© Reuters: Following is a Q&A on how Manchester United might trump Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final at London's Wembley stadium:
Q. How should United start the match?
A. It will be crucial for Alex Ferguson's players to prevent Barca getting into their passing rhythm early, a task at which Real Madrid achieved partial success in some of the recent "Clasicos" when they came flying at Barca from the off.
United's midfielders and forwards will have to work like trojans to prevent Barca building from the back.
They will need to cut off outlets for goalkeeper Victor Valdes, close down the defenders and, above all, starve playmaker Xavi and his midfield partners Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta of possession.
Pushing up on Barca will also help prevent mobile fullbacks Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal getting forward and blunt one of the Catalan club's most potent weapons.
- - - -
Q. What should United do with the ball when they get it?
A. The English champions will almost certainly spend a lot of time chasing the ball but once they do get hold of it, they must get it to their pacy forwards as quickly as possible.
In Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, United have exactly the type of players who can hurt Barca, whose likely central defensive pairing of captain Carles Puyol and former United player Gerard Pique are not the quickest in the game.
They have both been exposed this season by strong, swift attackers and once beaten lack the pace to get back and clear the danger. However, in Victor Valdes, Barca have one of the most effective performers around at dealing with one-on-one situations.
- - - -
Q. How on earth do you stop Messi?
A. The short answer is you can't. The World Player of the Year is just too fast and skillful so the key is to try as far as possible to prevent him getting the ball in the first place.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho converted centre back Pepe into a roving defensive midfielder for their recent matches against Barca and he was extremely effective at stopping their midfielders from finding Messi.
He also put in some robust challenges on the Argentina forward and United could task Michael Carrick or Park Ji-Sung with similar duties on Saturday.
It was no coincidence that in the semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu Messi's two goals came only after Pepe had been sent off.
- - - -
Q. Is it worth man-marking Xavi?
A. The Spain playmaker is a master at picking up the ball in tight central spaces, twisting and turning out of trouble and finding a killer pass that releases a team mate into a goal-scoring position.
However, there have been games in La Liga where opposing coaches have instructed a player to man-mark him and he has admitted that he doesn't like it.
Park would probably be best-suited among United's players for the job and his energy and bite could be enough to throw Xavi off his stride, a development that would certainly improve United's chances.
- - - -
Q. Are Barca susceptible under the high ball?
A. Barcelona have tightened up in defence this season mainly by extending their domination of possession which allows them to control the tempo of matches.
Corners and freekicks are one of the few occasions they cannot control what is happening and they have sometimes proved vulnerable in the air, especially if captain Puyol is not playing. Valdes is not always comfortable coming for crosses.
The relatively short Javier Mascherano, if he has to fill in at the back, and Alves are not strong under the high ball.
When United get the chance to break quickly, lofted passes to the back post could catch Barca on the hop, as was demonstrated in the King's Cup final when Cristiano Ronaldo outjumped Adriano to head the dramatic winning goal.
Friday
PREVIEW- United get second chance to pick Barcelona pocket
© Reuters: Barcelona must beware the artful dodgers of the Champions League in Saturday's final at Wembley where Manchester United will get a second chance to pick the pocket of Europe's classiest team.
United, who have snatched two Champions League final wins from what appeared to be certain defeats, were overwhelmed by Barca's precision passing game when the teams met in Rome in 2009, surrendering in a one-sided 2-0 defeat.
Two years on, the only certainty on the vast Wembley pitch is that the Spanish champions, boasting the world's best player in Lionel Messi, will again enjoy the bulk of possession.
But while Barcelona remain technically superior, no one could ever accuse wily United manager Alex Ferguson of failing to learn from his mistakes.
With England striker Wayne Rooney and the exciting Mexico forward Javier Hernandez among the talent at his disposal, an upset is far from beyond their grasp.
"We are not scared of Barcelona," South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung, part of the team that lost to Barcelona two years ago, told reporters this week. "They are one of the best teams in the world, but we have our own quality."
United clearly do have quality but it will need temperament as well as talent to prevail in a battle between two clubs who each have three European Cup wins, and curiously enough won the first of them at the old Wembley Stadium.
Guardiola was part of the Barca side that triumphed at last in 1992, with a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria under the venue's famous Twin Towers.
It was back in 1968 when United won their first European Cup with a 4-1 Wembley victory, also in extra time, against Benfica.
The two subsequent wins for the English side have been a case of victories conjured from seemingly hopeless situations.
The first came at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium in 1999, when two last-gasp goals earned them a sensational 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in a match that had appeared lost.
In 2008, they were staring at defeat again when Chelsea captain John Terry had a chance to win the title in a penalty shootout in Moscow only to slip, miss and gift United the opportunity to win their third European Cup.
COMPREHENSIVE VICTORY
There was no such escape against Barca in Rome the following year, as Guardiola capped a perfect first season in charge by masterminding a comprehensive win over United that completed a treble of league, cup and Champions League.
If Barcelona are to be denied a third European title in six seasons -- they also beat Arsenal in 2006 under Frank Rijkaard -- United will have to be ruthless when chances come their way.
The quality of midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta, the beating heart of the Spain team that won the World Cup in South Africa, ensures Barca rarely cede control.
With Messi marauding through the middle it is inconceivable that United's defenders will have a carefree night.
The English side will rely on a rearguard built around the formidable central defensive pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, while 39-year-old Edwin van der Sar, who will retire after the match, will need to bow out on a high.
The Dutch keeper will certainly have work to do against a side that look irresistible in attack and reached the final via the toughest of routes, beating arch-rivals Real Madrid over two bruising semi-final legs while United strolled past Schalke 04.
Messi has scored 52 goals this season in all competitions and is top scorer in the Champions League with 11 in 12 games.
The Argentine maestro will play as part of a three-man attack alongside Pedro and David Villa, both members of the Spain team that enjoyed World Cup glory last year.
United's hopes of avenging the 2009 defeat will rest on their ability to pick holes in a Barcelona defence that does occasionally have a threadbare look about it.
Rooney has played himself into form following a very public wobble in his enthusiasm for playing for Manchester United and Hernandez, nicknamed 'Chicharito', or 'Little Pea', has enjoyed a superb first season at the Old Trafford club.
With Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs playing as well as ever, despite the tide of newspaper stories about his private life, United will rightly feel from overwhelmed going into Saturday's rematch, where they enjoy home country advantage.
The winners will lift their fourth European Cup in total and join Real Madrid and AC Milan as three-times winners in the Champions League era starting in 1992-93.
A United victory would take Ferguson level with Bob Paisley of Liverpool as the only manager to win the competition three times.
For Guardiola, it would be a second Champions League title in just three seasons as a coach while confirming Barcelona as one of the great sides of this or any era.
Probable teams:
Manchester United: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 20-Fabio, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 15-Nemanja Vidic (captain), 3-Patrice Evra; 25-Antonio Valencia, 16-Michael Carrick, 11-Ryan Giggs, 13-Park Ji-Sung; 10-Wayne Rooney, 14-Javier Hernandez.
Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 22-Eric Abidal; 16-Sergio Busquets, 6-Xavi, 8-Andres Iniesta; 17-Pedro, 10-Lionel Messi, 7-David Villa.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
United, who have snatched two Champions League final wins from what appeared to be certain defeats, were overwhelmed by Barca's precision passing game when the teams met in Rome in 2009, surrendering in a one-sided 2-0 defeat.
Two years on, the only certainty on the vast Wembley pitch is that the Spanish champions, boasting the world's best player in Lionel Messi, will again enjoy the bulk of possession.
But while Barcelona remain technically superior, no one could ever accuse wily United manager Alex Ferguson of failing to learn from his mistakes.
With England striker Wayne Rooney and the exciting Mexico forward Javier Hernandez among the talent at his disposal, an upset is far from beyond their grasp.
"We are not scared of Barcelona," South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung, part of the team that lost to Barcelona two years ago, told reporters this week. "They are one of the best teams in the world, but we have our own quality."
United clearly do have quality but it will need temperament as well as talent to prevail in a battle between two clubs who each have three European Cup wins, and curiously enough won the first of them at the old Wembley Stadium.
Guardiola was part of the Barca side that triumphed at last in 1992, with a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria under the venue's famous Twin Towers.
It was back in 1968 when United won their first European Cup with a 4-1 Wembley victory, also in extra time, against Benfica.
The two subsequent wins for the English side have been a case of victories conjured from seemingly hopeless situations.
The first came at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium in 1999, when two last-gasp goals earned them a sensational 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in a match that had appeared lost.
In 2008, they were staring at defeat again when Chelsea captain John Terry had a chance to win the title in a penalty shootout in Moscow only to slip, miss and gift United the opportunity to win their third European Cup.
COMPREHENSIVE VICTORY
There was no such escape against Barca in Rome the following year, as Guardiola capped a perfect first season in charge by masterminding a comprehensive win over United that completed a treble of league, cup and Champions League.
If Barcelona are to be denied a third European title in six seasons -- they also beat Arsenal in 2006 under Frank Rijkaard -- United will have to be ruthless when chances come their way.
The quality of midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta, the beating heart of the Spain team that won the World Cup in South Africa, ensures Barca rarely cede control.
With Messi marauding through the middle it is inconceivable that United's defenders will have a carefree night.
The English side will rely on a rearguard built around the formidable central defensive pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, while 39-year-old Edwin van der Sar, who will retire after the match, will need to bow out on a high.
The Dutch keeper will certainly have work to do against a side that look irresistible in attack and reached the final via the toughest of routes, beating arch-rivals Real Madrid over two bruising semi-final legs while United strolled past Schalke 04.
Messi has scored 52 goals this season in all competitions and is top scorer in the Champions League with 11 in 12 games.
The Argentine maestro will play as part of a three-man attack alongside Pedro and David Villa, both members of the Spain team that enjoyed World Cup glory last year.
United's hopes of avenging the 2009 defeat will rest on their ability to pick holes in a Barcelona defence that does occasionally have a threadbare look about it.
Rooney has played himself into form following a very public wobble in his enthusiasm for playing for Manchester United and Hernandez, nicknamed 'Chicharito', or 'Little Pea', has enjoyed a superb first season at the Old Trafford club.
With Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs playing as well as ever, despite the tide of newspaper stories about his private life, United will rightly feel from overwhelmed going into Saturday's rematch, where they enjoy home country advantage.
The winners will lift their fourth European Cup in total and join Real Madrid and AC Milan as three-times winners in the Champions League era starting in 1992-93.
A United victory would take Ferguson level with Bob Paisley of Liverpool as the only manager to win the competition three times.
For Guardiola, it would be a second Champions League title in just three seasons as a coach while confirming Barcelona as one of the great sides of this or any era.
Probable teams:
Manchester United: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 20-Fabio, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 15-Nemanja Vidic (captain), 3-Patrice Evra; 25-Antonio Valencia, 16-Michael Carrick, 11-Ryan Giggs, 13-Park Ji-Sung; 10-Wayne Rooney, 14-Javier Hernandez.
Barcelona: 1-Victor Valdes; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 22-Eric Abidal; 16-Sergio Busquets, 6-Xavi, 8-Andres Iniesta; 17-Pedro, 10-Lionel Messi, 7-David Villa.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
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