Sir Alex To Pick ‘Semi-Final Team’ To Face Barcelona – No Nani, No Berbatov, Lots Of Carrick

By Chris Wright

The Sun are going big this morning with the EXCLUSIVE news that Sir Alex Ferguson is almost definitely going to keep faith with the XI that beat Schalke 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals and field the exact same side for the final against Barcelona on Saturday evening.

No idea where or how the red-top have managed to glean this information, but they seem adamant (the story appears on the back page under a huge ‘REVEALED’ banner for Christ’s sake) that Fergie will plump for Edwin van der Sar betwixt the sticks, Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra across the back, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick in the middle, Antonio Valencia on the right, Park on the left and Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez up top.

What do you make of all that palaver then?

Posted in Barcelona, Champions League, Man Utd

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14 Comments

  1. Kevin says:

    Sir Alex knows best!

  2. confuscious says:

    No, I don’t think thats gonna happen. That team was good enough for Schalke, I doubt if they’ll hold up against Barca.

  3. dave says:

    seems like utds strongest xi to me

  4. nicko says:

    This united team has the best chance of beating barca.

    With fergie’s mastermind behind them, anything can happen.

  5. Shane says:

    Just two in the centre of midfield? Sounds like they’re going to be overrun in there again.

  6. Domm says:

    @Shane With Rooney dropping deep covering Busquets it seems quite feasible that this won’t happen again.

  7. Vijay says:

    Carrick is a good midfielder, but we need a battler in midfield, maybe let fletch go up against Messi instead of Carrick

  8. The Yank says:

    @Vijay I disagree. I believe United need to not play into the hands of Barcelona, which would happen if a “battler” were in midfield, especially considering Fletcher is not even close to match fitness.

    Since Barca will dominate possession, United shouldn’t try to. I’m sure Sir Alex has made some calls to Mourinho to discuss battle plans and United will play more like Madrid did in the Copa final, only much better. Let Barca pass as much as they want because passes do not equal goals.

    That’s the most obvious line up, but I think Sir Alex has a few tricks up his sleeve. This is looking to be a proper final and everyone is getting very excited.

  9. Calski says:

    I hope Messi Scores a hat-trick just to piss off The yank (:

  10. mizman says:

    Fletcher would have defo played if match fit, but he isnts i carrick will play i think. When Barca have the ball Chica will stay uptop, and i think SAF will tell Rooney, valencia and park to drop and form a narrow midfield trying to press barca from playing the ball forward.

  11. falconed says:

    Very possible STARTING lineup. But the rest of the bench is equally important! Nani; Scholes; Berbatov anyone? The SUBS on the hour mark will also be critical!

  12. mtm says:

    complete bollocks – how sun can now, fergusson told them?:) you need to be kidding:D this media people are complete joke fergie never tell them his line up in advance

  13. V says:

    They don’t need to be told. It’s pretty much Obvious what the starting line up will be. I think the only doubt lays on the right-back position (O’Shea).

  14. Brendan says:

    I hope Fergurson does not do that. Carrick got raped in midfield 2 years ago. Take him out, put Nani in. Switch Park to the middle with Giggs, Nani on the left wing. Nani and Valencia’s speed could really unsettle Barcelona.

    Regardless, I don’t believe the story.

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