The FINAL word from Moscow.

(Disclaimer: The author would like to remind all members that he hates Manchester United and Chelsea equally. I have just hated Manu longer.)

Winners of the 2008 Champions League Final: Manchester United (England)

As much as it hurts to think about it, that will be all that will be remembered of this final 50 years down the road. Who will remember Drogba and Lampard being so desperately unlucky by hitting the post and bar respectively (though ardent Manu fans will remember Jancker hitting the post with Schmeichel stranded in 1999), who will remember that Manu could well and truly have put the game to bed by the 40th Min after missing 2 or 3 glorious chances, who will remember that Drogba got himself sent off for a totally unnecessary flick of his fingers (though now Rooney and Benitez'z comments make sense don't they?).

I enjoyed the game. I didn't think it was dull or uneventful. Two teams, now don't piss me off by saying they were English when only 8 of 22 players were from Eng-er-land, going for it, end to end stuff, ferocious tackles, divine interceptions and then at the end of the day, the script written in the stars prevailed to hand Manu the Cup. How John Terry will get over that slip I really do not know. I hate Chelsea, but I genuinely felt sorry for the guy. If he had passed the ball into the net, I dont think any Manu fan would have begrudged him the victory. Alas, it was not meant to be.

The game was played at frenetic pace and credit to the players for making it possible. Add to that the incessant rain, and you just had the feeling that the footballing gods were having a real battle of destinies up there, Chelsea with Lampard's mum passing and Manu with the Busby Babes. At the end of the day, 3 inches is all that separated the teams, and I can assure you that after yesterday, John Terry will check his studs before a game over, and over, and over, and over again.

Now one fact that disturbs me is how everyone, yes everyone including the knowledgable English commentators like Andy Gray and Martin Tyler are so ignorant of the fact that "Chelsea are made up of just a rich Russian Billionaire". Let me give you some cold, hard facts:

Starting 11 (Chelsea):

• Cech (7mil)
• Essien (24mil)
• Terry (Home grown (HG))
• Carvalho (17mil)
• Cole (16mil)
• J.Cole (7mil)
• Ballack (Free)
• Makelele (17mil)
• Lampard (11mil)
• Malouda (15mil)
• Drogba (24mil)
• Sub: Kalou (11mil)
• Sub: Anelka (15mil)
• Sub: Belletti (3mil)

Total Cost: 167 Million Pounds

Starting 11 (ManU)

• Van Der Sar (2mil)
• Brown (HG)
• Ferdinand (30mil)
• Vidic (7mil)
• Evra (6mil)
• Hargreaves (17mil)
• Carrick (18mil)
• Scholes (HG)
• Ronaldo (12mil)
• Tevez (20mil)
• Rooney (30mil)
• Sub: Nani (17mil)
• Sub: Anderson (18mil)
• Sub: Giggs (HG)

Total Cost: 177 Million Pounds

So you tell me, which team was more expensively assembled? And that, contrary to my dear friend Satheeish's point, is what wins you trophies. Money. They did not have the BEST squad, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan will argue that with you, but at the end of the day, their squad was the most expensively put together by Alex Ferguson.

So in closing, I want to congratulate ManU fans for an amazing night. Enjoy the moment and celebrate like no one's looking. I want to console Chelsea fan(s), I guess it was just not meant to be. My heart goes out to Terry.

And at the end of the day, as much as skill and desire are factors needed to win, above all you need luck and money. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be..

Roll on EURO 2008..