Manchester United vs. AC Milan

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Looks like they're about to square up
 
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.
 
Starting XI: ------------- Van Der Sar -----------------------
Rafael ------ Ferdinand ------------------ Vidic --------- Evra
Valencia ----- Scholes ------------------ Fletcher ------- Park
-------------- Rooney ----------------- Berbatov ------------

Bench: Kuszczak, Neville, J.Evans, Gibson, Obertan, Nani, Diouf
 
4-4-2 ?
unlikely

they need to score two at the very least .. i would expect up to be set up for the counter
 
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.
 
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.
 
We can be sure of one thing: Milan will score first.

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

Never mind this clown. Comes out with the most obvious shit.
 
Rooney will start, Sir Alex said as much in his press conferance...."Rooneys fit and will play tomorrow" were his words.

Been trying to find the press conference video - you seen it or that just from the write ups after the presser?
 
Leonardo has told Gazzetta that Beckham will be starting on the bench.
 
There goes the English media's star of the show, the rest of us will now concentrate on the secondary event...the game :rolleyes:

Just means the cameras will be endlessly cutting away to the Milan bench instead of just showing the game.
 
Maybe they'll cut to the mouse on the side of the field while play is going on ?
 
If they can play minds with Pato, then we can play mind games with Rooney, can't we?
 
VDS

Rafa
Rio
Vidic
Evra

Valencia
Scholes
Fletcher
Park

Rooney
Berbatov


If Rooney isn't fit. Please don't play Berbatov on his own.

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

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.
 
I see a lot of 4-4-2 hopes/predictions :eek:

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

He didn't do too bad last time :nervous:
 
My prediction is;

Van Der Sar

Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

Nani - Fletcher - Gibson - Scholes - Park

Rooney​

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.
 
.................VDS......
Rafael....Brown....Gill.......Fabio
.............Hargreaves............
Goggs......Anderson.......Ronaldo
.......Diouf........Manucho
 
My prediction is;

Van Der Sar

Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

Nani - Fletcher - Gibson - Scholes - Park

Rooney​

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.



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.
 
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
 
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.

My sentiments entirely. The odd toe poke from the edge of the box cannot warrant inclusion in a game of this magnitude.
 
I think we will be going 4-3-3 with Rooney, Valencia, Park up front and Scholes, Fletcher and Gibbo in the middle.
 
Oh no, not you again! Sir Alex Ferguson reunited with controversial referee Massimo Busacca for AC Milan return

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Tomorrow's referee Massimo Busacca, 41, is well known to Manchester United, having taken charge of last season's Champions League final in Rome when they were outclassed by Barcelona.

A year before, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson laid into the Swiss official for failing to award a penalty in the semI-final against Barcelona that 'the world and his wife' would have given.

Busacca has suffered an eventful few months since last coming face to face with United.

He was suspended for three matches in September after showing the middle finger to Young Boys Bern fans and later faced bizarre claims that he urinated on the pitch in the middle of a match in Qatar.

Oh no, not you again! Sir Alex Ferguson reunited with controversial referee Massimo Busacca for AC Milan return | Mail Online

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.
 
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
 
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.