Manchester United vs. FC Schalke 04

Schalke are really poor imo.

We're are as good as through.

I don't fancy our chances in the final at all though...
 
But the pressure's off Schalke now so you can't be too careful, I think.

I suspect our tactic will be to take the sting out of the game. If we can hit them on the break and score early, fine, but if we get to half time 0-0 we'd be happy.
 
Aaron said:
But the pressure's off Schalke now so you can't be too careful, I think.

I suspect our tactic will be to take the sting out of the game. If we can hit them on the break and score early, fine, but if we get to half time 0-0 we'd be happy.
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IMO we need a morale-booster and confident performances to set us up for the chelsea game.
 
Good thing. Keep him fresh for Chelsea. We really should be able to avoid a 2 goal defeat at home to Schalke with or without him.
 
wr8_utd said:
Good thing. Keep him fresh for Chelsea. We really should be able to avoid a 2 goal defeat at home to Schalke with or without him.
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It all depends on that all important first goal. If they score first, then we will surely be nervous.
 
Well we've never lost a CL game by 2 goals at OT and I don't think that will change tbh. Our home form has been imperious.
 
Richter said:
I just don't get it. Rooney and Chicha might need a rest but fielding a weakened team in a CL semi final despite a advantage just feels wrong. What if United concede a pen the first 15 minutes and get a red? Then it's game on. No matter what Fergie says, I think he would value a third CL win over another league title but maybe he just thinks Barca is a task he can't overcome with this squad.
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Well there comes a point where you have to put some faith in the whole squad. Part of the reason we are in a semi final of the Champions League and within touching distance of the Premier Title is that we have a certain level of depth to our squad that most other teams in the Premier Division dont.

The entire squad has got us to the point of possibly winning the two biggest trophies in our season, we need to back them to do it.
 
wr8_utd said:
Well we've never lost a CL game by 2 goals at OT and I don't think that will change tbh. Our home form has been imperious.
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No one has ever lost a EC/CL tie after winning 2-0 away from home.

That will not change.
 
I hope SAF and the players don't have the 'it's over' attitude many people on here are having. We played them off the park in Germany but Schalke are no mugs, they beat Inter 5-2 at the San Siro ffs, they shouldn't be underestimated and are well capable of scoring goals.

I know history and our home form suggest it won't happen, but history means feck all, we still have a job to do.
 
Champions League final 2nd leg, and you'll be pushed to find too many fans who regard it as our biggest game this week. What an odd scenario. It'd be absolutely devastating if we threw this away tomorrow. Nice early goal to settle everyone down would be brilliant.
 
2-0 is a very good starting point, but far from a free ticket to the final. There will be an opportunity to rest players, but I'm absolutely sure that SAF decides to field a strong lineup, with necessary respect and experience for the task.

I would guess the following:

VDS
O´Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra
Valencia, Scholes, fletcher, Park
Berbatov, Owen
 
Red Defence said:
They can. We must see that they don't.
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There is as much chance of this happening as there is of Blackpool staying up this season and then winning the league next season with 38 wins and 170 goals scored with 0 conceded.
 
I think we'll see:

VDS
Rafael Smalling Vidic Fabio
Valencia Scholes Fletcher Park
Barbatov
Owen​
 
cw1984 said:
I think we'll see:

VDS
Rafael Smalling Vidic Fabio
Valencia Scholes Fletcher Park
Barbatov
Owen​
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I don't think Fletcher will start. Anderson perhaps, or Gibson.
 
This game just feels weird. It's probably the least I've cared about a Champions League semi, I'm not sure why, because I'd love us to reach the final. It would be a fantastic achievement, 3 finals in 4 years.
 
Sarni said:
I don't think Fletcher will start. Anderson perhaps, or Gibson.
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Maybe so. I think Fergie mention a week ago that he wanted to give Fletch 45mins. Could be either half I guess.
 
Solius said:
This game just feels weird. It's probably the least I've cared about a Champions League semi, I'm not sure why, because I'd love us to reach the final. It would be a fantastic achievement, 3 finals in 4 years.
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Well... 2-0 in Germany, our home record, Chelsea on Sunday.

Exactly the same, Solius.
 
Guys I need your help, if I collect a bet of at least 20/1 I'll win a pair of tickets to Wembley. Do you have anything reasonable to bet on?
 
Solius said:
This game just feels weird. It's probably the least I've cared about a Champions League semi, I'm not sure why, because I'd love us to reach the final. It would be a fantastic achievement, 3 finals in 4 years.
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Yeah, I'm feeling relatively indifferent as well, which is annoying me quite a bit.
 
Red Hand Devil said:
So who's handing out this prize then, seems a tad bizarre / bullshit?!
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Unibet, it's a competition of who earns the biggest yield of livebets during the 4 semifinals. We're top 5 prior to the last game, so we need something special to nick it.
 
Solius said:
This game just feels weird. It's probably the least I've cared about a Champions League semi, I'm not sure why, because I'd love us to reach the final. It would be a fantastic achievement, 3 finals in 4 years.
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For me, it's not so much not caring, I just don't have the nerves. I'm buzzing for it and can't wait for it to start, but I don't have those nerves that I usually have in knock out Champions League games. We did the job better than most of us expected in Gelsenkirchen so obviously we're massive favourites now, but still. This is the chance to get to only the fifth final in our history, and the chance to take on the mighty Barcelona.

Hope we get an atmosphere tonight and not just the players, but the fans, don't get complacent.
 
We should not underestimate Shalk04... qualifying for the CL final at OT will certainly give us a moral boost... enough for us to tackle the Sunday match...
 
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