Tonight’s the night, the UEFA Champions League final 2008 and it’s Manchester United against Chelsea.
There don’t seem to be any injury problems, there are rumours regarding Vidic’ fitness, but Fergie has stated it’s that he trained away from the group on a seperate training schedule, probably something to combat Didier Drogba’s aerial prescence.
To say I’m nervous is an understatement, I’m absolutely bricking it!
I’m expecting a negative game, with us employing the same solid, but uncreative midfield we’ve utilised well in Europe, but not so well domestically (ironically, against Chelsea), leaving Ronaldo isolated, Carrick too deep and Rooney out on one of the wings, losing his rag and picking up a silly booking (or worse).
Chelsea on the other hand will stick to what they know and what has worked, route one, massive long balls throught to Drogba for other players to play off and set-piece play (which is where I worry about us defensively). I’ve always said, if we go and attack Chelsea I’m confident we’d win, but with so much at stake I don’t see us taking that risk.
Either way, I’m hoping we’ll win it (obviously), but winning the league was the big one and my major fear was being pipped for both by Chelsea which would have been devastating leaving us with nothing despite playing the best football all season.
I probably sound very negative myself, ironic considering I know Ferguson for his negative tactics, but I always am before these big games.
It’s 40 years since we first won the European Cup (becoming the first English team to do so) and 50 years since the Munich disaster. So I’m hoping the same fates that shone down on us in 1999 are with us tonight, it would be the perfect way to remember the Munich disaster, especially after the disgrace of a performance that was against Manchester City in February.
