Schalke should not be downbeat; they were beaten by a better team The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs. Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers. Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign. More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.

The Champions League has the final it deserves
An honest assessment of the current Champions League format leads to the inescapable conclusion that there are too many non-contests in a tournament that is bloated and plainly uncompetitive in its early stages. The whole thing is geared towards preserving the interests of the elite clubs, ensuring they are kept rich and happy, despite the machinations of Michel Platini, the Uefa president. The Champions League can be drab and uninspiring. The most competitive sides are kept segregated and, instead, processions between the haves and have nots are prominent.

But, unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in the boxing world, the two best club sides in football have an obligation to face each other at one stage or another. And so it brings us to Wembley on May 28. Manchester United make the trip to London to face Barcelona. Both are deserving finalists.

United's brand of football may have changed this season and they may be lacking in the way of outright excitement but it one of the grossest miscalculations of our time to say that this edition of Ferguson's team is a weak one. They are clear at the top of the Premier League and have just qualified for their third Champions League final in four seasons. You make not like them but you must respect them.

Barcelona have justifiably gained the critics' and fans' approval for their Champions League campaign. They have been electric at times but even they have their Achilles heel. Make no mistake, despite the format of the competition, it has still placed the best two teams against each other in the final. United's defensive resolution against Barcelona's possession football philosophy. The Catalans will monopolise the ball but Wayne Rooney or Nani will need only one chance to score.

It promises to be an enthralling show; a fitting finale to the biggest club competition in the world.