United Are Going To Moscow

Unless Sir Alex Ferguson receives a favour from Kevin Keegan, his old sparring partner in title races gone by, it is likely that complete vindication for last Saturday’s team selection at Chelsea will not be forthcoming until victories over West Ham United and Wigan are secured. Tonight’s slender 1-0 win over Barcelona to seal a place in next month’s Champions’ League Final at least kick-starts the reconciliation process.

The location may have changed, but the pattern of play in the opening stages carried over from the first leg in Camp Nou with Barcelona in command. Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick struggled in Catalonia and they were under immediate pressure from Xavi and Andres Iniesta as the visitors seized control. Scholes has by far and away been England’s premier midfielder since Paul Gascoigne’s pre-injury days of the early 1990’s, a feat accomplished without the need to employ a pop svengali, but his recent form has attracted growing criticism from many observers. At 33, the feeling is that his best days are well beyond him. If skilled passing and moving, for so long a trademark of the Salford redhead, were being exhibited by Iniesta, at least Scholes still showed he has an ability to provide the spectacular. His 14th minute goal owed a debt of gratitude to an error by the otherwise excellent Gianluca Zambrotta, but its execution was typical of the man. Scholes, after all, scores goals.

Barcelona quickly regained the upper hand and Deco, the Portuguese playmaker, came close to grabbing the vital away goal on a couple of occasions before half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo, his compatriot, was again finding it difficult to receive possession in space. By contrast, Lionel Messi embarked on a number of slaloming runs but without an end product. Ronaldo enjoyed his best spell shortly after the interval. Firstly he jinked around Zambrotta before sending a dangerous cross into the area which tested the Barcelona defence. Minutes later he provided a sharp return pass into the path of Carlos Tevez who saw his left-foot shot palmed away by Victor Valdes.

With Tevez in outstanding form, frequently battling to retain possession and relieve the pressure from mounting on United’s reshuffled backline, the cavalry charge did not arrive until the final 15 minutes. By then Frank Rijkaard had introduced Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic to the action. Ferguson responded by installing Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs in midfield at the expense of the less defensively sound pairing of Scholes and Nani. Henry had one decent chance from a corner but could only head tamely at the feet of Edwin van der Sar.

A late injury to Patrice Evra saw play continue until the conclusion of the 96th minute, but United held firm to reach their third European Cup Final. There were a few nerves in the dugout, but the outcome has never been in doubt amongst the Old Trafford faithful who have been proved correct. Since late last year they have been telling us that United are going to Moscow.