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Barcelona 2-0 Man Utd.
Truth be told, Man Utd lost the final in the semi final, when Fletcher was sent off, for a perfectly good challenge, when the referree refused to change his decision, which 5 camera angles proved was incorrect on the night.
Darren Fletcher has been outstanding for them this season, between himself and Carrick, in front of the back four, rotating as one goes pressuring the ball and the other sits in, to stop runners.
Without Fletcher last night, Man Utd had no midfield and being up against three of the best midfielders in the world, you’d have thought the Utd midfield didn’t show up at all!
The game itself was a good one, some excellent Barca passing in midfield, after an early burst from Utd. For once it was a clean game, most players tried to stay on their feet and play the ball.
Another down side for Utd, was their lack of pace around the pitch. They looked unusually lacklustre in pressing the ball. No doubt the resting of players (missing the game against Hull) as is so often the case, cost them on the night, as they were not fresh.
I have never understood why teams drop complete sides, to rest them for big games.
Players need to be match fit to avoid injuries, playing regularly.
When Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan, they had been fighting against a backlog of games and chasing trophies, so most of the team played every week, even in midweek games.
They were able to pick up the pace and that changed the game.
When Pool lost to AC Milan in the final two years later, they were rested before the game and looked lethargic during the match, unable to call on match fitness energy that they had previously.
The British way of playing week in week out has paid dividends in the past, as regards European trophies, so why tinker with a winning formula?
After Man Utd breezed past Arsenal last night, in the champions league semi-final, the diabolical performance of the referee and the ludicrous rules and regulations that UEFA impose on the game, need sorting out and quick.
Problem one:
Diving – it is cheating, pure and simple.
After some brilliant matches in the quarter finals, all expectations are that the semi finals will be at least equal to them.
Barcelona v Chelsea 1st leg was a complete joke!
Drogba going down in a heap for nothing, then the ref warns him, so for the next 15 minutes, malouda starts going down without being touched.
Barcelona players are also doing the same, it was pathetic to watch and totally ruined the match, stop-start stop-start, handbags at ten paces, laying on the ground in agony, for minutes, then getting up without any treatment and running halfway across the pitch.
I hope the referee gets a grip for the second leg tonight?
Ronaldo’s dramatic efforts to win a free kick, which led to Utd’s second goal against Arsenal last night, was a farce!
I wonder what he would do, if he was at home and he stubs his toe on the coffee table? Would it involve 10 minutes of rolling around on the sofa?
Would his partner rush in with a wet sponge?
Would he then hobble to kitchen, grimacing as he goes and trying to flex his foot to ease the pain?
Do us all a favour and give it a rest!
Problem 2:
Darren Fletcher, (I speak as a Liverpool fan) is a victim of a complete joke.
He has played his part in Man Utd’s season, they have battled through to the European cup final, only for him to be suspended, for winning the ball with a well timed tackle!
Under UEFA rules, Man Utd can only appeal if the referee admits he has made a mistake. The referee will not admit his mistake, despite clear video evidence that his decision was completely wrong!
At the speed of the game and where the ref is on the pitch, mistakes can be made, sending him off was bad enough, giving Arsenal a penalty was even worse, but suspending him from the biggest single game of his career (One of the biggest games in any player’s career) and refusing to reverse the decision, makes a mockery of UEFA.
The lad made a perfectly timed tackle, come on UEFA, step in and put this right, then change the rules, before it happens to any other player!
Do you think Darren Fletcher should miss out on the final?
Man Utd and Arsenal booked their places in the last four of the 2009 champions league competition tonight, with wins over Porto and Villarreal respectively.
For Utd, a Ronaldo thunderbolt in the 6th minute saw them win, an impressive feat, against a Porto side that are very strong at home. Despite a very nervy last 10 minutes, Utd held on to keep a clean sheet, something they have struggled to do of late and close out the match.
Their opponents in the semis will be the impressive Arsenal!
They beat Villarreal 3-0 at the Emirates stadium, all the more impressive as they had lost most of their defenders for the game, they are quietly creeping up, on a long unbeaten run in both league and cups.
My tip for the FA Cup this year are beginning to assert themselves on opponents, and with Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd all still to play them in the league, they can cause a few worries.
Chelsea will play Barcelona in the other semi final, after an epic 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Stamford bridge.
Puzzling for me, as the pool took off Torres and Mascharano, just as they were getting back into the game, two of the players most likely to turn the game!
As good a fight as pool put up, the damage was clearly done in the first leg, Chelsea winning 3-1 at Anfield.
The one disappointment for me was the amount of times Drogba fell to the ground as if he’d been shot, only to jog away fine once the free kick had been given.
There is no place for this in English football, something needs to be done about it, once or twice, 50-50 challenges fair enough, but look at the free kicks he won last night, clearly he is playing on it.
The man of the match for me, was once again, Frank Lampard, his ability to pop up in the box late in the attack and his natural ability to hit the target is not being used to its maximum on the international scene. Like his dad, he is a quality player.
Barcelona make up the last four, after an easy win against Bayern Munich, a big win in the first leg made last nights game a formality.
As so often happens, the one odd team in the last four, normally goes on to win it.
Three English teams in the last four again, it wouldn’t surprise me if the only non English team wins it!
Champions league quarter final (1st leg) sees a full strength Liverpool side take on Chelsea at Anfield and lose quite heavily.
Is this the same team that took on the seemingly invincible Man Utd at Old Trafford and come away 4-1 winners?
I can’t help but wonder how Liverpool can beat Real Madrid 4-0, Man Utd 4-1 (at home) then dominate Aston Villa 5-0, are then well beaten at Anfield against a Chelsea team, who whilst a strong side, haven’t scored a single goal against us in the league this season, (pool have beaten them 1-0 and 2-0 in the league) it’s very strange.
How will this affect the league title race?
It could blow any remote hopes of a title win out of the water (yet again) or it could work in reverse and be a blessing in disguise, allowing us to focus on the league championship at last (our “bread and butter.”)
Sir Bob Paisley, we need your help!
Once again, Liverpool will meet Chelsea in the next round.
The winners of this tie will face the winner of Barcelona v Bayern Munich in the semi finals.
On the otherside of the draw, Man Utd will play FC Porto, the winners of this tie will play the winner of Arsenal v Villarreal at the semi final stage.
Ties will be played 7/8 April with return legs played on 14/15 April.
There are no easy ties at this stage of the competition, but with Barcelona and Bayern Munich having impressive wins in the last round, the English clubs will be relieved they are playing each other and not them!
If three English teams reach the semis, I’ll be putting a few earth pounds on the one non English team left, as is often the case, the one team not expected to win, often does.
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