21 May 2008: A look back at the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea

The next Champions League final on May 29, which will oppose Manchester City to Chelsea as well as the 2019 final between Liverpool and Spurs, are the last two 100% English finals. You have to go back to 2008 to see another one. It was at the time the first all-English final in the history of the competition. Indeed, 13 years ago, on May 21, 2008, Chelsea faced Manchester United. Two teams in great shape at the time since the Red Devils had finished firstin the English championship. The Blues were their runner-up. A final that kept all its promises…

Pre-match

Manchester United are back in the cup final 9 years after their last success in 1999. Sir Alex Ferguson's men are having an excellent season, with a squad full of qualities and talents. It is the best defense and attack in their league with 22 goals conceded for 80 goals scored, all in 38 games. In the Champions League, the Red Devils are unbeaten and have only conceded 5 goals. In the semi-finals, they eliminated the great Barca of Guardiola. The overall score over the two matches (home-and-away) is 1-0 in favour of the Mancunian club after the draw and virgin in Barcelona. Paul Scholes, is the only scorer of the double confrontation. Here is the eleven concocted by Ferguson for this final: Manchester United: van der Sar – Brown, Ferdinand (cap), Vidić, Evra – Hargreaves, Scholes, Carrick, Cristiano Ronaldo – Rooney, Tévez For its part, Chelsea have the opportunity to win their first Champions League for their first final in their history. It is also the occasion to be the first success of the acquisition of Abramovitch in 2003. At home, Chelsea are unbeaten in this competition. Chelsea, victorious of Liverpool in the semi-finals after extra time and knowing the Mancunian club on the fingertips arrives full of confidence in this final. Joe Cole, elusive throughout the first leg, is the only scorer. Here is the eleven of Israeli coach Avram Grant: Chelsea: Čech – Essien, Carvalho, Terry (cap), Asley Cole – Makelele, Ballack, Lampard, Joe Cole, Malouda – Drogba

The film of the first half

The Red Devils kick off at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The latter dominate the debates in this final. Chelsea were quickly overwhelmed by the speed of United's attacking players. Cristiano Ronaldo, gives the Blues a spin while Carlos Tévez and Wayne Rooney repeat the ball calls on the attacking front. A domination rewarded in the 26th minute, on a header from CR7. After a one-two double between Brown and Scholes, the England defender delivered an offering over the head of the Portuguese, who thanks to a superhuman relaxation propelled the ball into the back of the net of a spectator Petr Cech on his goal line. The number 7 of Man U, scored his 42nd goal of the season, which will allow him to become the European golden shoe. It was that same year that he won his first Ballon d'Or.

That goal from CR7 woke up the Blues. Ten minutes after the opening of the scoring, on a delivery of Drogba's header, Michael Ballack touches the Mancunian post. The match is racing, in the wake of this action, it is the turn of the Czech goalkeeper to save Chelsea from a second Mancunian goal. Just before half-time, on a strike from Essien countered by captain Rio Ferdinand, the ball miraculously fell back into the feet of Lampard who only had to deceive the Dutch goalkeeper. Thanks to their iconic midfielder, Chelsea came back into the game and revived an increasingly indecisive final.

The summary of this second half

The second period is marked by tension and fear. The match is very choppy with a lot of fouls. The stakes take precedence over the game, opportunities are rare, until the 78th minute. Drogba inherited a ball on the edge of the box and found Van der Sar's post. This is the second time in the game that they have received an amount. Both teams don't want to take any more risks. We are gradually approaching extensions. The referee of the match whistles the end of the match, thirty additional minutes are necessary to decide between the two English cadors.

A match at the end of the suspense

Extra time began with a cannon shot from Lampard. The Englishman finds for the third time Chelsea the crossbar of a lucky Van der Sar. Fatigue is more and more present, there is more and more space on the ground. A few moments before the penalty shootout, a heated altercation opposes Vidic to Ballack, causing a general crowd around the referee. That's when Drogba stepped in by slapping Manchester's Serbian defender. The referee has no choice but to send off the Ivorian, who will not be able to draw his penalty.

The referee whistles the end of extra time, the penalty shoot-out will give the outcome of the match.The first two shooters of each team do not tremble, 2-2. It is Cristiano Ronaldo's turn to present himself against the last bulwark of the Blues. CR7 hits but Cech dives on the right side. Chelsea took the lead in this penalty shootout. At 4-4, Blues captain John Terry was able to give his club the win, but he slipped and found the post. Van der Sar is truly blessed by the gods that night. Then, at 6-5 for the Red Devils, Anelka's penalty kick was stopped by Van der Sar. Manchester United won their third Champions League.

Goals, tension, an expulsion, a slide, it's a legendary match. Even today in 2021, it remains as one of the biggest finals of the Champions League.