Manchester United brushed aside the challenge of German side Schalke 04 last night as they emerged 4-1 winners in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second-leg, William Geldart writes.
A brace from Brazilian midfielder Anderson, preceded by strikes from Antonio Valencia and Darron Gibson was answered by a mere consolation from Schalke winger Jose Jurado to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory following United’s 2-0 triumph in Gelsenkirchen in last week’s fixture.
Midfielder Valencia latched onto a delightful through ball from Northern Irishman Gibson in the 26th minute to slot the ball home as United took charge. The pass was likened to the one Barcelona schemer Andres Iniesta had played to team-mate Pedro the previous evening to open the scoring for the Catalans in their 1-1 second-leg draw with bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Gibson’s evening was to become even sweeter as his powerful shot proved too hot to handle for Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who could only watch hopelessly as his attempt to gather the ball saw the ball viciously ricochet off his outstretched hands and into the net.
Having made eight changes to the starting line-up that appeared in the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal last Sunday, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was fully vindicated in his decision to name fringe-players like Gibson on yesterday’s team-sheet. Indeed, the Northern Ireland international had bravely carried on following a heavy knock early in the first-half.
Jurado’s rasping drive from the edge of the area ten minutes before half-time was scant consolation for Schalke who rarely threatened throughout both ties despite the industry of Spanish talisman and former Real Madrid striker Raul.
Anderson’s quick-fire efforts with around a quarter of the game remaining put the seal on another impressive European outing for the Red Devils. His first and United’s third was the result of his persistence after the chance to score looked to have eluded him. The Brazilian initially struggled to find space amongst a swarm of defenders; however, he swivelled in the area to fire underneath Neuer who perhaps should have done better.
Dimitar Berbatov’s pin-point centre from the right-wing left Anderson with an easy finish to round off the scoring.
Even Michael Owen, rarely utilised by Ferguson this season, nearly made the scoreline even more emphatic. On a mixed night for Neuer, his strong palm stopped Owen inflicting even more misery on Schalke as he kept out the Englishman’s well-struck shot.
United will now face Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday May 28 in what promises to be an intriguing final. Both clubs have fond memories of the old stadium.
Barcelona won their first European Cup at the famous venue in 1992, courtesy of a Ronald Koeman strike in their 1-0 win against Italian side Sampdoria.
United’s are of their own inaugural triumph in the same competition. Their 4-1 win against Benfica in 1968 catapulted the Red Devils into the European elite.
Feverish discussion is now focussed on the meeting of two of football’s greatest club sides in a repeat of the 2009 final, with Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi securing a 2-0 win for Barcelona in Rome.
Ferguson is adamant his charges have learned from the defeat and he is confident that his plan to beat the team considered one of the best to ever play the game will bear fruit.
With the ‘Barcelona Way’ often feted as the purest form of football, United will be looking to prove that their blend of resolute stoicism, probing and incisive counter-attacking will be able to nullify the threat from Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola’s all-stars.
On stifling the world’s greatest player, the Argentine Messi, who has scored 11 goals in this season’s Champions League, Ferguson is wary of the attacking midfielder’s influence although confident his team have the experience to deal with his potent menace.
“We’ve played against Messi before and I always think some experience is better than none” he said.
Indeed, the psychological mind games have already begun between both clubs with Ferguson keen to garner any helpful advice from Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.
Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Xavi has already claimed Manchester United are the favourites to claim club football’s biggest prize.
“There should be no terror and we can’t be frightened out of our skin. Our job is to find a solution to what Barcelona do” Ferguson added as he seeks United’s fourth European crown.
No doubt there will be plenty of respect shared between both teams as they prepare for their gladiatorial battle at the ‘home of football’. Roll on Saturday May 28.
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A 6-1 aggregate win in the semi-final of the Champions League is quite astonishing really. I didn’t see much of the Schalke vs Inter semi-final so can’t really pass comment on how the Germans managed to come away with a victory in that one, but they offered absolutely nothing in either leg against United and looked well out of their depth.
I’m not really sure whether such an easy passage to the final will work in United’s favour or not, but I make them slight favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley. I think the El Clasico marathon Barcelona have just gone through has been mentally and physically exhausting for Pep Guardiola and his side and I think the final may be a match too far for them.
Obviously they are an outstanding football side, but it’s easy to forget that heading into the 2009 final United were favourites. Since that game, Barca seem to have developed an aura of invincibility although they are far from untouchable, as Real Madrid and Arsenal have proved this season.
More to point, Sir Alex Ferguson does not make the same mistake twice and I can’t see him allowing Guardiola to outfox him in another European final. Either way, it should be a fascinating tactical battle. Roll on 28th May.