iSporter Ankit Sharma believes the match between the reigning English champions and the Italian giants has more drama than any Suraj Barjatya movie or Ekta Kapoor serial combined, read on...
The stage is finally set. The moment so many were waiting for so many months has finally arrived. The match between the reigning English champions and the Italian giants has more drama than any Suraj Barjatya movie or Ekta Kapoor serial combined.
The last time a team stopped United from reaching the finals of the Champions League was Milan in 2007. And some stopping that was. After a last minute goal by Wayne Rooney gave United a hard earned 3-2 win at Old Trafford, Milan completely outplayed them at San Siro. That was AC Milan with the then World Player of the Year, Kaka. Milan have struggled a bit ever since Kaka left for Madrid.
However, nothing can be more dramatic than David Beckham playing against United, the club that made him a superstar. Beckham has already said that he will not celebrate if he scores against his former club. However, it remains to be seen if he would be able to score. That is because, if he starts at his customary right wing position, he will be up against arguably the best left back in the world, Patrice Evra. Beckham has lost some of his pace and stamina but Evra is at his peak right now with tremendous pace and great experience.
If Leonardo decides to play Beckham at the centre of the mid-field, he will have to face the tireless Darren Fletcher. The other important battle would be between Wayne Rooney and Alessandro Nesta. Rooney is in devastating form at present and his pace, power and movement could give Nesta a nightmare. However, what Nesta lacks in pace, he more than makes up with his experience and his no-non sense style of defending. Hence, expect a battle of wits here.
Milan’s biggest threats are the Brazilians Alexander Pato and Feguson's one time target Ronaldinho, both of whom have hit top form of late. Milan won their last Serie A match against Udinese 3-2 and Ronaldinho played a part in all three goals. It would be interesting to see where Leonardo starts Ronaldinho, Pato and Beckham. Milan have had an up and down season so far and are already 8 points behind city rivals Inter Milan. Thiago Silva is highly doubtful to play this match after he was taken off during the first half on Friday. Nesta and Pato are back after an injury scare.
Milan have a terrific record against United, having won 3 out of their 4 matches against them. They are also known to up their game considerably in Europe as they showed against Real Madrid during the group stages. Leonardo is expected to start Seedorf, Pirlo and Ambrosini in the mid-field with Beckham, Ronaldinho and Pato/ Huntelaar upfront making a formidable 4-3-3. Abate, Kaladze, Nesta and Antonini are expected to start in the defence with Dida between the posts.
The United defence will be bolstered by the return of Rio Ferdinand. Sir Alex may prefer to start Rafael at the right back instead of Gary Neville to counter the pace of Pato or Ronaldinho. Hence, in all probability Johny Evans would partner Ferdinand at the centre back position. Sir Alex would probably play Paul Scholes as the deep lying mid-fielder along with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher with Rooney alone upfront. Nani and Antonio Valencia could start on the wings with Berbatov, Owen and Park on the bench. Edwin Van der Saar looks set to start between the posts.
United have an added advantage of not having played any game on the weekend thanks to their 3rd round defeat to Leeds United in the FA cup. They however displayed a lot of grit and character to earn a 1-1 draw at Villa Park mid-week after playing most of the match with 10 men.
The game could be highly tactical as Milan have been less than impressive at the back, especially their full backs have looked vulnerable. In Nani, Valencia, Evra and Rafael, United have the personnel and arsenal to fully exploit this weakness. But a mid-field that has Gatusso, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Seedorf and Pirlo, can be expected to give a great fight to any team in the world. All in all, the showdown at San Siro is the most mouth-watering clash in the Round of 16 this year.
Player to watch out for Manchester United: Wayne Rooney
Player to watch out for AC Milan: Ronaldinho
Let the show begin!
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a guest
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... with the upcoming fixtures , though Man- Uni have had a few eye brows raised with the recent performance. Id say, my money is surely on manchester united. With Rooney, Berbatov and Owen, the Milan defenders make sure they watch out for the sneeky and swift passes from Sir Ryan Giggs turning every pass into high quality full force counter attack, and with Rooney, on it peak performance and is even getting hungrier for more goals, with high speed wing attacks with NANI and the young lad Fletcher. Man- uni all the way !!! |
Asif Khan
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... Does ignorance and Man U fans go together?? Giggs broke his hand in the Villa match and is out for a while and yeah what's the deal with adding Sir to Alex F. and now Giggs too? The Queen gave them the honors and half the people in the country they belong to don't honor them so what's with Indians being so particular about never mentioning their names without the "Sir" I understand Rooney and Berbatov been sneeky and quick, but Owen?? He's not even played by Fergie most of the time and he is nearly the same age and Milan's defence, isn't half as fast as he used to be in those days. The only thing Man U will do is to shut the defences and sit tight till they can score on a break, they play crap football away from home and will be playing for a draw! |
a guest
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... Giggs has broken his arm. True. Man United fans are ignorant, untrue. He mentiones "Sir" Ryan Giggs coz its a part of an ongoing campaign by United fans worldwide to get him knighted. Hence, almost all United fans call him Sir Ryan Giggs already. Secondly, Owen isnt as fast as he used to be but he is definitely quicker than the ageing Milan side. I agree United would play defensively and counter attack. This is not crap football, it is tactical football because United has pacy players in Rooney, Nani and Valecia and Milan have not-so-fast and past their prime players in Gattuso, Nesta. |
a guest
said:
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... Giggs has broken his arm. True. Man United fans are ignorant, untrue. He mentiones "Sir" Ryan Giggs coz its a part of an ongoing campaign by United fans worldwide to get him knighted. Hence, almost all United fans call him Sir Ryan Giggs already. Secondly, Owen isnt as fast as he used to be but he is definitely quicker than the ageing Milan side. I agree United would play defensively and counter attack. This is not crap football, it is tactical football because United has pacy players in Rooney, Nani and Valecia and Milan have not-so-fast and past their prime players in Gattuso, Nesta. |
a guest
said:
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... The results were loud and clear, and players of such high standards deserve high stature. Form is temporary, class is permanent. SIR. Its the RED ARMY, a few hurt or injured doesn't bother a team of such high standards and immense capability of turning down team across nations, Milan was one on them!! Fletchers pass to Rooney surely secured the winning points and left the Milan defenders look absolutely dumb founded. The Strategy was very clear, hold on the first half and then create major breakthrough passes and counter- attacks on the 2nd half, the final result spoke. |
Asif Khan
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... Strategy to sit back? United were running scared in the first half. If Milan front line wasn't so poor, the United defence was so pathetic that Milan would have score at least 5. United did win and it was a good win in the end so credits to them, the difference between the two team was that one has a good finisher and other didn't. Both teams showed some of the worst defensive display by a top team in a long time |
a guest
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... Defense has its own measures of attack, both teams had equally amount of mis calculations, exchange of counter attacks have been shifting courts through both 45 mins and, if the front line lacked in MILAN, so did Giggs absence payed a equal price! I believe, two experts on and off the field, have a differnet ball game to settle the final score, in this case Man Uni had the upper hand. |
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