european champions 2011...

Eric Abidal lifts the cup as Barca win their 4th European Cup

Sorry for the delay in posting but I’ve been away on some very important business in Las Vegas, which required partying into the wee small hours with a gang of ‘doggs’ and a certain Cesc Fabregas at XS nightclub! What a place...

Anyway enough showing off...as you all know by now Barcelona were crowned European Champions for the fourth time in their illustrious history, when they thumped Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley. Goals coming from Pedro, Villa and their sublime little number 10 Leo Messi. United’s solitary effort came from their number 10 Rooney. As called a few articles back on this very blog it was very much indeed a ‘Number 10 showdown’, with Barca’s fantasista taking the all the glory. I’d like to also point out that I called the 3-1 score line in a room full of drunk witnesses before kick-off.

Barcelona’s class and dominance was so clear that it resembled, at times, a training ground exercise. Something which led to a number of jokes being text around the country minutes after the final whistle. Further humiliation was added to United’s fans when Javier Mascherano gave a post match interview insisting that the win was for the Liverpool fans as well. The ultimate salt in the wound.

Barca ended the night showing why they are ‘mas que un club’ by allowing defender Eric Abidal, who was diagnosed with a liver tumour as recently as March, to lift European footballs greatest prize. Fellow team mates had already stated that their greatest victory this season was seeing Abidal survive his life threatening condition.

The cup win meant Barcelona clinched a tremendous double this season, as they also won la liga – amazingly Pep Guardiola’s ninth title in three seasons at the club. Their fourth European cup win also makes them the fourth most successful side in European Cup history (alongside Bayern Munich and Ajax). The three teams above them are Liverpool (5 wins), AC Milan (7 wins) and arch rivals Real Madrid (9 wins).

Widely touted as one of the greatest club sides ever in the history of football, surely more records will follow...