Cristiano Will Always Be CR7: EINE...ZWEI...DREI!

Ich liebe die Meister Liga, weil es mir die gelegenheit gibt, die zehn sprachen zu benutzen, die ich gelernt habe. Michael Owen hat bewiesen, der Meister des Felds heute zu sein.

Michael Owen truly was the master of the pitch today. With defensive worries pinching the brow of one Herr Ferguson, the Reds showed that they will not be underestimated, no matter how decimated their defensive stronghold is at the moment.
Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga champs, needed a draw and for CSKA Moscow to lose to Besiktas. Moscow was leading 1-0 when Besiktas leveled on 86 minutes. But in the 90th, Moscow took the lead, the win, and the coveted second spot in to the knockout round. Wolfsburg has a fantastic striker in Edin Dzeko. His header, which barely cleared Michael Carrick's head, leveled his team with United. Dzeko has been linked in the papers with United for the January transfer window. He has quelled those rumors by stating that he would like to go to AC Milan instead...o-kay. Not sure why, but I'm sure he has his reasons. One of them may be the man currently wearing the hallowed United number 7. The Reds' strikers are in form right now and a move might secure Dzeko a spot on the bench. At Milan he could link up with a former United number 7 (Beckham).

Back to the hat-trick. The most impressive thing about Owen's goals was that he scored in three different ways. The first goal was a well-timed header from a Nani cross:

Eine

The second was a predatory goal that was engineered by the fancy French footwork of former Bordeaux starlet, Gabriel Obertan. He wended his way through tight traffic to find Owen waiting in the box for a predatory goal. Bingo!:

Zwei

The third goal just in to injury time was fashioned completely by Owen. After receiving the ball at midfield, he outran two Wolfsburg defenders and chipped a shot over the keeper's outstretched hand:

Buh-bye...Drei

After the match, the current United number 7 thanked his teammates for the goals:

“Obviously I’ve scored a few hat-tricks in my time but it’s nice to get one that caps off a great team display. Me getting the three goals will probably grab the headlines but I thought it was an excellent team performance tonight."
And what about the coveted team ball?
“I’ve given it to the masseur, I get a bit shy when I’m holding it as it draws attention to me! Hopefully he’ll get it signed by the lads and then pop it in my bag when we get back to Manchester.”

Obertan getting his boot shined by French compatriot, Patrice Evra

Saluting the traveling Reds fans

In other Champions League news today:
Bordeaux finished atop their group garnering the most points of any team (16) with a 1-0 win over Maccabi-Haifa in Israel. Les Girondins only took 2 of their starting 11, preferring to rest them for the upcoming battle with Lyon.
Former United number 7, Cristiano, scored two goals (one...a beauty of a freekick) against a weak Marseilles side, securing the top spot for his side in the knockout round. At least he can breathe a sigh of relief that he won't be playing against his former side in the next round, a fear that he admitted to the Spanish press a few weeks ago.

I taught him this move...

And finally, even though he didn't play in Israel, I thought I would give Rosey a treat with a few Gourcuff photos in training at the Chateau du Haillan (see photo below of this beautiful training facility).