Molapo Sports Centre correspondent – Kalimo Leboela. An unrepentant Manchester United supporter Kalimo is based in Leeds, England. He’s also an avid disciple of Kaizer Chiefs but they, by all accounts, haven’t had the best of weeks. Kalimo looks back at Wednesday’s Uefa Champions League El Clásico, or should we say El Scrapio, at the Bernabéu...
Well, well… what a surprise that this whole situation has been blown way out of proportion.
Yes Madrid were in big trouble once they went down to ten men, yes, perhaps this is where the game was lost, but Pepe should know by now what Champions League referees are like.
I personally do think it was dangerous, but I also believe a yellow card, given the magnitude of the game, would have sufficed. But as stated, Pepe and Mourinho know what you are and aren’t allowed to do in the Champions League… it’s little surprise English teams haven’t had that much success in Europe but that’s another story… Back to the matter at hand; Barcelona were in control from minute one. Yes, they were heavily missing the poise of Iniesta – Keita is just too one dimensional and there was a lack of that link between Messi and the midfield three, even if Xavi and himself did link up a couple of times – and as a result there wasn’t that usual zip to Barca’s play, but you always felt there couldn’t possibly be a repeat of last week’s Copa del Rey final.
Maybe there could have been... we are talking about ‘The Special One’ here after all – apparently the plan was to hold on for a nil-nil until the “last few minutes” (Cristiano’s words) where Kaka would go in and play (football perhaps?). But in all likelihood given the course of the game this was a long shot.
Yes, given the enormity of the game, Pepe’s dismissal was harsh but let’s be realistic and not idealistic. We have all seen in the past what Champions League refereeing is like, so use your head. Just look at which part of the field the foul took place. Did Pepe really have to do it? In short, no. Sergio Busquets on the other hand was trying his best to get another player sent off (as we’ve seen in the past) but as a neutral looking on, one couldn’t help but think both teams were doing it against each other – and ironically therefore against themselves.
Anytime a player hit the deck we knew what was going to happen. What do Madrid fans have to say about Di Maria’s behaviour every time he hit the deck against Dani Alves? Sure, Alves’ yellow card for accumulation may have been warranted, but there was a heavy influence from Di Maria’s antics.
Watching Mourinho’s press conference this morning I was particularly disappointed. He claimed Pep Guardiola doesn’t deserve any of the Champions League medals he has and that he hopes Guardiola can win one on merit, presumably in two years time after Mourinho wins it next year. Quite frankly I was disappointed by Mourinho’s words because as a manager of such pragmatism, a manager who opted to “park the team bus” – or the Boeing 747 as he said last year – for Champions League, La Liga, and Copa Del Rey 270 minutes to win at any cost, here he was talking about the purity of football.
Yes, there is probably a certain way you have to play in order to achieve a result against Barcelona, but there is also a degree of intelligence you need to instil in your players when you are up against European refs, especially against Barca and Spanish teams in general.
Which leads me to one question – has a Spanish team finally felt the sting of its own poison? Several English managers might just be watching this situation, laughing quietly, shrugging and thinking exactly that.
All in all, congratulations to Barcelona. Another Champions League triumph seems certain for them as hard as it is to say as a Manchester United fan, unless of course United lose this inferiority complex they have against the top European sides and play like the winners they can be… that said, if Michael Carrick plays then the final might as well not take place.
I predict the following team to start at Wembley – if United dare to win, and of course if Schalke are successfully negotiated next Wednesday:
Goalkeeper - Edwin. Enough said.
Rightback - O’Shea. Seems to be trusted for the big games.
Leftback - Evra. Picks himself really.
Centreback - Rio. Smalling has had an immense season but there’s no way he’s starting this one.
Centreback - Nemanja. A real Captain in my opinion.
Central midfield - Fletch24. Fletcher may have been out for a while but he will run and run.
Central midfield - Jurrasic Park Ji Sung. One word – work-rate.
Central midfield - Giggs/Scholes. King Paul can pass as we know but his work-rate is now suspect. His foppery when it comes to tackling is also a liability in such a game.
Left-wing - Wayne. Supremely talented workaholic as usual.
Right-wing - Valencia. Discipline and work-rate get him in ahead of Nani.
Centre forward - Berba. I really cannot see Chicha starting, sadly.
The outcome? A Barca win, given the unique talents in their ranks, still seems inevitable but let’s hope United show spirit instead of fear. There is a glimmer of hope after Tuesday night…
Thursday, 28 April
