Why it’s Manchester United NOT Barcelona who shouldn’t be underestimated

One of the greatest passing sides in recent history, scratch that, one of THE great footballing sides of late, FC Barcelona head into Saturday’s Champion’s League Final as overwhelming favourites.

Not only in Lionel Messi do they have the best player on the planet – some may go as far as to say the greatest ever player in the sport – the Catalan giants face a Manchester United team that is thought of as inferior in many aspects. Rivals and fans alike also point to the fact that this may go down as the weakest United team that Sir Alex Ferguson has assembled since his early days in charge of the Old Trafford club. They may lack the star quality individually that defined previous Fergie sides, but you sense with this team, the collective psyche is greater than the sum of its parts.

Despite their apparent shortcomings, The Red Devils have recently secured their nineteenth title – Fergie’s twelfth – in emphatic fashion no less.

So why does this writer feel that Barca’s English counterparts will reign come Saturday night? Well, if historic symmetry is your best bet, it’s not a ridiculous notion to object to. Like the fact that the nations that have spawned Champion’s League winners from 2005 onwards read: England, Spain, Italy, England, Spain, Italy, England (2011)?

If not entirely convinced, how about the fact that every decade since 1971, English teams have beaten Spanish opposition in European finals. Chelsea began the sequence by overcoming Real Madrid in the 1971 Cup Winners’ Cup replay 2-1; Liverpool got one over the same opposition ten years later; United overcame Saturday night’s opponents 2-1 to claim the Cup Winners Cup in 1991, and Liverpool’s golden goal in the Uefa Cup ensured that Alaves were put to the sword at the turn of the last decade.

The aforementioned facts should be read with caution; of course, it’s all history and the tide can change against the Red Devils in Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

After all, Barcelona have the upper hand as they have the better individual players, especially in the midfield and perhaps even in attack. That Barca will dominate in possession is a given, but if United are to win, what they do with the little possession they have is vital. Efficiency is the key. Their excellent defence will look to contain Xavi and co for as long as possible in the hope that they tire and then counter out wide through either of Valencia or Nani.

Seeing as Barca’s defence is their Achilles Heel, the quick and impressive Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Wayne Rooney will give them no end of problems and will score when given the chance. For this very reason, United’s best chance presents itself in terms of the pace they have upfront. In contrast, the Blaugrana don’t have this at the back and are exposed when not in possession.

As Barca press so high up the pitch, whoever plays in central midfield for United should look to create space when the team is in possession, meaning that Rooney or Ryan Giggs can drop back and assume the midfield role, which either is more than capable of doing. This could cause Barca’s centre backs some confusion on whether to come up to mark Rooney or to stay in formation. It’s likely that a defender can decide to track and be drawn out of position by Rooney or Giggs, thereby leaving a hole which United’s wingers or Hernandez can exploit.

Fergie will indeed look to the Rome edition of this matchup to avoid the mistakes that ultimately cost them what would have been the club’s fourth European Cup, thus closing down the count on their arch-rivals, Liverpool – and giving Sir Alex his third medal as a manager which would equal the record set by Bob Paisley, Liverpool’s former gaffer.

Whatever the outcome, arguably the two best teams in Europe will lock horns in what is widely seen a dream final. Roll on Wembley, 2011!

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