The Red Devils have managed to reach the final in recent campaigns, but Bettor.com analyzes whether they can go the distance this time around.
Beaten yet upbeat. That was the situation after Manchester United were trounced 3-1 at Wembley by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 in May, 2011.
The look on Sir http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson’s face said it all. The tactician having masterminded some sensational wins in his time was left clue-less, as to how he could topple the Blaugrana and their swash-buckling style of football.
Before the game, Fergie claimed that he had cracked the Catalan code and that silverware might be on the way to Manchester.
But he was proven wrong once again.
And now with the UEFA Champions League well on its way, the Scot claimed that the 19-time English Champions can go onto claim the ultimate European prize, If they manage to keep their defenders fit and raring to go.
"It is a frustration that we have not won the Champions League more often, especially when I think of the times we've thrown it away. But you can't let it eat away at you. You've always got the next year. The final is at Wembley this season and that's a
great incentive for us.”
"If I can get my defenders back, we'll have a great chance. The objective is to get through to the knock-out rounds. We want to do it the right way. The most important thing is that we score enough goals to win a game and that's part of United. It's part
of what this club is,” he said.
While United have arguably the strongest attack in the Premier League at the moment, their backline has indeed suffered immensely in the past few seasons, with injuries truly taking their toll.
Skipper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nemanja-Vidic-c27550 has been the greatest casualty, as the Serbian has had to endure a year on the sidelines, before taking a hit to his knee once more this season.
The centre-back is out for the considerable future, but is also joined by the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Phil-Jones-c29903.
Both the young duo have not played any major part for the Reds this term and if things continue like this, Ferguson will stretched for options, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonny-Evans-c19085 remain the sole central defenders capable to playing on a regular basis against
top opposition.
Midfield has offered some protection to negate the impact of other sides, but at Old Trafford, only http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Carrick-c25282 has the necessary expertise and skill to act as a proper guard in front of the backline.
In the club’s conveyor belt of talent, we have Scott Wootton, who has shown incredible maturity when taking to the pitch this campaign and he represents someone who could be a sure-starter, but only in 2-3 years.
When it comes to winning the Champions League, United are expected to and should make it to the semi-finals at least, despite having bowed out of the competition only a year ago.
Ferguson has reiterated that defenders are crucial to winning Europe’s most prestigious competition, but with a front-line that can annihilate most opponents, the saying ‘the best form of defence is attack’ comes into question.
And for the veteran manager, he has the best answer at the Theatre of Dreams – Go, bombard forward and don’t look back.
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