Two Views: Man Utd or Barcelona to Win the Champions League?

By: Daryl | May 27th, 2009

Seems no one can split Man Utd and Barcelona ahead of the Champions League Final. Even the bookies apparently gave up and gave the two teams identical (and identically unhelpful) odds of 10/11 to lift the trophy.

But someone has to win it. So Chris and myself have played devil’s advocate, and each argued the case for one of today’s finalists.

Chris for Man Ud: I could sum this up in one succinct overused sporting phrase: Defense wins championships.

Barca’s one Achilles heel on a good day is that back line – a back line which will start out beyond depleted at the Stadio Olimpico today. Rafa Marquez sent his own knee through a wood chipper during the first leg against Chelsea; Dani Alves was suspended long before his “season ending” injury; Eric Abidal will miss out for Anelka’s thespian aspirations; and Gaby Milito…well, Maruquez has nothing on his knee. That leaves four of Puyol, Caceres, Sylvinho, Pique, Toure and Keita against three of Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, Park.

No points for guessing which club that matchup will favor.

Many are predicting a Puyol-Pique-Toure-Keita back line tomorrow. Key for Barcelona will always be controlling possession in the midfield, but if that lineup holds true, how will Sergio Busquets – playing for Barca B in the Spanish third tier at this time last year – deal with the pressure of the Champions League final – a stage which has slayed even the most hardened vets? And what will two central midfielders look like in defense? Will the loss of Alves mean everyone can double, triple and quadruple down on Lionel? The back are the legs of the structure, and if those legs go the rest comes tumbling down soon after.

On the other side, ManU have perhaps the most formidable back line in the world. Rio’s fit, Vidic is toiling in the discussion for best centerback in the world, Patrice Evra runs that left flank as well as anyone at the moment and John O’Shea…well, sometimes it’s not about the names in matinee lights, a statement which would draw a silent nod from Fergie. But more importantly they play great team defense – evidenced enough by Wayne Rooney’s performances. They’re not just a great collection of talents, but a great team under a great coach in a great system which plays great defense. And they can score a bit too.

So defense win championships, and Barca don’t have one – not today, at least – but Manchester United do – and a great one at that. Sometimes it’s just that simple.

Daryl for Barça: True, Barcelona will be missing a few defenders. But it wasn’t the defence (or “defense” if you want to spell it incorrectly) that got Barcelona this far. It was the attack. That glorious glorious attack. Messi (nice interview with him on Soccerlens by the way), Eto’o, and Henry. The deadly trident that’s scored 97 goals between them this season. Even if Henry doesn’t make it, then there are many many worse replacements than Bojan Krkic.

If precedent is any guide, then Fergie will fear those forwards and Man Utd will try to contain and counter. That’s going to be a mistake, because Utd haven’t had to try and contain a team since Liverpool came to Old Trafford. And Nemanja Vidic still has bad dreams about what Fernando Torres did to him that day. Once Barca score the first goal, Man Utd’s game plan is shot.

Midfield – where games are won and lost – is no contest. Barca have Iniesta and Xavi while Man Utd are upset that Darren Fletcher is suspended. Darren. Fletcher. An underrated player for sure, but he wouldn’t get anywhere near this Barcelona midfield.

A problem the Utd midfielders might literally have today. Who’s going to close down the Barça possession machine in midfield? Michael Carrick’s a tidy ballplayer, but he doesn’t have anything like the defensive bite to go after Xavi and/or Iniesta and stop them pulling the strings. No one on this Man Utd team has had that since Roy Keane.

Last but not least, Barcelona deserve to win this trophy. Not just because Man Utd are sponsored by AIG and Barcelona carry the UNICEF logo, but because Man Utd have been ruthless and efficient this season while Barça have played the sort of football we all dream about watching. If there’s any justice in the world, Barça will be lifting that trophy later tonight.

Remember, we’re only taking sides for the sake of argument above. The intention is just to start a discussion. We’ll have a non-biased Champions League Final LiveBlog later today.