Winning Ingredients Aplenty for Sir Alex Ferguson's 3rd European Triumph

Regardless of the team Sir Alex Ferguson selects, the Manchester United Red Devils have a wonderful opportunity before them Saturday, and they will take every bit advantage of it.

I expect them to come out rested but intense, on their game, and intelligent.

While Barcelona are worthy big favourites, Manchester United are not too shabby themselves. They have been criticized and ridiculed all season for not being “vintage” or offensive, or even having enough style.

It’s quite preposterous. I can’t think of any other Champion of the world’s best league that has been so incorrectly judged by people unassociated to the club.

I understand that Saturday’s Final is the biggest match of the year and I agree, but if any Barcelona fan is honest, Manchester United had a far more difficult domestic season.

Barcelona’s “ease” in La Liga has been quite impressive, but there are only two good teams there. United face far more physical and difficult to break-down defences week in and week out than the Catalans. On the contrary, United have not seen a team quite like Barcelona all season, so it evens out either way.

Manchester have far more options to choose from than Barcelona. I like Barcelona’s depth as well but really it is certain that Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets will patrol the midfield with Messi, Pedro, and David Villa up top. The only question is whether Mascherano will start and where, and if Busquets possibly falls further in the defence.

In no way am I discrediting Barcelona’s depth. I understand that Afellay is very serviceable in the final third and that Keita or Mascherano can come in if needed and the level of play would not drop-off.

However, the same goes for Man United and then some.

Personally I would play Rooney alone, with Nani and Park supporting. Probably Carrick, Fletcher, and Anderson in the midfield. The usual defence with whichever Da Silva is more fit of late on the right.

But my preferences could be way off. Such is the abundance of talent and fluidity at Manchester United.

I think Antonio Valencia is United’s 2^nd most important offensive player. All he does is pass and make the correct decision, but I don’t think he and Nani can play together much this particular game.

Chicharito has been excellent and United’s best scorer this season (in Europe), but his hold-up play is poor and he can disappear at times. I think he is too young for a starting place.

As crazy as that sounds, I think the boy is wonderful and his future is limitless. He really can improve a ton, though, which should scare the continent with what he’s accomplished his rookie season.

All season I have been wishing for Sir Alex to play Rooney on the left flank with Valencia on the right and Chicharito and Berbatov up top.

I don’t think Berbatov even gets in this game, and it’s truly sad because he has been nothing but class this season in carrying the team the 1st half and his acceptance of a substitute’s role in the 2^nd half. He has been exemplary and I hope he stays.

In the 2008 Final, the manager put Ronaldo on the left wing for the first time. And violà one of the prettiest headers anyone’s ever witnessed. Petr Cech had no chance, and it put United ahead of the Blues early.

Nani could play as a striker, and who knows if he will play all the way up. There are too many options to predict the selection.

In 2008, Park Ji-Sung missed the Final, then started and failed to impact in 2009. Will Ferguson use his big-time player?

Anderson was poor as well. Has he done enough to secure a starting spot?

Darren Fletcher has recovered from his virus, but is his fitness up to the task of getting the offense going with such little possession?

Michael Carrick had his worst ever game in the 2009 Final. Will Ferguson give him a chance to redeem himself after a stellar bounce-back season?

I have not even mentioned Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. If Giggs’ fitness was up to the challenge of chasing Barcelona around, I would have selected him. He has been sensational this year. However, his age and recent tabloid stirs may see him in a lesser role.

Scholes started the year so brightly and faded; I don’t know why.

Regardless, the options are endless, especially in the opponent’s half.

Rio will partner Vidic with Evra on the left. Rafael has all but established himself as the first-choice right back, but Ferguson may opt for Fabio who’s been playing more of late, or even old reliable-John O’Shea because of his experience.

Rafael is more offensive, so perhaps O’Shea is a better bet here, but Da Silva is faster and quicker than O’Shea. It may be a crucial decision.

In their first-leg encounter this February, Arsenal played about as well against Barcelona as a team can for 90 minutes. They attacked and got two late goals to win the match. United do not have the quickness to emulate the Gunners, but I believe the best way to defeat Barcelona or keep it drawn is to attack them.

Regardless of whether you agree with his tactics or not, José Moruinho handled Barcelona quite well before some questionable calls. While he essentially parked the bus, Madrid’s few breaks and attacks could have knicked a goal and gotten them through but we will never know.

I do like his strategy of putting a man directly on Messi. Why not? He is going to get free at some point, so why not put someone’s full attention on him? It did work for the most part.

I don’t think Ferguson will do this, but maybe a little extra care will be taken around the Argentina man. Ferguson will surely not be nearly as defensive as Mourinho, but not as adventurous as Arsenal either.

The Red Devils will not throw caution to the wind, but they will attack and remain stout in their defence simultaneously.

The reasons why Barcelona are not only favorites but heavy ones are obvious: they not only don’t get broken down or have lapses at the back, but they break you down more quickly and slowly (all at the same time) than you’ll ever see again in your life. It’s bloody brilliant.

But I genuinely feel the chances are there for United to spring an upset that many will say is stunning and massive, but really would not be all that shocking. And the pro-United reasons are:

Barcelona have the game plan for beating United. They did it swimmingly two years ago as we all know. Manchester will be the first team to make adjustments because they were beaten last time. How will Barcelona adjust to Man United’s early adjustments and changes from their outlook in 2009?

United’s defence has been incredible all season. They did not suffer their first loss until March 1^st. While they only won five times on their travels, they pulled out draws nearly every time out, and only lost a total of four times. And their home record was an astonishing 18-1-0.

In Europe, they allowed a single goal in the group stage. Throughout their entire road to Wembley, they have scored 18 times while conceding five goals. Not a single one of those conceded came on the road, interestingly enough.

Both teams have won a Final at the old Wembley (United in ’68, Barca in ’92).

In the 2009 Final, Barcelona were on the back foot early, and then United let in a soft goal. It was a typically nice finish by Eto’o, but from United’s defensive viewpoint, it was an easy one to let in.

After that, Barcelona played with themselves for 80 some-odd minutes. Later in the match, the result was sealed when United lost track of the most dangerous man in the world, and Xavi found him with an exquisite cross.

That said, United were not just in control early but in perfect position. Without the first goal, who knows how the game goes. Would the Messi goal have happened? And if so, it would have taken one act of genius from two superstars to narrowly take the victory from United.

Mistakes happen, sometimes awfully unlucky ones, but United is entirely capable of keeping it close, remaining tight at the back, and scoring on Barcelona on a counter or from a set-piece or open-play.

I am a huge fan of Barcelona’s midfield and Messi and Villa, so much that I feel their defence is a bit overrated. They are strong overall and Puyol is an all-time great and Piqué is well on his way, but they benefit dearly from such great play from Xavi and Iniesta. Mascherano is vulnerable (you saw it against Madrid) to speed, and United’s forward players can cause him major problems.

I don’t know if United have the horses to chase and take the ball away from the two-piston engine that makes Barca go, but I have to think they’ve improved their philosophy and conditioning ahead of the rematch.

It is a rematch in that many of the players are the same. Both teams are improved, Barcelona offensively and Manchester defensively, but it’s definitely becoming a big rivalry.

Just the year before the 2009 Final, Manchester beat Barcelona 1-0 over two-legs. Ronaldo missed a penalty at the Nou Camp, and Scholes had a screamer at Old Trafford to seal their berth in the 2008 Final.

The clubs have dominated since 2005 both domestically and in Europe. Barcelona have two titles, while United has one. United has three Finals appearances in four years; Barca has made the Final a third time in five seasons. Both have won four domestic league titles over that span as well.

United have played the most matches at the new Wembley and have a good record there. They are also good in penalty shoot-outs. In the 2008 Final, only Ronaldo missed his after extra-time.

Edwin Van Der Sar, playing his last professional game, is certainly more reliable than Valdes should it come to that, and I don’t think United fans would mind. United’s kickers are usually quite calm and on-the-money whether it’s a Carling, Charity Shield or Champions League Final they have to win on penalties.

Being at a “neutral” site, it cannot hurt that United have not conceded once away from Old Trafford in the competition.

There is some advantage with the Final being played at Wembley. Playing in your backyard in the biggest game of the year is never a bad thing.

I know that Xavi is a huge fan of the BPL, and he’s spent much of this week praising Man United, Sir Alex, Giggs and Scholes. While the X-Man’s admirations are all warranted - and I’m sure this is the case but I’m still wondering - does he know that when it’s all said and done, especially with a win tomorrow, he may be their current and future equivalent in his native Spain? He is every bit as good as they are.

A few more trophies and he’d be even with them in tangible success, but he’s already matched their influence of the game.

Saturday should be a great day for football. It is a monstrous and colossal clash, and hopefully it will live up to the billing. Barcelona’s style and results, since the 2009 Final really, has seen United 3/1 underdogs, which is astounding in a way.

Where a United win would be an upset, it can hardly be overblown. All season, they have been discredited. I don’t know any poor side that wins its league, reaches the semi-finals of its biggest Cup, and the Final of the biggest tournament in the world.

But Barcelona have been so impressive that they have made this great United side seem even more inferior than the foolish doubters already think they are.

Above all, I’ve got to think the greatest manager in the history of the game has made the necessary changes since the disappointing performance of two years ago, and he has something up his sleeve as well.

Something just tells me United will pull it out, as they’ve done all year - this dull side of Fergie’s. They and the fans have had a great season thus far and Saturday they can make it a special one.

Who will get their 4^th European Cup?

There’s something about this team. A certain edge. The believer in me can’t look past the dogged resilience they’ve exhibited all season. It’s got to be worth something.

1-2 to United