[Peace] The beautiful game

[C. G. Estabrook]

[While our liberal administration is busy killing people in the rest of the 
world, we might enjoy watching the game that they do: the UEFA (ew-AY-fa) final 
of the Champions League, between Barcelona and Manchester United, will be seen 
tomorrow at 1:30pm on ESPN. (Take a long lunch -- it'll be on in local 
bars/restaurants.) The UEFA Champions League (usually referred to as simply the 
Champions League or less frequently as the European Cup) is an annual football 
[soccer] cup competition organized by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs 
in Europe. It is the most prestigious club trophy in European football. Much as 
I've loved American football since I was a kid, it does produce more brain 
damage than the foreign version.  Maybe like American politics.  --CGE]

	Guardiola: We will attack Man Utd

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola maintains his side will go out to attack holders 
Manchester United in Wednesday's final of the Champions League to be held in 
Rome's Stadio Olympico.

The 38-year-old, who has guided the Catalan side to the showpiece finale in his 
debut season in charge, told CNN his side would play to win.

"We are going to try and attack them as best as possible and to make problems 
for a big team like Manchester United.

We are so, so happy to be playing this game against them," the Spaniard said.

Guardiola will have some advantage with the location, having played there as a 
player with Roma in the 2002/03 season.

Meanwhile, the Barca coach will become the sixth man in history to win the 
trophy as both coach and player if his side is victorious.

However, standing in Barcelona's way are a formidable United team who Guardiola 
maintains are deserving of more respect than their English counterparts Chelsea.

"There are similarities between United and Chelsea -- but I think Manchester 
United are much faster up front -- with Rooney, Ronaldo, Park, Tevez, Anderson.

"When we lose the ball in a difficult position they will kill us. So we have to 
try and retain the ball as best as possible and attack in the right way." 
Guardiola stated.

The Barcelona coach also has squad issues to contend with ahead of the final. 
Defenders Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal are both suspended for the tie while 
Rafael Marquez, Thierry and Andres Iniesta all struggling for fitness.

Despite this Guardiola said his tactics will remain positive: "We will decide 
later whether they still have problems. We have two players suspended and many 
injuries and their two important players for the final.

"But we can't have excuses, we have a good squad, we have good players and we 
are going to fight and to try and score many goals with the guys we have.

"We have to attack with the brain and pay attention not to lose balls in 
difficult areas."

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/05/26/football.guardiola.barcelona.united/