Manchester United can beat Milan at San Siro (match discussion)
Beat AC Milan. Beat Chelsea twice. Beat Liverpool.
Do that, and you will be kings.
Of course, the media hacks and opposition fans don’t let it be that simple. For example, the common understanding outside Old Trafford is that Manchester United travel to the San Siro as under-dogs, and that the home victory was both lucky (caused by Milan’s injuries) and damaging (the two away goals).
Then there’s the question of United ever being able to beat a wounded Chelsea – having lost another Champions League semi-final (3 times in 4 years) and having almost lost the league (Chelsea have a 1% chance of winning it), there’s the FA Cup to play for and Chelsea will give it their all at Wembley.
And if – that’s a big IF – United beat Milan, there’s the question of beating Liverpool at Athens.
Wishful thinking, all this.
There’s not much to say about the San Siro game itself – Vidic and Ferdinand might be back, might not be back. Ferguson can’t take the risk of starting them and then having to withdraw them. On the other hand, not playing his best team will be a problem too.
All I know is that Milan will score, and that United will score. 1-1 suits us fine, so does any scoreline where we score 2 (I don’t think that Milan will score more than 3 goals).
The IMUSA (Independent Manchester United Supporters Association – they should’ve found a better name) says that Roma’s Ultras may be headed to Milan for the second leg of the semi final.
Manchester United’s staff has already been at San Siro to oversee security arrangments keeping in mind what has happened the last two times United played away in Europe, and while you have to be cautious in taking such reports seriously, the impact of this (outside the stadium, as I doubt that we’ll see any trouble inside the stadium) can be very dangerous.
Let’s hope there no (or minimal) violence, and we can all enjoy a fantastic game of football.
I’m pushing for Manchester United reaching the final. Milan will say that it’s their destiny to take revenge, although this time Liverpool may just be stronger than Milan. United will think that with the season they’ve had, they are the ones who are destined to play in Athens.
You can discuss the match here in the comments section. I’ll be putting up the match report and videos tomorrow morning, and will add-match specific info as I get it.
Update: James Richardson from the Guardian talks about Inzaghi.
Topics: AC Milan, Manchester United, UEFA Champions League
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I think the match between Milan and Utd will come down to who scores first. If Milan scores first it will be tricky since they will be good in controlling the tempo and we might get exposed by the pace of Kaka and be dealt a sucker 2nd goal and be down 2-0.
For the Premiership hopefully, Arsenal will put up a good performance and hold Chelsea to a draw at least and if we can win at Citeh, then we can fully concentrate on the FA cup final.
I believe it’s all momentum. If we manage to reach the Champs League final, I think we will have the slight edge in the FA cup final.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 12:04We have to play patiently and close down Kaka a lot because when we bomb forward he drops into space very intelligently. I don’t think any other Milan player looked like a goal threat at Old Trafford, so we’ll have to keep a close eye on him. They’ll definitely be more offensive at the San Siro, so Seedorf will have license to move forward and Pippo Inzaghi will try his best not to be offside. If we hold our shape, keep our composure and believe in ourselves, it’s entirely possible. We don’t need a miracle, because the reault of the first leg gives us a good fighting chance of going through.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 12:41Whoever dominates the midfield space will win. Milan like to be able to play through the centre of the pitch and if United occupy the space in front of the defence it is only through stroke of genius (ie Kaka) that Milan will score.
United like to play down the wings but are only able to convert such play into goals when they have that aforementoned space. They’ve no Van Nistelrooy to make something out of nothing in the box (although recently Ronaldo has been just as dangerous in that area from set pieces) and will need a Scholes/Carrick/Rooney to offer ways to keep the pressure on from outside and ensure that they create only meaningful chances.
Of course United need to be careful about sitting back and defending, but they are an attacking side so I don’t imagine that will be a problem. The bigger problem is them getting drawn forward and allowing Kaka the space to create oppurtunity for himself and others (which lead to both of his goals in the other leg). They need Ferdinand back (at least) so they can stick Evra on the bench and put Heize out left. Evra is a problem for two reasons: (1) Lacks discipline – United need to have three men back at all times (bar set pieces), (2) Gives the ball away too easily – This gives Milan (ie Kaka) the ability to counter-attack.
And for god sakes make sure Carrick imposes himself physically!
May 2nd, 2007 @ 13:13There’s no doubt that it could go either way but I’m equally not convinced that it will necessarily be very close either. I think it’s possible either team could go 2-0 up and effectively kill off the game.
I don’t agree that the first goal is critical. We saw last week how much the game can change in one half.
How we deal with Kaka is critical. Whether Ferdinand and Vidic make it and are fit enough to cope is another key factor. Other than that it’s a question of our front 6 producing the pace, chances and goals that will take us through.
I felt Rooney’s winner last week was worth much more than just a single goal. For me it changed the psychology of the tie. Milan ended up beaten and totally outplayed in the 2nd half. As the United players came off the pitch their demeanour said “We can take these guys” whereas the expression on the Milan players faces said the opposite.
Probably complete tosh, I know, but you have to cling to something!!
May 2nd, 2007 @ 13:29Its the night which will define Rooney and ronaldo…If they score here they will go down as the greats of the game has seen…..Its going to be tough but Nobody said it was going to be easy…..I dont think Milan will defend if they go up 1-0…I think it will be difficult to defend against a team that plays attacking football….It sure wont be a torture like last night…That guaranteed….
May 2nd, 2007 @ 13:38Not loving our chances, as I do believe Milan will score, but just have to have hope. Should be a nail biter, that’s for sure!
I’d have Smith and Fletcher on from the start, just hounding players. Milan dont like to be hurried, so we have to hurry them. I’d thought Kaka was quite well contained last game aside from his first goal. Second was more a comed of errors than poor containment. Inzaghi has to be better tha Gilardino, who showed as much presence as Lampard in an England jersey. Biggest worry is SAF telling them to try and get into half time at 0-0, sure we’ll conceede if we do that. So nervous, worried failure in Europe will be a downer for Saturday, when really need a win against a Barton-less city side…
May 2nd, 2007 @ 14:39Should be a good game. Man Utd might have won the last leg but conceding twice at Old Trafford was always going to give Milan the chance to get back into the game. Much of it depends on Man Utd’s defense. A return of Vidic and Ferdinand would help keep Kaka, easily Milan’s greatest attacking threat, at bay. Of course, bringing them back into the squad if they aren’t at full fitness is dangerous too.
I predict it’ll end 2-1 to Milan, a result which will see them sneak through on goal difference, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Man Utd who came away with victory.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 15:55I think the key will be in playing the right formation. We must allow ourselves the opportunity to break and break at pace. I would favour using Rooney upfront with Ronaldo and Giggs on the wings and Fletcher in the middle with Scholes and Carrick. I like the way Fletcher hassles the opposition and any spilled posession by Milan could result in a quick counter.
We must convert this opportunity. We know we can beat Liverpool, we have done it twice this season already. In fact whoever wins tonight will win the CL this season. We are winning this tie already and I fancy us to win tonight.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 16:21If we come out of the blocks chasing 50-50 balls and harrying milan .. we have a shot.. otherwise it’ll be hard.
I expect man u to go through simply cuz the form of our attack is too good. No one has put three past milan before this.
I’m sure the team is going in with a belief that no matter how many milan score, they can score one more. And I truly believe they can do that.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 17:20Man U will go for the killer goal early in the first half and then do on the counter. However, after continuous Milan pressure, the score will be leveled in the second half at 1-1. And then that’s all for a careful and tense match. If United is lucky it maybe 1-2.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 17:53Such a massive game im nervous as hell already.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 18:38Such a massive game im nervous as hell already. We can definately do it though. Cometh the hour, cometh the man (that man yet to be revealed lol).
May 2nd, 2007 @ 18:39Whichever way it goes.. this is gonna b one helluva game.. i fancy our chances at winning this one prob 1-0 but it cud well go the oder way..its gonna b closed and contained.. i think the first goal will preety much dictate the pace of de match.. United need dat first goal.. but i think its gonna b extremely tough… remember.. de 2 goals we scored from open play were done when gattuso was already off de field.. i think gattuso could very well be the key to winning this match.. more important a player than kaka for me…
May 2nd, 2007 @ 19:00My money is on Man U to go thru, whether it is a draw or a win. Our youngsters will out last the the Italians. Experience is important but we have stronger mind and legs. Scholes and Giggs shall shine tonight.
May 2nd, 2007 @ 20:55Lets stop analysing and wondering … and sit back and prepare for a wonderful game, cheering for our respecitve teams all the way !!!! It’s gonna be fantastic
Go Manchester United!!!!
May 2nd, 2007 @ 21:10agreed – it should be a cracking game
May 2nd, 2007 @ 21:17Maldini’s out for sure though, so that should make things interesting
May 2nd, 2007 @ 21:19cool…….MU rocks! MU 2 Milan 1….vidic with the winning header!
May 2nd, 2007 @ 22:37Starting Lineups
AC Milan: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ambrosini, Kaka, Inzaghi
Subs: Kalac, Cafu, Gilardino, Favalli, Bonera, Serginho, Brocchi
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Brown, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney
May 2nd, 2007 @ 23:36Subs: Kuszczak, Ferdinand, Saha, Smith, Solskjaer, Richardson, Eagles
Well, this one’s interesting…
outclassed, afraid to tackle and not playing as a team.
May 3rd, 2007 @ 00:35Goals:
Kaka
Seedorf
May 3rd, 2007 @ 00:37Having said all that though, Milan have been sheer class.
May 3rd, 2007 @ 00:38Play in teh offensive 1/3 of the pitch, you may get a goal.
May 3rd, 2007 @ 01:54That was the most enjoyable games I’ve seen for a long while! Pity Milan couldn’t score the fourth that their play deserved but 3-0 was pretty good!
May 3rd, 2007 @ 01:55heh
match report coming up in a bit.
May 3rd, 2007 @ 01:56WHAT AN AWFULL GAME!!!
May 3rd, 2007 @ 11:37AGAIN Fergie went for a defensive formation, AGAIN we got our asses kicked, AGAIN Fergie will not listen…
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Credit to Milan though… they learnt from their mistakes against Liverpool. They never let us back into the game.
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That being said, what was SAF thinking?
Ronaldo choked…
Rooney was a mere spectator…
‘Mr. Wonderful’ Carrick was…well..anything but his hyped wonderfull…
Scholes was tooooooo slooooow…
Vidic was … worse than Silvestre could ever be…
Giggs was old…
Fletcher was … Flether…
O Shea was … O God, what was O’ Shea
Terrible!!!
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We played like a Sunday League team.
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One positive though. I suppose Rooney must be commeded for not losing his cool. Usually in cases like these he would have totaly lost it. Is this becuase of him maturing, or was there just not enough passion?
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Feels like a bad dream. It was there for the taking and our team chocked.
karl rocks!
May 3rd, 2007 @ 20:43