New Delhi: The 2011 Champions league is just about two teams. The neutrals and lovers of the beautiful game have got their wish granted as Barcelona take on Manchester United at Wembley on May 28 to claim Europe's biggest prize.
Looking at the strength and weaknesses of both the teams, there is no doubt that Barca are the strongest team on paper, but fortunately for United and rather unfortunately for Barcelona, matches are not won on paper.
Manchester United boss has his task cut out how to stifle Barcelona's attacking power. The likes of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Villa can give any defence a hard time whether it is Rio Ferdinand in the defence or the rock solid Namenja Vidic.
It's next to impossible for any team to go without conceding or keep a clean-sheet in the ninety minutes against the Catalunyas. So the biggest question for United is how to stop them from scoring?
Sir Alex Ferguson here will have to take a leaf out of Jose Mourinho's book if United are to win and lift the Champions League for the fourth time.
He has to do what Inter Milan did to them last year or what Real Madrid did to them in Copa Del Ray and almost did an encore in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. He must kill the game in the middle of the park. It should not matter to spoil the occasion. You just cannot win against Barcelona playing expansive or stylish football. You have to play ugly to win it because that is the only way you can win against them.
What Jose Mourinho did against them in the first leg was ridiculous to watch. Barcelona had no answer to his tactics till that red card happened. No manager on earth could have played for a nil-nil draw at home apart from the 'Special One.'
Though in the end Real Madrid was knocked out but the world know how that happened. Barcelona never won, it was their play acting and referee's rubbish decisions that made them win.
That happened because he knew that is the only way to stop them winning. They must not be allowed to play. They must be stifled, allowed the ball in their own half and then, as soon as Xavi or Andres Iniesta look to break forward, they must be closed down, swarmed around.
With Fergie's experience he must have seen all the videos of how Barca's style and how they have been so predictable. One thing is for sure, they won't be changing their game whether it is the final or not. Ferguson will know that United's playing ugly and changing style is the only game-plan that can be expected to have any chance of success against a team that are being discussed as one of the greatest in history.
If Ferguson attempts to play United's usual game against Barcelona, be rest assured Barca will just outclass them in every department and in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley and millions of fans watching at home they will get the hammering of their life.
Ferguson has the miracle of 1999 — when two injury-time goals against Bayern Munich secured his first Champions League title — to remind himself and his team that no outcome is written in advance and "football, bloody hell" were his immortal words after that unlikely win.
It was May 26, 1999 when "football, bloody hell" became a part of our football lives – the most instantly recognisable quote of his time as Manchester United's manager.
In 2008 Moscow, United emerged triumphant after John Terry's infamous slip saw him hit a post in the penalty shoot-out with the spot-kick and then finally Nicolas Anelka's penalty kick was saved. There is no denying that fortune has played a huge part in both of Fergie's Champions League triumphs.
And surely on May 28, 2011 - Ferguson need lady luck to shine once again on him. If he somehow manages to beat Barcelona in the finals, it could be arguably the greatest of the Scotsman's many achievements.
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