A cracking match but I’m really disappointed Juve didn’t defeat Barca. They were an exotic, mysterious team when I saw them kick our players all over Highbury back in the 1980. I was too young to remember much of the match and far too small to see anything, standing at the back of the north bank. Now the likes of Vidal, Pirlo and Buffon are easily identifiable. But despite routinely maiming Liam Brady during that evening, they soon become my favourite foreign team (and Brady clearly was in a forgiving mood as he joined Juve the following season).
In any case, the arrogance of Barca is hard to stomach. Alves demonstrated a breathtaking level of contempt for the officials and his simulation (okay, his diving) is world-class. He’d be just perfect for Chelsea.
I envied the fans of both teams who no doubt had a wonderful experience in Berlin. I’ve yet to attend a CL Final. I was in Paris in 2006, but didn’t get a ticket. Nevertheless, I had a great time, strolling around Paris for a few days soaking up the rising anticipation. By match day, I had long given up hope of getting hold of a ticket, and my main concern was actually getting inside a bar. There were tens of thousands of ticketless Gooners and the hunt was on for a sports bar. We finally settled on the basement bar of the Highlander, on the left bank, just opposite the Pont Neuf bridge. Sports bars are thin on the ground in Paris, but I would recommend a visit to the Highlander.
Losing was tough, but it was still a great trip. The atmosphere at the UEFA fans park in Berlin would have been fantastic. Next year the final is in Milan……I won’t start making my travel plans just yet.