Motta more important than Ribery - Mourinho

Inter and Munich will be missing important players. Inter is without midfielder Thiago Motta and Munich will line up without winger Franck Ribery, both of whom were sent off in the semifinals.

“Motta’s absence is more important than that of Ribery for Munich,” Mourinho said. “He is a player who has played a Champions League final and would bring that experience with him. He gives our midfield balance and doesn’t give the ball away easily. It is a great shame that he isn’t playing and it only happened because a fellow player did not behave in the correct way.”

Both teams have concerns over flight plans to Spain, with the possibility that further volcanic ash from Iceland will cause havoc with flight schedules in the next few days.

Inter was due to fly to Madrid on Friday, but it may yet leave on Wednesday to avoid any possible ash disruption.

Inter-Manchester United a nice final - Figo

Luis Figo wants to see Inter Milan and Manchester United play in the final of the Champions League.
Figo, now serving as the director at Inter Milan was speaking to Inter Channel after the Nerazzurri's 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
"I think that Inter-Manchester United might be a nice final," he said.
"I believe that Inter have proven they can dominate in Europe too after going past the last 16 barrier, which was something we had not managed over the past few years."
"It was a nice match against CSKA, Inter played fantastically in the second period. It's too bad we didn't score another goal, but it's just as good."
Inter play CSKA in the second leg of the quarter-final in Moscow on Tuesday.

Superb Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has underperformed in big games the last few seasons, the same cannot be said this campaign. Ronaldo has scored in every knockout round, and tonight blasted home two goals, as well as making Park's first. Man-of-the-match.

Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo believes he has hit peak form at exactly the right time.

This was after he helped to fire his side into the Champions League final in Rome.

United beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium tonight to secure a 4-1 aggregate success and will face Chelsea or Barcelona in Rome on May 27.

Ronaldo scored twice after Park Ji-sung's opener and when asked if he is now back to his best, the attacker told ITV1: "I think so, yes.

"In the last few games I have felt good, felt fit. This is a crucial time in the season and the best games are coming."

Ronaldo moved to spare Manuel Almunia's blushes by admitting his first goal, a 40-yard free-kick, swerved past the Arsenal stopper.

"The shot was quite difficult to save because the ball moved a little bit," he said. "I just try to do my best to put the ball in the net and it was a good goal."

Darren Fletcher's harsh sending off in the second half led to Robin van Persie's penalty-spot consolation and Ronaldo expressed sympathy for his team-mate, who will now miss the final.

"It is very disappointing, he deserves to be in the final because he is a fantastic player, he runs a lot and is a team player," said Ronaldo.

"He deserves to play in the final but this is football."

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United outgun Arsenal, reach Champions League final

It was a massive game from both teams. But the Red Devils crash Arsenal and reach the Champions League final in Rome.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side arrived at the Emirates Stadium holding only a slender 1-0 lead from last week's first leg, but United scored twice in the first 11 minutes to set up a 4-1 aggregate triumph that booked their place in the final against Chelsea or Barcelona, who meet in their decider Wednesday.
United, who beat Chelsea in last year's final, were given a helping hand from Arsenal as South Korea winger Park Ji-Sung punished an embarrassing slip from Kieran Gibbs to open the scoring.

Cristiano Ronaldo then deceived Manuel Almunia with a long-range free-kick, and the Portuguese striker put the result beyond doubt when he added his second goal after half-time.

The only blot for United was the red card for Darren Fletcher, who'll miss the final in Rome on May 27. But Ferguson can have little else to complain about after Arsenal managed just one consolation goal, a Robin van Persie penalty.

For United, the English Premier League is all but wrapped up, so the Red Devils can effectively concentrate on their Champions League final preparation weeks ahead of time. It is hard to see anyone stopping them, although Chelsea and Barcelona (who meet at Stamford Bridge in the other semifinal tie Wednesday) may have other ideas.

United's domestic dominance from 1998 to 2001 was a truly spectacular run, but this current period of excellence both at home and in Europe is even more impressive. Share your thoughts and comments below on where this United team ranks alongside the all-time greats.

Game over, and Ferguson could even afford the luxury of substituting Rooney and Patrice Evra to ensure the duo didn't earn a booking which would have ruled them out of the final - Fletcher was not to be so lucky.