David Villa's inside story on the night Barcelona "embarrassed" Man Utd
EXCLUSIVE: It has been a whole decade since arguably the best club side ever took Sir Alex Ferguson's United apart at Wembley, and Villa told Mirror Football about his memories of that famous night
Ten years ago to the day the footballing world was left mesmerised by arguably the greatest team performance ever witnessed.
During 90 hypnotic minutes on a balmy spring evening in north-west London, Pep Guardiola's iconic Barcelona side hit their absolute peak to beat Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final at Wembley.
In reality 'beat' does not do Barca's display justice, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi at their very best, dancing, slaloming and passing into submission a United XI themselves packed with world class talent.
Rio Ferdinand admitted Barcelona gave them "an absolute lesson", and later revealed that he told Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes he felt "embarrassed" at full-time.
And you knew you'd witnessed something special when even the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who had seen it all by that point, admitted: "In my time as a manager, I would say they're the best team we've faced. No one has given us a hiding like that."
One of the other protagonists of that night was Spanish great David Villa, who scored the winning goal with a beautiful curling effort from just outside the box on 69 minutes.
And speaking exclusively to Mirror Football , the now-retired striker looked back on an evening which is unlikely to ever be forgotten.
"It was one of the best nights of my career," he says. "The importance of the competition, the stadium and the rival and the level of football that we played that night were great.
"And personally being able to participate in the win by scoring a nice goal was amazing.
"I always say that this is the best goal I ever scored because of the importance of the game and the beauty of the shot. It was the dream moment."
Watching the match back now, it is striking just how far ahead of everyone Barcelona were, with each player knowing exactly what their role was in Guardiola's revolutionary 'take the ball, pass the ball' tactical set-up.
Many have described that team as the best club one of all-time, and Villa thinks that night in Wembley was when they hit their zenith.
"It is very difficult to say (if they were the greatest ever)," he continues. "But for sure we were a great group of players that were formed into a super team under the management of Guardiola. So it was a perfect combination."
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Despite their heroics that evening Villa insists that they did not overdo it in their celebrations, and were highly respectful of the outfit they had just outclassed.
"It was a very happy night but nothing crazy. The club prepared a nice party and I enjoyed it with my wife, my daughters and my parents that had travelled to London.
"I remember that Sir Alex Ferguson had mentioned that I was the only signing that he wanted to make the year before for United, so he was very kind to me and I felt very proud with it coming from such an important person.
"I still keep in touch with most of that team. We can't meet regularly because of our different routines but still have a great relationship.
"And it's the same with Pep, we are genuinely happy each time that we meet and remember these moments."
But how quickly the mighty can fall.
Fast-forward ten years and Barcelona are a club in disarray, blighted by financial problems and off-field issues and looking a million miles away from that 2010-11 side.
There are only three ageing survivors from the United game still at the club: Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, and, of course, Lionel Messi.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner was at his brilliant best at Wembley, scoring the second goal with a long-range strike past the despairing Edwin van der Sar before bewildering Patrice Evra with a scintillating run down the right wing to indirectly set up Villa's winner.
The Argentinean's future at Barca is still unclear, with just over a month remaining on his current contract.
But Villa is confident his former teammate will end his career in Catalonia.
"I don’t know really what will happen, but I hope he will stay," he says.
"I’m sure that president Joan Laporta will try to keep him at the club, and Leo loves FC Barcelona and also the city, so I feel that at the end they will reach an agreement.
"It would be a beautiful story if Messi can finish his career in Barcelona."
Once this season's Champions League is concluded at the weekend all eyes will turn to the Euros, with Spain - like Barcelona - not quite the force they once were.
Nevertheless, Villa is confident La Roja can add to the three titles he helped them conquer between 2008-12 - but also thinks England are in with a shout of glory.
"Spain has a great team with top players and always is a candidate to win the title.
"But at the same time all of us know how difficult is to win because there are very strong national teams like France, England and others that also have an extraordinary level."
An extraordinary level perhaps, but one which is not likely to come close to the heights that Barcelona touched on May 28 2011 as their brilliance changed the face of football forever.