Champions League Preview Part 1: Villareal - Rossi And Arsenal Veterans..
August 29, 2008
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First out of the hat for us in the draw for the Champions League first phase was Villareal.
United have only met the Spanish side twice before, in the same 1st Phase of the Champions League in fact back in 2005. Let’s hope the matches and our fate in the competition this time round is better than back then - we managed only two nil-nil draws with them and didn’t even make it out of the group stages.
Whilst United have only met Villareal twice in competitive matches, they are more than familiar with certain of their players.
First and foremost there’s Giuseppe Rossi, whom many United fans will remember fondly from his time with the Reserves at United.
The diminutive Italian American (he has elected to play for Italy if chosen) was tipped for great things at United, but never quite made the grade - or arguably - was never given sufficient chances in the first team to make his mark.
He’s certainly done well enough at Villareal in his first season there since United sold him to the Spanish team - scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances. Interestingly, Fergie was half-reluctant to let the striker go and United have first option to buy back Rossi should Villareal want to sell him on.
Also familiar to Reds will be former Arsenal pair Robert Pires and Pascal Cygan. Pires joined Villareal from Arsenal in 2006 but shortly after damaged his cruciate ligaments and was out of action for much of the 2006-2007 season. He made a full recovery, however, and has gone on to be a key member of the current Villareal side.
Cygan, who many will remember from his Premier League days as an uncompromising if occsasionally gaffe-prone central defender, also joined Villareal in the summer of 2006 and signed a one year contract extension with the club this summer.
Other players to look out for are Turkish striker Nihat, who shone at Euro 2008, midfielder Marcos Senna who United were rumoured to be interested in at one stage and left-back Joan Capdevila - a regular in the current Spanish national side.
Fixtures:
Manchester United v Villarreal 19:45 (GMT)
Villareal Squad
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Previous Matches:
14/09/05 Champions League Phase 1 - Villareal 0 Manchester United 0 (El Madrigal Stadium, 22,000)
22/11/05 Champions League Phase 1 - Manchester United 0 Villareal 0 (Old Trafford, 67,471)
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