AC Milan Crowned Europe’s Finest

I couldn’t agree more with Ancelotti, it was destiny that has triumphed Milan’s journey this season. For all the troubles they had early in the season, the joy on the team are such an emotional scene to be witnessed and enjoyed. It was apparent that the the win finally put an end to the misery that this club has suffered since that fateful night in Istanbul a couple of years ago. It was fittingly that in city of Athens, where the myths and glory of god and goddesss are worshipped, the exact revenge or rather not repeating the same mistake, Milan was able to redeem themselves and basked in the magical night of glory.

7th European title, 5th for Paolo Maldini, the 2nd in 4 years, you just have to respect this team. It’s arguably the greatest side in the last 20 years considered the number of trophy they won, the style of football they always play, and the great team that have been assembled since the day of van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard, to the likes of Kaka, Pirlo, and Inzaghi.

For Liverpool, they’re winner by showing how much respect and gracious they’re in defeat. Carragher and Benitez paid tribute to Maldini and the quality of Milan respectively, and it is this type of sportsmanship that football needs, this type of respect that football wants to promote, not continuously provoking conspiracy as what the Special One keep promoting. After all, sports is meant to unite people, in the right way.

UEFA Champions’ League Final Preview: Liverpool vs. AC Milan

In the repeat of the 2005 Final in Istanbul, AC Milan and Liverpool will fight for their fate again in this year’s UEFA Champions’ League Final in Athens. It will fascinating to see how the match turned out, would it be in similar fashion or as dull as this years’ FA Cup Final? Would there be another 6 minutes of heartbreak into a classic game? Would it be Maldini’s 5th European Cup from 8 final games? Yes, this would be his 8th Champions’ League Final!

There’s no doubt that this is one of the most intriguing recent rivalry between European teams, although no one, I meant no one –except Liverpool own fans- would’ve even thought about Liverpool winning it 2 years ago, and again going all the way to the final this year. Having said that though, Milan is no favourite as well this year with their slow start to the Serie A, near-banned Champions’ League campaign, and all the after-effects of the match fixing allegations.

The key to Milan is as everyone knows, the speed and moments of brilliance from Kaka, and the disruptive play of Gattuso. I’d think though with Liverpool’s style of play where one touch football and rythm playing wasn’t quite their brand of football, Gattuso might not have the similar huge impact as to when they met Manchester United in the semifinals. where he pretty much messed up United flowing football. Pirlo, on the other hand though, might need to be clinical with the tricks and precise passing to break the crowded defensive scheme of Liverpool. For Liverpool, the key I guess is to look no further than their mercurial captain, Gerrard, although helps from Riise from the wing and Crouch ability to capitalize on his height and youthful against ageing Milan defense will prove crucial to their attempt on the 2nd European glory in 3 years.

As a Milan supporter watching the likes of van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard, Baresi, Massaro, Savicevic, and of course Maldini, there’s no doubt I want Milan to win this –albeit the broke my dearly Manchester United heart at San Siro. Milan deserved to win this game, after what happened in Istanbul, and for the way they play their football and allowing the opponents to play their football, for the character that they have, for the fair play and good sportsmanship that they always show in every game, I just thought Maldini should lead this team to collect the winners’ medal when it’s all said and done in Athens tomorrow night.   LIVERPOOL 1 – AC MILAN 2 (After Extra Time).

Viva Rossoneri!!

FA CUP FINAL: Chelsea 1 – Man Utd 0

I’m speechless, so disappointed, depressed. The Double dream has been shattered.

The goal came in at time when United were controlling the tempo, starting to create moves that is United football, and out of a sudden there was this double substitution for Giggs and Carrick. I thought Carrick was alright in the midfield, breaking up plays and produced some good long passes although he didn’t have one of his best day, and Giggs was still making play, creating spaces for himself, although he probably should’ve done better from that Rooney pass from the right wing –even with his scuffed effort, the ball was clearly over the line, and with the referee giving a goal kick to Chelsea, it was just wrong; if the referee thought Giggs’ motion might’ve pushed Cech who already was holding the ball, he should’ve given Chelsea a free kick –.

It was a final with all the high anticipation of the new Wembley stadium –which does look awesome, except for the pitch condition– and the meeting of a newly crowned Premiership champion in Manchester United and a team that look to lost it all, including their overly irritating coach, Mourinho in Chelsea. The game itself though is left to be desired as the first half was literally walking pace and both teams were cautious. The second half produced better pace, especially withArjen Robben coming in for Joe Cole, and with Man U later introducing Alan Smith, United started to get back to their flowing football. In general though, the final reminded me of the 2005 Final where United were dominating the game against a Thierry Henry-less Arsenal team, only to fail to break their defence and lost in penalties.

As sour as the season might’ve ended for United though with this FA Cup Final loss, we should be proud enough that Chelsea’s arrogance is finally broken. Winning both FA Cup and League Cup might be some sort of double for any team, but winning back the Premiership with the best attractive football is probably a much greater achievement for Manchester United, and according to Sir Alex, United has done football a favor by taking the crown back from Chelsea! Ouchh, eat it Jose!!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

Oh yeah!! Manchester United is the 2006/2007 Barclays English Premier League Champions!!! With Chelsea drawing 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium, United’s lead at 7 points with 2 games remaining has confirmed the end of Chelsea’s bid for a three peat. It’s the astonishing record 9th Premiership crown for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team in the last 15 years he’s taking charge at the club. No none is even near this record, and with United crowned the king again after a 4 years absence –the last Premiership title was in 2003 when they completed the three peats– signals the beginning of another golden era for Ferguson’s team with the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Vidic, Ferdinand, Carrick, O’Shea and the influential old guards as Giggsy, Scholesy, and Neville, along with van der Sar providing the vital experience for blending with the exuberance of youth. This is one of the best ever runs for the Premiership and every bit of the game that I’ve supported this season worth it. It was a magnificent season, and we truly deserve it. Congratulations to Sir Alex, every member of the Manchester United teams, to everyone associated with Manchester United, and to every fellow supporters!!! We’ve done it!!!

MAN CITY 0 – MAN UTD 1

VAN DER SAR!!!!!

No doubt it might go down as the league clinching penalty –although if you look at the replay it was never a penalty!! I guess the referee awarded it as a result of pressure from the fans and some comments on United’s penalty “rule”. The good thing though is that is there’s any sign that Mourinho will eat his own words, this will be the season. Yes, United finally was given a penalty against, but oh Mr. Jose, it still doesn’t work. We just don’t accept punishment that we don’t deserve.

The game was a typical English game, lots of tackles, and Michael Ball should be praying thanks to God for not being sent off on his cheap stamping on Ronaldo’s body early in the game. I just don’t understand why he’s shaking his head on the penalty given against him, it was an OBVIOUS ill-timed tackle on Ronaldo. Thumbs up for Ronaldo on converting the penalty flawlessly for his 50th goal for United, sending the goalie to the wrong corner and convincingly smashing the ball to the low corner.

At the end, United deserves to win, they dominated possessions, they took a lead, hang on to it, and City was never able to create any penetration thanks to a solid performance from the returning Vidic-Ferdinand partnership. We are getting so close now, and by tomorrow’s night, United might be back to where they belong if Chelsea didn’t came out of the Emirates Stadium with anything other than a win against Arsene Wenger’s team.

OH YEAH!!!

It’s Disapponting, but …

The dream of Treble has long gone since the chilly night at San Siro that crushed United’s dream with a 3-0 loss to AC Milan. It was a disappointing night, especially the way the match folded, high expectations, confident, Manchester-like weather, but the worst of all started to glimpse when Seedorf shot a brilliant thundering drive only for van der Sar to superbly tipped it over the bar no less than only 5 minutes after the referee blow the kick-off whistle. United never find a way to find their rhythm with Gattuso is at the heart of disrupting all United’s movement, especially each time Ronaldo gets the ball, it was closed down first by Gattuso before Oddo waiting at the 2nd level.

I guess what really disappointing for me to see was that why would Ferguson played Vidic after he missed out 8 matches in a row and sit Alan Smith in the bench while he would be perfect to combat Gattuso’s aggressiveness in midfield. Fergie could’ve played Brown and O’Shea in the middle with Heinze and Fletcher at the flanks. It was even more depressing to see Saha came in in the 70th minute and did nothing which I expected as I can see his face is full of nothing but pressure. It was really disappointing especially considering how the first leg was classically won by the brilliance of Rooney.

At the end of the day though, as a football fan, I must come to realize that no team can win everything, and Manchester United, with the squad that they have, and the injuries that they suffered towards the end of this campaign, have done superbly to be still at this stage, challenging two out of three major trophies. It was disappointing, but United can build on this European semifinal appearance for next year, adding probably Hargreaves and one other big-name striker, and I know I’ll be supporting them more than ever.

For now, Manchester City, and we’ve got back the Premiership!!! One game at a time, and God knows the Double is still ahead of us!!! Go, Man U!!!