Champions League Final - United v Barca

That's the English philosophy right there.

Head to anywhere in continental Europe and watch a back 3 or 5 play and it's a much different case.

 

I thought he was pretty poor in closing down blokes outside the box, Messi was shooting at will early on in the game. Still think he's a good defender but so overrated when people call him one of the best in the world.

 

That appeared to me to be more of a tactic than a habit. All 4 of United's defenders tended to stick back to the edge of the box and let Barcelona run at them. In the end it's not such a bad idea given that most of Barcelona's goals come from players worming their way into the box, rather than shots from outside. Those longer shots don't seem to be a big part of their philosophy, because they always think they can get the ball into a better position.

 

They also had holding midfielders sitting much deeper to break up the passing play of Xavi and Iniesta. Combine that with speed out wide and up front and they had it sorted out better IMO.

 

Carrick was woeful, although that's a bit harsh he was surrounded by even worse. Should cut out the long balls though, didn't hit one good all night. Should sign Alonso tbh.

 

Hargreaves would've been near perfect for the role. Essien and Gatusso probably the only two I'd have in that same spot over him.

Either Carrick sitting deeper or Scholes playing that role and Anderson/Park out of the side would've been better IMO. That said, Ferguson didn't know who was going to line-up for Barcelona, so it's much easier to judge in hindsight.

 

Keita and Busquets were the big mysteries for mine. I wouldn't have been surprised at all to see Keita and Iniesta in the centre of midfield with Xavi just in behind.

The way Henry, Eto'o and Messi set up in attack was surprising as well. Ferguson would've envisioned his back 4 having their hands full with those 3, but in the end Messi played far more centralised and slightly deeper than you could usually expect, so at any given time you could usually spot one of the right or left backs sitting in space marking nobody. Messi was essentially an old fashioned no.10, dropping out of the usual attacking trio and into a diamond midfield. The best way to combat that is with a DM of your own, which United decided to go without.