UEFA Champions’ League Semifinal: MAN UTD vs AC MILAN

Manchester United, in a few hours time, will kick-off their pursuit of a double Treble, against another team of my boyhood, AC Milan at Old Trafford, in what to be billed as youth versus their masters. 10 European finals appereances are what AC Milan has accomplished in their decorated history, winning 6 or 7 of them in the process, although the last lost to Liverpool in Istanbul a couple of years ago is something that’s not so pleasant to be looked at even after years have passed by. In a pale comparison, United has only managed two European Cup finals, winning it in 1968 and of course the Treble year in 1999 –which I remembered vividly how the magic of Solskjaer has turned the misery on the German team.

There are three survivors on United’s team tonight from that great 1999 team, being the ever-green Giggs, Scholes, and Wes Brown –Gary Neville (still out due to injury) is the other one. AC Milan, last won in 2003, coincidentally at Old Trafford, still carries the majority of that team including Gattuso, Pirlo, Dida, Kaladze, and of course one of my all time greats, Paolo Maldini.

It’ll be an interesting to game watch, however, there’s no doubt that I’ll be supporting Manchester United. Milan was great, but this United team I thought has something special in the making, something that’s so strong that Sir Alex’s team has been missing these last years, that is, togetherness and ability to pull out something when the going get tough.

MINDCUBES‘ CORNERKICK: Ferguson will likely play with 4-3-1-2 with Giggs playing just behind Rooney and Smith and Ronaldo attacking from wings supported by Carrick and Scholes (returned from suspension) in the middle of the park. Evra, if fit will likely take the left full-back with Heinze playing in the center covering the injured Ferdinand. It’ll be interesting to see whether Ferguson will risk O’Shea who’s not fully fit and play Fletcher on the right back, but my guess is that O’Shea will start considering Kaka and Seedorf who could attack from anywher in the midfield. It’ll be a tight game, with Milan playing possesion game and waiting for United to open up, but I just thought United, coming from a disappointing 1-1 draw with Boro and with Ronaldo claiming PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year (for only the second player to do so, being the last one is 30 years ago), will be strongly motivated and with 76000 crowds behind, it’ll be one step slower for the aging Milan backfield. United will come out on top, although they must be on their best nights to avoid any away goal conceded. MAN UTD 2 – AC MILAN 0