Champions League Final

RH - Raphael Honigstein
GB - Guillem Balague

RH: Will we see the most one-sided final since Porto v Monaco (3-0) in 2004? I think there might be a similar score, for United.

GB: You obviously haven't seen Barcelona enough this year?

RH: I saw them against English opposition, Chelsea this year and United last season.

GB: They were unbeaten against Chelsea and the Barca who lost at United were the worst Barca in history. This is a very different side.

RH: Agreed. But I don't think they can cope with United's power.

GB: Granted, they have problems at the back. Yaya Toure will have a tough time against Cristiano Ronaldo who is likely to play upfront again. But Barca can hurt United. I don't think it will be one-sided. They have Henry, Iniesta, Messi, Eto'o. Probably the best midfield and attack in the world.

RH: Maybe. But United have the best team.

GB: They are certainly very versatile. Barca have to play really well to win games. United can stick eight men behind the ball and win. But 3-0 to United? How can they score three goals with 30-40 per cent of the possession?

RH: You saw against Arsenal, another pretty, passing side, how they simply over-powered them. With and without the ball.

GB: I don't think you can compare Arsenal with Barca. Arsenal could never win the Spanish league. Iniesta was the best player in the world before his injury.

RH: He might not be fully fit. I think United have more options, both in terms of players and tactics, than Barca.

GB: It's true United have everything. Barca are weaker in an area where they're already weak. My worry is that Barca can only play one way. They are married to their style, to their philosophy, they can't change it. United will figure out a way to stop them. And they're so good at the back that one goal will be enough.

RH: I know, but I have feeling that Ferguson will really go for it.

GB: Why should he? His team is so confident in defence that they can simply wait for the best opportunity. If you press Barcelona too far up the pitch, they tire you and kill you in the last 10 minutes. Why do you think that Ferguson will attack?

RH: I sense that he's beginning to think about his legacy. In 1999 they won it in crazy circumstances, 2008 on penalties. I think he wants to show that his team can play better football than Barca, not just beat them.

GB: United are cautious in finals. They win by one goal, mostly.

RH: Most finals are won by that margin. I would argue that they started very offensively in 2008, as well. By the way, can Messi rise to the occasion?

GB: He seems to get frustrated by English teams.

RH: But he did destroy Chelsea in 2006.

GB: He destroyed Asier del Horno, to be more precise. He relies a lot on inspiration. Sometimes it does not come. But then he does the most difficult things in the world, of course: dribble and shoot.

RH: You spoke about Iniesta. Is he really fit?

GB: I hope so. When he plays to his usual standards, he's just out of this world. As for Henry, he might not quite be ready yet. He's a bit like an old car, he needs time to get going when he comes back from injury.

RH: You don't sound very optimistic. I think you're actually agreeing with me.

GB: I think United are slight favourites. But any talk of a 3-0 is wide off the mark.

16 Comments

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By Buzzerbeater

25.05.2009 19:35

It is a bit Catch 22 for Barca. If they go up and play their usuall handball-style passing around the MU wall to find the gap, it will leave an enarmous space for the counterstrikes and MU are not like Chelsea; Rooney, Giggs and Ronaldo will definitely know what to do with it. I agree with Rafa, MU don't need possession in order to score, and Barca's defence will be gappy. It is gonna be versatile athletes vs. romantic jugglers. Mu are not only the beat team right now, but also the way of future in football.

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