-backs! A convincing victory, a deserved one... and a major blot in the book of Manchester United history." --Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com International

"Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergi Busquets were great and stopped the attacking threat of Man United...this led to Wayne Rooney and Ji-Sung Park being isolated....Barca's great midfield play was the key for this season's success." --Mohammed Awaad, Goal.com Arabic

"Barca scored early and showed great strength. On the other hand, Man Utd were in a hurry for whole game. Ronaldo wanted to be a star but it was Messi who shined." --Lee Cheolgyu, Goal.com Korea

"Barcelona played like they played all season long, with speed, strength and technical domination. They fully deserved the opening goal of the match by Eto'o. I like to see that a player can have this kind of emotion after his goal and at the end of the match. Man Utd lost the match in midfield despite the presence of Busquets who finally elevated his level in this final. Xavi was tremendous and Messi did the rest by scoring from a header between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic! Incredible stuff, incredible passion, incredible level, this is a victory for football. And we must thank Guardiola for this." --Alexandre Walraevens, Goal.com France

"I am very disappointed that there was no reaction from Man Utd. Barca showed how important it is to take the lead in a final and Iniesta and Xabi were sensational. And Pep Guardiola too.What's his headline? Pep, impossible is nothing!" --Daniele Perticari, Goal.com Italy

"Everybody talks about Messi, but what about Xavi and Iniesta? Wonderful players on a wonderful team, they were great. A thought on Guardiola: He was better than Ferguson tonight who made some incorrect substitutions: particularly the first one which gave Barcelona more space to counterattack." --Sergio Stanco, Goal.com Italy

"The reality is that Manchester United players became almost hypnotised after Eto'o's goal which makes me think that they were the side which had the fear not only during the match but also before the match. After this first goal, their play showed that their principal objective was not to concede another one. That's why they completely left the match mentally after the second goal. They were not confident of themselves. I think Barcelona players felt it and they played very comfortably." --Erhun Geyisi, Goal.com Turkey

"Barcelona struck an almost perfect ambush against a clueless Manchester United side, who proved totally unprepared to respond once they went one goal down quite early into the final. Cristiano Ronaldo was the biggest disappointment as he failed to live up to his potential in another big game in which his team needed him more than ever. Kudos to Barcelona, who managed a victory for football as they proved that attack can be a viable tactic for champions..." --Michael Paterakis, Goal.com Greece

"Manchester United conceded the first goal so early, and if they could held out for a draw in the first half, it could be another story. Anyway, the best team of this season in Europe wins the title, congratulations!" --Dapeng Liang, Goal.com China

"The Manchester United machine looked set to roll over Barcelona in the first ten minutes, but Samuel Eto'o showed that a little bit of magic--that touch to elude Vidic was the stuff of fantasy--can still determine the outcome of a game. After that move, the goal was inevitable and so was a Barca victory. No offense to Man Utd, but this was a victory for joyful football. In the end, the game was won in the midfield (as they all are, I suppose). Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets outplayed their United counterparts from start to finish, sparking the previously unfathomable thought that Manchester United actually missed Darren Fletcher. Barca are deserved champions of Europe." --Greg Lalas, Goal.com USA

"Barcelona started slowly, but it's not how you start - it's how you
finish, and the Spanish team came out on top by picking up steam and
eventually dominating Manchester United. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta were
especially proficient, controlling the ball so well in midfield that
it took a lot of pressure off Barcelona's makeshift backline. Eto'o
had his moment, and the confidence to strike it when it came. Manchester United had chances, too, but frayed nerves betrayed them and they never seemed ready to contend." --Andrea Canales, Goal.com USA

"Man United only dominated for the first nine minutes of the game. Then after Eto'o's goal, Barcelona took control and fully deserved to be the champions. Fletcher's absence really hurt United in midfield but United have no excuses tonight. And Messi proved he is the best player of 2009." --Bima Said, Goal.com Indonesia

"For once, Manchester United were outplayed by a superior opponent who knew that the best way to stop any team from doing damage is by keeping the ball. An array of world class midfielders in the Barca side kept possession with discipline and hard work, two elements that usually make for a tough and organised opponent, but this team still managed to play beautiful entertaining football at the same time. What a pleasure to watch! Congratulations Barcelona!" --Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com Africa

"In the most anticipated football match of the year, Barcelona had the game plan, enthusiasm, energy and will to win. Surprisingly, Alex Ferguson and his men simply didn’t come close and except for the first nine minutes of the match, looked flat. On this day, Barcelona was a superior team to Manchester United and earned the right to be called the best team in the world. Messi and the rest of his team-mates overpowered the Red Devils with game control, fast passes and precise crosses. Barcelona was a joy to watch and deserved to win." --Kaveh Mahjoob, Goal.com Iran

"Samuel Eto'o broke a match that at the begginnig showed a better Manchester United. But the Red Devils were not prepared for falling behind so early. They had no reaction and their counterattacking tactics were simply destroyed in 10 minutes. Barcelona defended with more and more attacking, with a brilliant pair like Iniesta and Xavi, and one Lionel Messi who demonstrated he deserves the next Golden Ball. Barca were simply too much for United, and should have won by a higher margin." --Martin Decaux, Goal.com Latin America

"Huge disappointment for Manchester United, they were sleepwalking for 90 minutes.Cristiano .Ronaldo? Sorry, I have no idea what he did in this game, and the most emotion Man Utd showed was when Scholes tackled Busquets from behind. I don’t think there is a team that can compare with Barcelona at present. They are showing what perfect football is, and Messi should be the Player of the Year." --Tony Mutong, Goal.com Hong Kong

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