Maybe Kevin Keegan is right. Maybe Steve McManaman is the best midfielder in Europe. Then again, maybe not. But the former Liverpool player did his reputation and his bank balance a mighty favour last night when McManaman crowned a fluent, persuasive personal performance with the sweetest of volleys in the 67th minute. It was Real Madrid's second goal and if there ever was any doubt, it clinched Real's eighth European Cup triumph.
Fernando Morientes had set Madrid, the fifth best side in Spain's Primera Liga this season, on the way to their second European Cup in three years in the 39th minute with a close-range header. Valencia, who finished third in La Liga and who will be in next season's Champions' League, gave a diffident display, most untypical given their vivacious form since last August.
Valencia never imposed themselves on the biggest night in their history. Their key players were anonymous. Madrid's were not. They were personified by Raul who completed Valencia's misery with the third 15 minutes from the end. On £250,000 per man to win, a lot of champagne will be bought in Madrid over the coming days.
McManaman will enjoy some but he will then be called upon by Keegan, not for Brazil on Saturday but for Ukraine next Wednesday. In the space of the 50 days since Real signalled their revival after a tempestuous season by knocking the holders Manchester United out at Old Trafford, McManaman may have transformed himself from England's least likely figure to its most influential player at Euro 2000.
That can wait. This was McManaman's and Madrid's night. The 51,000 Spanish fans had turned the Stade de France into a carnival long before kick-off. After the desperate scenes in Copenhagen last Wednesday, thankfully Madrid and Valencia kept their rivalry to playful banter despite the their inter-city dispute.
Obeying their natural instinct to attack, both sides went at each other from the off. The pace of the first 20 minutes was frenetic. With McManaman prominent and busy, Madrid had a marginally better opening. Nicolas Anelka, in his home town, had a 16th-minute header that was destined for the top corner until Santiago Canizares tipped the ball over.
Ten minutes earlier the Valencia goalkeeper had been protected by his centrehalf, Mauricio Pellegrino, when Morientes had two snap-shots. Morientes' initial effort hit Pellegrino's thigh, the second struck Pellegrino's shoulder.
Valencia never showed the same composure. Immediately after that Anelka header, Valencia suddenly had three on two in a quickfire breakaway. Considering the quality of Claudio Lopez, Angulo and Gaizka Mendieta, they should have made something of it. Instead they looked flustered.
With the captain Mendieta peripheral, Valencia gradually lost midfield. Redondo and McManaman were finding space and time increasingly easy to come by. A volley from McManaman on the half hour, nimbly pushed aside by Canizares, was the prelude to Morientes' goal.
It originated at the foot of Roberto Carlos who hit an optimistic free-kick from 30 yards into a thicket of orange and black. When the ball cannoned loose, Anelka retrieved it and squared back into the danger zone. It was about to be cleared, however, when Michel Salgado made a decisive intervention. Salgado can only have meant to win possession but his tackle turned into a cross. The ball carried to the far post where Morientes put a deliberate header into the back of the net.
Real celebrated heartily but then, for the last six minutes of the half, made a defence of the lead a priority. When Valencia staged an attack in the last minute of the first half, all 10 Madrid outfield players were cramped in the 35 yards from Iker Casillas' goal.
The policy of what-we-have-we-hold continued after the interval. Only when Valencia's forward thrusts petered out in the strong tackling of Ivan Campo and Redondo, as they did frequently, did Real allow themselves to play their more expansive game.
Apart from one audacious chip from Raul it resulted in no sustained threat, though. Madrid were dominant and comfortable but McManaman's goal didn't come from a decisive move. A routine cross from the left was headed clear. On the edge of the Valencia area McManaman met it with a perfectly-executed, Gustavo Poyetstyle, scissor-kick volley. The ball swept past the helpless Canizares. "I shut my eyes as usual," McManaman said after.
There were 23 minutes left. Valencia had to gamble. They did, but when another unconvincing attack collapsed the substitute Savio released Raul with a neat chip. Raul had 70 yards to go. He covered the ground swiftly, rounded Canizares, and though Miroslav Djukic made an attempt to get back, Raul bypassed the defender with his slow shot.
With that Real Madrid were again the champions of Europe. And Steve McManaman was made up. The debate as to whether he is the Real deal can surely end now. "The most difficult battle when you move abroad is not the language or settling in," McManaman said. "It is gaining the respect of your team-mates." McManaman earned a lot of respect last night. The first Englishman to win Europe's top prize with a foreign club.
Valencia: Canizares, Angloma, Pellegrino, Djukic, Angulo, G. Mendieta, Gerard, Gerardo (Ilie 69), Kily Gonzalez, Lopez, Farinos. Subs Not Used: Bartual Molina, Bjorklund, Oscar, Sanchez, Milla, Albelda. Booked: Gerardo, Canizares, Farinos, Pellegrino.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado (Hierro 85), Helguera, Karanka, Campo, McManaman, Morientes (Savio 72), Redondo, Carlos, Raul, Anelka (Sanchis 80). Subs Not Used: Illgner, Baljic, Geremi, Karembeu. Booked: Salgado, Carlos. Goals: Morientes 39, McManaman 67, Raul 75.
Attendance: 78,759.
Referee: Stefano Braschi (Italy).
