How to beat Barca

With a record 19th English League title almost sealed, wrapped up and in the bag, Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson can now focus on what many pundits would label mission impossible… beating the majestic Barcelona in the final of the Champions League.
The two teams met in the 2009 final in Rome and despite a purposeful start, United suffered after Barcelona took the lead through Samuel Eto’o. The Reds laboured for long periods, chasing the ball and watching the technically brilliant trio of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi create space and time at will.
As Sir Alex put it, ‘Once they get you on that carousel they make you dizzy with their passing’ and that’s exactly what happened as the Catalan giants doubled their lead through Messi in the second half.
So how do you stop probably the best team in the world from playing? Does a team have to play as defensively and negatively as Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the semi-finals or can another approach work?
One thing in United’s favour is that the game is over 90 minutes and not two legs, another is that the game is at Wembley – familiar surroundings for many of the players and traditionally with a pitch not conducive to free-flowing, quick tempo passing football.
The old Wembley holds fond memories for both teams as United and Barcelona claimed their first European Cup successes under the twin towers in 1968 and 1992 respectively, and both teams will look to add to their tally of three tournament victories.
United seem to have found a formula to keep it tight and attack with pace and incision in Europe this season as knockout victories against Chelsea and Schalke illustrate. A reliable and experienced backline made up of Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra plus one other is an excellent foundation for a middle four that seem to complement each other perfectly.
There’s the boundless energy and fast paced thinking of Park Ji Sung, the positional sense and passing ability of Michael Carrick, the composure and creative vision of Ryan Giggs and the pace and width of Antonia Valencia.
Then up front there’s the blossoming partnership of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Rooney has been revitalised in recent months and looks to drop into a deeper number 10 role to link up the midfield and attack, and also provide extra numbers and a good first line of defence.
Wazza is likely to drop into the spaces occupied by Sergio Busquets and Xavi, closing them down and making it difficult for the defenders to feed them. Chicharito on the other hand, who has been a revelation this season, will play right on the shoulder of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, neither of whom are blessed with anywhere near enough pace to keep up with the Mexican if he goes clear.
Park Ji Sung will have an important role and could be given almost a man marking job on Messi. Darren Fletcher is another of Fergie’s big name players and there’s a chance that room could be made for him to play against Barcelona, after missing the 2009 showpiece due to an extremely harsh suspension.
In truth, United will have to earn the right to play an attacking game, probably more than they’ve ever had to earn the right before. Messi and Iniesta will have to be kept quiet and even if they are, the likes of Xavi, Pedro and Villa can all be match winners on their day.
The Reds’ tactics from 2009 seemed to be to score first and then play in the counter attack, but a quick, pressing start will again be important. But it’s even more vital that if the Spaniards do score the first goal, the United players ensure that they keep their focus and keep their belief.
The first goal in such big games is always an important one and United have the potential to create a chance out of nothing. If they come out of the blocks quickly and get Rooney and Giggs on the ball then you’d expect the English team to create chances.
On the right wing, Antonio Valencia is a common out ball for United and he’d fancy his chances against whoever Barca play at left-back, whether it’s Eric Abidal or Maxwell, and that clash could be a key one.
In truth United will have to win almost all of their one on one battles to beat Barcelona. The Red Devils will have to play with pace, power and verve combined with intelligence, composure and bravery, which is something they are used to, but then so are the Spanish champions. It promises to be a fantastic game and an early goal from United could make it another night to remember for Fergie.
PD: Autor ??? abajo traducción
The two teams met in the 2009 final in Rome and despite a purposeful start, United suffered after Barcelona took the lead through Samuel Eto’o. The Reds laboured for long periods, chasing the ball and watching the technically brilliant trio of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi create space and time at will.
As Sir Alex put it, ‘Once they get you on that carousel they make you dizzy with their passing’ and that’s exactly what happened as the Catalan giants doubled their lead through Messi in the second half.
So how do you stop probably the best team in the world from playing? Does a team have to play as defensively and negatively as Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the semi-finals or can another approach work?
One thing in United’s favour is that the game is over 90 minutes and not two legs, another is that the game is at Wembley – familiar surroundings for many of the players and traditionally with a pitch not conducive to free-flowing, quick tempo passing football.
The old Wembley holds fond memories for both teams as United and Barcelona claimed their first European Cup successes under the twin towers in 1968 and 1992 respectively, and both teams will look to add to their tally of three tournament victories.
United seem to have found a formula to keep it tight and attack with pace and incision in Europe this season as knockout victories against Chelsea and Schalke illustrate. A reliable and experienced backline made up of Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra plus one other is an excellent foundation for a middle four that seem to complement each other perfectly.
There’s the boundless energy and fast paced thinking of Park Ji Sung, the positional sense and passing ability of Michael Carrick, the composure and creative vision of Ryan Giggs and the pace and width of Antonia Valencia.
Then up front there’s the blossoming partnership of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Rooney has been revitalised in recent months and looks to drop into a deeper number 10 role to link up the midfield and attack, and also provide extra numbers and a good first line of defence.
Wazza is likely to drop into the spaces occupied by Sergio Busquets and Xavi, closing them down and making it difficult for the defenders to feed them. Chicharito on the other hand, who has been a revelation this season, will play right on the shoulder of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, neither of whom are blessed with anywhere near enough pace to keep up with the Mexican if he goes clear.
Park Ji Sung will have an important role and could be given almost a man marking job on Messi. Darren Fletcher is another of Fergie’s big name players and there’s a chance that room could be made for him to play against Barcelona, after missing the 2009 showpiece due to an extremely harsh suspension.
In truth, United will have to earn the right to play an attacking game, probably more than they’ve ever had to earn the right before. Messi and Iniesta will have to be kept quiet and even if they are, the likes of Xavi, Pedro and Villa can all be match winners on their day.
The Reds’ tactics from 2009 seemed to be to score first and then play in the counter attack, but a quick, pressing start will again be important. But it’s even more vital that if the Spaniards do score the first goal, the United players ensure that they keep their focus and keep their belief.
The first goal in such big games is always an important one and United have the potential to create a chance out of nothing. If they come out of the blocks quickly and get Rooney and Giggs on the ball then you’d expect the English team to create chances.
On the right wing, Antonio Valencia is a common out ball for United and he’d fancy his chances against whoever Barca play at left-back, whether it’s Eric Abidal or Maxwell, and that clash could be a key one.
In truth United will have to win almost all of their one on one battles to beat Barcelona. The Red Devils will have to play with pace, power and verve combined with intelligence, composure and bravery, which is something they are used to, but then so are the Spanish champions. It promises to be a fantastic game and an early goal from United could make it another night to remember for Fergie.
PD: Autor ??? abajo traducción