United can win CL, says Inter captain

AFP/Milan

A file picture dated May 27, 2009 shows FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (L) in action against Wayne Rooney of Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League final 2009 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. FC Barcelona will face Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final on May 28, 2011 at the Wembley stadium in London, featuring two sides who both triumphed at the old stadium in what was then the European Cup. After sweeping aside Schalke 04 on 04 May 2011, Manchester United will be at the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the fifth time in their history and the third time in four years. Opponents FC Barcelona’s triumph over Real Madrid puts them into their seventh final following 1994, 2006 and 2009 in the Champions League and 1961, 1986 and 1992 in the former European Cup. For United, the match in London will be the chance to avenge the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the 2009 final in Rome

Manchester United are capable of beating Barcelona to win the Champions League, according to Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti. The Argentine lifted the trophy last season after his side, under Jose Mourinho, dethroned the then reigning champions Barca in the semi-finals. Barcelona beat United in the 2009 final in Rome, thus deposing the English champions who had beaten Chelsea in Moscow the year before.   “I think the Manchester side of this year could take revenge for the Champions Legaue final lost in Rome,” he told reporters. “But it’s not an easy task given that Barcelona are certainly the team that plays the best football in the world.” Turning his attentions to his own team, Zanetti insisted this season has not been a complete write-off. Last year Inter won an unprecedented treble in Italian football but their Champions League defence came to and at the quarter-final stage in a humiliating 7-3 aggregate defeat to Schalke 04, themselves thrashed 6-1 by United in the semis. And Inter’s fierce city rivals AC Milan only need one more point from their final three games to wrestle the Serie A title from the nerazzurri’s grasp. It leaves only the Italian Cup left for Inter but Zanetti says even failing to win that wouldn’t be a disaster. “Even without this trophy, which has become more improtant over the last few years, our season wouldn’t be a complete write-off,” he said. “I’m happy to remember that we’re world champions and we won the Italian Supercup. “But in any case we’ll do the impossible to reach the final and then to win it. “Not least because it would have a special taste as it would allow us to play for the 2011 Supercup in a derby against Milan.” Inter lead Roma 1-0 from their semi-final first leg and play the second leg at the San Siro next week. Real ask UEFA to re-examine Barca ‘play-acting’ MADRID: Real Madrid yesterday asked UEFA to reconsider their decision not to investigate the behaviour of Barcelona’s players during the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. UEFA’s disciplinary panel on Monday rejected Real’s claim that Barcelona’s players were guilty of provocation during their 2-0 win at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu on April 27, in which the hosts’ midfielder Pepe was sent off. Real also appealed against Pepe’s dismissal, for a foul on Dani Alves, but UEFA upheld the referee’s decision to show him a straight red card. The second leg on Tuesday ended in a 1-1 draw at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, allowing the Catalan side to advance to a meeting with Manchester United in the final in London on May 28. UEFA’s appeals panel is next scheduled to sit on May 16. European football’s governing body will on Friday announce whether or not Real coach Jose Mourinho will be punished for his “inappropriate remarks” after the first leg.