How United beat themselves

The Champions League final offered what every fan and pundit had hoped for; creativity, technique, work rate, slick passing and ultimately goals. Unfortunately for Manchester United, most of the meaningful examples of these were delivered by Barcelona.

Not that United didn't have chances. If they had taken advantage of a ferocious opening to the game, or scored when the Catalans lead by a single goal, then the result may have been very different. However, United didn't play near their peak while Barcelona looked every bit the team that has been so lauded throughout this season. Coincidence? No.

Sir Alex Ferguson selected the wrong team. His loyalty to Ji-Sung Park, giving him the opportunity to play after ommiting him from the sqaud for last years' final, was misplaced. Park, who has played regularly in Europe and started in four of their last six Champions League games, offered them very little in this match. The theory was that he would help defend United's left flank against Leo Messi yet started on the right and was anonymous as Barcelona controlled the ball. Rooney was innefective for long periods while resigned to the left but Park was unable to impact the game in any way and, for a player who is usually quite tactically aware, failed to understand the tempo and direction of the play. In fairness to the South Korean, Ronaldo was so direct in the central role that Park was given few opportunities early and, once Etoo had opened the scoring, United saw very little of the ball in the attacking third. Park was replaced after 66 minutes by Dimitar Berbatov.

United took the wrong approach to start the second half. At the break, Ferguson replaced Anderson with Carlos Tevez and essentially switched to a 4-2-4, playing into the hands of Barca. Manchester United couldn't get enough of the ball and failed to keep it. Barcelona, in contrast, had almost a free reign in the middle of the field with the most combative central midfield player, Anderson, now off the field. Xavi and Iniesta controlled the game, forced United to chase the ball up and down the pitch and sapped the life out of them physically and mentally. There was absoultely no pressure on Xavi in the build up to the second goal and he was allowed as much time as he wanted to pick out Messi with a cross, which he duly converted. United began the game with a 'full court press,' attempting to limit the space and time for Barca's midfield and cause them discomfort. There was little evidence of this after about a half hour and Barca capitalised.

Manchester United never replaced Owen Hargreaves, who has missed virtually the entire season after having multiple knee surgeries. In their squad, for all its depth and strength, United have only the one 'destroyer' and that is Hargreaves. Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes and even the suspended Fletcher do not have the defensive presence, dilligence and tenacity to harry and hurt the two little maestroes in the middle for Barcelona. Chelsea played a smothering and physical game in their two meetings and had the players to do so whereas United gained little from Anderson, Carrick and Giggs (although Giggs' role was more advanced). Barcelona's confidence and swagger were allowed to grow as the game progressed and by the final whistle, the were playing as if they were on the training field. Excuses can be made for errors in judgement but not for lack of industry. Barcelona are so good on the ball but their ability to retain possession is matched by their work rate to win it back.

United failed to build on their beginning to the game. Ronaldo, in particular, started the game brilliantly and looked to be scaring the life out of Gerard Pique and Yaya Toure in Barcelona's improvised defence. Etoo's goal on literally their first attack must have shocked the Reds but, for a team that has played in so many big games and has such a reputation for never being beaten, they seemed to lose their rhythm and courage and only Ronaldo and the goalkeeper came out of this game with any credit. Time after time, United tried to play balls in behind and round the side of the centre backs rather than playing the ball into the feet of their attackers and allow Ronaldo in particular to run at a central defender on a yellow card (Pique), a central defender who very rarely plays there (Toure) and a 35 year old left back who has appeared infrequently this season (Sylvinho). In addtion, the pitch was clearly playing lightning fast and controlling the pace of through balls was a hard task.

In reality, Barcelona made Manchester United look far worse than probably anybody else could but you have to question the desire of some of the players who won this magnificent trophy last year. Roy Keane famously criticised his team mates in the years that followed United's 1999 Champions League victory, claiming they no longer had the ambition and thirst to chase the biggest prize in European football. No team has ever retained the title in its current format and it seems natural to suffer a slip in motivation having been to the mountain top. Barcelona won the tournament in 2006 but only three starters returned for this final - Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol and Samuel Etoo, whereas there were seven for the Mancunians (and every single starter was with the club last year). Were the reactions of Ronaldo and Giggs during and after the game purely from personal frustration or did they not see that hunger from their colleagues?

It seems almost vulgar to declare that United lost this rather than Barcelona won it. Such a brand of attacking, aesthetically pleasing football should be applauded and rarely have we seen a team with the ability and artistry that exuded from the Catalans on wednesday evening. Barcelona are the new European champions, outplaying and dethroning Manchester United, but seldom have we seen the English side so devoid of leadership, so unavailing and so subdued on the big stage.