Congratulations, FC Barcelona: The 2009 UEFA Champions League Champions!

FBL-EUR-C1-FINAL-ESP-ENG-BARCELONA-MANUTD-CUP
Originally uploaded by pedrofpgodinho

A Big GWAP Congratulations goes out to the Spanish Football Club, FC Barcelona, who are the UEFA Champions League winners for 2009!

(They beat Manchester United 2-0.)

In a stunning performance where 86% of their passes connected with members of their own team,  Barcelona effectively clipped the wings of the Manchester United defense tonight.

With Samuel Eto'o's goal in the 10th minute of play and Lionel Messi's goal in the 70th minute...

Manchester United (Man U) just had no answer...

Their forwards tried, they really did, but alas, could not score...

Barcelona completely emasculated them, so much so that they were reduced to playing a defensive game.

It was great to see Carles Puyol, Barcelona's captain for tonight, lift the UEFA Champions League Cup...he did a marvellous job at offering on-field leadership to his troops...this guy (a defensive midfielder) was all over the field...he defended well and effectively passed the ball to his forwards..and nearly scored once.

A big congrats also goes out to Pep Guardiola (Barcelona's manager/coach)... this young man's a live wire and very effective at his job.

Can you imagine him wining his first Champions League Championship after just retiring from playing international football in 2002...beating the stalwart manager/coach, Manchester United''s Sir Alex Ferguson,to it for this year?...what an accomplishment!

Finally, congratulations also go out to UEFA, who fielded an experienced referee in the form of the 40-year old Swiss - Massimo Busacca, for this match..

We want to say to Man U...well played throughout the season, but the better team won, tonight...

We wish you all the best for next year!

Congratulations, again, Barcelona!!!!

(I would like to thank pedrofpgodinho for the use of his Flickrinset photo, above, of Carles Puyol holding up the UEFA Champions League Cup and other members of FC Barcelona, celebrating with him).

Gillian

Sources Include

CVM Television, May 27,2009