Guardiola dedicates Champions League crown to Maldini
May 28th, 2009 - 11:52 am ICT by IANS
Rome, May 28 (DPA) Pep Guardiola dedicated Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the final of the Champions League Wednesday to Italian football legend Paolo Maldini.
Maldini played his last match Sunday at the San Siro for AC Milan against AS Roma, but the event was overshadowed by a section of fans who chanted against him.
Milan lost the game 3-2, and the 40-year-old Maldini was angered that the club for whom he has made 901 appearances, failed to speak out on the issue.
When asked why he was dedicating the win, secured through goals in each half from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi, Barca coach Guardiola simply said because Maldini deserved it.
“I am happy to dedicate this game to the best defender of the last 20 years,” said Guardiola. “40 people can’t spoil his final game.”
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Tags: ac milan, barca, barcelona, champions league, coach, dpa, final game, football legend, italian football, last match, league crown, lionel messi, manchester united, paolo maldini, pep, roma, rome, samuel eto o, san siro, victory