UEFA CL - Manchester United vs Inter Milan - March 11
-
Inter Milan WILL beat 'untouchable' Manchester United, vows Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho last night mocked the idea that Manchester United are so good they are "untouchable". The Inter Milan boss laughed when he heard United had been given the tag by Arsene Wenger.
And he stoked the tension ahead of Inter's Champions League clash with United here tomorrow by promising KEVIN NOLAN apologised to Everton's Victor Anichebe at half-time after his dangerous two-footed lunge crocked the striker.
The Newcastle midfielder was shown a straight red card for his horror tackle in the 44th minute, which left his side would punish any complacency in their opponents.
"Untouchable ... no," said Mourinho when told of the way this United side is regarded in the Premier League. "I hope United think like that, though, because they're not untouchable."
Inter remained nine points clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win at struggling Bologna on Saturday.
But even though they were not convincing and played with little of the fluency or panache that has marked out so many of United's performances this season, Mourinho insisted his players would be a match for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
"It doesn't matter how many of my team could get into theirs because my team is more than the sum of the parts," added Mourinho.
"Players don't play individually. It's team play and United is not better than my team. We will beat them."
-
thats wat AS Roma coach and players said before the 7-1 demolition...in the end, wat happened
-
INTER MILAN V MAN UTD
United defensive crisis deepens ahead of Inter tie
Manchester United's injury crisis has deepened ahead of their Champions League last 16 first-leg tie against Inter Milan at the San Siro, as Brazilian defender Rafael Da Silva failed to board the team's flight to Italy.
The teenager reportedly injured himself during the 2-1 win against Blackburn at Old Trafford on Saturday, though the nature of the problem is not known. While Nemanja Vidic is suspended and England duo Gary Neville and Wes Brown both ruled out through injury, there are also doubts over the fitness of John O'Shea and Jonny Evans, although they both boarded the flight.
The six United defenders who have travelled to Milan are: Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, O'Shea, Evans, Fabio Da Silva (Rafael's twin) and Richard Eckersley.
While the fitness of O'Shea and Evans cannot be guaranteed, the fact they were able to make the journey suggested Ferguson is optimistic he will be able to call on one of them.
Darren Fletcher is also available, should Ferguson require him, while Michael Carrick has been tipped to slot into defence if he is needed. The midfielder believes that despite the problems, United should still overcome Jose Mourinho's men.
''Inter are as tough an opponent as we could get right now,'' said Carrick. ''They are in good form at the top of their league. ''We are both probably amongst the top four or five in Europe at the moment but that is what the Champions League is all about. You have to defeat the best if you want to win it.''
Carrick watched on last week as Inter overcame a Milan side including David Beckham in the derby at the San Siro, although that did not come as a surprise.
''Inter were good but we know what to expect anyway,'' he said. ''Going to the San Siro to play Inter is a massive game and a big test for us. Over the past two years we have been very consistent in the Champions League.
''We have not suffered any defeats since the last time we went to the San Siro and hopefully we can keep that run going.''
-
glory glory man united!
-
glory glory man united!
-
glory glory man united!
-
glory glory man united!
-
should i buy 1-1 anot sia
-
I cant wait for this match. Whoever score first will have the advantage and I hope its going to be United to open the floodgate. I really hope United can win but something is bothering me, their defence...
Maybe lets have some predictions?
2-2 Draw game for me.
-
Its more or less 50/50. At least try for a draw and an away goal!
Which of course means VDS has to stop his clean sheet record :( -
Beckham 'Can't Wait' For Manchester United - Inter Clash
David Beckham attended Manchester United's training session in Milan the San Siro earlier, ahead of their Champions League match-up with Inter tomorrow night, and spoke about the massive sense of anticipation he is feeling prior to the tie, even though he is not playing.
"I can't wait," the England midfielder told Manchester United's official website. "I haven't been to many United games since I left so as soon as this match was announced I looked to see if I was still going to be in Milan when it would be played.
"I'm so excited about it, but it's also a great opportunity to see the likes of Rio [Ferdinand], Wazza [Wayne Rooney] and, of course, Giggsy [Ryan Giggs] and Scholesy [Paul Scholes] who I haven't seen for a while.
It's a match between two of the biggest clubs in the world and two great teams who are both in top form, so it's got the makings of a fantastic game. Both managers are so experienced so technically and tactically I'm sure it'll be a very tight contest."
The iconic midfielder went on to reiterate his undying loyalty as a supporter of Manchester United, and expressed hopes that they could go on and capture a historic 'quadruple' of trophies.
"Oh yes, I've been a United fan all and always will be," he continued. "I've still got friends in the team who I played with at Old Trafford and still play with for England. So I always follow how they're doing.
"I really hope they'll win every one of them. It would be amazing if they could. It was a fantastic achievement when we won the Treble in '99 and for them to be involved in four competitions this season is brilliant - as a player there's nothing better than that. Hopefully they can do it."As for the key to beating Inter, Beckham felt that it might well be to stop their deadly front two of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano from performing at their best.
"Inter have got top players throughout their team, but, yes, the two forwards are the players who can cause the most problems," Beckham explained.
"But United have got great defenders and don't forget, Inter will also be worried about the players United have got in attack."
With all the talk of 'quadruples' and 'domestic clean sweeps' that's currently doing the rounds, Beckham also felt that the current United team was every beat as good as the one with which he won a famous 'treble' in 1999.
"Yes definitely," he affirmed. "It's so strong all the way through from the goalkeeper to the strikers. It's an amazing squad of players and I'm sure they'll go on to achieve great things."
-
without Vidic, Inter will relish their chances..
I just hope MU is able to minimise impact and work even closer as a team to deny Inter space..
-
I am thinking that the best United can hope for is a draw for this match...
Base on their current CL matches record away from home, they usually don't do as well away in Europe. That year they beat Roma 7 - 1, they even lost to Roma 2 - 1 in the first leg in Italy. So, thats why I say if they can get a score draw, its a very good result already... A scoreless draw is still ok i guess... I feel even if they lose by 2-1, I still think they can make it up at OT. A win is like a big bonus to me with the current problems they have in their defence...
-
Utd are unbeaten in the Champions League since last season, lets hope this continues........ Hammer them 7-1 at home, that'll really shut Jose up
-
defence worries me i would take a 0-1 win to united.
-
The San Siro (the San Siro),
Is Never Full (is Never Full),
The San Siro Is Never Full,
Unless they play Man United,
The San Siro is never full! -
3-1 to inter.... and 3-0 at home!
-
Originally posted by sand king:
The San Siro (the San Siro),
Is Never Full (is Never Full),
The San Siro Is Never Full,
Unless they play Man United,
The San Siro is never full!
hmmm.. the last time i went there it's really not full.... u are correct!!!! -
knn... man utd playing quite well.. just cant score nia.... cb..... will be wasted if they cant win this
-
mi the only one watching now ar?? no one here?? knn... anyway.. they really must score that away goal lah.. if not dangerous at home ar....... i think SAF left rooney out just to make him hungry... so he will come on as sub and score.. but cannot wait too long ar.. if not he wont have time to get that goal... wait till 65min the most lah...
-
italian stadiums never full one lar, mafia controls the tickets i think. haha
i'm watching n doing work at the same time.
-
nabei siao liao....no away goal.... everytime inter score 1 goal.. man utd have to come back with 2 liao... knn..... sianz....
-
good job by our fellas to keep a clean sheet, if i recall, it's an european record now for VDS right?
but sad we didn't get an away goal, CR7 came so close so many times.1st time in a long time so many of his free kick on target but suay never score, if is against EPL team he sure got a few from his free kicks le.
anyway, we've got the league cup finals to look forward to this wkend
cheers.
-
Half time score: CR 1 Imbrahimovic 0
-
Ronaldo gota brush up on his free kicks!
Other then that, a draw was good at the san siro...
Don't forget the last time we went there we lost! (Right?)