And they couldn't win. Surprise, surprise.

Watched the highlights. Never a penalty. Gifted.

Is there a better player in the world right now than this guy?! Made the sweet running assist for Drogba in the first leg, scored a wonder goal (or should I say near impossible goal) against the run of play in the second leg. And then lobbed another smart ball for Torres to silence half of Spain.

Surely, Ramires was the difference between Chelsea and Barcelona today. A clear difference between semifinal and a final appearance. A difference between 10/20 million, and potentially 50 million plus CL winners bounty. And the difference between London prevailing in Munich or failing yet again to win its first Champions League.

Having watched him in Brazil, I don't consider him terribly talented, but boy does he have a big heart!

Rich mans Reo-Coker. Don't rate him highly at all.

Neither do I, but he did well this past week! And stuffed the air out of Barcelona to boot.

Yeah you can tell they're slowing down a bit. as of now they're no more the nearly unbeatable team of the past 3-4 years. Inter had to work harder to get past them IMO.


A combination of that, a bit of bad luck (hitting the post 3 times) and not having a plan B.

I still disagree, and apparently, so does Guardiola:



Correct Pep - opponents have figured you out and now you have to try something different.

Unfortunately you don't have the players, hence changes are required.

I mean, Zed, I do see what you're saying, that they want to boss the game and never counter - problem is it's the players they have who don't revel in that kind of play.

Pep, is just saying that because he knows that the sheer arrogance his team displays is utterly ridiculous. What else do you expect than to get caught out when only Mascerano is the one that stays back (he's still mostly ahead of the half way line most of the time).

They underestimate teams. We caught them out a couple of times, they only survived at the San Siro because of 2 horribly awful misses from Ibra and Robs, because ad we scored one of those, we could have done what Chelsea did. Barca need to show more humility, they believe they can keep the ball for 90 minutes and can play whoever they can id defense and still win. I think this season has shown them that the other big European teams have figured them out

That's why they've never been as successful (and consistent at being successful) as Madrid or Milan IMO. I don't know why Pep thinks it's him that's given Barca this kind of philosophy, Barca as far as I know have always been like this - exhibiting a very attacking football blah blah. that why until just a few years ago they were still considered massive underachievers in Europe with only 1 CL. their greatest team ever managed to make that 4, but I think the period of their dominance will be short, it's probably come to an end already.

I don't know yet, we'll see. I do expect a last cry from them alla Milan in Athens. That is, if they don't repeat their prior mistake and release for example Xavi like they did with Guardiola before.

Zed, you are not being totally right. Barcelona used to play total football from Cruyff to van Gaal. Then this system started falling apart - they played attractive and offensive, but without intelligence and a deeper strategy. Rijkaard introduced a newer version of van Gaal's tactics into Barcelona which already was tested with Holland 2002. Only when Guardiola came in Barcelona invented their very own attacking philosophy that isn't just plain offensive football coaches like Lorenzo Ferrer used to apply. This is why Pep deserves some credit.

it's gonna be Mourinhos third cl

Maybe...but this is only the semi.

Ramos

Congrats Bayern!!!

Wow, Ramos, wow.

Neuer with two top class saves in the penalties too, great keeper.

Can't call a winner now.

Can a German team beat an English team in the Final?

Maybe they actually have a chance against the Chelsea reserves at home.

So much for the theory of an all Spanish final, set up by Platini & co.

Who would have thought .. I think taking nothing away from Munich, but they were the better team over the two legs.

Chelsea stopped Barcelona with 10 men, this final will definitely be different.

Bayern gotta be favorites. They are playing at home and Chelsea will miss a lot of players. Can't see Chelsea's patched up defence holding up for long.

Neuer He was criticized a lot this season but it all must be worth it now.

A 19 year old made Cristiano his *****!!! Hahaha! But you SIMPLY do not beat a GERMAN team on penalties!

Finals will be interesting. Both teams missing key defenders.
But man what a player Alaba is!!

Bad penalties. You go high and the keeper can't get to them. Go low and both keepers showed it doesn't matter how close to the corner you go. Lahm and Ramos' though.

I think I wlll be rooting for Chelsea in the final. They are the underdogs and karma must compensate them for the big disappointments from recent years.

I can't believe what I just saw from Alaba. wow...

Well Bayern lost a final more recently. this one being at Allianz Arena, I'm rooting for them.

I don't particularly like English teams winning things. But any team that puts them Catalan pricks out deserves success in my book.

Forza Bayern! deserved victory IMO, created more chances as well. I'd predicted they'd make it and I'm happy they did, I really didn't want Real to win it for the 10th time and now they'll probably have to wait a couple of more years.

The ref was awful by the way, Madrid's first penalty was a gift, while their second goal looked offside (I have to see it again though).

Barca and Madrid get help when they need it, who'd have thought it? Like I said, UEFA wanted a Final or their choosing.. and still couldn't get it. F U Michelle.

OH YEAH!

I'm so happy!!

Credit to Chelsea and Bayern, I never thought either of them would make it.

This is better for Spanish football at least I think as I doubt Mourinho, the chicken that he is, would have stayed with his team had he won both the domestic league title and the CL.

I don't care who wins it, I love them both!

Kaka + Cristiano... 150m worth of missed penalties... I loved the way that douchebag Ramos missed his too!

Man, don't be a hypocrite.

Just don't tell Mourinho, RM fans, and anti-Barcelona viewers...


Is that for me?

You can't complain about people talking about Mourinho when he wins and then go doing the same thing when he loses..

What do you mean? People can say what they want about Mourinho when he wins, I never said different, my only problem is, I can't stand it.

I think Mourinho has done a great job at Madrid. they were a complete joke in CL before he went there. just like with Inter. he can win it in the next couple of years with them if he stays that much longer.

As for Ronaldo... was OK overall (very good 1st half, OK second half, bad in ET), but really, the man can't be trusted in penalty shootouts anymore. he got away with it in CL final, but not this time.

Anyway, kudos to Bayern today. Heynckens again in a CL final.

I don't think that's true. If it went on, people would be saying how it was a great penalty. It was a good penalty, just a better save, same with the Kaka' penalty and the none Lahm miss for Bayern (Kroos I think?).

His expression when Kaka missed it was heartbreaking though. Mourinho was on his knees by then!

Heartbreaking to some, joyous to another...

Eh, but going out in 3 semis to penalty shootouts. Not my idea of a fun time. Though me being a fan of Bayern, it's good to see them in the final. Cold blooded Germans, I'd hate us to be facing them in a penalty shootout.

Yes!!! Both Spanish tw@ts out. Couldn't have asked for a better final.

I had a gut feeling Ronaldo would miss that penalty, somehow was reminded of the 2008 final. It was a great game overall, worthy of a CL semi-final. But man, did Bayern kick those Spaniard asses at their home turf. By far the better team in both legs.

dst? Who woke him up?

He drops by ever now and then. Today, I was certain dst will join in the discussion after RM went out!

Don't know about the penalty but the second goal was indeed offside:

I think that poor performance by kaka means he will leave RM at the end of season.Has lost the ball every time he's gotten it.

I wouldn't take him back. Too costly and he has lost his pace. Cant pay that kind of money and then wait for him to get his touch back.

Kaka deteriorated from the tail end of 2007. I was quite happy we sold him, and I'm absolutely delighted now given the deterioration has continued.

He's been following Ronaldinho's footsteps.

Well parallel, but not the same. Ronaldinho's downward spiral was self-induced. Kaka's not so much.

In a still image it looks offside, but when you watch it in motion... let's say it was very difficult for the linesman to spot it.

Ref's biggest mistake was the penalty that never was. it's unfair to Alaba to miss the final because of that ****.

Alaba has a big future ahead of him. Very versatile player, can play several different positions.