As I watch Barça claim their 4th Champions League title, a thought that first flashed through my mind after Villa's goal has gained a foothold. Maybe Mourinho had his tactics for the Clásico series spot-on.
His full strength team did not concede more than a goal against this very same Barça outfit. Man U let in 3. Mourinho's use of the Pepe "bull in a china shop" strategy worked to disrupt the midfield. Barça largely played the way they wanted to, Carrick's comical foul against Iniesta (launching him into the air!) notwithstanding. These are just a couple of facts that lead me to think that some form of this strategy might be the best way of beating this Barça team at their own game. They simply don't give you the ball, why try getting it back from them? Why try to beat them at a game they have positively mastered?
Of course, I can engage in counterfactuals all day. The fact is that Barça got it done, are holding the trophy, and will get no shortage of plaudits in the soccersphere over the summer. Good on them. I can't help but wonder though: how different would the narrative be had Pepe not been sent off in the first semifinal leg?
28 May 2011
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