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Archive for Champions League
Maradona: Messi is “the new Maradona”
Posted by: | CommentsFamous Argentinean says that Lionel Messi is the only player on the planet that has earned to be called “the new Maradona”.
According to many opinions the best world’s football player ever, Argentinean Diego Armando Maradona, admitted that his fellow Argentinean from Barcelona, Lionel Messi is the only player in the world that has earned to be called “the new Maradona”. Messi was officially rewarded as the best football player in the world in last year’s FIFA awards and he was one of the scorers and the man of the match in Barcelona’s Champions League final 3-1 win over Manchester United.
Maradona said: “Many times I’ve heard during the years that there is “the new Maradona”, but Messi is the only one that I believe deserves to be called like that. He is incredibly talented and has unique ability to do with the ball things you don’t expect. That is what makes him special. All great football players know how to play football and do things that makes you watch them and admire those moves from game to game and keep asking yourself if that what they are doing is even possible. Lionel Messi is that kind of player.” Maradona added: “We don’t have to speak about his skills with the ball, because his way of playing football is on a much higher level. He is working hard for his team and makes opponent’s job difficult. Just watch his movement when Barcelona is not in the ball possession. His teammates can rely on him just like on everybody else in the team when they need to put some efforts on the pressure or defensive play. So, yes, he does some football moves magically, but he also works very hard for his team”
Messi’s trophy from Wembley is the second Champions League. Both he won against Manchester United and he was also a scorer two years ago in Rome. He will have his 24th birthday in June and to reach the heights of famous Maradona he must reach the World Cup success with his national team. Maradona was the Argentina captain and the best player of World Cup in Mexico 1986 when he lifted the trophy as Argentina became the World’s football champion for the second time.
Barcelona have the best striking lineup in the world. Someone calls it MVP – Messi, Villa, Pedro. Three strikers delivered 98 of Barca’s 152 goals this season. Each of these three fantastic players scored a goal in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday. After coming from Valencia, David Villa had to adapt to slightly different role than the one he had in his previous club. He did it fantastically and now he scored the goal that definitely sealed his club’s victory in the most important final for one European club. He dedicated his goal to his family and that of Liverpool’s goalkeeper Pepe Reina: “We are very happy having achieved all of this. I dedicate my goal to all my family, my daughters and also Pepe Reina’s, who are like my nieces. It is the reward for all work and we are very happy to have achieved this in a stadium so important. If you know us, you know that we never relax. We have ambition, we have potential and we are very hungry for titles. We could not waste this opportunity.”
Check out the Barcelona vs Manchester United highlights
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Here you can see all matches, Champions League odds and Champions League tips on footbetting.co.uk.
Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United in Champions League final at Wembley was perhaps the sweetest thing for Barcelona’s defender Eric Abidal, who was in hospital bed just two months ago after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his liver. Abidal has returned to the field earlier than predicted and his form began to uplift preceding the expectations. The France international was reduced to tears by his teammates after being allowed to lift the trophy instead of team captain Xavi and club captain Carles Puyol. Before the end of the match he had been handed the captain’s armband by Puyol, who was given a chance to feel the atmosphere in the last moments of the match.
Abidal said: “It was such a special thing for Xavi and Carles and Pep to do. It made me full of emotion to think about it and everything I have been through and I could not hold (the tears) in. This kind of thing is why this is such a special club. We are like a family and everyone treats each other with love and respect.”
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Here you can see all matches, Champions League odds and Champions League tips on footbetting.co.uk.
Lionel Messi who is widely regarded as the best football player in the world was a man of the match in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Manchester United. He scored second goal for his team and pushed Barcelona into the night of happiness. Earlier this month Barcelona took La Liga title and Messi scored 53 goals in all competitions equalizing top goal scoring record in Champions League, while his attacking mates Villa and Pedro scored 23 and 22 goals this season which (along with Messi’s goals) makes more than a half of 152 goals that Barcelona delivered this season.
After winning all trophy’s they could, Messi says there is still a hunger for new wins in Barca’s squad: “We want to keep winning things. This is a game to remember. What this team does is tremendous and we are still not conscious of what we are achieving. Now we’ll see how we celebrate it. This is a team of winners, we all know that, and we have to think solely about the celebrations on Sunday (at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium). Then we’ll think about next season.
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Here you can see all matches, Champions League odds and Champions League tips on footbetting.co.uk.
Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic had nothing but praise for Barcelona after his team was defeated by Barcelona 3-1 respectively in Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. Vidic said: “I think if you look at it we have never played a team in the past like Barcelona, they played good football and deserved to win. We tried to press high and in some parts of the game we did well. The goals we lost, we didn’t do what we have to do to close their players down. When they have time on the ball they can make the final pass and that is what they did.”
Vidic’s teammate in defensive line, Rio Ferdinand agreed with Vidic that United was outplayed and outclassed by Catalans: “We gave it a better shot this time than last time (in Rome in 2009), we had a couple of opportunities. We got back in it at 1-1 and thought we could come back and win but it wasn’t to be, we have to give them credit. A couple of the goals were preventable but you have to give credit where it’s due. They’ve got a system they work to and did it well. We had a game plan we thought could beat them, but wasn’t to be.”
Champions League final was the last match in long and successful career of Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. 40-year-old was the oldest player that played in Champions League finals and he said: “I played one game too many I think, it is not nice to lose of course. They had the better chances and we made one or two mistakes and they punish you. They are very good, you have to try and score the first goal and we didn’t do that. It is not always a given, I thank everyone for the memories.”
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Here you can see all matches, Champions League odds and Champions League tips on footbetting.co.uk.
Following Saturday’s fantastic 3-1 triumph in Champions League final over Manchester United, Pep Guardiola paid tribute to their rivals and committed himself to Barcelona.
Humble Guardiola was on the touchline as he witnessed one of the best all-time performances in Champions League final at Wembley. The 40-year-old who was rumored to be departing with Barca after Saturday’s final, flatly denied those reports and said he was committed to see out his contract with the club: ‘I will say it again, I have another year on my contract and I intend to work it out. I feel privileged to have these players. Everyone has worked towards this. We are very happy. But I have to look inside of me. I am happy to be here as coach of these guys, but it is not an easy job. We must congratulate Manchester United for the great match they have played. We are pleased because we know how hard it is to win the Champions League. We had some time to prepare this encounter and I thought we played excellently tonight. We went 1-0 up but we knew that with all of United’s history and stature in the game they would come back at us. In the end, though, we managed to control the match and we won very well.”
Guardiola also praised the performance of Lionel Messi who is labeled as the best player of the modern football: “Lionel is the best player I have seen and probably the best I will ever see. He made the difference. Messi is unique, a one-off. I just hope he doesn’t get fed up. When he doesn’t play well it is because something is wrong with his environment. Let’s hope he can continue playing well.”
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Here you can see all matches and Champions League odds on footbetting.co.uk.
Sir Alex Ferguson took defeat by Barcelona in Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday night pretty well. He spoke about Barcelona with praise and respect saying there is no shame in losing to the best in the world.
Manchester United lost to Barcelona their second final in last three years. They were defeated by Guardiola’s side for the second time, after losing in Rome in 2009 Champions League final. After the match in which Barca dominated with a 3-1 win, Sir Alex Ferguson paid the Spanish champions the ultimate compliment, declaring Barcelona the best team he has faced in his long and storied career: ”We were beaten, there is no other way to address the situation, by the best team. I expected us to do better but at the end of the day we were beaten by the better team. They are the best team we have ever played; they are at the peak in this cycle of their team. There was good evidence we are a consistently good European team but we were beaten by the best team in Europe and there is no shame in that. Sometimes you come up against a far better team and tonight were one of those nights. In my time as a manager, it’s the best team we’ve faced. Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It’s not easy when you’ve been well beaten like that to think another way. No one has given us a hiding like that. It’s a great moment for them. They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football.”
Ferguson said that United must now regroup and improve so they could rival Catalan giants: “It’s not easy, but it’s a challenge. You shouldn’t be afraid of a challenge. We’ve got better and better. We want to improve. Of course, next season, we must improve even more. But we have a challenge with Barcelona. We all do. It’s no consolation being the second best team. I don’t enjoy being second best. Any club with the history we have – Real Madrid, AC Milan – they’d say the same.”
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Here you can see all matches and Champions League odds on footbetting.co.uk.
Barcelona have proven to the world that their way of playing football is the best that world has ever seen. They achieved a stunning 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley just to be crowned as the new European Champions.
Goals from Pedro, Messi and Villa gave Pep Guardiola’s team the Champions League trophy, while Rooney replied for United, there is no doubt that Catalans absolutely deserved their victory, just as they deserved it in Rome two years ago as they have beaten Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
This final has brought us all we wanted to see in a match like this. United provided determination, energy and passion, but Barcelona dominated most of the match thanks to their wonderful passing football and truly nice set of goals. After the Red Devils starting pressure on the ball and equal possession, Barcelona took the matter in their own hands. About 25 minutes have passed when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side got tired, while Barcelona started to put much bigger pressure on the ball. Pedro opened series with a nice goal after fantastic pass by Lionel Messi. In 27th minute Wayne Rooney proven his class and scored after nice assist by veteran Ryan Giggs.
The second half Barca gave us fantastic football. Lionel Messi which is hailed as the world’s best player made it 2-1 with individual effort from the edge of the box in 54th minute. David Villa resolved final after fantastic chip over Edwin van der Sar who played his last match before retirement.
Manchester United lost to not only a better team, but to the best team in the world. Barcelona won their fourth Champions League title, third in last six years and their way of playing football is not giving good Champions League odds to any team that got on their way.
Saturday result:
Barcelona vs Manchester United 3:1
Follow live Champions League odds, Champions League tips results and reviews at footbetting.co.uk
Live Barcelona vs Manchester United 2011 – Five key advantages for Barcelona
Posted by: | CommentsAll eyes of football Europe will be pointed at Wembley Stadium in London where Barcelona and Manchester United will decide which team is the best in Europe in 2010/2011 season.
According to what we have seen so far, some factors that two teams posses could be the key for victory in final.
Champions League odds are in Barcelona’s favor. In order to win, Barcelona only need to play in final the way they always do and the way they know best. Their quality is undisputable and their domination is obvious. Barcelona have lost their European match only to inter last season in Champions League semi final in matches that were very tight on the field and out of it. Now, they have much more experience on that field which they showed in semi final against Real Madrid.
1) Combining passes and possession are some factors that make Barcelona one of the most dominant team in football history. None of the previously seen teams had such an easy possession on the ball with beautiful skill. This element makes possible for them to stretch the opponent’s defensive line and wait for perfect opportunity to go forward or because of many successful passes they are able to save strength for defensive tasks like keeping the pressure on the ball deeply in the opponent’s field.
2) Backdoor actions are Barca’s specialty. There is no better player than Dani Alves that can fast and with style to run alongside the line and deliver a perfect cross.
3) Individual quality that Barcelona possesses is huge. Just take a look at their key players from starting eleven. The backbone of Spanish national team that owns European Cup and World Cup titles is consisted of mostly Barcelona’s players. Add to them Messi, Dani Alves and Abidal and you’ll have one of the best football teams ever.
4) Self-confidence and their winner mentality are some things that feature Barcelona players. Among Barcelona players are European and World Cup winners, Champions League and domestic La Liga holders. Those things are the biggest mental boost that any team can have.
5) Lionel Messi. Stylish, fast, skillful… True beauty of football skills emerges from this football diamond. In season or two, his name could be said alongside Maradona and Pele as the best players in football history. There is no efficient defense against him. If he is marked he takes a few opponent players at himself and the rest of the Barcelona’s team have enough quality to use empty space.
Follow live Champions League odds, Champions League tips results and reviews at footbetting.co.uk
Champions League final:
Barcelona vs Manchester United (20:45)
| 1 | X | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona vs Manchester United Odds | 1.95 | 3.50 | 3.50 |
Live Barcelona vs Manchester United 2011 – Five key advantages for Manchester United
Posted by: | CommentsAll eyes of football Europe will be pointed at Wembley Stadium in London where Barcelona and Manchester United will decide which team is the best in Europe in 2010/2011 season.
According to what we have seen so far, some factors that two teams posses could be the key for victory in final.
Champions League odds are in Barcelona’s favor. In order to win, Manchester United must give an outstanding performance, especially the key players and some of the Barca’s must give a poor performance, because if all in Barcelona’s team play outstanding, they will be victorious with no doubt.
1) United will have advantage physically and their aggression will have to emerge to keep pressure on the ball. They must intercept the key passes and keep the Barca’s possession under 65 percent. In order to prevail, they must make their physical strength a key factor to the game.
2) Mental strength could be significant factor in this duel. Manchester United didn’t play too well at one part of the season and their first place in Premier League was compromised after they were losing 2-0 at the half time against West Ham. When everything looked like they will have to leave the first place to Arsenal, they played their best football and delivered three goals in the second half. If someone is mentally strong, it is the team of Manchester United.
3) Crowd and referees could represent significant thing in this duel. As the match is due to be played at the England soil, it is expected that the most people in the crowd will be Manchester United’s fans. That way they could feel as the match is at Old Trafford. Referees will surely be put under pressure after disputable referee decisions in semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid. They will not have an easy job, and the pressure will rise in possible penalty situations for Barcelona or possible red cards for some of the Manchester United players.
4) Headers, high crosses and corners and free kicks could bring the advantage to United. Vidic, Evra, Berbatov, Ferdinand, Carrick, Rooney… they all are fantastic in headers and represent danger for any defensive line. Barcelona on the other side don’t have nearly good players in the air.
5) Probably the most significant player in Manchester United’s team is Wayne Rooney. He played his best football when it come to decision in Premier League and Champions League, so he could prevail.
Follow live Champions League odds, Champions League tips results and reviews at footbetting.co.uk
Champions League final:
Barcelona vs Manchester United (20:45)
| 1 | X | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona vs Manchester United Odds | 1.95 | 3.50 | 3.50 |
