United v Barca: Under the Microscope

By Brian Lofrumento | 28th May 2009

United v Barca: Under the Microscope | read this item

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fergie-and-rio There will surely be a million stories about yesterday’s Champions League final, but all of them (including one right here on Premiership Talk) will talk about Barca’s brilliance, Messi’s dominance, and United’s dismay. As a United fan, I feel there are a lot of things to be taken from this match that go far beyond our performance on the pitch.

Ji Sung Park

The most controversial pick of the bunch, Ji Sung Park made up for last season’s Champions League final disappointment by landing himself a spot in this year’s starting eleven. While I think Ji performed well against Arsenal and always brings buckets of energy to the United squad, someone must mention that he does not deserve a place in a Champions League final starting eleven. In particular, Carlos Tevez brings as much energy as Park does, and the Argentinian is much better with the ball at his feet. There comes a time when Ji’s running will deliver him with the ball, and unfortunately the Korean doesn’t know what to do with it. I admire his effort, but against a team like Barca the team needs someone who can hold the ball.

Wayne Rooney

First and foremost, I love Wayne Rooney to death. He’s pulled magic out of his hat many times in his career for both England and Manchester United, but something tells me the limelight should be on him a bit more than it’s on Ronaldo. No, I’m not saying he’s the better player and I’m not complimenting him here. I’m referring to the harsh criticism often thrown at Cristiano Ronaldo – people say the Portuguese winger doesn’t show up in big games, but the same can be said for Wayne Rooney now. He’s had his chance to shine in two Champions League finals now, and both times it’s been his United teammate Ronaldo who looked a bigger threat.

In defense of Wayne, the role that Fergie has given him out on the flank isn’t playing to his strengths. If he is going to stick with that wide position, he’ll need to watch tapes of players like Thierry Henry who successfully start out wide, but let their ability and knowledge for the game provide an inside threat as well. Let’s go back to the Wayne Rooney who ran at the heart of defenses.

Cristiano Ronaldo

This man is a genius. He may not have captured all of the headlines for a typical Ronaldo display, but Cristiano became a man in this match. For 90 minutes he stopped his childish antics, stopped whining and faking injury, and led the team by example. Everytime he got the ball he took it to the heart of Barcelona, and he looked like United’s only threat out there. Even after Barcelona scored their first goal, it was Ronaldo who told his teammates to relax and play their own game. Unluckily for him, his teammates weren’t quite up to the task. There’s no doubting his hunger during those 90 mintues, though.

Cristiano Ronaldo (the bad)

For all of the good things I said about Ronaldo’s leadership throughout the match, after the match he once again became one of football’s biggest villains. In recent months he has said countless times that Manchester is his home and he’ll be at United for many more years, but following this devastating defeat he cast uncertainty over his future. When asked if he would be at Old Trafford next season, Ronaldo responded with a typical dramatic response: “I don’t know.”

Ronnie, you need to realize what United has done for you and how the fans have supported you.

The Spirit of 1999

After Barcelona scored their first goal, I couldn’t help but think back to that historic night in Barcelona when Manchester United sealed an unbelievable treble. In ‘99, a sixth minute goal from Bayern Munich put United on the back foot, and this year it was a tenth minute finish that put them behind.

The difference here is that the spirit of 1999 meant the squad never gave up. Even after going 90 minutes without scoring, United fans, staff, and players all believed they could still win the game. We all know what happened next.

This year, the squad looked like they had given up after Barca’s second goal. Even after Lionel Messi scored in the 70th minute, United had plenty of time to go on and equalize. Instead, the squad looked dejected and uninterested. Even players like Wayne Rooney who typically leave everything on the pitch looked exhausted, beat up, and ready to roll over. It was strange to watch, and un-United.

Work to do

United may have finished the season as Carling Cup winners, Club World Cup champions, and Premier League winners, but there is still a lot of work to be done if Sir Alex Ferguson wants to win another Champions League crown. Rest assured, work will be done. United has never rested on their laurels and never stopped progressing, which has kept the Red Devils at the top of the game since the inception of the Premier League. This team still has not got ahold of European tactics, but you can bet your bottom dollar that next season will see a rejuvanated and excited United team once again.

What does United’s future hold? Have your say in the comments section below!

Dani says:

May 28, 2009 at 12:40 pm

I would disagree about Ronaldo calling United his home and then saying he might leave. He wasn’t being honest but is honesty really always the best policy? Do you think it would have been better for him to say throughout the season that he was leaving United at the end of the year? I think that certainly would’ve caused some tension in the locker room and with the fans.

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