Champions League Reaction - Special Report

Last Saturday’s Uefa Champions League final was the grandest football event of the year and we can be forgiven for talking incessantly about it. Barcelona’s spectacular 3-1 win over Manchester United was a beautiful confirmation of a modern day football dynasty. But with life being what it is, Barca’s triumph also raised some fascinating talking points…

Thabane Sutu - Former Lesotho captain and Al Ahly goalkeeper

Are Barca the greatest ever?

Barcelona are at the peak of their cycle. They are unplayable! Man United tried to press high and they were somewhat successful in the first ten minutes. Problem is against Barcelona you’ve got to do it for 90 minutes! Mission impossible!

Barcelona have taken the game onto another level and they have the most potent offence I have ever seen. Nothing surprises me in football anymore. There were moments on Saturday, however, when I saw stuff I had never seen before… Barca’s inter-passing, movement, uncanny ability to find space, and the sheer brilliance of their attacking players was a joy to watch. I don’t think I’ve seen any team like this Barca side before. Sure the Madrid team of the 50’s and 60’s, Brazil’s 1970 team and the Ajax of the 70’s were great, but I don’t think anybody is close to this Barca team.

Nathane Mokebisa - Football connoisseur and Liverpool fan

Barca aren’t the greatest of all-time…

It was a great game and wonderful performance by Barcelona but Sir Alex Ferguson got his strategy wrong by playing with two central midfielders against the Barcelona three... I think it’s hard to pick a man of the match because Barcelona as a whole played a complete game. As for whether Barca are the greatest team ever, that is tough to say because the AC Milan side of the late eighties and early nineties could give this Barcelona team a run for their money.

That Milan team not only had the great Dutch trio of Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard but was of course supplemented by superb, street smart Italian defenders... never undermine them; and we all seem to think our current generation is the best ever…

Mitchell Demula - Real Madrid’s 13th disciple

Did Man United get it wrong? And is Madrid the team to dethrone Barca?

Did Manchester United ever reallystand a chance of winning with their tactics? Personally I don’t think so; you just can’t play a normal game against Barcelona, unless you are as good as Arsenal at keeping the ball or better yet, just as good as Barca… but that’s almost impossible. A team like Manchester, who don’t have world-class passing ability, should have been much more defensive. Did you notice what happened every time United tried to pass the ball around?

Yes, every team stands a chance but here’s my point – Manchester are not renowned for their passing game, so when they meet a team like Barca they should not think they can take them on as a passing team, United should use other strengths. Manchester have hardworking players, they should have rather just dedicated Saturday’s final to some hardcore work-rate in marking and closing down crucial spaces. Barca will always have the ball unless their opponent is very good at holding on to the ball, like Arsenal, then you can have game-plan geared towards going toe-to-toe with them or keeping the ball from them. That’s just how brilliant Barca is, you can’t take them on with an average of five completed passes, they will destroy you. So let them have the ball but frustrate them by staying on them, closing down the crucial spaces and staying organised.

Is Madrid the team to beat Barca?

It’s a tough question. Look, it is some ugly football we’ve been playing this season against Barca but at the same time it’s the same tactic Mourinho used with Inter, namely defence and counterattack. I think this strategy is tolerable temporarily but as time goes on most loyal Madrid fans like myself would love to see Barca beaten in a beautiful way. But for now, I don’t mind Madrid playing negative football if it’s to our advantage.

I also think if Madrid stick to one coach and the same players for a minimum of two seasons .then we could be a big threat to Barca considering the talent and ability in our team. Madrid just need to work on team chemistry, that’s the only thing missing. The defence at the moment lacks confidence but that will build if the team chemistry and understanding improves... I think we have a brilliant squad.