Once again we go into the knockout round of matches wondering whether Manchester United will be good enough to conquer the UEFA Champions League, European Club Football's most coveted prize. So the question in everyone's mind? Can they conquer Europe this time round?
Fergie and his team think so, and so too, do most United fans. Then again, that's the case every year. However, this season I think, may be something special. A 4-0 drubbing of bitter rivals Arsenal, a much needed rest for Cristiano Ronaldo and Sir Alex's desire to bring back his most treasured accomplishment to Old Trafford may just be the antidote Manchester United require.
First up for United - Lyon. Champions of France. According to Sir Alex, Lyon will be a tough nut to crack and rightly so. With class players, a great work ethic and with nothing to lose, Lyon will be attacking United with all guns blazing. They've won the French Ligue 1 for the last 6 years running and once again on top this year so as some may feel United can romp to victory like they did against Arsenal, they are making a mistake. Lyon may dominate all too much in the domestic league, but on the European Front its a whole different ball game. So can they beat United tonight, can they show that they are worth being called one of Europe's top clubs, can they say that they are as good as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Liverpool? Two matches against the Champions of England may decide that.
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Manchester United are quite simply on fire. After an embarrassing home defeat to Manchester City, which as a Manchester United fan I was deeply disappointed about, not just because of the result, but because of the way we played on such an emotional occasion. Manchester United needed to bounce back, they needed to prove that this wasn't just a mid-season slump that could mean the end of competing not just in the Premier League, but in the FA Cup as well. So what do Manchester United do to defy those critics? They dump league leaders Arsenal out of the FA Cup with a 4-0 win, humiliating the Gunners. Arsene Wenger couldn't complain much, except of course, for the pitch - which as silly as it seems, is his excuse for most losses.
The game against Arsenal may prove to be the turning point of the season, not just for Manchester United, but possibly for Arsenal as well. The win provides a much needed morale boost for United going into the Champions League as well as the close of the domestic season. With Rooney and Ronaldo in prolific form, the only thing standing between success and failure is the Manchester United players themselves. There's no doubt about the talent and class they have in their squad, but is that enough is the question...
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9 months ago
Manchester United are MORE than capable of winning the CL, but so are at least 6 teams in the tournament so we will just have to wait and see.
9 months ago
agree! being a united fan i dont doubt that for a second, and i hope that they do win! just a matter of time and we'll be able 2 see...
9 months ago
gd work there m8. i must add dat, we do go into the lyon game as favs. but it will be no walkover. all we need to do is defend well and we will go through and i say this because whenever we defend well we win!
9 months ago
true that! Lyon know that we dont like defending though - and if you ask yourself - we dont like defending... ever since stam left the club - our defendin as been a bit off! vidic and ferdinand have provided a much more stable defence now though!
9 months ago
The question is 'are Manchester United good enough to be champions of Europe?' They certainly are, they do have the artillery to do it and I think will beat Lyon tonight.
But than again Lyon have reached the quarter-finals in the last four seasons of the Champions League (i think) and they have certainly have done very well to stay second in Group E having lost 2 games with Barcelona (at Camp Nou) and Rangers at home. They did well when they managed to hold off a draw with Barca at home, so Lyon are definitely a team not to be messed with tonight. Ask ex-Monaco defender Partrice Evra (who else would know Lyon better), in a press conference early yesterday he insisted that his team cannot afford to be complacent and right he is. After the stunning victory over arch-rivals Arsenal, United might think the face-off with Lyon should be a walk over.
Having said that Lyon are having a performance slump in their domestic league having lost the last 6 appearances. They really have to pull of their socks to dent the confidence of United. Watching the United Arsenal game on the weekend, the players have really lifted the morale of the team especially the most unlikely scorer Darren Fletcher. Having scored a double, I think he has set a standard for the midfielders especially the likes of Hargreaves and Anderson who looks ever so threatening and the midfield taking few chances. I see United going to this game oozing with confidence and complacency is not an issue especially after loosing to City at home.
All in all I think United will triumph 2 to none.
9 months ago
They have a great chance, but every year there are four or five teams that could win. I guess it comes down to who performs on the day
9 months ago
IIAM GIRL AND I LOVE TO WATCH ALL SPORTS BUT I LOVE MANCHESTER UNITED AND THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE GAME I LIKE IT AND WATTCH IT ALL THE TIME ANY WAYS THNX BYE
9 months ago
I LOVE CRISTIANO RONALDO ALL THE TIME IAM WATCHING I WISH THEY CAOULD WIN ALL THE TIME AS IAM WATCHING SO HI C.RONALDO BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MISSS U MU NAME IS ASIHAA FROM U.S.A
9 months ago
United will will the league if...........Rooney is in the team, Ronaldo turns up and plays,
Tevez starts, Rio n Vidic are paired up and the middle has Nani, Hargreaves and Anderson. Van der Sar Evra and Brown make up the rest. 4-4-2. Perfect Champions line up. Carrick, Scholes, Giggs And Fletcher on the bench...
9 months ago
as a man united fan, it making me feel that it is our year. The last minute goals, like today performed by Tevez are showing that
As long we don't have injuries, I am quietly confident we make it quite far this year.
I am looking forward to the Barca- United final.
9 months ago
as a man united fan, it making me feel that it is our year. The last minute goals, like today performed by Tevez are showing that
As long we don't have injuries, I am quietly confident we make it quite far this year.
I am looking forward to the Barca- United final.
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