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Sir Alex Ferguson has overcome all his adversaries that he has faced over the course of his time as the coach of Manchester United. Be it Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Sir Bobby Robson, Kenny Dalglish, Caludio Ranieri, Kevin Keegan, Gerrard Houllier, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Roberto Mancini, Carlo Ancelotti or any of the greats that have graced European Football, and all have fallen victim to the Wiley Scot’s Red Devils.
With 26 Premier League Manager of the Month awards, far outnumbering the second placed Arsene Wenger with 11, Fergie is quickly running out of competition and a challenge. The one manager who has gotten the better of him twice and in the big European stage is a young coach by the name of Josep Guardiola. Football is an evolving game with strategies, players and style of play evolving over the course of time and sometimes even within a season. What kind of evolution does the manager of the red devils have in his mind to avoid a three in a row defeat to Pep’s Barca.
An interesting fact about the first defeat United had against Barca managed by Pep was that the Barca team in 2008/2009 was not very different from the team they beat the previous season under Frank Rijkaard. With seven of the same players from the 2008 semifinals starting in 2009 finals in Rome, and another five players who were on the same squad in bench, the biggest change was the coach. The other notable changes were Henry, Sylvinho, Pique and Busquets were now starters. Yes, Messi, Iniesta and Xavi had now come on to their own but so were Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney. Man for man, the teams were even until one coach’s strategy and philosophy trumped the other.
While the 2008/2009 Champions League Final looked one sided, there was much expectation from United and Ferguson with the 2010/2011 Champions League Final being played in their own backyard at Wembley. There was talk of revenge before the match and there were two shining new stars for ManU with Xavier Hernandez and Nani having a great season till then. Still this United team was considered one of the weakest in their recent past and it showed when it came to big stage with a thumping 3-1 defeat to Barca again. One thing that would have certainly gone through Sir Alex’s mind during those emotionless moments watching his side demolished by a dominant Barca in successive Champions League Finals appearance would have been, how to defeat this Barcelona side proclaimed by many as a greatest footballing team in history. No one could beat Barca at their own game. Arsenal tried and came close. ManU do not possess the kind of players or years of practice to play that way. Mourinho’s Inter and Madrid came close with their ultra defensive game plan but that is not Fergueson’s cup of tea. So how do you defeat a team of Barca’s caliber?
The only other time Barca have looked nervous or were defeated were by teams playing as unit defensively but were quick on the counter attack to strike lethal blows as Rubin Kazan and Hercules showed were possible. Most of the goals scored against Barca either come from pacey counter attacks or from set pieces. This was even more evident from the recent Barca and Milan Champions’ League group stage match. Two goals untypical of Milan to score and typical of Barca to concede. Each one coming at the beginning and end of the game, and each with its own style. This style of play also suits well with the existing strategy and players at United. With the pace and guile of Nani and Valencia and deadly finishing skill of Rooney and Hernandez, Sir Alex only needed a few players to complement and make this team more of well oiled machine. In came Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck, two very quick players who can also defend well and position themselves of the ball well. With both Nani and Ashley Young more than capable of charging down the line with pace, guile and accuracy, Alves and Abidal will have their hands full and are less likely to be adventurous. Then comes the centre of the park where Busquets, Pique and Mascherano/Puyol will be against Rooney, Hernandez/Welbeck and likely Giggs. There is enough pace in at least the former four to cause some major problems to Barca’s rear guard which is not the quickest and can be static at times.
Based on the indication of the first few games, Manchester United does indeed seem to banking on the counter attacking style and a collective defense and offense to propel them through their early challenges. A lot of the attacking moves have come down the flank with no less than three players in Rooney, Welbeck/Hernandez and Giggs/Anderson/Park providing outlet for Nani and Young effectively changing the formation to 4-1-5 during attack. When United do not have the ball, Ashley Young, Rooney and Nani get back to offer defensive cover thus changing the formation to a more 4-4-1-1 looking unit. The players seem to suit the system really well and the strategy is as good as it gets to defeat Barcelona. The inexperience of players in the big stage seems to be the only problem but hopefully United face Barca really late in the tournament to get some experience for the still inexperienced but highly talented youngsters available at the club.
If Manchester United continues to use this system and improve upon it, this might be the year when they bring back the honor and joy to Old Trafford having defeated one of the greatest if not the greatest teams football has ever seen.
That’s how you attack Barca, but how do you defend against Messi dropping deep? When he drops deep, if you play a high line, Messi and Xavi can play balls in behind to the speedy Alves, Pedro, Villa or Sanchez. But when you play deep, it gives Messi the chance to run at you.
The key point is that when you play Barca you inevitably need to concede possession. With most of the game played without the ball, you need to be very intelligent to pick up the various threats Barca offer, and they lack a true anchor who can do that.
Also, it seems that the front four works similarly to the 2008 Manchester United – when they beat Barca. They are well oiled and frequently change positions and points of attack.
Nice article.
Though some points.
“or any of the greats that have graced European Football, and all have fallen victim to the Wiley Scot’s Red Devils.”
4 European Cup Finals in 26 years,
“All” is hardly the apt word, Yes for the BPL though.
“this United team was considered one of the weakest in their recent past”
Undefeated till February, and on for a quadruple (triple for sure) at one time,
hardly the weakest, considering how strong those very same people consider the Premier League to be.
Now for the para about Barca getting beat.
That Hercules game i remember clearly, its the worst Home defeat of Pep’s time.
It was not Hercules that were that good, it was Barca that were abysmal, not bad but abysmal, they could not pass 5 yards passes for much of the duration of the game,
That game can’t be used in any sort of example.
Rubin game was highlighted by that immense 35 yard super strike, and a lapse in concentration at an early UCL stage match.
Inter game is the only one in which an inferior setup defeated a overtly motivated Barca, even Copa Final doesn’t compare to that.
Barca are not vulnerable on set-pieces, its a myth, 3 goals from 137 corners last season in Liga.
Also they were the only team to not concede in the 1st 15 min all season in League last season.
Though they do concede on counters.
They looked nervous against Espanyol last year as well but still won 5-0 which flattered them honestly, the way Espanyol played “can” be used an an example or model.
About Alves against Young, its not a given Alves will be pinned, only in later matches against RM last season did he tone down his attacking instincts, otherwise, it doesn’t matter who’s he up against, Pep will push him even higher if he’s up against a very attacking winger.
Abidal is defensive, yes.
About Barca’s back line, its been shown they can cope against ManU,
besides all the show is in the midfield, its where the game is when you play Barca, you relinquish it (from a defensive or a attacking pov.) you’re dead.
Totally agree with you on experience,
At the moment ManU is very top heavy, midfield won’t be able to compete with Barca, and back-line is shaky as evident by the number of chances they have provided to other teams,
Barca are a highly clinical team, they don’t need 20 chances to get 1 goal in big matches as shown over an over again (RM super cup for one)
In the end fact remains, IF this current Barca wants to win badly,
You cant win, it seems an arrogant viewpoint but its borne of fact and having watched this team in 99% of its matches.
Being a big Barca fan, I agree that 9 out of 10 times, Barca will win against ManU. I am sure Sir Alex realizes that as well. But the most effective and probably the best way to defeat this Barca is what I had in mind and tried to explain in here, and I think thats how Fergie is grooming his current team to be.
You get just one chance in the European stage and you better use the strategy with the highest probability to beat Barca. Barca’s weakness has been the flanks and aerial threat in front of the goal. RM got their Kings cup victory this way, ACM got their draw at Camp Nou this way and that’s the only thorn or weakness I can spot in this Barca team.
The only weakness in Barca is obviously their high line! It is a wonder no one manages to exploit it, but it is mostly down to the intense pressing Barca use against opponents, denying them time and space. Best example is Pato vs Barca. Simple and efficient.