As with most of the highly anticipated matches, it normally comes down to a moment of sheer brilliance, a mistake, or simply a wrong decision! Which catagory does last night’s game fall into? Was Nani slightly unlucky ?
In my opinion, no. Controversial maybe, but it was dangerous. His foot was very high, in a dangerous position. The referee took his time and consulted with a second official. A red card was right, though I understand many won’t agree with me. This is football remember, and it’s all about opinions. Yesterday, the only one that counted was Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir.
It really was a touch and go decision that unfortunately ended United’s Europe dreams for another season. All talk is centred around referee Cuneyt Cakir and his decision in the 56th minute that turned the tide in the match up forever. After the sending off, Mourinho really pressed on the gas peddle putting on ex-Spurs playmaker Luka Modric, who took just seven minues to produce a truly great curling shot, thus making it 2-2 on aggregate. For those who were watching live, they were getting that ugly feeling that the match would surely end miserably for the hosts.
A mere three minutes later, the man who the United faithful had given such a deservedly warm reception, Christiano Ronaldo, ghosted in at the back post to turn in a Higuin cross, giving Madrid the 3-2 aggregate lead. There wasn’t going to be any way back for the current leaders of the English Premiership.
So was the red card the only reason United loss? Of course not!! Rooney being left on the bench for such a colossal game would have surprised many of the Utd supporters and most neutrals too. Even Mourinho wouldn’t have seen that coming. So was it a wrong decision? Well for 56 minutes Utd were going through by being tactitally perfect against the Spanish giants, so to answer the question, Yes and No. If they went through, Rooney wouldn’t have been mentioned, but if they lost, Fergie would be criticized for not starting him. Managers are paid to make decisions, so whatever team Ferguson picks it’s one he believe’s can win, keeping in mind that the team have other upcoming games to consider.
Where does this leave Rooney’s Utd career? Of course Wayne is gonna be pissed off it was a massive game and was left to twiddle his thumbs on the bench. He will have to pick himself up and do what he needs to do to get back into the good books of the legaendary manager. Madrid boss Mourinho admitted afterwards, “Independent of the decision, the best team lost. We didn’t play well, we didn’t deserve to win, but football is like this.” If the Special accepts that Fergie’s team was unlucky, even going so far as to say that Diego Lopez, the Madrid keeper, kept them in the game with great saves from Vidic and Carrick late on. He added, “David de Gea was man of the match in Madrid. Today it was Diego Lopez.”
So was this as simple as the football gods saying “Sorry, Mr Ferguson, not this year matey”? In football, if your name’s on the cup its on it (remember Utd vs Bayen 1999 final). One thing is certain though; it seems wherever Jose Mourinho goes a headline follows as he conitinues to write his own story. So will this be The Special One’s 3rd and Madrid’s 10th win in Europe’s Premier competition? Bayern will have a say, but don’t put it past the Portuguese Genius.
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photo credit: Paolo Camera via photopin cc
