Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

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Jordan chooses United over Milan
Tuesday, 1 May 2007

by Alex O'Henleyfrom Glasgow

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Former Manchester United FC striker Joe Jordan believes Sir Alex Ferguson's side have the edge over another of his former clubs, AC Milan, as they prepare for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Slight favourites
Jordan, who played for United between 1978 and 1981 before spending two seasons at Milan, feels Wayne Rooney's added-time winner in last week's 3-2 triumph at Old Trafford makes the English team slight favourites to progress to the final in Athens. "At 2-1 up it looked good for Milan but United showed great character to come back the way they did in the second half," the Scot told uefa.com. "At 2-2 you would still have fancied Milan because they had scored two goals away from home. However, Rooney's goal right at the death changed the complexion of the tie. It will still be tough but that goal has given United a good chance of going through."

Absent defenders
As was feared in the first leg, United could start at San Siro without their recognised back four, although there is an outside chance Nemanja Vidić may make it. Jordan - nicknamed 'Lo Squalo' (The Shark) for his gap-toothed appearance and wholehearted approach during his stay in Italy - prefers to concentrate on the attacking threat posed by the likes of Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo rather than missing personnel.

Attacking menace
"Ideally Sir Alex would prefer to have the likes of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Vidić at his disposal, but he faced the same dilemma in the first leg and they overcame that difficulty," said the 55-year-old Jordan, now first-team coach at Portsmouth FC. "The key to United's result at Old Trafford was the quality of their attackers, especially Rooney and Ronaldo. They have real pace going forward and if they adopt that approach on Wednesday, United will make it tough for Milan."

All-English affair
With Chelsea FC or Liverpool FC guaranteed a place in the final, Jordan, who lost two European finals with Leeds United AFC in the mid-1970s - including the 1973 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against the Rossoneri - is hoping United can make it an all-Premiership affair on 23 May. Jordan said: "It's great for English football to have three teams in the semi-finals. Obviously it would be good to have an all-English final, but you would never write off Milan as they are very capable of getting the 1-0 result that would take them through. Having connections with both clubs, I suppose I can't lose either way, but as I said I just feel that goal from Rooney could prove decisive one way or another."

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Rooney hoping to shine again
Tuesday, 1 May 2007

by Kevin Ashbyfrom Manchester

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He may have played the support act to Cristiano Ronaldo's leading man for much of Manchester United FC's season, but Wayne Rooney proved against AC Milan that he is not the type to stay in the shadows for long.

Bright young things
The meeting of the red halves of Manchester and Milan had been billed as a showdown between football's brightest young things, Ronaldo and Kaká. Yet it was apt that Rooney, epitomising more than anyone the never-say-die spirit of Sir Alex Ferguson's treble-chasers, should outshine both by scoring twice - including an added-time winner - on a thrilling night at Old Trafford to ensure United travel to Italy on Wednesday with a 3-2 lead and in expectation rather than hope of reaching the Athens final.

'Feeling good'
"I think Kaká showed how good he is with his two goals and Ronaldo has proved himself all season by playing well week in, week out," Rooney told uefa.com. But his own contribution to United's epic campaign should not be underestimated. That double strike in the first leg took him level on 22 goals for the season with Ronaldo and he is hungry for more. "It's the end of the season and I'm feeling good, feeling fit, and hopefully I can keep playing and scoring goals."

Ruthless
Rooney may have taken time to find his feet in the UEFA Champions League, going 17 matches without a goal prior to his home-and-away efforts against AS Roma, but the 21-year-old displayed a ruthless touch against Milan. He registered his first with a finish which matched the deftness of Paul Scholes's flicked pass. For the second he reached Ryan Giggs's pass ahead of Alessandro Nesta before dispatching the ball with equal parts power and precision inside Dida's near post in added time.

'Pegged them back'
"The last goal was so important, to get it at the end, and I'm just delighted we got the win," he said. "In the first half they had a couple of chances and took them so it hurt us a bit. In the second we pegged them right back and knew that if we had chances we had to take them. We kept pressurising them to make chances and fortunately we got the two goals at the end so we're delighted."

Lone role
Rooney's brace came from a position he has not enjoyed in the past, that of the lone striker, as Sir Alex opted to omit Alan Smith and use Darren Fletcher as a midfield anchor alongside Michael Carrick - the duo providing the platform for the increased second-half tempo which culminated in Rooney's late heroics. The match-winner said of his manager: "He told us at half-time to keep playing, keep going forward and that's what we did. We kept going and didn't let our heads go down and got the win in the end."

Three fronts
Rooney sees "no reason" to alter in Italy an attacking policy which has served United wonderfully well this season, and could yet prove the difference between Premiership glory and another second-placed finish. With an FA Cup final against Chelsea FC also on the horizon, he is hopeful United can triumph at home and in Europe. "I'd like to win all of them to be honest," he said, laughing. "Personally I'd most like to win the league, being from England and watching the Premiership all my life, so hopefully we can win that and do well in the Champions League as well. It would be a dream come true, a Champions League final. It's what all players want to do."

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Old loyalties sway Desailly
Friday, 27 April 2007

by Michael Harrold & Kevin Ashbyfrom Manchester

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The week's two UEFA Champions League semi-finals provided contrasting spectacles. In Manchester, a thrilling free-flowing match lived up to its billing; in London Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC picked up from where they left off two years ago as caution proved the defining feature of a tight first leg at Stamford Bridge. The prospect of an all-English semi-final may have raised the stakes in west London and on Merseyside, but for the neutral the main attraction was at Old Trafford.

'Fear'
After smashing seven past AS Roma attention focused on how AC Milan would react to the expected early onslaught on Dida's goal. Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth-minute header provided the answer. "After five minutes there is obviously the fear United can go goal crazy," the Rossoneri's Brazilian playmaker Kaká said. "Our thoughts went back to Roma." It is unusual to hear a Milan player speaking of fear, but it indicates just how revered United's attacking threat has become. Whether prising open a defence as Paul Scholes's deft pass did to create space for Wayne Rooney's equaliser or bursting forward on the break for the winner, former Milan midfielder Marcel Desailly believes there are no better proponents of attacking football in Europe today.

"They can play collectively, each of them can play individually, but most of all they can all make the difference"

'The best'
"Not only counterattacking, for me they're the best team in Europe, especially if they stay in their classic 4-4-2 formation," Desailly, a UEFA Champions League winner with Olympique de Marseille and Milan, told uefa.com. "They manage to keep a good shape. They can make the difference at any time – [Ryan] Giggs on the left, Cristiano Ronaldo, Scholes, Wayne Rooney and [Louis] Saha if he is fit. It is the best team. They can play collectively, each of them can play individually, but most of all they can all make the difference." Belief in their ability kept United in the tie even after two quick Kaká goals had turned the match on its head. "We thought it was going to be Manchester's game from beginning to end, but the Italians managed to establish control before they lost a lot of energy in the second half. Manchester scored the second to come back, and the third one in the last minute. Against an Italian team with so much experience they took advantage of the mistakes of Milan."

Attacking philosophy
It was telling in the build up that manager Sir Alex Ferguson, after having it pointed out to him that virtually his full first-choice defence was unavailable, responded by saying that at least his "big players" were fit. Attack is the key to defence at Old Trafford, in contrast to the philosophies expounded by rivals José Mourinho and Rafael Benítez. Mourinho's decision to settle for a 1-0 victory rather than press home his advantage at Stamford Bridge says everything about his belief in the immense trio of John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Petr Čech keeping Liverpool at bay at Anfield. Benítez, meanwhile, will be looking for the sort of inspiration Ancelotti has come to rely on.

'Tricky'
"They are lucky they have Kaká," Desailly said of the Brazilian whose two goals put his side 2-1 up on the night. "The rest of the team is a kind of group behind Kaká. United have plenty of players who at any moment can make the difference. That's why Milan should have been more focused on the advantage they had, knowing it's going to be hard in the return. How do Milan approach that game now? They are going to attack knowing that Manchester have the capacity at any minute to make the difference. It's a real tricky situation for AC Milan now."

'Rhythm'
The same could be said for Liverpool. "It's two teams who know each other well and it will be the side who gets a bit down physically who loses, as that will lead to mistakes and the other team will take advantage," said Desailly, who reached the last four with Chelsea in 2004 a decade after lifting the trophy with Milan. As Chelsea fight for trophies on three fronts the physical demands are rising, but Desailly believes they have hit their stride. "You're either at the top or you're not. They [Chelsea] have the squad to handle that. As a player you want frequent games instead of long periods out, it keeps you in the rhythm of the game. You know it's the end of the season and you're trying to reach your objective so you want to play." With Athens in sight, loyalty ensures Desailly can only see one outcome: "I expect to see Chelsea and Milan, my last two clubs, in the final."

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Rossoneri undaunted by United


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AC Milan will look to turn the clock back almost 50 years when Manchester United FC visit the Giuseppe Meazza defending a 3-2 lead in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

• It was in May 1958 in the last four of the European Champion Clubs' Cup that Milan became the first and so far only team to overturn a first-leg deficit against United in Europe's élite competition. Then as now Milan lost a lead at Old Trafford and succumbed to a late goal, going down 2-1 to a Tommy Taylor strike on 80 minutes.

• Milan undid the damage on home soil, however, as Juan Schiaffino (2), Nils Liedholm and Giancarlo Danova earned the Rossoneri a handsome 4-0 victory. Save for that reverse, United have won 22 ties in the European Cup and UEFA Champions League - qualifiers included - in which they have held an advantage from the first leg.

• United hold the upper hand this time thanks to Wayne Rooney's added-time winner in a thrilling first leg. Milan appeared in control at the interval at Old Trafford as they responded to Cristiano Ronaldo's early header with two goals from Kaká. However, Rooney made it 2-2 on 59 minutes before flashing the ball past Dida for a second time moments from the end.

• United are within one victory of a century of wins in the European Cup, including qualifying, a feat that has only been achieved by three other clubs. Real Madrid CF have been successful 173 times in Europe's premier club competition, followed by FC Bayern München (115) and semi-final rivals Milan (106).

• In 50 years of European competition, United have surrendered a winning position only four times, that 1958 loss to Milan included. The most recent instance was in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup quarter-finals against Székesfehérvári Videoton SC. Following a 1-0 home win they were then beaten by the same scoreline in Hungary before bowing out 5-4 on penalties.

• For their part, Milan have faced a first-leg deficit six times before in Europe's élite competition and won through on half of those occasions. Their most recent victory in these circumstances was in the 1968/69 first round where they overcame Malmö FF 4-1 on home soil after a 2-1 loss in Sweden.

• Their most recent defeat, meanwhile, was in last season's semi-final against FC Barcelona where they went down 1-0 at home before a goalless draw at the Camp Nou.

• The last time Milan retrieved a first-leg loss in any European club competition came in their UEFA Cup quarter-final against Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC in March 2002. After a 1-0 away reverse, Milan triumphed 2-0 at San Siro through a Rui Costa strike and Shimon Gershon's own goal.

• Milan have a 100 per cent record against United in two-legged contests. Following that first confrontation in the 1957/58 European Cup semi-final, the sides met again at the semi-final stage in 1968/69. Milan won 2-1 on aggregate, following up a 2-0 home success with a 1-0 defeat in Manchester, where present-day United director Sir Bobby Charlton found the net.

• The Rossoneri recorded 1-0 victories both at home and away in the teams' first knockout round encounter in 2004/05, Hernán Crespo claiming the only goal on both occasions.

• The teams for the second leg of that tie in Milan on 8 March 2005 were:
Milan: Dida, Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Maldini, Gattuso (Costacurta 88), Pirlo, Seedorf, Rui Costa (Dhorasoo 85), Kaká, Crespo (Ambrosini 78).
United: Howard, Brown (Smith 85), Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Rooney, Giggs (Fortune 57), Van Nistelrooy.

• Milan have never lost at home to English opposition, recording six wins and five draws in eleven matches.

• Carlo Ancelotti's side have had mixed fortunes at home in the UEFA Champions League this season. In the group stage they defeated AEK Athens FC 3-0 and RSC Anderlecht 4-1 before losing 2-0 to LOSC Lille Métropole with qualification already assured. In the first knockout round they beat Celtic FC 1-0 through Kaká's extra-time goal, thus securing an aggregate win by the same scoreline. Then in the quarter-finals they were held 2-2 at home by FC Bayern München before a 2-0 away success.

• United have lost three of five away games in their 2006/07 campaign. In the group stage they beat SL Benfica 1-0 in September but went down by the same score at Celtic FC and FC København. Ryan Giggs earned them a 1-0 win at Lille in the first knockout round – setting them on the path to a 2-0 aggregate success – while in the quarter-finals, they succumbed 2-1 at AS Roma but made amends in spectacular fashion with a 7-1 home triumph.

• That defeat at Roma was United's ninth in 12 visits to Italy. They have won only twice away to Serie A opposition but their first success was against a Juventus side under Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti in the 1999 UEFA Champions League semi-final. Famously United trailed 2-0 to two goals from Filippo Inzaghi – now a Milan player - before replying through efforts from Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole to triumph 3-2 on the night and 4-3 overall.

• Milan are aiming to reach their tenth European Cup final and United their third. The Italian team's most recent final appearance was two years ago, where they lost to Liverpool FC on penalties after a 3-3 draw in Istanbul. It was in 1999, meanwhile, that United were last in the final, overcoming FC Bayern München 2-1 in Barcelona.

• Overall Milan have previously been semi-finalists eleven times in this competition and only twice have they failed to go on to the final – losing to Real Madrid CF in 1955/56 and to FC Barcelona last season. Milan reached the 1992/93 final direct from the group stage.

• United's record at this stage of Europe's élite competition is less impressive, their eight previous semi-finals bringing just two victories. The most recent of their six semi-final losses came five years ago when they went down on away goals to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

• Milan would play another Premiership team if they reached the final. Besides their 2005 defeat by Liverpool, they have won their two other UEFA finals against English clubs. They defeated Leeds United AFC 1-0 in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final and Arsenal FC 2-0 on aggregate in the 1994 UEFA Super Cup, played in February 1995.

• United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar played in Serie A between 1999 and 2001 with Juventus, while Mikaël Silvestre, out for the season with a shoulder injury, spent the 1998/99 campaign at Inter. His fellow French defender Patrice Evra also played in Italy in the late 1990s for Marsala Calcio and Monza Calcio but never in the top flight.

• The winners will face either Chelsea FC or Liverpool in the final on 23 May in Athens and will be designated as the home team.

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Sir Alex has faith in Rossoneri

Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that AC Milan will not look to exploit the fact that three United players are walking a suspension tightrope in Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final showdown.

Should the Reds negotiate a route past Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze would all miss the final if they are booked in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

In last Tuesday’s semi-final, first leg and 2005’s second round double-header, however, Sir Alex saw no reason to fear tactical skulduggery from the Italians. He does, however, admit that his trio could be fearing the worst.

“I think it is a pressure on the players, it must be,” admitted Sir Alex at his pre-match press briefing. “But I hope that there’s fairness from the referee. It’s a big game for him, he’s a young referee with a good reputation and I’m hopeful that it’s done the right way.

“My biggest confidence is in AC Milan because I don’t think they’re a team who would do anything to get players booked. There’s no point to it, neither team benefits because we don’t play each other again. It can only help the opponents in the final.

“In the games I’ve seen against AC Milan, there’s no evidence of anything wrong. You only have to go back one week to see the manner and the spirit in which the game was played in Manchester. I think it was a credit to both sets of players and their professionalism. I expect the same on Wednesday.

With Milan skipper Paolo Maldini in a similarly precarious disciplinary situation, Sir Alex is confident that fair play will prevail ahead of the showpiece final in Athens in three weeks’ time.

“Maldini is also on two yellows, and I think that if Milan were to beat us, everyone would want to see Maldini in the final,” he said.

“I’ll be in Athens, no matter whether it’s with United or to see the final, and I think a tournament like the Champions League needs the best players. For me it would be fantastic to see Maldini, at the age of 39, playing in a European final.”

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AC Milan - Manchester United FC
MATCH PRESS KIT
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - 20:45CET
Semi-finals, second leg - Matchday 12


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Football: Nemanja Vidic passed fit to play for Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final in Milan tomorrow

Man Utd centre-back available for tomorrow's Champions League semi-final second leg.

Nemanja Vidic has recovered from a broken collarbone and should return to the Manchester United defence for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in Milan tomorrow.

Vidic, who last played against Blackburn on March 31, passed a fitness test and is likely to play alongside either Wes Brown or Rio Ferdinand, who has also travelled with the squad despite his recent groin injury, in the San Siro. With Patrice Evra suspended, the return of Vidic would allow Gabriel Heinze to switch into his favoured left-back role.

Louis Saha could be on the bench despite his recent hamstring problems, although the absence of Gary Neville will only fuel speculation that the United skipper's ankle injury will rule him out for the season.

Three men - Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes, who famously missed the 1999 Champions League final - are one caution away from a ban, although Ferguson will hope the trio remain fully focused on steering United to what would be only their third European Cup final.

Twice before, in 1958 and 1969, United have fallen to Milan at this stage of the competition. Ferguson himself has suffered semi-final defeats against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. But, a better statistic for United followers is that their club have not lost a European tie after winning the first leg since 1985 and have never done so under Ferguson.

Milan could be without their captain and centre-back Paolo Maldini. Kakha Kaladze, available again after suspension, is the obvious replacement if Maldini fails to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Old Trafford and has prevented him from training normally since.

The Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti admits that the 38-year-old skipper, who made his first-team debut for the Rossoneri in 1985 as a 16-year-old, has only a slim chance of playing.

Another of the walking wounded from the first leg, the snarling midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, is available after recovering from a foot injury and the Milan coach has all his regulars available barring the cup-tied Ronaldo and possibly Maldini. Ancelotti has indicated Filippo Inzaghi rather than Alberto Gilardino will play up front.

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Football: United supporters handed Ultras warning
Guardian Unlimited


Evidence uncovered suggesting Roma's Ultras are heading to Milan ahead of Man Utd's trip there.

Manchester United supporters have been warned of a security scare ahead of tomorrow night's Champions League semi-final with Milan, after evidence was uncovered suggesting that Roma's Ultras are planning to head to the game.

Violence has marred United's last two ventures into Europe, with trouble erupting both inside and outside the grounds at their matches with Lille and Roma. Although Uefa indicated United were the secondary party in both instances, the club were still fined £6,300 and £14,500 for their involvement in the respective incidents, the second of which led to a major restructuring of the security policy inside Italian stadiums.

With the first leg of the Milan clash passing off peacefully at Old Trafford last week, it had been hoped the decider at the San Siro would also be trouble free. However, the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association has discovered information that some of the Ultras are heading north in an attempt to cause trouble.

Imusa's report, which has been passed on to United officials, has warned that trains on the Rome-Milan route tomorrow, which would normally be relatively empty, are actually booked up. Fans have also been advised not to wear United colours, or even speak English for fear of igniting more trouble, highlighting the fighting and knife attacks which occured this weekend when Lazio and Roma met at the Stadio Olimpico.

Imusa chairman Mark Longden, whose organisation is currently pursuing a legal case against the Italian police for the brutal manner with which they dealt with United fans in Rome, has urged supporters to be vigilant. "All I can say is anyone travelling to the game should be aware," he said. "Everyone knows what happened in Lille and, in particular Rome. If what we have been told is correct, it should just make everyone take a little bit more care."

The report arrived at Old Trafford too late for any specific information to be passed on to the 5,000 United fans who have tickets for the game. However, given the criticism United attracted for the pointed - and, as it turned out, accurate - warnings for their supporters in Rome, it is debatable whether they would have been willing to provide such forceful security advice again, especially as their relations with Milan are good

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Sport: Soccer:
Carrick must get 'horrible', says Wilkins
By Oliver Brown

ASK Ray Wilkins to call tonight's Champions League semi-final and you receive an ambivalent answer. Milan, Manchester United - both, he acknowledges, would make beguiling finalists, but there is clearly a tangle of loyalties for a man who had the pleasure of playing for both.

Holding court in one of Knightsbridge's more authentic Italian restaurants, Wilkins has little trouble transplanting his thoughts to San Siro, scene of his many Milan battles in the mid-Eighties and now testing ground for Sir Alex Ferguson's ambition of a second treble. "On their own soil, the Italians will be a different animal altogether,'' he warns.

Wilkins, 50 last autumn, would know plenty about Milan's 'split personality', having been forced to embrace the uncompromising side to their nature when he arrived there from United 23 years ago.

It did not herald the club's most successful period but the midfielder could count among his team-mates such defensive aggressors as Franco Baresi - "just a gentleman off the pitch, but on it...''. Say no more.

From his television persona, you might have no problem defining Wilkins: measured, serene, unfailingly polite. But this is to disguise a raw intensity, detectable in his advice for how Michael Carrick, outstanding against Roma but run ragged at Old Trafford by Milan, can make an impact on tonight's tie.

"I would like to see him be horrible on the pitch, but a very nice young man off it,'' Wilkins explains. "I just want to see Michael come up to the plate a bit more, demanding the ball - that's the way you have to be. When you're only seeing the ball spasmodically, it's really difficult to impose yourself. United must look for him to try, with Paul Scholes, to dictate the way the game is played.''

Ah, Scholes - the model midfielder, the mere mention of whose name is enough to inspire a Wilkins rhapsody. "Class - he has absolute class. Whether with short passing or long passing, he will get you a goal. When he retired from the national side, he killed us.''

One must hope that a Scholes booking does not "kill'' United by ruling him out of a potential Athens final. He is, ultimately, a key link in the side's spine, as Wilkins illustrates: "It is the middle of the field where you have to be most solid. This was Bayern Munich's downfall against Milan - they had a weak spine. [Andrea] Pirlo is the equivalent of a holding midfield player, so he can eliminate Scholes.''

England's former holding man also volunteers the idea that if Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are not fit to play, then Milan will prevail. But Wilkins, as one of the game's purists, hopes ardently that the match can be decided not by injuries but by a straight battle between the teams' most luminous talents, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I have never seen feet as quick on a ball as Ronaldo's - it's almost balletic at times,'' says Wilkins.. "Kaka isn't of that mould. He is more of an attacking, 'straight away' player, capable of taking the ball in his stride with one touch.''

Expect, Wilkins says, to see Kaka on the ball far more in tonight's decider, filling in for the deficiencies of strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino.

Ray Wilkins is a match expert for Milan v Manchester United from 7pm on Sky Sports 1.

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Sport: Soccer:
Carrick must get 'horrible', says Wilkins
By Oliver Brown

ASK Ray Wilkins to call tonight's Champions League semi-final and you receive an ambivalent answer. Milan, Manchester United - both, he acknowledges, would make beguiling finalists, but there is clearly a tangle of loyalties for a man who had the pleasure of playing for both.

Holding court in one of Knightsbridge's more authentic Italian restaurants, Wilkins has little trouble transplanting his thoughts to San Siro, scene of his many Milan battles in the mid-Eighties and now testing ground for Sir Alex Ferguson's ambition of a second treble. "On their own soil, the Italians will be a different animal altogether,'' he warns.

Wilkins, 50 last autumn, would know plenty about Milan's 'split personality', having been forced to embrace the uncompromising side to their nature when he arrived there from United 23 years ago.

It did not herald the club's most successful period but the midfielder could count among his team-mates such defensive aggressors as Franco Baresi - "just a gentleman off the pitch, but on it...''. Say no more.

From his television persona, you might have no problem defining Wilkins: measured, serene, unfailingly polite. But this is to disguise a raw intensity, detectable in his advice for how Michael Carrick, outstanding against Roma but run ragged at Old Trafford by Milan, can make an impact on tonight's tie.

"I would like to see him be horrible on the pitch, but a very nice young man off it,'' Wilkins explains. "I just want to see Michael come up to the plate a bit more, demanding the ball - that's the way you have to be. When you're only seeing the ball spasmodically, it's really difficult to impose yourself. United must look for him to try, with Paul Scholes, to dictate the way the game is played.''

Ah, Scholes - the model midfielder, the mere mention of whose name is enough to inspire a Wilkins rhapsody. "Class - he has absolute class. Whether with short passing or long passing, he will get you a goal. When he retired from the national side, he killed us.''

One must hope that a Scholes booking does not "kill'' United by ruling him out of a potential Athens final. He is, ultimately, a key link in the side's spine, as Wilkins illustrates: "It is the middle of the field where you have to be most solid. This was Bayern Munich's downfall against Milan - they had a weak spine. [Andrea] Pirlo is the equivalent of a holding midfield player, so he can eliminate Scholes.''

England's former holding man also volunteers the idea that if Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are not fit to play, then Milan will prevail. But Wilkins, as one of the game's purists, hopes ardently that the match can be decided not by injuries but by a straight battle between the teams' most luminous talents, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I have never seen feet as quick on a ball as Ronaldo's - it's almost balletic at times,'' says Wilkins.. "Kaka isn't of that mould. He is more of an attacking, 'straight away' player, capable of taking the ball in his stride with one touch.''

Expect, Wilkins says, to see Kaka on the ball far more in tonight's decider, filling in for the deficiencies of strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino.

Ray Wilkins is a match expert for Milan v Manchester United from 7pm on Sky Sports 1.

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Desailly rates Man Utd best team in Europe
tribalfooball.com - May 01, 2007

Former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly rates Manchester United as the best team in Europe.
"Not only counterattacking, for me they're the best team in Europe, especially if they stay in their classic 4-4-2 formation," he told uefa.com ahead of United's Champions League semi at AC Milan.


"They can make the difference at any time - Giggs on the left, Cristiano Ronaldo, Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Saha if he is fit. It is the best team. They can play collectively, each of them can play individually, but most of all they can all make the difference."

And while United's squad is littered with quality, Desailly believes the Rossoneri are a bit more of a one-man band - but what a man it is.

"They are lucky they have Kaka," he admitted. "The rest of the team is a kind of group behind Kaka. United have plenty of players who at any moment can make the difference. That's why Milan should have been more focused on the advantage they had, knowing it's going to be hard in the return.

"How do Milan approach that game now? They are going to attack knowing that Manchester have the capacity at any minute to make the difference. It's a real tricky situation for AC Milan now."

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United wedded to attacking tradition
By Tim Rich in Milan

ASIDE from the lyrics to That's Life, which has the singer "riding high in April but shot down in May'', most football managers of a certain age have a soft spot for Frank Sinatra, and Sir Alex Ferguson is no exception.

When asked how Manchester United would take their last step towards the European Cup final, Ferguson remarked they would play against AC Milan as they play against everyone else. If they were to reach Athens, they would do it their way.

"If you are realistic you know that AC Milan will be favourites to score, so you have to back yourself to score,'' said Ferguson as he considered the delicate 3-2 lead he takes into the San Siro. "Sitting on our box would not do me, the players or the fans any good. If we are going to win, we will have to do it our way, and if we lose, we will lose our way.''

This semi-final, that at Old Trafford provided so much drama and beauty, is breathtakingly poised. Although their first-choice centre backs, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, did travel, they have not played together since the muscular Serb dislocated his shoulder at the end of March. In eight subsequent matches, United have kept one clean sheet and conceded 11 times.

Ferguson must believe that Milan, who require the archetypal Italian scoreline, a 1-0 home victory, will score. Having seen Patrice Evra and Gabriel Heinze collide to provide Kaka with an open route to what should have been a decisive second goal, throwing in Vidic seems like an acceptable risk; one which Ferguson would not want to run in Saturday's Manchester derby. Ferdinand, who has broken down with a groin strain in successive matches, is another matter. However, he has played much more recently than Vidic and although Ferguson said he would sleep on the decision the England centre-half is the likelier to get the nod.

"We won't make the mistakes we did at Old Trafford,'' Ferguson said. "And we won't concede a goal like the second one.''

This is the third time Manchester United have faced Milan in the San Siro and on each occasion they have failed to score. In 1958 and 1969 the price was a European Cup final; two years ago it was the pain of admitting Carlo Ancelotti's side were playing football on a different plane.

"If we do get that goal, it changes the whole context of the match,'' Ferguson said. "It is going to be a big test; I don't think our away form has been great. The two 1-0 victories at Benfica and Lille were a step forward.''

They need a sweeping, confident display such as the Ryan Giggs-inspired demolition of Juventus in the Stadio delle Alpi four years ago, which was the last time United slew a big European beast in its own lair. There are obvious parallels with Ferguson's last semi-final against Ancelotti, in 1999. Then, having drawn at Old Trafford, United fell two goals behind to Juventus - scored by Filippo Inzaghi, who will lead the Milan attack tonight - and recovered to win 3-2.

It came at the cost of the loss, through suspension, of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane for the final. Should either Scholes or Cristiano Ronaldo be booked, they will suffer the same fate and so, incidentally, will Paolo Maldini.

Reflecting on 1999, he said: "We are going to need the same courage we had that night. It was hell or bust. Here, we have to play with a degree of caution but we will definitely be having a go.''

This season there has been a waterfall of words expended on Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo; a trickle on some real heroes, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher and Wes Brown: squad players who stepped up in a way some did not think them capable. "They have their dreams,'' said Ferguson of his younger contingent.

"They would be growing up in Scotland or in Ireland and they would see these European matches on television and they would want to be part of it. Everyone who comes from Manchester United wants to reach a European final.''

Asked to describe his dreams, Ferguson went shy and said they had all been fulfilled. "I am happy just managing a team playing such entertaining football.''

Nobody quite believed him.

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AC Milan - Manchester United FC
MATCH PREVIEW
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - 20:45CET
Semi-finals, second leg - Matchday 12

As AC Milan prepare to turn around a 3-2 UEFA Champions League semi-final deficit against Manchester United FC, coach Carlo Ancelotti has described the prospect of reaching the final in Athens as "a Utopian dream".

Utopian dream
Back in the autumn, Milan were languishing at the wrong end of Serie A. A league points deduction and a shortened pre-season had affected form and confidence; Athens looked a long way off. Now, though, the resurgent Rossoneri stand third in the table and one match away from booking their third final in five years. "At the start of the season I said that getting to Athens was a Utopian dream," said Ancelotti. "But now this dream is becoming a reality. This side showed great unity through the tough times. That has brought them this far and now we're confident because we're playing well and we're close to our objective."

Rooney danger
However, that quest has been made harder by the first-leg loss. Milan let a 2-1 advantage at Old Trafford slip, despite themselves rallying after Cristiano Ronaldo's early goal. The competition's top scorer Kaká scored twice only for
Wayne Rooney to better the Brazilian with two strikes of his own, the latter coming seconds from the end of a thrilling contest. "Their most dangerous attacking player is without doubt Rooney," added Ancelotti. "But if we concede again it's not a disaster. We know we can score more than once because we've done so twice already."

'Huge achievement'
With the likely return of Filippo Inzaghi, Milan's attack should be all the more potent, the Italian international having registered 36 UEFA Champions League goals in 64 appearances, while morale is high after five straight league wins,
culminating in Saturday's 1-0 success at Torino FC. Further good news for the Milanese giants is the return of Gennaro Gattuso (foot) although captain Paolo Maldini (knee) is "99 per cent" unlikely to recover. "Getting this far has been a
huge achievement," continued Ancelotti. "We've made the cake, now we just need to put the cherry on top."

Treble vision
With the treble in sight, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be thinking similar thoughts. Having taken a five-point Premiership lead and advanced to the FA Cup final, Sir Alex knows he is within touching distance of repeating the
triumph of 1998/99. His side showed resilience to turn defeat into victory last Tuesday, and did likewise at Everton FC on Saturday, somehow transforming a 2-0 reverse into a 4-2 win. "We've developed well this season," he said.
"Success and confidence has helped the process and some players have done exceptionally well in their first season."

'Doing it our way'
The 65-year-old singled out Milan's Kaká, Gattuso and Maldini for particular praise but insists his team will not be cowed by the sold-out San Siro. The possible return from injury of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić - who
both trained on Tuesday - may also compensate for the loss of the suspended Patrice Evra. "This team thrives on the big occasions and tomorrow will be the biggest test yet," continued Sir Alex. "You would expect Milan to score at
home but our safety net is an emphasis on scoring. Sitting on the edge of the penalty box doesn't do us any good and it doesn't do the fans any good. So I think if we're going to do it, we've got to do it our way."

Probable teams
Milan: Dida; Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kaká, Clarence Seedorf; Filippo Inzaghi.
Man. United: Edwin van der Sar; John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidić/Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Gabriel Heinze; Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney.

[epsilon]

AC Milan - Manchester United FC
MATCH PREVIEW
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - 20:45CET
Semi-finals, second leg - Matchday 12

Gattuso takes heart from Kaká class
Despite seeing his side succumb to a 3-2 defeat by Manchester United FC in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg, Gennaro Gattuso is convinced AC Milan will reach the final thanks to the "devastating" form of Kaká.

Kaká class
The Brazil forward inspired Milan's short-lived revival at Old Trafford with two goals in 15 minutes that gave the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead - and Gattuso has every faith that Kaká will continue his UEFA Champions League heroics on
Wednesday night. "If he is as devastating as he was in the first leg, we will win," said the Italian international, whose excellent display last week was curtailed when he limped off after 53 minutes with a foot injury.

'Important player'
Gattuso has recovered in time for the rematch, though, and is raring to go. "I feel fine," the 29-year-old said. "I thought it was going to be a lot worse but instead I have managed to recover so I am delighted." Milan's rival manager at San Siro, Sir Alex Ferguson, is another Kaká fan - though he also has a word of praise for Gattuso himself. "The obvious threat was there for everyone to see last week in the shape of Kaká," Sir Alex told uefa.com. "Kaká is the obvious threat. I thought he gave a terrific performance and we have to pay attention to that. We know where their threat's come from. They also have important players like Gattuso. He brings a lot of energy to them, he's a very important player."

'Incredible hand'
The combative former Rangers FC midfielder is demanding similar commitment from the stands at the Giuseppe Meazza, calling for British-style support for the Rossoneri. "I noticed with Liverpool [FC] and Manchester United that
the English never give up and it's thanks to their fans," he said. "It's not a criticism of ours, of course, they always get behind us and sing. However, this time they need to give us an incredible hand. We know it will be tough but that's normal in the Champions League semi-finals. All Rossoneri fans should be proud because it's a miracle we've reached this stage. No one expected it. Considering the way we started the season and what happened, it has been a great result to get here. But we don't want to stop now." Gattuso, for one, will not be stopping. "I know only one way of preparing for this kind of game: I think about running and running until I cannot run any more."

O'Shea calls for United front
Manchester United FC defender John O'Shea said it was time to "step up to the plate" as his side look to clinch a place in the UEFA Champions League final.

Past masters
United lead AC Milan 3-2 going into Wednesday's second leg, and the 26-year-old Irish international aims to make that count at San Siro. There are four UEFA Champions League winners in Sir Alex Ferguson's ranks - Ryan Giggs,
Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Wes Brown with United in 1999, Edwin van der Sar in AFC Ajax colours four years before - yet O'Shea insists the Red Devils will not be relying on the old guard to take them to Athens.

'A great buzz'
"In the changing room before the match, that's when they'll guide us and help us with their experience," O'Shea said. "But you can't always rely on other people. You have to step up to the plate yourself sometimes. That's how you get your own experience. But we're lucky we have these players in our team because they're going to be vital for us. It's just a great buzz. You can't wait for the game to start. That's why you're at a club like Manchester United - to be playing in games like this, in stadiums like the San Siro."

Outstanding talent
O'Shea's versatility has been a godsend to his manager, who has had to juggle his resources as injuries take their toll. Playing at right-back last week, O'Shea saw at first hand the damage Kaká can do. Despite that two-goal cameo,
the academy product claims the Brazilian will not be given special attention: "He's an outstanding talent. We know we'll have to be on top form to stop him, but if we concentrate too much on Kaká, the other Milan players will take
advantage. You have to get the balance right."

'Confident'
That is something Sir Alex has done throughout the campaign as United chase trophies on three fronts. Late recoveries against Milan then Everton FC on Saturday have put United in strong positions in Europe and the Premiership, and confidence is high as they seek to push home their advantage. "When you're losing 2-1 to a team like Milan, for the game to finish the way it did gives you great belief," said O'Shea. "You saw that as well from the weekend, how we responded to going two goals down. But that's been the case all season and we'll be looking for that to continue. When you're winning, all the little knocks you have seem to disappear and you feel really strong and confident. That's how the team is feeling and we just hope it continues."
Ferguson has faith in fair play Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the spirit in which AC Milan and his side play the game
should ensure there is no repeat of the disciplinary heartache Paul Scholes and Roy Keane suffered in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League eight years ago.

'Tragedy'
Both players missed United's 2-1 victory against FC Bayern München in the 1999 final after collecting yellow cards in the second leg of their last-four triumph against Juventus. With United players Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and
Gabriel Heinze, as well as Milan veteran Paolo Maldini, all one booking away from a suspension that would rule them out of the Athens showpiece, Sir Alex hopes history will not repeat itself. "I think it's a tragedy to miss a final," he said, as his team aim to build on last week's thrilling 3-2 victory.

'Confidence'
"My biggest confidence is in AC Milan because I don't think they're a team who do anything bad to get players booked because there's no point to it. Neither team benefits because we don't play each other again. It's a semi-final so it
can only help the opponents in the final. From what I've seen in the last two games against AC Milan - the last game, and the two before, two years ago [in the first knockout round] - there was absolutely no evidence of anything wrong.

Maldini praise
"You only have to go back a week and see the manner and spirit in which the game was played in Manchester. I think it was a credit to both sets of players and their professionalism, and I expect the same tomorrow. Paolo Maldini, I
believe, is also on two yellows and I think if Milan were to beat us, I think everybody would want to see Maldini in the final. I would like to, because I'll be in Athens no matter whether it's with United or to see the final, and I think a tournament like that should get the best players. For me, it would be fantastic to see Maldini at 38 years of age playing in a European final."

'Thrilling spectacle'
UEFA President Michel Platini praised both clubs for the manner in which the first leg was played, describing the match as a "thrilling spectacle" and a "positive advertisement for European football". They are comments Carlo
Ancelotti clearly took to heart. "I'm pleased he said that because, at the moment, it is very important to represent Italian football in the best way," said the Milan coach. "We need to follow the example of other countries in order to
improve the situation at home."

[epsilon]

Kuyt wants Man Utd in Euro final
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Anfield

Kuyt secured Liverpool's place in the final
Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt has set his sights on a "historic" Champions League final meeting with rivals Manchester United in Athens.

Dutch striker Kuyt scored the decisive spot-kick as Liverpool beat Chelsea 4-1 on penalties in their semi-final.

He told BBC Sport: "AC Milan and Manchester United are two great teams and clubs.

"But a meeting between two big clubs from the Premiership in the Champions League final would be historic."

Liverpool won their semi-final second leg clash at Anfield 1-0 thanks to Daniel Agger's first-half strike.

With the tie finishing 1-1 on aggregate after extra-time it went down to penalties.

Kuyt scored the decisive spot-kick to put Liverpool through to a second Champions League final in three years.

Pepe Reina was sensational for us in the penalty shoot-out

The forward added: "It is fantastic for us to reach the Champions League final. There is no bigger game in European club football and to do it in my first season here is an amazing feeling.

"We felt we deserved to win after the 90 minutes and extra time. We were very strong and to see that last penalty go in was a great feeling.