Show Us Your Medals Blog

9.57pm…Witnessing another Man Utd team tripping over the victory line in the Champions League tonight and you wonder why Ferguson is so afraid of playing to his strengths in Europe.Despite being in pole position with a home game in the second leg against Lyon, Ferguson decides to play it safe with five across the middle and Rooney playing up front on his own.  Tevez and Scholes both left on the bench and a triumvirate of Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher in the middle of the park.  

Anyone would have thought United were playing away from home to defend a lead.Instead, once more, United fans were left to witness a United team neutralised through their defensive posturing and fear to take their game to European teams.  Does Ferguson choose the tactics for the Premier League and Queiroz for the Champions League?Part of the reason for United’s continued failings in Europe has been their inability to play to their strengths of exciting, attacking football.  Instead, in Europe,  there seems to be an insecurity that these strengths will win out.  

Contrast this to Barcelona where their free flowing football is played with the same verve and vigour in La Liga and the Champions League.And yet, the one season United did win the CL, in 1999, was when their attacking duo of Cole and Yorke, supported by Giggs and Beckham on the wings, was given free rein to attack.United will not win in Europe again until Ferguson (and Queiroz) lose their insecurities and let United express themselves to the best of their ability.