Man United: One of the biggest and richest football clubs in the world and arguably the most followed. Their fan following runs in millions not only in England but places far and wide, right from Myanmar to Djibouti and to the better known countries of Asia, Europe and Africa. A team which has captured the imagination of one and all, an institution in itself, a club with a tradition and history unmatched anywhere in the world. A club which knows only one way to play football - attack, score goals and win. When Man Utd play, 80 + year old grannies forget their age and behave like young teens, old men guzzle beer after beer in pure passion and craze following for the club. A club, maybe a bit short on talent, but more than compensated by the desire to win every single football match that they participate in.
Barcelona: The club that plays the "beautiful game". Poetry in motion, each player complimenting one another. Subtle passes, deliberate buildup fluid sleek football culminating in a deluge of goals. The club, which has an equally strong, if not bigger, history than Manchester United. Arguably the most attractive football club team in the world to watch..
Match day: May 28th was keenly awaited by football fans the world over as possibly the biggest match of the decade if not the century. Two teams who had just won their domestic league tournaments, were pitted against each other. Bars were crowded, giant screens adorned many a vantage points across Spain and England and possibly in every football crazy country.
What transpired during the Champions League Final left everybody shell shocked. Those who watched the match live and indeed those billions who were glued to their TV screens saw possibly the best demonstration of the way the game of football should be played. Barcelona turned, twisted, tricked, traumatized and trivialized Manchester United in front of their home country. Never has Manchester United football team, in the living memory, been subjected to such a spanking on the football field. The teacher was finally taught and the final score of 3-1 does not quite portray the total domination of Barcelona that night. Sir Alex Fergusson was left stunned by what his pupils were subjected to. The match which was billed to such a frenzy, did actually turn out to be a damn squib. Full credit to Barcelona for the way they played that night. I am tempted to sing eloquence about the fantastic individual players that make up Barcelona, but I will resist that strong temptation, for that will mean demeaning those whose names I might miss. Let's just stop by saying that the deserved winners were rewarded that night.
I am a proud Manchester United fan and will continue to be so but am happy to admit that we turned out to be second best, that balmy May 28th night at the Wembley in London.
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