Sir Alex Ferguson says that his squad’s experience will serve the club well as Manchester United challenges on three fronts this season. Leading the Premier League, into the FA Cup semi-final and with a second leg tie against Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday night, United will need all its resources in the coming weeks.
With Antonio Valencia, Nani, Michael Carrick and Michael Owen all available for the Champions League fixture at Old Trafford, Ferguson’s resources are reinforced for the tie. The Scot also told reporters on Tuesday that long-term injury victim Owen Hargreaves and winger Park Ji-Sung are each back in training and could return to the United squad within the month.
“It’s an important time, with us being involved in three tournaments,” said Ferguson, whose side must beat the French champions on Tuesday night to progress in the competition.
“But we are experienced enough to do what we’re doing at the moment – taking each game as it comes. We have faced that situation a million times. You have to get on with it. The team needs to step up and perform though, we know that.
“With Antonio back it’s a fantastic bonus for us. It’s a great step forward considering he’s been out for such a long time. It’s a great selection poser for me to have. We missed him in the run-in last season so it’s a great boost.
“Hopefully it will help us, having everyone available but we are getting players back. Ji-Sung Park is making good progress and Owen Hargreaves has started training. It doesn’t matter how many players you have injured in the past, the important thing is to have them available for the run in. If we have that, then it will increase our chances.”
Indeed, with United fighting on three fronts – and Arsenal now free to concentrate on the Premier League – Ferguson will need to carefully rotate his resources. And after fielding seven defenders against Arsenal on Saturday the Scot is expected to field a more attacking line-up against L’OM.
Ferguson could recall top goalscorer Dimitar Berbatov, alongside leading creator Nani in a much changed United line-up. With Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes certain to start, it is likely Valencia will start on the bench after seven months on the sidelines. United will be without defenders Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans for the tie, meaning another game for the ever more impressive Chris Smalling.
However, United will surely offer more adventure than in France, when both sides opted for a cautious approach. The scoreless draw in Stade Velodrome three weeks ago was marked by few chances that leaves United vulnerable to the away goal. Should Didier Deschamps side score, the Reds must respond twice to progress.
Moreover, with L’OM recovering in League 1 – the champions lie fourth four points behind Lille but recently beat Nancy and former leaders Rennes – United faces a resurgent opponent.
“I thought Marseille went for a 0-0, I must admit,” added Ferguson of the match in southern France three weeks ago.
“These games are always that way. It’s nice to have a bit of apprehension about big ties. We’ve had that many times and it won’t be any different on Tuesday. We’re playing a very experienced, powerful Marseille team and we will have to play well. I’ve watched them twice away from home, against Monaco and Rennes, and they’ve showed the qualities that we will be up against.
“Saturday’s performance was a recovery. Tuesday is a different type of match, but we need to get to a good level to win. We are experienced enough to take each game as it comes. The focus is on Marseille because they are a good team. It’s a European match, a night game, and it’s at Old Trafford – all these things work in our favour. Hopefully we get the result that we want.”
Indeed, United has a phenomenal record at Old Trafford this season despite the side’s recent travails on the road. Ferguson’s record against French opponents at Old Trafford is also very healthy, with eight wins and no defeats in 11 previous encounters against Ligue 1 sides. United beat Lille Métropole 1-0 to complete a 2-0 aggregate victory at the same stage four years again and then beat Olympique Lyonnais by the same margin a year later.
Victory would bring United’s fifth successive quarter-final appearance while L’OM is seeking a spot in the last eight
of the competition for the first time since lifting the trophy in 1993.
The match is also a first return to Old Trafford for former United left-back Gabriel Heinze, who played xxx for the Reds before leaving for Real Madrid in xxxx.
“My first big moment at Old Trafford was when the fans and my team voted me as best player,” said the Argentinian.
“To hear the fans singing ‘Argentina, Argentina’ was very emotional; my family was there as well. It’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. To go on to win the domestic league title with Manchester United – my first – was unforgettable. I have so many great memories that I can’t pick one out above the rest.”
His former manager Ferguson will hope that it is a disappointing night for the 32-year-old defender.
Opposition
Marseille – 433 – Mandanda; Taiwo, Fanni, Diawara, Heinze; González, Cheyrou, Valbuena; Rémy, Gignac, André Ayew. Subs from: Jordan Ayew, Cheyrou, Andrade, Mango, N’Diaye, Sabo, Lowinsky, Kaboré, Abriel, Moulet Abbes, Kaboré, Cissé, Brandão, Mbia,
United
United – 442 – van der Sar; O’Shea, Vidic, Smalling, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs; Rooney, Berbatov. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Brown, Gibson, Bébé, Lindegaard, Fabio da Silva, Rafael da Silva, Obertan, Hernández, Tunnicliffe, King, Owen, Valencia.
Officials
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Assistant referees: Roberto Alonso Fernández (ESP) & Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (ESP)
Additional assistant referees: Carlos Clos Gómez (ESP) & Antonio Rubinos Pérez (ESP)
Fourth official David Fernández Borbalán (ESP)
Form
United – WDWLLW
Marseille – WWWDWLW
Marseille actually have a bit of club trouble right now… Brandão has been charged with sexual assault, and although his team mates backed him with a public show of support, (something about dispaying his shirt in the dugout)at their last game… the president was a bit pissed off about it)… thought it was inappropriate…
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11810_6807263,00.html
Let’s hope Valencia skins Heinze and doesn’t bottle it like Nani did.
Although I must say, we don’t have the quality to win this competition. We conceded possession to friggin Arsenal who got outclassed by Barcelona. That’s shameful.
I am absolutely convinced United will be coasting towards a win.
I don’t expect Marseille to pose much of a threat to us at all.
I’m going for a 2-0 or a 3-0.
That’s how confident I am.
As usual Ginsoak will tinker and make things harder than they need to be.
Well our home form has been magnificent. But I’m nervy as fuck: Marseille are a quality side despite being inconsistent this season, and a score draw wins it for them.
@robbo are u kiddin bro? ginsoak? sort uur head out
United win 2-1
We’ll faff then stick on Chico; 2-1.
0-3
Cunt off.
They’ve got a very average attack… they’ll park the bus, and hope for the best.
This will either be one of “those nights”, where be bang away but can’t get in… or a comfortable win.
Bollocks… just read that Vidic is doubtful.
That is a real worry.
Vidic will play
Sort your head out FFs what have we got here for one
and we’ll fook it up anyhoo
1:2 or 3
We’ll keep them at arms length and do ’em 1/2-0
I fancy Marseille to score but I think we’ll have enough quality to see them off.
Team:
VDS
O’Shea (!) Smalling Brown Evra
Nani Carrick(!) Scholes Giggs
Roo
Super Hernandez
Would have played Valencia and Nani on the left myself.
No Rio or Vida is fucking alarming.
Really hate the fact that Fergie doesn’t have the balls to start with Rafael ahead of O’Shea
time for brown to show us that he can still be relied on
need a win – and i am sure united will get it tonight
vidic is out for how long?
btw i can’t see scholes lasting more than 45 mins – surely better to bring him on 2nd half than start him? then again, wtf do i know…….
Marseille have a few big lumps… he’s gone for height. And with no Rio, or Vidic, that’s a dodgy defence as it is.
Makes sense.
I expect Marseille to park the bus… we’ll need guile more than graft.
If we can get in and score first, then Rooney, Nani, and Chico should tear them up on the counter… I think this is the best line up, for the occasion.
Come on you fuckerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs…
O’Shea adds very little to that dodgy defence imo. Rafael would have given us the attacking edge atleast.
need to start quickly and thus far are doing so
Hernandez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet pea
yessssssssssssssss
Easy
Rooney – Giggs – Rooney Sweet Pea – Goal
lovely pass by shrek to the pea for that
What a start.
Rooney… made that.
But we should still sell Rooney as he´s shite isn’t he
aye sell him after the match ffs
frogs in there just then
defence caught fucking asleep
wake up u twats
Good chance for Marseille
Should be 1-1… wake up, ffs…
Jesus what a ball from Rooney to Smalling
wish it had been sweet pea then instead of smalling
get another goal reds and these frenchies will pull out the white flag
Nani FFs
marseille have a smelly fanni
gone a bit quiet now
keep up the tempo and score another
heinz still a dirty cunt
Excellent… Chico is no pussy.
Never a yellow
Ref is gonna be a cunt tonight
Great start – I’m at a katy perry concert : )
come on united
defence is slightly shakey tbh
so is ours though
Chicarito-Rooney partnership is developing nicely. Berbatov and Rooney doesnt work.
Fuck me… Rooney’s got wood tonight… well up for it.
u big purple slag
We should have been out of sight by now
Fooking Woofter
Nani pass the ball
FFS!!
Omgpmslfafroflmao
these 50/50s are definitely going frogs way
Phelan and Fergie laughing at Berbatov
FFs O´Shea
Bah… O’Shea you tool… done his hamstring as well… Cunt!
rafael on…good
ffs need that 2nd goal cos these cunts sense brown and co are shitting bricks everytime the ball comes from over the top
What a ball from Rooney…
Rooney´s passes tonight are sublime at times
Look at Raf go
Rooney seems to be enjoying his football again as well
Rafa tackels a bit like Scholes… gotta work on that.
Clear pen
We have to score two more to go through.
ffs come on united
How could that not be a foul on Carrick?
Carick’s shit first touch caused that
that early tempo has well and truly fizzled out
sloppy last 15 mins
frogs have had 3 decent chances
brown needs glasses again
smalling should have scored from the corner
Again, it is the energy am worried about. One of Giggs or Scholes should not stay beyond the hour. If Valencia is on the bench then he can come on for Giggs so Nani can go left. They are upping their tempo and we are struggling to match it. With such a young defence Scholes HAS to probably finish the match.
Game still very much in the balance.
Well… I’ll take that…
With the back 4 we’re playing, I’d be surprised if they didn’t get a few chances… and we’ve been a bit lucky that they didn’t score… but they didn’t, so Ferguson can get our lot regrouped, and get them thinking about putting this game out of reach… 1 more goal, and I think Marseille calls it a night.
Aye… personally, I’d take off Scholes and drop Rooney back to the middle, but Fergie won’t do that… the problem is, O’Sheas’ hamstring has cost us a sub we didn’t want to use.
MASSIVE TITS
suck ’em and see….
bayern beating inter at h/t 2-1
probe their fanny from the start
it will get results
stick or twist guys?
need another goal and evra needs to stop the fouls ffs
Thank fuck for that… I would have hated to go through the rest of the match with that yank, commentating.
please give us another goal united
Damn this disgusting football. Don’t make me go to sleep.
Needs Berbatov. The ball is not sticking up top. Carrick may as well be sat here with me. Christ i bet his dad wishes he’d have whipped it out and threw it on her belly. Absolute passenger. What the fuck does he offer the team?
What the fuck did Ferguson say to them?… go out there and fuck about until they score?
Come on ffs…
“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.”
carrick is king of the backward probing pass
Happy to see Heinze getting booed.
Rooney is takin the piss tonight… some outrageous passing.
Bah… shoot Wayne…
Why the fuck cant Nani pass
just got in how are we playing.
brilliant 1st 10 mins mad red
then fannying around since then
united have their work cut out for sure
best form of defence is attack and definite need to keep a hold of the ball
Fuck me this ref is a fussy cunt.
Toni coming on
always fanny around, these days Han.
fuck this
nervous is not the word with that defending
Bloody hell.
Class act. Why every cunt wants him sold is beyond me. It beggars belief just how clueless we’d be with out him. Ferdinand Fucked, Neville retired, Giggs and Scholes playing the odd cameo’s, Edwin van der sar retired, Rooney sold.
We truly do have our fair share of cockhead supporters, and they’re not all just on Redcaff.
about fucking time this crowd got behind the team
What the fuck is wrong with Wayne?
He’s having a great game, but he just won’t shoot.
2-2 inter.
Oh fuck… Rafa buggered now.
pass the ball to valencia and let him do the rest
Exactly! That means Giggs and Carrick wil have to stay on. They’ve both been fuckin dreadful. Its painful watching Giggs now’adays. Its painful watching Carrick any fuckin day.
Rafa should have just limped over for a drink, and slyly swapped shirts with his brother… saved the subsitution.
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet peaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Fucking hell, close
yessssssssss
squeaky bum time
2-0
FUCK!!!
If Marseille had a decent fuckin striker, we’d be 3/4 goals behind right now.
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… that’s better.
valencia lovely turn
Chicarito!!!
Fucking Stream yippeeeeeee
2 – 0
Game over. Now lets get Barca to tear us a new one in the quarters and get it over and done with. God forbid it cant happen at wembley. We’d be humiliated.
Don’t kiss your granny when she’s shaving!
Can Hernandez score without Giggs being involved in the goal at some point
Not tonight
Indeed!!
Valencia was rubbing his legs when he was tackled, let’s hope its nothing serious.
is carrick ray wilkin’s adopted son? fucking passes sideways like the crab
can relax a bit now, not united , us.
Rooney’s passing has been top draw
Got to be between Rooney and Sweet Pea for MOM tonight.
crap
Bollocks!
Fuck sake
Shit defending at set pieces again
fuck
cruising along and then ffs
shite.
Brown you fucking plonker
We’re going out! At least it saves us from the beast that is Barca.
Over two legs, I’d expect Barca to give us a lesson… but in a one off… winner takes all… I’d give us a real chance.
og brown tit.
run the clock down
value or not we should have never let OG leave us
come on reds
I was right before squeaky bum time
Only fuckin Carrick could go 90 minutes, in a game of this importance, and hardly ever be mentioned.
has OG scored yet for us this season?
You might be right. We’d possible create “A” chance in 90 minutes, probably when we’re already 3 down and they’ve took Messi, Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, Puyol, Busquets, Pedro and Piquet off. But i see what your saying.
hold on the ball ffs
3 mins added time?
Only one team looks like scoring now.
2-3 inter.
aye united will get the 3rd
Class game
yes fantastic match.
ffs 2 mins left
Am I the only one that isn’t tense
phewwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Full time
2-1
Well in
Rooney, MotM for me… superb game… only thing missing was a goal.
can breath again.
sweet pea looking sweet
fucking dirty french cunt pushing him
Teds gaffer award. Rooney and Chicken Tikka.
Duffer award. Giggs, Carrick, Wes, Nani.
Pain prolonged for another few weeks unfortunately.
Hernandez getting abused by the Marseille cunts at the whistle
a win and playing with a much changed team
can’t complain with the result at all and will always be good to get the winning run back even when the play is poor
made it thank fuck for that, hopefully the injuries wont turn out too bad, especially Vidic.
Good game as mentioned already Rooney man of the match, finally his mojo is back, Sweet Pea what can you say and to top it all that knee slapping shower of cunts known as Bayern are out.
vidic out for a while according to alan “i suck scouser cock” greene
rio looks like he is fucked permanently and should stick to tweeting for the rest of the season
smalling looked nervous for the 1st game in a while but then again who can blame him when he has brown as his partner who really looks poor most times
who do we really want in friday’s draw?
wud love it if chelski get barca
Not Barcelona
sweet pea on 16 goals in his debut season
wonder if berbs is going to get a look in now for saturday?
or chelsea, spurs, inter, real …………….
Would’nt you next to Dodgy Wes? Hardly confidence inspiring is he?
Is there no cunt left in it from Kurdistan or San marino?
Am sure Platini will fix it so we get Barca. failing that it will be Inter.
Oh am so so glad Bayern are out. I can’t get myself to forgive them for last season. That ugly Ribery and the odd looking Robben. In your faces!!
O’Shea and Rafa out for a month at least I think. So if Vida is fit then Brown will play right-back so we are not too bad there.
Anyone here still think Berbatov is important to us? What a waste of money with his lopsided goals stat this season.
cal
u sniffing around for a fight?
if its not scholes or giggs, it’s our bulgarian porn star isn’t it
could get schalke or shakter………
Not really han. I never wanted us to sign him and NOTHING he has done since his arrival has justified the fee paid to Spurs for him. To make matters worse? We actually took him instead of Tevez. Simple. Can’t stand him really.
Anyway, am off to bed. Goodnight all and congrats. Somehow, somehow, we made it!!
Any team but Real, or Barca… I want them to meet next… Platini and Blather would hate that though… would probably prefer that was the final.
tevez is a mercenery – he doesn’t give a fuck about the club he plays for as has been demonstrated by his bitch fits at city
berbs strikes me as somewhat different and quite humble for a footballer hence why i think he feels some pride when he plays for united and actually takes it badly when he doesnt score
Boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.
Fucking yes – Cicha is a “one dimensional player”; fuck right off.
rent boys will get schalke
platini has jizzummed on the balls already
marseille have a fanni playing for them
we have 1 too – a right cunt called carrick
Nice result. For me, the past two matches prove that Berba doesn’t match up well with Rooney. Hernandez seems to pin the opposition defenders back, because they are afraid of him running in behind them, and this opens up more space for Rooney to scamper about and get up to his creative mischief. That’s my reading of the game anyway. Hernandez and Rooney also match up well because the little lad’s pace takes best advantage of Rooney’s eye for a deadly pass.
Our defence was dodgy with Brown in the centre, but that was to be expected. Pedestrian midfield was too. What’s going on with Fletch? Is he injured? I’d really like to see him in there protecting the back two on occasions like this.
Fergie stormed out of the post match press conference after being asked about Rio’s fitness, apparently, according to Sky. Make of that what you will.
Tonight was a so-so performance given the players we were missing.
Carrick was a spineless twat once again. No wonder Marseille had so much of the ball.
Not a good day on the injuries front.
We won’t win the Champions League and I can see us getting knocked out if we come up against a side like Inter, let alone Barcelona. As long as we don’t get Shaktar, I don’t care who else we end up being drawn against. Midfield’s too shit.
By the way, the way we managed the Rafael injury situation was fucking embarrassing. Player signalled that he was injured. Physio must have taken at least a minute to get off his arse and get to the pitch. Physio signals to the ref that Rafael will have to come off. Rafael comes back onto the pitch and it’s another 3 mins before we get him substituted. I hope he hasn’t done himself more damage by staying on in that time.
We have got cover but it is worrying how these defensive injuries come in clusters every year. Fucks sake.
Thought that Marseille more than a decent team. Fit, fast, big, well organised & phyisical; so good result without Vidic. Season improves with Hernandez getting more chances & Valenncia excellent again. Wayne started better than any game this season but faded badly. Very badly missed back up un midfield with no Fletcher or Anderson. Need to get Vidic & Rio back very soon.
Look at the graphic on this page (in the middle of the page) which shows Carrick’s passes in the match.
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/03/15/man-utd-2-1-marseille-tactics/
No wonder he had a 93% successful pass completion rate. Anyone would if they were passing sideways or backwards. He’s a waste of space. Offered little for us offensively and was non-existent as a shield for the defenders.
Not to worry, we will win the premier division.
I see Arsenal’s game in hand ia an away game against Tottenham and they will not win there at White Hart Lane.
Valencia is back at his best. We should put at least 4 in Bolton and then hammer West Ham in the next fixture.
What is wrong with you? Valencia has had two (decent) appearances as sub… I wonder about you Herbie I really do…
that shit u pumping in ur veins sure is giving you a high……
I agree with you re Hernandez and Rooney, it does work best. That partnership forces the defense to play deep because of Chico’s pace and that allows more space for Rooney and Nani etc. Also, if the defense do push up to squeeze the play Scholes can pop one over the top for Chico’s clever runs in behind.
I do feel a little sorry for Berba though, seems like some have quickly forgotten how important some of his goals and performances were earlier in the season when Rooney was terrible/injured. I thought out of him and Rooney, he had the better game against Liverpool (although that aint saying much) – clipped the post with an awesome effort.
Yes, what’s happened to Fletch? He had a really good first half against Chelsea and then was crap and he aint been seen since. Rift with Fergie?
I believe Fletcher is out with a virus.
Fergie & Phelan laughing at Berba yesterday
http://www.imgnook.com/PH8o.gif
he dont play the big games and when we rest players for the big games like against arsenal he dont play either, get him out ffs