Paul Parker Article

Paul Parker

United must attack Barca in Rome

Tue May 26 10:24AM

The Champions League final should be an absolute feast of football between the two best sides in Europe, and I really hope Manchester United go for the jugular.

If United try to rough up Barcelona in midfield like Chelsea did in the semi-final, it just won't work for them. Xavi and Andres Iniesta are just too good.

The key thing for United is a high tempo from the outset. For that reason I think Alex Ferguson will start with Ji-Sung Park in midfield and Carlos Tevez in support of the main striker.

Both those players have a tremendous work ethic and that's what you need against a side like Barca.

If Ferguson is feeling adventurous he could even start with Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Tevez in the same side - which would certainly raise a few eyebrows.

But United should not be scared. The mentality has to be ‘we're a good side, we've got good players and we'll take you head on'.

As for Barca, Iniesta and Xavi have been their standout players this season and a joy to watch.

Iniesta in particular has impressed me. Ever since Ronaldinho left and he started to get a run in the side he's proved just how good he is. Iniesta could be some player in the Premier League.

But I still think United are favourites going into the final. They've shown real mental strength this season and you just feel like Barca have taken their eye off the ball the past couple of weeks.

Whatever happens, I'm just really happy these two teams made it to Rome. It's a dream final and one for the neutrals to relish.

A final between Chelsea and Manchester United might be good for the Premier League, but to be honest it would feel like a bit of a damp squib.

Let's just hope we get at least 90 minutes of beautiful football on Wednesday. If we're lucky we might get 120.

  1. UNITED UNITED UNITED

    livefreeinukFrom livefreeinuk on Tue May 26 10:39AM

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  2. I hope i'm wrong but I think man u will just sit back and counter. If they get the first goal they'll just sit back and kill the game. It will only be the entertaining match we all want if Barca score early.

    trowstuffFrom trowstuff on Tue May 26 10:42AM

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  3. BARCA BARCA BARCA!!

    dealova20From dealova20 on Tue May 26 10:44AM

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  4. PP is a..hole!!!!!!!!! Without Messi and Dani Alves Barca would be 5th in Primera...

    jsv023From jsv023 on Tue May 26 10:48AM

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  5. Good article Parker. short sharp and straight to the point

    dark.soul_bullet4myvalentineFrom dark.soul_bullet4myvalentine on Tue May 26 10:49AM

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  6. United need to play like they did in the 2nd leg at Old Trafford in last season's semi final (but not like in the first leg). They played at high tempo - strong pressing - and hit on the break. That is the best way to beat this Barca team particularly with their slow 2nd string defenders.

    spear1616from1566From spear1616from1566 on Tue May 26 10:49AM

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  7. Come on Barca, stuff the SCUM!

    missmagoo1973From missmagoo1973 on Tue May 26 10:53AM

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  8. United stand no chance Oje Oje Oje Oje Barca are taking home the CL trophy again Four Nil :-)

    arttidescoFrom arttidesco on Tue May 26 10:56AM

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  9. I HOPE MAN U ARE FOOLS ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO PARKER'S ADVICE.BUT I AM AFARID THEY WILL NOT.IF MAN U STICK TO THEIR DEFENSIVE MINDSET THEY ARE FAVOURITES.NOT OVERWHELMING FAVOURITES BUT FAVOURITES NONETHELESS.BUT IF IT IS AN OPEN GAME THEN BARCA MAY WELL THRASH UNITED.HOWEVER GOOD THEIR BACK DUO MAY BE INIESTA HENRY AND MESSI WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM RUNNING CIRCLES AROUND THEM.

    dalitis8From dalitis8 on Tue May 26 11:04AM

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  10. INIESTA IN THE EPL?NO NO NO.HE IS BARCA FOR LIFE-EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT CATALAN.

    dalitis8From dalitis8 on Tue May 26 11:05AM

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  11. AND I PRAY THAT BERBATOV PLAYS.OUR DEFENCE WILL HAVE A QUIET EVENING.

    dalitis8From dalitis8 on Tue May 26 11:06AM

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  12. Barca for life.

    kanyedapson76From kanyedapson76 on Tue May 26 11:11AM

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  13. Good job PP

    michaeljaveaFrom michaeljavea on Tue May 26 11:11AM

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  14. I am quitely confident of a 3-1 score for Man United.

    henrckw001From henrckw001 on Tue May 26 11:13AM

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  15. Attack barca?? thats what Real did in la liga and they got absolutely killed! united need to defend and keep ball and then counter quickly down the barca left as they are lackin pace with sylvinho. they do that, i think they can bring it home. Come on UNITED!

    cedricsteeleperkinsFrom cedricsteeleperkins on Tue May 26 11:15AM

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  16. Barca will discovered Man United have improved so much from last year. They will be overwhelmed by the different between Chelsea (who I think attacked better than Barca in Stamford Bridge) & Man United. Glory Glory Man United!!!

    henrckw001From henrckw001 on Tue May 26 11:17AM

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  17. United must attack Barca? is there any other way to actually win a single leg game?

    danielclose2006From danielclose2006 on Tue May 26 11:23AM

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  18. "The mentality has to be ‘we're a good side ....." We don't need mentality PP. We ARE a good side. Man United know to play the only way - the winning way. Berbatov could be our weak link but hopefully he doesn't play.

    cokrowinotoFrom cokrowinoto on Tue May 26 11:23AM

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  19. Come on Barcelona - shut them Manure Ushited Scum bags up.
    Fed up of hearing the 5hite that they spout out.
    Liverpool are still the best and most successful English club.

    garyholdstock2002From garyholdstock2002 on Tue May 26 11:27AM

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  20. why does most people comment like this?. PP you have said it right but I just hope that deaf ferguson will listen to you and stop playing the game of luck with the arrogant and selfish ronaldo, Top striking him . Yes our defense if good but I pray that Rio should play the ball forward and not to van dar saar .I am afraid of Messi, so Vidic should watch out , and Evra brace up more for Henry.I just don't see why you will compare real madrid with Manchester united , it is very different .. So please watch football and not rugby. OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYY ... UP MAN UUUUUUUUUUUUU

    halfyourdeenFrom halfyourdeen on Tue May 26 11:31AM

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  21. Barcelona will gun down United.

    It will be 3-0 to Barca, Sam E'to to score a hat-rick.

    As an Arsenal fan, Thierry you better comeback home.

    peasah2005From peasah2005 on Tue May 26 11:38AM

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  22. THE MANCUNIANS HAVE BEEN MASSIVELY EMBOLDENED BY THE BARCA-CHELSKI SEMIFINAL BUT THEY SEEM TO FORGET THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT GAME AND THAT THEIR PLAYERS ARE NOT AS POWERFUL PHYSICALLY AS THOSE OF CHELSKI.BARCA HAVE VASTLY IMPROVED FROM LAST YEAR BUT THEY WILL BE MISSING THEIR BETTER NEW SIGHNING(ALVES).ANYWAY,I WILL NOT DARE TO MAKE PREDICTIONS.SHOULD BE INTERESTING

    dalitis8From dalitis8 on Tue May 26 11:41AM

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  23. Seriously though, I dont support man U but its pretty obvious that the whole team are gonna walk out the field, stand on the centre line,whip down their shorts and beat it off until they cream all over barcalona. they'll pull their shorts back up, turn around and walk off the field. That'll be the end of the game, Thats how its gonna happen like.

    tommihewFrom tommihew on Tue May 26 11:47AM

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  24. Utd must attack? They won the semi-final last year by keeping it tight didnt they!
    But I believe Barca simply can't defend and they're there to be had if Utd go for it

    bobo.spambleFrom bobo.spamble on Tue May 26 11:48AM

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  25. Playing Berbatov, Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo is a sure way to gift Barca the game. United will line up similarly to the Arsenal 2nd leg with Rooney on the left and Ronaldo up top. Although I can sense that Tevez will play some part, possibly from the bench as I'm not sure the Barca makeshift defense will be able to handle his constant hounding.
    Part of me sees this game being settled by a Vidic goal from a set piece, 1-0 to United.

    pkw.wilsonFrom pkw.wilson on Tue May 26 11:50AM

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  26. I hate to say it, but Man u to win 3-1. They are almost as good as Chelsea in defence, but they have more creativity in midfield, and more ruthless up front. If they play like they did in the final against Chelsea last year though, then Barca will win. United folded second half last year, and Barca will not let them off the hook like Chelsea did.

    kramrobinsonFrom kramrobinson on Tue May 26 11:53AM

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  27. a creaming like. i promise you.

    tommihewFrom tommihew on Tue May 26 12:00PM

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  28. Why must the dirty scousers always get personal.
    They don't just have chips on their shoulders, they've got the whole Amazon jungle.
    The illiterate turds.

    mjs272From mjs272 on Tue May 26 12:03PM

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  29. be realistic,u don't play attack with barca.rather be conservative and hit with counters

    femi4reelFrom femi4reel on Tue May 26 12:05PM

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  30. dear garyholdstock2002: i'm cracking myself up with laughter. liverfool the best team. statistics show that liverfool has not won the premiership since 1989. lol lol lol lol lol

    richard.bradburnFrom richard.bradburn on Tue May 26 12:19PM

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