Manchester United join Europe's greats after Moscow win
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 22nd May 2008
The heavens opened over this epic all-English final last night,
weeping tears of joy for Manchester United and tears of sympathy
for John Terry. What a beautiful way for United to mark the 50th
anniversary of Munich, but what a brutal way for such an honest
pro as Terry to be treated by the sporting gods, his foot slipping
on the uncertain surface as he addressed what would have been
the winning penalty in a merciless shoot-out. Football, bloody hell.
When Nicolas Anelka's kick was then saved by the magnificent
Edwin van der Sar, and United's players cavorted in the rain,
Terry's misery was complete. England's captain adores Chelsea
so deeply, loves football so intensely, that his pain was
palpable. Avram Grant, Chelsea's coach for a few hours more,
showed real dignity in moving swiftly to console his captain,
who wept on his shoulder.
If the heart went out to Terry and Frank Lampard, who had also
given everything, and the rest of Grant's band of blue-shirted
brothers who could easily have won, the heart had to leap with
delight at the sight of United laying their eager hands on a
third European Cup.
United's sense of adventure, their commitment to youth, the
unbelievable running of Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves,
the work ethic of Wayne Rooney and Wes Brown, and the magic
of Cristiano Ronaldo all deserved the reward of being crowned
kings of Europe.
Even when Ronaldo missed during the shoot-out, the Portuguese
wizard had done enough to remind the world of his virtuoso
talent on the grandest stage. His first-half header was a gem,
matched only by the excellence of Lampard's riposte just before
the break.
If a night crammed with heroes offered up one villain it had
to be Didier Drogba, deservedly expelled for slapping Nemanja
Vidic. If this brilliant target-man does now exit the Bridge
of sighs, he leaves with his head held low. His act of stupidity
robbed Chelsea of a regular penalty-taker, so ushering Terry
into the firing line.
As Drogba stood in the shadows of shame, a centre-half not
known for dead-ball prowess had the nerve to take a penalty.
When the studs of his left boot failed to grip on the
slippery surface, echoing David Beckham's misfortune at
Euro 2004, belief ebbed from the Londoners. As a distraught
Terry went up to receive some metal that never glitters,
the loser's medal, Chelsea fans rallied to their heartbroken
captain, chanting his name.
United followers will observe that there was something fitting
in Sir Bobby Charlton, that powerful testament to United's
survival after Munich, leading the heirs to Sir Matt Busby's
great tradition up to collect the European Cup. Terry and his
vanquished team-mates were led up by chief executive, Peter
Kenyon.
And so United painted the town red last night, sending fans
celebrating into Red Square. United's victory was awash with
history. No more fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of
Munich could be imagined than the sight of Ferguson's ambitious
young team shining on the European stage.
No more appropriate celebration of the 40 years since United
first lifted the trophy could be scripted than this triumph
for the new holy trinity of Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.
When Old Trafford chants "stand up for the champions", the
words will ring with a double resonance: champions of England
and champions of Europe. For Ferguson, the trophy collected
last night gleamed with particular significance, taking him
into a select band of managers to have masterminded two
European Cup triumphs like Helenio Herrera, Brian Clough
and Ottmar Hitzfeld.
As Chelsea lick their wounds and rebuild, with a new manager,
United look forward to a glamorous season. Ferguson's side
qualify for the Super Cup in Monaco where they meet Zenit St
Petersburg as well as the pre-Christmas jaunt to Tokyo for
the World Club Championship. More journeys, more joys.
The 30,000 United fans who flocked to the Luzhniki, fathers and sons,
groups of friends, revelled in a night they will never, ever forget.
Whatever happens in the future, they will always have Moscow, always
have that image of Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs lifting the European
Cup as Ferguson beamed with smiles.
United's manager had been bold, unleashing his most attacking players,
Tevez joining Ronaldo and Rooney in a 4-4-2 formation with Hargreaves
starting on the right, reprising a role he filled successfully at home
to Roma. Wary of Chelsea's central strength, Hargreaves often tucked
inside to assist Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.
United were first to show, scoring after 26 minutes. When Ashley
Cole conceded a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory, Scholes
combined superbly with Brown, who worked the ball on to his
left foot as United's attackers made their moves.
Rooney darted towards the near-post, Tevez ventured towards the
centre, dragging the centre-backs with them, isolating Essien
against Ronaldo. As Brown's cross dropped over, Ronaldo outjumped
Essien, showing power and timing as he met the ball firmly with
his head, sending it flying past Cech from 10 yards.
Cech was superb, soon showing his prowess, following a United
surge of breathtaking brilliance. When Rooney acquired the ball
in his own half, he immediately spotted Ronaldo's lung-breaking
burst down the left. Rooney found him, triggering a remarkable
sequence of events.
Ronaldo's hard cross was met by the stooping Tevez, whose header
drew an unbelievable save from Cech. Terry completed the
clearance but only to the edge of the area where Carrick was
arriving like the Trans-Siberian Express. The midfielder met
the ball sweetly enough, but too close to Cech, who stretched
out his right hand and palmed the ball away. "Come on",
screamed Cech.
What a game. Tight? Cagey? No chance. These two Premier League
heavyweights kept tearing into each other, Lampard equalising
with a neat shot when Essien's effort deflected off Vidic and
Ferdinand. Lampard raced away, pointing to the heavens,
remembering his mother, who passed away so tragically recently.
"That's for you," Lampard mouthed.
Drogba almost broke a post with a fantastic 30-yarder,
Lampard struck the bar as Chelsea then dominated. But Van
der Sar stood firm in the shoot-out.
|
|
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 2008.
Telegraph Group Limited endeavours to ensure that the
information is correct but does not accept any liability
for error or omission.
Users are permitted to copy some material for their
personal use as private individuals only. Users must not
republish any part of the data either on another website,
or in any other medium, print, electronic or otherwise,
or as part of any commercial service without the prior
written permission of Telegraph Group Limited.
|
| 
