Manchester United Premier Cup 2010 - Barcelona Crowned Champions
FC Barcelona were crowned Manchester United Premier Cup Champions of the World for the third time at Old Trafford following an impressive 3-1 win over Mexico s Pachuca FC.
Barcelona took control early in the match, scoring their first goal after ten miinutes - their second shortly before half time and their third mid-way through the second half. Jubilant Barcelona Coach Victor Sanchez was happy to be repeating his 2007 MUPC experience with his team:
I am incredibly happy firstly that our boys played our normal fast-paced game keeping control of the ball and, secondly, that we are MUPC World Champions again. This title is for the whole team who made it possible. They really deserve it. Throughout every stage of the competition our plan was to play our own game as usual - and enjoy the experience. The boys have done everything we asked of them and represented their club with pride. My next goal is to help them develop their incredible potential and reach the FC Barcelona first team!
Rio Ferdinand and Sir Bobby Charlton presided over the on-pitch presentations and Ferdinand added: I played in many youth tournaments as a lad and I can honestly say, whatever age you are - the feeling is exactly the same. You work hard and reach the final in an important competition and, when you win, it is the best feeling in the world. Nothing can touch it!
But both teams are so lucky to have this amazing opportunity to walk out through the tunnel onto the pitch and play at Old Trafford at such a young age. Win or lose, it really is the stuff dreams are made of!
Sir Bobby Charlton continued to share the teams celebrations over at Manchester University s Armitage Campus and enthused: I ve really enjoyed watching this competition over the years - and am always impressed that it is something special and something we get very right. I d like to thank Nike for the opportunity to partner them in hosting this competition around the world. He continued to congratulate all twenty teams for a magnificently high standard of football played in the spirit of fair play .
For individual player awards, the Top Scorer was shared - by Newcastle United s Campbell Torres from Pachuca FC - with six goals apiece. The final award, for Tournament MVP as voted by the Coaches of the opposition sides was, once again, Campbell from Newcastle Utd.
The Manchester United Premier Cup Final 2010 was the culmination of twelve months local, national and regional tournaments around the world, involving over 9,000 teams, and reached its thrilling climax as Pachuca and Barcelona battled for the title on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, Manchester United s Theatre of Dreams . Around the world preparations are already underway for the journey to start all over again - but right now, for the third time, FC Barcelona are Manchester United Premier Cup Champions of the World!
MUPC 2010 FINAL STANDINGS
1st - FC Barcelona
2nd - Pachuca FC
3rd - FC Porto
4th - Colo Colo
5th - SC Internacional
6th - Manchester United
7th - Right to Dream
8th - Newcastle United
9th - Changchun Yatai FC
10th - Kyoto Sanga FC
