Despair. Confusion. Utter disbelief.
Those three emotions flowed around my shocked body as Barcelona took apart the supposed best team in the world. One year earlier we were crowned Champions of England and Champions of Europe, 5 months earlier we had then been crowned Champions of the World.
Yet there we sat, in my living room with 12 or 13 fans in the red of Manchester United, unsure what to do. 12 months earlier the same 12 or 13 people had stood there. Not stood, more like jumped, with the joy of being European Champions for the third time. There we sat on 27th May 2009 as the English Champions by 4 points but had just been simply outclassed by the Champions of Spain as we looked to become the first team to win the Champions League in two consecutive seasons.
A small kid called Lionel Messi had torn Manchester United apart and Cristiano Ronaldo lay on the floor, knowing it would be his last game in the Red of Manchester United and a fierce rivalry between the two. Yet controlling the game, providing the greatest football of all time with some of the greatest midfield play of all time was a genius by the name of Xavi Hernandez.
via fcbarcelona.com
Quietly sneaking balls through to Messi, dictating play like I have never seen a player and I am not sure I ever will see a player, was Xavi. Yet when told by fans and journalists that he was the best player in Spanish football history, he would consistently agree, telling Graham Hunter that instead it was his midfield partner Andres Iniesta.
Xavi hit Edwin van der Sar’s post with a free kick
Now, some may agree with Xavi and agree that Andres Iniesta is the greatest player in Spanish football history. But with the twinkling UEFA Champions League trophy on my television screen being held by Xavi, as a small boy of just 8 I could not imagine a player doing as he did.
A curled ball to Theirry Henry through three United defenders, three of the best defenders in the World, or maybe a free kick hitting the post. Whatever it was, Xavi looked to me like there was magic in his boots. I’ll never forget that day in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico. Lionel Messi scored, Xavi controlled, created and for me, was simply incredible, was simply the Spanish footballer.
via Getty Images.
Harry Robinson
Manchester United Editor at FansCorner and VAVEL UK.
U7's coach at AFC Southgate.
Latest posts by Harry Robinson (see all)
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