No regrets like Rome, Manchester United did all they could to stop the Barcelona juggernaut

Sir Alex Ferguson's delivered a far better performance than the one they gave in Rome but
were still a way behind Pep Guardiola's phenomenal side at Wembley

COMMENT
By Jonathan Birchall

If Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United left Rome embarrassed in 2009, there should be no shame in defeat to Barcelona at Wembley.

To paraphrase another great Scot, Robert Burns: even the best-laid plans often go awry. The Red Devils, against giants of the game, at least performed like men, and not the mice of Rome.

Much was made of the two years in which Ferguson was able to compile his master plan to stop Barcelona but with the Catalan side in form such as this, two decades wouldn’t have been enough. At the supposed home of football, Pep Guardiola’s men took their own brand of the game to a level that once again defied belief.

United’s start certainly offered promise, with Javier Mascherano looking slightly fallible at the back and the Premier League champions pressing high, coming out of the starting blocks with the greater intent. It was a momentary offering of hope to a team that needed much more than that.

The famous carousel which Ferguson lamented in the eternal city was soon put into overdrive and as Pedro gave Barcelona the lead, having been allowed far too much space by Patrice Evra on the right, and it was all just a little bit of history repeating.

However, unlike 2009, United fought back and Wayne Rooney’s equalising effort was a sublime demonstration of Ferguson’s side quality. This was not a side at Wembley without merit.

To pick fault in United’s tactics would be an exercise in speculation. Attempting to shut Barcelona off at the source of their powers, the triumvirate of Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets may well have worked if any of the three had failed to perform at their dizzying best; a phenomena that is proving increasingly rare.

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et loss | Van der Sar is helpless to prevent Pedro's opener - but United showed true grit

A performance from Michael Carrick, who has come through arguably his most difficult period in football in his time since Rome, proved himself to be much more than the flop that so many have opted to label him.

Rooney, also a passenger in Rome, offered much more than just the goal to level the game. Dropping in behind Javier Hernandez, the England man’s work rate was symptomatic of a side that refused to lie down, refused to be shamed.

United’s captain and undoubted player of the season, Nemanja Vidic, was imperious, delivering a number of last-ditch tackles to keep the game in United’s reach, on paper at least.

However, for all of Barcelona’s brilliance and the efforts of some in United white, there were players whose inability to maintain possession damaged their side’s chances. Ryan Giggs was wasteful, Evra was dragged out of position with troubling ease and perhaps the cruellest fate of all was left for Edwin van der Sar, who lacked his usual sharpness on the final game of his illustrious career, particularly with Messi’s goal, which he will no doubt analyse long into his retirement.

Despite the few criticisms, Sir Alex and his side should travel back to Manchester with their heads held high. The fact that they won’t pays testament to their relentless winning mentality.

Manchester United may have made great strides in two years but Barcelona, once again, were simply untouchable.
FEEDBACK...

Many of you on Facebook and Twitter agreed with Jonathan. One such reader was Byron Wamala D: "Man U did their best but when playing Barca your best always looks your worst because they are way superior!!"

Ayodele Tosin was in agreement: "If Man Utd couldn't stop Barca, no other team could have done it. The Barca players (especially Messi) were very fired up for the match....only Barca can beat Man Utd in Europe."

Lameck Mugetta believed United could have done more though. "You can't beat Barca in a final game with a 4-4-2 formation. Fergie was stupid! You need five midfielders inside and a lone striker."

Waqas Bhatti thinks this was a defeat which was two years in the making. "When United played Barca in Rome two years ago, United's midfield was of no match to Barca's and was supposed to have improved heavily. Ok... ok... they are enough against the average sides of the Premier League and almost (almost) every other side in Europe, but come on... Barca's midfield has to be matched with players like Daniele De Rossi, Essien, Fabregas, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Snjieder or even Wilshire & Modric."