English side had finished for Chelsea in 2008. Led by their supervisor, Alex Ferguson, and crew captain, Ryan Giggs, the Manchester United workforce then ascended the specially constructed rostrum to gather their runners-up medals from UEFA president Michel Platini and secretary David Taylor. Different dignitaries present included Manchester United chief government David Gill; The Football Affiliation’s president Prince William, and chairman Lord Triesman; Barcelona president Joan Laporta; Juan Carlos I of Spain; Royal Spanish Football Federation president Ángel María Villar; and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. With the victory United increased their win total in the Manchester derby to 60 as compared to City’s 41. Six days later, United faced Sunderland at residence, with United successful thanks to Nemanja Vidić’s objective in the primary minute of second half stoppage time. Regardless of reaching some very good outcomes, including taking four points off metropolis rivals Liverpool in two controversial Merseyside derby video games, Everton’s hopes of European soccer had been let down by a poor run of form on their residence ground, securing simply six wins in comparison with eleven on the street, ending their season in a disappointing tenth. Regardless of dropping the match, Manchester United earned the most cash total from their 2008-09 Champions League marketing campaign, receiving €38.281 million compared to Barcelona’s €30.968 million, on account of their share of the market pool, primarily based on the worth of the tv market in their house nations.
Barcelona’s victory also made Guardiola solely the sixth man to win the competitors as both a participant and a manager, following in the footsteps of Miguel Muñoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff, Carlo Ancelotti and, most recently, Frank Rijkaard, who additionally received the Champions League as Barcelona supervisor. The Barcelona captain promptly held the trophy aloft with accompaniment from the UEFA Champions League Anthem and explosions of golden confetti, before leading his staff on a lap of honour. After saying his intention to go away Manchester United, Tevez criticised Ferguson’s staff selection for the 2009 Champions League last, saying that Ferguson ought to have included him in the beginning line-up, with the rationale that the match was the only closing that Manchester United had misplaced in his time on the club. With ten minutes left until half-time, the Manchester United defence successfully switched off and allowed Touré to dribble unopposed to within 15 yards of their penalty space before slipping the ball out extensive to Puyol, whose low cross was diverted behind by Vidić. Rooney was again performed down the correct wing a number of moments later, but his low cross was diverted behind by Piqué, and the resulting nook got here to nothing. Rooney also took the second nook, which was met by Berbatov, but he put the ball excessive over the crossbar.
Stress high up the pitch from Barcelona kept Manchester United in their very own half, forcing them into trying long balls downfield. A interval of sustained pressure from Barcelona followed, culminating with a run from Iniesta, who could solely be stopped by a foul from Tevez on the edge of the Manchester United penalty area. William Hill reported two bets of around £20,000 positioned on Manchester United, whereas Paddy Power obtained one among £5,500 and Ladbrokes one in all £3,000. Manchester Metropolis had been the one workforce to beat Chelsea within the latter’s report-breaking 2004-05 Premier League season, but in the same season City have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Oldham Athletic, a crew two divisions decrease. On the third try, though, Rooney’s cross evaded the Barcelona defence as Touré kicked at skinny air; nonetheless, it also didn’t find a Manchester United participant in the penalty area, both Ronaldo and Park going shut.
Messi played a via-ball to Puyol on the correct flank, but because the Barcelona captain reached the purpose line, he was fouled by Ronaldo, liverpool shirt who – despite going in two-footed – escaped the referee’s e book. An prolonged spell of Barcelona possession followed, as they strung a collection of around 20 passes collectively, culminating with Puyol making an attempt to clip the ball over the onrushing Van der Sar, who blocked the shot. A left-wing attack from Ronaldo adopted, however after chopping inside, he gave the ball away cheaply. The standard of the groups’ passing remained the primary distinction between them; however, in the 16th minute, Barcelona misplaced the ball and Ryan Giggs sent a protracted ball ahead to Ronaldo. Once the complete Barcelona staff had collected their medals, new liverpool kit Platini made his strategy to the front of the rostrum to current Carles Puyol with the European Champion Clubs’ Cup. Scholes then found Rooney once more on the left wing with a raking ball from deep inside his personal half, but Rooney’s first contact was heavy, allowing Puyol to get back and put the ball out for a nook. Rooney took the corner quick to Tevez, whose cross was just beyond the attain of Berbatov and diverted behind again by Puyol.