'The Exhibition of Champions' at Wembley

Only 21 different clubs may have been privileged enough to lift the incredibly prestigious trophy, with pride, honour, passion, and the overwhelming feeling of greatness, but the European Cup and it's 56 dramatic and outstandingly entertaining finals, have created some amazing memories which will never, and can never be forgotten.

England has a proud tradition of Champions League finals, and while Liverpool,  Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are the only English clubs to have won the competition, London's Wembley Stadium has hosted an impressive 6 finals, the most recent of which Manchester United were defeated by four-time winners, Barcelona.

Now, to remember countless incredible memories that football fans from all eras may have experienced of the competition, Wembley Stadium is hosting an "Exhibition of Champions" which celebrates the 56 years of glorious European Football history. A stunning total of over 700 artefacts will be on display at Wembley - items belonging to legends of the game -  players considered as the greatest of their generation, including:

· The match balls from the last five finals
· Denis Law’s jersey from 1968
· The original Intercontinental Cup – valued at approximately £225,000
· Johan Cruyff’s jersey from 1972
· David Villa’s signed shirt from 2011
· Celtic signed frame from their 1967 victory
· Di Stefano’s 1959 jersey
· Van Basten’s jersey from 1990
· McGovern’s shirt from 1979
· Eusebio‘s shirt from 1963
· Zidane’s boots from 2002

It will also feature prize exhibits including inspirational Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard’s 2005 captain’s armband, David Beckham’s jersey from Manchester United’s nail biting victory in 1999 and Graeme Souness’ three winners’ medals from ’78, ’81 and ’84.

It is indeed a stunning collection of items, littered with some of the great names never mind from just European football, but names known all around the world. The astonishing reach that the competition has is emphasised by the television viewing figures; 300 million people worldwide tuned in to watch Barcelona take on Manchester United at Wembley in May 2011 - a record breaking amount of enthused football fans witnessing history.

The Wembley Stadium Tour has welcomed millions of sports fans since it first opened in 1978 and now from Monday visitors will be able to enjoy the   ‘Exhibition of Champions’ as well as the England changing rooms, players tunnel, trophy winner’s steps, press conference rooms and Wembley’s famous Royal Box.

To book a place on the Wembley Tour and see the ‘Exhibition of Champions’ visit www.wembleystadium.com/tours or call 0844 800 2755.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball

Why Javier Pastore is Worth £45m

Javier Pastore is 22 years-old, has played 103 competitive football games, scored 25 goals, assisted 14, and cost his current club Palermo only £5 million when he joined them from the Argentinian side Club Atlético Huracán just two years ago. Now, in 2011, the Argentine attacking midfielder is being offered to clubs for over £40 million. How on earth has that happened, and why do so many believe that Pastore is worth that obscene amount?

Many of you may have looked at Pastore on YouTube when you heard clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea were interested in signing him. You may have seen his silky skills and elegant passing, his attacking style and eye for goal. Of course, that's great to see, and possibly a joy to behold, but do you really believe that he is worth the same as Zinedine Zidane was back in 2001? Is he really someone who you would risk splashing a staggering amount on in the hope that he could change the fortunes of your club?

In truth, I don't believe anyone is worth that amount, but then you have to look at the situation from a footballing point of view - football is in a whole world of it's own when it comes to money, and it's a world we can't even begin to comprehend. So I suppose in footballing terms, yes, Javier Pastore looks an impressive and very promising talent, with huge potential to grow into a world beater. But still - £45 million? It seems too much.

Hang on. Who's "interested" in the player again? Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea and AC Milan. Ah. It makes sense now. Of course Pastore isn't really worth the £45 million that we have been quoted. No, but Pastore's club know, that they have a young player capable of special things in their midst, and clubs with a seemingly limitless bank balance are interested - namely, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

This is something that many clubs with talented young players can now do; raise the price of their player when big clubs circle, quote them the sum expected, watch as they ponder thoughtfully while checking their wallets carefully, and sell the player for a massive profit. It's brilliant, and many clubs set out now, looking for young, promising, rough diamonds, with a profit in mind. Udinese are a perfect example.

Alexis Sanchez, the talented South American, who has been the subject of big bids from Manchester United, City and Barcelona this summer was part of Udinese's project of signing up loads of young, cheap South American and African footballers in the hope that one or two will turn out like Sanchez has so that the club can sell them on for a huge profit. Udinese were lucky that both sides of Manchester - the red and he blue registered interest in Sanchez, as it only increased his valuation - a valuation Barcelona are struggling to meet.

The Palermo chief has recently spoken about Javier Pastore's future, stating that it is very likely that his young star will be leaving this summer:

"There's a 90 per cent chance that he'll go away, because it is the desire of the player. That is normal when you know that certain clubs want you."

"Pastore will go to England or Spain. The favourites are Real Madrid and Malaga. Manchester City are also interested in him, as well as Manchester United and Chelsea."

So the truth is, Pastore isn't really worth £45 million, but Palermo know that clubs will be willing to pay that amount for him - and they will of course be willing to accept the money. Pastore may be very talented; his skills, his passing, his vision, his creativity, his flare, his talent for impersonations, but in my opinion, he isn't worth £45 million.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball

The Legend of Paul Scholes

It may sometimes be hard to believe that in Paul Scholes's 17 seasons in the Manchester United first team, he has amassed an amazing 10 Premier League titles, 2 Champions League trophies and won 3 FA Cups among many other awards. 675 appearances and 150 goals for one of the biggest and best clubs in the world is not bad going at all, and along with his stunning passing, sensational vision and intelligence on the field he has received countless plaudits. From team mates to footballing legends, Scholes really has attracted huge appreciation. Not that Scholes listens to it, in 2010 he said:

"I try to ignore the plaudits. It is nice for people to say positive things but I just put it to one side and concentrate on the next game."

What a player he is. The mini clip above shows just a fraction of the maestros considerable talents and with his career unfortunately drawing to a close with talk of retirement constant, I looked back on the players, managers and footballing legends who have heaped praised on this man's shoulders.

Ryan Giggs

"I have played with some great players during my time at United but I would have to put Paul Scholes down as the best.”

Sir Bobby Charlton

"Paul is always so in control and pin-point accurate with his passing—a beautiful player to watch."

Zinedine Zidane

“There is no doubt for me that Paul Scholes is still in a class of his own." 

“He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get." 

“One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.”

Michael Carrick

"Paul Scholes is just fantastic."

"When you play alongside him, you realise what a special talent he is. He is so intelligent and clever, he makes the game look really simple and showed it against Celtic by creating two goals."

"Believe me, it is a pretty hard skill to be able to slot people through gaps when everything is going on around you. Paul can do that and I felt he was the big difference between the teams." 

Thierry Henry

“For me the best player, and every time we used to play against Manchester United, we always used to be scared of Paul Scholes. For me, he was the best I have seen in the Premiership in the middle of the park."

“His vision, the way he sees the game, his goals ratio...a bit more now obviously, because we all, you know have to stop one day...but his goal ratio, his vision, he could put his foot in, whatever you wanted."

“I’m also a big fan of Steven Gerrard but for me, Paul Scholes was amazing.”

Xavi

"In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything."

"He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more."

"A role model. For me, and I really mean this, he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. He's spectacular, he has it all, the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him." 

Edgar Davids

“I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is. We can all learn from Paul Scholes.”

Marcello Lippi

“Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team — that is how highly I have always rated him." 

“An all-round midfielder with quality and character in abundance.”

Laurent Blanc

"I tell anyone who asks me — Scholes is the best English player.”

Peter Schmeichel

“His reading of the game is unsurpassed. He has the best eye for a pass, for what the play or the game needs at that precise moment, that I have never seen anyone else have."

“He controls and distributes the play and the game better than anyone I have ever seen.”

Sir Alex Ferguson

"He's one of the great players to come through the ranks here."

Pep Guardiola

"Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes – he is the best midfielder of his generation."

"I would have loved to have played alongside him."

Nani

"He’s the best midfielder I’ve ever seen. He can pass, score goals with his left, right, his head – he can do anything."

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball 

Scholes & Hargreaves - Time to Say Goodbye?

Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves. Six years and 631 Manchester United appearances separate the two midfield maestros, but to the extreme misfortune of the latter, that is not the only thing that is different. Aside from the obvious difference in appearance; Scholes's distinctive short ginger hair and scruffy appearance compared to the Canadian's sleek, curly locks and pulled up socks, Paul Scholes has not suffered persistent, possible career ending injuries to the extent that his midfield colleague Hargreaves has.

Both players have been key in the teams they have represented - Scholes with England and United and Hargreaves with England, Bayern Munich and, whenever possible, United too. Hargreaves's gritty, hard-working, disciplined and precise attitude that helps him run the midfield like an engine when in top form and free from injuries has been starting to run out of petrol and chug to a halt for a while now. Those injuries have taken their toll on the 30 year-old, and as soon as he has recovered from one, he picks up another. It is pure, unrivalled footballing bad luck.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that we will not see Hargreaves play for Manchester United again this season, and that, regrettably could mean that we will never see Hargreaves play for United again, as his contract expires at the end of this season. Referring to a possible contract extension, Sir Alex said, in an unusual indecisive manner; "I don't know what is going to happen."

Talks with David Gill have been held, but that is all they are - talks - nothing more. It is understandable that Ferguson is unsure over Hargreaves's future. The player himself, or probably even his doctor are unsure over his future. His body, his injuries are just so unpredictable that a new contract would be a big risk, and one that could end up devastating an already shattered Hargreaves.

Ferguson concluded, "We have to make a decision." Indicating, rather hopefully that Hargreaves has something to cling to. There may yet be some optimism, some light at the end of the injury ravaged tunnel, the tunnel that Hargreaves has so often walked down, or hobbled down to receive some treatment. Sir Alex knows, as we all do, that if Hargreaves were to be free from his injuries, he would be a Manchester United regular, and would be driving the team forward every week to success, much like he did in his double winning first season at Old Trafford.


Scholes has been far from injury free himself, suffering blurry vision in the 05/06 season which ruled him out for a while, as well as knee ligament damage late in 2007 which saw him miss a good few months. But Scholes's end is not coming about because of injuries, but rather age, the thing that one day affects us all. Ryan Giggs is apparently immune from this thing called "age", but Scholes is not so lucky, and in a recent rare interview, the 36 year-old reiterated the uncertainty surrounding his future; "I really don't know what I am going to do yet. I've got these games to think about now and I will decide from there."

United are already looking for a replacement, with rumours circulating everywhere about the future of United's midfield, as to whom, or what will replace the passing, inspirational expert that is Paul Scholes. His ability, much like Hargreaves, in the past has been severely underrated, but those who truly admire the beautiful side of football, the precision perfect cross-field passes, the delightful dinks over the defence, the astounding forward thinking vision and the tenacity of a little man in love with football, will understand how truly great Scholes has been.

It isn't everyday that a footballer is called the "greatest player of his generation" by none other than Zinedine Zidane.

Scholes's age has limited his starts this season, and unfortunately, it is something that we will have to begin to get used to if he decides to hang up those legendary boots that have graced countless football pitches all over the world representing Manchester United. Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley may be his last Manchester derby, but it is by far, one of the most important.

Hargreaves may not have a starring role, but Scholes sure as hell will, and who knows, when he walks out onto that Wembley pitch and is greeted by cheers of 80,000 football fans, he may be overwhelmed by the great occasion and sway his mind into staying at his club for just one more year. His future is in his hands, but whatever the decision, he will have the support of Manchester United fans and footballing fans everywhere.