Here we go again; Barcelona and Manchester United will face off once more in the Champions League final this year, giving United a chance to redeem their loss to Barca two years ago in Rome. That match was notable for Messi & Co. outplaying United in Cristiano Ronaldo's last game for the English team, and this time, I think we can expect a similar result. United have been simply great this year, this despite their best player being out of form for over half the season and their game lacking of the sort of style and invention we're so accustomed to seeing from them. Still, I was convinced whoever won the SuperDuperClasico semifinal would go on to lift the European Cup, and I stand by that prediction.
Pep Guardiola's Barcelona are, in my opinion, the best team to ever play the game; no side in the history of the game has ever delivered such stunning results with such aesthetically flawless football, and they've done it by sticking to a formulaic philosophy that is not only unique, but devastatingly effective. They've done it with a crop of players who are largely homegrown academy products from La Masia, including several who constituted the backbone of the greatest Spanish national team of all time and ended decades of misery by lifting the World Cup in South Africa last summer. Without going into the furor surrounding the events that played out over the course of the semifinal against Madrid (too much to get into, but it is just typical Jose, and typical Barca to some extent as well), Mourinho tried his best to stop Barca once more and couldn't do it, not with the current Real squad anyway. Those of you who read my post from several weeks ago on Barcelona know how much it pains me to admit that they're the best in the world, but I have to stand by my statement: they're the best ever. No, I never had a chance to see Bob Paisley's Liverpool or Arrigo Sacchi's Milan or Johan Cruyff's Ajax sides of the late 60s/early 70s, and yes, you could attribute this to some sort of generational bias. But considering the level of competition in the game today, and the individual level at which FC Barcelona's players are plying their trade every week, I think its safe to say this team could beat anyone, ever. And I certainly hope they do it against Manchester United.
If you haven't deduced this yet, I'm a Liverpool fan. In fact, later on I'll be posting about our crucial game at Craven Cottage tonight against Fulham, which we'll need to win if we want to make it into European competition next season. I try my best to be levelheaded and fair to Manchester United, and I think I do a pretty good job of it when commentating on them here. So since they're about to be crowned champions of England for a record 19th time, allow me this much. I hate Manchester United. I hate how they're about to overtake Liverpool's tally, and I hate how they will revel in the victory as finally knocking Liverpool off their f***ing perch, as one Alex Ferguson would put it. I wish them the worst against Barcelona and hope they disgrace their nation by getting embarrassed on home soil at Wembley. I will be rooting against them with everything I have, which will be refreshing because I look at it as an opportunity to put aside my distaste for the Great Barcelona and cheer on their magnificence. I hope they fail because I'm determined that we maintain our record as the most successful English team in European competition, and I want them to get nowhere near our tally of 5 European Cups. In fact, I can't wait until August when we can finally start a new season and tie up the league championship record at 19 a piece. I hate Wayne Rooney, I strongly dislike Nemanja Vidic, and Javier Hernandez just annoys me. And I can't say anything about Alex Ferguson (I refuse to call him 'Sir') that hasn't already been said about cholera.
So, now that we've gotten that out of the way, well done to United. They eased past a potential trap in the Schalke tie, and if it weren't for future United/Bayern/Arsenal/Milan goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, they would have crushed the Germans in Gelsenkirchen. Then, Alex had the audacity to field a central defensive partnership of Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling behind a midfield of Paul Scholes, Anderson, and Darron Gibson(!!!) in the second leg of a Champions League semifinal, which was cool because he could actually do that, give his starters some much needed rest, and still get a great performance from his squad (depth is the key to this United squad's success, as Ferguson himself indicated). They have been the best English team in a year when the Premier League was so competitive and top-heavy that the top six teams threatened to cancel each other out -- and very nearly did. United haven't played spectacular ball, but its clear when you see them take the pitch that they're still on an elite, world-class level and not to be underestimated. You don't go over half a season in the Premier League undefeated on luck alone, no matter what Arsene says. As for their European campaign, it has thus far been sublime. They deserve to be at Wembley, as much as I hate to say it.
But I cannot envision a scenario where they beat Barcelona. David Villa was the perfect foil for Messi up top, and as soon as he signed for Barca last summer we all knew it was over. Pedro's emergence as an elite player, with Andres Iniesta's determination to stay healthy after an exhausting season last year, have allowed Barcelona to perform at an unprecedented level in 2010-11, and that's saying something.
Sure, Wayne Rooney may be back (sorta) and what Ryan Giggs has done is nothing short of incredible (we know). And of course, Rio Ferdinand's determination to battle through his back problems, and injuries directly related to them, to give it one last go when everyone thought he would be done for the season (perhaps for good) is admirable. It's clear that his and Vidic's ability to anchor the backline together once more has resulted in the defensive stability needed to make yet another run at a European Double.
Regardless, I just don't think it will be enough. When you throw a First XI of Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Villa, and Messi on the pitch at Wembley, playing in the biggest match in club football for the most prestigious trophy in club football, there's just nothing anyone can do. Not even Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.
Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United
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