FC Barcelona have won the 2009 Champions League after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
The champions of England included for Swindon Town loan player Michael Carrick in their starting line-up at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
Manchester United started brightly having several efforts on goal before Barcelona scored with their first attack. Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o waltzed around the United defence to score on 10 minutes.
After that it was it was a stroll in the park for the stars of Catalunya.
Manchester United rarely threatened, with Carrick having a poor game.
Barca sealed it with 20 minutes to go when Lionel Messi was left unmarked and headed home the second with ease.
Carrick played the full 90 minutes this evening along with playing the entire 120 minutes in Moscow last year for their Champions League victory over Chelsea (Carrick scoring a penalty in the shoot-out).
Carrick joined the Town midfield consisting the likes of Scott Leitch, Bobby Howe and Andy Williams on a months loan from West Ham United in November 1999 making his debut in the 0-0 draw against Norwich City at the County Ground (a 39 year old Jimmy Quinn featured as a sub).
A visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers followed and Swindon took a suprise lead through Iffy Onuora before a late Håvard Flo equaliser meant only a point was earned.
Carrick scored his ever professional goal in his next Town game, a 2-1 loss at home to Charlton Athletic which was followed by a good 1-1 draw at Birmingham City (a last gasp Iffy Onuora equaliser).
His second and final goal came in the form of an equaliser against Walsall at home. Darren Wrack had put the Saddlers ahead on 34 minutes, Carrick scored on ’38 (a now 40 year old Quinn started!).
Carrick’s brief Town career ended with a 3-0 loss at Manchester City.
The Wallsend born midfielder went on to establish himself in the West Ham United first team making 136 league appearances for the Hammers before a £2.75million switch across London to Tottenham Hotspur in 2004.
Two impressive seasons followed which earned him a big money deal to Manchester United in 2006. With United he has won the Premier League 3 times along with the Champions League and World Club Cup.
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I know, it’s a slow news day.
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No news is good news sometimes …
In fairness – Carrick was quite impressive during his loan spell.