Man Utd vs Internazionale – Champions League Preview

By: Wayne Farry | March 11th, 2009

Here it is, the big match is finally upon us. After a stalemate in Milan fifteen days ago, United face Inter in the second leg of their first round knockout tie.

After a cracking performance at the San Siro fifteen days ago which should have resulted in a few goals, United fans were a little annoyed that we hadn’t scored. We dominated the match, bar a few minutes here and there, and made Inter look very, very ordinary. Now we’re back at Old Trafford, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Since the game with Inter on February 24 United have won the Carling Cup against Spurs, beaten Fulham to reach the FA Cup Semi-Final (where Everton await) and beaten Newcastle in the EPL to keep a very tidy lead at the top of the Premier League. In that time Inter, too, have played three games, a 3-3 draw with Roma, a 3-0 defeat in the Coppa Italia Semi-Final First Leg against Sampdoria and a 2-0 away win at Genoa.

Both sides are in good form, but United are obviously in the better form of the two, with fourteen wins in their last sixteen games in all competitions. Both sides have had injury worries; both Rio and John O’Shea went off injured at Craven Cottage last Saturday, btu thankfully are expected to be fit while Inter are having a bit of an injury crisis themselves with Jose confirming that “Christian Chivu, Walter Samuel, Materazzi and Burdisso are out.” Now, personally I wouldn’t be at all suprised if we saw all four of those defenders fit to play. I wouldn’t put it past Mourinho to try and make Utd think that they’ll have an easy time of it against Inter, subconsciously at least.

But regardless of what team either manager puts out, and it will be the strongest teams available for both sides, without doubt, there is absolutely no chance of Utd taking this game lightly, resting on their laurels after a great run of form and slipping up. I just can’t see it happening whatsoever. This United team is so good at winning that it’s actually ridiculous. They have the experience of winning the Champions League and the Premier League and know exactly what is necessary when the moment of reckoning comes. This is probably our biggest week so far this season, with the FA Cup game last weekend, this massive game tonight and Liverpool at the weekend.

United, tonight, should not fear Inter in the slightest. They bossed the Italians in their own backyard and were unlucky to not come away with anything. Now United have them in their place. Forget about Fergie’s record against Mourinho, foget any mind-games or anything like that. This comes down to eleven vs eleven on the pitch, and when thinking about it like that I’m immensely confident. Simply put, we’re better than Inter. We play beautiful football, have a rock-solid defence and are going to be playing at home, with the fans roaring the players on. Inter have some good players who do well in what’s a poor Serie A (in my opinion) but are consistently inconsistent in Europe. Like I said last week, if Inter want any chance to win tonight, Zlatan needs to be in top form.

A win tonight would be a great boost to the Quadruple chances, but no doubt that Fergie will be telling the lads to just take things one game at a time, not to look too far ahead. With that in mind, and this game just a few hours away it is the most important game of our season. We win tonight and we move onto the next round, where a good team will be waiting. But I’m not gonna get ahead of myself, because this match has to take place first.

All I’m gonna finish with is that I hope you enjoy the match, get behind the lads and cheer them on, from either your couch, a pub, a PC screen or a seat at Old Trafford.

If you’re at home, get a beer, try and relax and cheer on the boys!