Top UEFA Champions League finals: Manchester United, Chelsea and more (Part 1)
As another UEFA Champions League final draws closer, let’s take a trip down the memory lane and look at how different teams have etched their name in the history books by playing out some truly memorable European Cup finals over
the past decade or so...
Manchester United versus Chelsea
Sir http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson’s men reached the final of the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League to set up a massive encounter against their domestic rivals Chelsea. The Blues were being managed by Avram Grant at that time due to the mid-season
departure of Jose Mourinho from the London club. After losing out to A.C Milan in the previous season, Manchester United defeated http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 in the semi-finals of the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League in order to secure a spot in the pen-ultimate match of the
European Cup.
United’s standout player for the season had been Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 goals the Portuguese winger was already becoming a part of the record books whereas on the other hand Chelsea defeated http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 in the semi-finals to book
a meeting with the Red Devils. After losing to the Merseyside Reds in the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Grant’s men finally bested the five time European Cup winners at Stamford Bridge and in doing so they faced-off against a Ronaldo inspired
Manchester United side at the Luhzniki stadium in Moscow, Russia.
Ferguson being the master tactician he is sprung a surprise in his starting line up as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Owen-Hargreaves-c28918 started for the Reds in the final as a right sided midfielder rather than a conventional defensive enforcer in the centre of
the park. On the left wing, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736 completed Manchester United’s formidable offensive formation.
Alternatively, Chelsea’s powerhouse midfield boasted the presence of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786
had the psychological edge over their opponents. But Ferguson’s men had no less secured the Premier League title before the UEFA Champions League final as well. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Russia-c2991.
The match kicked off at a ferocious pace in at a typical English Premier League tempo between the two sides. Ferguson’s men soon obtained superiority over Chelsea as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 drew first blood in the match through a Wes
Brown cross. The Portuguese forward rose above http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Essien-c25294 to head the Red Devils in front. However, Frank Lampard equalized thanks to his late run inside the Manchester United penalty area. Both the teams had good chances to seal a win in the normal time
but due to their wasteful finishing, the match progressed into extra time where Didier Drogba was sent off for a slap-like gesture on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nemanja-Vidic-c27550 just at the end of the second period of extra time.
With both the teams deadlocked, penalty shootout was set to decide the next European champion from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Petr-Cech-c29837 dove to his left to give his team a fighting
chance. What was set to be the last spot kick of the shootout, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitalô-c40903 moment and in doing so he mishit his penalty kick. For what happened next is a
part of footballing folklore as Edwin Van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s penalty kick in the sudden death scenario as United were crowned champions of Europe for the third time in their history.
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