But did Sir Alex Ferguson care?
You bet he didn't. Because while Manchester United still have work to do if they are to reach the Champions League final in Moscow Ferguson knows the hard bit has been achieved with as disciplined a performance as United have produced in Europe.
Football romantics will just have to wait until next Tuesday when Barcelona come to Old Trafford.
This was a match for the technicians.
For those who appreciate the refined defensive talents of Rio Ferdinand, making light of missing his central partner Nemanja Vidic who had gone down with a stomach complaint.
For those who admire the energy of Wayne Rooney, the athleticism of Patrice Evra and the application of Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick.
It was a match which never lived up to its billing, nevertheless one man still managed to hog the headlines.
Inevitably that was Ronaldo.
Not this time for his bewildering array of skills but for his contribution after just 90 seconds.
Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito handled the ball as it fizzed in from a corner. No arguments. The penalty was given and Ronaldo stepped up to the spot.
So many superlatives have been written about United's flying winger this season that there are many United fans who might well have put their mortgages on Ronaldo giving his team a dream start.
Instead, the man who regularly dips and swerves the ball past goalkeepers from 25 yards and beyond contrived to push it wide of the target from 12.
Best player in the world? Well, not right then, nor in the following 87 minutes if the truth be told even if he might have had a penalty when he was barged over by Rafael Marquez.
Subdued
It was a night for United to subdue their attacking instincts. A night for sweat and industry, graft rather than guile. Pity that, because this was the match for which all football had been waiting.
It did not quite work out that way.
Barcelona enjoyed the majority of the possession. Their midfield patterns were easy on the eye.
They sought to attack, but there is good reason why they trail in the race for the Spanish title, having won just once in their last eight league matches.
They lack the fizz of old. The quick-fire passing around the penalty box which has been their hallmark down the years was conspicuous by its absence.
All is not well at the Nou Camp. The squabbling is frequent. Their great talisman, Ronaldinho, appears to have played his last match for them. Thierry Henry, who started from the bench, has struggled to impress.
Messi fleetingly threatened until he limped out of the action.
And, in truth, while the legacy of Barcelona demands they play creative football, they were easily contained by a United side which has learned the lessons of European football from their defeat by AC Milan at this stage last season.
First legs of European semi-finals do not demand that you go out all guns blazing.
So United allowed Barcelona to come on to them, happy to let them have the ball. Keeping their defensive discipline. Fending them off like a boxer might use his superior reach. They could have been Chelsea or Liverpool whose own semi-final first leg was filled with so much caution.
In truth, neither goalkeeper was seriously threatened.
It leaves United undoubted favourites to reach the final but goalless draws in this competition are notoriously dangerous for the home team in the second leg.
Still, there was a satisfied smile on the face of Ferguson.
Quite right. United have demonstrated their steel. A bit of style at Old Trafford should see them through to Moscow.
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Well put Frank. A score draw aint no good for us in the home leg and United supporters really need to raise the roof... its gonna be a cracker. March march march across Red Square -- do the things you only ever dreamed of! Come on United... you can do it!
Can't agree with this. Barca were there for the taking, 0-0 away from home is a very uneasy scoreline, all it takes is a freak goal and we have a mountain to climb. Not just that, but it also means we begin with a 'containment' policy in the home leg, only to come out of our shells if Barca score. Something similar and nervy as the home game against Lille.
Park had a nightmare, Rooney is a £30m forward but an average winger, neither of our flanks contributed anything and both were off the pace in defence too. Tevez couldn't get going, Anderson should have been on at some stage.
And Barca were no great shakes. A few long shots and one chance for Eto'o aside, they didn't create much. And their defence is woeful, I'm actually sorry that Marquez will miss the next game now. If we had decided to attack Milito and Marquez (with the best front trio in world football) we could have had a couple.
Once again, we have the best front trio in football, and we choose to play one on the right wing (even though when he's usually out of position it is on the left wing), another forward as an auxhiliary harrying midfielder, and the best forward in world football, who scores his goals coming from deep positions, as a lone striker. I can't shake the feeling that we could have stamped our authority on this tie tonight.
well if they cant turn us over at there ground the theatre of dreams will scare the wits out of them poor game but didnt realy worry us anne .com
well if they cant turn us over at there ground the theatre of dreams will scare the wits out of them poor game but didnt realy worry us
Now we know who the real Tooth & Claw is...Frank Malley.
I see no reason to be cheerful because as I see it your talking complete and utter bull. United have not out played anybody in the Premier League since beating Aston Villa at home on the 29th of March and since then have been well off the mark with thier passing and jittery displays. In between the Villa game and Barca tonight we beat a dire Roma side twice admitted but hey they never even turned up to play as they say. Tonight against Barca they couldn't string four passes together for most of the game. Which brings me to the point I'm going to make and it's this, just like last year once again we get to the top of the Premiership table and the crap football starts to surface, with shocking passing,scoring chances going begging and getting out played by everyone we meet. It sure is squeaky bum time as far as I can see with some of players in the squad. Another thing that gets up my nose and everyone I speak to young and old is why isn't Luis Anderson a certain starter in every game for the run in, he in midfield has been the real star of all the midfielders and its him as much as anyone in the squad (and I mean anyone) who has got us into the position we are in with regards to the league but since Paul Scholes came back from injury he for some strange reason is first choice and not even playing up to scratch, he don't score goals anymore,can't tackle, plays to far back,has got no speed, fades easily and I have now started calling him "Squareball Scholes"and that isn't being unkind or ungrateful it's what I see out there like so many others, Ryan Giggs is a winger and his wing days are over, he's not a makeshift midfielder so why does he get put in there he's no Brian Robson or Roy Keane hell buy another proven world class attacking goal scoring chance creating midfielder and give Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs thier final swan songs. One last thing can someone explain to me why Luis Anderson has not so much as had a mention by anyone from inside or outside Old Trafford as a contender for young footballer of the year when it's been so blatantly obvious that he is one. Nobody hopes more than me that we come good again in the coming games and find our feet again but I think your wrong in your assessment and even though we are in there scrapping we are struggling. §nakehips
Hargreaves, the only player out of position for United, was impeccable. Carrick, who had a clear job to do, is wanting at this level. Christiano cost United three goals. He missed one, which he’s entitled to do. The two penalty denials were down to his reputation. He sprawls when he goes down. It looks phoney, and if there’s room for doubt, the refs favour the defender. He needs a whole season of honest running to alter his reputation and benefit from the panic he creates in the box.
Well done Reds. Same again Saturday will do. Next Tuesday, Anderson for Carrick, Nani for Park and it’s Zdravstvuite, Moscow
This is not a good result in my humble opinion, score draw and Barca are thru, am just dissapointed not by the players but the formation, l dont even know where Tevez and Park where playing. That 4-5-1 had started working for us, why was it changed for this game.I expected to see Roo on the left, Nani on the right and Ronie in the centre and a midfield threesome of Ando,Scholes, and Carrick.
There is no way in the world any United fan can be pleased with a 0-0 draw away, the lessons in the past forbid my optimism.I would rather have taken a 2-1 defeat coz in this cup an away goal is so prizeless.Barca dont even have to win this return leg they just have to force a scoring draw.
God knows and he only knows whether we have any fortune in this cup, l almost leaped on the early peno but the only person who you can trust missed- no worry and no blame on him coz without him we would not be in this position.
l dont know am unhappy and no glory hunter, the team need to play to their strenghts
United will have to get it together for the return thats for sure !!!
come on guys !!!
Garbage! This was a game for the glory hunters who make no financial contribution to the club and probably don't even watch the games. To the rest of us it was a disgrace!
The way you draw and play DOES matter. Fergie is scared of European football, he can't even see that English football dominates the rest of Europe with English football, be it played by Frenchmen.
I think that the selection was down to injuries and knocks. Look at who travelled over to Barca. Vidic, injured and sick, Anderson injured at the weekend, Hargreaves injured at the weekend, Fletcher coming back from ligament injury, Rooney hip injury, VDS groin injury, Neville returning from a year out, Sylvestre returning from six months out, Nani returning after weeks out. Only O'Shea and Pique plus the keeper were fit on the bench.
Losing Vidic before the game meant that Hargreaves went to fullback. I think he'd have otherwise played in place of Rooney who would have been rested. Had Anderson been fit he'd have played where Tevez played. So we had to play a crock on the right wing and a tired forward in central midfield.
The upshot is that we defended brilliantly but the 4-2-3-1 lineup relied on the midfield 3 retaining possession and bringing Ronaldo into play. That part didn't happen but might have had Vidic's absence caused a domino effect.
We now have only a couple of days to nurse everyone back to health for Chelsea.
T&c Vidic missing was the reason we didnt play that well? Brown had a bloody good game an Nemanja was'nt missed. you just cant bring yourself to say
Fergie got it wrong yet again.
Rooney played unfit because we dont have any cover. Your constant pleading that the midfield played well wont wash they did'nt.
bobbydazzler, now listen slowly whilst I explain it again.
Vidic was missing, so Brown who would have played right back stood in. Now there's no-one playing at right back. So Hargreaves moves there. Now there's no-one on right midfield. Rooney, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, all injured or recovering. Rooney was selected because he's a lion and would play through the pain barrier and sacrifice himself for the team. Ronaldo was the obvious pick up front because of his pace and skills against two average central defenders. Now the only question is who plays in the middle of the 3 of the 4-2-3-1? John O'Shea or Pique or Carlos Tevez? Only one winner there.
So what exactly did SAF do wrong, given the injuries?
OK, look at it another way. The 4 and the 2 of the 4-2-3-1 played exceptionally well defensively. We can all agree on that. So, that's 60% of the team who performed and 40% who didn't. Of the four who didn't One was injured and out of position, one was tired and out of positon and one was Park.
Maybe you should leave your agenda baggage at home and just view the game as it is, rather than a way to bash the usual targets.
Yup and Barca were missing their first choice central defence pairing, Messi and Deco were half fit, Henry ill, Ronaldhino nowhere to be seen, so whats your point T&C?
Good to get the injuries excuse in though but doesn't that put paid to the notion that we have a strong squad? If that was the case then the cover coming in should put up a damn sight better show than last night.
Good article and good point by T&C about the enforced re-shuffle due to injuries.
I still think we could and should have played better though.
I also still think we'll beat them at OT and get to our first CL final in almost 10 years.
Finally, I still think that some of the drama-queen hysterics on MEN are as hilarious as ever. You lot are comedy gold, sometimes, you really are!
tooth&claw.
You’re feeding strawberries to donkeys. Just sigh.
Chris, oxford, I'll repeat my point for you. SAF had injuries which forced his hand in selection. So it's not that he's an idiot or doesn't know what he's doing.
Mick Dublin. Thanks. I also agree that we should have played better. We had two ways to play going forward, either the quick ball up to allow Ronaldo to try his pace and trickery on the CBs or to gain and retain possession and move out of the defensive positions into a more attacking stance. We failed to do either effectively. Our long balls were invariably overhit and we have an annoying propensity when playing possession to pass back to Edwin to thump the ball into touch or worse. Posession football is about not forcing a colleague into a risky pass or hoof. That's something we'll need to learn.
And I will repeat mine T&C - Barca had plenty of injuries to deal with but it didn't seem to effect them too badly did it?
Keep the excuses coming though.
so T&c the best midfield in world football now need to learn to
pass to a player in a red shirt
stop passing the ball backwards/the buck/ putting your colleague under pressure
support the attack better
learn how to retain possesion
actually have a shot on target occasionally.
I'm amazed i even need to point this out but the fact that Barca were playing in front of 80,000 of their own fans might just have something to do with how well they performed, no?
Let's see how well we perform in front of 70,000 reds. I've a funny feeling we might just play a wee bit better. And a wee bit better than a nil all draw sees us through to Moscow.
At the risk of sounding like Mchael Winner, "Calm down, dear", the lot of you...
T&C, please try to understand...just take a deep breath and relax for a while....No one is saying that we do not have injuries; the thing which has irritated everyone yesterday has nothing to do with the selection but with the instructions SAF gave to the available players.....that is, defend, defend and defend. That is not the way to play football and it is an insult to the millions of people watching the match all over the world. I hope that this message finally goes thru' that blinded eyes for SAF!!
chris the guy must work for the pm's office he comes up with one excuse after another. he must have stayed up all night thinking them up to counter the avalanche of criticism he knew would come his way. it's totally beyond him to concede that apart from our defence we played very very badly.
I too hate it when people complain about this or that player, or SAF. Thing is, they got us to this point, challenging for PL and CL honours. However.
Football is for the fans. If you play only to achieve a particular result but in the process make the game unwatchable then there is no point to the game. Last nights game was a waste of time.
just seen the reruns of the liverpool game . what a laugh any of you lot see that american geezer trying to mouth the words to that scouse anthem .