Nani runs past Gabriel Heinze during Manchester United's draw
with Marseille in the Champions League. Photograph: Nick
Potts/PA
Sir Alex Ferguson might dwell on what would appear a good
first-leg European result but, hopefully, he will set aside little
time to reflect on the performance. This was a game devoid of
attacking intent, lacking creativity for long spells, and ended a
poor advertisement for the competition when compared to the more
attractive play served up by Arsenal, Barcelona and Tottenham
Hotspur over the last week.
The frustration was that Marseille had appeared there for the
taking. Sir Alex had split his front three, with Nani happy enough
on the right and Rooney far less so on the left in a position to
which he has grudgingly become accustomed to playing in European
away games. The powerful Mbia held Berbatov but, while the home
side's own three midfielders sat goalside and kept their shape,
rarely risking a forward run, United still had one clear pressure
point to tap. It came down their right, where Nani illuminated the
match whenever able to race past the former United full-back,
Heinze. The Portuguese had the beating of his man for pace and the
visitors initially offered him a fair supply-line, floating balls
beyond the defender for Nani to chase and collect while dragging
either Mbia or Diawara out of the centre to intercept.
The winger may not have maximized his obvious advantage in speed
over Heinze, but the tactic offered United a threat in what was,
for so long, a tedious stalemate. Yet, having used Nani as their
main focus of first-half attacks, United ignored the Portuguese for
long periods after the break when one thought they might have
pressed home this advantage. Deschamps had clearly instructed the
Argentinian veteran to get tighter to his man in the second period
and, indeed, push further down the flank himself to force Nani to
defend and assist O'Shea. Yet the fact Heinze was tighter actually
meant there was more space at his back for United to exploit – vast
areas that actually went untapped. Instead, Nani was starved of the
ball and resorted to charging inside desperately seeking some
second-half touches. His non-involvement felt like a waste.
In truth, United's main consolation will be their clean sheet.
Without Scholes from the start, as well as both Anderson and Giggs,
they had needed real accuracy in their passing to impose themselves
on the tie, yet Carrick, Rooney and Fletcher gave the ball away too
carelessly. Their distribution was laboured at times and, despite
bossing possession, they lacked incision and rarely tested Mandanda
in the home goal.
Marseille only raised their own ambition and pace a little after
half-time when they sensed their opponents were still struggling to
find any rhythm in their play, but United were always comfortable.
Only Rémy and Ayew hinted at a threat. Valbuena's involvement from
the start may give them some hope for the return leg, but there was
nothing in this soulless occasion to suggest that, once thrown into
the cauldron that is Old Trafford, Marseille will be able to
prosper.
