There are games that define a player’s career and there are some that define a manager’s. The clash against the current European champions could be exactly that for Manchester United manager David Moyes.
European nights at Old Trafford don’t get bigger than this.
Just fresh off embarrassing defeats against Olympiacos, Liverpool and Manchester City, United are about to get their biggest test since Real Madrid last season. In any other campaign this would be a battle between two European heavyweights, but not so currently. Man United and Moyes should look at this as an opportunity to re-build the brand and put things right, towards the end of the season.
While there are plenty of negatives surrounding the club, the players and the manager must take solace from the fact that they have a strong backing of United supporters, they have the best “away” record in the Premier League, and have outscored the second best team in Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen, 9-2 in this season’s Champions League.
It’s very difficult to find a kink in Bayern’s armour. A midfield that’s packed with the likes of Ribery, Robben, Schweinsteiger and Martinez is complimented very well with Muller and Mandzukic at the top. Bayern’s bench – Goetze, Kroos, Shaqiri – is strong enough to walk into any top side in world football. Lahm and Alaba as full-backs provide extra support in the wings and allow the wingers to move in better attacking positions, at times over-committing, and that is precisely what Man United will have to target.
In their home games against Manchester City and Arsenal, Bayern found it difficult to defend against pace and width. The key for United lies in dismantling the Guardiola system. It’s easier said than done. Sir Alex Ferguson tried to do so in United’s previous two Champions League finals but came back empty handed. Moyes has a chance to do what his predecessor couldn’t.
Man United will need to operate with pace on the wings and cleverly interchange positions at the top. Bayern’s players are technically superior and operate with a more sophisticated system than United. Things look ominous on paper for the Red Devils, and in reality they are, but like any other problem in the world, the solution lies in breaking-up things into smaller parts.
Battle of partnerships
Valencia and Rafael vs Ribery and Alaba
The partnership between the Colombian and Brazilian was the primary reason United over-turned the first leg deficit against the Germans in 2010 and “nearly” went through. Valencia’s pace and ability to drive forward should keep Alaba’s forward runs in check. For Rafael personally, this is an opportunity for revenge against Ribery, whose theatrics got the young Brazilian sent off in the previous encounter. While Ribery presents a huge threat, Moyes must delegate the responsibility solely to Rafael, with Carrick occasionally acting as an insurance policy. For Antonio Valencia, this is the time to show why Sir Alex brought him to fill the position previously occupied by Cristiana Ronaldo.
Buttner and Rooney vs Robben and Lahm
Patrice Evra’s absence may not be a major blow to United as the Frenchman would have found Robben’s pace and trickery difficult to handle. The responsibility of containing the Dutchman would be given to his fellow national compatriot, Alex Buttner. He may not have the level of experience that Evra possesses, but this year he has improved his tackling and taken out rashness to a certain extent. While a fully-fit Nani would have been ideal for the left wing, this time the job will have to be done by Wayne Rooney.
With Robin Van Persie missing due to a knee injury, one would expect the Englishman to take the charge upfront for the English champions. However, the requirements of this team demand a solid presence on the left side of the pitch. Rooney has the ability to press Lahm and break the link-up between him and Robben. He’s also responsible for getting Kagawa involved and quickly switch plays to the right wing, a job he has done extremely well this season.
Carrick and Fletcher vs Schweinsteiger and Martinez
The central area of the pitch has been United’s biggest worry in the post-Scholes era. Matching the Bavarian central midfielders is a near impossible task for Carrick and Fletcher but they must excel in their limited roles on the night. Carrick will undoubtedly have to produce a man-of-the-match performance. He’s not only responsible for providing a defensive shield to the back four but also playing the inter-connector between the defense and the forwards.
He’ll need to bring in the sort of fluidity to United’s play that he has shown so often in key games for United in previous campaigns. Fletcher, on the other hand, will have to do majority of the running and close down the opposition every-time they have possession.
Hernandez and Kagawa vs Dante and Boateng
With the first leg at Old Trafford, Moyes should take a wild punt by playing the ever-reliable Mexican striker. If Javier Hernandez can keep a check on his position (Read: Off-sides), he’ll trouble Dante and Boateng with his tricky off-the-ball movement. Keeping the two Bayern center halves pinned back is a must for the home team. The out-of-favor Japanese, who has faced Bayern on many occasions, gets another chance to impress the United faithfuls and showcase why no.10 is his best position. Bayern’s non-physical playing style may suit Kagawa.
Let’s not forget, his two best performances this season have come against Leverkusen, playing as a no. 10.
Probable XI:
De Gea
Rafael Jones Vidic Buttner
Carrick Fletcher
Valencia Kagawa Rooney
Hernandez
It’s true that the top teams have been an Achilles’ heel for David Moyes this season. He’ll have to get his tactics right and rely on 75,000 strong voices inside Old Trafford. And if Man United ends up scoring first on the night, we may have a game in our hands.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 2 Man United 1
This Man United preview article comes from Aayush Dureha