Champions League Final 07/08
May 21st 2008 14:38
UEFA Champions League Registered Trademark
Today is the day of the UEFA Champions League final, and I couldn’t be more excited. Every year the final marks the end of the club season, and all any fan could hope for as a wonderful send off to keep you thinking about next season. Considering there are no, play it slow and boring Italian teams this year, this final should be something amazing like we haven’t seen in some time.
One of the things I’m most excited to see are the decisions on who the starting eleven for each side will be. Little details could turn the tide, such as if Sir Alex Ferguson decides not to start Carlos Tevez for whatever reason, I think Avram Grant can let out a huge sigh of relief, as the Argentine has been brilliant for the Manchester side this year. Or if Hargreaves is played in mid-field instead of Michael Carrick to start, United gain a defensive element, but lose a huge attacking/counter-attacking factor without Carrick’s passing ability.
Conversely if Grant starts Essien at right-back with intentions of controlling Ronaldo, he’ll be making a huge mistake, because Essien needs to be in mid-field to break up United’s passing progression. Especially to mark Ronaldo early on and take him out of the game, as Cristiano usually gets overly frustrated if he’s marked out in the contest early. If John Terry can start and still play competitively at center-back, Wayne Rooney can be almost taken out of the game, as shown in previous contests, Terry is brilliant at silencing the striker.
People who need to have big games, obviously Didier Drogba, Ballack and Lampard for Chelsea, if they are to try and control the mid-field and let their passing flow in the attacking third. For United, undoubtedly Wayne Rooney needs to get passionately involved with the team doing well, if he gets too frustrated early on, he’ll be useless on the attack. Ronaldo needs to make an impact this time, he never has against Chelsea, and now is the time he needs to change that. Rio Ferdinand also needs to keep his cool, he has a penchant for randomly breaking down and playing like a defender that really doesn’t belong at the professional level, if that happens United are dead in the water.
This stage is set for an amazing contest. I for one am desperately hoping for an open match, favoring the style of the premiership more than a typical mixed European sluggish game. And my prediction to take everything and win? I think the day favors United, as Chelsea are now essentially the favorites to take the contest, United always plays better these days when they are the less expected to win. 2-1 score-line, United over Chelsea in hopefully a fantastically exciting match.
| 67 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
