I seriously should stop watching football.

I could have had a heart attack yesterday. I think my blood pressure was at all time high at 200/180 mmHg  as Chelsea and Manchester battle it out to be crowned the Kings of Europe. After 90 minutes of missed chances where United dominated the first half and Chelsea the second half, both teams were inseparable at 1-1 score (Ronaldo for United and Lampard for Chelsea). Extra time could not settle the game as the only drama was Didier Drogba’s sending off for slapping Nemanja Vidic and John Terry’s “spitting in disguise” incident. (watched the video, he did not do it. sorry Terry)

Then, came the penalties. How ironic it is for Cristiano Ronaldo, United’s player of the year, to miss the penalty that could have lost the team the trophy. John Terry then had the chance to give Chelsea its first Champions League trophy by slotting in his penalty, but how twisted can football be, when he slipped and hit the ball away from goal. Both teams scored their following two penalties, and then, a moment of heroics by Edwin Van de Sar as he palmed away Nicolas Anelka’s shot. Game over for Chelsea. Manchester United crowned the Kings of Europe for the second time in nine years, fifty years after the tragic death of eight of the legendary Busby Babes in the Munich disaster and fourty years after they won their first European cron. What a fitting tribute to them.  

A couple of afterthoughts:

- The pitch in Luzhniki Stadium was horrible especially with the rain. I lost count of the times the players have slipped.

- I hope…..Avram Grant would not blame Drogba’s sending off four minutes from end of extra time as the cause of their loss . Oh and please do not suggest for second leg play off for Champions League Finals that end in draw.

- I kinda suspect that Ronaldo may miss his penalty just to spice things up and make the match seems a little dramatic

- This is the second Champions League title for is Edwin Van der Sar (won it in Ajax), Owen Hargreaves (in Bayern Munich), Wes Brown (Manchester United) and Ryan Giggs (Manchester United). Unfortunately for Michael Ballack (previously Bayern Munich) and Ashley Cole (previously Arsenal) , this is their second Champions League Final lost.

- What’s in store for  both teams next season in the Champions League? It will be hard for Chelsea to reach this stage of the season again if the news on the exodus of their players are true. As for Manchester United? Well, I expect the crux of the team to remain with the obvious exception of Louis Saha (and maybe Silvestre). It will be hard to retain the Champions League title, but I expect and hope that United is capable of it.

- Back in 1998/99 season, United won the treble of EPL title, Champions League and FA Cup. I would call this year a “Treble Season” as well; EPL title, Champions League and FA Community Shield . And it’s such a coincidence that in three of those competition, Chelsea had to play second fiddle.

*updates: Henk Ten Cate (Chelsea Asst. Coach) and Petr Cech (Chelsea’s goalkeeper) was reported as saying that Chelsea should have won and deserved to win as they were the better side. Obviously it’s not entirely spot on, but yet again…it does not matter isn’t it?

*Cristiano Ronaldo was reported by Marca, a Spanish newspaper that he has agreed terms with Real Madrid. I hope he does not betray the club that has given him so much and dragged him out of vilification after the 2006 World Cup. Ronaldo to Real Madrid will be acceptable by the fans a couple of years from now, but not now.