If Fletcher plays at 100% then our midfield can be much more effectively shut down. Carrick, Fletcher and Giggs with support from Rooney and Park is likely to shut down space centrally specially if they retreat to shut down the gaps between the lines.
However this leaves ManU with a limited offensive threat. If they can keep if goalless for an hour then their subs will be very difficult to manage. Chicharito and Nani reducing their strength and numbers in midfield but very deadly offensively. Nani putting pressure on Alves defensively and Rooney and Chicharito playing off each other with Valencia providing support, they can very much avoid the midfield altogether and play with a very wide gap between defense and offense.
As I see it fergie has a lot more variety and choice to set up his XI. If Park doesn't start as LW/LM United may be shifted more to the right to cover Alves which may in-turn cause the RB to be O'Shea. And then overall the Midfield will need much more help from the front six players, not to mention in which case our Left side, especially Villa will become vital.
All in all they will have their chances but I expect we will have more, making them count will be the key and why Chicharito is so dangerous. We have an edge but this untied team will fight to the end, they are more balanced -a strong defense and hard to defend against with pace, strength and creativity throughout the pitch. Make no mistake they are very, very good.
If we were playing them with the current teams in 09 I wouldn’t be worried at all. But now this CL win means alot, it is the piece that allows us to cement our place in history or be considered same as ManU in this period. A very good team but not the best ever. Results and titles make the legend and we have never needed one more than now. That’s why I’m really scared and I can’t think about anything else.
