Thread: AC Milan and Man United

So that would now mean Milan have win by 2 clear goals at Old Trafford?

Correct Malcolm.

y GEOFF SWEET Published: Today



RONALDINHO revealed how AC Milan have launched 'Operation Rooney' to stop the 28-goal hitman.

Roon netted twice in Manchester United's 3-2 first leg win at the San Siro and will play tonight after recovering from a knee injury.
Milan ace Ronaldinho said: "Rooney was incredible in the first match.
"We have watched videos of the game and the key to victory for us will be stopping him receiving the ball close to our penalty area.
"If we can stop him our own options soar. We can beat United.
"As far as I am concerned, this match is like the Champions League final itself.
"I see a very attacking game with many goals."
Rooney is looking to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's 42-goal haul of two seasons ago.
And Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid, said of Rooney: "He is sensational at the moment.
"If he carries on like this he will soon be very close to the number of goals I scored."

WAYNE ROONEY has boosted Manchester United by training ahead of their clash with AC Milan.

The England striker is fit for tomorrow's Champions League second leg at Old Trafford.
United boss Alex Ferguson had earlier claimed Rooney was a "big doubt" with the knee injury that forced him out of Saturday's match with Wolves.


But the Scot said: "He is fit. There is a rapid improvement from Saturday morning because on Friday evening I didn't think he had any chance.
"It's good news. He is a threat to anyone at the moment."

all good news for united. Get everyone focused on Rooney, while Carrick and Scoles nip in unmarked with a couple of winners?

Carrick suspended unfortunately, red card in the first leg.

Presumably AC Milan will score first thus guaranteeing a nerve racking match...

^Missed that. bad news for United. Carrick will be the surprise package at this years world cup if Capello starts him. A real cultured footballer, and i'm no Man U fan either. Just like to see english clubs doing well.

Good win for the Arse last night also

Antonio Valencia and Nani could occupy the wider roles for United and, with Michael Carrick suspended and Ryan Giggs only just back in training after breaking his arm at Aston Villa last month, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-sung are the men Ferguson might use in a three-man central midfield.
Wes Brown has been out of action for between four and six weeks with a broken bone in his foot.

The latest update on team news

There's a match to keep your eye on, Real Madrid v Lyon already RM 1-0 down, if they were to get knocked out there would be hell on Lyon pissed on their bonfire coz don't forget the final is at RM ground and all the money they spent, it is their dream to win the final in the Spanish Capitol

If it's true, and Rooney is fit, I think SAF may well pair him with Berbatov from the start, allowing Rooney to play deeper, and deflect some of AC's plans. Hopefully it'll be a cracking game, with AC having to win by 2 clear goals to go through. I'd like to see Obertan on the left instead of Nani (who loses the ball far to easily).

Speaking of Spanish time for my siesta

Originally Posted by PAG

I'd like to see Obertan on the left instead of Nani

Not a chance, the lad's all arms and legs and lacks the experience for this kind of game.

I'm predicting a 2 all draw

i like Park Ji Sung, a very hard grafter and under rated IMO. Sometimes forget the depth they have got in some areas.

I'd rather see Park than Nani that's for sure. Still like Obertan though, but acknowledge the lack of experience for tonight. From what I've seen of him on the left wing, he's got great pace, moves past people with ease, and is a good crosser.

Obertan will need another season with the reserves with CC, FA cup and games against lesser opposition to gain the experience he needs.
He's a decent prospect but I feel the jury's still out as to wether he'll be a long term replacement for Giggs.
To me he looks a bit clumsy atm, hope Ole and Fergie can turn him into a regular.

We seem to be well staffed on the left wing for the future, with Obertan and Tosic, and although they occasionally play on the right, Nani and Park are also core left sided players. Valencia is the only true right winger we have, and though his occasional absence isn't as telling as Rooney's, nonetheless he's becoming more and more important to the big picture.

Fletcher vows to keep Beckham quite

I'm seeing the match go one of two ways.

My preferred choice being an early goal from us, say inside the first 10 minutes which essentially sets Milan off into headless chicken mode, and gives us carte blanche to batter them on the counter resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

The other way being a very cagey first half, a glut of defensive mistakes resulting in me and thousands others chewing right the way through fingers nails and half way down fingers. A half time lambasting delivering a more assured second half and perhaps just a single goal between the teams, but that we scrape through.

Fully expecting to see Fletch, Park and Mr Rooney running their backsides off for 90 minutes and closing down as much as humanly possible.

Agree with the synopsis overall, though I think AC will be looking for the early goal rather than Man U, particularly with their usual problems of tiring later in the game. I think the first 15 minutes are going to be frenetic and end to end.

Prediction? Think I'll go for 3-2 for United again (6-4 overall). Time to have a nap, set my alarm for 2.30 am. M'sahib has replenished the Regency, plenty of Tiger in the fridge.

OK, Beckham is on the bench, as is Berbatov. Neville and Park start.

MAN UNITED LINE UP

Wayne Rooney starts for Manchester United, who show four changes from Saturday's 1-0 win over Wolves. Gary Neville replaces the injured Wes Brown at right back, while Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-Sung line up in midfield. The suspended Michael Carrick misses out altogether, while Darron Gibson and Dimitar Berbatov drop to the bench. Full line up: Van der Sar; Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Nani; Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Evans, Rafael, Gibson, Obertan, Diouf, Berbatov.

AC MILAN LINE UP

David Beckham is named on the bench for AC Milan, who make five changes from the first leg. Christian Abbiati is preferred to Dida in goal, while Ignazio Abate, Marek Jankulovski, Marco Borriello and former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini are also included. As well as Beckham and Dida, Luca Antonini, Alessandro Nesta and the injured Alexandre Pato miss out. Full line up: Abbiati; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Jankulovski; Flamini, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Ronaldinho; Borriello, Huntelaar. Subs: Dida, Favalli, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Beckham, Seedorf, Inzag