Manchester United vs. Celtic (Champions League) Review

Filed under: Manchester United Football Club, Manchester United Players, Manchester United News

Sheesh! Another away game and yet another defeat. This time, it hurts us even more given the passion and rivalry this tie generated, being billed as the ‘Battle of Britain’ and all that. To add insult to injury, Saha missed the one chance we had to save our face when it seemed to be all over, and then it was all over after that horrendous miss from the spot.

United had done well initially to soak up the pressure and counter everything the home team had thrown at them with good and effective countering against their attacks. By the end of the first half, we had the looks of a side in total control and a goal would’ve topped it off really, but it didn’t come.

It became somewhat of a cagey affair from then on with the home side having a couple of chances especially Thomas Gravesen in the thick of things for them. For United, Saha and Ronaldo had some opportunities but they never looked like scoring. The game seemed destined for a draw with United the more dominant of the two sides. But who knew what was to follow. So often has this been the undoing of United, a seemingly acceptable result of a draw was replaced by a near certainty of a loss when Japanese winger Shunsuke Nakamura curled in a quite fantastic free-kick from 30 yards!

United heads dropped and with only 10 minutes to go, time was running out fast. But more drama was yet to come, Saha was fed by Rooney and although he appeared to be offside he was NOT given! and Saha for some reason assumed that he WAS off and continued in a casual fashion when he could’ve gone on and scored the all-important equaliser almost immediately after their goal! But you’d think it’d be over then but at the very death, a seemingly god-gifted lifeline appeared out of nowhere with United being awarded a penalty. Up stepped that man again, and you know what happened next … he missed and the misery and the shock was complete.

This leaves United facing a Champions League knock-out for a second year running and how ironic that we face the same side again to decide whether we stay in the competition or not. Although the next tie is at home, but this exposes bigger and more serious problems. Problems that need addressing soon or we could kiss the league and the CL good bye!

Other Reports: BBC, Soccernet.