Final Champions League 2011: FC Barcelona - Man United: a game for players with hunger (I)

Unfailingly true: the finals are not played, you win. Although one has a rather romantic vision of football and likes putting computers in the media interest, not only in the end, it is undeniable that the finals are different. In any case I say they should change the way you play in a final in relation to what has been done throughout the tournament, what I mean is that a final is a special game: ninety minutes to life-threatening . And as the scope to compensate for error is so short, the variables and constraints are multiplied. Every little detail, however trivial, can mean the difference between winning and losing, between glory or succumb to failure.

Once the referee's whistle starts the battle, no matter what fans yell more, or which coach has declaimed the best pep talk. The small details that mark the evolution of the major parties are exclusive property of the players. In any aspect may be the point that makes a difference: the concentration that it achieves, the motivation with which it comes, the feeling you have while playing the anthem, the personal mood ... but above all, hunger. The hunger that has the player, that desire to win, to improve himself, to bring everything you have and more for the good of the team and, why not say it, the desire to become the star that makes a difference . Within two teams that will face this Saturday at Wembley to become European champion a number of players who, for various reasons, come into the game with a special motivation.

Edwin Van der Sar

For the good of Van der Sar the end of the 2010/11 Champions League will be his last professional match. Has announced his retirement with the estimable age of forty. Their debut dates back to 1990, twenty-one year career, said soon ... How many children have said during this time I ask to be Van der Sar ...?

The Flying Dutchman has won two European Cups during his sporting life. The first with that legendary Ajax 1995. The second and the Manchester, in 2008 where the figure was erected in the seventh game to stop the launch of the penalty shootout to Nicolas Anelka. That was the highlight of his career, the night he kissed glory. But you still have one last game and we know that the red devil knows more for being old than by red devil.

Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs reaches the final of the Champions immersed in a whirlwind of media shit. Despite having received legal protection, their alleged infidelity to his wife with a former Big Brother has come out to light. So your emotional state is unknown. Who knows what will come to the party? Will he seized, consumed by the pressure? You be able to ignore and play normally? Or maybe even go with an extra motivation? The answer only know after the game.

Hernández Chicharito

Chicharito Hernandez has lived a wonderful year. When in April 2010, Man United announced its signing of Chivas de Guadalajara were not many who knew him in Europe. For most discovery took place in the World Cup, where he excelled as the best player of the Azteca. And in his first year as a red devil has won a starting job in the side of Alex Ferguson. Not for nothing is its front with the best average scorer: 21 goals in 27 games, by 21 to 32 of Berbatov or 15 in 35 of Rooney.

Of all the United attackers, Chicharito is the most unfamiliar to the rear Blaugrana. In addition, the facility has to load the shooting or to invent an occasion where there seemed to be both are qualities that can be very damaging to the defense of Guardiola, who suffers from a lack of tension at certain times. If Chicharito is able to give the Champions League to Manchester with a goal, is crowned. So very careful with him.

Wayne Rooney

Sports Timing Wayne Rooney could be considered almost the opposite of his fellow Mexican. Less than a year reached the World Cup with the band to be the great hope of English football, the guyslum a hero. Finally, in South Africa both Rooney and the entire England squad were given for no more than to be overrun by Germany in the second round. A disappointment, at least for those who expected something of the Pink Team.

This year the Croxteth boy has not been fine, dragging a poor physical condition that has undermined the whole course. He has played 35 games for United and has scored only 15 goals, a figure well below what he can give. Nobody knows that better than Rooney. And last of all, he presents a unique opportunity: the Champions League final may be his redemption. A goal at Wembley on Saturday is worth more than ten, fifteen, twenty goals in another place and another time. So beware of those who expect a chance to redeem themselves: if they do not want to miss.

PS. The second post is dedicated to players of Barca