Champions League: What We Learned from Semi-Finals
The first leg of both UEFA Champions League semi-finals turned out to be a great one for the away side. Manchester United and Barcelona have both come away from difficult away legs with 2-0 wins.
If both sides can finish the job in a weeks time then the duo will be at Wembley for a re-match of the 2009 Champions League Final in Rome which saw Barcelona crowned kings of Europe.
Schalke and Real are left to lick their wounds from the opening legs and both need will need to find their A-game if they harbor any chance of reaching the final.
So what did we learn from the first-leg ties?
Manuel Neuer Is the Real Deal.
1 of 5It says a lot about a player when arguable the greatest manager of all time comes over and shakes his hand especially after a game. Well that's what exactly Sir Alex Ferguson did to Manuel Neuer.
The big powerful goalkeeper was literally a one man show for Schalke and if it wasn't for his brilliance United could have scored six or seven. Sir Alex was so impressed he labelled it as the best goalkeeping performance he has ever seen against United.
Many people are liking the German no.1 to former United great Peter Schmeichel, and the Dane reckons that the Schalke shot-stopper is the best in the world. His performance certainly reminded United fans of Schmeichel's legendary game against Newcastle in 96.
Manchester United are after a new keeper with Edwin Van Der Sar set to hang up his gloves at the hand of the season. Neuer looks set to join Bayern Munich, but you can bet that Sir Alex will be monitoring his situation and will be quick on the scene if negotiations break down.
Ryan Giggs Comes out Victorious in the Battle of Legends.
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The build up to the game was much about the clash between two true legends of the game. Raul - the all time top scorer for Real Madrid - and Ryan Giggs - the all time appearance maker for Manchester United.
The respect between these two great players is huge. With Raul stating he would love to trade shirts with the Welshman at the end of the game, and he did. However, it was the only thing Raul was going to get off this United side.
In the battle of the legends it was clearly Giggys who came out on top. The wing wizard has been adopted in a center midfield role in the Champions League this season, and to great effect. On Tuesday night Giggs was a joy to watch with his clever and precise passing and movement. He capped off a wonderful performance with a fine finish to finally beat Manuel Neuer.
In fairness to Raul, many would struggle in a side that could only manage a measly 34 percent possession. With a comfortable lead and with big games coming up it doesn't look likely that Giggs will be playing in the return leg. So in what possible is the final battle between these two icons - it's Giggs who has come out victorious.
Manchester United Aren't as Bad as Everyone Makes Them out to Be.
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A lot has been said of this United side. Many proclaim it is the worst United side in 20 years. Well if that is the case then I would love to see the best!
Because this so called rubbish United side went 29 games unbeaten in the Premier League, reached the semi-finals the F.A cup, look set to reach the final of the Champions League and have one hand on the Premiership trophy.
With Van Der Sar in the form of his life, Rio and Vidic back in the heart of the defense, Valencia back from injury and Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez starting to form one of the most exciting partnerships in world football this side is making a mockery of their doubters. It says a lot about a team that they can leave out their top scorer Dimitar Berbatov and arguable their player of the season Luis Nani out of the side and win emphatically away from home in a semi-final.
Yes their midfield needs improving in the summer, but for now Ryan Giggs is reveling in a central midfield role and Michael Carrick has regained his 06-09 form at the right time of the season. With Hernandez stretching the back line, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney finding pockets of space around the edge of the box and Valencia and Park working tirelessly out in the flanks it has been allowing Carrick to be given the time and space that he desires.
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El Classio: A Disgrace to Football.
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Three sendings off, one of whom was a substitute goalkeeper who wasn't even on the field. The other two a rash tackle from Pepe that certainly warranted a free kick, but thanks to Dani Alves playacting ended up with a sending off and a bemused Mourinho reaction to the sending which saw him laughing at the officials which saw him sent to the stands.
This is twice in the last year where a game full of promise and excitement was ruined by the ungentlemanly sportsmanship from the two sides. The Spain vs Holland final was a disgrace to the World Cup and while their were no De Jong style "kung-fu kicks", but the negative tactics deployed by Madrid which at one time saw them with as little as 22% possession and the constant theatrics and whining from the Barcelona have left an equally sour taste in my mouth.
People who have seen under Barcelona's undoubted genius and sexy football will have realized that their is a horrible dark-side to the Catalonians. Last year against Inter, Busquets the Barcelona midfielder - who was one of the main offenders of Barcelona's play acting again tonight - helped get Thiago Motta sent off in the second leg of the Champions League after some disgraceful playacting which saw the midfielder miss the Champions League Final. After the final whistle was blown and Inter ran onto to celebrate, Victor Valdes tried to confront Jose Mourinho and Barcelona eventual turned the sprinklers onto the eventual champions.
While there is divers at all the top clubs in the world, most of them like Luis Nani, Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo all get highlighted by the English press. However, most people are so enamored with the way Barcelona play they don't see how wicked they truly can be, last night showed however, that light doesn't actual shine out of their ass.
Wayne Rooney was given a two-match ban for swearing at a camera mainly because it was offensive and it was giving out a bad example to kids and he wasn't fulfilling his 'role model' position in society. However, after this performance should Barcelona and Real Madrid be banned for two games? Isn't the way they both acted and played offensive and setting out a bad precedent to kids. These are two of the most loved teams in world football, they are the two best teams in the world many would have you believe. Kids admire these two teams and try to learn from them. I know they will never be banned, but something should be done about this.
Luckily for us their was one man who could save the day....
Sorry Cristiano but Messi Is Undisputedly the Best Player in the World.
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I love Cristiano Ronaldo. As an avid Manchester United fan I watched him grow and develop from a one trick pony into one of the best players in the world. Strike that at one point he was the best. However, not anymore.
We should be all thankful for Lionel Messi showing some class and honor when everyone around him was clearly devoid of any. Last night he scored his 51st and 52nd goal of a remarkable season. So that leaves him with 52 goals and 23 assists in 50 games this season compared to Ronaldo's 42 goals and 13 assists in 49 games.
However, statistics aside all you need to know about the class of Lionel Messi is by watching his second goal. The magical Argentine weaved past four Real Madrid defenders before coolly slotting the ball past one of the best goalkeepers around in Iker Casillas. The little genius drifted in and out of the game, but when he was on the ball he showed his undoubted class.
It's bit unfair on Ronaldo considering the tactics and little possession Real Madrid managed last night, but I think their is no disputing that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, and if he can keep it up for years to come potentially the best player ever.
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