At The End, Real Remain Kings of Europe

And so this year's Champions League final in Kiev came with Spanish giants, Real Madrid, again coming out on top with a handsome victory over premier league side Liverpool.

The 3-1 defeat of Jurgen Klopp's exciting side proved that their hunger for success remains unquenched and insatiable. They may have been disappointing this season in La Liga after finishing a distant 3rd but in Europe, they have always found a way to win.

In just two and a half years, Zidane has won the Champions League trophy 3 times thus surpassing the likes of Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and even the great Sir Alex Ferguson who have all won the the trophy twice. A fantastic achievement.

As for Zidane's opposite number, Jurgen Klopp, it is yet another disappointing final loss. Klopp has now lost six of his seven major finals as a manager. 

While in charge of Borussia Dortmund, he lost 2 German Cup finals, 2 Champions League finals (Dortmund and Liverpool), one League Cup and one Europa League final (both with Liverpool). His sole Cup triumph is the German Cup in 2012.

His critics will consider him a serial under achiever at the biggest stage. In this year's Champions League final loss to Madrid however, it will be harsh to lay the blame on Klopp's game management. 

Even though many have identified the defence as Liverpool's biggest problem this season, an issue Klopp partially fixed with the signing of Dutchman, Virgil Van Dijk, from Southampton in January in a deal worth £75M Pounds. 

He has however, failed to correct the other part of the defence problem which turned out to be their Achilles heel- buying a decent goal keeper. 

Loris Karius' 2 goalkeeping errors in last Saturday's final proved pivotal and turned out to be gifts for a Madrid team who showed their experience and class at this level. A level Karius seemed out of his depth.

The first half was by no means a classic with Madrid wary of the pace of Liverpool's front 3 of Mane, Firmino and Salah. A trio that prior to this game had scored 29 goals in the competition. Madrid were in no mood to afford them the space to wreak havoc and so kept it tight.

The turning point came in the 31st minute when Salah had to come off after he injured his shoulder in a tumble with Sergio Ramos. Prior to his departure, Liverpool had been on top and were the better team. 

But after his exit, Real Madrid grew into the game and had a goal chalked off for offside after Benzema put the ball into the back of the net after Karius had saved well Ronaldo's header. Benzema was correctly adjudged to be offside. 

Benzema would not be denied however, as he in the 51st minute blocked Karius's poor throw with the ball rebounding and rolling agonisingly for the Liverpool faithful, into an empty net.

The lead didn't last long though, as Sadio Mane gave Liverpool hope by bundling home the equaliser after he met Lovren's header from a corner kick. It was his 10th Champions League goal in 11 games. He also became the fourth African player to score in an European Cup Final after Rabah Madjer, Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba.

Zidane sent on Gareth Bale in place of Isco and with his fourth touch, scored what is considered one of the best goals if not the best in Champions League finals history. An overhead kick which team mate Ronaldo would have been proud of was how Bale put Madrid back into the driving seat.

It was game set and match for Madrid in the latter stages as Karius came up with another clanger as he failed to hold a speculative 30 yard short from Gareth Bale and the ball spilled from his grasp into the back of the net.

It left the Madrid fans delirious while the Liverpool fans in tears. Klopp was stunned and the Liverpool players unable to lift themselves with defeat surely a certainty at that point.

The final whistle blew and Karius understandably was in tears. Sadly, none of his team mates were in the mood to show him any empathy. He was left alone to cry his heart out. It was the Real Madrid players, Bale inclusive, who finally went to console him. 

Karius humbly went back to the Liverpool fans shortly after in tears, hands raised in apology. How Liverpool fans, who would have been seething at that moment, would take this is left to be seen.

It is difficult to not see Klopp entering the transfer market this Summer to sign a world class goalkeeper. He was 2 goalkeeping howlers away from winning a famous Champions League title. 

A day in which many Liverpool fans believed was going to be a glorious one for the 5 time European Cup winners quickly become a nightmare. The omens were there, they had an entertaining team and they had the best player in the Premier League, Mohammed Salah. Sadly, it was not to be their night.

As for Karius, whether he remains the number one for Liverpool or not next season, he needs to bounce back from this disappointment and not let these mistakes define his career. 

Klopp is a few good signings away from really challenging for the premier league title and taking on Europe again. After this season's adventure, he seems most likely and best equipped to challenge Pep next season.

As for Madrid, a topsy turvy season has ended on another high. They have 3 UCL titles on the spin and their 4th in 5 years in a period that has had the best Barcelona team in generations. 

Zidane becomes the third manager to win the European Cup 3 times but the first to win it in 3 consecutive seasons.

He has a new challenge off the field though. Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have hinted that they may want to leave the club. If this happens, a lot of rebuilding job would be required to maintain the level they are at the moment. 

Will we see the likes of Salah or Hazard moving to Spain if these noise (which we have heard before) turn out to be true?

 

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Can LVG Salvage Man United's Season?

After Manchester United's embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Wolfsburg in Germany, questions about Louis Van Gaal's tactics and methods have been brought to the fore again by analysts.

A group featuring the likes of Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven, and CSKA Moscow who are hardly European heavy weights is one a team of the status and calibre of United  should successfully negotiate through. This brutal failure to get past this stage is a huge wake up call to both deluded fans and the powers that be at Old Trafford.

How did Man United get to this sorry mess? LVG who was given a mandate to restore Man United into the Champions League after the ill fated David Moyes reign, achieved the goal but the club's sharp exit at the group stages is not what anyone with any ties with United had in mind.

The team's performance against Wolfsburg may have been valiant, but ultimately, they came up far below the standards required to progress further than the first round. This United team is regarded as a dull and boring side with a lack of pace and pedestrian movement. Many fans and critics alike have rightly pointed at LVG's system or philosophy as the reason for this style which contrived to produce a goalless draw against PSV which with the benefit of hindsight proved to be the game that sealed United's fate in the Champions League this season.

As Paul Scholes said, you wouldn't expect Wolfsburg or PSV to get past the round of 16. Yet, these are the teams (not Barcelona, not  Bayern Munich, not Real Madrid but Wolfsburg!) that eliminated Man United. What Scholes forgot to add is that on the evidence of that display in Germany, that United team would also not progress beyond the second round.

Michael Owen buttressed this fact when he said that LVG's transfer policy should be called into question when he said that the players that have been pushed out for those brought in would defeat Wolfsburg. He mentioned the likes of Vidic, Evra, Chicarito, Evans, Van Persie etc would defeat Wolfsburg easily if they were in his squad. 

Former Wales striker, John Hartson, believes that there hasn't been any significant progress with LVG in charge from the Moyes era. A transfer policy and squad management where Wayne Rooney is the only recognisable striker has to be slated. 

Javier Hernandez whom LVG sold to Bayer Leverkusen meanwhile has at this point scored 14 goals in 19 games for Leverkusen. How desperate would LVG be for such firepower now?

Wayne Rooney has come in for criticism for his performances this season but the performance against Wolfsburg shows that United's problems in attack is not down to Rooney alone. He may be past his best but LVG should receive a large share of the blame for the bluntness of United's attack. No one foresaw the scale of Rooney's regression even though the signs have been there a few years. But the fact that LVG only signed an unproven 19 year old from Monaco and let experienced strikers like Van Persie and Chicarito leave has to be a serious mistake on his part, one deserving of the sack were LVG a nonentity.

In LVG's defence, it has to be said that he hasn't had much luck with injuries. Luke Shaw's double fracture against PSV in the first leg started a run of injuries that has swept Valencia, Jones, Herrera, Rooney, Schnerderln, and now Darmian and Smalling.

These injuries though, reveal the hollowness in the squad. A lack of depth which is surprising considering the amount spent on the squad. Another minus for Van Gaal. 

What next for LVG now? Can he turn United's fortunes around? Should the top brass start thinking seriously about the direction United will be going after Van Gaal?

LVG can turn the fortunes of United if he wants to. However, as former United captain, Roy Keane said, it appears LVG has seen something many United fans don't want to admit: that the players, good they might be, aren't good enough for a club like Manchester United. And as a result, LVG has taken the safe option of making his team compact and difficult to breakdown so that the weakness in the squad won't be exposed. But the strategy has led to a sacrifice of a more fluid and dynamic style. 

As things stand, he has to raid the transfer market in January in the hopes of getting a dependable striker, particularly if Wayne Rooney's poor form continues. Perhaps, his current system could yet work if United had a dependable striker who will bury the few chances they create. 

United are only 3 points off league leaders Leicester City. The Premier League is quite open and with Chelsea out of the picture in the title race and also with Leicester City expected to falter as the title race begins to hot up, United have a good chance of winning the league if they can get a decent striker. A feat which will more than compensate for the early champions league ouster.

Manchester United Starting To Shape Up Nicely

Manchester United Striker, Wayne Rooney ended his 10 game goal drought by scoring a hat trick in Manchester United's Champions League second leg play off fixture with Belgian side, Club Brugge in Brussels to send Manchester United to the lucrative Champions League group stages. 

Rooney had prior to this game, come in for intense flak from critics for his poor form in front of goal for both club and country with suggestions that he was past his sell by date and needed to either be pushed into a midfield role or axed from the first team squad. But his performance in Belgium reminded the critics what he is capable of and United will hope that Rooney's season will kick off from here.

In as much as Rooney's performance against Club Brugge was impressive, this game needs to be seen from the perspective of a team practically in tatters. Club Brugge was a team that already knew the game was over even before a ball was kicked. 8 of their first team squad players were out due to injury and Club Brugge manager, Michel Preud'Homme stated earlier that they needed a miracle to scale through to the group phase of the Champions League. This was a team that was just going through the motions.

Be that as it may, you can only beat what is in front of you. Besides, United have struggled to beat inferior opposition already this season, no disrespect to the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa or Totenham Hotspurs. However, Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal can be relieved that his first choice striker is beginning to find his scoring touch again.

Which brings us to the logical question of what happens if Rooney's goal drought returns with a vengeance in the non distant future or if he sustains a serious injury. After back up striker, Javier Hernandez's profligacy in front of goal against Club Brugge, will LVG change his mind about signing another striker? Will he still give Javier Hernandez a chance?

The look LVG gave his assistant, Ryan Giggs after Hernandez missed his penalty smacks of someone who didn't want Hernandez coming on initially but was persuaded by Giggs to give the player a run out to prove himself. It appears that look at Giggs was one of vindication after Hernandez's howler. 

Hernandez didn't cover himself with glory later on after he blasted over the bar from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy when he was fed a low cross by Ashley Young. The wastefulness aside, Hernandez got into good scoring positions. What was lacking was the elusive goal which will come if these opportunities keep presenting themselves and as long as he gets picked.

It is clear that Hernandez is a little short on confidence and LVG needs to assure him that he has a future with United. Looking at Hernandez facial expression, you see a man looking unhappy and lacking confidence. This has to be addressed. Apart from the failure  to score goals, he looked a capable deputy for Wayne Rooney. As LVG has kept faith with Rooney, he needs to have faith in Hernandez.

Inspite of this, LVG needs to make up his mind if he hasn't already, if he needs another dependable striker. Even though it's still early days yet, it appears that the two top strikers United have, will have days when things won't go right in front of goal for them and so there needs to be someone who LVG can count on to deliver the goods.

That person is not James Wilson. In the long term, that person will not be Marouane Fellaini as LVG would want us to believe unless he goes on a scoring run that defies what we've seen from him over the years. Definitely, James  Wilson is one for the future but we've not seen anything that suggests Wilson can do a 'Harry Kane'. LVG needs to be sure he knows what he is doing. 

More sterner tests await Manchester United. They travel to Swansea on Sunday. LVG will probably find out if he has gotten the perfect central defence pairing when they come up against Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew. Chris Smalling and Daley Blind have been solid at the centre of defence and have only conceded only once in 5 games in all competitions but Swansea is a different prospect. Irrespective of the outcome of that game, one thing is sure, Smalling is a sure starter for the United first team. It appears he has come of age and is starting to fulfill the potential Sir Alex Ferguson saw when he signed him from Fulham.

Midfielder, Ander Herrera should be given a run of games in attacking midfield. He was great in the second half against Brugge when the introduction of Bastian Schweinsteiger gave him the freedom to attack.

If United are to succeed this season, LVG must use this second half performance against Brugge using the  personnel and tactics involved as a template on which to build on.