15 players out. Michael Carrick as a sweeper. 5’8 Patrice Evra at centre-back. Up against the German champions in their own back yard. The result? 3-1 win, only Manchester United. Much had been made of United’s injury problems in the lead up to last nights game but Alex Ferguson once again showed that whatever team he picks they will take some beating.
Michael Owen will get all the plaudits and rightfully so – after all how many other English strikers have scored a hat-trick in the Champions League season eh Fabio! But it was a impressive team performance from a team who’s back five included four midfielders up against a side boasting one of Germany’s most potent strike partnerships. Yes they rode their luck but could you imagine any of the other so called top four coping as well if they had so many of their top stars missing. Liverpool certainly couldn’t, they can barely get by when either Torres or Gerrard are missing and we’ve seen what injuries have done for Arsenals season. Even Chelsea for all their wealth and depth would struggle to cope, hell they couldn’t beat Apoel at home last night with only a few first-teamers missing.
It’s no wonder that United have reached the Carling Cup semi-finals fielding just reserve sides. Unlike Arsene Wengers kids who were outplayed and out powered against Man City, Fergie’s second and third strings comfortably swept aside a Tottenham side who had reached the final of the competition in the last two campaigns. Players like Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck and Ji-Sung Park would easily make first-teamers in a lot of top-half Premier League sides, yet they are only now getting their first chances of the season in Uniteds first-team and taking them with both hands. Then theres that little bloke up front who’s only scored 40 international goals and is a former European Footballer of the Year who has readily produced whenever called upon.
It’s nothing new either, last seasons’s defining moment for United could be pinpointed not to a Rooney or Giggs but youngster Federico Macheda’s last minute winner against Villa that pretty much ended any interest Liverpool had of snatching the title away from Old Trafford. It’s a trick Ferguson has repeated over and over again in his tenure at United, the ability to cover all basis if and when problems arise. Even this season with the current revolving door in the Old Trafford medical room.
There’s been talk this season about United not playing as well as previous seasons without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. But take a look at their season far and you’ll see them second in the league two points adrift of Chelsea, qualifying top of their Champions League group and in the Carling Cup semi-finals. All that without most of the first-team and the first choice back four. It’s a scary thought what may happen when they all back fit and raring to go.
