When Sir Alex Ferguson delivered his now infamous Pacino-esque half-time eulogy deep in the bowel’s of Camp Nou’s ‘home’ dressing room during the 1999 final, he told his startled players that six feet may be the closest they ever got to ‘ol big ears, the Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens. As startlingly brilliant his 1999 breed could be they only ever made on final, famously winning in injury time.
By contrast Ferguson’s current generation faces their third showpiece in four years. The final of Europe’s Premier Competition no longer a rarity but, incredibly, now habitual. No more so for his 2011 generation, a team reportedly among the Scot’s very worst in 25 years at Old Trafford. How the team has made a mockery of that prediction this season.
It is this sense of over-achievement – the underdog spirit if you will – that has seemingly reduced the pressure on Ferguson’s men ahead of Saturday night’s Wembley final. Win or lose, United has never been favourite, perhaps even among the club’s own fans, to lift this year’s Champions League trophy.
Yet Ferguson, often to the media’s audible derision, has always backed his charges to come good this season. It is, according to many pundits, a team without “stardust”. Not so says the Scot, who firmly believes his players hold the ability and temperament to beat the team many regard as history’s best, on United’s ‘home’ soil.
“We have players who will all like this stage,” Ferguson said on Friday.
“In terms of Rooney’s progress in Europe, he is much more mature than he was in 2009. And others too. The experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic is vital. Our experience, and our progress in Europe this season, gives us a good chance.
“Barcelona have fantastic qualities but I think our qualities will show through as well, which could make it a really good game. We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time. We were disappointed we lost the game but it isn’t a matter of revenge, it is about our own personal pride.”
That preparation has included a two week period in which the Premier League was won but Ferguson did not allow the intensity of focus to drop. Indeed, the manager’s stronger-than-expected line-up against Blackpool last week belied an understanding that too many players were undercooked when United lost to Barcelona in 2009.
And while Ferguson’s line-up will surprise few, the manager has promised a fresh tactical outlook having been out-thought by Pep Guardiola’s men in Rome. Pre-eminent in Ferguson’s mind is a nagging feeling that United failed to give a true account of itself in the Italian capital, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez a glittering array of attacking talent that failed to spark
“We did most of the work before the Blackpool game [last Sunday] – and winning the league the previous week helped us that way,” added the 69-year-old Scot.
“The players have to trust themselves and trust each other because I trust them. I know they’ll do the job right. This team has unity and our record in Europe this year is good. We’re used to playing in Europe, we have that experience and we’re pleased with what we’ve achieved this year in Europe.
“There could be a lot of excitement, there’ll be a lot of good football. We recognise the quality of our opponents: it’s unwise to go into a game not preparing for how your opponents play, their strengths and weaknesses.”
Much will depend on whether United can retain enough of the ball to hurt Barcelona, whose ability to dominate games has, if anything, increased in the two years since these sides last met. The Catalan giants have managed more than 70 per cent possession on average this season, meaning United will almost certainly be on the back foot most of the night.
Yet, it is easy to forget United’s positive start in Rome, where Park Ji-Sung would surely have scored in the opening seconds but for former Red Gerard Piqué’s last-ditch tackle. It is that positive outlook that Ferguson has instilled in his troops over the past fortnight.
This should reflect in the Scot’s team, whose natural instincts against big European opposition is to pack midfield. However, with Darren Fletcher unlikely to make the United 18-man squad, let alone the starting team, Ferguson’s hand is somewhat forced. Wayne Rooney is likely to partner Javier Hernández in attack, with the former Evertonian dropping deep into midfield when needed.
With Ferguson’s selection dilemma solved, the rest of the Scot’s team almost picks itself. Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs will form the heart of United’s midfield; Antonio Valencia will edge out Nani for the right-wing berth; Fabio da Silva is expected to play at right-back ahead of his brother Rafael.
Tactically Ferguson’s team has worked on pressing high up the pitch where United will attempt to cut of the supply to Andreas Iniesta, Xavi Hernández and Lionel Messi by suffocating Barça’s ‘starters’ – Piqué and Sergio Busquets.
It is a tactical flexibility that owes much to Ferguson’s respect for Guardiola. While the men are no friends – Ferguson retains far more affection for José Mourinho – the elder man recognises the outstanding team Guardiola has built.
“For a young coach, he’s changed the way they play and brought a maturity to the team,” Ferguson said of the 40-year-old coach.
“From beating us in Rome to the present day, you can see that maturity. He’s changed the way they press the ball; for a young coach he’s done fantastically well and has a good presence. He played for Barcelona, which helps, and with the history of Dutch coaches there, he’s made a big step forward for Spanish coaches.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola has few selection worries save for left-back where captain Carles Puyol is expected to play out of position. Eric Abidal, now fit after undergoing surgery for a kidney tumour, is not thought to be match-ready, while Maxwell is out-of-favour. The selection may offer United a glimmer of hope, especially after Antonio Valencia’s outstanding performance against Ashley Cole in the recent victory over Chelsea.
Yet, if that sentiment is essentially pessimistic in tone then Ferguson is having none of it: “We have a great chance. We always focus on what we can do ourselves and we hope to attack – we have players who can do that.”
It’s a belief that few fans – United or otherwise – would be wise to bet against in this most unpredictable of campaigns.
Match Facts
Champions League Final. Wembley, London. 7.45pm, 28 May 2011.Teams
Barcelona – 433 – Valdes; Alves, Mascherano, Piqué, Puyol; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa. Subs from: Bojan, Jeffrén, Keita, Milito, Maxwell, Afellay, Adriano, Abidal, Fontàs, Olazábal.United – 4411 – van der Sar; Fabio da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney; Hernandez. Subs from: Brown, Evans, Smalling, Rafael da Silva, Gibson, Owen, O’Shea, Berbatov, Nani, Anderson, Kuszazck, OShea, Fletcher.
Officials
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN)
Assistant referees: Gabor Erös, György Ring
Additional assistant referees: Mihaly Fabian, Tamás Bognar
Fourth official: Istvan VadForm
Barcelona – WDWDDW
United – WLWWWW
Champions League Final 2011: preview
(260 posts) (29 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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eddieTheRed
Member
Posted by unregistered user: eddieTheRedHernandez – we only bought him to sell shirts, didn’t we? http://www.unitedrant.co.uk/opinion/chichonomics/
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator
sheesh said:
I'll feel more confident if we take it to extra time. Our far superior bench should hopefully give us a definitive advantage.The way Barca play, we'll be shattered after 90 minutes... if we don't win in regulation, we won't win.
"Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you."Posted 1 year ago # -
eddieTheRed – a crass and deliberate misrepresentation of what I wrote. In fact I’ll quote, because that would not only be wrong (United makes almost no money from overseas shirt sales) but quite the opposite of what I wrote:
“In fact the real boon to United’s commercial activity is not from individual fans’ spending per se but the brand association commercial partners garner from the country-specific exclusive partnerships the club has struck over the past 18 months.”
“Hernandez’ acquisition is unlikely to create any significant direct revenue streams though.”
“Where the Little Pea’s impact is more likely to be felt by the Old Trafford bean counters is in a new addressable Latin American market for the aforementioned commercial partnerships.”
Oh and hey presto United only went and signed up a Chiliean wine producer…
Now that might be crass generalisation on my part – Chile and Mexico are not the same thing – but I had a valid point, which turned out to be correct.
Editor & Moderator at http://www.unitedrant.co.ukPosted 1 year ago # -
bman
Member
Without dubious red cards, Barca might well have not gotten past either Arsenal or Real. Their away record in the CL this season is a good bit ropier than ours in terms of goals conceded and their control of the game. They're almost unplayable in Camp Nou, but so have we been at home this season. They clean up in the Spanish League, but playing other quality teams outside Spain, Barca's record is very good but not at all mind-blowing.
They're a very good team, but not as good as two years ago I don't care what anyone says, they play in a piss-poor league now that hypes their stats. Their first 11 are better than ours, that I don't dispute, but the difference is far smaller than most people think.
My biggest worry is that the game is in England, because psychologically that might make our lads play more like an away PL game than an away CL game, and we know how that will turn out.
Basically, if we play like we've played nearly every away game in England this season, we'll be slaughtered. Otherwise, so long as we keep 11 players on the pitch, I think our chances are 50/50. We're a good bit better than both Arsenal and Real this season, and when they had 11 players on the pitch those teams took Barca all the way.
Posted 1 year ago # -
sheesh
Member
uncleknobheadforfucksake said:
both recent games at the emirates barcelona have been shattered after an hour let alone 90 minutes, and then arsenal battered em both timesTiredness or complacency against Arsenal?
I do think Barcelona must be pretty tired by now, though. Playing the same players week in and week out is bound to take its toll.
Wembley is a big pitch and, crucially, it's a slow pitch. This won't help Barcelona's passing game.
I do think we must score first to have a realistic chance of winning the match, though, otherwise it could be a long old night of us trying to get the ball off them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
han
Member
At the start of this season after the 1st half dozen games, most of us didn't think we would lift the title let alone get to this final if we really are honest. United have exceeded all expectations this season and now we are in the final, i just want us to put on a good performance and be able to say united played their part in an awesome game...come on reds
Posted 1 year ago # -
sidney
Member
uncleknobheadforfucksake said:
both recent games at the emirates barcelona have been shattered after an hour let alone 90 minutes, and then arsenal battered em both timesArsenal did overwhelm them eventually in the home leg, but that's partly because Barca's away form is shite and they lost their bottle
They've had a long rest, so I don't think tiredness will be an issue
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator -
chocolatteballs
Member
I want to see Messi crying after the game.
Want to see the Barca players crowd the Referee at fulltime and insult him in Spanish.
I want to see easy cheerleaders at half time giving it plenty as well.The real troubles in life are apt to the things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle tuesday.Posted 1 year ago # -
sidney
Member Who gives a fuck if Barca cheat to win and consequently get slaughtered in the press
So they get some bad press, that's it. They're still champions. They don't get the trophy taken off them
If/when they cheat fuck all will come of it. Fuck all. Lot's of teams have cheated and won things in the past and fuck all has come of it
We have to play them at their game, play the ref like we did at Stamford Bridge otherwise there is no hope
Posted 1 year ago #
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