Sir Alex Ferguson will use the full weight of his squad in coming weeks, starting with Manchester United’s tie with Portugal’s Benfica on Wednesday night. Tom Cleverley, Rafael da Silva and Nemanja Vidic miss the game through injury, while Rio Ferdinand is protected with Chelsea to come on Sunday. Yet Ferguson is likely to make further changes, aware that United’s busy schedule over the next two months will wring the freshness out of his squad.
Indeed, Ferguson could restore some of his more experienced players, having started so many youngster stars in the opening weeks of United’s campaign, with the effervescent energy that it has brought to his team. Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-Sung are each in contention for a place in Ferguson’s team for Wednesday’s match at Estádio da Luz , northern Lisbon.
“I have not picked my team yet,” said the 69-year-old, now in his 26th season with the club.
“We are coming into a period where we have the game tomorrow, then Chelsea on Sunday, Leeds United on Tuesday, then Stoke away on the following Saturday. Obviously the squad will be used but first of all we are giving a lot of consideration to Benfica. I have a few things to think about. But it wouldn’t worry me at all to play the [same] team that is doing well.”
Once again, the romance of European competition has captured Ferguson’s heart, with the United boss hoping to improve on last season’s run to the final. Indeed, while three finals in the past four years presents a huge achievement for the Scot, two crushing defeats to Barcelona still weigh heavily. It’s a challenge that Ferguson believes United is now closer to meeting, having seen his side begin the new campaign in such positive fashion.
“It’s always the challenge for us,” added Ferguson, who was in a jovial mood ahead of United’s eighth European Cup meeting with the Portuguese giants.
“We’re coming closer all the time to getting another trophy. The consistency has been very, very good over last few years. That’s a good guide to the standard we are in Europe and also the progress we’re making. I think the last three years we haven’t lost an away game, apart from the finals. Of course we want to improve, that’s the drive of every coach and player, to improve. We hope we can improve. The most important thing is to win it – that’s the improvement that we really do want.
“It is different winning the Champions League in the present day than it was 30 years ago. All the best teams are in Europe; Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Villarreal from Spain, Benfica and Porto from Portugal. Ourselves, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City. It is a very difficult tournament to win now. That is why I am pleased with the progress my team has made because you can see the consistency has been the hallmark of our game in the last few years.”
With Ferdinand rested as a precaution, Ferguson may restore Chris Smalling to United’s starting line-up, with Phil Jones moving inside despite the highly successful showing at right-back against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend. Meanwhile, the Scot may bring both Carrick and Fletcher into central midfield, despite Anderson’s positive start to the season.
Unbeaten away from Old Trafford for three seasons, Ferguson’s team has found a highly successful, if sometimes negative way of playing on the road in European competition. This may colour Ferguson’s selection should the Scot choose to implement a three-man midfield for United’s first European game of the season. Indeed, although Benfica finished some way behind Porto at the head of the Primera Liga last season, Ferguson is aware of the talent still available to Jorge Jesus.
“We know all about Pablo Aimar,” added Sir Alex.
“Aimar played against us for Valencia a few years ago, he is a very talented player. [Ezequiel] Garay and Luisao at the back are also very experienced, good players. It won’t be easy for us; it will be a difficult game. But it will be difficult for Benfica too.”
Once again United will rely on Wayne Rooney as both creator and goalscorer. The 25-year-old Scouser has scored 10 goals in six competitive games for club and country this season, including two successive hat-tricks in the Premier League. The triple brought warm praise from Benfica coach Jesus, who compared the England striker to often more lauded Brazilians and Argentinians.
It’s a comparison Ferguson welcomes, although the Scot is unlikely to add a ‘ninho’ to the £30 million former Evertonian just yet.
”Wayne is a typical British player,” Ferguson added.
“But there have been British players who have great qualities that made them great players – [Paul] Gascoigne, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law.
”Look at Pele. ‘He was a very aggressive attacker as well who could look after himself. So can Rooney. There are similarities that way in strength, speed and determination. But he is white, completely white. The similarities are that the boy has great courage. He wants to play all the time. He has incredible stamina. These are added extras to the talent he has.”
Jesus’ team, meanwhile, is refreshed, with the coach having rested key players Aimar and Nolito for the 2-1 win over Vitória de Guimarães at the weekend. Nolito, a summer signing from Barcelona, has scored five in as many games this season and has formed a potent partnership with Óscar Cardozo. The strike pair is complimented in the starting line-up by summer signings Ezequiel Garay and Axel Witsel, who joined after Benfica pocketed around €30 million for Real Madrid bound defender Fábio Coentrão.
“The Champions League is the maximum for any player,” Jesus said told UEFA.com.
“My experience is that whether you are playing Manchester United or Basel, the players’ motivation is the same. When you start the match and hear the Champions League anthem, the player is already so charged with adrenaline because he feels he is playing with the very best. Every player is super-concentrated, super-motivated, and will do everything to be at the highest possible level.”
History points to the sternest of tests for Jesus’ men, with United having won six of the clubs’ seven fixtures in this competition, including the 1968 final. However, few Reds will forget Benfica’s 2-1 Lisbon victory in 2005 that eliminated Ferguson’s team at the group stage. Five United players – Ferdinand, Park, Giggs, Rooney and Fletcher – remain from that game, one of the most dismal of Ferguson’s tenure.
Benfica is also seeking a seventh successive home victory in Europe, having already beaten Trabzonspor AŞ and FC Twente in the play-offs; a record of which Ferguson is understandably respectful.
Match Facts
Benfica versus Manchester United, Champions League, Estádio da Luz, Wednesday 12 September 2011, 7.45pm.
Likely Line-ups
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Guilherme Moraes Artur; Emerson, Luisao, Garay, Pereira; Garcia, Witsel; Aimar, Gaitan, Nolito; Cardozo. Subs from: Eduardo, Jardel, Amorim, Matic, Cesar, Saviola, Jara.
United (4-4-1-1): de Gea; Smalling, Evans, Jones, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Young; Rooney; hernandez. Subs from: Lindegaard, Fabio, Giggs, Anderson, Park, Diouf, Owen, Berbatov, Pogba.
Form
Benfica: DWWWW
United: WWWWW
Referee
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Didn’t United lose away to Bayern a couple of years back?
Can’t think of any other recent away losses, though.
Aimar is a great talent.
we will win and the glory hunters will be eachother again
should be standard practice away in europe no, 451, carrick awful, battered, nick a goal when we switch to two up top, hold on for a 1-0
de gea droppd i think..
Lindegaard, Fabio, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Fletcher, Park, Rooney
Subs: De Gea, Jones, Anderson, Nani, Owen, Berbatov, Chicharito.
Ferguson taking a chance here.
Thinking about Chump$ki…
no young. jones on the bench, evans fletch carrick valencia start.. big risk
Good to see Fletch back, he’s a sorely needed midfield option for us. Looks like Fergie is doing his standard routine for a cautious CL group away game — keep it solid, first priority is a clean sheet, second priority a goal or two.
too many changes to make this a walk in the park i think
however, good to see tony v back
Disappointed to see 451. If we’re shit today, Keano’s gonna give em hell.
you mean rested
here we go again , another cl season starts tonight, alex has gone for experance tonight, with one eye on sunday?
Hi Han, evening all.
hi mad red
got to hope for a good evening
going to be tight i think .
some one shoot that bird
what does berbs have to do to get in the 1st 11 nowadays? would have been nice to see him start tonight
how does a 20 year old keeper who has played 5 games need a rest?
join another team
et tu mad red???????
no i like him , but thats how he will get another start.
carrick ffs
carrick you twat,, well done smalling
ref has been shite
whats happened to micky p’s beard???
if its not there i would guess he shaved it
fabio fucked. out for 4 years
come on united
pick it up ffs
carrick off now.. wanker
ffs bollockless up to his usual again
passing is piss poor for the last 10 mins from united
oh fuck off
what a goal.., fuck fuck fuck
nice goal, but we’ve been fuckin shite
this is last years team away from hme. what did we expect
true.
This is just awful
stick sweet pea on to partner rooney since he is dropping further back to look for a ball from our shitty midfield
evans carrick giggs off jones anderson mexico on… now
Parks stinks, get him off, put Giggsy left, get Berba on.
442
giggs woeful too thus far
two up front, now please.
Why does Ferguson change it to a 4-5-1 formation in Europe? It doesn’t suit us one bit. Our passing is shocking tonight, also Carrick and Evans really worry me; they send out a bad vibe!
one fantastic turn about 5 mins ago, but just gave the ball away in a dangerous position
Not bad eh?
where is the zip gone?
come on united
Question, How is Park a pro footballer? Absolutely appalling on the ball for this level of football.
Keano aint gonna be happy with this shite
basel 1-0 up.
not playing like were 1-0 down
Giggs magic!
gigggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggsssssssssssssssss
whatr a goal giggsy
take THAT!
out of nowhere
still tearing ’em apart :))))
well he was when i typed that
anyone got a stream?
its on itv 1
1st shot on target and a goal!
but lets face it, united were pretty awful for most of that half
rooney needs sweet pea or berbs with him up front otherwise he will be looking for the non existent ball from bollockless
I can’t believe Sir Alex gave starts to Park, Carrick, and Fletcher. In the reserve matches I watched, Fletcher was outshone by Gibson and Pogba, but he does look better than Carrick. Park being knocked down a lot on the left, so he has drifted inside. I would guess that Evans has the highest pass completion rate by some stretch, but that’s not hard to do when 75% of your passes are to the keeper.
hehe, berbatov still can’t get a game
will be funny if owen is our first sub on, is he on the bench
dont see why tha would delight you
knew there was a bad stink coming into the room – just didnt know when it was going to start…
didnt u know
he personally subsidises berbas wages
I hate this formation
We’re sloppy, vulnerable, slow, idealess, immobile. It’s time we came up with something else because 451 with these cunts is no longer solid, reliable and strong – and it offers nowt going forward
Evans is nowhere near aggressive enough in the challenge for their goal
Brilliant goal by Giggs though, total quality. It actually woke me up, genuinely
Great goal from giggs, but now we need to improve.
need to start with a quicker tempo this half
evra is at fualt.. where the fck was he..
This same side and formation helped us achieve a stunning away record in Europe last season. Biggest problem is probably that Fletch, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Valencia and Fab (or is that Raf?) are rusty and not yet up to match-intensity: that’s a lot of rusty players to put on at once, but I guess it speaks to the fact that SAF doesn’t think Benfica are top class. Besides, if you’re not going to use the CL group stage to run out these players, when are you going to do it? The reality is that if we lost this match we’d more than likely still top the group.
BASEL 1-1
Some of those away games were fucking dross last season though
And it doesn’t work in the Prem at all
yes they were
but didnt get beaten away in europe
this isnt working fs..change it before we go down again.. maureen would have changed it in the first 15 minutes
Almost another class goal from Giggs
Benfica aren’t playing at the minute
unlucky giggsy
how he miss fs.. was already celebrating
sweet pea warming up?
nani and mexico coming on… what a save
class save by our goalie
I agree on both counts.
come on ffs
wake up
Aggressive play for all the marbles by SAF. This is the “toughest” game for us in the group, win this and the job’s half done (says the cocky overconfident United supporter).
Wait a minute, where the fuck is Otelul Galati from? Turkey? And why can’t any website agree on how to spell “Basel”? This is a piss poor CL group.
Hahaha Napoli scores…
I wouldn’t worry about it… Han’s got more lube than Valvoline.
romanian i thought..
2 sloppy passes from roons in 5 mins
must be frustrated
lol
I like jones telling carrick to fuck off just then, even though he then immediately lost the ball…
fabio ever gonna play 90 minutes?
I like this keeper, going to do well for us.
basel 2-1
bench will be red hot
shit them
fucking carrick
cant tackle
cant pass
fucking bollockless
1-1 ok.
happy with a point after an poor 1st half
good keeping and defence was tidy on the whole
shame our winning streak couldnt continue
Second half was a bit better, but a pretty dire game overall
Got a bit lucky at the end too
i see the council house wasn’t full tonight
Fucking shocking
They’ve won a big trophy, they’re in the Champions League, they’ve got a top team and some great players… and still people won’t go
They had a gazillion shit excuses 🙂
SAF getting well pissed with the bird interviewing him on itv lol
i could watch giggsy’s goal a hundred times and not get tired of it
sheer class from the legend
The media have established the inevitable De Gea v Lindegaard narrative
Fergie rightly having a go because it can be unsettling
What did he say?
nah
i reckon its cos he’s old school and can’t take a bird asking him questions about the game
Lindegaard is clearly the keeper we need playing on a regular basis. He is calm, organised and technically sound. Does everything he is asked to do in a solid manner.
De Gea is a bit too raw at the moment. Lindegaard should start most of the league games as he is more suited to English football.
Give De Gea the majority of the CL group games, Carling Cup, FA Cup and some home league games vs. bottom sides. He will still get 15-20 games in.
that fucking music in portugal is well annoying
the games finished
everyone has gone home and still blaring out that shit
good interview from lindegard to that stupid skirted bint
ffs itv give the mike to someone else
was that dalglishs daughter
Very poor match performance which is expected, SAF field too many rusty players but luckily result is good.
Utd Champions league away performance is the best in Europe so we cannot complain so much 😉
A rarity, an enjoyable group stage game.
Yep.
that benfica goal, lindegaard got his hand on it, that wouldve been considered a dege mistake
And the one he saved by getting low and stretching out his hand would have beaten De Gea.
You don’t know that.
The power on it, at that range it was nearly unstoppable. Would have taken a brilliant save to keep it out.
Yep, Lindegaard looks more assured as a player. Perhaps it’s better if De Gea’s slowly groomed as a keeper, Lindegaard is more experience and should perhaps play the big games – at the moment.
Of course, it’s too early to say. I think Fergie will give De Gea oppurtunities till Jan. If he doesn’t convince Fergie then I’d expect Fergie to give Lindegaard the no.1 position and blend De Gea in slowly for the no. 1 spot. I don’t see him getting the big games post January unless he performs like a prodigy between now and December.
ffs….experience where??? Norways top league or La Liga
FFs
You cunts really do piss me off sometimes…
FFs
Shameful
You’re right; I don’t know that. I was extrapolating from what I have seen of De Gea since he has come to United. He seems to have a problem getting into position fast enough to react to shots that are kept low. I do not think that De Gea is used to the speed of the Premier League, and, since he did not outperform Lindegard in preseason, I would have expected Sir Alex to ease him into the side. I love his distribution, and he seems to have an excellent temperament – the kind that allows him to shrug of mistakes even as he learns from them, so I fully expect him to come good, but I would have brought him in more slowly.
who cares lindegaard is the more polished performer at this point.
He’s cool, weird, funny
He said the game yesterday was “amusing”
Too right…
De Gea has a couple dodgy moments, in his first two games, for a new club, in a new league… and some have labelled him high risk… where as Lindegaard has one good outing, and he’s the business.
Just fuckin relax… De Gea is going to be Uniteds #1 for the next 10/15 years… he’s playing behind a fantastic defence that’s going to grow right along with him… and I’ve seen enough in the few games he’s played to actually get well excited about his use of the ball… we’ve got a keeper that’s going to rack up a few assists… awesome.
Nah… get him out there… start as you mean to go on… if he’s going to be “the man”, then treat him that way… we’ve got an excellent, and deep defence… he needs to get to know them, and settle into the job… you don’t want to start dicking him about… fucking with his confidence… making him think that any blunders will cost him his place…
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
If Lindegaard became United’s official number 1, and did all the press, and had the weight of expectation and responsibility, he too would start making a few mistakes, guaranteed
Hell, he was jittery as fuck in the first half against Benfica.
was that his debut
I can’t remember any games he’s played
what’s kushacks opinion on this