Manchester United Outclassed by Barcelona

For the first ten minutes of last night`s Champions League final Manchester United looked on top. After the first goal though, by Samuel Eto`o, Barcelona always looked the better side. They had more possession, better control of the ball, more accurate passing. All the things we normally associate with United, but for the Red Devils, things just were not happening.

After Alex Ferguson brought on Tevez, Scholes and Berbatov, nothing really changed. Most of United`s players looked lacklustre, yet they shouldn`t have been tired, even with the heat inside the Rome stadium. The second goal killed the game off.

Barcelona were worthy winners. Now we just have three titles, not the five being spoken about by some at the beginning of the season. But, I know a lot of sides that would settle for that, so not too much gloom and doom for the Old Trafford faithful.

United Do What Comes Naturally

Take your second string players, put most of them in your team, play away from home on the final day of the season against a team at the lower end of the division who are absolutely desperate to win-then go and beat that team 1-0.

That`s what Manchester United achieved on a day they left out virtually all their first team players, they`d already won the Premiership title, yet they went to Hull and beat them by the solitary goal on Sunday.

Few other sides could have done that, but we should be used to Manchester United doing out of the ordinary things by now.

Hopefully Rio Ferdinand, who travelled with the rest of the squad, will be fit to play in the Champion`s League Final in Rome against Barcelona tomorrow evening.

Manchester United Should Field Weakened Side

There`s currently a lot of speculation over whether Manchester United will put out a weakened side (is there such a thing at Old Trafford?) when they play the last Premiership match of the season against Hull.

The problem arises because Hull is in the relegation zone, along with other teams like Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland. There`s talk, in fact, of those teams sueing Manchester United if they field a weakened team this weekend. Those claims have been dismissed by the three teams mentioned.

Bottom line is this. The Red Devils have a very important match just three days later against Barcelona in the Champions League. That match is the Final. Manchester United have already won the Premiership. Given all the above, why SHOULD they feel compelled to do other teams a favour?

They`ve done their hard work. They`ve won the League title. They`ve earned the right to rest some of their key players ready for the big match.

And perhaps the biggest irony is this. If the big players like Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Vidic, Carrick, Giggs and Evra do play, how likely is it in all honesty that they`re going to give it 100%? Let`s get real. They aren`t going to want to get in to tackles that could leave them injured and out of the match with Barcelona.

No, the best chance the other teams have is for United to put out a team hungry to impress. Fringe players such as Darron Gibson, Nani, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda for example. They`ll give it a 100% because they have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

Manchester United are Champions

Manchester United are Premiership Champions! Well done to the Red Devils!

United One Point Away From Title

Tevez equalised with a back-heel after Hugo Rodallega had given Wigan a first-half lead. Michael Carrick scored an 87th-minute winner to leave United only a point away from retaining their Barclays Premier League title.

United will again be crowned champions if they get at least a draw against the Gunners at Old Trafford on Saturday.

2-0 to Manchester United in the Manchester Derby

In the Premiership Manchester derby match between Manchester United and Manchester City the Reds came out worthy winners at 2-0.

Goals by Ronaldo (free kick), and one by Carlos Tevez won the match and put United back at the top of the Premiership.

It was Cristiano Ronaldo`s 18th league goal of the season after 18 minutes.

Tevez killed City off just before half time when his rocket hit the inside of the post and finished into the net following a wonderful piece of football by Dimitar Berbatov.

Ronaldo was substituted with 30 minutes of the game left, and he wasn`t too happy about it. Fergie may have a few words with him about his petulance. Ronaldo has to understand that it`s a team game, and at 2-0 up he could be brought off the field to play again in one on the few remaining, but nonetheless important, matches.

The Red Devils now go back to the top of the Premiership above Liverpool.

United Stunning Against Arsenal in Semi-Final of Champs League

I can`t make up my mind which of Cristiano Ronaldo`s goals on Tuesday night against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final was the best. The free kick from so far away was spectacular in itself. Many, though, were quick to place some blame on the golakeeper.

On balance though, the second goal of Ronaldo`s has to be the best. The speed at which United moved from the back to the opposite goalmouth was stunning. Ronaldo`s pass to Park, Park`s pass to Rooney, then as Ronaldo was running up the middle, Rooney`s inch-perfect ball to Ronaldo which he put in the Arsenal goal. The 3-1 result for the Red Devils with a penalty against Fletcher which never was says it all.

I doubt EUFA will overturn Fletcher`s ban for the final, but you never know. Either way, after their comprehensive win against their London arch-rivals United go to Italy full of confidence.