Roma display can inspire Reds
Expecting a repeat of the incredible 7-1 scoreline against AS Roma
when fellow Italians AC Milan visit Old Trafford on Tuesday would
be fanciful, but Sir Alex Ferguson believes his team should draw
confidence from that quarter final success.
The Rossoneri are in Manchester this week for the Champions League
semi final first leg, and despite a glut of defensive injury
problems, the United boss has cause to believe that his team
possesses the attacking capabilities to hurt an experienced, but
ageing, Milan rearguard.
Its difficult to think we can get to the same standard of result
against Milan as the Roma game, he said on Monday. It was a
once-in-a-lifetime result. But we should still expect a very good
performance.
At this level, with the players we have, there is always going to
be expectation and desire among the players to reach a high
level.
The quality of our opponents and the occasion demand the best of
our players. Its not going to be easy to get through, but if you
get to a semi final youre never going to get it easy.
United will need to apply the same penetration and relentless
attacking gusto of that performance two weeks ago.
The performance in the last phase was very, very good, added Sir
Alex. That must give players confidence. Winning is always a
confidence booster anyway.
The team spirit has become stronger over the course of the season
as the players get to know each other better. There is a great
coming-together of young people, which is always a good
thing.
I dont have any fears about it. I see the mood in the campand it
pleases me. Were always looking for signs at this time of year,
warning signs about nerves.
On Saturday against Middlesbrough we saw some anxiety and bad
decision making in the final third of the field. But the positive
thing was that nobody was hiding, everyone wanted the ball, which
is a good sign.
Carlo Ancelottis side will no doubt aim to be compact and
stubbornly difficult to break down, but they their defensive
stability is complimented with skill and guile going forward with
gifted technicians like Kaka and Andrea Pirlo.
We cant ignore the ability of some of the Milan players, adds
the boss cautiously. We have to prepare that awareness for our
players.
But everyone is expecting us to have a go and hopefully score to
give us a chance. The name of the game is that you win and dont
lose a goal. Thats our hope and what we are planning to do. It
would be a massive result for us. It wont be easy, but thats what
were aiming for.
