UEFA Champions League Draw

The UEFA Champions League draw took place yesterday and United were drawn against French minnows Lille, arguably the weakest team in the competition. This is great news for us United fans after landing pretty much the easiest opposition they could have at this stage of the competition.

This should provide us with the perfect opportunity to end our bad run in the competition that’s seen us unable to progress past the last 16 stage. We, for once, have luck on our side and we should ensure our passage to the last 8 coem February. Here’s, as I keep saying over and over, hoping .

Liverpool are almost out after landing Barcelona, but it should make for an interesting tie nevertheless. The ever-whining Mourinho, meanwhile, landed his old side Porto.

Fergie : There will be no Lille repeat

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United gave its fans a real scare before they wrapped up the tie with some nice and crispy display of footballing brilliance that we have been wanting to see all season.
Benfice came to the Theatre of Dreams, ‘dreaming’ of eliminating United from the last-16 for the second season running but the only ‘dreams’ that were entertained on this cold night were that of the Red Devils’ fans! Although it took a goal to get those red shirts into action, but boy once they were at it, there was no stopping them!

They scored a scorcher in the 27th minute, by which United had been struggling to impose their autority over the game and Benfice were finding the going not-so-difficult after all. But the goal shocked the players and fans alike and sprung United into action! United literally laid seige to the Benfica from then on and the efforts by the men in Red paid off finally just before half-time. Ryan Gigga floated a free-kick in from the left over the wall and Nemaja Vidic was at hand to head home the equalising goal and ease some anxious United nerves.

United continued with the same fervour in the second half and it paid off as Ronaldo delivered a pinpoint cross in the box for Ryan Giggs to head in and give us the lead! It was cruise control from then on and Saha’s header from a Rooney’s cross confirmed the writing on the wall, that United had finally taken the revenge against the team that dumped them out last season.

With Celtic, United qualified as group winners in the end but how much were the fans made to bite their nails on this one?!

Other Reports: BBC, Soccernet.

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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.

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United head back to the Champions League in mid-week to take on the Bhoys at their place. The tie is set to generate a lot of passion and news even before the game has started, given the not-so-friendly relationship between their managers’ Gordon Strachan and Sir Alex Ferguson.

United go into the tie needing a point to qualify for the first knockout round whereas Celtic need to cement their place as the second team to qualify from the group. An intimidating atmosphere and a hostile crowd is one thing that is guaranteed at ParkHead.

Fergie said:’We will need to show courage and mental strength to handle the atmosphere at Parkhead (Celtic Park),’ said Ferguson, who believes his current side can go al the way.

‘I expect the game to be exciting, open and full of attacking football - just the way it was when we beat them 3-2 in September.’

With the all-important six-pointer at the weekend, Sir Alex has some decisions to make regarding playing his best eleven or making a replacement here and there to ensure a strong showing at the weekend. It’s no rocket science that the likes of Giggs, Neville and Scholes are well into their 30s and a tough game mid-week has it effects on them for the weekend.

Celtic’s last game in the CL saw them hammered 3-0 away at Benfica. No doubt, they are a much potent force at home but I expect us to be more than equal to whatever they might have in store for us. Therefore, a slender victory or at worst is on the cards for me.

My Preddy: Celtic 1-2 ManYoo

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Tough Week Ahead for United

United enter a decisive week for the club with tough fixtures both in the Champions League and in the Premier League. United certainly put the work in at the weekend to keep their lead in the League intact having to come from behind to beat Sheffield United. Chelsea, on the other hand, won at home against West Ham with relative ease. But with the tie against United looming large on next Sunday, Mourinho couldn’t be more arrogant about it. I mean I hate his guts anyway, but the fact that he thinks he can beat United at Old Traffor makes you wonder what dreams he’s dreaming! I mean we beat them hands down last season and yet the bugger thinks he can do it to us right here, right in our own backyard.

He said: “We can leave Old Trafford top of the league so it is a good situation.”

Only time will Jose!

United have more pressing matters to attend to before their big date with Chelski and that is ofcourse the away game at Celtic mid-week. Our last away defeat means we still have to get atleast a point to ensure qualification into the next stage of the CL and although the Hoops have a good record at home, I reckon we will come away with atleast a point. Atleast, I know Sir Alex wouldn’t want to lose to Gordon Strachan!

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