Champions League - Scholes has winning formula

Eurosport - Mon, 09 Mar 21:36:00 2009

Paul Scholes believes Manchester United will beat Internazionale in Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg if they follow the formula that saw off Barcelona last season.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Man United-Fulham Scholes - 0

Sir Alex Ferguson's team held Inter to a goalless draw at the San Siro two weeks ago, just as they did when they faced Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the semi-finals last year.

The Premier League champions returned to Old Trafford to finish the job against Barca with a hard-fought 1-0 victory and Scholes is confident they can do the same against Jose Mourinho's Italian outfit.

"It probably was the perfect way to play a home leg after a goalless draw," Scholes said.

"We did well to get the draw in the first place because Barcelona is such a tough place to go, then we defended really well and got the goal at home, which, in a European tie, was ideal. We will take that again on Wednesday."

The last time Mourinho brought a team to Old Trafford for a European tie, he burned his name into the English psyche with a spectacular touchline jig of delight after his Porto team scored a late goal to eliminate United.

Mourinho has built an impressive record against Ferguson - losing just once in 13 meetings - and the United manager would relish the chance for revenge.

But Scholes insists there is no chance of a similiar celebration from the Scot if United reach the quarter-finals.

"At his age? He would probably collapse!" Scholes said. "It would be nice to see but I don't think our manager goes in for that type of thing.

"He will probably stand up, have a little clap and be pleased we have gone through."

Scholes isn't certain to start on Wednesday as Ferguson may prefer Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher in central midfield, but he is likely to be involved at some stage.

The former England midfielder has an uncanny knack of scoring crucial goals on the big occasion, but he is more concerned with ensuring United retain their grip on the trophy won against Chelsea in Moscow last year.

"Now and again I still score these big goals," he said. "It would be good but whoever scores does not really matter as long as we get through.

"Any win against a tough team like Inter would be great for us.

"We had a great night in Moscow and we want to experience that feeling again.

"It was great when it happened. But this is a new year and we want to win it again."

Inter defender Cristian Chivu has failed to recover from a thigh injury and has not travelled with the Inter squad to Manchester.

However, fellow defender Walter Samuel is in the squad and should start, with Mourinho facing a defensive personnel crisis.

Centre-backs Nicolas Burdisso and Marco Materazzi are also out after picking up injuries in Saturday's 2-0 win against Genoa.

"For Nicolas Burdisso, tests showed a tear in the right leg and a tear in the medial ligament of the left knee," said a club statement, adding that Materazzi had a left leg injury.

Ivan Cordoba is expected to play alongside Samuel in the centre of defence. If the Argentinian suffers a late setback, midfielder Esteban Cambiasso could be forced to deputise.

United have defensive injury problems of their own, with centre-back Rio Ferdinand and full-back John O'Shea both doubtful after suffering minor injuries in Saturday's FA Cup sixth round against Fulham.

AFP

Comment 65 - 84 of 84

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE COMING OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALL­ TEAM

    From anthony h, on Tue 10 Mar 10:06PM

  2. kuyt has done more for liver pool than ( torres and­ gerard ) AND THATS FROM A TRUE MANC lets here some­ priase for him

    From arthurthomas714, on Tue 10 Mar 6:57PM

  3. roony and teves to rule the world come on you reds baz­ the man

    From arthurthomas714, on Tue 10 Mar 6:51PM

  4. Late goal is right. If my memory serves me correctly it­ was from a free kick in injury time, it was on target­ but not particularly threatening until the goalkeeper­ fumbled it and dropped the ball at the feet of the­ oncoming Porto striker. The ball had hardly hit the­ back of the net when the referee blew for full-time.­ Porto had hardly threatened all game and until the­ dying seconds Utd had looked comfortably in charge.­ Mourinho is hoping to do the same again - win by the­ skin of his teeth, it is his only chance, Inter are not­ good enough to outplay Utd.

    From chriscunningham92, on Tue 10 Mar 4:35PM

  5. PLEASE DO NOT PUT LOSERPOOL IN THE SAME BREATH AS THE­ GREAT MANCHESTER UNITED BECAUSE THEY HAVE 2 GOOD­ PLAYERS gerrard and torres but what has he done this­ season nothing and don't start going on about­ injuries because the great RONALDO WORLD PLAYER,FIFA­ PRO,PLAYERS PLAYER,WRITERS PLAYER,FANS PLAYER AND­ EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR WAS OUT FOR 3 MONTHS AND­ STILL HAS 16 GOALS HE IS WAY AHEAD OF TORRES IT IS A­ FACT JUST HAVE A LOOK WHAT HE HAS WON And HAVE A LOOK­ WHAT gerrard AND torres have won last season oh thats­ right they won nothing.LOL.LOL,LOL,LOL CANNOT STOP­ LOL,LOL.

    From darrenwalsh98, on Tue 10 Mar 3:34PM

  6. Please do not put loserpool in the same breath as the­ great

    From darrenwalsh98, on Tue 10 Mar 3:25PM

  7. To Barcelona the best ! GET A LIFE YOU SAD LOSER ! If­ you have nothing to say then go back under your stone­ you gimp

    From Phil F, on Tue 10 Mar 3:12PM

  8. Fuxk you, you english sousages, manSHITster hardly won­ against Barca. Barca outplayed manSHITster, they had­ more possesion, more shots on target, and Messi­ outplayed ronaldo, but a lucky goal, by deco's­ mistake giving the ball to scholes, go manSHITster­ through to the finals. I hope inter destroyes you, and­ they will, 0-2 for inter.

    From barcelona_the_best1, on Tue 10 Mar 2:59PM

  9. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE

    ALL THE HIGH LIGHTS­ OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Tue 10 Mar 2:40PM

  10. Hey, I'm an open minded girl from UK, I'm­ interested in exotic things, photography, dating and­ sports...I have my photos on --- T a l l h u b Co m­ ---, I love tall guys!
    Do you love traveling and have­ some experience? Just find me out.

    From arkuilo09, on Tue 10 Mar 2:17PM

  11. I have to agree with some of the comments made­ regarding Samuel & Cordoba being Inters best­ defenders... Materazzi is good BUT commits too many­ fouls which is the last thing you need against United­ at OT. Chivu is effective but more of a substitute than­ a starting eleven. The tie is by no means over and the­ possibility of Inter scoring is very high but with that­ said United are also not necessarily playing at their­ best but are getting the results which is why they are­ favourites to win. I just hope its a flowing good game­ of football between the current leaders of England and­ Serie A.
    GLORY.. GLORY.. MAN UNITED!!!!

    From Dex Genius, on Tue 10 Mar 11:54AM

  12. there are talents in Nigeria,i found one,his name is­ BETHEL O.EMEJUOBI
    are you interested its up to­ you.
    from GIFT.

    From lovinggiftanddestiny, on Tue 10 Mar 11:50AM

  13. Wau that will be do or die on wednesday nite when Man U­ take on Intern at Old trafford

    From mawasonic, on Tue 10 Mar 10:58AM

  14. INTER MILAN SHOULD KICK UNITED OFF

    From Abba Mai Adda, on Tue 10 Mar 10:41AM

  15. Debbieh76. Hilarious!!! Wish I could afford it

    From carrolldca, on Tue 10 Mar 10:27AM

  16. Are you one of these millionaires who these annoying­ websites keep targeting?? If so, save yourself a lot of­ disappointment by just sending all your money to me.­ You won’t get anything for it, but at least you’ll know­ that in advance. You’ll also have the satisfaction­ knowing that those fleecing b******* didn’t get a penny­ from you

    From debbieh76, on Tue 10 Mar 10:03AM

  17. Man u is very hooot now. If dey can only apply Paul­ Schol's fomula (at Bercelona) dey wil win Inter.

    From mbamaluchidi, on Tue 10 Mar 9:12AM

  18. i dont care who gets through as long as they both put­ up a good performance

    From Abby, on Tue 10 Mar 9:00AM

  19. scholes has done a lot for manchester united. because­ of him they went to the finals of champions league last­ year.. now they will beat inter.surely his plan to win­ inter will work. lets just see this happen this­ wednesday..manu4life!!!

    From manu4life990, on Tue 10 Mar 8:04AM

  20. Contrary to peoples belief this is not a Man utd page,­ this is a football page that anyone can read and­ comment on. What are people only supposed to read and­ comment on their own team? If that is the case then Man­ u fans can´t mention Inter even on this page? That­ said,c´mon Utd and I´m a City fan, am I allowed to make­ a comment on this page?

    From Jay, on Tue 10 Mar 7:58AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account