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There was little doubt that Barcelona FC were going into Wembley as the favourites for this year’s European Championship final. Speculation abounded about whether this was going to be United’s moment, where the Manchester magic would harmonise at just the right moment.
Sir Alex Ferguson was certainly wishing to avoid the defeat his side suffered at the hands of Barça in the Rome final in 2009. But this repeat performance was all too familiar.
Barça have fond memories of Wembley, the site of the club’s first European Cup triumph in 1992 under the baton of Johan Cruyff, who brought elements of his vision of ‘total football’ to the club. That year, the formidable Dutchman Ronald Koeman assured the Catalan giants their piece of precious European silver with a lethal strike against Sampdoria.
The early signs in the match were positive for the underdogs. An aggressive United attempted to disrupt the fluid Barça exchanges early in a 4-4-2 formation. The Catalan maestros were unflustered, absorbing the initial pressure and commencing a strategy they have done all season – controlling the midfield and mesmerising their opponents.
Eventually, the sustained seductive pressure made the United defence crack. Xavi’s pass met an initially quiet Pedro, and Edwin van der Sar, playing his final match of competitive football, did not stand a chance.
The pressure on United was somewhat contained by an equaliser from Wayne Rooney, the result of a fabulous combination from Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs.
With scores tied at halftime, the sides resumed hostilities at pace, and Barcelona reasserted its dominance with the irrepressible touch of Lionel Messi on 54 minutes.
The seemingly infallible genius dogged United throughout from his position as centre-forward, and this performance has perhaps propelled him into the pantheon of football greats.
By 70 minutes, the game was all but over, with David Villa’s well executed coup de grace.
United’s Serbian centre-back Nemanja Vidic was humble after the onslaught, calling Barça’s side the best United had played. Messi, intoxicated by the moment, was less so.
To Europa Press, he proclaimed that the Catalan onslaught would not stop at Wembley. ‘This is a game to remember. What this team does is tremendous and we are still not conscious of what we are achieving. We want to keep winning things.’
The insatiable feeling on Messi’s part is apt for the moment, even if rumbling with a touch of hubris. (But where, one asks, is nemesis going to spring from? Another Ferguson effort?)
The stars have done their cosmic deeds and aligned genius with solid coaching and on-field perfection in the form of such figures as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.
Coach Pep Guardiola will certainly be pleased, having now won the trophy with Barça for two seasons in three. “In Italy, we played a ‘good’ game. Tonight, it was the way which we won that made me proud. That is the way we want to play football.”
Guardiola’s defeated counterpart suggested he stay put and relish his time at the helm before moving on – this, on speculation that the Barcelona coach might hit the ejector seat. Ferguson may well find his rival taking over his position when he retires. Guardiola’s coaching pedigree is assured.
Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He is currently lecturing at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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