CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RATINGS
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2)
Edwin Van der Sar (8/10)
At 37, Van der Sar belied his years by pulling off a number of top reaction saves early on, and was the ultimate hero as he kept out Anelka’s sudden death penalty. The Dutchman won the competition 13 years ago with Ajax, and was helpless with Lampard’s goal.
Wes Brown (7/10)
Benched when United lifted the trophy in 1999, Brown proved his worth with a mature showing last night. He defended with steel and marauded well, assisting Ronaldo’s opener with an inviting cross.
Rio Ferdiand (5/10)
The United captain was booked before half time, and two minutes later Essien’s shot rebounded off his back allowing Lampard to strike home. Not the 29-year old’s best performance.
Nemanja Vidic (8/10)
The brave Serbian missed Tuesday’s training but was solid against Drogba – Chelsea’s biggest threat. Dominated in the air but could not do much about Lampard’s goal.
Patrice Evra (6/10)
The 27-year-old French international was largely anonymous before the interval, though he dealt with Joe Cole well, and showed good fitness in extra time.
Paul Scholes (6/10)
The 33-year-old, who missed out against Bayern Munich nine years ago, had a big hand in Ronaldo’s header and a good first half, but was replaced by Giggs after 88 minutes.
Owen Hargreaves (6/10)
The busy £17m signing from Bayern Munich battled well on the right. He harried, crossed and tackled with lung-bursting energy. Had to be especially combative in the second half when Chelsea were on top.
Michael Carrick (6/10)
Former Tottenham playmaker Carrick should have put the game beyond Chelsea, but his drive in the 35th minute was saved well by Cech.
Cristiano Ronaldo (8/10)
The gallingly talented Portuguese finally proved he can perform on the big stage. The 23-year-old’s 42nd goal of a dizzying season was his first against Chelsea. Missed in the shootout.
Carlos Tévez (5/10)
The tireless 24-year-old Argentine fluffed two gilt-edged chances in the first half, both from inside the six-yard box. The first forced a good save but the second was profligate.
Wayne Rooney (6/10)
A bustling, if not frustrated, show from the 22-year-old, fused with moments of class. Laced a pin-point 60 yard cross-field ball to Ronaldo which should have put United 2-0 up, and a cross that Tévez wasted.
Substitutes:
Ryan Giggs
In his 759th game for the Reds he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of appearances for United when he came on for Scholes after 88 minutes and almost scored in extra time.
Nani
On for Rooney, the other Portuguese trickster, failed to adjust to the tempo of the game.
Kuszczak, Anderson, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (7/10)
The 66-year-old Scot was as vocal as usual – both with his own players and with the officials. Made his first change two minutes before the end, after a half under the cosh.
CHELSEA (4-3-3)
Petr Cech (/10)
The Czech Republic No1 was a spectator for Ronaldo’s header. However the 26-year-old pulled off a top-drawer double save minutes later to keep his side in the contest. Saved the Portuguese’s spot kick to put Chelsea in the driving seat.
Michael Essien (6/10)
The Ghanaian, 25, looked out of position at right back against mesmeric winger Ronaldo, who flummoxed him in the first half, though he grew into the game after the interval.
John Terry (7/10)
Having recovered from his dislocated elbow, the Chelsea captain contained Tévez, and could only watch as Ronaldo headed past Cech. Did well to motivate his team at the break, but wanted the ground to eat him up after scuffing his crucial penalty.
Ricardo Carvalho (6/10)
Lacked the anticipation he normally exhibits, and was booked for a violent tackle on his fellow countryman, Ronaldo, in the first half. The 30-year-old grew into the game, however.
Ashley Cole (4/10)
Recovered from ankle injury sustained in training on Tuesday, and – despite early change of boots – he failed to get to grips with the magnitude of the game.
Frank Lampard (7/10)
Oozed inventiveness in the midfield and pulled Chelsea back into the game with a fortunate goal. The 29-year-old also crashed the underside of United’s bar in extra time.
Claude Makelele (6/10)
Harshly booked early on, the French holding midfielder was in the wars all evening. The 35-year-old stymied the contributions of Scholes and Rooney as the game wore on.
Michael Ballack (7/10)
Slow to impose himself on the final, the 31-year-old German captain proved he has a big match temperament with some good shots and clever distribution.
Florent Malouda (4/10)
Largely anonymous for the first 90 minutes, the 27-year-old French winger – a £13.3m signing from Lyon – was substituted for Kalou in extra time.
Didier Drogba (6/10)
Ivorian striker Drogba took nearly 80 minutes to have his first meaningful effort, and rattled the post with it. Kept quiet by the imposing Vidic, much to his frustration, which spilled over when he struck the Serbian and was ejected in extra time.
Joe Cole (5/10)
The diminutive Chelsea No10, one of four West Ham old boys, struggled to stamp his mark on the game. The 26-year-old, used on the right, was handled well by Evra and replaced by Anelka in extra time.
Substitutes:
Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti
All entered the fray in extra time but had few chances to show their shooting skills. Frenchman Anelka had his spot kick saved to hand United the game.
Cudicini, Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex
Manager: Avram Grant (6/10)
The Israeli looked clueless when Ronaldo nodded his opponents in front and his team looked for direction. But he geed up his troops at the interval and they started asking more questions of United.
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (6/10)
The Slovakian man in black, who turned 40 last Friday, was quick on his whistle and in dishing out his cards. He might have spoiled the game by booking both Scholes and Makelele after 20 minutes.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2)
Edwin Van der Sar (8/10)
At 37, Van der Sar belied his years by pulling off a number of top reaction saves early on, and was the ultimate hero as he kept out Anelka’s sudden death penalty. The Dutchman won the competition 13 years ago with Ajax, and was helpless with Lampard’s goal.
Wes Brown (7/10)
Benched when United lifted the trophy in 1999, Brown proved his worth with a mature showing last night. He defended with steel and marauded well, assisting Ronaldo’s opener with an inviting cross.
Rio Ferdiand (5/10)
The United captain was booked before half time, and two minutes later Essien’s shot rebounded off his back allowing Lampard to strike home. Not the 29-year old’s best performance.
Nemanja Vidic (8/10)
The brave Serbian missed Tuesday’s training but was solid against Drogba – Chelsea’s biggest threat. Dominated in the air but could not do much about Lampard’s goal.
Patrice Evra (6/10)
The 27-year-old French international was largely anonymous before the interval, though he dealt with Joe Cole well, and showed good fitness in extra time.
Paul Scholes (6/10)
The 33-year-old, who missed out against Bayern Munich nine years ago, had a big hand in Ronaldo’s header and a good first half, but was replaced by Giggs after 88 minutes.
Owen Hargreaves (6/10)
The busy £17m signing from Bayern Munich battled well on the right. He harried, crossed and tackled with lung-bursting energy. Had to be especially combative in the second half when Chelsea were on top.
Michael Carrick (6/10)
Former Tottenham playmaker Carrick should have put the game beyond Chelsea, but his drive in the 35th minute was saved well by Cech.
Cristiano Ronaldo (8/10)
The gallingly talented Portuguese finally proved he can perform on the big stage. The 23-year-old’s 42nd goal of a dizzying season was his first against Chelsea. Missed in the shootout.
Carlos Tévez (5/10)
The tireless 24-year-old Argentine fluffed two gilt-edged chances in the first half, both from inside the six-yard box. The first forced a good save but the second was profligate.
Wayne Rooney (6/10)
A bustling, if not frustrated, show from the 22-year-old, fused with moments of class. Laced a pin-point 60 yard cross-field ball to Ronaldo which should have put United 2-0 up, and a cross that Tévez wasted.
Substitutes:
Ryan Giggs
In his 759th game for the Reds he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of appearances for United when he came on for Scholes after 88 minutes and almost scored in extra time.
Nani
On for Rooney, the other Portuguese trickster, failed to adjust to the tempo of the game.
Kuszczak, Anderson, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (7/10)
The 66-year-old Scot was as vocal as usual – both with his own players and with the officials. Made his first change two minutes before the end, after a half under the cosh.
CHELSEA (4-3-3)
Petr Cech (/10)
The Czech Republic No1 was a spectator for Ronaldo’s header. However the 26-year-old pulled off a top-drawer double save minutes later to keep his side in the contest. Saved the Portuguese’s spot kick to put Chelsea in the driving seat.
Michael Essien (6/10)
The Ghanaian, 25, looked out of position at right back against mesmeric winger Ronaldo, who flummoxed him in the first half, though he grew into the game after the interval.
John Terry (7/10)
Having recovered from his dislocated elbow, the Chelsea captain contained Tévez, and could only watch as Ronaldo headed past Cech. Did well to motivate his team at the break, but wanted the ground to eat him up after scuffing his crucial penalty.
Ricardo Carvalho (6/10)
Lacked the anticipation he normally exhibits, and was booked for a violent tackle on his fellow countryman, Ronaldo, in the first half. The 30-year-old grew into the game, however.
Ashley Cole (4/10)
Recovered from ankle injury sustained in training on Tuesday, and – despite early change of boots – he failed to get to grips with the magnitude of the game.
Frank Lampard (7/10)
Oozed inventiveness in the midfield and pulled Chelsea back into the game with a fortunate goal. The 29-year-old also crashed the underside of United’s bar in extra time.
Claude Makelele (6/10)
Harshly booked early on, the French holding midfielder was in the wars all evening. The 35-year-old stymied the contributions of Scholes and Rooney as the game wore on.
Michael Ballack (7/10)
Slow to impose himself on the final, the 31-year-old German captain proved he has a big match temperament with some good shots and clever distribution.
Florent Malouda (4/10)
Largely anonymous for the first 90 minutes, the 27-year-old French winger – a £13.3m signing from Lyon – was substituted for Kalou in extra time.
Didier Drogba (6/10)
Ivorian striker Drogba took nearly 80 minutes to have his first meaningful effort, and rattled the post with it. Kept quiet by the imposing Vidic, much to his frustration, which spilled over when he struck the Serbian and was ejected in extra time.
Joe Cole (5/10)
The diminutive Chelsea No10, one of four West Ham old boys, struggled to stamp his mark on the game. The 26-year-old, used on the right, was handled well by Evra and replaced by Anelka in extra time.
Substitutes:
Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti
All entered the fray in extra time but had few chances to show their shooting skills. Frenchman Anelka had his spot kick saved to hand United the game.
Cudicini, Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex
Manager: Avram Grant (6/10)
The Israeli looked clueless when Ronaldo nodded his opponents in front and his team looked for direction. But he geed up his troops at the interval and they started asking more questions of United.
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (6/10)
The Slovakian man in black, who turned 40 last Friday, was quick on his whistle and in dishing out his cards. He might have spoiled the game by booking both Scholes and Makelele after 20 minutes.
Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United
