Sir Alex: Let's step up a gear
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Sir Alex Ferguson believes his United side may need to produce its best away performance in Europe this season if the Reds are to reach the Champions League final.
United are 3-2 up against AC Milan after the first leg at Old Trafford. But, with two away goals in their favour and a formidable reputation at the San Siro, the tie is relatively evenly poised.
United have lost to Copenhagen, Celtic and AS Roma on the road in the competition this season and even the narrow 1-0 victories over Benfica and Lille will have to be improved upon, according to the United boss.
“We have to step up a gear,” urged Sir Alex.
“There’s a chance that we will concede over there, so we have to score. And we will be going over there with an attitude to score.”
A draw would do for the Reds, but aiming for a draw is a dangerous standpoint to take, especially with the quality of opponents now a notch higher.
“Away from home, against Benfica and Lille, we have picked up 1-0 results without being brilliant. But we need to really play well in Milan and have a goal threat about us.”
Defeat in Milan two years ago ended UnitedÂ’s hopes of European glory. But with a team whose maturation has been remarkable since 2005, Sir Alex knows full well that this is a test of just how far the Reds have come.
“What we have got to do is crossing the line like we did against Juventus in 1999, when we needed to go there and get a result,” he said. “Milan have got a richer European history, but we have got a great history also. I think it could be any score, I really do.
“In the first leg, even at 2-1, I still fancied us. I thought at half time we had a chance.
“When you see the goals we lost, they were poor goals to concede. But we had something to cling to – we were creating chances. I said to the players: ‘If you’re conceding goals like that, what chance are you giving yourselves?’.
“But I thought the quality of our football in the first half was good. We were making chances and there was a momentum to our game. I felt that the longer that went on the better it would get.
“I wouldn’t say we are favourites, but we have given ourselves a great chance,” added the boss. “A goal lead is a great start in European football. But we also have a good counter-attacking capability in our team with our speed on the break.” -
this will be the highlight of the champions league semi final..
we dun need to win, we just need to draw. but winning would be sweet since it would be another record since no English Team ever won in Milan's Turf. This away fixture would be the toughest but if our players play like they did in the first, we can make it through!! GO UNITED!!
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To be honest our European away form has been sucky. We really need to step up a few gears.
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so long as they dun concede any sloppy goals.... im sure man utd has a chance.... theres no need to fear milan...
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Floor the dam peddle!
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the team with the better finishing wins.