United v Roma: Key battles

April 10, 2007

Wayne Rooney, Francesco Totti and Michael Carrick

RIO FERDINAND v FRANCESCO TOTTI

Concentration has often been Ferdinand's weakness, but he had been looking more assured with Nemanja Vidic alongside him this season. The injured Serbian was sorely missed in the first leg though Ferdinand and company can take heart from how they managed to subdue the unconventional Totti. The England defender must forget his own goal against Portsmouth at the weekend.

Totti may never have fully delivered on his superstar billing on the world or European stage and he was well shackled in the first leg. But he remains Roma's captain and talisman and was instrumental in the Italians dumping fancied Lyon out in the last 16, his passing and shooting make him a constant threat to the United defence.

CRISTIANO RONALDO v MARCO CASSETTI

Ronaldo was instrumental in setting up United's crucial away goal in Rome but was otherwise well marshalled by the home defence. He will need to get the better of Cassetti at Old Trafford if he is to help his side overturn their first-leg deficit.

Cassetti is an attack-minded right-back and usually on the bench but has been pressed into service due to the absence of regular left-back Max Tonetto. Christian Panucci will probably play on the left and the Reds will be looking for Ronaldo to challenge Cassetti.

WAYNE ROONEY v CRISTIAN CHIVU

Rooney finally broke his two-and-a-half-year Champions League goalscoring drought in Rome and much of United's hopes will rest on his young shoulders at Old Trafford. The England striker has been overshadowed by the excellence of Ronaldo this season but he has earned a reputation as a big-game player and last week's goal suggests he is ready to shine at the business end of the competition.

Chivu was accused of being at the centre of Paul Scholes' sending-off in Rome, with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson slamming him for trying to influence the referee's decision. The Romanian has forged an effective partnership with French defender Philippe Mexes at Roma this season and he coped well with wearing a protective mask at the Stadio Olimpico after suffering a nose injury in the first leg of his side's last-16 clash against Lyon.

Where do you think the game will be won and lost? Have your say.

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Joe, Malta (10/04/2007 at 11:16)

What worries me is Mancini or Taddei or Wilhemsson vs O Shea. The 3 Romans are too quick for someone like O Shea. That's why I think Fergie would be tempted to start with Brown at Right back with Heinze in the middle and Evra at left back. O Shea would start in the middle alongside Carrick and Giggs, Ronaldo and Solkjaer wide and Rooney lone striker. Or else, Fletcher instead of Solksjaer or O Shea.

Red Family Man (10/04/2007 at 11:31)

Initial thoughts - Vidic wasn't missed that badly because of the superb form that Wes has been in, in fact I don't remember him playing any better than he has in the last few weeks.

Ronny will have any defender they have on toast, and Chivu is a typical cynical european defender who will be exposed sooner or later.

A tense win, but a win nonetheless. We have the players to beat Roma comfortably.....

edinburgh red, edinburgh (10/04/2007 at 11:33)

Thank god we never compared central midfield the pairing of fletch and carrick will no doubt have us passing backwards and allowing them to run at us and shoot without any tackling. How come when our reserves players though generally pants get on they never at least make an effort to prove us wrong by, not one of them has every had fans debating how can he not play every week, fletcher 4 good games and a flukey header against chelsea is his legacy, richardon championship player at best, o'shea if in defence not to bad but has never captured the form of his 1st excellent season,coupled with all our injuries roma will be a tough test tonight.Going through sunday's papers it's annoying how our injuries much like the last couple of years are swept under the carpet, yet chelseas 2 players out get's mentioned all the time as the only reason we are doing well, that along with there big spending and ego's is why I hope utd win the league this season, how the papers also go on about jose bravery in making subs, how hard is it to bring on a couple of 2o million plus players of the bench if he wants to be called the special one lets swap essien,robben and bridge for fletch,KR and silveste and see how great he is.

Red Family Man (10/04/2007 at 12:10)

Looking back, Roma had a lot of success with Totti playing straight balls through midfield, exploiting the space between the 2 central midfielders and the back four - I think we have to be far more savvy in this area and rather than both midfielders pressuring the ball carrier, we need to make sure the movement is covered off the ball. You can bet this was noticed and will have been worked on in training.

This game is a big one, I think Fergie really wants success in the CL this year, and that means an appearance in the final, anything less would be (another) disappointment.

I actually don't think he was that upset on Saturday, although we should have at least earned a draw after having a perfectly good goal ruled out offside. At least he learned one thing unequivocally , Richardson has no future in the first team...

Gerry, Glastonbury (10/04/2007 at 13:11)

Some interesting thoughts already.
Glad to see you sticking up for Wes who for me has done well since coming in - was it his fault then that VDS has been playing pat-a-cake with the oppo's' forwards recently?
Can't see the back four being changed for tonight, although I'd prefer Evra to start instead of Heinze, I think Evra will be brought on if needed as an attacking influence. Evra didn't even get a run on Saturday did he?
I would have thought it unlikely that they'd change the centre of our defence again for such an important game, so it's Rio & Wes for me yet again.
As I've said previously, it's Smith up front instead of Ole. He'd have a far greater inpact for me?

Red Norse, Norway (10/04/2007 at 15:45)

I'd prefer not to tinker with the back-four, although O'Shea will have to be on his toes. Play Giggs as withdrawn forward, Rooney leading the line and Ole on the right wing. Ronnie on left and Carrick and Fletcher in the middle. Ole has terrific crosses and he is after all the most effective player in Europe (according to Opta). Although Roma were played really well in the first tie, I'm very positive about this match. We've seen what Roma are all about offensively, but they haven't even got a sniff of the our offensive force. We were hampered in Rome with ten men, and although Scholes is missing this time, we have Ole back, Saha might make an appearance from the bench and I suspect that OT will give Roma a "warm" welcome :) It's my birthday today, I've got a wish - Ole to score the winner :)

Demo, Glossop (10/04/2007 at 15:51)

we need to be on top of our game and hopefully rooney will add to his goal last week with ronnie scorin as well

saha rocks, work (10/04/2007 at 16:15)

SAF's probable team for tonite: VDS; O'Shea, Wes, Rio, Evra; Ron, Fletch, Carrick, Giggs; Roo, OGS.

MY team for tonite: VDS; Wes, Rio, Gabby, Evra; Ron, Fletch, Carrick, Giggs; Roo, Smith. SUBS: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Richardson, OGS, Dong, Eagles, Cathcart

mickey midlands, midlands (10/04/2007 at 16:34)

the team for tonight:
van der sar, heinze, rio, wes, o'shea,
ronaldo on the left, OGS on the right, carrick and fletcher in the middle, rooney and giggs up front.
come on utd - we can beat this lot. its all in the mind...
but, the sooner saha and neville get back the better -we really miss their pace.
for me - rooney is due a massive game - we all know he hasn't played well for a long time. remember his CL debut? Something like that tonight! otherwise, he's foreve in ronaldo's shadow.
as for fletcher - he started this season very brightly - his best for utd - but hasn't had enough games. i'd def play him tonight - but he also needs to buck up his ideas.
in the summer - we need a quick winger - ideally Nani from portugal. then, hargreaves - then, if any money left, torres.
we should sell silvestre, smith and maybe a few others.
as for dong, rossi and all the other 'promising youngsters' - i've no idea ??

Frank Old Trafford (10/04/2007 at 17:07)

As we all know games are won and lost in midfield, how convenient that we've avoided any comparisons here. can you imagine the Roma coaches studying videos of Fletcher and carrick, after having their sides stitched they probably got really paranoid that the vids were a setup and that they're really super world class players. If Roo and Ron are going to have any influenece on the game then they need support from the backs and the midfield to move up and gain some control in their third of the pitch. Tall order I know but if we go for the long ball game then we can forget it!

de Meester, netherlands (10/04/2007 at 17:21)

Well for me it's simple, tryb ro keep a clean sheet. After that plan B, as long as we score more goals and preferably by two clear ones!
Sounds simple!
Leave the defence as it is, with Evra ready for saturday!
(Pompey, bless them hey losing to the Hornets!)
Come On You Reds

de Meester, netherlands (10/04/2007 at 17:40)

edinburgh red, edinburgh
Well doesn't that really sum it up!?
That we always get mentioned is because of the nature of the beast.
Chav$ki$ can still only dream!!!
Meanwhile I hear nothing from the bridge, Moaninho is obviously(quite) 'concerned' over their chances tonight!
Still back to the sharp end, let's do the business tonight! The crowd also!!
Football heh?! What a funny game!

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