UNITED were boosted for their Milan mission as defensive rocks Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic both flew to Italy with the Reds.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson will put the duo through their paces in United's hour-long training session in the San Siro tonight before deciding whether to plunge one or both of them into the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Doing so would be a big gamble but, having leaked goals recently, Fergie will be keen to restore the partnership which has done so well this season. Vidic, who has been out for eight matches, was given the all clear to travel yesterday after a scan of the dislocated collarbone he suffered against Blackburn a month ago.
Ferdinand missed the club's last two games, against Milan at Old Trafford and Everton last Saturday after being forced off in the game against Middlesbrough with the re-occurrence of a groin injury.
Louis Saha, who also checked in at Manchester Airport, could be on the bench tomorrow. The striker has been out for two months, bar one sub spell in Rome, with a hamstring injury.
His prolonged absence has privately frustrated Fergie, whose medical staff had passed the French striker fit recently only for Saha to declare he wasn't 100 per cent.
And he could be key in Milan, with Fergie telling his men they have to score.
Chance
"I wouldn't say we are favourites, but we have given ourselves a great chance. A goal lead is a great start in European football," he said.
"I think there is every chance we will concede. But we have to score and we will be going out there with that attitude. It could be any score."
If United need inspiration, they can recall their last Champions League semi-final victory - when they came back from two down to beat Juventus 3-2 in 1999.
"We have to cross that line like we did against Juventus," said Fergie. "We have to step up a gear - there is no question."
Meanwhile, Kaka, who scored both the Milan goals at Old Trafford, admits he and his team-mates face a tough task. He said: "You only beat Manchester United if you play as we did in the opening half at Old Trafford.
"We will need to give a mighty performance."
Captain Paolo Maldini is the main doubt for AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti for the game.
Kakha Kaladze, available again after suspension, is the obvious replacement if Maldini fails to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Old Trafford and has prevented him from training normally since.
Ancelotti admits the 38-year-old skipper, who made his first team debut for the Rossoneri in 1985 as a 16-year-old, has only a slim chance of playing.
Another of the walking wounded from the first leg, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, is available after recovering from a foot injury and the Milan coach has all his regulars available barring the cup-tied Ronaldo.
Ancelotti has indicated Filippo Inzaghi rather than Alberto Gilardino will play up front.
AC Milan (from): Dida, Kalac, Fiori, Storari Bonera, Cafu, Costacurta, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Serginho, Simic, Ambrosini, Brocchi, Seedorf, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Gilardino, Inzaghi, Oliveira.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Fletcher, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Eagles, Saha, Smith, Solskjaer, Rooney, Dong.
Key opponent: Kaka - Proved he is right up with the world's best at Old Trafford and will be the danger man again
Prediction: AC Milan 1 United 1 (United win 4-3 on aggregate) - Both sides are good enough to score and United will have to play excellently to go through. They must be patient and expect to go long periods without the ball
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Fredrik, Sweden (01/05/2007 at 09:53)
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (01/05/2007 at 10:00)
george (01/05/2007 at 10:09)
Demo, Glossop (01/05/2007 at 10:09)
whats everyones view on back 4 tonight if rio and vida are fit?
Birdy, Ireland (01/05/2007 at 10:42)
I think we'll make it through tomorrow but if one of the lads, Scholes particularly, was suspended for the final i'd be absolutely gutted. This sort of thing happens with World Cup finals too, and i think its a shame. The occassions are too big, once in a lifetime in most players cases, for players to be missing them through suspension with a yellow card. I think its wrong. If a player is sent off then ok, but for a final of such magnitude its not right that a silly booking could mean a player misses the biggest night of his career. Its something i'd like to see done away with but it probably wont happen.
Hilton (01/05/2007 at 11:11)
Steve, Glossop (01/05/2007 at 11:26)
Gerry, Glastonbury (01/05/2007 at 11:28)
Will Saha play, or even be on the bench? Will Fletcher be in there somewhere, to bolster the midfield maybe? It seems unlikely that Smith or Ole will have any major part to play this time?
Reds4Ever, West Yorkshire (01/05/2007 at 12:43)
Hilton (01/05/2007 at 12:44)
At least one of them has got to play. Heinze is an accident waiting to happen as much as most of you rate him. I am bricking it all the time he plays centrally.
Kaka outpaced him for the first goal at OT. Sluggish cannot run.
Whereas Kaka will know he has been in a game this time around if Vida and Rio plays.
right now I am praying for both Rio and Vida to play and Saha too.
OGS and Smudge can put their feet up for this one.
Jimmy the gent, south coast (01/05/2007 at 12:57)
I think we must start with two in front of the back four [whoever plays] and hit fast on the counter attack. If we score first they have to come out and will be even more vulnerable. If they score first...well who knows.
But one thing that has really been shown this year is that we have that fantastic never say die spirit...so hang on to your hats it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Mick, Dublin (01/05/2007 at 13:12)
Groin injuries, on the other hand, can be that bit harder to shake. I'm sure Rio SEEMED fit when he started against Boro but we all know what happened next! I think we'll need Rio at the weekend and the extra few days rest could be crucial in keeping him fit for the really big games at the end of the season.
If Vidic can play, then Heinze goes LB, Brown in the centre and O'Shea on the right.
If Vidic isn't ready then it's Brown and Gabby in the centre, O'Shea on the right and Richardson on the left. For all his failings, KR has never let us down as a full-back and was actually very good in that position against Everton.
But, whatever happens, keep Rio wrapped in cotton wool, please!
stu, london (01/05/2007 at 13:13)
Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester (01/05/2007 at 13:15)
Vidic has missed over a month so I would bring him back against the blue clowns if if he is fit.
RB O'Shea
LB Heinze
CD Ferdinand
CD Brown.
I think Rio will be the key to us getting to the final. I would have Vidic on the bench in case Rio's groin goes again but hopefully he will ke ok.
I fancy 2-2, we really need that first goal to ease a bit of the pressure. If its is 0-0 or 1-1 with 10 mins to go, it really will be squeaky bum time.
COME ON REDS - YOU CAN DO IT !
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (01/05/2007 at 13:19)
Southern Red (01/05/2007 at 13:20)
On the one hand, the Wes/Rio combination is a proven one. I'm not so sure about Wes/Vidic. Wes/Heinze has worked but high risk. The Rio injury could be aggravated with massive consequences as we have seen, whereas if Vidic's shoulder has healed there's no reason why he can't slot straight back.
I would go with O'S/Wes/Vidic/Heinze and have MC/PS/Scottish lad in front of them. Let Giggs/Ron/Roon express themselves as they see fit.
But I'm not paid as much as SAF (and don't know as much). However, I predict 1-1
de Meester, netherlands (01/05/2007 at 13:24)
Are the both fit?; (I think not!).
I think only Ferdinand will be fit to feature!
I think that this is from SAF a bit of psychology!
After all Milan are not being forthcomig over Maldini & Gatusso! (Still that's their right!)
As long as we get the result I don't mind!
Up The Reds
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (01/05/2007 at 13:24)
adam chance, lowestoft, suffolk (01/05/2007 at 13:30)
Mick, Dublin (01/05/2007 at 13:31)
When Vida's not sharp he can be quite clumsy and I could see Gilardino or Inzhagi making the most of any mistimed challenges in the box.
So maybe best if neither of them start?
But I really do have a baaaaad feeling about rushing Rio back too soon. That Viduka goal is still horribly fresh in my memory.
de Meester, netherlands (01/05/2007 at 14:02)
I think that SAF/ CQ will probably take risk with Rio, that will be only change!
They have only a couple of gears but they can be fatal with those!
If the defence keep it tighter and I'll be happier!
(I'd be also happy that Seedorf has a quiet game!)
I do think that we will do it.
It's going to be a nervous, fabulous emotion-filled evening!
Cannot wait!
de Meester, netherlands (01/05/2007 at 14:09)
We at OT against Milan showed that we were stronger the longer the game went on! I fancy us to finish it if it's even on the night with 15-20 minutes to go!
Come On You Reds
Brian Taylor (01/05/2007 at 14:11)
Sterling, Salford (01/05/2007 at 14:45)
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (01/05/2007 at 15:24)