LITTLE BIG MAN

BARCELONA V MANCHESTER UNITED:
CHAMPION'S LEAGUE FINAL MAY 27TH 2009:

After an opening burst when Manchester United threatened to steamroll Barcelona into an early submission, the Catalans now had the Mancunians primed for the kill.
With just twenty minutes remaining they led by a single Samuel Eto'o goal, and a third European cup triumph looked unavoidable as their magical midfield duo of Xavi and Inniesta continued to torture United. Their irresistible concoction of sublime passing and bewildering movement caused Sir Alex Ferguson's side to experience unusual feelings.
On a humid, turbulent Rome evening they were being ruthlessly outclassed.
Ferguson's selection proved to be a disaster. The tactics miserably negative and wholly against the attacking instincts of his many hugely gifted forward players. Talents like Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs reduced to chasing after a dazzling array of Barca red and blue. Treated with disdain and played with like cones in a training practice by Pepe Guardiola's magnificent team.
And then there was Lionel Messi.
Moved into central midfield position by Guardiola to totally negate United's over-loaded defensive left hand side he probed patiently against a disjointed and increasingly dispirited opponent. Despite not being being at his spellbinding best the diminutive Argentine sorcerer had still conjured up enough moments of wizardry to cause the English champions collective heart failure.
Again Barca came with Xavi crossing into the penalty area where waiting was an unmarked Messi to plant a header past Edwin Van der Sar and win the trophy for the Catalan nation. A little big man jumped high to tower above leaden footed six foot defenders. Small in stature but huge in talent.
An immeasurable genius.