Flavian's Thoughts About United's Win in Europe

Having watched the entire Champions League Final for the third time and thought it would be fair to make a few points …
Firstly, MANCHESTER UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE…WOOOOOOHOOO
The last time this happened (1999) I wasn’t aware of club football as I am now. I distinctly remember the RJ on Radio Oman go absolutely nuts when United came back in added time after Bayern lead by a goal to nil throughout the game, while I waited in the car outside Sultan Shopping (no more in existence) impatiently waiting for him to play music. Back then it was all about National teams. I knew about the existence of clubs but their squads were unknown for me.
Next, it was interesting to note that the media felt for Chelsea for having lost yet another final. The common comment was that there was no shame in losing after a penalty shootout. When Liverpool beat AC Milan in a shootout in Istanbul, nobody made such a comment. Someone see anything wrong there? It is wrong to call a penalty shootout a lottery… I think it is a discipline/skill which teams spend time on during their sessions; at least they should do so before a knockout game. Seriously how many did not think it would come down to penalties. I said so soon after Chelsea qualified for the final. Truth is Manchester United should have finished the game in the first half itself. While Terry’s slip and miss is considered unlucky/bad luck by so many (especially non Manchester United fans), I wonder how many would feel the same way had Chelsea won it and VDS’ slip for the equalizer along with the Ronaldo miss be seen as the reason for the loss. Not many…To be fair Mr. Chelsea deserved it, he should not have been on the field after spitting on Carlos Tevez, who was brilliant in getting the lost ball back by the way. I HAVE AN EXPLINATION AS TO WHY TERRY SLIPPED…TEVEZ SPIT WHERE IT MATTERED…RIGHT AT THE SPOT WHERE TERRY LANDED HIS BOOT. It seems that many see the Drogba dismissal in a similar way as they did with Zidane’s world cup sending off. Many see it as a turning point. I disagree. I think with Zidane there was a sense that had the game gone on into PK then it was always going to be Italy’s World Cup. Then there was the rage at being humiliated by Matrix’s comment. Drogba on the other hand was just stupid…he has gotten away with so many decisions for simulation that he does not know how to behave. He had to be punished. The first two yellow cards to Scholes and Makelele seemed unreasonable but I think it was given out as the ref wanted to show he was Boss. After all the Luis Garcia goal is still fresh in people’s memory. I aways thought that Chelsea would never really fire if Joe Cole was not at his best. He gives their physical game the creativity they need.
Ronaldo was frickin awesome…yes he missed but I do not think United fans will mind it now that the trophy is won. In fact he will be the most relieved that his mates in the team bailed him out. What I mean by ‘Ronaldo was frickin awesome’ is that he made Essien look like a Fiat in front of a Ferrari. Ashley Cole would probably have been more effective. Cole on the other hand was having trouble earlier with Hargreaves. The form (body shape…not rhythm) that he had when he scored from Brown’s cross was majestic. Brown on the other hand can continue in the right back role. Buying big there will shatter all the confidence he has gained this season. Ronaldo’s run up to the penalty was probably what helped Cech. Cech probably studied Ronaldo’s videos to notice how he favors that particular side that he tried to have a go at again. The pause during the run up only helped Cech cover, more ground. The most amusing runs while taking the PKs belonged to Tevez and Anderson.
Rooney was anonymous on the night but that was mainly because the battle raged on in the centre on the pitch. His counterattacks were BRILLIANT though. Have a look at the game at the 34th minute and you will know it is no BS. Tevez could have killed the game then had he used the fed ball from Ronaldo which was a result of the Rooney run. Nobody in Europe can match United when it comes to counterattacks. AC Milan come close when they are in form collectively. That is where united are so dangerous. The exclusion of Park was a shock. I expected Carrick on the bench with Park playing on the wings so United could score first. I made a mention of my team for the finals a few posts earlier and Park was there. Sir Alex knows best but I feel for Park who could not really take part in the trophy presentations. Nice to see Neville come and get Ronaldo up on his feet after VDS made the save off Anelka (who seemed to be detached from the Chelsea team, then again he always seems that way). Scholes also went ahead and tried to encourage the Chelsea players. Over the last season I kept asking myself where was the next strong headed leader for United come from and Rio Ferdinand has answered that question. He did not have the kind of game as he did when they beat Barcelona but he is instrumental and is the voice for the team. Go back to the home game against Arsenal after the Ronaldo equalizer and see how Rio gets his team back on the field immediately instead of celebrating too much sensing that they had time to come get a second and win the game that would eliminate Arsenal from the race and strengthen United’s chances for a title. It played out just like that. Rio played an important part in getting Drogba sent off…and then when Drogba walked towards Vidic you could see Rio come in between them so that a man who was already sent off would not cause further trouble. Small things… but that’s what makes him a great captain. In contrast you can go back to the Nani sending off against the hammers and see Tevez’s reaction then.
Sir Alex will probably go for another ATLEAST one more European Title with the same enthusiasm he showed this season before he calls it a day. This urgency he showed picked up last season and the result was there for all to see. Before that (post 1999) United had really poor campaigns. That is why Sir Alex said that he had to address his weakness in European competition. Anderson and Nani were came good in a high pressure situation and this will really help them in their United careers. VDS, Giggs and Scholes seemed pleased that they had won the competition once more before they ended their careers. Congratulations Giggs…most appearances in a Red Devil Jersey. Evra will be pleased to be part of a winning side this time around having lost with Monaco. Ballack on the other hand will envy Evra, he has lost in the finals with a different club this time. Hargreaves won his second CL final, this time with a different club. Many pundits and commentators predicted that Scholes would not last longer than 55-60 minutes…well he proved them wrong and came off right at the end. He has another season with a hatful of appearances left in him. Without a doubt VDS was the hero on the night…He will go down in United history with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The win has led to something annoying…Glory Hunter activity…Which means more people than before are claiming to be fans with no knowledge about United history. There are so many who address the team as M*n * without knowing what it means. And it is ANNOYING. The few who actually are attracted or who have noticed United after the win are always welcome but Glory hunters can…well cannot really say such stuff…Because at the first sight of any Lows at United they will be gone as quickly as they turned up. Personally most of the glory hunters I knew switched to Chelsea after United did not win the league for 3 years.
Next season if we buy smart we can win more than ever…Not being greedy…just wishful…There is Champions League, Premiership, Carling Cup, FA Cup, Super cup, World club Championships, Community Shield… Till then…UNITED FOREVER