There Is Only One Sinnacle

In hindsight the worst thing that could of happen to Everton was the early goal. Saha’s goal after only 25 seconds just took that edge off for Everton who sat back and became too comfortable out there trying to hold Chelsea at bay. On the flip side the early Everton goal made Chelsea aware that there favorite tags heading into the match was not going to carry over onto the field and Everton were up to the challenge. From there Chelsea sprung into action with Drogba scoring from a header played into the box which couldn’t of been drawn up any better. In the second half Chelsea were still taking the game to Everton who must of started to feel the effects of the 40 degree heat on the Wembley pitch. As is the case so many times prior when Chelsea need a big goal Frank Lampard from just outside the area puts it into the top corner as Tim Howard could only get his fingertips onto it. While not the Champions League, winning the FA Cup is a tribute to Guus Hiddink short time at Chelsea and it’s only fitting he rides into the sunset with Silverware in hand.

Juventus Pushing For Liverpool Stopper Andrea Dossena – Report

Juventus are pushing ahead with plans to strengthen their defence and they are looking at Liverpool’s Andrea Dossena for the left flank, according to Il Corriere Dello Sport.

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Wouldn’t have nearly the same impact as Juventus signing Diego earlier this week but Dossena would be a good fit for them. Dossena should pursue this if Juve’s interest turns into an offer since his play is a lot more suited to Italy than England.

Cesc Fabregas: Everyone Wants To Play For Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he would jump at the chance to join a Barcelona team whom he has hailed as the best in history
after their treble-winning season.

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Wonder if seeing Barcelona win the Champions League would cause Fabregas to question his decision leaving Barcelona for Arsenal way back when knowing he could be part of that special group.

OFFICIAL: Bordeaux Sign Yoann Gourcuff On Four-Year Deal

Girondins Bordeaux have announced this afternoon they have completed the signing of midfielder Yoann Gourcuff on a four-year deal from AC Milan.

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With Gourcuff jump starting his career by going out loan and Bordeaux on the verge of winning Ligue 1 this season it made perfect sense for everyone involved including A.C Milan to do business. The best place for Gourcuff heading into an all important World Cup year is to continue playing for Bordeaux.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to throw Manchester United into turmoil and demand a move out of Old Trafford. The 24-year-old forward is a £50m target for Real Madrid. (Full story: The Sun)

In fact, Real Madrid will reject Ronaldo this summer as club president elect Florentino Perez has targeted Milan forward Kaka and Ribery instead. (Full story: Daily Express)

Let the madness continue. Ronaldo didn’t exact put this stories to bed when he simply said I don’t know when asked of his future plans. I’d be annoyed however being asked that question all the time and so soon after a crushing defeat to Barcelona.

Ribery was Chelsea boss-in-waiting Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice summer signing but the Blues have lost out to Real Madrid. Ancelotti may look to CSKA Moscow’s Russian left-back Yuri Zhirkov. (The Times)

Chelsea is an interesting club. First issue is many of they key players are advancing in years. The second is Chelsea play with strength and character but with not much style. Can Zhirkov alone change this and help transform Chelsea to more of a free flowing team Roman Abramovich craves for? Ask Deco how those plans turned out. If Zhirkov is part of a bigger picture with Chelsea bringing in the right players and coaches it would increase his chance of success.

Chelsea have been told they will need to put up £20m for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to take the 30-year-old to Stamford Bridge when he is named Chelsea boss next week. (Daily Telegraph)

Despite his injuries I’m a big fan of Pirlo but I just don’t see what he could give you that Michael Essien can’t.

If Manchester United do not complete the permanent signing of Argentine striker Carlos Tevez this summer they will turn their attentions to Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Wigan’s Antonio Valencia. (Daily Express)

Benzema is happy at Lyon. I don’t get why papers keep linking Benzema to Manchester United or Real Madrid. Since Benzema has no plans to go, Lyon would have no plans to sell him unless someone offers 40 million plus.

Manchester City and Liverpool are among five clubs who are willing to meet the £25m price tag for Tevez. (The Times)

Now that Liverpool have been smart enough to give Fernando Torres his annual raise, Liverpool’s next order of business should be to sign Carlos Tevez.

Sir Alex Ferguson may ditch Nani and Ji-Sung Park as the Manchester United boss reshapes his squad while Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak will also leave this summer. (Daily Mirror)

Park plays one bad game against Barcelona and now his bags are about to be packed?

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry is holding out for a summer move to Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is considering a £12m bid for the 28-year-old. (Daily Star)

Never quite understood Liverpool’s interest in Barry but a midfield partnership with Cesc Fàbregas at Arsenal however could blossom.
Barry could be everything Fabregas has been looking for since Mathieu Flamini left for A.C Milan.

The Magpies have warned the clubs chasing defender Sebastien Bassong that they will not take anything less than £15m for him.
(Full story: The Sun)

Newcastle has to find a way to pay down their massive wage bill next season somehow.

Former England and Mexico boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is favourite to become the new Portsmouth manager. (The Times)

Mexico mistake notwithstanding if Portsmouth could convince Sven to take over it would be quite a coup.

Let me start off by saying if you look around over the next week or so you’ll find several great articles relating to the career, both good and bad of Luis Figo. This article is mostly a personal reflection looking back on the greatest Portuguese player of my generation.

In a lot of ways you people have Luis Figo to thank (or blame) for this web site. Let’s rewind nine years ago to Euro 2000 where Portugal took on England to open up the tournament.

Up to that point all I ever knew from Portuguese football was some flashes of brilliance but in the end it would all fall apart and end in disappointment. Down 2-0 against England 20 minutes in I was already preparing myself to a long 90 minutes. Figo’s wonder goal changed everything for me in a lot of ways when it comes to football. Something changed at that moment. Finally I was seeing a team whose sheer will to win match their skill level. Growing up in Canada, hockey players are celebrated for their grit and toughness something I have never seen watching Portuguese football. Here I was watching someone who couldn’t care about being golden as part of the golden generation of Portuguese. Instead I was watching someone who was tough as nails doing everything possible to will his team to victory.

I’ve always wonder why people, myself included identify with a sporting figure who could be thousands of miles away. You know what? I really don’t ever wish to find an answer as to the reasons why. Part of me would feel it would spoil some of the connection to the game if I just use rational thinking instead of letting emotions take over. Back to Canada, being Canadian everyone knows Wayne Gretzky. The great one might as well be our representative to the world. Is this because of his jaw dropping career within in the game of hockey? Partly, but it’s a much bigger picture. Wayne Gretzky to Canadians represented everything we like seeing in ourselves. Gretzky was humble, yet the very best player on the planet. Polite yet no push over, calm on the exterior yet you knew there was this inner fire within him that drove him to success. Everything said previously achieved with a lot of hard work. All these staples many Canadians wish to strive towards. Luis Figo in comparison would be the same when it comes to being Portuguese. Talented yet rugged, stubborn to a fault but always trying to better himself no matter the cost, majestic and madding all wrapped up in a number seven jersey.

Whatever happens at this point will just be a footnote in his career. Few fondly look back on George Best time playing for the San Jose Earthquakes towards the end of his career as an example. Come this weekend once his final game for Inter Milan has been played the main story of Luis Figo’s football career will be written. One of the hardest parts of growing old is realizing the people who you looked up to growing up are growing old right along with you. In your youth, it’s all about the 90 minutes being played between the white lines and enjoying the players who make the game beautiful. Living and dying with every weekend result. Things like money, contacts, transfer rumours didn’t come into play.

Ask someone who is 50 years old his favorite player. I’ll bet good money most will go back into their childhood for this player. Like the saying goes you never forget your first love, well to a lesser extent you never forget the first player(s) who made you discover the love of any sport. Once those players move on, sure other players replace them. For every Luis Figo will come a Cristiano Ronaldo but it’s never quite the same to the first person you connected yourself too. Come the weekend a certain innocent ends for me. Bittersweet to a point knowing the end is near but would I trade all the memories of the last 15 years watching Luis Figo play football if it meant not having this connection to someone who kicks a soccer ball 5000 miles away? Never.

Report: Pavel Nedved To Sign New Juventus Deal, Vincenzo Iaquinta Already Committed

‘Czech Fury’ is expected to shelve his retirement plans while the Italian international has penned a new deal..

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Nedved did show he had some gas left in the tank as he was a worthy starter over the entire season for Juventus. Iaquinta is exactly the type of player every club needs. While he could start for many football clubs, he is happy with his role and still manages to come up with some key moments for Juventus.

Cristiano Ronaldo Uncertain About Manchester United Future Again

‘CR7′ has once again left his Old Trafford future hanging in the air following his side’s Champions League final defeat…

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Must really suck being Cristiano Ronaldo at times. I know few will shed a tear for him but after the disappointment of losing the Champions League finals I’m sure one of the last things he really wants to talk about is his future.

Chelsea are in talks to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery for £43m. Manchester United also want the 26-year-old French international as a potential replacement for winger Cristiano Ronaldo. (The Sun)

Chelsea may be forced to pay a British transfer record of £45m if they are to land Ribery. (Daily Star)

Going back two years, Bayern Munich made sure they squeezed every last dollar out of Manchester United when they signed Owen Hargreaves. Whoever decides to go after Ribery would have to cough up £40m before Bayern Munich would even blink.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is planning an £8m move for Manchester City’s Brazilian midfielder Elano. (The Sun)

Elano plays a lot better for the Brazilian national team than he does for Manchester City. A change to Serie A may be more suited to Elano’s style of play.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has lined up Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez as a long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso. Bilbao want £10m for the 20-year-old. (Daily Mirror)

If Bilbao want £10m for Javi Martinez, Liverpool shouldn’t even think twice about paying it. Not only could Martinez be everything Lucas is not but he could also be worth twice that 10 million figure in a couple of years.

Aston Villa have inquired about midfielder David Bentley’s future at Tottenham. (Daily Mirror)

Villa shouldn’t inquired about Bentley’s future at Tottenham since he has none. Villa should inquire about what it would take to sign Bentley.

Bolton and Blackburn are fighting it out for Villarreal’s Chile international Matias Fernandez. The 23-year-old midfielder will make a decision once the Spanish season ends at the weekend. (The Sun)

Fernandez has the talent to become the next Antonio Valencia but neither Bolton or Blackburn play the type of game which is suited to his strengths.

Middlesbrough have put winger Stewart Downing up for sale but only to a top-four club. (Daily Mirror)

Why does it even matter? It’s not like Middlesbrough are going to be a competition with a non top four club next season.

Wigan will look to Swansea boss Roberto Martinez if Sunderland agree to pay the £5m in compensation to take Latics manager Steve Bruce to the Stadium of Light. (The Times)

Martinez did do a good job taking Swansea from League One to the brink of the Championship playoffs last year, playing attractive football all the while.

Alan Shearer, who is set to become the permanent manager of Newcastle, is playing hardball with Magpies owner Mike Ashley over a £15m to £20m transfer pot for next season. (Daily Mirror)

The issue isn’t the transfer budget. The main issue is who are you going to get that is willing to play for a Championship team? Yes I know this is an EPL Gossip post which Newcastle is no longer a part of but just go with it for a few weeks.

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Part Two

Part Three

Barcelona Beat Manchester United To Win Champions League

Barcelona have won the Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, beating last year’s winners Manchester United by two goals…

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What else is there to say expect that was a masterclass performance from Barcelona. The first 10 minutes it seemed like the roles were reversed with Manchester United taking it to Barcelona then the Spanish giants did what United do so well which is break on the counter attack and grab themselves a goal. From there as Patrice Evra would say it was a man vs boys performance. United had no answer for Xavi, Iniesta, Messi in midfield who quite simply ran over Giggs, Anderson, and Carrick in the first half. In the end style overcome substance. Congratulations to Barcelona for winning the 2009 Champions League.

Some random thoughts.

- What a goal by Eto’o, from making a world class defender in Vidic look silly with his first touch to sliding it inside the post all within a blink of an eye.

- Messi’s header wasn’t so bad itself.

- Selling Pique was the best thing for all involved but right at this moment do you think Sir Alex Ferguson regrets that decision? Gerald Pique becomes the first player since Paulo Sousa to win back to back Champions League.

- Enjoy the last glimpse of Carlos Tevez.

- Nice to see Thierry Henry win the Champions League. Must be bitter sweet however as an Arsenal fan.

- You think Michel Platini is sercetly smiling over seeing beautiful football win out today?

- What a dream season for Carles Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta who have gone from Euro 2008 winners, to winning La Liga and capping it off by winning the Champions League.

Ronaldo wants to secure history in Rome

United will become the first club to retain the trophy in the 17-year-old rebrand of the former European Cup if they defeat the Spanish champions in the Stadio Olimpico.

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Puyol attempts to heap pressure on United

With a new coach in inexperienced Josep Guardiola at the start of the season, Barca have made headlines by claiming the Primera Liga title and the Copa del Rey trophy en route to the top game in Rome.

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The day is finally here. Today one club writes itself in the history book as being one of the best clubs in football history. With so many superstars players in big games like these it’s usually a role player who comes up big. Will Ronaldo or Messi further their legacy? Will someone alittle under the radar like Carrick, Park, or Yaya Touré come up clutch? Today is just a day to sit back and hopefully marvel at the world class football about to be displayed. I’m so torn between this two sides, it really is a coin flip heading into today’s game. My heart says United because of Ronaldo but my mind says Barcelona.