The FA
Platini's Wembley visit
By Stuart Mawhinney - Friday, 06 February, 2009
Michel Platini revealed his delight after being given a tour of Wembley Stadium.
The UEFA President was in London to visit the venue recently selected to stage the Champions League Final in 2011, and after last season's the all-English Final between Manchester United and Chelsea, the Frenchman believes it is a fitting venue.
"It is beautiful," he said, when asked what he thought of the new stadium.
"I didn’t imagine from the TV how big and beautiful it is.
"The old stadium I only saw once when I came for the Final of the Euro[pean Championship in 1996, between Germany and Czech Republic], one time when I played and one time when I coached from the bench."
Wembley will host the Final for the first time since 1992, when Barcelona defeated Sampdoria to lift the European Cup for the first time in their history, and Platini gave the stadium his seal of approval.
"It’s very impressive. The boxes are beautiful, the pitch is very nice, the dressing rooms are beautiful.
"[Wembley] gives us the opportunity to do many things. It will be a very beautiful Final in 2011."