What the back pages say: Chelsea to sign Bayern star Ribery for £43m, Messi lays waste to United, S

28 May 2009 07:50
DAILY MAIL Manchester United's dream of a second successive Champions League triumph was laid to waste by the genius of Lionel Messi. We were well beaten, admits United boss Sir Alex Ferguson Chelsea bound? Franck Ribery is the target of a £43m bid from Stamford Bridge, says The Sun THE SUN Cristiano Ronaldo blasted boss Alex Ferguson's tactics as Manchester United became victims of a Euro Messi-cre. Also: Chelsea are locked in talks to sign Bayern Munich ace Franck Ribery for £43million. DAILY STAR Manchester United's Champions League dreams ended in heartbreak last night as they were outclassed by Barcelona. Also: Sunderland have struck a £200million jackpot after billionaire backer Ellis Short sealed his Stadium of Light takeover. MIRROR Magical Lionel Messi ended Manchester United's dream of back-to-back Champions League final triumphs last night. DAILY EXPRESS It was Lionel Messi one, Cristiano Ronaldo nil as Barcelona gave Manchester United a brutal football lesson to win the Champions League final in Rome last night. Also: Andrew Flintoff has lost his fight to be fit for the ICC World Twenty20 after failing to recover from knee surgery. THE TIMES Sir Alex Ferguson's dream of becoming the first manager to retain the Champions League perished last night at the hands of an outstanding Barcelona team who made history of their own. Also: Carlo Ancelotti's indiscretion will not cost him the opportunity of managing Chelsea despite the AC Milan coach's disclosure of many of the working practices of Roman Abramovich. THE TELEGRAPH Manchester United's dreams of becoming the first club to retain the Champions League, and Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of becoming only the second manager to win the European Cup three times, were burnt out in the heady heat of an exhilarating display by Barcelona as Ferguson was left to rue the fact that too many of his big-name players failed to perform on the night. THE INDEPENDENT You cruel men of Rome: or rather a Barcelona team who reduced the best of the Premier League to a pile of rubble. Also: Steve Bruce remains Sunderland's preferred option as their new manager but Wigan Athletic's £5m compensation claim has created an element of doubt about his move to Wearside. THE GUARDIAN It really did turn out to be an unforgettable final. Also: Sacha Gaydamak, the owner of Portsmouth, has accepted an offer to buy the club from Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the Dubai-born businessman who came to prominence when he fronted the takeover of Manchester City last August.

Source: Daily_Mail