All the Roads Lead to Rome

All the Roads Lead to Rome

Tonight, all the roads will definitely leads to Rome. This historic city of Italy is waiting for the Champion of the Champions. Stadio Olimpico, the home ground of AS Roma and SS Lazio, is hosting the Champions League final for second time. In 1996, the little boys of Ajax Amsterdam defeated the Italian powerhouse AC Milan in the Champions League final. Though AC Milan, Inter-Milan and Juventus have better popularity in world football, the clubs of Rome maintained its own tradition in football. It was Fransisco Totti, the captain of the AS Roma team led the Italians to the winner of world cup few years ago. Though their home team were knocked out in the pre-quarter level, the football lovers in the city will extend their full hearted support to the final between Manchester United and Barcelona.

The incumbent champion, Manchester United is trying to write their name in Champions league history by winning the cup in successive terms. The manager of United, Sir Alex Ferguson, is eyeing a glory of his third champions’ league title with united. On the other hand, Barcelona’s youngest manager, Pep Guardiola, it trying to mark his name as the first Barca manager to lift the cup in the position of captain as well as manager. The football world expects a wonderful final from them. In Moscow last year, both Manchester United and Chelsea ended their usual time in 1-1 draw and completed the extra time without a proper result, the game moved towards tie-breakers. United clinched the trophy for the second time in its history by defeating Chelsea 6-5 on penalty shootout.

This time, United reached in the final by toppling their league rival Arsenal in both legs. While, Barcelona failed to defeat Chelsea at Nou Camp, which ended up in 0-0 draw and scrape through with 1-1 away draw in Stamford Bridge. This is first time Barcelona is meeting United in the finals. Last time they were kicked out by United in the semi final.

One thing is sure; it won’t be a dragging match like last final. Manchester United plays football with attacking flair along with their strong defence. On the other hand, Barcelona is known for their attacking abilities rather than defence. So, the lovers of football can expect a free flowing football final this time.

As per track record in the previous champions league matches, United has some edge over Barca. They have a well maintained defence unit and have more options than Barca in attack. Because of the red card, they lost Darren Fletcher in the final and others are in good condition to face Barcelona. Their formidable attacking line up includes Carlos Tavez, Wayne Rooney, Berbatov and Christiano Ronaldo. The football world considers that this will be the best occasion to see the abilities of Ronaldo and Lional Messi of Barcelona.

Barcelona too, won their championship and Kings cup and nearing for their third trophy in same season. After making serious changes in the team composition in the beginning of the season, Barca took some time to settle down as a team. Once they found the rhythm under their new manager and former Barca captain Pep Gaurdiola, they thrashed every team in the league to reach in the top. Barcelona is known for their free flowing attacking football. They believe in quick passing of the ball and also consider that the best way to defend the opponent is to attack them in waves. Their forward line up includes Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi and they get strong support from Andres Iniesta and Hernandez Xavi in the midfield.

But, Barca is struggling at present. The lost their two league matches and lost a few important players due to suspension and injury. Their key defenders Eric Abidal and Dani Alves were on suspension and Rafael Marquez is out with injury. So, they are completely depending on the experience of the captain Carlos Puyol, who is playing out of his position in right back, and highly experienced but aged defender Silvinho on the left back. In the centre, they have Gerard Pique, the young defender who played for Manchester United last year and inexperienced Martin Caceres. This is the vulnerable position of Barca and the attacking flair of Rooney, Ronaldo, Tavez partnership can easily exploit it. This make shift defend is more depending on the contribution of their holding midfielders Yaya Toure and Saydou Keita. So, the strength of Barca defence matters a lot in the final day.

On the other hand, Manchester United has more options in all areas of the pitch. They have one of the most experienced goal keepers in Van der Sar and a well equipped defence unit consists Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand and Garry Neville or John O’Shea or Rafael. If the defence is the most reliable position of the United, their most enterprising segment is their midfield where they have much more options than any other team in the Champions league. In Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes they have most trusted and experienced war horses and have Michel Carrick in the holding midfield role. They maintain a midfield powerhouse in Anderson and Park Ji-Sung who are capable to break up the attack of the opposition and open up the defence for their strikers. Sir Alex successfully used the service of Park Ji-Sung and Anderson against Arsenal in the semi-final to break up the passing and attacking verve of Gunners. Nothing much to mention about the striking power of United forward line. They have four trusted and proved strikers in Rooney, Tavez, Berbatov and Ronaldo. If the team gel well and they play according to the game plan of Alex Ferguson, Barcelona will struggle to get a favourable result.

In one position, there is no comparison between Manchester United and Barcelona. It is the experience of team manager. Without any doubt, Sir Alex Ferguson holds the most successful manager’s position in the English football. He has two Champions League trophies in his credit and aiming to retain the cup for first time in its history. On the other hand, Pep Guardiola started his managerial career this year. When Alex Ferguson started his managerial career, Guardiola might be enjoying his playschool days. But, he brought out a successful team in his first year at Barca and already pocketed two trophies and gunning for the treble.

I would like to watch this beautiful final rather than talking much about it. I can’t make any choice for the winners place this time. In realistic terms, my head says, Manchester United will do it again but my mind, which always prefers the beautiful football with passing and attacking flair, says, it should be Barcelona. Whatever happens, one thing I am sure, in the final match in Rome tonight, the most beautiful game in the world –Football will win.