Debate: Did Sir Alex Ferguson get his tactics wrong?

 

Kaveh Solhekol

It is difficult to question the tactics of a manager who has won more than thirty trophies, but it looks like Sir Alex Ferguson got it all wrong in Rome last night.

Chelsea – and United in the past - have proved that the best way to play against Barcelona is to be physical and strong. Give Barcelona time and space and they will destroy you.

For some reason, Ferguson decided to try and play Barcelona at their own game in the Stadio Olimpico and United’s fate was sealed when Samuel Eto’o scored after only ten minutes.

To make matters worse, Ferguson gambled at half time by bringing on Carlos Tevez, switching his formation and making the game even more open.

United did not turn up last night. They did not compete. There was no passion. There was no fire. There was no spark.

Ferguson does not owe United anything but if he had taken Barcelona more seriously last night the result could have been very different.

What do you think? Whatever you want to get off your chest regarding the Champions League final, this is the perfect platform to do so.

Comments

[peter]

SAF played the wrong guy in the middle. GIGGS was the cause of the first goal. Giggs is a poor man to mark down Barcelona's midfield and the ball was allowed to drift to Eto. Giggs was too slow. You cant have Ronney running all the time back to defend. His job was to mark Messi which he did but Giggs failed to mark his man and this exposed Evra.

After the first goal, looked as if Manunited went to sleep. I too got bored in Singapore.

When I saw Giggs name up there, I knew big trouble ahead. He shoudl have moved Evra up to take Giggs position and have Oshea back to leftback and Rafael to the right back. Barcelona kept attacking Manunited left flank where Giggs was positioned.

[John]

Sir Alex had the grace to say, in a post-match interview, albeit almost under his breath, that Barcelona were the better team. The fact is that they completely outclassed United in every department: attack, possession and defence. Barca's smooth, sophisticated passing game was a wonder to behold. We don't see Barca's type of quality in the Premier League, which it must now be admitted is the poor relation compared to Spain's La Liga. Spain currently have by far the best club team in Europe, and the best national team.

I have never seen English football played at the level Barca displayed tonight, and I doubt that I ever will.

[Mr.T]

This was a game/year for barcelona. Xavi and Iniesta are too much...nothing on the ManU side can compare to those 2. No matter they type of play, at the end the result would've been the same: Barcelona new Champion.

[sdh]

United dominated the opening 10 minutes of the game. Had one of their nine shots on goal in that time gone in, everyone would be writing different headlines.

I think that ManUtd's game plan was to score early and then play prevent -- brilliant play by Iniesta and a lucky bounce for Eto'o foiled that plan. ManUtd had many more chances throughout the game, however they were not as good with their passing as Barça was (several off-side calls), nor were they able to find an answer for Xavi and Iniesta who dominated the midfield.

Had United played more of a prevent style of game, like Chelsea, they might have had even less of a chance to win than they did (like Chelsea). While United have been plucky all season, they have looked more tentative when coming back from behind than in previous seasons.

[John Letham]

From a neutral's perspective the game was strange & terrific. Strange that United after ten minutes stopped innovating and when they lost that first goal Barca always looked like they would score again. Now where was Anderson who with Fletcher had been a hero in earlier rounds. Missing!
For me Ronaldo and Rooney should have switched wings all night looking to prise something from Puyol. But I have to say in the end old Puyol was the Man of the Match.

[name]

Man Utd were robbed in not being able to field Howard Webb

I demand a rematch.

[Francisco Adelantado]

I’m very glad for our third Champions: I am from Barcelona and a Barça’s supporter. Of course they have deserved it, not just for this match; but it would not be at all fair to criticize Manchester and Alex Ferguson: do not forget that luck also plays, and they have been finalists, can you ask them more this season?

[Francisco Adelantado]

I agree of course

[Popey]

Fergie got it wrong. Ronaldo can play the lone striker but it's not where he's at his explosive best, running down the channels and picking up the ball in midfield. Fergie's decision to play Anderson, Park and Giggs was seriously flawed. They lost the game as a result of this. Against Iniesta and Xavi they weren't in the same league and Giggs was invisible while Anderson, as he so often does, chased shadows. This midfield was not their best, so why did Fergie pick them? Scholes is the only Utd central midfielder who can go toe-to-toe with Xavi and Iniesta. Why was a man of such technical ability only allowed barely 15 mins. Note how when he came on he had more touches of the ball than Giggs, Park and Anderson combined. He also roughed up their midfield a bit which is what you have to do. remember Barcelona's whining after Chelsea beat them up? I'm frustrated, Utd had the team to take them on. They just put out the wrong 1st 11 with the wrong tactics!

[sn]

I found the tactics baffling last night. As you say, where was the physicality and the closing down? Most of all though, when you are getting destroyed by the Barca midfield, why make changes that weaken your own midfield? It may work against Spurs etc to just bring on more strikers, but it was suicide against a team that rips teams apart through their stunning midfield duo. Man U had more than enough to get back into the game as they were first set up. Change Anderson for Scholes if you like, or Tevez for Park. A two man midfield on the other hand is just asking for trouble. Strikers score goals, but they still need the ball - they had no chance for proper sustained service in the second half.

[Frankie]

I think it was partly tactics, but unfortunately it was also a test of mental toughness, which United failed. Before the goal, United found each other with panache. After the goal, they seemed to go to pieces mentally. Why? United's passing was shocking. Chelsea passed the ball against Barcelona much, much, better. It was so disappointing.

[Gavin]

Giggs starting...I think SAF got swept up in his 'sympathy' Player of the year trophy. What happened to playing European style football as well? they should have stifled the game, made Barca work harder, they tried to go toe2toe and got beaten. Blame has to go to the manager!

[Rich]

The Wizard of Old Trafford was outcoached by the young Spaniard. Hats off to Barca as Man U played without any magic.

[Colin]

So if they didn't show up didn't compete and had no spark, isn't that the fault of the 11 or 14 on the park rather than the boss. And Scholes showed plenty of spark when he came on.

[Ian]

Sad to say but SAF did get it wrong last night. No "minder" in midfield... No penatration in attack. Giggs was totally ineffective and should have been off well before he missed straight after Barca scored their second. SAF must also be questioning the value of Berbatov. He missed with a free header.
Yes the defence were poor... but defence is not only the back four.
Did SAF allow emotions play a part with the playing of Giggs and Scholes?

[Alex]

I think it's a damn shame Liverpool weren't in this final. We would have given Barcelona a run for their money.

They only managed 2-0 on neutral ground, we managed 4-1 at Old Trafford.

Haha!

[Vincent]

The problem was that Man U does not have world class midfielders with creative ability. Both defence and attack is world class, forget what happened last night. Who in the Man U midfield is in the class of Gerald, Lampard, Arshavin or Essien. He has to get creative midfielders, not just depend on Rooney and Ronaldo to bail them out.

[Richard]

The biggest tragedy of all this year is that Hiddink didn't get to lead his team aginst ManU. Under him Chelsea flogged both Liverpool and Arsenal on their home grounds and Barcelona took three hours (as distinct from 10 minutes against United) to score against the Blues. That is because Hiddink (say what yu like about Chelsea's approach against Barca) got his tactics right. Last night Fergie did not. Rooney should have been at the centre of attack to physically upset Barca's second choice centre half pairing with Ronaldo asked to take on Puyol with his pace down the left. Scholes should have started in order to bite some legs early in the Barca midfield, particularly with Fletcher out. But having said that - to anyone who reckons this is the best United team ever - and I know a few who do - you must be dreaming - Park Ji Sung? O'Shea? Carrick? Anderson? Give me a break. They had the easy run to the final with Arsenal, Porto and Villareal on their side of the quarter final draw, whereas any of Liverpool, Chelsea or Barca would probably have beaten United last night.

[xen galinas]

i do not understand alex, he beat them last year with the right tactics, he saw chelsea do the same thing this year only to be robbed by platini's referee; so why did he play into barcas game and lost?

[Tony Pereira]

Lets be fair. Against Arsenal which is a similar passing team, these tactics worked well. No, good players adapt. For some reason United just did not turn up last night. No major inquisitions required. They lost to a class team. After the way Barcelona beat Chelsea (clear Chelsea penalty not given and a 93rd minute goal), it was destiny. United probably paid them too much respect but who would not ?

[FootballReviewer]

Rooney was barcelona's best player.
Every time a good attacking situation emerged he turned back ran towards his own goal and played a pass to his centre backs. Where was the adventure - the aggressive direct play of Euro 96 Rooney. - if eto can cut inside and score, why was rooney so predicatble in his every move?

[Boujemaa]

I think that sir Alex Ferguson did not expect that Barcelona would play from the very beginning with different tactics that Barca used to adopt. it is clear that Carlos Poyol did much in the back and he succeded to weaken to movement of Ronaldo.The absence of Daniel Alves played its part in this match; Alves is used to play back and front but today Guardula was smarter in keeping poyol back. if Barcelona played with its usual tactics, i think the direction of the match would not be like it was.

[David Hunt]

Yes, obviously. Why he did not not play in the same way that won them the semi-final last year is a mystery to me. They allowed Barca way too much time on the ball....did not crowd them or close them down quickly enough, plus Rooney was wasted out on the left. You must play to your strengths......oddly, United did not.
It was baffling. They desperately need an Iniesta type player to run the midfield, as Scholes and Giggs are coming to the end of their careers.Fletcher & Hargreaves are missed in these situations at least from a defensive point of view.

[John Tring]

Yes, definitely the old man effed up big time.Park and Anderson are just below average players, fit for lower level clubs. Yet, SAF put them in ahead of Tevez and Scholes. Barca doesn't like to attacked and defence is shaky. Instead, SAF went himself with defensive formation. He lost the match before it started. New blood please. Look what a new guy can do. Looka at Barca. Cantona at UTD anyone? And now., now.

[BrakeMan]

SAF did get his tactics wrong, Tevez was a better option than Park or Giggs. Barca players had acres of space to operate in. It appeared that ManU thought that they just needed to show up to win and had no plan B when Messi showed up playing in the center of attack. Vidic and Rooney were shockingly poor - really hopeless.

[Raj]

Why didnt we start with scholes! he was the only person that was able to string a pass straight to a player in white more than 5 yards away!

[CD]

Got to agree, the team sheet looked good but they did not play as an unit, unable to retain possession and so unable to feed Ronaldo who got frustrated as he deserved better. He got a yellow for a tackle on the edge of Utd box! What was he doing there as a centre forward? He and Rooney should have been a well provided for strike force, fed from a solid mid-field supported by a stubborn defence. Don't know who was wearing the whire shirts last night but it was not The Reds.

[Joop]

Fergie is good , but he is not a tactical mastermind like Guus

[Michael Cassidy]

I am a Man Utd fan and was very disappointed with their display. But, at times you have to hold your hands up and say that the opposition deserved to win - tactics or no tactics. Barcelona deserved it.

[Hilton Abraham]

Man Utd were outclassed plain and simple, I don't think they could have done anything last night to beat a well organised and talented Barca.

[Peter Frost]

Barca shut out Rooney and Ronaldo and Carrick. I feel they should have played Berba with Rooney and Ronaldo switching and raiding as only they can do. United looked static and short of creativity. All credit to Barca and Messi's goal was wonderful

[Bob Sharp]

Well,yes. For one thing, he didn't start raving and ranting at the fourth official.

[Jose]

Guardiola did get his tactics right.
Ferguson is not guilty , Ferguson was "killed" by a young new brilliant football brain.
One million matches , one million times being defeated by Barcelona.
Barcelona is the best ever team in the world and will remain in that place for a long time.
Poor Sir Alex, is not guilty..., he is getting old, treat him well!

[Stevie Canto]

Yes.
Ronaldo looked dangerous for the first 10 mins but his central role ended up throwing the attack off balance. Everytime he got the ball, his intention seemed to be to prove a point to Real Madrid and it was head down and shoot on sight. So the necessary passing, movement and variation (compare him to Messi) were absent. Messi was also much more intelligent in how he dropped off the front.

But the real tactical battle was won and lost in midfield where Barca not only retained the ball better, but were more flexible. Carrick, Anderson and later Giggs were constantly outnumbered and harried by Barca's imperious trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. When Utd had the ball, Busquets dropped back as a third centre back and the fullbacks pushed up to maintain the numerical superiority.

Utd missed Fletcher, but they had to at least put more presence in midfield to combat Barca's dominance. Perhaps Scholes could have started instead of Park or even Park himself could have sat in with Carrick & Anderson (he's played like this for S Korea - under Hiddink, I think). Or alternatively, one of the centre backs should have stepped up and given more of a passing option when Utd had the ball. Overall, Utd needed more flexibility.

In the 2nd half, when Ferguson 'gambled' in his own words, he actually compounded the problem. He did not address the numerical issue and left Giggs and Carrick to deal with Barca's Holy Trinity (yes, I'm alluding to Ball, Kendall and Harvey). Well, they were overrun and it was game over at that point. Cue histrionics from Ronaldo.

Ferguson is a great manager, but for all the injury problems Barca had, it was Guardiola who showed greater tactical intelligence. Against teams who thrive on possession, it is crucial to match them numerically - it was a lesson Bobby Robson and Terry Venables learnt playing against continental opposition. What is surprising is that someone of Ferguson's experience did not recognise this.

Congrats and VISCA BARCA!

[mike draper]

All in the head I think! I had just watched Andy Murray that day come from a losing position to ascend great heights to win. Maybe M.U. thought they were the best before kick off? A sure recipe for defeat. Barcelona philosophy superior: Beautiful Game v Winning is what matters. If no one understands what Wenger is trying to achieve at Arsenal just watch this game!

[Marcia]

It wasn't a surprise, who have United beaten this season?
Barca midfield is miles better. Vidic had another stinker.
Chelsea or Liverpool could have beaten Barca though, and Chelsea already did!

[Horamite]

Tactics maybe, team selection maybe, but United as whole had an off night, yes all of them after the first 10 minutes. Some out of their depth, ineffective on the big occasion and against such great opponents. Well done Barca.

[tivu100]

SAF is the one to blame for the dedeat. LLok at what man he put him the starting line up: giggs( worst: ca'nt do tackle, passing, moving), park (he supposed to help Ronaldo on the attacking side); and to put half the numbers of players out of their positions are worse than anything: Ronaldo ( should be play wide to get more space), rooney (disappeared on the wing while he is supposed the real forward on united side,berbatov or Tevez (I suppose Berbatov for his ability of controlling the ball) on the bench while the need of a sole striker not a old giggs.

[John]

Forget tactics, they were totally outplayed by a better team.

[Sid Hughes]

He got the team selection wrong. I bet you that the formation Barcelona were dreading seeing was a 4-4-2 with Tevez and Rooney up front and Ronaldo on the wing. Giggs should never have started—a decision tainted with nostalgia and romance. I agree with one writer’s observation that United gave the impression that all they had to do was turn up and the trophy was theirs. And perhaps it was this arrogance that truly did for them. Ronaldo of course as nauseating as ever. Bob Paisley is still the King of Rome and the British King of this competition. Remember him now

[Deano]

Playing Rooney on the wing never seems a bad sacrifice if United are effective but when the tactic is ineffectual, as it obviously was last night, questions are bound to be asked. I was not surprised by the introduction of Tevez at the start of the second half but I was a little surprised that it was Anderson coming off, not Park. Confirmed by the amount of space and time Barca had in mid-field after that it seemed an error to remove the more central enforcer. Park for Tevez would have retained the shape of the team better IMHO. But there again what do I know? I'm hardly going to criticise probably the greatest club manager of modern, if not all, time for losing one game! They'll be back next year hungrier than ever!

[carlossantos]

I really agree there was no passion
especially from Rooney,Giggs they were dead.They did not turn up and rely a lot on ronaldo to do everything.Ronaldo on the wing would be bette.r Rooney should be subbed.Berbatov? A joke.

[Joe]

Barcelona taught Man Utd a football lesson and in doing so brought out the worst in the opponents who couldn't lose without resorting to vicious fouls to disgrace the good name of English football. Even the 'diver' had to throw in the elbow and a rash two footed tackle on the Barcelona captain. Maybe this was a signal that he has decided against playing in Spain after all. If Ronaldo spent as much time concentrating on his play as he does watching his own image on the TV Display maybe Man Utd would have stood a better chance. Why is it that the TV cameramen concentrate so much on his image throughout important games ? No wonder he is so narcissistic and because of it is so ineffective.

[IK]

Well, am only happy that Henry got it at last. As for the tactics, it could only work against an English oposition. That is, Anderson hustling Fabrigas up and down. But on a night like this, Schooles should have started, so he could deliver the right passes to Rooney and Ron. Giggs had no bussiness being there in the first half.

[Macca-cracker]

United were awful last night. It was one of the greatest British sporting disappointments of recent years. Barca weren't that great, United were simply terrible. Anderson, Carrick and Vidic had their worst games in a Utd shirt with misplaced passes at every turn. They all looked tired and jaded, there was no zip at all. They didn't seem that bothered they could make history, well they have now, with the worst British performance in a major sporting final. Well done!

[albert Boada]

As you pointed out, discussing Alex Ferguson tactics is a bit over the top...
In my opinion, the game had 3 tactical keys:
#1 ManU midfield seemed to be neither strong nor aggressive enough to neutralize the Barcelona creation and possession.

#2 Barcelona took successfully the risk to reduce ManU speed playing skillfully off-side tactics. Besides, Barcelona possession was solid and annoying for the other team as always. Denying ManU the ball was a good way to reduce their chances.

#3 ManU offensive power only seemed to be Ronaldo. Rooney was too far the Barcelona box to contribute effectively.

However, if ManU had scored in the first 10 minutes, maybe the game outcome could had been very different..

[Subba]

No matter how good your tactics are, if your players don't perform then it amounts to nothing. So forget the tactics, the players are to blame more than anything. They were simply awful in all departments, defence, midfield and attack. Barca showed more drive, more passion, played the better football and are by far the deserved champions. End of...

[Pedzisai]

Utd just didn't turn up. Maybe Fergie got it wrong on Park, even as they started strongly he couldn't keep up with the pace of his team mates. Trace first goal & it goes to him losing possession when Utd were in a good move to goal.

[altman]

probably without Fletcher, and in my opinion he is anyway a sub for Hargreaves, he had no choice but to attack.

[jose serzedelo]

Unfair to blame this extraordinary display of poor football on the coach.
You don't win a major cup final without lots of passion, lots of sacrifice and some luck.
Barcelona had it all, United had none

[Geoff]

He played carrick! enough said....

[Jim]

Who cares? Bottom line is that Liverpool remain on their "****ing perch" and Fergie is back to the drawing board. Paisley remains ahead of him. Man U lose all round.
And next year Liverpool will win the EPL and retake the lead in that race.
Great night to be a Red (just a reminder: Barca was founded by old boys of a Liverpool school - we share their triumph!).

[Tom Addison]

For me a major problem was our dependence on Carrick, who didn't perform the duties of a defensive midfielder to the required standard. Just look at the ease with which Iniesta could skip through our midfield.

Essien, Lampard and Ballack, yes, they can cope with Barca, but Carrick, Giggs and Anderson? How I shall rue the injury of Hargreaves and suspension of Fletcher for a long time to come.

I'm not sure tactics were our main failing last night though, my frustration came from our inability to execute the simplest of passes, which prevented any sort of chances from solid build-up play being created.

[Steve]

Jim, please be serious why on earth would you have to claim to share another teams triumph surely you should focus on the 3 years you have now gone winning nothing. Liverpool fans need to stop living in the past and start making history....and not by living on past glories. You didnt we the prem you didnt win anything jsut remember that.

On the night a better team won, humble enough to acknowledge that but mark my words we will be back. In Fergie we trust

MU4Life

[barry murtagh]

When all the hype is over it is quite clear united shouldnt have been near that final. they had the easiest run to a european cup final in history, where as anyone on the other half of the draw could have won it. if utd had been in the other half of the draw they probably wouldnt have made it passed the quarters.

[robert john]

Fergie got it wrong.United needed a fighting midfield and lacked it allowing Barca to take control of the midfield and the match.Tevez should've started out instead of Park and Ronaldo should've been on the wing where his speed would've got him behind Barca's defence line and his passes into the box would've caused chaos.Rooney with his strength and ability to bulldoze his way through defenders,should've been in the middle.Scholes should've also started in the first half,where his battling style would've hurt Barca more.United have lost big matches when their midfield has fought for possession up the field and has allowed the opposition to take control of the midfield and the game.

[Lazaro]

Fergusson gave the middlefield as a present - suicidal; Parks it's just a marketing product to expand M.U to Asia, weak for a final, a truly bad joke. Ronaldo was left alone by Rooney, absolutly out of place (again Fergie), and you can say what you want, but was the only one who showed up there. Giggs shouldn't play from the beginning, and MU should have played in a block with players with ability to move the ball at one single touch and triangle (Tevez-Ronaldo-Rooney) and someone to serve them -Scholes. But to open the field and separate lines to Barcelona it's suicidal. Anyway...usually Manchester, Liverpool, and english teams in general, they have "that couple of things into the pants" ...that wasn't on the green yesterday. // Messi played with 10 players in a great night, Ronaldo played with?

possesion was the key
see you all

[Christian Scheunig]

I didn't feel quite comfortable with Anderson and Park being in the starting eleven. Especially Park's performance was very disappointing, he's just not good enough for such a high level.
Perhaps Scholes (because of his experience) and Nani should have started, replacing Anderson and Park.
Utd seemed to think they could win the trophy by just showing up, they lacked the will to fight and just be aggressive, letting Barca do what they wanted to. Chelsea had showed them how to deal with Barca.

If the only thing bruised is your ego, you didn't play hard enough!

So long from GERMANY!

[jonovarc]

Ferguson is maybe the greatest ever manager, but when the crunch comes in Europe he always gets it wrong.

He got it wrong against both Bayern and Chelsea and got lucky on both occasions. He also got it wrong against Milan in the semi 2 years ago.

Last night, Giggs and Park should not have started, instead replaced by Tevez and Scholes.

Rooney should have played more centrally.

This may all sound like hindsight but I was saying all this in the lead up to the final. My friends and I knew that Ferguson would get it wrong.

Barca were very good, but not great as people are saying. They were very very lucky to be in the final having been totally out-thought buy Chelsea.

I agree with an earlier poster that if one of the early chances had gone in then Man U would probably have won.

Still it cant be denied that the prettiest team to watch won a well deserved victory.

[norm]

he should have switched ronaldo to the wing after it became clear rooney and park were getting nowhere. but the problem was that the Utd players seemed to accept defeat after they went 1-0 down. it was quite shocking to see their heads go down like that so early on. it gave barca confidence, i don't think i saw a misplaced pass from them for 80 mins - men against supermen?

[Red Or Dead]

This just confirmed that the mancs are a truly average team that can turn up at some of England's worst teams during winter and grind out lucky 1-0 wins hence the Prem.

However, put a team that can play a bit - Barca last night, Liverpool in March then they are shown up for what they are - average, lucky and treated with kid gloves by the English refs.

[Jim]

I think u underestimate Sir Alex: like Chuck Norris he never makes mistakes, he's just able to see a larger reality than the rest of us.
I never thought poor old Fergie would take his hate for Real to such a level. That's fanatism for you XD XD XD XD.

[Alan Morrison]

Couldn't believe the inclusion of Park in the starting lineup last night. He's only there to sell shirts in South Korea and I would have thought South Korea would have been sleeping whilst the match was on.

[jonathan cope]

"Red or Dead" - do you genuinely believe that United are a truly average team? How can you explain that they have won the Premiership three times, and the European Cup once, in the last three years? Wouldn't it be more accurate to describe Liverpool, who have won absolutely nothing in the same period, as truly average?

[mansid]

ManU did not turn up, and none of their big players performed. Barca were far superior and tottaly outclassed them on the night. I have said it for a long time time that Iniesta is the best midfielder in Europe at the moment...and that includes Gerrard, Lampard etc.

Messi is a total team player unlike Ronaldo who thought it was a one man band in the first 10 mins.

[Bordeauxred]

Yes of course he did! Unfortunately the media are too scared of him to print it in their papers by their established journos ( no offense) so hence a blog discussion.
Wenger & Benitez were slated when they lost in Chmps league finals so now its Fergie's turn. he was wrong even Ronaldo commented upon it.

[HugoC]

SAF couldn't have started Ronaldo on the wing because he doesn't defend and that would mean having Messi one on one with Evra the whole game (given that there's no Essien to help). He did it later when chances had to be taken. So, on paper, Rooney and Park where sound (and they did that well). United's problem, apart from defensive mistakes on both goals – allowing a striker of Europe's most prolific team to go one on one against the last defender inside the penalty area and a free header by one of the shortest players on the pitch – was a static midfield. Barcelona manage to move the ball like that because their players mostly run when they don't have it, not when they are carrying it. United's simply kicked it for Rooney or Ronaldo to chase it. Handing possession to those opponents was suicide.

[artan, albania]

ferguson lost all tactic he used
may be fergy didn`t watch the match betwen chelsea-barca
he would`be in stanford bridge , to see how can beat barca not playing golf
may be he is tired from football and its time to rest

[Mark]

I think Fergie thought his midfield was a lot better than it actually is last night.
Against the other top teams (Barca and Inter in Europe, the top four in the league) They have been distinctively average.
I think a large part of their Premiership and Carling Cup success is that Ronaldo (unlike any other top player) is absolutely devastating against smaller teams.

[Sarah]

It was a shameful display of football....Man U were still in the hotel not one of them turned up with any passion to play. One question who is Carrick? He should hang his head in shame at his display last night played the long ball all night to no-one and spent the other 88 mins hiding and turning his back on the ball. Iniesta showed him how you actually play in midfield. I for one being from Manchester actually enjoyed the game Barca just outclassed them and played with passion!.....roll on next season!

[Oliver]

Does anybody know what Ferguson's best 11 is?

All the rotation and adulation from the media has obscured the weaknesses in this Manchester United side.

1. Giggs and Scholes are past it. I'll bet Giggs ran the least last night.

2. Carrick is not outstanding at any one thing. He's not a great tackler, he doesn't cover much ground, and while his long-range passing is decent, look at the number of assists and goals he actually gets per season compared to Fabregas, Alonso, or Lampard and you see he's not all that.

3. Manchester United do not have a proven centre-forward who scores goals. Rooney is a fantastic player but his actual goalscoring record is average. Berbatov neither. Tevez ditto.

4. How can such a big team not have an experienced right-back at the top of his game?

Ferguson's best lineup is probably (4-4-2):

EVDS, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.

Look at that lineup and you see why Man United are very much overrated and the rotation covers the cracks.

[Angelo, Bari (Italia)]

As Italian I am happy Barcelona won, we have more or less the same football concept. From these few considerations bounced back to us, it's evident that English football has always been stuck with physical football (which is the real English football, the one played one step downstairs by all teams after the Great Prem 4 and from the First Division downwards) and the Great 4 are not so English at all (packed with skilled foreigners, the best English players regulars at Capello's, and mostly foreign coaches...actually, Fergie is a Scotman, for truth sake). Yesterday the only way to win against the Barcelona hypnotizing ball possession, network of passes and game control was to operate catenaccio and quick counterattacks. Chelsea almost managed to this way.
In the end was a nice final, much better than the Moscow one.
Congratulations to Barcelona and Guardiola (he honoured Italy and Maldini by dedicating the victory to him).
Little negative remarks to all the English people claiming the final should have been removed from Rome: see the positive side, you lost the Cup but you had the chance to see the Eternal City.
It seems the organization was perfect, no major troubles (yes, someone was stabbed, we read that, but tell me how many Italians are pickpocketed in London every year during holidays, or being punched by English drunkards or involved in anti-Italian hunting: wrongdoers are everywhere!).
Next final in Madrid with Barcelona holders. I bet a Madridista would pay billions to see Real-Barca as a final to grasp the Cup away from the Catalan hands! That is a nice theme for next campaign.
However, hoping the Italian sides will improve, we have lost our momentum but no earlier than 2 years ago one Italian team was rising the Cup (though the wrong one to my eyes).

All good!

[Paul Manning]

Ferguson was once again exposed at the top level in Europe with poor tactics. The tactics he is able to utilise in the premier league of simply steamrollering a succession of patsies with £30m+ forwards, simply does not work at the top level.

This was highlighted when instead of trying to stem the flow of the Barcelona midfield at half time, he opened the game up further by hoping that Tevez's hard running would unsettle the barca back line.

Meanwhile, in the middle Xavi,Iniesta and Messi pottered around passing united to death.

Barca are a great side, made to look even better by Man Untd last night and i agree with someone else here, United had the easy half of the draw involving the 3 lowest rated sides left in the competition:- Porto, Arsenal and Villareal.

So i suppose Barca had better form going into the final.

[tom doyle]

did ferguson get his tactics wrong? as churchill would say Oh yes! being the longest serving manager with the richest club does not equate to being the greatest manager. that title undoubtedly belongs to Sir Bob Paisley

[Tom]

As a United fan, I wanted United to go for it because I believed we had the players to take Barca on at their own game and come out on top. Hindsight would seem to suggest that I (and Fergie) was wrong about that. Having said that, if Park or Ronaldo had taken their chances in the first 10 minutes, and Vidic hadn't switched off for their first goal it could have been very different. Utd's inability to recover from the sucker punch was worrying though. And yes, Rooney should be played as a classical number 10.

[Andy]

United were outplayed in the first half as Liverpool had been in Istanbul. Liverpool had started with Kewell in order to get at the Milan back line and it back fired. At half time Rafa put on Didi to cut off the supply from midfield, where Kaka was doing all the damage. Fergie put on a forward, Tevez, and opened the game more for Xavi and Iniesta. Probably arrogance, but certainly not smart

[3 times Paisley]

Lets have an end to all this nonsense about Man Utd being a free-flowing attacking team. Against the Wigans, Hulls etc maybe but against the big teams Mr Ferguson goes into defence mode. £90m worth of strikers and last nite he starts none of them up front. He was more concerned with having Rooney and Park as extra fullbacks to stiffle Barca rather than putting his best team out.

Money can't buy class! FACT

[Dan]

United should have started game with tevez up front as out-and-out striker, rooney playing off him but dropping deeper into midfield when required, flanked by ji-sung park on the right, ronaldo on the left, with scholes and carrick providing a narrow midfield. with that system they would probably have won the game as it would've been strong both attacking-wise and defensively.

[Bryan McGrath]

Come back Carlos Queiroz, all is forgiven. Ferguson admits he is a "dinosaur" last night he proved it.

For the life of me I do not understand why Anderson is playing, he certainly should not be playing in a defensive role.

Berbatov was brought in to be lead striker, with Rooney in support striker role. It has not been done very often at all. Using Ronald as a lone striker is a valid tactic; it worked against Porto; it worked against Arsenal; it worked against
Barcelona (for ten minutes). Time to go to plan B, that is where Queiroz would have come in.

[Dutch Dude]

When it comes to Ferguson I always must smile. Great manager? Well, give me the MUFC helm for 24 years, and I'd have won more then 30 trophies given the budget you people have in the Premier League nowadays. Obviously Chelsea showed how to deal with Barça, so as a football and Liverpool fan, I'm very happy with the outcome of yesterday's match and hope Ferguson will stay at Manchester forever.

[Chris Smith]

Lacking a tackler in midfield. With hargreaves and fletcher gone it was always going to be the case though, none of the youth team that played hull would suffice in this role either.

[kathy]

not a man u fan but serious jealousy out there. poor ferguson. the team, not him, didnt play.the villification of him is over the top. most of the comments r from delighted liverpool fans- won one decent game and think they are kings of the heap.they are never fighting for trophies so never as tired late in season as the successful clubs. and by the way, the fa should fine benitez for inciting hatred between 2 clubs. he is irresponsible and ignorant. as he likes facts so much,can he show me where SAF had such a go at him in the press. odious little man.

[Michael]

Van de Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Ronaldo, Anderson, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov.

fight fire with fire!

[Mobo]

Defeat wasnt down to tactics, it was individual errors from the players. Ok Millhouse?

[michael spice]

hmm.. im surprised by so many people saying that man-u are overrated. the thing is, they looked like they were going to win for the first ten minutes, and then when barca scored against the run of play, they collapsed. i found that so surprising, you'd expect man-u to go mental trying to get the ball and upping the tempo, but it just didn't happen. they slowed down and gave barcalona space to play... why? unbelievably stupid. it was quite a disappointing final really, because united played nowhere near their potential, they didn't play to their strengths, they didn't even play like it was a final. i think alex made some mistakes tactically of course. i dont really know what he was expecting giggs to do in midfield, that was crazy and the double mistake of losing him as a sub... but whatever, i just couldn't believe united didn't go for it a bit more.

despite barca doing some neat passing, both the goals were pretty soft. they were limp for the first ten minutes and looked like conceding, i actually reckon united would have easily won if they had scored first, which on another night they probably would have because they don't usually concede soft goals. i was fully expecting man-u to win before teh match and up to the goal. dont get me wrong i love the way barca play, but i dont think it is the most effective, kind of like a kung fu master - very cool to watch but you know chuck norris only needs one punch. they got lucky against chelsea.

arsenal will win everything next year. they will be a kung fu master with indomitable spirit.

[James Philips]

Yes tactic's an he got his line-up wrong, started with 3 wingers an not one playing on wing, one of the world's best centre forwards- Rooney an played him wide? Tevez should of started and Park should of occupied Giggs'- who has one good game against Chelsea and win's awards from one good performance- place in midfield, with Tevez working and closing down a poor defence- as did against Arsenal- and Park closing down wide and central midfield area's the game would of been much tighter. If he alway's knew Anderson was going to start the final he should of played more Premiership games near end of season, Ferdinand hasn't played for a month- an it showed, he put Vidic under pressure for first goal with a 'shoddy' back pass and didn't get near all 5ft 6' of Messi for second goal..? Personally would of prefered Evans as feel Ferdinand wasn't up to it & is hugely over rated- he doesn't head or tackle, what does he actually do..? Berbatov just isn't working as a £30M signing- maybe it's time to admit defeat an move him on? Decide what Ronaldo's doing an either cash in an get new signings(Ribery, Ireland, Valencia, Alonso, Zhirkov & new keeper?)or rebuild team with him in it with few minor tweaks here and there. Also pray Hargreaves come's back fit an like a man possessed. Scholes, Giggs, Neville & VD'Sar need to call it a day, Tevez should be signed up and move Nani & Berbatov on, if Fergie's really ruthless we'll surely see now...

[Animal]

Barca is a team of players with better mentality, and a much higher level of skills to call on. This is not to say that United don't have skilled players, just that they play a much more primitive game in a more average league (outside the top 6 teams or so) where individual and physical play (like Ronaldo's) is highly valued and wins games against teams of less skilled players (WBA anyone?) Barca play a highly-structured system inherited from Cruyff in which everyone must conform, and even a player as skilled as Ronaldinho is shown the door if he won't place the team system and team work above individual indulgence. Ronaldo had 4-5 shots in the first ten, Messi would not have taken some of those shots because there were better options for the team. I doubt that Ronaldo would ever fit in to the Barca team, at least not unless his on-field attitude matures dramatically. It is not really true that United had a Bad Game, it is just that they played against a team that was capable of playing at a tactical and technical level that is beyond them, as Rooney freely admitted. For most of the year, in most games, the (highly expensive) individual and collective class of United's players overcomes cheaper teams of less class, and papers over the fact that they are not playing at the standard of team brilliance that is shown by Barca, and has been shown in the "recent" past by such sublime teams as Ajax (Finidi George,Seedorf,Van der sar etc.) and Milan of the Van Basten/Gullit/Rikjaard era. I think that Fergie knows he was beaten by a team playing much better football, but I'm not sure that he knows how to get his team playing at that same standard, any more than I could build a moon rocket. United are a teriific team for what they are, and good on them for their results, but Barca play Football the way we all should aspire to play it.

[Paul]

Last night showed how important Darren Fletcher is to the team - the midfield had no strength of character without him.

Too many expensive forwards and not enough control in midfield (Hargreaves should also supply that if he recovers fully from injury).

Conspiracy theorists will think Platini did well to get Fletcher sent off in the semis!

[Michael]

RE: Angelo, Bari (Italia)

Hey Angelo, didn't united stuff Roma 7-1

Doesn't make Roma look so good does it!

[Alex]

I heard a lot of enthusiasm for Messi, I don't think he had this great game, he just scored a head goal when United stopped defending. But until the game was open, Ronaldo outperformed Messi. I think that United had to interpret the game as Chelsey did, taking advantage of their tremendous counter-attacks. Having said that I agree with who said that if Eto'o didn't score that early goal in the only occasion they had until that moment, the match could have been very different. However United showed how they are not able to come back against strong teams when they are loosing, it remembered me the game against Milan 2 years ago, when the Milan players gave ball possession lessons to the United squad.
Cheers,
Alex

[Bahrin Kasri]

Fergie got the tactic all wrong. He should have gone for goals when Barca was at the weakest defensively, meaning should have started with Tevez and Berba. Second half MU played better with the introduction of Berba, giving stability in possession. No big deal for the way Barca played, just like Arsenal. But its down to footballing philosophy. Barca concentrated playing the ball in middle third and seem in no hurry to go for goals, whereas MU would go for goal at every oppurtunity. Fergie has always been defensively minded when playing big teams, relying more on counter attack to get goals. But now they have array of strikers and individuals who can retain possesion. If they want to play like Barca, just put Rooney in the middle of the park, where he can run with the ball all day, surely he could do better than Iniesta. Even Messi played in midfield. Surely MU need Berba, should have been brought much earlier, he gave stability in MU possession, giving a better tempo. MU should have concentrated to do with the ball, instead of worrying what Barca would do with the ball. MU got the players to do that, can play as attractive as Barca, but Fergie chose more how to cancel out the way Barca play.

[Lee]

As a Liverpool fan I am glad that the Manchester United brand lost the match, however as an Englishman I am unhappy as it would have been nice for the Champions League to have been won by an English team. But I am not surprised Man. Utd. lost as Ferguson and some of the players (Rooney, Ronaldo etc) had a look that suggested they were the 2008/09 Champions League winners before the game, much like AC Milan at half time in 2005, that infamous arrogance of Man. Utd. being too familar! I am also not surprised as Ferguson got it tactically wrong in 1999 - Giggs, a LW on the RW, Beckham a RW in the centre, Blomqvist, not good enough. The tactic in 1999 before the final was attack with width; they didn't do any real attacking until Sheringham came on, around 65 minutes. So analyse 1999 correctly - Man. Utd. reach the final by winning 5 games (inc. 2 victories against Brondby and 1 against Lodz!), in the final they are outplayed by Bayern who fail to get a second (by hitting the bar twice) which allows Man. Utd. to deflect two shots going wide into the net in injury time. I hate Chelsea but I felt they played better than Man. Utd in the second half (not first) and extra time last year but once again luck (and a soggy pitch) was on the side of Ferguson. Also, why did Ferguson play a forward that cost £26-27m (Rooney) on the left and right but not in the middle yesterday? Why did Ferguson buy a forward for £30.75(Berbatov) and wait for so long to bring him on when losing? Why did Ferguson bring a forward valued by Man. Utd. for £32-34m (Tevez) to the club and not start him? Why did he prefer a winger (Ronaldo) to start ahead of three forwards valued at roughly £90m. All the press seemed to suggest Man. Utd. humiliated Arsenal in the semi-final with a display of men against boys, well last night was a team of men against men but this "was an annihilation" of Man. Utd. by Barca's quarry (Pique, Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi). Also why did Ferguson not praise Guardiola after the match? Benitez was criticised for congratulating Man. Utd. but not Ferguson, but it seems its ok for Ferguson to do the same - last bit is just a bit of juvenile criticism!

[Dan O'Donnell]

A combination of incorrect tactics and poor performances, I don't know where to start. Ultimately Ferguson may have got tactics wrong but some of our players were out-classed last night. Too many "didn't turn up." On a personal note I though our midfield was shocking; we were not tight enough, not clever enough, didn't close down quick enough, were not physical enough and ultimately didn't look like wanting to commit and win challenges in the centre of the park, it is very hard to play against such a sublime midfield as Barcelona's but we should have done better.

Fair play to Barca, better team on the night and deserved winners. I thought Iniesta was absolutely awesome, and Xavi's cross for Messi's goal was incredible. Bring on next season!

[jonnyP]

Kathy (11.33) It doesn't take a great deal of detective work to find when Fergie has attacked Benitez. "Beyond the pale" he described the "insulting and demeaning" gestures he made towards Allardyce.
Fergie is a bully and uses the press well to attack and destabilise rivals. It is no surprise that there is no feud with Wenger now that Arsenal are languishing in 4th place.
It is easy to talk authoritavely in retrospect about incorrect tactics, but if Utd had scored first i think it may have been a different game.
The tactical mistake in my oinion was the inability to change how the team were playing at half time.
Too much space and time won the game for Barca, couled with individual errors.
Frgie ot his tactics wrong in 1999 and 2008, was saved by the wood work and a mislaced pen respectively, but got lucky- not this time.

[Pedro, Liverpool]

I find it very strange that Liverpool supporters are so happy that Manchester United did not win last night. As A Liverpool supporter myself, I could not care less, who won the final...I am a Liverpool supporter, and that`s it.

[NLN]

Let us remember they were gifted the the trophy last year and did not deserve to win it.

Manu are unable to win outside the prem league as SAF has no influence on FA's and refs outside England.

Anyone thought of listening to Rafa

[João André]

I never understand how can people rate Ferguson as a tactician. As a manager, he is probably the best ever. As a conductor of men, maybe only Clough can supplant him. As a strategist, he has basically no peers. As a tactician? No, not at all.

He missed his tactics completely. H should have played a much more compact team in the midfield and defense, waiting for Barcelona in the back, denying space in the last 30 meters and collecting loose balls which should be shuttled fast for Rooney and Ronaldo. Basically, the game that Chelsea played, with the difference that Utd have better players for the counter attack than Chelsea do.

And it's not the first time we see Fergie messing up his tactics. If he didn't have such a fantastic list of players at his disposal, he would never have been successful this season.

PS - anyone think Mourinho would have been outplayed like that?

[Jay, London]

Oh dear Kathy (11.33) you really dont have a clue. You say Benitez should be fined for inciting hatred between the clubs? Sir (!whatever)Ferguson has done a pretty good job of this over the years. Rooney was even guilty of something similar earlier this season, which he can be forgiven for I suppose because when both his brain cells work together he can be a bit of a liability.

To quote Gary Neville "I hate the club, the city, the people".

Odiuos little man....

[Jason Brown]

People forget that Ferguson has a track record of getting tactics wrong in big European games. In that famous game United were very lucky to beat Bayern who had dominated the game and he then played a midfield out of position (Giggs on the right, Blomquist on the left, Beckham in the middle). It really looked as if no one knew what they were doing in the first half. Evra was consistently too far forward which made me think it was a tactic -- adding an extra man in midfield and making a three defense. This, however, left Vidic constantly exposed in the left back position. Anderson, Park and Carrick ended up too close together in the so the team wasn't compact and it was easy to zip round them. Ronaldo was quite right -- bad tactics.

[miles]

When his achievements are corrected against the budget he has managed, SAF has never been anything more than somewhere around average as a manager. Another duffer with a knighthood.

Miles