Two catenaccios, said a deadpan Sir Alex Ferguson, asked to discuss the relative styles of Manchester United and Barcelona. That many, United players among them, have deemed it the dream final permitted him to joke.
Barcelona and Chelsea were branded beauty and the beast respectively in the semi-finals. No such unflattering contrast will be made between the Spanish and English champions. Barcelona have an unwavering commitment to passing, while attacking is in United's DNA.
Injuries and suspensions deprive Pep Guardiola of four defenders, so Ferguson has reasons to be positive. The prospect of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo running at the 35-year-old reserve left-back Sylvinho or exploiting Yaya Toure's uncertain positioning should spur United forwards.
That is their tradition and Ferguson's preference. Yet the last great dictator of football management can be more of a chameleon than is often acknowledged. His progressive ethos remains, but it has been allied with pragmatism.
Barcelona's attack accounts for their progress, United's defence for theirs. It is instructive that Nemanja Vidic was his colleagues' choice as United's player of the year, that Liverpool outscored them in the Premier League and that they have eight clean sheets in 12 Champions League games.
Given Barcelona's likely domination of possession, an emphasis on defence can become still more pronounced. Even against lesser opponents, the cavaliers have acquired a cautious streak. Barcelona's Dream Team, in its original incarnation, exposed a naivety in thrashing United 4-0 in 1994. Six years later, the recognition that his first Champions League-winning side could be outnumbered in midfield prompted Ferguson to reconfigure his side.
Becoming harder to beat entails sacrificing something. Today, it is a potential £60million (Dh350m) strike-force. Dimitar Berbatov was added to the constellation of stars last year, but he and Carlos Tevez are likely to be rationed to cameos.
Instead, the front three should include Ji-sung Park, a deserving participant but a man selected for his work ethic. The Korean's return in front of goal - 12 in four seasons - is negligible, but his industry is admirable. With Park on one flank and Rooney on the other, the notional forward line may prove the first form of defence. When United visited the Nou Camp last season, Rooney operated as a right-sided midfielder, protecting his full-back, Owen Hargreaves, diligently.
It was an indication that Ferguson is fearful of the Catalans. Arsenal may represent Barcelona's closest comparison in England and the United manager tends to customise his tactics for the Gunners. A game-plan will be formulated to halt Guardiola's side. Even at Old Trafford last season, Barcelona enjoyed 62 per cent of possession. Keeping two clean sheets determined United's progress then; a third tonight is as significant as troubling the makeshift back four.
Moreover, the defence has proved the most reliable department of Ferguson's team this season. The sequence of 14 successive clean sheets produced 38 points without United often scaling the attacking heights. If winning ugly is not in their vocabulary, the temptation to rival Barcelona for style will be ignored.
The outcome may depend upon the contest between the best attack and the best defence in Europe. Given Ronaldo's potency and Rooney's effervescence, United have a considerable threat of their own. But if it won't qualify as catenaccio, it certainly won't be gung-ho either.
@Email:rjolly@thenational.ae
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
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The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
No.6 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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