Filed under: Manchester United, Champions League, Football, Match Previews
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: OLD TRAFFORD, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1945 BSTManchester United could be without as many as seven players for the clash with Basle but Sir Alex Ferguson will still be confident that his team can take a significant step towards the magic figure of 10 points.
Even without the host of United absences, the home game at Old Trafford represents a stiff test, following the 1-1 draw at Benfica in the opening round of fixtures.
Their only previous meetings were in the second group stage of the competition in 2002-03, when United were held to a draw at Old Trafford but won 3-1 in Switzerland.
Ferguson maintains that he will not be taking Basel lightly and said: "We played them a few years ago and they've always been the premier team in Switzerland.
"As a country Switzerland have produced some good young players for quite a few years now. Basel have good experience, they've been in Europe quite a few times and we'll respect that."
Key Match-up: Dimitar Berbatov v Aleksander Dragovic. Despite Ferguson's reluctance to confirm it, Berbatov looks sure to make his first Old Trafford start of the season. Looking to keep track of the mercurial Bulgarian is Austrian youngster Dragovic, 20, who has forced his way into the Basel team since joining from Austria Vienna in February.
Form Guide: United dropped their first points of the season with the 1-1 draw at Stoke at the weekend but had won their previous five Premier League games. They started their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Benfica. Basel sit fourth in the Swiss League but are unbeaten in their last five games.
Odds: Manchester United 1/5, Basel 14/1, Draw 11/2.
MANCHESTER UNITED:
Ferguson will see this as a key match, knowing that victory would put United on to four points ahead of the double header with un-fancied Romanian newcomers Galati.
That said, Wayne Rooney will miss out with a hamstring problem, joining Javier Hernandez, Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Rafael and Tom Cleverley on the sidelines, giving Ferguson plenty to think about.
It is likely that Antonio Valencia will move to right back, with Berbatov, Danny Welbeck and Michael Owen doing battle for the two striking spots.
Left out of the squad for the Champions League final, Berbatov has made just two starts all season but Ferguson insists the Bulgarian has not been a problem for him.
Ferguson also maintains that United's players are used to being rotated.
He said: "They accepted the squad system a long time ago and want to do well when they get the opportunity because as a group they all want to do well so I don't have any issues with that at all.
"Of course Dimitar still has a big part to play. He's one of our squad members and they all have a part to play.
"With the Premier League, the Champions League, the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, it's an exhausting season unless you use your squad.
"I don't need to reassure him, he knows he's a part of the squad. It applies to other people in the squad, Federico Macheda, Mame Biram Diouf, Owen.
"We've had six games, one game at Benfica, one game at Leeds, it's only early doors. There's still plenty of time."
For all their success in the Champions League, having reached three of the last four finals, Ferguson claims the fact that his team have only won once in that spell means it is not a golden period for his team.
He added: "I think that Champions League is the best competition in the world now, better than the World Cup, better than the European Championships, it's fantastic entertainment.
"It's not a golden period because we lost two finals so you wouldn't call it a golden period but we've been consistent in the Champions League, our form away from home has been outstanding.
"We hope we can do better this year and win it because that's the aim of this club all the time."
Strategy: Despite the lack of options, Ferguson is sure to stick with a 4-4-2 formation with Valencia, Patrice Evra, Nani and Ashley Young providing plenty of width. Expect a typical, swarming, high tempo European home performance from United.
Injury update: Rooney is out with a hamstring problem and Hernandez (dead leg), Smalling (groin), Evans (ankle), Rafael (shoulder) and Cleverley (ankle) are also sidelined. Ferguson is hopeful that Vidic can return from a calf injury after the international break.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Rory McIlroy Ruud van Nistelrooy Ryan Giggs Ryan Palmer Sam Querrey
No comments:
Post a Comment