Sir Alex Ferguson is confident there will be no repeat of
Manchester United’s 2007 Champions League semi-final heartbreak
this time around.
Ferguson does not expect United to collapse in their last-four
clash with Arsenal next week the same way as they did at the San
Siro two years ago.
The Red Devils are facing up to an eerily similar set of
circumstances.
Having claimed a single goal advantage in the first-leg on home
soil, they must tackle a tricky Premier League away game on
Saturday lunchtime before then heading off to try and defend their
lead and reach another Champions League final.
On the previous occasion, Ferguson’s team coped with the first
part of the task quite well, roaring back from two goals down to
beat Everton in thrilling style, a win that turned out to be
pivotal in that season’s title race.
Yet the following week, United were soundly beaten at the San
Siro, with Ferguson freely admitting his exhausted side simply ran
out of steam.
The Old Trafford outfit have taken significant steps to ensure
they do not suffer such a catastrophe again. And Ferguson is
confident the extra squad strength he has amassed will work.
“We don’t expect to capitulate as we did in Milan that night,”
said the Scot.
“At that time I was playing the same players all the time. Now I
have the squad and I will use it.”
It means Paul Scholes, Park Ji-sung, Rafael Da Silva and Ben
Foster, all unused substitutes last night, are likely to figure at
the Riverside, along with Nani, who was not included at all, and
maybe even Danny Welbeck and rising star Federico Macheda, while
long-term injury victim Wes Brown will be on the bench.
In addition, Ferguson feels his side are more prepared to tackle
the task that will await them at the Emirates Stadium.
Not conceding a couple of away goals, as they did against Milan,
helps of course. But he detects a growing maturity in a still
youthful squad that has already proved its worth in keeping clean
sheets away from home against Inter Milan and Porto.
“The maturity of the team is obvious,” he said.
“Our performances away from home have been excellent. I said it
when we went to Inter Milan and Porto was another case in
point.
“These young players have played a lot of games in Europe. When
you have been in Europe as long as have, it is bound to help.”
Arsenal would have to go back to that sorry night in Milan for
the last time United suffered the kind of European setback the
Gunners need.
Indeed, only on one occasion since have United conceded more
than once on their travels. And the fact they scored four times on
the night Dynamo Kiev managed two in October 2006 does not offer
much hope for optimism.
Neither does the knowledge Celtic are the only team to score
against a travelling Red Devils side in Champions League combat
this term.
Clearly therefore, the results of X-rays on the rib injury Rio
Ferdinand suffered in the latter stages of last night’s encounter
are of prime importance.
“Arsenal did not attack as much as I expected last night,”
admitted Ferguson.
“But I don’t think it was any fault of theirs, it was a credit
to our defending.
“When our defenders concentrate and are really at the top of
their game, they can produce performances like that.
“The last game against FC Porto is an example and obviously the
good spell we had from Christmas onwards.
“We need that to get through the tie because I just have to
think we can score.”
As Jonny Evans was part of the United side for six matches in
the record 13-game run without conceding a Premier League goal
while Ferdinand nursed a bad back and he also stood in for the
suspended Nemanja Vidic as United kept the first of two clean
sheets against Inter, Ferguson has presumably no worries over the
young Northern Ireland star if, as expected, Ferdinand is ruled
out.
However, the return of Wes Brown is well timed given the
experience he can provide as cover in both central defence and at
right-back.
“Wes has been training with the first team and has played two
reserve games,” said Ferguson. “I actually think it is important he
plays some part of the game on Saturday.”