Manchester United v Barcelona Preview

Tomorrow is the second half of the extremly important semi-final matches between Manchester United and Barcelona. It is currently at 0-0 and the teams are meeting tomorrow at Old Trafford. If Barcelona score then United will have to score two because away goals count as double.

Manchester United
Squad: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra, 0'Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson, Hargreaves, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Nani, Fletcher, Rooney, Tevez, Kuszczak, Pique, Welbeck.
Injuries: Saha out. Rooney and Vidic are doubtful but they may be fit in time.
Suspensions: If Evra, Hargreaves or Nani receive another yellow card and United get through to the final they will miss the final through suspension.
Form: LDDWW
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United
Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United
Blackburn 1-1 Manchester United
Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal
Manchester United 1-0 Roma
Manager: "I'm not concerned the season is beginning to affect the team,"
"I think we should be sitting here as champions of the league. I think decisions have gone against us, bad decisions have gone against us.
"But here we are sitting here at this very moment, it doesn't matter about the decisions in the past. When we started out in the league in August, it was to win the league. We signed up to play 38 league matches, and we are going to play 38 league matches.
"And if it means we have to win the last two games to win the league, then so be it.
"Where we are now is, with two games left - it doesn't matter if we've had 50 penalty kicks turned down, or 50 given to us, or terrible performances, or great performances - we are sitting here now with two games left.
"A semi-final tomorrow, a home game on Saturday and a game against Wigan away. Disaster!"
"Saturday can only help us, no question about that. Playing Wednesday night after a lunchtime kick-off there is no way I could have played the same teams; so I had to decide where I could get the best freshness and give my team the best chance of a European final because that is the best incentive for any player.
"Time and time again I said this club should have had more success in Europe and I wanted to give them the very best chance and it was a very easy team to pick on Saturday.
"We are disappointed in the manner in which we lost. That is normal, but with the incentive of a big game you put that behind you quickly and the intensity of the training session reflected that."
Giggs: "It is a European Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, that's why you become a footballer,"
"These games don't come around too often, so you have to go and make the most of it and enjoy yourself.
"I am sure we will. Every player is looking forward to this game. It is a massive match and we will be up for it.
"You have to do what you do best. If you are a defender, defend. If it is attacking, taking on players and scoring goals, do that.
"We defended brilliantly against a very good Barcelona team last week and have to do the same again.
"With the crowd behind us, we are noted for our attacking play and creating chances and I am confident we can do that."
"You look at the enthusiasm of the young lads and it is infectious. That's why we have been so successful this season.
"We have a good mix of experience and youth. The experienced players can use that experience in big games.
"We have players who have played in European Cup finals before.
"In addition, we have players who didn't get there last season and want to make up for that setback."

Barcelona
Injuries: Toure is doubful and Edmilson is expected to replace him.
Suspensions: Marquez is suspended for the match. If Milito , Messi or Toure get a yellow card tomorrow and Barca get to the final then they will miss the match through suspension.
Form: LDDDW
Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 Barcelona
Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United
Barcelona 0-0 Espanyol
Recreativo Huelva 2-2 Barcelona
Barcelona 1-0 Schalke 04
Manager: "It could be important," Rijkaard said of the missed spot-kick
"If we manage to go through then I think we'll probably hear about the missed penalty in Barcelona. So it will be all or nothing [for Ronaldo].
"If we go through then the pressure will be on Ronaldo.
"It will be an interesting game - also psychologically for some Manchester United players."
"I think we need to score a goal at the very least to make sure we go through - we need to impose our own style of play.
"We have to try and be brave and pass it around and keep possession, and maybe not get involved in Manchester United's style of play too much.
"It's obvious that it's going to take a big effort tomorrow night, but that's what we've been preparing for. We're hoping that we can show that we can fight hard to achieve our objective, which is to get through to the final.
"We have to believe in ourselves. We have to believe we can go out and get a result, and I think by giving of our best and showing our class out on the field that gives us a good chance."
Henry: "On Tuesday they will create more spaces and, therefore, we won't see the same United," Henry told Barca TV.
"We might have more space, but they will create more danger.
"Here (in Spain) they didn't play their game because we played well and we expect something different there."

Whoever goes through tomorrow will be in the final in Moscow against either Chelsea or Liverpool.

4 Responses so far.

  1. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone think the CL final will be made less of a specticle if contested by 2 English teams?

    If 2 English teams make the final should the venue be swithed from Moscow to Wembley? This does penalise the fans finacially and is greener.

  2. Shuggo says:

    well we will be finding out in three weeks time, i would love the final to be at Wembley but that is never going to happen.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Hope it snows in Moscow!

  4. Shuggo says:

    lol, doesnt matter if it snows were still in the final and have a great chance of winning it.

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