Fergie's zero tolerance policy approach in Europe is paying dividends

11 April 2012

Manchester United are in the Champions League Final, barring a last furlong calamity of Devon Loch proportions at Old Trafford next week, and the sense of foreboding at whichever Spanish opponents they will face is tempered by a defence which is now one of the best in history.

United's attacking players sparkled here in Gelsenkirchen but they did so thanks to an authoritative performance in defence and midfield, as the visitors bossed their semi-final first leg against Schalke.

The Germans were, it has to be said, very poor - it is almost unimaginable just how calamitous Inter Milan must have been to ship seven goals in two defeats against them - but this was a forceful and undeniable display that United have made their trademark in this competition.

United became the first team in Champions League history to keep clean sheets in every single away match until the final, which they will surely reach after Schalke attempt the impossible comeback next Wednesday night.

There was a first-half profligacy that mimicked Arsenal and yet when the briefest of wobbles occurred after the break, Rio Ferdinand and then Nemanja Vidic dealt with the threats and that was that.

Michael Carrick was outstanding alongside the evergreen Ryan Giggs - superlatives failed a while back to do him justice - as United bossed possession and asserted near total control.

Wayne Rooney buzzed behind the energetic Javier Hernandez while United exploited a lack of width in Schalke's 4-1-3-2 system, as wingers Antonio Valencia and Park Ji-Sung revelled in space.

When Park drifted infield, Schalke were simply unable to cope with the swarm of red in front of them but it took two-thirds of an utterly one-sided contest before Giggs and then, two minutes later, Rooney gave the scoreline the slant they deserved.

"It was a top performance," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "We have had some fantastic performances in Europe during my time and this was right up there. The concentration issue is important away from home in Europe. It is a different tempo at times and requires really good concentration. Credit to the players - they have shown that throughout the European campaign.

"Over the past two or three years we have got a way of playing in Europe away from home. It requires some experience, of course, and the most important thing is to have confidence in possession of the ball."

United had 65 per cent of possession - equivalent to 22 minutes more of the ball than their opponents - as they attempted 757 passes with an 83 per cent completion rate.

Statistics supported the notion that Carrick ran
the show last night, with 94 of his 108 passes completed - he was the only player to attempt a three-figure number - returning him an 87 per cent success rate.

They are figures that would please pass-masters Barcelona but any glowing praise of Carrick is dimmed by the memory of how the England midfielder was completely overrun by the Catalans in the 2009 Final.

Ferguson warned before that game that Xavi and Andres Iniesta could put opponents "on a carousel" with their mesmeric passing and there is not enough evidence yet to suggest United have worked out a way to get off.

Similarly, Real Madrid have developed a midfield which is capable of strangling opponents, typically for a Jose Mourinho side, with Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso shielding a galvanised back four. A dismantling of presently the 10th best team in Germany does not automatically invalidate such concerns but at the very least United appear certain to have earned another crack at the task.Schalke began brightly, as Alexander Baumjohann tested goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar from range inside the first minute but United quickly took charge.

Rooney forced the first of a string of stunning saves from Manuel Neuer - who had been linked with United but appears destined for Bayern Munich in the summer - before Park and then Hernandez twice tested the Germany No1.

Schalke were barely afloat but rallied briefly after the break as Ferdinand moved to deny veteran striker Raul a near-post effort and Vidic made two vital clearances.

But United would not be denied. Hernandez had a goal disallowed for offside - Ferguson described it as the turning point because "they knew then they beat the guy" - and after 67 minutes Rooney slipped a delightful reverse pass for Giggs, who slotted between Neuer's legs.

Hernandez then played in Rooney for a well-taken second and United had one foot on the pitch at Wembley on May 28.

There was no retort from Schalke, who looked shellshocked, and United never looked like conceding - they last did so on their travels 384 days ago in their quarter-final first leg defeat to Bayern. "We had imagined this game differently," said Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick.
"We lacked the final pass which we had against Inter Milan. We had to thank Neuer that we were not two or three goals down against United in the first half. We have shown we can score away from home and we will try to get our chances in Manchester."

Any side with a finisher as deadly as Raul among their ranks cannot be completely dismissed but their chance has surely gone.

For United, a third Final in four years beckons as they continue to peak at the business end of the season; they'll need to hit new heights if a fourth European Cup is to be secured but the foundations at least appear in place.

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