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United players after going 2-0 down


Cristiano Ronaldo evades a tackle from Yaya Toure


Samuel Eto'o scores Barcelona's first goal


Barcelona players pressurised the ball all night


Edwin van der Sar is beaten by Messi's header for Barcelona's killer second goal


Lionel Messi holds a boot aloft in triumph as he celebrates scoring past Edwin van der Sar


Barcelona captain Carles Puyol holds the European Cup aloft


Sir Alex and his players look dejected after defeat in the Champions League final


Darren Fletcher looks on in disappointment in Rome


Sir Alex Ferguson graciously congratulates his former player Gerard Pique

No complaints from Rio

"We just didn’t play well as a collective team and we didn’t play well as individuals. If you don’t do that at times like this then you don’t deserve to win. We’ve got no qualms, we weren’t good enough, we didn’t play the way we can. If you do that in a final, you tend to get beat. You've got to give credit to Barcelona, they played well. We needed to play our best football and we just didn't produce it."

- Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand says United were simply not good enough on the night as the Reds lost their European crown to a hugely impressive Barcelona side.

Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi in each half secured a deserved victory for the Spaniards. Ferdinand was magnanimous in defeat, but remained hugely disappointed by United's uncharacteristic showing.

"We just didn’t play well as a collective team and we didn’t play well as individuals," he told MUTV. "If you don’t do that at times like this then you don’t deserve to win.

"We’ve got no qualms, we weren’t good enough, we didn’t play the way we can. If you do that in a final, you tend to get beat. You've got to give credit to Barcelona, they played well. We needed to play our best football and we just didn't produce it."

While defeat was hard to take, Ferdinand insists United are proud of the season's achievements and will learn from the experience in Rome.

“We were all aware we’d had a good season up to now and the last day of it would determine how our summer goes," he explained. "It’s a bit of a low point to finish it on but we’ve got strong characters in the squad and I’m sure we’ll be back next season."

Sir Alex : We missed Fletch

Darren Fletcher was perhaps the perfect player to disrupt Barcelona's possession football, and Sir Alex Ferguson's fears before the game that the suspended midfielder would be a great loss sadly proved prophetic.

The Reds boss recognises that Barcelona also had players missing through suspension, but from a United point of view Fletcher would have been key in disrupting the flow of passes from Andres Iniesta and Xavi to the front three of Eto'o, Henry and Messi.

"I thought before the game it may have been a problem," said Sir Alex.

"I knew it might count against us because he is a big-game player and he was a big loss. It's difficult to say how big, and they had players missing too, but it showed for us tonight."

Fletcher's ability to cover every blade of grass in the middle of the park would have been an asset as United tried to regain possession - but keeping the ball was also a problem.

"The simple reason we lost was possession," Sir Alex added. "You have to wait minutes to get it back off Barcelona but when we did get it, we didn't do anything with it.

"That was the disappointment, our use of the ball when we had it.

"We recognised beforehand their strength was their central midfielders. It wasn't really Messi who was the problem. It was Iniesta and Xavi. They can keep the ball all night long.

"You have to give credit to a very good Barcelona team. If they get in front of you they are very difficult to beat."

Blog : We'll learn from this lesson

After reading a lot of threads on the Talking Reds message board, covering a lot of different opinions, I thought I'd post my views.

As poor as some individual performances were last night, I think there is a very good reason for this - every time a United player got the ball there were usually at least two opposition players chasing him down and pressurising him into making a mistake. Yes, the Reds should have done better and dealt with this but credit to Barcelona's off-the-ball play.

In contrast, I noticed there was simply too much space and time for Barcelona's players between the 18-yard line and the halfway line in our half. The killer second goal came as a result of them being able to controll the ball, run with it and pick out the cross with no pressure. It happened all night - we allowed them to play and pass easily.

I don't think that Rooney should play on the left wing, he just wasn't effective, but we didn't have anyone else to do the job there last night and maybe that needs looking at.

I agree with Sir Alex's decision to play Ronaldo up front, largely because I don't think he would have tracked back if he played on the wing, but it's another area that requires consideration. We have Tevez (or maybe not next season?), Berbatov and Rooney, all of them strikers but two started on the bench and one on the left wing. For me, the team didn't look balanced.

As much as I like Park and the energy he puts in, the class of Barcelona's players really showed against him on the night; same goes for Anderson. Overall I think Barcelona were just the better side. It wasn't a case of our players not being able to play - Barcelona just stopped us and made us look like the lesser side.

Off the ball they chased and pressured us. On the ball they were composed and had too much time. Iniesta and Xavi, in particular, were excellent.

The difference between the teams last night was a bit worrying for me. But we will learn from this and come back better and stronger.

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Papers : Rooney hails Iniesta

Wayne: We're in Roo-ins
Wayne Rooney surveyed the ruins of Manchester United's Champions League dream and admitted: We lost to the best team in the world. But the heartbroken Old Trafford star refused to hail Barca's Lionel Messi and instead dubbed Andres Iniesta the world's best player. Rooney said: "It's disappointing, but I thought Barcelona were the better team tonight and deserved to win. They scored a good goal early on and Messi's was a great goal at a difficult time for us. They deserved to win. I've never played against a better team than this Barcelona. They're a brilliant team." A Samuel Eto'o toe-poke on 10 minutes and Messi's soaring header after 70 underlined Barca's superiority here in Rome. But Rooney added: "Iniesta for me is the best player in the world, he's incredible."
Neil Custis & Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun

The papers, like our message board, are packed full of post-mortems on United's failure to retain the Champions League and little of it makes happy reading (or repeating here!)

Credit where credit's due, though, and there are plenty of pundits and press-men raving about the victors Barcelona, including their former manager Terry Venables. Writing in The Sun, 'El Tel' says Lionel Messi "finally showed us what he can do... Guardiola pulled off a surprise by playing his most prized asset in the hole - and in the process probably changed the destination of the European Cup."

Round up by Adam Bostock

Barcelona 2 United 0

We were told this Champions League final would be a game displaying the beauty of the counter-attack; no two teams in Europe more adept at carrying it out. But United would certainly have hoped not to be so heartbreakingly on the end of its devastation.

Twice United looked to be in control of proceedings here in Rome, and both times Barcelona hit the Reds on the break as goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi secured a 2-0 win for the Spanish champions. Make no mistake, the intricate passing football of Pepe Guardiola's side was brilliant at times, and there is no real injustice in the result.

That said, United could have been two or three goals up inside the first seven or eight minutes but, sad to say, this was to be Barcelona’s night.

Sir Alex went with the team many predicted, full of pace and set up to counter. There were no real surprises in the Barcelona outfit either, Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry recovering from recent injuries to take their place in the starting line-up.

Gary Neville was the noticeable absentee from United’s 18-man squad. The Reds skipper lost out to Rafael on the bench. And even in choosing the young Brazilian’s speed over Neville’s experience, it said everything about the type of game Sir Alex sought to play.

As kick-off approached, the teams tantalisingly walked past the trophy both clubs so keenly covet. Sir Alex passionately feels that his side have not triumphed in Europe enough but Barcelona, going for their third European title, would say the same. And so the stage was set for one of the most eagerly-anticipated finals in years.

The fans roared on the Reds, playing in white, as Anderson earned an early free-kick with a cheeky nutmeg. Ronaldo inevitably smacked the resulting 25-yard set-piece goalwards. Victor Valdes struggled to stop it and spilled the ball back into Ji-sung Park’s path. But Gerard Pique blocked the rebound from the Korean, who was the first player from his country to play in a Champions League final.

It was a blistering start from United, attacking as expected down Barcelona’s exposed flanks. And on seven minutes Ronaldo, playing as a threatening central striker, sent another shot fizzing at Valdes. Seconds later another opportunity came his way. This time he chested a ball down in the area and fired a left-footed volley narrowly wide.

Barcelona’s fans were muted, their team were being outplayed. But in their side’s first real foray forward after ten minutes, the Catalans scored. Iniesta made a piercing run forward and fed Samuel Eto’o on the right; the Cameroon international cut inside Nemanja Vidic and poked the ball past Edwin van der Sar from eight yards. It was completely against the run of play, but this was always bound to be a contest punctuated by breakaways. Now United were on the ropes, and composure was needed.

Barcelona’s play was typified by Iniesta, who orchestrated their imposing short possession game. United had lost the speed that characterised the team’s early attacks and seemingly some of the patience to wait and pick the right pass. The fans didn’t lose hope, however, and in Ronaldo the Reds always had a threat, some hope, but something would have to change in the second half for United to turn the final around.

Sir Alex wasted no time and replaced Anderson with Carlos Tevez at the break. Could the Argentine make the crucial influence as he has done so many times this season? The Reds nearly weren’t given a chance to find out as Henry twisted and turned to beat Ferdinand before forcing an excellent point-blank save from van der Sar four minutes into the second half. Then on 52 minutes Xavi hit the post with a free-kick after Park’s foul on Iniesta.

After that the Reds had a really good spell of possession. The Barcelona fans whistled, largely because they knew United were becoming a threat. Rooney, now playing on the right, swung in a cross switch Ronaldo and Park both narrowly missed. Another right-wing Rooney cross was blocked by Pique, while the resulting corner almost found Vidic, who rose above the Barcelona defence. Promising, but not potent enough.

Sir Alex then made sure he had all his trump cards on the table, bringing off Park and putting on Dimitar Berbatov to join Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez in attack. But again United’s attempts were thwarted with 20 minutes to go; Xavi’s cross from the right tempted Messi, probably the smallest player on the pitch, to rise and head in a second for Barcelona. United had gambled – simply had to – and had again been hit on the break.

The final minutes were galling for United as Barcelona’s supporters cheered their team’s every touch. The Reds never stopped running or trying to attack however, as the fans who almost painfully sang; ‘We’ll never die…’. How true. Responding to adversity is a character trait ingrained in the club. Sometimes you have to suffer lows to revel in the highs. This wasn’t United’s greatest showing, but one thing is certain, this team will be back.

Ryan : Still a fantastic season

Ryan Giggs is looking on the bright side of United's epic campaign, despite the major disappointment of losing a European Cup final for the first time.

The 0-2 loss to Barcelona was the 66th result of a season in which the Reds have won four trophies - Barclays Premier League, Club World Cup, Carling Cup and Community Shield - and almost won three others - the Super Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.

"It’s been a fantastic season when you consider what we’ve achieved this year – including our third league title on the trot," Ryan told MUTV.

"We just fell at the final hurdle. No team has defended the Champions League, it's a very difficult trophy to win. We deserved to get to the final but we didn’t deserve to win.

"Barcelona did deserve to win. They are a good team and if they go one-nil up, they’re the best in the business at keeping the ball. They can make teams look ordinary.

"We didn’t really recover after conceding the first goal. In the second half we improved a bit but it just wasn’t to be."

Giggs and co will now strive to reclaim the trophy next term, when the final's in Madrid.

"That’s what we’ll be aiming for," said Ryan. "Big teams have disappointments but they bounce back. That’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

Carrick's wounded pride

"We can be proud of what we’ve achieved in the last two years, but (this defeat) is hard to take."

- Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick insists United can feel proud after blazing a two-year trail through Europe - but admits the untimely end of that run is a bitter pill to swallow.

The Reds' 2-0 reverse to Barcelona in Rome was the club's first defeat in the Champions League since the semi-final of 2007, when Carrick was coming to the end of his first campaign at Old Trafford. He's since lifted the famous trophy of course and was 90 minutes away from doing it again when he kicked off with his comrades at Stadio Olimpico.

"We had high expectations of wanting to play well and to win but it didn’t work out for us on the night," Michael told MUTV.

“We started very well and made chances and if we’d scored one then maybe it would have been a different game. After that, things didn’t go right for us really. We still had opportunities to score but we just didn’t take them.

“Credit to Barcelona though – they’re a good team with good players and they deserved to win tonight. We can’t argue about that."

“We had gone unbeaten in this competition for two years and sadly it’s come to an end on the wrong night. I think we can be proud of what we’ve achieved in the last couple of years, but it’s hard to take.

“However, the club moves on, we have to move on and come back stronger next season. We’ve got to defend the Premier League title and go again in this competition.

"That’s what we’re here for.”

Treble : Champions League

Part Three: Champions League 26 May 1999, Nou Camp

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Sheringham 90+1, Solskjaer 90+3

BAYERN MUNICH 1
Basler 6

United: Schmeichel ©; G. Neville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin; Giggs, Beckham, Butt, Blomqvist (Sheringham 67); Cole (Solskjaer 81), Yorke.
Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, May, P. Neville, Brown, Greening.

Matchwinner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reflects on a historic night in Barcelona…

Bayern were ahead for a long time, but there was a feeling throughout the last six months of the season that if we just kept going we’d get something out of every game.

We were lucky to stay in this one, but then Teddy scored and we knew we could get another. Straight from kick-off I made a diagonal run out to our left, and Denis Irwin played a great pass to me.

Being fresh I got to the ball and managed to turn and face up Kuffour. I tried a stepover and he nicked it out for a corner, but I was happy with that. I didn’t think about what happened next. I was too focused. I was playing on instinct.

Kuffour was marking me. He grabbed my shirt, but then forgot about me when the ball came over. He was busy looking at Teddy, so that was my chance to get away and the ball just landed on my toe.

My main memory of what followed was all the subs being in amongst the celebrations, that and almost being strangled by everyone!

Match Pack : Barcelona

United bid to retain the Champions League, with Barcelona awaiting in Rome...

Form Guide: In 14 games since March's back-to-back Premier League defeats, United have won 11 and drawn three games, ensuring an 18th league title and a berth in Rome. The final victory of that run came at Hull on Sunday, where Sir Alex Ferguson had the luxury of resting a hatful of players who are likely to start on Wednesday. Barcelona have also been resting players ever since they clinched their own domestic crown, meaning little can be read into successive La Liga defeats against Mallorca and Osasuna.

Ins and Outs: Suspension rules out Darren Fletcher for United, while Barca are hampered by the absence of banned defenders Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves. The Catalans are still closely monitoring the fitness of key duo Andrés Iniesta (thigh) and Thierry Henry (knee), with both players confident of featuring. Similarly hopeful of lining up at the Stadio Olimpico is United's Rio Ferdinand, who is on course to return from a calf injury

Star Man: Take your pick. The tie is inevitably being billed as a battle between Ballon D'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo and pocket genius Lionel Messi, but rarely can a supporting cast have been so star-studded. Two teams packed full of potential match-winners.

Referee: Massimo Busacca will be the man in the middle. This will be the 44-year-old Swiss official's 33rd Champions League tie, with his last outing coming as United overcame Porto in Portugal.

Blog : You can't beat Barcelona

United legend Paddy Crerand says the emotions he experienced at the Nou Camp, Barcelona, on 26 May 1999, will take some topping...

Those incredible last few minutes of the 1999 season were the best in football for me, and that includes playing in the final myself at Wembley in 1968. It was the most emotional way to win a football match; you won’t beat it for drama, and it was so poignant, falling on Matt Busby’s birthday.

The Treble was about much more than Barcelona, of course. Ryan Giggs’ goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal sticks out a mile. Everybody thought it was gone when Dennis Bergkamp took his penalty. I’ll always remember three United fans behind the goal walking out before he’d even taken the penalty, then quickly running back! On so many occasions that season it was last minute, last kick and last gasp - they should have known better.

Those games against Arsenal were fantastic – as semi-finals they won’t ever be surpassed in English football. They were magnificent. My nerves were shredded, and not just then; fans went through the mill every week, and I’ll never know how the manager got through that season.

Maybe the answer was in the group of players. Off the pitch and on it, they were great. Everybody asks me which United team is the best ever. I always say the 1999 side. They won the Treble. Nobody’s done it before or since. For me, they’ll be the best until we see what this current team can do…

Winning the Treble is some target, though, and being a previous European Cup winner with United, that night at the Nou Camp still means a lot to me. It meant more as a fan than a player, because I experienced everything around the game. For the match itself I was sat with some of the 1968 winners and we went absolutely

potty when Ole’s goal went in. Everyone in the stadium did, you couldn’t believe what you were seeing. There were grown men crying; the scenes were incredible.

Part of me – no matter how small – felt sorry for Bayern, especially as their fans in Barcelona that night took it so well. But it was United’s night. Everything came together, that evening and all season. Barcelona is a beautiful city, a football city with a historic football stadium. The final should be held there every year. But even if it was, it wouldn’t ever have a finish like we all saw and remember so fondly, 10 years on.

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Barcelona classic: Sep '98

This opening gambit in the so-called ‘group of death’ had everything: two teams intent on attacking, memorable goals, a dubious penalty, a red card and a partisan home crowd in full voice.

The Reds raced into a two-goal lead inside 24 minutes, courtesy of a rare Giggs header and a neat Paul Scholes finish, only for Barça to fight back in the second half and level through Sonny Anderson and a Rivaldo penalty (harshly awarded against Jaap Stam).

And still there was no let-up in the attacking. United went back ahead through a trademark David Beckham free kick, before Luis Enrique netted the Catalans’ second spot kick of the night, following a Nicky Butt handball for which he was dismissed.

"Neither team deserved to lose,” Giggs said afterwards. “But that doesn’t mean we’re happy with a point, especially after leading for so long."

United: Schmeichel; G Neville, Stam, Berg, Irwin (P Neville 79); Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs (Blomqvist 84); Solskjaer (Butt 55), Yorke

Fergie can be greatest

Fergie can become the greatest
Will Manchester United versus Barcelona be a great final? Yes. These are two great teams, of course, and obviously there are big expectations, but you must remember that finals are not for playing beautiful football. [If Sir Alex] wins on Wednesday it would make him the greatest club manager. He has made a super team. Three Premier League titles in a row and two Champions League finals – that's really top. They have quality and experience, with Ferdinand, Vidic, Ronaldo and Rooney. They have absolutely everything as a team: strength, mentality, speed, magic, solutions. You need no more words to explain how strong they are.
Jose Mourinho, Daily Telegraph

Yes, you read that right. Jose's clearly missing the English press... his final preview in the Telegraph makes for a great read.

Gary Neville has earned his first England call-up since Fabio Capello took over - he last played against Spain over two years ago. Neville is joined by Ferdinand, Rooney and Carrick in the squad for June's 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Kazahkstan on 6 June and Andorra four days later.

Cristiano Ronaldo insists we won't be in for a 'will he?/won't he?' summer of speculation. He promises. "My heart is here. This is where I want to play. Manchester United is now my house." Brilliantly put, Ronny!

The Independent's Sam Wallace challenges the notion that versatility in a footballer means they suffer by never being able to pin down one position. He says that quality is what has made John O'Shea's United career as the Irishman prepares to start in the Reds' defence in Rome.

The Telegraph praise the young Reds who saw off Hull on Sunday. "United's shadow XI could be classed as unfamiliar, but weak? Hardly," writes Mark Ogden.

Round up by Ben Hibbs

From Hull to heaven?

From Hull City to the Eternal City... you could hardly get two more contrasting locations for two games of professional football.

United's team selection from one game to the next will also be very different - take Wes Brown and Gary Neville out of the equation and the average age of the eleven that lined up against Hull was just 21.

Last week, there was talk of the Reds being sued if they played a reserve team at the KC Stadium but no one is saying that now, after the youngsters did themselves proud. The Reds controlled the game and could have had more goals than Darron Gibson’s stunner.

To be honest though, Hull were abject. They have survived by default. Staying up with just 34 points and after a run of one win from 22 games is quite amazing really.

I must give special praise to Richie De Laet who had a fine debut for United. His story shows that footballing fairytales are possible. The 20 year-old Belgian joined United from Stoke in January – having never played a first-team game for the Potters. His only senior football this season had been three games on loan at Wrexham. And yet he ended the league campaign playing for the Champions!

I spoke to Ritchie after the match and he told me a great story. When Sir Alex announced the team he said Richard was in the starting lineup but De Laet presumed he meant the other Richard in the squad, Eckersley. It was only when the Reds arrived at the KC Stadium ground that Ritchie realised he was the one with a place in the starting lineup! He had

the shock of his life. But what a fine display he produced.

Ninety points and club record-equalling 28 Premier League wins show what a superb season it has been for United. Now there’s just one game left. One more win on Wednesday and it will be arguably, United’s greatest-ever campaign.

The countdown to Rome is now truly on. And if you are not lucky enough to be going to Italy, then MUTV will bring you the full flavour of the Champions League final. For example, don’t miss The Paddy Crerand Show tonight at 18:30 BST, live from Rome. Paddy will be taking your calls as ever – but you’ll hopefully be able to see St Peter’s Basilica in the background rather than Old Trafford!

On Tuesday, I’ll be guiding you through United’s final pre-match training session at the Stadio Olimpico - see the full hour of preparation work live on MUTV from 17.30 BST. You’ll also be able to see Sir Alex Ferguson's press conference in full.

Then on Wednesday, matchday, we'll bring you the very best build-up to the Champions League final throughout the afternoon and evening. Enjoy...

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Park's second chance

A year after what Sir Alex Ferguson called "the hardest decision of my life", Ji-sung Park is hoping to fulfill his dream of playing in the Champions League final.

Park was the unlucky player left out of the squad for the final against Chelsea last May. It's still referred to as the "Moscow nightmare" by the press in the winger's native Korea.

Sir Alex recently admitted the decision "broke his heart" and has already assured Park a place in his squad for the game against Barcelona in Rome.

But though he has enjoyed a successful, injury-free campaign for the champions, Park is taking nothing for granted ahead of Wednesday's European showpiece.

"This season has been my best since I joined United. We are champions and I’ve been part of the team," he told Sunday's papers.

"But I won't know until Wednesday whether I am playing, so I will do my best until the final.

"I had the summer to think about missing last season’s final, so when I came back for the new season I had forgotten about it because the future is different. I just believed that we could reach the

final again and hopefully this time I might be in the team."

If he is named in Sir Alex's starting XI – thereby becoming the first Asian player to appear a Champions League final – Park could be charged with shackling mercurial Barça forward Lionel Messi, which he did to great effect in last season's semi-final.

"The position I play in does not matter to me. Either side or in the middle, I will help the team to try to win the game," the 28-year-old added.

"It won't be easy, because Messi’s one of the best players in the world. But we have the experience of facing Barcelona last season, when we did well defensively, so we’ll think about that and concentrate to stop him.

"Barça are the best team in Spain and we are the best team in England so it will be a fantastic final."

The Catalan craftsman

People are billing the Champions League final as a battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who are widely seen as the world's two best players.

To my mind, though, the best player is someone who may not even play in Rome - Andrés Iniesta. It would be such a shame if he didn’t make it, because I think he’s been the best player in the world for a few months now.

Iniesta can do things neither Ronaldo nor Messi can do. On the wing he can play almost as well as Messi, and he can also play in the centre. If he scored more goals he would be considered one of the top three players in the world by everybody.

Everyone keeps telling him to score more goals. Earlier on in the season he played a one-two with Eto’o, could’ve shot but passed for Eto’o to score instead. When asked why he passed, Iniesta said: “Well, Eto’o wants to be the top scorer in Spain.” A couple of weeks later he did exactly the same with Messi, and when he was asked why he’d done it again, he said: “Well, Messi hasn’t scored for a couple of games.”

He can do it. If he starts scoring then he would be considered by everybody as one of the best around. Paul Scholes is a good comparison to him, as there is more than one similarity. He’s definitely got the vision of Scholes and he can play centre-midfield, but also out wide, because he has the pace that Scholes never had.

He’s the quiet character who isn’t egotistical and works hard for the team. He could go the whole of his life playing for Barcelona, and people might struggle to remember his name, even though he was a great player. Scholes has been the same at United. At some point he was the best player or one of the very best players in European football, but nobody would say that at the time.

Iniesta is so important to Barça's hopes of lifting the trophy. If Pep Guardiola's staff can get him - and also Thierry Henry - fit for Rome, then I'd have to say I fancy them to overcome United.

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Final countdown

Wayne leads the way in training on Wednesday


Vidic is also putting in the hard yards


Berbatov decides to have a go at the javelin


Scholesy's dry-slope skiing, or just having a breather


The key men? Sir Alex and Ronny plot Barca's downfall


The perks of being captain


Meanwhile Giggsy shares a joke at the press conference


They say Tevez will tackle anyone, but this is ridiculous

Thursday

12:36 Support is growing on Talking Reds for Tevez to start in Rome. Meanwhile, Steve Bartram has slyly slipped me a piece of paper, like we're in an episode of The West Wing, but alas there's no instructions to invade Qumar, it's only his chosen starting XI. He's picked the exact same team as Paul and Gemma (lazy), with a front three of Park, Ronaldo, Rooney. I'm sticking with Ronny, Berbatov, Rooney, because Berbatov is brilliant at keeping possession. I don't think United will go gung-ho, either, as much as we'd like to see it. There isn't much between our attack and Barca's, but our defence is better - I think that'll be the difference. (BH)

09:01 Great news about Rio. He says in this morning's papers: "I'm fine." So, what were we worrying about? He's still got to prove his fitness to the big man on Sunday, though. The rain is absolutely pelting down here in Manchester - the weather in Rome? No clouds, bright sunshine, 21oC. Roll on next week (BH).

Wednesday

15:23 Training pics are on the gallery. Click the main image to see the lads in training (BH)

15:01 Just back from the afternoon session at Carrington's media day. As Ben said there was certainly a good press turn-out from all over the world - Spain, Argentina, Brazil, France... I spoke to Anderson, Carrick, van der Sar, Vidic, O'Shea and Park, they were all in good spirits. Ando borrowed my dictaphone at one point and pretended to interview Patrice Evra. Pat was talking to a group of journalists at the time and burst out laughing! As well as the players, I chatted with some of the press who were split on how they think the final will go. Many believe United are better, but Barca might sneak it. Others fully expect us to be the first team to retain the trophy. We all pray they're right! (Gemma Thompson)

11:17 Despite the doubt over Rio's injury, the boss boss says he knows his team for the final. "I'm close to it. You have to assess your opponent's strengths and think about which players are in form. But I think I've got my team." (BH)

10:40 Back in the office after the press conference, I have to say the boss was in great form. There were at least 587 journalists packed into the small balcony area in the Academy building, and there's nobody better at holding court in such situations. He looked calm and in control - a point he himself made. He admitted to "never being in control" when he first came to United, but now he is - something that comes with success. He also reitereated his point that United haven't won enough European trophies, and says four European Cups would sound much better. 18 league titles, four European Cups - sounds good, doesn't it? (BH)

09:55 I'm a little uneasy after hearing today's news about Rio. Sounds like it's touch-and-go with his calf injury. Come 3pm on Sunday when the boss announces his side to face Hull, I pray Rio's on the teamsheet. If not, I wouldn't give up hope, though: The manager's said he won't play in Rome if he doesn't play at Hull, but it wouldn't be the first time he's put one over on the press, would it? (Nick Coppack) And all the talk in the papers about United being sued if we put out a weakened team on Sunday; I wonder what Newcastle, Boro, Hull and Sunderland fans make of Rio's impending selection?! (Ian McLeish)

Tuesday

17:02 There's plenty of activity at Carrington on Wednesday; it's Champions League final press day. Sir Alex briefs the media at 9am, then after training the players are herded like cattle in front of lots of news-hungry journos with microphones. So we'll bring you an update from that. (BH)

13:30 Eight days to go and we're already discussing the final line-up in the office. Here's my prediction (post yours on Talking Reds):

Paul Davies (4-3-3): Van der Sar; O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Anderson, Carrick, Giggs; Park, Ronaldo, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Evans, Scholes, Nani, Tevez, Berbatov.
Why? I found it easy to pick my team: the one that devastated Arsenal in the semis, but Giggsy's in for the suspended Fletcher. Park missed out in Moscow, but I think he’ll be the first Korean to play in a final, and key to how we play: hardworking, with pacey counter-attacks. Toughest choice was Gary Nev or Rafael on the bench – I went for experience.

Sir Alex's selection dilemma

With the title race loose ends tied up, every fan's focus has turned to the Champions League final; Sir Alex faces some tough decisions in Rome, but he's also toying with his line-up for Sunday's visit to Hull City.

The boss plans to give the game the respect it deserves with the result of huge significance to Hull and the other three teams fighting to avoid relegation.

The visit to the KC Stadium comes just 72 hours before United square up to Barcelona in Rome, and Sir Alex will undoubtedly utilise the full resources available to him, but he will still send out a team fit to represent United, and one which he feels is capable of winning the match.

“This is the best squad I’ve ever had," the boss told MUTV. "I could have picked two teams against Arsenal last week, and I’ll be picking a team on Sunday against Hull that will reflect that strength.

"We have a fantastic squad of around 28 or 29 players now, which includes the likes of [Federico] Macheda, [Danny] Welbeck, [Rodrigo] Possebon, [Darron] Gibson, Rafael and Fabio. They are young but they’re very, very good players, and good characters, too. I think that gives us a back-up that we’ve never had before."

The Hull match certainly won't be considered a dead rubber for those selected. It might be a last chance for established players to book a place in the 18-man matchday squad in Rome, or for emerging young talents to stake a claim for next season.

Sir Alex will certainly field players such as Darren Fletcher - so unfortunately suspended for the final - and Tomasz Kuszczak, who will now deputise for Edwin van der Sar without competition from the injured Ben Foster.

That's why we're champions

"I thought we showed our commitment and our courage to go and get the three points. You have to be proud of how we kept going... That is what the club is all about, commitment and courage."

- John O'Shea

John O'Shea felt United's grit and resolve came to the fore in overcoming the stern challenge of Wigan Athletic on Wednesday evening.

Goals in the final half-hour from Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick gave the Reds three precious points in the ongoing Premier League title race, and Sheasy believes United showed the hallmark of champions at the JJB Stadium.

“I thought we showed our commitment and our courage to go and get the three points," Sheasy told MUTV. "Obviously a draw would not have been too bad either but you have to be proud of how we kept going and with the chances we created. I think we just about edged it.

"We have done that a few times this season but that is what the club is all about, commitment and courage. The coaching staff as well, to believe in what we are doing is right and we are getting the rewards."

With former Reds skipper Steve Bruce at the Latics' helm, O'Shea and his colleagues knew they would have to weather a storm at the JJB, before a patient plan paid dividends.

“People start thinking that Steve Bruce is going to do the manager a favour but the way they played, they came at us like a steam train and maybe, could have been two nil up before we had a decent chance," he said.

"We did miss quite a few good chances in the first half as well so we could have gone in level. So

we felt at half-time that if we got one goal we would definitely go on to win the game.

“The way Wigan set out their team with five in midfield we knew that if we kept possession well eventually they would get tired and gaps would open up and that is exactly what happened for the winning goal. The gaps appeared and we took advantage of it."

The come-from-behind victory - United's third in just under six weeks - brought the Premier League title to within a point of a third consecutive stint at Old Trafford, and O'Shea is relishing the chance to seal it against Arsenal this weekend.

“We are nearly there but Arsenal would like nothing more than trying to spoil our party," he said. "It would be nice to do it at Old Trafford in front of our fans.”

Barcelona Ready for MU

"United are the defending champions, an unbelievable team, and have a coach with lots of experience. I expect them to sit back and challenge on the counterattack. We will attack, I expect a nice game – they have some good players and are a great team, but so are we."

- Pep Guardiola

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expects his side and United to serve up an entertaining Champions League final in Rome.

The May 27 showpiece makes for a mouth-watering prospect as the current holders face the bookies' favourites to lift this season's title, and Guardiola expects United to be wary of his side's attacking resources.

"United are the defending champions, an unbelievable team, and have a coach with lots of experience," he told his post-match press conference. "I expect them to sit back and challenge on the counterattack, although I have to watch our semi-final with them last season and their recent games.

"We will attack, I expect a nice game – they have some good players and are a great team, but so are we. We're going to try to win and maybe we'll deserve to get the trophy."

Guardiola's preparations for Rome must factor in the absence of Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal through suspension, while Rafael Marquez misses out through injury, but he is unperturbed.

"We will have different players in the final, but we will play the same," he pledged. "(We will) play the ball, move the ball and try to score goals."