Manchester United vs. AC Milan

RedThaiDevils#7

This is certainly the game for Park. He is the man to watch !
Valencia hopefully will start as he was sublime in the last match and hopefully Nani can produce the goods like the Le Arse Game. Great match and I'm already excited.

Girish II

Looks like they're about to square up

Kelvin

Silvio Berlusconi has called on his AC Milan side to perform ‘at the top of their game’ ahead of Wednesday night’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Serie A team travel to Manchester facing the daunting task of having to overturn a 3-2 deficit from when the two sides met at the San Siro three weeks ago.

However Berlusconi is confident his team are equal to the task. ”I think Milan can make it if they have belief,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “And Milan do, because we are not afraid of any team in the world, not even Manchester United.”

“If anything, the other sides should fear us.”

But the Italian Prime Minister also stressed that in order to overcome Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, nothing less than wholehearted performances from every member of the team will do.

“It has to be a great Milan performance,” continued the 73-year-old. “We need a possessed Milan with everyone being at the top of their game and without distractions until the final second.”

The AC Milan owner also singled out Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, who scored Milan’s opener during the first leg, as a ‘key man’ in tomorrow’s encounter.

“Ronaldinho could be the key man,” he added. “He can make the difference with his tricks. But he must be persuaded to play further up the field and try and score goals with more determination.”

AC Milan, despite playing out a goalless draw at Roma on Saturday, still only trail city rivals Inter by four points after Mourinho’s league leaders could only manage a stalemate against Genoa on Sunday.

Sean_RedDevil

Starting XI: ------------- Van Der Sar -----------------------
Rafael ------ Ferdinand ------------------ Vidic --------- Evra
Valencia ----- Scholes ------------------ Fletcher ------- Park
-------------- Rooney ----------------- Berbatov ------------

Bench: Kuszczak, Neville, J.Evans, Gibson, Obertan, Nani, Diouf

prateik

4-4-2 ?
unlikely

they need to score two at the very least .. i would expect up to be set up for the counter

Shimo

With Rooney being announced fit but, obviously still got an issue with his knee - do we start him tomorrow and risk him not being available for the next couple of league games if it flares up or do we put him on the bench and use him only in case of emergency?

I am torn. I think Berbatov is more than capable of playing the lone striker role, especially when we are defending a lead as he is very judicious with the ball and is a good outlet for punts. But, scoring just one goal - which Rooney gives us more of a chance on probably puts the tie out of reach for Milan.

Havak

Rooney can stay on the bench for me. I doubt Milan will score three past us and we're more than capable of scoring one. If we badly need a goal at any time, Gibson can come off for Rooney.

But with Rooney's threat we could put the tie out of reach in the first half - however, I think we can do that without him anyway.

Allforone

Rooney will start, Sir Alex said as much in his press conferance...."Rooneys fit and will play tomorrow" were his words.

charleysurf

We can be sure of one thing: Milan will score first.

United wouldn't be United without them scaring the life out of us.

beardsleybob

Never mind this clown. Comes out with the most obvious shit.

Shimo

Been trying to find the press conference video - you seen it or that just from the write ups after the presser?

Allforone

I watched it on SSN mate, it showed bits and pieces of Fergies press conferance and the part about Rooney was what i heard, havnt seen the entire conferance mind you.

rednev

Leonardo has told Gazzetta that Beckham will be starting on the bench.

WireRed

There goes the English media's star of the show, the rest of us will now concentrate on the secondary event...the game

charleysurf

Just means the cameras will be endlessly cutting away to the Milan bench instead of just showing the game.

olesmyhero

Wouldn't make much of a difference to the normal tv coverage. 15 second shots of the manager and other people have become the norm. Very frustrating and annoying.

Shimo

Maybe they'll cut to the mouse on the side of the field while play is going on ?

RDCR07

If they can play minds with Pato, then we can play mind games with Rooney, can't we?

Crerand Legend

No doubt about that

Rahul

Theres no doubt about that

Berlinknives

I'm sure there would be 10 other players with him.

Seriously, think the side is okay depending on Evans and Giggs fitness:

Bench: Kuszczak, Evans/DeLaet, Neville, Gibson, Obertan/Giggs, Nani, Diouf, .

I would risk Gibson or Giggs if Rooney wasn't fit, maybe even The One.

Other than Carrick and Nani, maybe Giggs ... I'm worried there won't be any changes for Fulham.

WireRed

I see a lot of 4-4-2 hopes/predictions

We need to rid ourselves of this obsession with 4-4-2.

If Fergie plays 4-3-3 in Milan at the start, he's not going to go 4-4-2 when we are ahead and need to avoid conceding.

Kelvin

i hope we don't sit back and soak up the pressure like the first leg, its too risky to do that and our defending isn't up to scratch at all this season, we should go for the kill right from the start.

Allforone

Why do i have a feeling this is going to be a really nervy unenjoyable night?...oh yes, because were United.

We never make things easy for ourselves after all.

Kelvin

it be nice if we play like what arsenal did tonight, pipe dream though milan are not porto...

markorm

He didn't do too bad last time

Scoreboard Red

My prediction is;


I reckon Valencia and Berbatov will both start as subs and be introduced in the second half, Valencia especially really making Milan's legs work late on.
Berbatov will come on for Gibson or Scholes and partner Rooney midway through the second.

I predict a close 2-1 win for United.

Crustanoid

.................VDS......
Rafael....Brown....Gill.......Fabio
.............Hargreaves............
Goggs......Anderson.......Ronaldo
.......Diouf........Manucho

BahamaRed

Ronaldinho bothers me.

Scoreboard Red

Allforone

Please god no Gibson, i dont think my heart could take watching him chase shadows for 90 minutes running around like a tit with a flee in his boxers! Milans midfield would eat him alive, Christ wolves showed him up 3 days ago.

CentreForward

I am torn for this one. I know a 4-5-1 would be a safe bet, but that's only good when you expect the opposition to attack.
I expect us to spend most of the time in Milan's half, so 4-4-2 for me please

brewlio

My sentiments entirely. The odd toe poke from the edge of the box cannot warrant inclusion in a game of this magnitude.

Stretch

I think we will be going 4-3-3 with Rooney, Valencia, Park up front and Scholes, Fletcher and Gibbo in the middle.

phelans shorts

How about him being one of very few availabe central midfielders?

Devilton

Busacca. Sounds like he's of Italian origin. Prepare for at least 2 penalties to be awarded to Milan and a red card to either Rooney or Fletcher.

RedMist99

VDS

Rafael
Rio
Vidic
Evra

Fletch
Scholes
Park

Valenica
Nani
Rooney

That's how I'd like to see us start. If Nani has 'one of those games' (most probable), and we still have the lead then we can bring Gibson on and shift Park out to the left. Would defo like Berbatov to play a part aswell

Pogue Mahone

We're at home. Rooney and Berbatov are both available and we've only got two of our first-choice central midfielders to pick from.

Surely the obvious formation is to go 4411, with Park tucking in from the left wing and Berbatov coming deep to help Fletcher and Scholes in midfield. Valencia on the right wing to help Nev or Rafael defend against Ronaldinho.

Gibson is nowhere near ready for a game this important nor is it a game in which we should experiment with Park or Valencia in the middle unless we have no other choice.

Maestro Minded

No Pato according to the italians, maybe they're playing mind games

Milan News - Pato non ce la fa

Longsden_7

Berbatov should start this.