The Translator Triumphs

So the final that no one expected, let alone many people wanting. We won't see Real Madrid's million dollar cast trying to prove that money can buy you happiness. We won't see any representatives of the big four from England, a big four who have dominated the latter stages of this competition for the last six years. And now we wont see Football's artists Barcelona grace the arena of their fiercest rivals. Like the Premier League this season, the Champions League has been just as surprising.
Here's the thing though, should we be surprised by last night's result from the Camp Nou? Clearly those of Catalan persuasion will say yes and those residing in the 'Inter' suburbs of Milan will whole heartedly disagree.

For me, there should be no surprise. This is Jose Mourinho, a man surrounded by superlatives. A man who craves attention but deserves every ray of spotlight that shines upon him. Beating Barcelona, with 11 mean and a 3-1 head start would have further fueled the hype. Doing it with ten men says it is time for us all to belief it.

Inter were marshaled superbly. in Lucio and Samuel they had the wiliest of veterans. Whilst watching the way they cheated their way through the game, you have to admire the way in which they do so. On the note of cheating, i am a big fan of Sergio Busquettes but sadly that is not acceptable. The sly look through the fingers to the referee is wrong and hopefully the media furore that will follow will embarrass him enough for him to eradicate it from his game.

Another note that angered me was the way in which Mourinho celebrated the evening's events. I am all for passion and heart on the sleeve stuff but maybe that was too much. I know he was acknowledging his own fans but do that once you have thanked Guardiola and once you have done the post match formalities. You have not won the trophy yet.

And i'll get my self out of here on this. Where was the Lionel Messi show that we craved? Inter hounded him, sometimes 3 players at his feet as soon as the ball arrived. He was shackled and only on two occasions did we see him threaten to make an impact on the game. It is all very well saying he was marked out of the game as that is football. It would seem like the most sensible thing for an opposing manager to do but the great players and those who want to be remembered as great, still find space for themselves. While Ronaldo has not been anywhere close to the level of the small Argentinean this season, he still managed to find that extra yard and make an impact on a game when hounded by the opposition when he was flying last season. However here's the thing, Messi's chance for greatness is not over, hell it has hasn't even begun. It starts in June and if he shines, nights like this will be completely forgotten.