Apr 26
Manchester United Aim To Overturn History In First Leg Of Schalke Semifinal
For every truly elite football club, the objective at the start of every season is win the highest honors, to be the very best of the best and nothing less.
And so we enter the most important week and a half in Manchester United’s 2010/11 season, with those objectives so close, yet still so far away. After the next 13 days, the picture will be far clearer on just how successful this campaign has been and will be for United.
180 minutes from a Champions League final in your home country. 180 minutes from securing English football’s most hallowed record.
The first step begins tonight, and as tough as Sunday’s trip to Arsenal and the following Sunday’s visit from Chelsea will be, tonight’s showdown with Schalke looms as the toughest one of all, even if our opponents are lying 10th in the Bundesliga, markedly closer to last-place St. Pauli than likely champions Borussia Dortmund.
As has been mentioned many times in many places leading up to tonight’s match, history is very much against United when it comes to European trips to Germany.
The last time United were able to record an away win against German competition in a knockout tie in Europe was in November 1965, a 2-0 win over Vorwarts Berlin in the first round of that season’s European Cup.
After that tie, United didn’t face another such trip for more than three decades, but over the last decade-plus, there have been semi-regular meetings against German opposition in Europe. No one will ever forget the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, but as for matches against German opposition in Germany, well…it hasn’t been pretty.
In their last nine visits to Germany, United have all of two wins, a 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen in the first group stage of the 2002/03 Champions League, and a 2-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg in the group stage of last season’s competition.
Other than that, United have fallen short, especially when it’s mattered the most. Worse yet, those failures aided in European elimination.
In 1997, United faced Borussia Dortmund in the semis, and after a 1-0 defeat in Germany, fell 1-0 at Old Trafford to the eventual champions. Four seasons later, it was a Bayern-United rematch in the quarters, and after a 1-0 defeat at home in the first leg, United were sent packing with a 2-1 defeat in Munich. The next season, it was Michael Ballack and Bayer Leverkusen who dumped United out in the semifinals, drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford after United had twice led, then overturning an early United lead to draw 1-1 at home and progress to the final on away goals.
So, even though some might have penned United in for a berth in next month’s final at Wembley against either Barcelona or Real Madrid, you can be sure that the team itself isn’t underestimating Schalke.
Sure, we’re clear favorites, there’s no doubt about that. Sure, we’re the better team, despite the weak spots we have and the lapses we’re prone to. Sure, we have a marked advantage in experience and success at this stage.
But as mentioned, Schalke have favorable history on their side. More than that, they haven’t shown the least bit of fear in Europe this season, and you can expect that same attitude against United. Their only defeat came away to Lyon in their first group stage match; since then, they’ve reeled off seven wins and two draws, finishing top of Group B ahead of Lyon and Europa League semifinalists Benfica, eliminating Valencia 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16, and sending defending European champions Inter packing in the quarterfinals with a shocking 7-3 aggregate win.
Tonight’s hosts also look to have a quality that’s been a defining part of United’s success over the last two decades and especially this season: resiliency. In the round of 16, they fell behind early in the first leg at the Mestalla and battled back for a 1-1 draw, then fell behind early again (in fact, at the same juncture – the 17th minute) in the second leg at home before scoring three goals without reply to seal the win on the night and on aggregate. Then, against Inter, Schalke fell behind in the first minute at the San Siro thanks to a Dejan Stankovic stunner (one of the goals of the competition), then equalized (in the 17th minute!) only to fall behind again. All Inter from there, right? It proved to be quite the opposite, with Inter completely falling apart and Schalke playing like champions in a 5-2 win that all but decided the tie even before the second leg in Gelsenkirchen.
It doesn’t hurt to have the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer in their ranks either, in Raul, who’s had quite the rebirth after leaving Real Madrid last summer. Raul has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season, including five in Europe to take his all-time tally to 71. And on the other end of the pitch, there’s another familiar name in Schalke keeper and reported United target Manuel Neuer. Neuer, who appears destined for Bayern Munich, will need to be on top of his game tonight and next Wednesday at Old Trafford, given the amount of traffic that he should expect to receive in his direction.
So, Schalke have reason to be confident against United. But if there was ever a time for us to stop our streak of struggles against German opposition, it’s now.
United have already handled some hoodoo in their run to the semis, scoring a rare, rare win in Spain with their win over Valencia in the group stage, and winning at Chelsea for the first time in almost nine years in the last round. And with the exception of the goalless draw at Marseille in the round of 16, United have risen to the occasion away from home in Europe, in contrast to their ups and downs away from home domestically.
United also have the attacking prowess to take advantage of Schalke’s suspect back line and pepper Neuer’s personal space with many a shot. And after going with two forwards in both legs against Chelsea, there’s no reason to go away from that against a much more questionable defense, especially with the form that both Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have been in.
As is the case in any away first leg in the Champions League knockout stages, the objective tonight is to nab an away goal and leave with the tie in your favor, whether by virtue of a win or a scoring draw. We scored early in this situation against Bayern last season and at Chelsea in the last round, and doing so tonight would put the onus on Schalke to attack us, thereby opening themselves up to get further opened up. The numbers are in our favor, given that Schalke haven’t had a clean sheet in any of their knockout round ties. So, there’s definitely a way past Neuer, if we come out with the right intent and don’t let up.
Not finishing off Bayern when we had the chance to after that early lead came back to haunt us in the end, and there’s no doubt Fergie will be demanding killer instinct, opportunism, clinical finishing, and last but not least, avoiding the kind of lapses that proved costly against Bayern last season.
Schalke will be ready. They’re talking the talk, and they’ve got reason to speak confidently.
But we will be ready too. There’s history to reverse, and there’s history to make. So many times this season, United have stood tall and risen to the occasion in key situations, played like the champions that Manchester United aspire to be every season.
Should we expect anything less tonight?
Prediction: Schalke 1-2 Manchester United
Related items from Red Rants:
- Schalke 0-2 Manchester United: Ryan And Roo Come Through As Dominant United Overcome Neuer’s Brilliance
- Manchester United 4-1 Schalke: Reds Run Rampant To Book Barcelona Rematch
- Manchester United vs. Schalke: United Look To Lock Up Champions League Final Berth
- What Should Be Manchester United’s Starting Lineup Against Arsenal?
- United Host Chelsea With European Semifinal At Stake
Tags: Manchester United Fixtures
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Owen: Mate, im not a real fan, i really couldnt care less whether they win, lose or draw, but in fairness to them today, could you honestly name me a team, any team, in the world who actually attacks barcelona because i sure as hell cant. Only team i can think of is arsenal, and look how that ended for them.
If as it looks, us and barca get to the final once again, do you not think we will play just as defensive as real did tonight?
I agree with you, its not nice to see. Im an old romantic and whilst i know the defensive side of the game is important, ive always been one to scream at the top of my voice for fast, sexy attacking football week in week out.
You can probably do that against every other side in europe, but im sorry to say against barca thats just not going to work, and your going to be on the end of a nice thrashing if you think you can attack them.
No mourinho showed exactly how to beat barca, and it was largely the same set up as it was today. You have to accept theyre gonna have most of the ball, control the game at their tempo, your game has to be all about getting in the faces of xavi and iniesta and sensibly counter attacking them at will.
Thats what mourinho did the last 2 games, and they won 1 and drew the other. Obviously its not going to work every game, and today was ultimately barcas day, but the set up mourinho has gone with against barca is the way all teams should try to replicate when playing barca. Thats just the way it is mate, as boring and infuriating it can be to watch, but then if it gets you the win, and you dont have to sit there watching those cheating bastards beam with delight on their faces, then ill sacrifice the sexy football against them.
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I didn’t think Madrid did anything to deserve winning this game. WIth or without Pee-pee. Tactics were too defensive in 1st and Ronaldo was isolated up-front. Messi was invisible until Pepe got sent off.
1. Mascherano’s job was to cause conflict from minute 1. It worked.
2. Pedro dived for a penalty and ref saw it, but did not book him
3. Alves over-reacted on Pepe’s tackle and ref gave Pepe a very harsh red card.
4. Busquets play-acted an elbow to the head when Marcelo barely touched him on the chin with his pinky.
5. Messi should have seen a yellow for pushing over Albiol at 1-0.
6. Both barca and madrid made “yellow-card” gestures and crowded the ref on multiple occassions
Marcelo slipped on first goal but 2nd goal was nice.
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@tonymontanna4united: The point is while Mourinho tactics are ugly Barca’s style can hardly be considered “fast, sexy attacking football” either. As one blogger aptly observed commenting on recent Barca vs Arsenal classicos:
“Barcelona has constructed a monopoly of the mind – by repetition, the world accepts their patient (slow) passing based approach as “beautiful.” I find this odd, because US college basketball had a similar “four corner offense” which was so plodding successful it led to the invention of the shot clock.”
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@Andrei: Nice one Andrei! Barca does make me look for a shot clock.. LOL
!
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I have to say, El Clasico 3 really turned out to be a typical La Liga derby. Theatrics. Check. Rough house antics and violence. Check. Gamesmanship. Check. Attacking football. Half check. Sergio Busquets didn’t disappoint with his usual theatrics and neither did Alves. I’m not sure why Liverpool were relieved of Mascherano,a perfectly unlikable gentleman whose sole agenda is mayhem. Fortunately there was no Iniesta to help out with the acting. Marcelo,could just as well be called, Machete, for hacking down players time after time. Sergio Rambo was at his malicious best, desperately looking to be sent off. For some reason, Ronaldo didn’t turn up with his favorite flippers and oxygen tank. Oezil was missing.
But besides this, in all honesty, Mourinho is a real coward. His team deserved a thorough beating and to play the way he did at home is an astronomic disgrace. I don’t like Madrid, but they don’t lose games, playing that way, no matter who they play. I don’t ever want to see Mourinho at United, no matter what. He should have stayed at Inter because they are a pragmatic match in the business of negative football. I thought his tactics for the Copa del Rey were a disgrace, playing 3 defensive midfielders and 2 central midfielders and what can only be described as an attacking and defending midfielder(Ronaldo). But tonight, he went a bit too far, given Madrid’s history of galactic football.
Anyway, for United,united this could be good news. Some time ago, I did mention that it would be better to meet Barca in the final than Madrid. Don’t let this game fool you, Madrid have the capacity to completely destroy 99% of teams out there. Yes, Barca can as well, but on recent form, Madrid have been looking a great menace. More assured than Barca. You have to understand that if the likes of Higuan,Benzema,Ronaldo, and Di Maria are truly unleashed to attack, t could spell great disaster for the opposition. Plus the main issue is they now have all their players not only fit, but in top form. Barca on the other hand have a lot of exhausted players, like Iniesta and Xavi, and more critically, they have key defenders missing. The rock solid partnership of Pique and Puyol has been disrupted and soft goals are being conceded. Abidal,described by many as the best LB, this season, has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Secondly, many coaches seem to fail to recognise that Barca are not as devastating playing wide. When you force them wide by pressing the middle and defence areas, they are forced to go wide, and though not poor, in that area, it’s definitely not their best. Plus we play best,w¡de and this allows us to play our best game and system.
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@Moscow is my heaven: Fucking eh, mate.
If this was the the very best teams that UEFA can produce, we should succeed the union. A vast parade of ponces, and all of their theatrics, it was all played out like a Passion Play. Trouble was, the actors were so bad, they were not only were unbelievable, but with the exception of Messi, they collectively fluffed their lines.
From Mourinho to Pepe and Macherino to Di Maria, this was like watching women parade in front of one another at the debutantes ball.
Where is Roy Keane when we need him!!
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@Andrei: Good point mate, although no “shot clock” necessary if more men turn up to play the game and more refs start enforcing FIFA’s simulation rules.
It was a disgusting display of play acting. It makes the core of the game irrelevant and the practical nature of it’s rules, a sideshow to the theatrics.
Of course, it wouldn’t be in FIFA’s nature to man-up, would it?
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@Owen: Blow me.
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@Owen:
Blow me.
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@Craig Mc: Mate, trust me, the fix was in. Platini and Blatter invite Barca over every weekend for orgies. They fucking love those cunts and will do anything to get them through. Just remember the Chelsea tie from two years ago. Today Real Madrid were playing 10 against 12.
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@Owen: Because one day he will be your coach you nitwit. So I would suggest you don’t burn your bridges by taking it up the ass collectively by Barca.
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@Craig Mc: What have I been saying for so long? Barcelona is football’s anti-christ. They are evil personified but are dressed all cute and pretty like a true she devil. Today their antics were a disgrace to the game but you know what, tomorrow the media will side with them and condemn Mourinho, Pepe and Madrid for poor sportsmanship simply because they had the sheer audacity to challenge UEFA’s conspiracy and favoritism. Football has become such a sad sad game.
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@Moscow is my heaven: What I would love is a team with 11 Roy Keane’s to have just 10 minutes with Barca on the field with no referees.
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Disgrace of a game last night! I never really hated Barca but watching the first half yesterday really made me wanna throw up! That repulsive tiny cunt Alves, goes off on a stretcher then asks the medics to stop, jumps off the stretcher and walks on to the field. Shambolic. I hope we can extract some revenge at Wembley coz the tiny faggots sure will be play act again!
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wow… fucking disgrace… fergie once fined solskjar for bringing down opposition players to save us from loosing a game! Next game madrid should field reserves players and break legs of each and every barca player! Drogba is a saint compared to these cheats…
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