O'Shea: Clean sheet vital
John O'Shea says United's makeshift defence will be key to tomorrow night's Champions League semi final first leg.The Reds go into the game without Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre, while French full-back Patrice Evra is also a slight doubt after missing United's last Premiership match.
O'Shea, who could be used either in the centre of defence or on the right, says it's vital United contain an AC Milan side who have scored 14 goals in their last four Serie A matches.
"Most importantly, we want a clean sheet. That's first and foremost," O'Shea told Manchester United Radio. "Obviously any victory – 1-0 or 2-0 – would be ideal because we know we're more than capable of scoring away from home. The attacking form of the team this season has been immense."
But the Irish international played down talk that United's swift counter-attacking will easily overrun Milan's aging defence.
"People have been saying they're old and we're a fresher, younger team, but it doesn't work like that," O'Shea warned. "They have some outstanding players and we know that if we lose concentration at any stage in the game, they're more than capable of punishing us. They might not be able to move as well, but they'll get to the ball just as quickly because of their thinking speed."
United's squad may be depleted, but O'Shea says the team has what it takes to progress to the final. He admits, however, that luck could play its part.
