During his stints at West Brom and Middlesbrough, the midfeilder was hardly setting the world alight, but when he found himself on Manchester United’s books in 1999, he bagged himself a trio of medals. “I felt a bit of a fraud” he admitted, and I can understand that, he hadn’t played a single minute of United’s European campaign that season.
Understandably considering his talent, Lionel Messi has been heavily discussed in the build up to the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United this weekend.
With another fantastic Premier League season over there is just the small matter of the Champions League final to attend to. This season saw Manchester United clinch a record breaking 19th title and are set to fly the Premiership flag in Europe’s top prize final for the third time in four years. Since the 2009 final in which Barcelona comprehensively beat the red devils thanks to goals from Samuel Eto and Lionel Messi many believe that Fergusons current crop are worse off than they were in Rome, however Fergie has installed the utmost of winning mentality in his squad and there is nothing they love more than upsetting the odds.
Nevertheless, an Italian club still holds the Champions League. Although, following their demolition knockout by an inexperienced Schalke (7-3 agg.), it would be hard to believe Inter Milan knocked out Lionel Messi’s Barcelona and went on to left the European Cup against Bayern Munich, less than a year ago in Madrid.
But as sun sets on the Tangerines time in the Premier League, I find myself shying away from the sunnier side of things and examining all the things that need looking at ‘in the best league in the world.’
Southend boss (and Dundee United legend ) Paul Sturrock is set to take his Shrimpers across the border for a pre-season tour of Scotland, which will include a 5 day training camp and a mini-tournament held at Scottish Division One side East Fife.
Well wasn’t that exciting?