Man Utd Can Outpace Aged Milan

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 22:07 Pulasta Dhar

Manchester United are not a team which shares good times with AC Milan. The Italians have always knocked them out of the Champions League. iSporter Pulasta Dhar is one of those hoping this time it will different…

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AC Milan have always relied on experienced players getting them past the finishing line. It is hard to find a club these days who do not go out and invest heavily in the so called young wonderkids and all the while selling the ones who near 30. If you are 30 at Milan, then you’re young.

They have their own wonderkid in the form of Pato. Leonardo is going to play the press till the last moment on whether his ace will play or not and it might spring a tactical surprise. Mark my words, if the Brazilian striker plays then things might be very different at Old Trafford. Ronaldinho may not have hit peek form, but he is sure getting back to business and confidence. The back heels and the rebound passes were just an example of greater things to do. But where pace is concerned, United are miles ahead.

One thing Leonardo has to remember is to play Beckham on the right if he does so. And Pato in the middle will surely help as a target. Borriello will be easily outrun if the Rio-Vidic partnership play and we can say that for the clash between Becks and Evra too. The right back position will probably be Gary Neville’s, with Fergie looking to the experience of the player to stop Ron from the left. In the middle, it is all United. Darren Fletcher resting at the weekend was no co-incidence and he will surely play with Scholes or Carrick in the center.

That depends on whether United go 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. Berbatov has been scintillating in his last two displays, earning him a lot of deserved Brownie points from the Old Trafford faithful and he earned the Man of the Match award against Wolves. Rooney, tired and probably jaded with his knee a problem, might need support up front and I guess the Scotsman will play Berba to provide him some cover, more since he has devoted time to the gym in getting his stamina at 100%.

If United play that way and keep things tight, then they will cruise. Pirlo has been half of what he used to be all season and Seedorf needs to play unless Leonardo want to lose. Seedorf still plays like the emerging 20 year old kid he used to be and he can run ahead while Pirlo dinks from behind. The defense is a bit of a worry for the Milanese, especially the lack of quality full backs.

Valencia simply creates havoc if you can’t run behind him at the speed of wind, and not every defender is capable of doing that. The centre backs are strong but silly and they displayed this with pomp when they let bulky old Wazza out of their sites and between them to score the final goal of the 3-2 victory.

As far as form and depth goes, it is United’s to win. As far as experience and composure goes, it is Milan’s tie. Just make sure Beckham’s on the right!! If United need to win it, Fergie will have to take a risk and play 4-4-2 and kill it off before half time. Remember, Milan need to win with at least two goals and United’s defense is back in full force.