Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Marseille in the Champions League wasn’t a terrible result at all.
United would have liked to have scored an away goal but at 0-0 with a home leg to come the tie is very much in United’s favour
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For away sides Old Trafford is a graveyard of hopes and dreams. Not many clubs come away from the Theatre of Dreams with much to show for their visit.
I don’t expect Marseille to be any different. The French champions will have to play at the top of their game to progress into the quarter-finals.
Defence
United had the best defence in the group stages of the Champions League and again kept a clean sheet at the Stade Velodrome. Even without England centre-back Rio Ferdinand the Red Devils snuffed out Marseille’s attack.
Young defender Chris Smalling has came into the United team recently and has never looked out of place. I really did question Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgement when he signed the youngster from Fulham for £10million.
However I should known better to question the great Scot’s judgement and he is starting to show just why United paid so much for him. In fact Smalling was one of the better players on the pitch last night and looked very composed at centre-back.
He might have a job keeping Rio Ferdinand out of the first team but it looks like he has a big future at Manchester United. He could also be his eventual replacement for England. The youngster certainly has come a long way in a short time.
In fact in three years he’s gone from non-league Maidstone to Premier League giants Manchester United, a quite spectacular rise in anybody’s book.
Concerned
United boss Sir Alex is concerned about the lack of an away game but knows any win will do at Old Trafford. Fergie told the press: “At this stage of the competition, away goals count. And you always worry. At this stage of the season, you are not playing any bad teams.
“But you would have to say, Manchester United at home, we have a good chance. All we have to do is win the game. I don’t care if it is 10-9.”
He is right any victory at all will do for United. Manchester United seems to have the ability to pull out a victory when they really need to and I would be very surprised if they didn’t in the second leg.
Trophy
Manchester United were one of the favourites for the Champions League before the competition started. Currently they are fourth favourites with a number of bookmakers to win the competition outright.
Unfortunately for the Red Devils I don’t think they will go all the way this season. They have a decent team but I believe there are stronger teams in the competition. However it is always hard to write off any team of Fergie’s. They could just surprise everybody and go on to win the Champions League trophy.
Can Manchester United win the Champions League?
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