Santiago Bernabeu is set to host one of the biggest matches this season, as Manchester United face Real Madrid in a Champions League knockout tie. One of the most exciting attacking talents in the football world will take field on Wednesday, but the match may be decided on the crucial midfield battles.
Santiago Bernabeu is set to host one of the biggest matches this season, as Manchester United face Real Madrid in a Champions League knockout tie. One of the most exciting attacking talents in the football world will take field on Wednesday, but the match may be decided on the crucial midfield battles.
THE OPTIONS
Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of midfielder Phil Jones, who faces a race against time to be fit for the crucial tie after suffering an injury in the weekend match against Everton.
United will have a number of options to choose from, with veteran Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Anderson and Cleverly all capable of playing in the midfield. Wayne Rooney has also been deployed in the middle of the park by Ferguson on a number of occasions, however it is unlikely that the United Talisman will be positioned in the midfield.
The Red Devils are most likely to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Carrick and Anderson playing the holding role. However with so much at stake Ferguson might be forced to alter his tactics and play a 4-3-3, with Cleverly or Jones likely to complete the midfield trio.
Real Madrid have a host of world class midfielders to choose from, the list includes the likes of Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric, Michael Essien and Kaka. Mourinho is likely to stick to his 4-2-3-1 formation, Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira are expected to sit a little deeper while Ozil should occupy the number 10 role behind the striker.
Attributes
In Michael Carrick United have a midfielder who has been in terrific form this season. The midfielder is not really much of an attacking threat, but has the ability to play occasional defence splitting passes to create goal scoring opportunities. His strongest aspect is clearly his defensive abilities, Carrick is a wonderful tackler of the ball and he has the ability to steal the ball away from the attacker without committing a foul. Carrick stabilizes the United midfield with his wonderful composure and his ability to distribute passes along the field.
United’s Brazilian midfielder Anderson provides a much needed steel and energy to the midfield. He offers a different dynamic to the team with his ability to execute accurate long balls. Unlike his midfield partner Carrick, Anderson makes more forward runs in the final third to create goal scoring opportunities.
One of United’s youth players who has come of age is 23 year old Tom Cleverly. Having made 21 starts for the league leaders this season, Cleverly is hungry to establish himself as a first team regular. Cleverly is a tireless midfielder, who has the potential to operate as a box to box midfielder, he has the creative aspect to his game combined with defensive discipline. The only thing the midfielder is short of is experience, but the match against Madrid is probably the perfect stage for Cleverly to announce himself as the next rising star in England.
Real Madrid have the luxury of having amidst them one of the best passers in the game; Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard drops deep to receive the ball and sprays it around towards threatening areas. The midfielder is also defensively responsible and executes timely tackles to rescue his team of an attacking threat. One of his strongest areas is his expertise on dead ball situations, he is a wonderful free kick taker and has the ability to score himself directly or create chances for his teammates.
Though he is not as technically gifted as his other teammates, Khedira is a very important player for Real Madrid. He is more mobile than his midfield partner Xabi Alonso and often bursts into attacking areas creating goal scoring chances. He is also good at closing down oppositions and breaks down decent attacking plays.
Madrid’s main playmaker will be their German midfield maestro Mesut Ozil. A technically gifted dribbler of the ball, with excellent close control and a brilliant left foot make Ozil one of the most creative players in the side. Ozil has a tendency to switch out to the flanks at times, from where he gets an opportunity to whip in accurate crosses, which is one of his strongest attributes.
Duties and Responsibilities
The United midfield will have a horrific task of not just withholding the Madrid midfield, but to also keep a watchful eye on the inside runs of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria. Rooney is most likely to drop occasionally to the midfield, to help out keeping the Madrid attackers at bay. Michael Carrick will be required to sit deep and maintain the tempo by playing simple neat passes. He will have the responsibility of tightly marking Ozil and closing him down to deny him any space to cause damage.
He might be partnered in midfield by either Cleverly, Jones or Anderson. A fit Phil Jones will be the most effective of the three, provided he can put up a similar display he did against Everton on Sunday. The United youngster man marked Everton’s danger man Marouane Fellaini and was responsible for the Belgian’s below average performance.
Phil Jones will have to put up a similar performance if United are to achieve anything out of this game. Jones will have to assist Rafael who positioned at right back, will be against the mesmerising Cristiano Ronaldo. Jones will have to make sure Ronaldo is not given any breathing space, he will also have to be attentive of Ronaldo’s habit of drifting towards the centre to seek goal scoring opportunities.
United will also need their Talisman and star player Wayne Rooney to drop and help them perform their defensive duties. If United are to nullify Madrid’s midfield, they will have to collectively defend as a team.
For Madrid Xabi Alonso will resume his duties as a deep lying playmaker, his duty is to collect the ball and execute key passes to create goal scoring opportunities. Alonso will also have a key role to play in order to maintain the tempo in the middle of the park for Madrid.
Sami Khedira is the man most likely to mark Wayne Rooney, to stop him from getting the ball in dangerous areas. Rooney is a work horse and tirelessly runs up and down the field, Khedira is a player of similar attributes and will have to put up a fine performance to keep the United forward quiet.
Ozil is expected to do what he is best at; creating panic in the opposition half. Madrid will want Ozil to pull the strings from the middle of the park and create opportunities for the front three. However he will be tightly marked by the United midfield and will thus have to frequently drift outwards on the wings to create opportunities.
On paper, Madrid have a superior and a more experienced midfield which United will find difficult to withhold. Madrid’s midfield is a wonderful blend of attacking and defensive talents, whereas United lack a midfielder who can provide a serious attacking threat. Ferguson will be focusing on a more defensively disciplined performance from his midfielders without any major contribution to the attack. If the United midfielders successfully perform their roles, they can effectively turn the result in their favour.
THE OPTIONS
Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of midfielder Phil Jones, who faces a race against time to be fit for the crucial tie after suffering an injury in the weekend match against Everton.
United will have a number of options to choose from, with veteran Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Anderson and Cleverly all capable of playing in the midfield. Wayne Rooney has also been deployed in the middle of the park by Ferguson on a number of occasions, however it is unlikely that the United Talisman will be positioned in the midfield.
The Red Devils are most likely to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Carrick and Anderson playing the holding role. However with so much at stake Ferguson might be forced to alter his tactics and play a 4-3-3, with Cleverly or Jones likely to complete the midfield trio.
Real Madrid have a host of world class midfielders to choose from, the list includes the likes of Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric, Michael Essien and Kaka. Mourinho is likely to stick to his 4-2-3-1 formation, Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira are expected to sit a little deeper while Ozil should occupy the number 10 role behind the striker.
Attributes
In Michael Carrick United have a midfielder who has been in terrific form this season. The midfielder is not really much of an attacking threat, but has the ability to play occasional defence splitting passes to create goal scoring opportunities. His strongest aspect is clearly his defensive abilities, Carrick is a wonderful tackler of the ball and he has the ability to steal the ball away from the attacker without committing a foul. Carrick stabilizes the United midfield with his wonderful composure and his ability to distribute passes along the field.
United’s Brazilian midfielder Anderson provides a much needed steel and energy to the midfield. He offers a different dynamic to the team with his ability to execute accurate long balls. Unlike his midfield partner Carrick, Anderson makes more forward runs in the final third to create goal scoring opportunities.
One of United’s youth players who has come of age is 23 year old Tom Cleverly. Having made 21 starts for the league leaders this season, Cleverly is hungry to establish himself as a first team regular. Cleverly is a tireless midfielder, who has the potential to operate as a box to box midfielder, he has the creative aspect to his game combined with defensive discipline. The only thing the midfielder is short of is experience, but the match against Madrid is probably the perfect stage for Cleverly to announce himself as the next rising star in England.
Real Madrid have the luxury of having amidst them one of the best passers in the game; Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard drops deep to receive the ball and sprays it around towards threatening areas. The midfielder is also defensively responsible and executes timely tackles to rescue his team of an attacking threat. One of his strongest areas is his expertise on dead ball situations, he is a wonderful free kick taker and has the ability to score himself directly or create chances for his teammates.
Though he is not as technically gifted as his other teammates, Khedira is a very important player for Real Madrid. He is more mobile than his midfield partner Xabi Alonso and often bursts into attacking areas creating goal scoring chances. He is also good at closing down oppositions and breaks down decent attacking plays.
Madrid’s main playmaker will be their German midfield maestro Mesut Ozil. A technically gifted dribbler of the ball, with excellent close control and a brilliant left foot make Ozil one of the most creative players in the side. Ozil has a tendency to switch out to the flanks at times, from where he gets an opportunity to whip in accurate crosses, which is one of his strongest attributes.
Duties and Responsibilities
The United midfield will have a horrific task of not just withholding the Madrid midfield, but to also keep a watchful eye on the inside runs of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria. Rooney is most likely to drop occasionally to the midfield, to help out keeping the Madrid attackers at bay. Michael Carrick will be required to sit deep and maintain the tempo by playing simple neat passes. He will have the responsibility of tightly marking Ozil and closing him down to deny him any space to cause damage.
He might be partnered in midfield by either Cleverly, Jones or Anderson. A fit Phil Jones will be the most effective of the three, provided he can put up a similar display he did against Everton on Sunday. The United youngster man marked Everton’s danger man Marouane Fellaini and was responsible for the Belgian’s below average performance.
Phil Jones will have to put up a similar performance if United are to achieve anything out of this game. Jones will have to assist Rafael who positioned at right back, will be against the mesmerising Cristiano Ronaldo. Jones will have to make sure Ronaldo is not given any breathing space, he will also have to be attentive of Ronaldo’s habit of drifting towards the centre to seek goal scoring opportunities.
United will also need their Talisman and star player Wayne Rooney to drop and help them perform their defensive duties. If United are to nullify Madrid’s midfield, they will have to collectively defend as a team.
For Madrid Xabi Alonso will resume his duties as a deep lying playmaker, his duty is to collect the ball and execute key passes to create goal scoring opportunities. Alonso will also have a key role to play in order to maintain the tempo in the middle of the park for Madrid.
Sami Khedira is the man most likely to mark Wayne Rooney, to stop him from getting the ball in dangerous areas. Rooney is a work horse and tirelessly runs up and down the field, Khedira is a player of similar attributes and will have to put up a fine performance to keep the United forward quiet.
Ozil is expected to do what he is best at; creating panic in the opposition half. Madrid will want Ozil to pull the strings from the middle of the park and create opportunities for the front three. However he will be tightly marked by the United midfield and will thus have to frequently drift outwards on the wings to create opportunities.
On paper, Madrid have a superior and a more experienced midfield which United will find difficult to withhold. Madrid’s midfield is a wonderful blend of attacking and defensive talents, whereas United lack a midfielder who can provide a serious attacking threat. Ferguson will be focusing on a more defensively disciplined performance from his midfielders without any major contribution to the attack. If the United midfielders successfully perform their roles, they can effectively turn the result in their favour.
