Manchester United: The Key to Pushing Barcalona in the Final
Saturday 28th May will see the 2011 Champions League Final take place at Wembley between Manchester United and Barcelona.
The game is always one of the highlights of the season.
This season's encounter is made more special as it's a replay of the 2009 final where Barcelona overpowered United to lift the trophy in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
The bookmakers have Barcelona as firm favourites for this year's encounter, and they enter the event as probably the form side in Europe.
For United to win against Barcelona there are a number of key areas where they have to dominate and where the players have to be on top form.
The Last Line of Defence: Edwin Van Der Sar
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No team can function effectively without a commanding Goal Keeper.
For United, responsibility falls to the 40-year-old Edwin Van Der Sar. For Van Der Sar, this game will be his final wearing a United shirt after he announced his retirement earlier this year.
Van Der Sar has had a fantastic season so far and has been one of the main reasons for United's position this season.
Sir Alex Ferguson has advised Van Der Sar to maintain his plans to retire and to leave the club at the pinnacle of his career.
This echoes the 1999 final where Peter Schmeichel played his last game in the final against Bayern Munich in which United staged an injury time come back to win 2-1.
Manchester United will need Van Der Sar to be at his best in this game in both his shot-stopping and the organising of the defence. There is no chance that Barcelona won't test the hands and goal of Van Der Sar.
The Central Pairing: Ferdinand and Vidic
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Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been inspirational in 2011 at the back for United. In games where one or both of this duo have been missing, the team has struggled.
Ferdinand brings with him a great sense of control and leadership at the back.
Vidic has the strength and mentality to intimidate attackers as they approach.
The pair also bring a massive threat from set pieces, particularly corners where their height has resulted in crucial goals throughout the season.
The worry would be Ferdinand's injury history this season. He is clearly only just getting back to his best and is still struggling with fitness, this could be a very big problem given that he will be facing Lionel Messi—presently regarded as the greatest player in World Football.
There is a strong supporting cast that will be looking to back up this pair should they not be able to make the Final. Smalling, Evans and Brown will all anticipate being sidelined, but will be ready to step into the fold should they be required.
The Core: Midfield
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Manchester United's midfield will be seriously tested against Barcelona.
Barcelona have a great passing ability and can get players into an attacking position with apparent ease. United will need to close down this aspect of the game to prevent the ball arriving with Messi, limiting the damage they can do.
United have great depth and a range of talent in this position.
Scholes is the old faithful. Facing what may be his final game for United Scholes will be eager to play a role in the final and secure his third Winner's Medal. The worry in playing Scholes is his famed lack of ability to tackle without picking up yellow cards. Sir Alex will have to weigh his attacking flare with his defencive frailties when picking the team.
Michael Carrick has been a solid player over the last year. It has been argued that he has not been at his best since the closing stages of 2010. However, Carrick has an amazing ability to produce inch perfect crosses and long passes. He has been referred to as the quarterback of the United team. If he features, he has to be on top form in his distribution and defence.
Darren Fletcher has had a disrupted season with a mystery illness keeping him out of the last few weeks. Fletcher, whilst not always a favourite of the fans, could be the player to anchor the attack and provide stability and a block to the advance of Barcelona. Fitness will be a massive part in his role.
Anderson is another player who could feature in the centre of the pitch. Anderson has a flare and skill-set that makes him an amazing player on a given day. Anderson has, however, struggled to put in consistent performances over the course of a season. A clear statement was made by him against Shalke and he will be pushing hard to make a case for him to be involved.
Darron Gibson has featured more due to Scholes' age and Fletcher's illness. Gibson is improving but there are doubts about his ability around the Old Trafford stands. Many fans feel he isn't good enough.
Whoever plays in the centre of the park will have to work very hard and be on top of the game for United to be victorious.
Pace and Width
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United have an amazing array of wide players, some of which have a turn of pace that a 100 meter sprinter would be proud of.
Nani is a raw talent. He has developed during his time at Old Trafford into a much more complete player, but is still prone to making mistakes and outbursts of petulance. As a defender, I wouldn't want him to be coming at me full pace.
Antonio Valencia has made a remarkable recovery from his broken leg earlier in the season. Watching him play in the last few games, few people could tell he had been absent for so long. He is a great player but at times lacks some showboating that is seen with some of the other greats. Valencia has a consistency with his cross that will trouble defenders and goal keepers.
This section wouldn't be complete without the evergreen Ryan Giggs.
Giggs has over the last few years lost a yard of pace but many defenders still can't cope with the 37-year-old Welshman. Giggs may or may not feature on the wing, attack or in the centre of the park. He demonstrates a professionalism that is unrivaled amongst footballers. Giggs will feature at some point and cause defensive problems for Barcelona.
Park Ji-Sung is a hard working player.
He tracks back and fights for the ball and frustrates midfield opposition by not allowing them time on the ball. Park could be an important player in keeping Barcelona's midfield under wraps.
Whoever gets the nod from Sir Alex will have the support of Patrice Evra and one of the Da Silva boys. Evra, Rafael and Fabio love to get forwards in support of the wingers and play a vital role in servicing the front men. They have to be careful though, Barcelona have a great set of players and could expose United if they get the opportunity.
The Goal Threat
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Manchester United have four recognised strikers that are likely to be in the thoughts of Sir Alex over the coming weeks.
Wayne Rooney is clearly one of the favourite players and is probably penciled in on the team sheet. Rooney does a whole host of things on the pitch when he's not scoring. Rooney has set up plenty of goals as well as adding his own to the team tally.
Javier Hernadez (Chicharito) has been the signing of the season for Sir Alex. Hernadez was the quickest player at the 2010 World Cup and has maintained that electric pace in his first season at Old Trafford. 19 goals in a player's first season is a special achievement, what is even more special is that he has done it whilst elbowing his way into the starting line up. Barcelona must see Hernadez as a real threat to their goal.
Dimitar Berbatov is in a strange place with his position at Old Trafford. The Premiership's leading scorer can't hold a regular place in the starting 11. Whatever Berbatov's role is on the 28th May, he will be wanting to do his best to either show Sir Alex that he deserves to be a starter, or to advertise himself to clubs across Europe.
Michael Owen could be another player to feature from the subs bench. Owen has a similar ability to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to come off the bench and score from the slightest chance.
Sir Alex has always maintained that you need to have a group of four strikers in a squad. I think most teams would be very envious of these four.
Sir Alex Ferguson
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Sir Alex Ferguson will be the key to the strategy that United operate.
Ferguson will be looking to get his third Champions League crown and the thought and preparation was evident against Shalke for the final.
Sir Alex knew the Shalke game was all but over after the first leg and made a sensible team selection for that game in the knowledge that he was to face Chelsea in the following game. If United can beat Chelsea on the 8th May they will have virtually wrapped up the Premiership campaign. This will leave Ferguson free to prepare for the final in the last two games of the domestic season.
Sir Alex will also be working hard away from the training ground in terms of mind games. Ferguson is one of the greatest managers when it comes to making the opposition think what Ferguson wants them to think.
Sir Alex is what will bind all the other aspects together to give Manchester United the best chance to defeat Barcelona. Ferguson will be using the perceived home advantage as one of his tools to get the best he can from the squad.
Whatever happens, it's fairly safe to say that two of the best teams in Europe will be going toe to toe at Wembley in what is the most prized competition in European football.
