O'Shea: Survived a second half call from Messi for a penalty and was kept on his toes throughout by Henry and Barca's swarming attacks. Watched as Messi ghosted in to score and kill the game off in the second half. 6
Ferdinand: The England defender was never going to miss a match of this magnitude, but failed to produce his best on the night. Allowed Messi to sneak in behind him to put Barca 2-0 ahead. 6
Vidic: One of United's outstanding performers of the season, the Serbian will be bitterly disappointed by how easily he was beaten by Eto'o for Barca's opening goal. Did not look his usual dominating self. 5
Evra: Promised to attack Messi, but very rarely looked like producing anything in Barca's half, such was the defensive shift he had to put in. Partly culpable in losing the ball for Barca's second goal. 5
Anderson: Promised a striptease if he broke his United goal scoring duck, but there was never any danger of that. Early nut-meg on Toure was the Brazilian's only highlight before being substituted at half time. 5
Carrick: Couldn't get back in time to block Eto'o for Barca's opening goal, but produced some spraying passes to create openings for United. Without doubt one of the Premier League's best passers, but was given a masterclass in using the ball by Barca's midfield. 6
Giggs: Started off further forward than expected, almost as a second striker behind Ronaldo, but struggled to make an impact, being guilty of loose passing from time to time. Improved in the second half before being replaced by Scholes as Ferguson tried one last throw of the dice. 6
Park: Might have scored from Ronaldo's rebounded free kick, but denied by a brilliant block by Pique. Typically full-blooded and one player you knew wouldn't tire - even against Barca's brilliant midfield. Ultimately sacrificed as United went in search of an equaliser. 6
Rooney: Struggled to get into the game from the start when playing on the left. Several loose passes were typical of an out of sorts performance to begin with. Switched to the right in the second half and saw much more of the ball, putting in some inviting crosses that United should have made more of. 6
Ronaldo: Looked desperate to prove he is the best player on the planet and forced a save with a 30-yard free kick after less than two minutes. Twice came close after that before the match was 10 minutes old and could have got one back after United went 2-0 down, only to be denied again by Valdes with a brilliant stop. 7
Substitutes
Tevez (for Anderson, 45): His introduction at half time had the desired effect of getting Rooney into the game. But Tevez provided little more attacking threat than Anderson before him. A disappointing end if it proves to be his final performance for United. 6
Berbatov (for Park, 66): The Bulgarian has failed to produce on a consistant basis in his first season at Old Trafford - and given little time to make an impact on this match, it was another uninspiring display. A losing finalist with Bayer Leverkusen previously, he will begin to wonder if he is cursed. 4
Scholes (for Giggs, 75): Coming on with the game as good as lost, it was always going to be a big ask for the veteran to turn things around. His major impact were some typically mis-timed tackles. 5
Unused substitutes: Kuszczak, Rafael, Evans, Nani
Referee
Massimo Busacca: Superb positional sense helped him to get virtually every decision spot on. The Swiss official was never flustered and confident enough to play excellent advantages. Great that the referee, for once, wasn't at the centre of controversy. 8
Agree with the ratings? Have your say.
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Tim1980 (27/05/2009 at 22:18)
John O'Shea did fairly well - aside from being caught dangerously out of position once or twice. Ronaldo and VDS were good, but Evra was shocking. Looks like he's started to believe his own hype in recent months as he's not looked the same player he was since the CC final. Left Eto'o and others far too much space.
Ahh, well. The best team won tonight and we've still had a season most other club's fans would kill for.
UNITED!
Hasan Umair (27/05/2009 at 22:18)
Shaz Leicester (27/05/2009 at 22:26)
Rhodeslad, White Rock British Columbia Canada (27/05/2009 at 22:27)
Giggs, Park, Teves, Carrick, Rooney all sixes, you must be joking.
Giggs ...1 along with Paul Scholes time to call it a day
Park ....2 runs about like a headless chicken
Teves ...3 another headless chicken & for 25 mill let City/scouse have him
Carrick..3 needs to be more consistent
Rooney ..4 can't complain, has been our best forward all year
The rest don't deserve more than a 5, with Berbatov down there with a 1, get rid now, his fancy touches have not won us many games, a 32 mill liability.
Time for a clear out & bring in the kids, let's hope that Hargreaves can come back next season
bobbydazzler (27/05/2009 at 22:35)
oshea 5
rio 6
nv 5
evra6
park2
giggs1
andersen1
carrick 3
rooney 3
ronaldo 6
when the boss gets it wrong he does'nt do it in half measures .
Robbo, N2409, M16 (27/05/2009 at 22:37)
1. Barca are a great team, played well (but not brilliantly) and clearly deserved to win.
2. Our team set-up was a bit mental.
3. Fergie has a dreadful fascination with Ryan Giggs.
4. Scholesy should have started. Unlike the rest of our midfield, he knows how to pass the ball.
5. The first goal was massive.
6. Iniesta floats on water (best player in the world?)
7. Carrick can't move. Or pass under pressure.
8. Our midfield, at the very highest level, is not very good.
9. Let's buy some midfielders in the summer.
10. Our midfield is rubbish.
11. Rooney had a 'mare.
12. Despite all of the above, I still think we're being (slightly) unfairly slaughtered. Fine margins and all that. Scored when we should have, and we may well have won that game.
edinburgh red, edinburgh (27/05/2009 at 22:37)
Would love us for once to play our players in the right positions for a change.
Mark (27/05/2009 at 22:43)
Alias Smith, over the moon (27/05/2009 at 22:49)
red don, norway (27/05/2009 at 22:54)
Robbo, N2409, M16 (27/05/2009 at 23:00)
Robbo, N2409, M16 (27/05/2009 at 23:06)
Discuss.
Alias Smith, over the moon (27/05/2009 at 23:18)
Robbo, N2409, M16 (27/05/2009 at 23:34)
ScotsManc, Scotland (27/05/2009 at 23:50)
VDS deserves his 7 – but for him the scoreline would have looked worse and he was at times badly let down by those in front of him.
O’Shea 5 – no better than average although less disappointing that Vida and Rio – but only because you expect more of them.
Ferdinand 4 – perhaps a lack of match sharpness but every aspect of his game seemed slightly off – particularly his positioning.
Vidic 5 – surprisingly shaky
Evra 5 – caught out of position too often –yes we needed a goal once we were 1 down – but not at the heavy risk of conceding another that his otherwise admirably keenness was causing
Anderson 4 – so anonymous that it was hard to tell who’d be substituted once he was off.
Carrick 0 – that’s being generous. Too ponderous on the ball yet his judgment and passing was woeful. At times it seemed like the only accurate passes he could manage were those heading backwards. Squandered attacking opportunity upon attacking opportunity. The single worst player on the pitch and a performance that he should take absolutely no pride from.
Giggs 4 – another who varied between anonymous and slightly off for most of the match
Park 5 – nothing special but not terribly culpable for the mistakes either.
Rooney 4 – crosses were woeful – ‘attempts’ on goal even worse
Ronaldo 6 – the only one to show any real (why do I feel dirty using that word when discussing him) attacking threat but with the midfield so comprehensively outplayed he couldn’t get the service and opportunities he needed to make a significant difference in such an advanced position
Tevez 3 – the wrong choice for halftime sub. Industrious yes but typically ineffective and inhibitive of the team’s overall attacking play. Would we really miss him? I suspect not.
Berbatov 4 – didn’t have an inspiring game but should have been on earlier – when we needed calm, control and cunning for the second half – we got another headless chicken to join the flock we already had on the pitch – uncharacteristically Berba himself joined their ranks when he came on (but in mitigation, we did hit desperation point very shortly after that).
Scholes 5 – did seem to have a positive effect on the midfield which seemed to become more controlled but rashness unsurprisingly let him down.
Fergie 6 – yes, it’s in the players’ hands once they cross the line but in selection, tactics and substitution, the master seemed a little fallible tonight.
The Ref 7 – by and large very good but didn’t seem to notice or take proper action to check some of the smaller but consistent infringements one or two players were getting away with.
Comparatively, I don’t think you could rate a Barca player below 8 – their incessant harrying of the Utd players whenever they had the ball, their exploiting of the (many) gaps; their positioning, their tactics; their work rate; their hunger; their accuracy; their making Utd look ordinary – they were just very worthy winners.
alan matthews (28/05/2009 at 00:02)
Karl Pilkington, M'm not sure. (28/05/2009 at 00:20)
Harris ex-crumpsallite now sweden, Sweden (28/05/2009 at 00:39)
Xavi and Iniesta on the other hand play well whether or not they are tightly marked.
I think some so called supporters give Carrick a lot of grief,the difference between success and failure of his passing tonight was marginal, but it was plain to see that they were creative.
Red2Core, Columbia,SC USA (28/05/2009 at 00:40)
Cannot see how we can go into this match with the crap lineup we had. within the first few minutes it was clear ManUtd players were either still in Manchester, or they were confused.. it was pathetic.
I am hoping this is a reality check, we have to get rid of the average players (there were many) - Berba, Park, Anderson.. they maybe ok for league games, not for a champions league final
mike , denver (28/05/2009 at 00:44)
lS IT REALLY 33 YEARS, TAMESIDE (28/05/2009 at 00:58)
Redarmy11 (28/05/2009 at 01:34)
I'm not optimistic about the future- maybe tev and ronnie will leave, the Glazer's debt etc. About time someone with cash bought those money grabbing freaks out. Nobody wants them
Mitch van Biljon (28/05/2009 at 01:41)
Evra, just as others have had to learn, keep your mouth shut.
VDS - was poor this evening, his saves were standard saves that an average keeper would have made.
Evra - needs to learn to keep quiet and focus on his concentration
Vidic - simply poor
Ferdinand - What was he thinking for the second goal?
O Shea - As he is responsible for seeing Messi ghost behind Ferdinand surely he should have been talking to Ferdinand to warn him that Messi was in ample space behind him? That is such an amateurish display from O'Shea.
Park - Simply outclassed
Anderson - Justified replacement at half time
Carrick - With no support or space given him what did we expect
Giggs - His campaign faltered as the season progressed and this match signaled the end in my mind.
Rooney - Very, very poor all night long
Ronaldo - At least he tried but a poor performance when it mattered most.
Mitch van Biljon (28/05/2009 at 01:43)
skh,pj, Malaysia (28/05/2009 at 03:03)
his rating should accordingly be something slightly more than a zero.