Champions League Final: Preview

May 20, 2008

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Man Utd v Chelsea
Champions League Final
21 May 2008
Luzhniki Stadium - Moscow
19:45 (BST)Â 22:45 (Moscow Local Time)

Final Preview

The sesason’s finale in Europe is almost upon us, with both United and Chelsea - and 40,000+ fans - now in Moscow

Prior to flying Sir Alex Ferguson held a final press conference at Old Trafford to outline his strategy for the final.

Whereas in 1999 many of the team selection choices were forced on him, either through injury or suspension, this time around he has a virtually full-strength squad to choose from.

Goodies!

Download UEFA’s Official Match Preview Kit Here!

Man Utd Moscow Training Photos

The Times Champions League Preview PDF

The Times Champions League Final Analyis Chart

Just how difficult it will be to break the bad news to players not selected was borne out very clearly on Fergie’s face as he contemplated the prospect:

“I know my team, I think, but I haven’t enjoyed picking it. Some very good players will miss out and it’s not easy to tell them that,” said Ferguson.

“The whole squad has contributed to the season and some will be disappointed.”

[Article Continues Belows Video]
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The Road To Moscow Preview Vid + Highlights

First Phase - Group Stage

Sporting Lisbon 0 Man Utd 1 ( 19 September 2007)
Highlights

Man Utd 1 As Roma 0 (2 October 2007)
Highlights

Dynamo Kyiv 2 Man Utd 4 (23 October 2007) Highlights

Man Utd 4 Dynamo Kiev 0 (07 November 2007) - Anybody Know A Link (Post a Comment) ?

Man Utd 2 Sporting Lisbon 1 (27 November 2007) Highlights - Tevez | Highlights - Ronaldo

AS Roma 1 Man Utd 1 (12 December 2007)
Highlights

First Knockout Stage

Lyon 1 Man Utd 1 (20 February 2008)
Highlights (Tevez Goal)

Man Utd 1 Lyon 0 (04 March 2008) Highlights

Quarter Final

AS Roma 0 Man Utd 2 (01 April 2008) Highlights

Man Utd 1 AS Roma 0 (09 April 2008) Highlights

Semi Final

FC Barcelona 0 Man Utd 0 (23 April 2008) Highlights (Ronaldo Penalty Miss)

Man Utd 1 FC Barcelona 0 (29 April 2008) Highlights

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The Starting Eleven

So, who do we think will make the cut?

One player almost certain to be in the starting 11 (saving unfortunate last-minute injury or bizarre managerial change of mind) is Paul Scholes.

Scholes, famously (or infamously) missed the 1999 final, having contributed heavily to that campaign’s success. Prior to reaching the final Ferguson repeatedly stressed his intention to include Scholes in any future final on the basis of sentiment alone.

The ginger maestro is in then. But who else?

On the basis of form alone the back 5 should pick itself. Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra - there’s not really much point debating that line up.

More problematic is the identity of the midfield - save Scholes, who as we know already makes the cut.

Our view - given the physical strength of Chelsea’s midfield it’s probable that Ferguson will opt to initially leave out Park in favour of Hargreaves, alongside Carrick and Scholes.

Park is a vastly underestimated player - unspectacular but very reliable in possession and clever enough to use the players around him. However, his lack of physical ‘presence’ may relegate him to the subs bench - certainly at least for the first hour.

Front line

Up front - either as part of a 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 - Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez. It’s nice to think of these three operating as attackers in a loose three-pronged formation, but, if United’s approach to the final is anything like their approach to the semis, Rooney and Tevez may well be relegated to the wings with Ronnie operating as target man up front.

Personally, we think it makes more sense for Tevez or Rooney - given their incredible work rate and ball retention - to act as the ‘target’ man, receiving the ball to feet, hassling the centre backs and allowing more room for Ronaldo to break.

Subs

Given what happened last time United reached the Champions League final, the identity of the susbtitutes seems almost as important as those chosen for the starting line up.

Kuszczak has to be there, obviously (although hopefully not required). Likely to be alongside him are Anderson (to replace Scholes with 20-30 minutes to go),Giggs (one last big night for the veteran), Park ,O’Shea (marginally more reliable defensive substitute than Silvestre),Saha and Nani.

If chosen, the final two in that list of subs, are the most contentious selections. Saha has done little to merit any favours this season and is almost certain to be sold in the coming weeks. Nani is far from the finished article and blotted his copybook woefully with his idiotic headbutt against West Ham.

Much as he embodies the club’s identity Gary Neville lacks sufficient match fitness and couldn’t really be surprised to watch from the stands this time. Harder to console will be Darren Fletcher, who - whilst lacking any streak of match-turning genius - never fails to give less than 100%.

Given the stakes, both financial and historical, it’s unlikely that the match will be a classic or easy on the eye.

Solskjaer’s verdict

However, let us not forget that apart from the final 10 minutes in 1999, United were pretty atrocious and the match not a great spectacle. As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said this week:

â€œLooking back to that final in â€™99 we have to be honest and say that Bayern Munich were the better team that night and we rode our luck as they hit the crossbar and hit the post.

â€œWe never had a shot on target for 80 minutes but thatâ€™s football for you.â€

If United serve up 80 minutes of huffing and puffing and conjure up 10 minutes of match-winning genius, no one - least of all Sir Alex - will care one iota.

1999 Final Highlights