As an avid United supporter for years so many, it was quite painful to watch the Champions League Final the way it manifested itself. On a splendid saturday night, Wembley The Beauty shone bright, as it hosted two teams. United, trying to avenge the 09 defeat to Barca, and Barca, trying to inflict misery again on United. As it all played out, the performance from Barca was nothing short of surreal, dismissing United 3-1. As for United, the ghosts of 2009 only got bigger.
Barca and United adhere to two different schools of footballing mentality. United, as aggressive a team as they are, like to exercise caution in play, with a strong sense of defensive minded protocols. Barca on the other hand, showcase "ideal" football all about the unselfish extra pass. Every player sees himself as an entity contributing to the movement of the ball and no one player ever tries to hold the ball. The onus is also on the neighboring players to take open positions to receive the ball. This principle of behavior permeates the team. What transpires is Class. What we witness is Classic. To some, it brings tears of joy.
As the Final wore on, it seemed like United had conceded to this class to rely on counter attacks. As much as an attacking midfield could help in this Operation, a stabilizing midfield in the form of holding/defensive midfielders is a necessity. I thought United should have started with Scholes and Fletcher. 4-1-4-1 would have been perfect with a lone striker. It could have provided United with more stops, counter attacks in the form of long range passes which is United's strength, Barca frustration and delayed the inevitable. Instead, United were chasing shadows for 90 mins. The outcome itself could only have been otherwise if and only if football demigods had decided to shower every bit of luck and fortune on United, a fact later conceded overwhelmingly by United players themselves.
Now, could the result open doors for a new brand of players this summer at United ?. A resounding Yes.
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