Rooney-less Manchester United confident of making an impact on Valencia
Manchester United will be hoping to make most of their chances when they face Valencia in a Champions League encounter on Wednesday. Earlier, Sir Alex Ferguson’s peculiar team selection had cost the Red Devils heavily in their opening match of Europe’s premier
club competition against Rangers at Old Trafford. Ferguson had omitted regulars from that match which allowed the Scottish champions to secure a comfortable draw. However, it seems that he won’t be taking any unnecessary risk this time as his side prepares
to face the Spanish giants at Mestalla.
Manchester United do not enjoy a successful record on Spanish soil especially in recent times but still they will be hoping to get maximum points from their trip. The Old Trafford outfit would be missing their talismanic striker, Wayne Rooney, who has been
ruled out for 3 weeks due to an ankle injury. Rooney has been plagued with scandals and injuries since his flop performance at the World Cup. Ferguson’s dependence on this English international is one of the reasons for United’s lackluster start of this season.
United started their UEFA Champions League 2010-11 campaign with a disappointing performance against Rangers in the first round of ‘Battle of Britain’. Ferguson’s omission of in-form Berbatov turned out to be a costly mistake as Red Devils failed to break
the goal drought without their prolific team-mate.
The Bulgarian Berbatov will now be leading Manchester’s attack in Spain but the main focus of Fergi’s strategy appears to be finding remedy to United’s leaky defense. Manchester United’s defense has conceded nine goals in their last five matches including
a 3-3 draw against David Moyes’ Everton. On the other hand, Valencia have been in superb form despite the departure of their star players, David Villa and David Silva, to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively. Valencia have been a surprise package as
they have set the pace of La Liga this season. Darren Fletcher, who will be returning to the side, is wary of Spanish side’s potential. He said: “It is going to be a difficult match. People might say it is not the same Valencia because they have lost Villa
and Silva. But as we have seen at Manchester United, when you lose good players others step up to the mark and take on more responsibility. They have had a fantastic start. We have picked up experience of playing in Europe and we have confidence.”
Meanwhile, Michael Owen is expected to partner Berbatov in the front in absence of Rooney. Owen has been in good form lately as he has scored three goals in his last two matches. Michael Carrick is also confirmed to make his comeback to the starting 11.
Carrick has been out since the Community Shield due to recurring Achilles’ problem. He will fill the spot of Paul Scholes. The return of Rio Ferdinand will also boost Ferguson’s fragile defense as the duo of Vidic and Evans has regularly failed to stop opposition
from scoring. Commenting on Rooney’s absence, Ferguson said: “It will be two to three weeks. But it depends because Wayne has done quite well with his recovery from injury in the past. It is a straightforward ankle injury. And it is not the same one he did
in Munich. Nobody likes to be injured but he is. There is nothing you can do about it.”
Nevertheless, Ferguson is hopeful that despite missing the likes of Scholes and Rooney, his side would still be able to grind a win on Wednesday. He believes that the duo of Fletcher and Carrick will fill the shoes of the veteran in the centre. He maintained:
“You don't want to lose your best players that goes without saying. The problem is with one of those small injuries like Paul has got, when you are travelling and sitting on a plane, stiffness comes into it and doesn't make it any better. It was a big decision
to leave him behind.”
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