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Manchester United to be kings of Europe again!
Pedigree will show through in the end – and I take Ronaldo and Co. to beat Liverpool in the first ever all-English final.
by Charles Segujja Musoke on 01 April 2008
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Real Madrid and AC Milan have gone so brace yourselves for the first all-English Champions League final – Manchester United will play Liverpool, with United winning Europe’s most prestigious trophy.After drawing Chelsea and Schalke 04 in the quarters, Fenerbahce and Barcelona will march towards the semis, but Liverpool and United will overcome them, just as they will overcome Arsenal and Roma in the quarter-finals.After a series of exciting shocks and turnovers in cup football this season, we don’t expect to witness any more unfashionable fantasies like United’s FA Cup defeat by Portsmouth or Getafe’s King’s Cup heroics in Spain. Unlike cup football, the Champions League is a wide-open contest with “the winner takes it all” tag on it. Arsenal proved it in the San Siro when they knocked out holders AC Milan. Here are my quarter-final predictions …AS Roma v Manchester UnitedUnited seem to have the world at their feet and have been labelled the four-wheel drivers for their superb four-goal scores this season in the Premier League. They drubbed AS Roma 7-1 last season and start the game as favourites. Roma were missing injured team captain Francesco Totti tonight but United should watch out for Mirko Vucinic, who came on to make life hard for Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. Roma have not lost any of their last six Champions League matches and are undefeated at home in nine in this competition. On the other side, United are one of three unbeaten teams in the competition. They are also unbeaten in eight Champions League matches, since the 3-0 loss to AC Milan in last May's semi-final second leg in Italy. I expect the English side to stroll this tie.Prediction: 0-3Schalke v BarcelonaBarcelona are in such a perplexing state of form, having won just one of their last seven games, beaten at Real Betis 3-2 amid calls from the fans for Frank Rijkaard to resign as coach. Star players Lionel Messi, Deco and Ronaldinho are not fit but the availability of captain Carles Puyol should inspire them towards victory. Schalke have turned their season round after overcoming FC Porto in the last 16, and also securing 10 points from their last four Bundesliga games. Barca will capitalise on the absence of star midfielder Ivan Rakitic – ruled out of tonight’s first leg due to an ankle injury. In Kevin Kuranyi, Schalke have a fine striker and team captain Marcelo Bordon will inspire the side in front of their home fans. Barca, with all that massive quality and creativity up front and in midfield, can go back to the Nou Camp with a draw.Prediction: 2-2Arsenal v LiverpoolThe Gunners have improved their game in Europe but their poor run in the league has left them third in the table after their dominance at the top for most of the season. Liverpool, with Fabio Aurelio and Jamie Carragher formidable in defence, will face little threat from Arsenal. With their record in the competition, Liverpool are the deadliest team to face in the context of the European game – just ask Chelsea. Rafa Benitez has the tactical nous to suit to the European game. The Stevie G and Fernando Torres partnership will surely make life hard for Kolo Toure and William Gallas. I expect this tie to be decided by unexpected figure of Xabi Alonso or Javier Mascherano. With the decisive second leg at Anfield, there is surely no way Arsenal will come through this – a bumpy win for the RedsPrediction: 1-2 Fenerbahce v ChelseaWe all know how difficult it is to go Turkey and come away with a win. Fenerbahce, the first Turkish team to make the quarter-finals, will try to rewrite the history books by knocking Chelsea off their perch. Expect a samba display from the Turkish side who are coached by Brazilian legend Zico. The Blues will rely on Didier Drogba. Like against Arsenal, Drogba will capitalise on the counter attacks and high balls, as long as Frank Lampard and Michael Essien are in the mood to supply genuine service. This tie will be decided over the second leg but I expect Fenerbahce to halt Roman Abramovich’s march to Moscow come May. Attitude and ability from the Turkish side will derail Avram Grant’s army.Prediction: 3-1
Comments (6)
on April 02, 2008 on April 02, 2008
tosser, the reds have been terrible in the league and u dont mention that. theyre lucky to be in the quaters
by Jamie England on April 02, 2008
Im goin wid an Arsenal Barca final, I think Arsenal have the edge in the Quarter against Liverpool, purely because no1 seems to be expecting them to win, theres no pressure on them in europe, and as they showed in the san siro they'll have no fear of anfield, liverpool sound too confident to me, if Torres misfirers then i dont know where the goals will come from. As for the other side of the draw Man U are in brilliant form, but i do think they'll suit Barca, they wont rough them up, they'll try and out play them... which is a difficult thing to do even if barca are out of form.
by Jonny Dickins on April 02, 2008
Its interesting that you've already completely written off Arsenal. You seem to have missed the fact that we just EASILY got past AC Milan, who by the way have won the Champions League more times AND more recently than Liverpool. Liverpool will implode at the Emirates and by then it won't matter how much Andy Gray points out that 'European night atmosphere' at Anfield. Liverpool have won it once in 24 years. They are not a special team.
by Liam Daly on April 03, 2008
And Arsenal have won it...........hang on they never have
by craig on April 03, 2008
man u wont win it, we will get though to the semi finals, our bottlw will go and fergie will go for the league, lets be honest we will be playing chelsea the same time we will be playing barca, its not going to happen, they only have the championsleague to concentrate on, be the time we get to stamford bridge, we will have won the game at middleborough, given arsenal a lesson in football and defeated blackburn, a draw will see us to another premier league, but sadly no champions league
by mighty red on April 04, 2008
craig... i respect your honesty and a man utd fan... i personally hope you get to the final so we (liverpool) can give you a good hiding in moscow! Jamie England... absolutely quality!!! no pressure on you in Europe? where have you been for the past 100 years? you've never won it, arse w wants it more than he wants to cuddle his little boys in the youth squad, and the fans want it more than thierry henry so desperately craved it! it is the single most important competition that the arse play in. Plus torres pretty much misfired at the sellout stadium and you still couldnt win, you might have nicked it but you've got the great dane on the bench who completely screwed it up for you... that guy is a shocking footballer. I hope you come to anfield with 'no fear' because if you do you will get shown to be the misfit mickey mouse outfit that you truely are, and then we can go on an play some proper teams like man u or barca.
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