It is a match that millions of people are waiting for not only in England but also in the whole world. I know from my previous experience that tomorrow, millions of people in Asia, Africa, Australia and even in USA will keep their eyes on this match of Manchester United vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League Semifinal. It is the first leg and it will take place in the stadium of Man U. So, they are home team and hot favorite to win the first leg. However, you cannot count out the Gunners at all because we have seen some fighting sprit and resurgence of form in London in the last few weeks. First, I want to talk about Alex Ferguson’s team because they are home team. On Saturday, they played against Tottenham in an EPL clash and in half time, Tottenham took 2-0 lead. Then in second half, Ronaldo and his teammates scored 5 superb goals to win the match by 5-2. Can you believe it?
Competition: Uefa Champions League 2008-09 Semi-final (first leg)
Fixture: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Date: 29 April 2009 (Wednesday)
Kick Off time: 1945 UK 0015IST(Thurs)
Stadium: Old Trafford
Yes, it is difficult to believe unless you watched the match. This is the thing that has amazed everyone and it happened more than once this season. Alex Ferguson is happy to see that his club is in the top of the football world at this moment. They have already won the carling cup. They are in course to win the title of English Premier League and UEFA Champions League is also just 3 matches away.
Well, after saying so many good words about Man Utd, it is difficult to say similar thing about Arsenal this season. They are already of hope of every title in this season except the Champions League. This is the only thing to play for the Gunners at this moment. The next best thing that they can hope for is perhaps 3rd position in EPL which most probably would not happen. So, tomorrow nigh can be a decisive night for them.
Arsene Wenger is also in happy and confident mood after seeing his team performed in an excellent manner in the last two matches. They drew with Liverpool in Liverpool last week by 4-4 and although Liverpool played well Arsenal never gave up. Then yesterday, they totally dominated against Middlesbrough and it was the match of Cese Fabregas. Fabregas is back on top form and he scored both the two goals of the match.
The good thing for Man Utd is that there is no major injury at this moment. Gary Neville will not be there but I believe that they have enough quality players in the defense. For Ryan Giggs, it will be an special match. If he plays then it will be his 800th appearance for Ryan Giggs for Manchester United. They will go in the match with some impressive records in their mind. They have not lost any match in Champions League in the last 23 matches. Secondly, they are unbeaten at Old Trafford for 20 matches in CL. This is a record to be proud of. It will be Cristiano Ronaldo who have something to cheer about because it will be his 5oth Champions League match. So, naturally, he will want to make it memorable by scoring a goal or two. Rooney is in good form too. Tevez and Berbetov are doing well. So, there is less worry for United in tomorrow’s match. They will entertain Arsenal with full confidence. The fans at Old Trafford from the first minute will start discussing what will be the score line 2-0, 3-0 or 4-0.
Arsenal has some stats to remember too. They have never lost in any match whenever they played in the semifinal level in any competition in Europe. It means that each time they played in the semifinal, they reached to the final in Europe. This is something to cheer about surely. This should give some confidence to all the players.
Injury is a big problem for Arsene Wenger. There is doubt about Mikael Silvestre. Robin van Persie and Left back Gael Clichy are still injured and most probably will not be available tomorrow. Arsene Wenger is delighted to see his main weapon Cese Fabregas in superb form in right time. Samir Nasri is also a good player. However, the fans will surely miss Arshevin. So, the striking position looks weak for the Gunners. Well, Arsene Wenger is surely hoping that Cese Fabregas can provide some kind of magic.
After going through the players, my feeling that Manchester United is the host favorite in the match. It will be either a draw or a win for them. I don’t see any prospect of the Gunners getting 3 points in this match. What about you?
But suspended trio Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes all return having missed Sunday’s Premier League victory against Aston Villa. Young striker Federico Macheda is also set to be included in United’s squad.
Macheda scored the last-gasp winner to beat Aston Villa on his debut as United returned back to the top of the Premier League.
“I don’t think any of the injured players will be back against Porto,” said boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But we do have the suspended players back which is good. Vida will play alongside Jonny Evans at the back with John O’Shea at right-back. Rooney and Scholes are also available which will give us a bit more penetration and experience, and Ji-Sung Park will also be ready so I’ve got some good options for Tuesday.”
Ferguson will wait until the last moment to decide on the fitness of veteran pair Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, both of whom played the full 90 minutes on Sunday.
Game Stats
Ever since the draw was made, the image of Jose Mourinho celebrating Francisco Costinha’s goal at Old Trafford following Porto’s 1-1 draw in March 2004, that sent them through to the quarter finals, has hovered over this tie. Since Sir Alex Ferguson has only ever engineered one win over the “Special One,” it appears that Inter may be able to do the impossible and shatter the Manchester United quintuple dream.
Despite dominating Serie A, the truth is that Inter Milan are not a great team, they have probably three world class players in Julio Cesar, Maicon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic but the supporting cast, which includes some real quality (Cambiasso, Zanetti etc.) is not in the same league as the attacking array of talent United have at their disposal.
So, if Inter are to progress to the quarter-finals it could well be due to the brilliance of Jose Mourinho and his side will need a resilient defensive performance combined with either an early goal to knock the stuffing out of United and the Old Trafford crowd or go the route of Porto in 2004 and claim a late away goal which won’t give Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov et al the opportunity to hit back.
Whether Rio Ferdinand plays or not, United will be confident of taking a major step to their second successive Champions League final after a dominant display in the San Siro. The Manchester United midfield overpowered the Italians in the first leg and the likes of Fletcher, Carrick and Park should have the legs to see off Inter should the game go to extra time.
Ferguson will surely go for the Berbatov-Rooney partnership initially with Tevez off the bench if things are not going as smoothly as expected. And Cristiano Ronaldo will expect to perform on the biggest stage and claim his first Champions League goal of the season.
Fixture: Manchester United v Inter Milan
Competition: UEFA Champions league
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Time: 19.45 UK, 1.15 IST (Thursday)
Channel: TEN SPORTS (India Only)
Here are the details of Manchester United's 20 game unbeaten streak in Europe..
19 Sept 2007 Sporting Lisbon 0–1 Manchester United
2 Oct Manchester United 1–0 Roma
23 Oct Dynamo Kiev 2–4 Manchester United
7 Nov Manchester United 4–0 Dynamo Kiev
27 Nov Manchester United 2–1 Sporting Lisbon
12 Dec Roma 1–1 Manchester United
20 Feb 2008 Lyon 1–1 Manchester United
4 Mar Manchester United 1–0 Lyon
1 Apr Roma 0–2 Manchester United
9 Apr Manchester United 1–0 Roma
23 Apr Barcelona 0–0 Manchester United
29 Apr Manchester United 1–0 Barcelona
21 May Manchester United 1–1 Chelsea
17 Sept Manchester United 0–0 Villarreal
30 Sept Aalborg 0–3 Manchester United
21 Oct Manchester United 3–0 Celtic
5 Nov Celtic 1–1 Manchester United
25 Nov Villarreal 0–0 Manchester United
10 Dec Manchester United 2–2 Aalborg
24 Feb 2009 Internazionale 0–0 Manchester United
Cup Winners’ Cup, first round 1991-92
Manchester Utd 2–0 Athanaikos
After a stalemate in the away leg, United needed goals from Mark Hughes and Brian McClair in the final 12 minutes of extra-time at Old Trafford to squeeze past minnows Athanaikos, at the time bottom of the Greek first division
Uefa Cup, first round 1995-96
Manchester Utd 2–2 Rotor Volgograd (Rotor win on away goals)
With injuries forcing the 18-year-old Phil Neville and 20-year-old John O’Kane to fill in as full-backs United fell two goals behind in the opening 30 minutes. Paul Scholes pulled one back early in the second half and as they threw players forward the goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel headed an equaliser, but it wasn’t enough
Champions League, quarter-finals 1997-98
Manchester United 1–1 Monaco (Monaco win on away goals)
The group stages had been a doddle and after boring their way to a 0–0 in the south of France, United thought they’d done the hard part. But injuries to Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs meant Ferguson’s side struggled to respond once David Trezeguet put Monaco ahead inside four minutes at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equalised early in the second half, but Jean Tigana’s side held out
Champions League, quarter-finals 1999-2000
Manchester United 2–3 Real Madrid
Mark Bosnich produced an inspired performance at the Bernabéu in United’s first knockout game as holders (sound familiar?). But a Roy Keane own goal and a brace from Raúl meant United were 3–0 down before the hour at Old Trafford. David Beckham and Paul Scholes pulled goals back, but the champions were out
Champions League, semi-finals 2007-08
Manchester United 1–0 Barcelona
As with this week’s fixture in Milan, United were hampered by injuries at Camp Nou, with Owen Hargreaves filling in at right-back. The visitors held out, however, and Paul Scholes’s 25-yard drive in the second leg coupled with a stout defensive effort was enough to set up a meeting with Chelsea in the final
Three Manchester United supporters were attacked by four Internazionale fans after the Champions League match between the sides last night, according to reports in Italy. The incident occurred shortly after midnight near the stadium, on a road connecting San Siro with the nearest metro stop.
The United fans, aged 28, 48 and 49 were taken to San Carlo hospital in Milan for treatment. One suffered a broken nose and another a cut on the head. All three were later discharged.
The group of Inter fans escaped in a car before police could apprehend them. No motive was given for the attack.
Manchester United fans have run into trouble in recent years when in Italy for Champions League matches against Roma. Four United supporters were released from jail in Italy last May after fighting in Rome in December 2007, when five United fans were stabbed. Similar incidents occurred in the Italian capital in April of that year.
Sir Alex Ferguson will have to do something he has managed just once in 13 meetings and defeat Jose Mourinho after a masterful Manchester United display went unrewarded in the San Siro.
Despite a succession of clear chances, including one in the last seconds that Cristiano Ronaldo cannoned into Julio Cesar's chest, a vital away goal would not come.
So while Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be confident of getting a goal in the second leg at Old Trafford, they remain vulnerable to Mourinho's guile.
It was expected a meeting between the undisputed kings of Italy and England would be a keenly-fought affair with little give on either side.
In fact the first half turned out to be a landslide in every respect but the scoreboard.
The sheer speed of United's movement caught Inter napping almost as much as Ferguson's decision to leave Wayne Rooney on the bench.
Their swift snappy passing, allied to movement off the ball gave Inter a problem they struggled to solve. Indeed, they would not have managed it without an outstanding individual performance from Julio Cesar.
Brazilian goalkeepers may have been derided down the years but no-one was complaining among a noisy and increasingly agitated home contingent as Cesar made a string of saves to keep United at bay.
Ryan Giggs was denied at one point but the main victim was Ronaldo, who took aim with a series of free-kicks and found the Brazilian in the way every time, sometimes theatrically but always effectively.
Ronaldo did beat him once with a point-blank header but it flashed wide.
The world player of the year was a conclusive winner of his head-to-head duel with Zlatan Ibrahimovic though.
Mourinho rates the Swede as number one on the planet right now but there was precious little evidence to back up such a lofty claim as United's defence, reinforced by John O'Shea and Jonny Evans - who both overcame fitness concerns to start - kept him at bay, with Adriano virtually non-existent.
The major worry, especially with a coach as wily as Mourinho in the opposing dug-out, must be United's failure to score.
It was not as though they lacked the opportunity. Lone striker Dimitar Berbatov surged clear in the box at one point, only to look up and see no-one in support as he prepared to cross.
Inter's frustrations were summed up just before the break when Cesar's deputy, Francesco Toldo, was booked for protesting on the touchline at another decision that had gone against his team.
Ferguson must have sensed Inter would finally flex their muscles after the break, and so it proved.
Adriano had already flashed one shot wide when he crashed to the turf under Ferdinand's challenge as Javier Zanetti crossed.
The Brazilian screamed for a penalty but TV replays suggested Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo was right to say no.
But Inter tails were up and Stankovic was narrowly wide with another shot before attempting to release Ibrahimovic, who had strayed narrowly offside when otherwise he would have been clear.
United were not quite clinging on as their opponents had been earlier. However, they were being tested and it took them some time to regain their earlier composure.
Their goal threat had become sporadic with Zanetti's far-post clearance to prevent Giggs reaching Ronaldo's low cross the summit of United's danger until the veteran Welshman was allowed to gallop into the Inter box, where his shot was blocked by Ivan Cordoba and Carrick fired the rebound over.
After seeing Cordoba fail to make the most of a Mario Balotelli corner, Ferguson gave Rooney seven minutes to make a difference, and was no doubt not meaning for Rooney to pick up a booking for a foul on Stankovic.
However, it was a peripheral moment, with Ronaldo taking centre stage one last time to unleash another 20-yard thunderbolt. Cesar remained defiant and saved with his chest.
Man Utd Probable Team
Van der Sar
Rafael - O’Shea - Ferdinand - Evra
Ronaldo - Carrick - Fletcher - Giggs
Rooney - Berbatov
Cristiano Ronaldo is predicting a "titanic" battle between Manchester United and Inter Milan in the San Siro tonight.
The world player of the year is aiming to be part of the first side to retain the Champions League trophy since it was formed in 1992.
But there could have been few more arduous tests than the runaway Serie A leaders, who United meet at the same last-16 stage Jose Mourinho knocked them out at in 2004 with eventual winners FC Porto.
And, while Ronaldo is confident the holders will get through, he recognises Inter will not be disposed of without a mighty battle.
"It is going to be a titanic fight," he said.
"Inter are top of Serie A which tells you immediately they are a good team who are going to give us a tough game.
"But we are playing well, which should give us confidence. We just have to be ready."
With fellow countryman Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson at odds over when the tie will actually be decided, Ronaldo prefers to concentrate on what would be a good result for the visitors.
Like his manager, the star winger acknowledges United's formidable home record will give them a chance to progress providing their injury-hit squad avoids a similar calamity to the one they suffered on their last visit to the San Siro two years ago when AC Milan scored three times without reply to cause Ferguson more semi-final heartache.
"A good result is a win but if we draw it is not bad because Inter know it will be difficult to beat us in Manchester," added Ronaldo.
Ferguson will take a late check on the fitness of John O'Shea and Jonny Evans before finalising his line-up.
O'Shea is more likely to shrug off the pain of a sore heel than Evans is to battle through an ankle injury, but if either are fit it would at least give Rio Ferdinand a partner in central defence.
Fabio Da Silva - whose twin brother Rafael is absent with an injured ankle - and Darren Fletcher stand by to fill the right-back slot.
"My options? I panic!" said Ferguson, only half-jokingly when asked what he would do if both his Irishmen were ruled out.
"I suppose I could play Dimitar Berbatov as a sweeper."
At a time when plausible rivals on the domestic front are disappearing, the United chief is relishing a meeting of minds with Mourinho, who has only lost one of their previous 12 head-to-head duels.
There has never been anything worse that a healthy rivalry between the two men, with opinion growing that Mourinho will one day succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford.
And, as he enjoys a fabulous climax to his own career, Ferguson credits Mourinho's arrival in England for giving his team the edge they had lost.
"When Jose came there was a great upsurge at Chelsea," he said.
"I remember he uttered those words 'I am the Special One' and it seemed to galvanise the whole club. They won the first two titles under his management and their starts just caught us on the hop.
"By the time we got to October in that first season we were trying to play catch-up. It gave them the upper hand over everyone really."
