Sir Alex: We must out-score Milan

Stuart Mathieson

May 01, 2007

SIR Alex Ferguson has told United they must out-score AC Milan tomorrow to keep their Treble dream alive.

United, who have scored more goals than any other team in the Premiership this term, go to Italy on the back of a thrilling 4-2 thumping of Everton – a dramatic comeback win which looks to have landed them the domestic title.

The Reds, also in the FA Cup final, have scored 11 in their last three Champions League outings.

And their boss is anticipating a similar storyline in the San Siro in their semi-final crunch against AC Milan.

“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 in Italy,” he admitted. “But we have to score and we will be going out there with an attitude to score. 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.

No question

“We have to cross that line like we did against Juventus,” he added. “We have to step up a gear – there is no question about that.”

While Fergie is expecting Edwin van der Sar’s goal to be breached, he is demanding that the Reds cut out the slack defending that aided Kaka’s double at Old Trafford.

But even the Brazilian’s brilliance could not shake Ferguson’s belief that they would win that first leg.

“I still fancied us even when we were behind,” he said.

“I thought at half-time we had a chance. When you are 2-1 down to Milan, there is a perception that they have absolutely battered you, but when you see the goals we lost, they were bad goals from our point of view.

“But you have something to cling on to. You have reasons to say to the players ‘If you are losing goals like this, what chance are you giving yourself?’

“That was the theme we took at the interval. Don’t make mistakes and we have a hell of a chance, because of the quality of our game.”

What do you think? Have your say.

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Joe, Malta (01/05/2007 at 09:26)

I hope that the result will not influence our players' behaviour too much i.e. they go out just to defend the result.
Milan players like Gattuso have been telling their fans to be patient because they only need 1 goal. He said that their first priority is to control the game, then wait for the right moment to hit United. According to the media, Milan are very cautious about United's counterattack because they know that Rooney and Ronaldo's speed can be too hot to handle. They also expect Fergie to start with Saha as a second striker!

manc abroad, OT (01/05/2007 at 09:52)

Match Milan's score and we will be through.

To beat them would be even sweeter and keep the run going as Saturday will be a very big game with a depleted and tired team.

Boo of Salford, Exiled in Gateshead (01/05/2007 at 09:56)

Joe, if Fergie played a 4-5-1 formation at home, I'd hazard a guess that will be his formation away from home. We know that Milan will try to control the game and pick off United, but we just have to be clever and patient and hit them on the counter attack.

My heart says United will progress, but my head thinks it will be Milan heading to Athens.

Nathan, Finchampstead (01/05/2007 at 09:58)

Has anyone seen the new post on the ManUtd webite? Ferdinand and Vidic both travel to Milan. If we can shore up the defence and those two aren't too rusty, we have a massive chance.

george (01/05/2007 at 10:07)

Obviously our defence has to defend with determination.Milan have quality tho and a clean sheet seems unlikely.I think UNITED frightened them in the first leg and it could be that Kaka and others are just trying to talk themselves up.
I think UNITED didn't show their full hand and can win this game.
A lot depends on the psychology of the situation.Will we get rattled if Milan score and their stadium bursts into raptures.
UNITED are good enough! It's a question of whether they're strong enough and courageous enough to cope.

Demo, Glossop (01/05/2007 at 10:12)

i doubt saha will start not with his abscence against everton! i predict smithy to start up front and harrass their defense like against roma!

if we can defend solidly and get the game to our tempo then we can win this and score a few goals!

Steve, Glossop (01/05/2007 at 11:23)

He's right. I think most neutrals have us as outsiders based on the snidey grinding out approach for a 1-0 Milan will probably play. Happily for us we have pace & great counter attack so I'm convinced we'll score though I wish Saha was in. As long as the lads have a go & there isn't eg a Tim Howard moment I'm confident we'll do it.

Roy (01/05/2007 at 11:36)

This season is so full of surprises who knows what will happen. But after the Everton result, Utd should be full of confidence. Even if they fall behind they know they have the strength to come back. And if Saha is fit enough to play that gives Utd some nice options - the awesome foursome up front with regard to pace and movement, or three pacy and the terrier Smith. My prediction: 2:2

Davey Boy, Kuwait (01/05/2007 at 12:43)

please can we have a result over the 90 minutes....am plumbing for a very physical game at anfield tonight with extra time and penalties and chelski to loose at the end of it totally drained and absolutely knackered for the emirates sunday.
We win wednesday march into wastelands sat morning do the job then sit and watch moaninho and the russian diving team fall apart...game over!
Oh Happy days!

StretfordBLUE, Virginia (01/05/2007 at 12:45)

Taggart is bonkers, Milan to win 1-0.

Macca, Cornwall (01/05/2007 at 13:42)

i think united must score 1st if we want to go through, if milan score 1st it will become difficult for us, whereas they would have to score twice if we get one, leaving more chance for a counter attack, i pray we can do it. please no extra time with city saturday morning - what a joke that is.

de Meester, netherlands (01/05/2007 at 13:54)

As long as we have one or more(peferably!) goals than they at full-time then I'll be unrestrainable!
WE can do it!
ome On You Reds

Alf For The Devils, Ipswich (01/05/2007 at 14:32)

The only way to out-score Milan is to attack. It does not mean playing 2 forwards but mainly pressing them to keep a high tempo to the game as the slow build up suits them as we saw after we took the lead in the 1st leg.Fletcher, Scholes and Carrick have to make sure they dont watch them pass the ball around and make sure the full back come in to press as well otherwise they will rip us apart.

red (01/05/2007 at 15:55)

pur the right team on the pitch then Mr. F. a minimum of FIVE forwards.at last you get the idea of the game. score more than your opponent and you win. first year after four drab seasons we've had this philosophy.

TMUF, Manchester (01/05/2007 at 16:42)

I think we need to try and get Smith to play but at the same time, I think we need Fletcher to start. I know we need to attack and Smith harrasing their defenders would be a big advantage but I would prefer to see Fletcher in their to try and keep Kaka quieter. I think he would make us more solid in the midfield while with the like of Ronnie,Rooney and Giggs giving us pace on the counter attack and the vision and passing ability aswell as danger outside of the box of Scholes and Carrick we will be more then capable of scoring. Right now I am more excited then fearful.

redarmy, rochdale (01/05/2007 at 16:57)

Not saying a score or ill jinx it,but they way the reds have been playing i can see us winning.
Stretford blue off to your mundane site please this site is only for winners.now bog off.

Rowers, Haslemere (01/05/2007 at 17:19)

This hurts me to say but I think Fletcher has to be involved, he has proven to be excellant in the past month or saw and I apoligise for giving him stick at the start of the season. I do however feel that Saha should not feature, his poor touches mean that pressure is then back on us once again, the only benefit of Milan attacking is that we can counter attack like no other team in Europe.... United to go through with a 1-1 draw. PLEASE.

Dave May, Durham (01/05/2007 at 17:22)

Rule 1: Know where Kaka is at all times.
Rule 2: Score 3 tomorrow, and there's no way to lose.

I agree with everyone's thoughts on ATTACKING. We need to run their Old Geezers defense into the ground.

redarmy, rochdale (01/05/2007 at 23:40)

I never thought id ever say this but after what mourinhohas been saying abt ronaldo i was willing for pool to win and the look on his face when his side crashed was just brilliant,l.pool a small team ok.pure joy it was.
Just want my red man u army to win and do the dippers in athens.

Alias Smith, over the moon (02/05/2007 at 00:31)

Sir Alex, hate to disagree but we only need to score the same number of goals as Milan to progress to the final!

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (02/05/2007 at 07:44)

The consensus seems to have Fletcher sit just behind Carrick and SCHOLES with Ronny and Giggs sitting in the touchline and Roo up front. JOS, Rio Brown and Gabby would be a fairly solid back four with Vidic a candidate if Rio goes down. No cover for JOS or Gabby but we have options in Brown going right back and Vidic pairing up with Rio. Left back cover I just don't want to go there. The fire power up front should just shade it for us.

Duncan, London (02/05/2007 at 10:40)

Same as against Roma but with Saha instead of Smith. Better pace, better in the air, better control and better touch. If he is fit. His pace will cause problems for the Italian defence stopping them playing high up the pitch and relieve the pressure on our defence.

TMUF, Manchester (02/05/2007 at 11:50)

Colin Richardson has never let us down at LB and I though had one of his best games of the season against Everton (not sayin much I know). Still I would be confident to see Richardson at LB if needs be

Mick, Dublin (02/05/2007 at 11:59)

Agreed. If we need Gabby in the centre, I'm confident that "Colin" can do a job for us at left-back. Milan play so narrow that he shouldn't have to do too much defending anyway.

Steve, Glossop (02/05/2007 at 12:56)

Well I wouldn't be confident with KR at LB what a daft idea are you 2 drunk?

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