Champions league / Editor / 30 May 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

How did Lionel Messi's new role in the team affect the outcome of the Champions League final, why is the 2013/14 season so important for Barcelona and what next for Dimitar Berbatov? Jamie Pacheco tries to answer the big questions in the aftermath of 'that' game.

It was all a case of déjà vu. Two years on Pep Guardiola's hair is that little bit scarcer, Sir Alex Ferguson's cheeks are that little bit rosier and a couple of the players on the respective team-sheets had changed. But other than that, it was pretty much the exact same storyline as that of two years ago in Rome.

A bright start from Manchester United that promised so much, followed by a Barcelona master-class of slick passing, incessant harassing when not in possession and the odd moment of genius from an Andres Iniesta or a Lionel Messi. At the final whistle we were all left with a smile on our faces knowing that we'd witnessed one of the greatest club sides in living memory bringing their A-game to a the biggest stage of them all, a Champions League Final.

Lionel Messi was at the centre of it all, he always is. But this time, it was in more ways than one. Ever since his introduction into Barca's first team, he's been employed as one of the wide men of their customary front three. First it was the prolific Samuel Eto'o who played through the middle with Messi normally deployed on the right, cutting inside on that magic wand of a left foot of his. As the Cameroonian walked through the Nou Camp exit door, the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic entered it and he too was asked to play through the centre. The Swede's miserable season resulted in a loan move to the 'other' Milan club and at the start of this season David Villa was seen as his like-for-like replacement. Still for much of this season, Messi played wide. But just over the last couple of months Pep Guardiola has made the change that we were all crying out for and has given the little Argentinean the more central role. And last night it made all the difference. With the freedom to come deep and pick the ball up from that holy trinity of Busquets/Xavi/Iniesta, there wasn't an obvious United player to pick him up. The full-backs couldn't follow him there, Michael Carrick had been booked, Ryan Giggs isn't that sort of player.

The bad news for Europe's elite is that there's unlikely to be any respite for them next season. After speculation that Pep Guardiola might be off, with the vacant Chelsea position his most likely next role, he's now confirmed he's staying. The Barca hierarchy may be tempted by a huge offer for someone like Daniel Alves or Seydou Keita, just like they were when Manchester City came calling for Yaya Toure last season. After all, even the team who plays the most beautiful football in the world has to balance the books. But they won't sell one of their prize assets just yet and the rest of the squad will remain intact.

But it's the season after that which will be the intriguing one. All the signs are that Guardiola will move on at the end of next season in search of a new challenge and it wouldn't be inconceivable for him to take one of Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets with him. They too may feel that there's not much left to be done, or win, at the Nou Camp.

As for Manchester United, there's no reason for them to be left feeling embarrassed. No-one could have lived with Barca last night and it was a big achievement to have reached the final at all in a season which many thought would end in failure all-round after a lacklustre goalless draw at home to Rangers in the Champions League and a poor start to their domestic campaign. Rumours that Dimitar Berbatov stormed out of Wembley after not being named on the bench appear to be off the mark, according to Ferguson himself, but the Bulgarian's days at Old Trafford appear to be numbered despite finishing as joint top-scorer in the Premier League. Worry not though United fans: in Javier Hernandez they've unearthed a gem of a talent. He had a poor game last night but he's been superb all season and the Old Trafford faithful can look forward to plenty more goals and willing running for years to come.

The signs are that David de Gea will replace Edwin van der Sar. Those are big gloves to fill but La Liga fans will know that talent, at least, won't be an issue. Rio Ferdinand missed plenty of games last season and his injury problems are unlikely to go away but Chris Smalling proved an able deputy and that position looks sufficiently covered. It's in the heart of midfield though that a big name player may be needed to be drafted in. For the first time in over 20 years Ryan Giggs looked like he couldn't handle the high-tempo of the match, whereas Paul Scholes was only named as a substitute and had little impact when he came on. One or both may well call it a day over the next couple of weeks.

The football season may just have finished but it's already time to start thinking about the next.

United are the [3.0] favourites to win next year's Premier League title.