Champions League Team Of The Season
Goal.com picks out the best performers in the Champions League over the course of what was a pulsating season.
Boruc
Carvalho Carragher Alex
Gattuso Essien
Fabregas
Quaresma Kaka
Drogba Totti
Goalkeeper
Boruc (Celtic): Was outstanding right through the group stages (Manchester United will vouch), and the class of Celtic's chow against Milan. Reina comes close, but apart from the penalties against Chelsea, he honestly did not have a lot to do.
Defenders
Carvalho (Chelsea): The rock in the Chelsea defence, and one of the most consistent defenders in Europe this season, particularly with Terry having his problems.
Carragher (Liverpool): Very few got past Liverpool all season, and it was largely down to their defensive captain. The 29-year-old barely put a foot wrong.
Alex (PSV): Has not had the best of seasons domestically, suffering from a loss of form, but was absolutely mammoth in the Champions League, helping PSV through the group stage, and then past Arsenal.
Midfielders
Gattuso (Milan): What can you say about this man! He might play to the crowd at times, but more than earns the right to do so with his gutsy displays. Over the last two or three years, he has finally been given the credit he was often denied outside AC Milan.
Essien (Chelsea): Incorrigible is the word for him. Simply wouldn't give up, and that just about sums Chelsea's season up as well! They battled past odds to do themselves proud, and few can be prouder than him!
Fabregas (Arsenal): There was not one game this season in which Arsenal were outplayed, and the credit goes to this man. He ran the show from start to finish. One must wonder what the Gunners could have done with some efficiency, some maturity around him!
Quaresma (Porto): The man of the season for the Portuguese side, who made it past the group stage with his inspiration, and then gave Chelsea a real big scare. To think Barcelona bought him and then sold him!
Kaka (Milan): Undoubtedly the player of the tournament. Might not have had the most spectacular of finals, but not one honest football fan can put his hand on his heart and deny him this status. He carried Milan past their blemishes, their stutters, and eventually kick-started their engine.
Strikers
Totti (Roma): The insipirational skipper was superb throughout the campaign. Be it the wins, like the famous one over Lyon, the defeat to Manchester United, or the early reverse against Valencia, he was the one man who never let the Giallorossi down.
Didier Drogba (Chelsea): His goals in the early stages made light of a very difficult group, and almost resulted in Barcelona not qualifying. He practically knocked Valencia out with his sensational goals, and almost did Liverpool in as well. The striker of the season!
Honourable Mentions
Reina barely made a mistake, De Rossi deserves a mention, but would not have beaten Essien and Gattuso, Cristiano Ronaldo was good, but never quite as impressive in the Champions League as in the Premiership, and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored six important goals, but was not as influential as Totti or Drogba.
Ryan Giggs, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf put in some good displays in the knock-out stages, after a forgettable group stage.
Ayala and Agger were strong defensively; Mexes and Chivu were probably better, but for that shambolic night at Old Trafford that will haunt them forever! Nesta would have been there, but for his injury, and Maldini too, but for tending to fade away towards the end of games. Their display in the final was fabulous, though!
Nakamura was important for Celtic, Kader Keita for Lille, Lucho Gonzalez for Porto, Ibrahimovic for Inter, Juninho and Malouda for Lyon, Riise for Liverpool, Deco for Barcelona, and Paul Scholes for Manchester United when not suspended.
Abhishek Thakur