www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Fri Nov 27 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. GIGGS SETS VILLA DATE
2. BLACKBURN WARNED OFF KIDD
3. WHAT THEY SAID... Alex Ferguson + Louis Van Gaal
4. BARCELONA SHOWED UNITED HOW TO CUT OPEN TEAMS WHO'LL BE HAPPY WITH A DRAW
5. GROUP D: BARCELONA 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 3
6. FERGIE HAILS ANOTHER UNITED THRILLER
7. United pair match Barcelona Brazilians
8. United crackle
9. Stam Quotes
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Fri 27th November:
27/11/1937: United won 3-2 at Norwich City to keep up their promotion bid watched
by 17,397. Harry Baird, Billy Bryant and Stan Perason scored for the Reds.
Team was: Breedon, Redwood, Roughton, Brown, Vose, McKay, Bryant, Baird,
Bamford, Pearson, Manley.
1957: Uniteds Tommy Taylor scores twice for England as they beat France 4-0 at Wembley.
1997: United beat Kocice (Slovakia) 3-0 at Old Trafford in the Champions League
with goals from Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and an own goal, watched by 53,535.
Team was: Schmeichel, G.Neville, P.Neville (Berg), Scholes, Johnsen, Pallister,
Beckham, Butt (Solskjaer), Cole, Sheringham, Giggs (Poborksy).
************
Barry Daily Comment:
Today we learn that Ryan Giggs will be back for the Villa then
Bayern games. Sounds good to me, a ticket to heaven?
Read more in todays news.
Remaining 1998 games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
Sun 29/11 Leeds (H) PL 14.00 Sky Sports
Wed 2/12 Tottenham (A) (Worthington Cup 1/4 final) 19.45
Sat 5/12 Aston Villa (A) PL 15.00
Wed 9/12 Bayern Munich (H) CL 19.45
Sat 12/12 Tottenham (A) PL 15.00
Wed 16/12 Chelsea (H) PL Sky Sports time 20.00
Sat 19/12 Middlesbrough (H) PL 15.00
Sat 26/12 Nottm Forest (H) PL
Tue 29/12 Chelsea (A) PL Sky Sports time 19.45 UK
UNITED Stats v Leeds:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/vsleeds.htm
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED ***
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98 Leicester City Home D 2-2 11 55,052
22/08/98 West Ham United Away D 0-0 11 26,039
09/09/98 Charlton Athletic Home W 4-1 9 55,147
12/09/98 Coventry City Home W 2-0 5 55,193
20/09/98 Arsenal Away L 0-3 10 38,142
24/09/98 Liverpool Home W 2-0 3 55,181
03/10/98 Southampton Away W 3-0 2 15,251
17/10/98 Wimbledon Home W 5-1 2 55,265
24/10/98 Derby County Away D 1-1 2 30,867
31/10/98 Everton Away W 4-1 2 40,079
08/11/98 Newcastle United Home D 0-0 3 55,174
14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198
21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475
Prem Table 21/11:
Pos Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Aston Villa 13 5 1 1 13 8 3 3 0 7 2 10 28
2 Manchester United 13 5 2 0 18 6 2 2 2 9 8 13 25
3 Arsenal 14 4 3 0 10 2 2 3 2 4 4 8 24
4 Chelsea 12 4 2 0 10 3 2 3 1 11 9 9 23
5 Leeds United 14 4 2 1 10 3 1 6 0 10 8 9 23
6 Middlesbrough 14 3 4 0 12 5 2 3 2 11 11 7 22
******
Champions League:
Group D P W D L F A Pts
Bayern Munich 5 3 1 1 8 5 10
Man United 5 2 3 0 19 10 9
Barcelona 5 1 2 2 9 9 5
Brondby 5 1 0 4 4 16 3
Sep 16 Brøndby 2-1 Bayern München
Sep 16 Man Utd 3-3 Barcelona
Sep 30 Barcelona 2-0 Brøndby
Sep 30 Bayern Munich 2-2 Man Utd
Oct 21 Brøndby 2-6 Man Utd
Oct 21 Bayern Munich 1-0 Barcelona
Nov 4 Barcelona 1-2 Bayern Munich
Nov 4 Man Utd 5-0 Brøndby
Nov 25 Barcelona 3-3 Man Utd
Nov 25 Bayern Munich 2-0 Brøndby
to play.....
Dec 9 Brøndby v Barcelona
Dec 9 Man Utd v Bayern Munich
******
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: GIGGS SETS VILLA DATE
Ryan Giggs has set his sights on a comeback in time for two of
Manchester United's biggest games of the season.
The Welsh winger has returned to full training after breaking a bone in
his foot and aims to face Premiership leaders Aston Villa a week on
Saturday.
Then four days later is the Champions' League clash with Bayern Munich
at Old Trafford which United must win to guarantee their place in the
quarter-finals.
Giggs has ruled out playing this weekend at home to Leeds but says he
is confident of being fit next week.
"I won't be ready for Sunday but I certainly hope to make the Villa
game and I can't wait to get playing again," he said.
"It's been really frustrating being out at this time, especially
missing the big games in Europe."
Giggs was left behind this week when his team-mates flew to Barcelona
but says he is raring to go again after limping off during the 1-1 draw
at Derby a month ago.
"I tried to block a shot but the lad followed through and kicked me on
the side of the right foot," he said.
"An x-ray showed it was broken. It was painful at first and because I
had just recovered from a similar injury on my left foot it was even
more frustrating.
"I've missed 10 games but I'm looking forward to playing at Villa. They
have got off to a good start and they're at the top of the table
showing some great form, so it's going to be a big game for us and I
want to be there."
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: WHAT THEY SAID... Alex Ferguson + Louis Van Gaal
WHAT THEY SAID...
Alex Ferguson is undaunted by the prospect of
having to beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in two
weeks time to guarantee qualification for the
quarter finals. This result at the Nou Camp and
Bayern's 2-0 win over Brondby means they are a
point behind the Germans going in to the deciding
clash.
But United boss Ferguson claims this is what he had
expected all along: ''I think it was always going to
end up that we would have to win that match. We
said before this match that unless we got a victory
that it would be down to winning our last game and
so it has turned out.''
He added: ''It was the kind of game where both
teams could have scored a lot of goals and we have
to be satisfied coming away with the draw because
one team was eventually going to score more goals
than the other if we kept attacking like that. It was
a horrible start for us going a goal down after 50
seconds and that put us on the back foot for 20
minutes. But Yorke's goal did light us up a bit and
we improved from there.''
Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal claimed the
showdown between United and Bayern was too
tight to call. ''I think the match in Manchester will be
a very dangerous one because United have a great
chance because they are playing at home,'' he said.
''But they need a victory because Bayern Munich
have ten points so for them it could be easier.''
The pulsating draw ended Barcelona's slim hopes of
reaching the Champions League final which, in their
centenary year, will be staged at their stadium, and
Van Gaal was desperately trying to put on a brave
face. ''The pain is big because the final is in the Nou
Camp,'' he said. ''But after one week I believe the
pain will have gone, although it will return when the
final is played here. I think though that the Spanish
title will be sufficient for the people here.''
Subject; GROUP D: BARCELONA 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 3
Dwight Yorke, Manchester United's record signing,
scored twice in a pulsating end-to-end match in the
Nou Camp to underline the growing belief that he
can fire Alex Ferguson's side to Champions League
glory. The double from the £12.6m man took his
tally for the season to 12 and he has now netted
five goals in his five games in this competition.
But Yorke was not the only star to shine in another
unforgettable encounter between these two sides.
Rivaldo scored twice and the superb Brazilian was
only denied a third by the crossbar. The only pity is
that these two sides cannot meet again to see if
that would separate them after their two thrilling
3-3 draws - their failure to claim all three points and
Bayern Munich's win over Brondby means the
Spaniards cannot now qualify.
United's cause had been helped by the fact that
Barca coach Louis van Gaal was down to 14
first-team players because of injury, suspension
and ineligibility and he could only name five
substitutes. That appeared to make little difference
to the Spanish champions when Sonny Anderson
fired them into the lead after just 49 seconds. Denis
Irwin's header from Giovanni's cross fell to
Anderson on the edge of the area and he evaded a
challenge from Gary Neville before scoring his
fourth Champions League goal in five games.
United's veterans of their 4-0 mauling in 1994 must
have had a terrible sense of deja-vu and for the
next 20 minutes Barcelona ran them ragged. Peter
Schmeichel, who had at least one object thrown at
him during the warm-up, dived well to his left to
deny Rivaldo after United's defence had stood off.
Twice the Catalan side created two-man overlaps
with their swift counter-attacking, but each time
they failed to capitalise on the opportunities. On the
second occasion, Schmeichel saved well from
Anderson and the Brazilian must have rued his miss
when, two minutes later, Yorke equalised.
Jesper Blomqvist found Yorke with a superb pass
from the left and United's record signing drilled
home. It was Manchester United's first goal on their
third visit to the Nou Camp and it gave Alex
Ferguson's men fresh heart. Schmeichel pulled off a
fine double save when he parried Figo's shot and
he then palmed the rebound away before
Barcelona could pounce.
Yorke continued to cause problems for the home
side's makeshift defence and twice he went close
from crosses from David Beckham and Andy Cole.
The ex-Villa star was denied the chance of scoring
a second just before half-time when he was tackled
by Okunowo after controlling Roy Keane's cross
beautifully on his chest. Yorke and Paul Scholes
went close just after the interval before the
Yorke-Cole partnership brought goal number 20 for
the season in the 53rd minute.
Yorke let the ball run to his fellow forward, who
then played a one-two with his strike partner
before slotting home his third Champions' League
goal of the season. But, just like at Old Trafford in
September, back came Barca and Schmeichel was
caught flat-footed four minutes later when Rivaldo
floated the ball past him and it bounced on its way
into the net.
The match was becoming more exciting by the
minute and Scholes drove over from a good
position. Midway through a pulsating second half,
Yorke headed just wide from Beckham's pass, but
he adjusted his sights and, 60 seconds later, in the
68th minute, he headed United back in front from
an almost identical Beckham cross.
Barca knew their Champions League hopes were
on the line and back they came once again. And it
was that man Rivaldo who hauled them level with a
superb goal after 73 minutes. He controlled Sergi's
cross on his chest before executing a terrific
overhead kick. The Brazilian was denied a hat-trick
by the width of the crossbar when he hit a
piledriver against the woodwork.
The home side turned the screw in the final minutes
and Schmeichel lumbered off his line to thwart
Giovanni after Rivaldo had put him through with a
lovely back-heel. In stoppage time, Cole and
substitute Nicky Butt went close, but there was to
be no winner. Which was probably right.
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Thursday 26 November 1998
Subject: BARCELONA SHOWED UNITED HOW TO CUT OPEN TEAMS WHO'LL BE HAPPY WITH A DRAW
By Philip Cornwall
MANCHESTER UNITED'S draw in Barcelona saw off one of the most
fancied teams in Europe - but all the heroics will prove of little use unless Alex
Ferguson’s team can learn from their opponents. While other results went
their way, and greatly improved United’s chances of qualifying with just a draw in
their last match, the Scot will not be relying on favours from others - and will
know that an inability to break down foreign opponents at home has seen
United knocked out of the competition in the last two seasons.
Barcelona faced a dilemma last night which the Reds will have to tackle in a fortnight.
How do you beat opponents who will be delighted to head home with a point? While
most sides who visit Old Trafford in the Premiership would settle for a draw, they
don’t have the quality of Bayern Munich. The German side's win against Brondby means
that they will fly to England knowing a point will see them through; and, as United
showed in Spain last night, that doesn't half lift a weight from the shoulders.
Peter Schmeichel and co will also be haunted by the memories of Borussia Dortmund and
Monaco, who, in the 1997 semi-finals and 1998 quarter-finals, went to Manchester
with limited ambitions but proved almost impossible to break down.
Barcelona fully demonstrated the dilemma of a side needing to win against one of the
best sides in Europe. Even though Sonny Anderson scored in less than a minute, Louis
van Gaal’s side still had to pile forward - they knew they couldn’t try to defend a 1-0
lead for 89 minutes against the likes of United. As a result, after their early wobbles,
the Premiership side could go forward in far more confidence, knowing that they could
risk slipping further behind because they would still get a second chance, against
different opponents. Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole took full advantage - especially the
latter, who isn't noted for his performances under pressure. However, in a game where
they had an early lead, Barcelona could have attacked in fewer numbers in the first half.
The game turned when they allowed themselves to be caught cold for Yorke’s first.
As the Catalans poured forward, whether to extend or recapture the
lead, or claw back an equaliser, gaps opened up for Jesper Blomqvist
and David Beckham to exploit. Rivaldo, in an extraordinary
performance, was twice able to pull them level - but however
magnificent Cole’s goal was, United lack quite that kind of individual
magic in the penalty area, someone who can produce a strike of the
quality of the Brazilian’s overhead. Which is what cost them dear
against Dortmund and Monaco.
If United are to beat Bayern, they can't afford the same lapses of
concentration that cost them victory in Munich and at home to
Barca. A similar one last night by their opponents allowed Beckham to
cross towards two unmarked strikers for Yorke’s second goal. They
must keep possession better than either side did last night - and do
more to protect their suddenly fragile keeper than either side could
manage in the Nou Camp.
Fergie will not risk playing for a draw, in case a single lapse leads
instead to defeat and possible elimination. That said, he will be
delighted that he can still qualify without winning his final match, and
with just the slightest help from other quarters. But if United are to
prosper in the knockout stages, then they must learn to beat
stubborn opponents. The game against Bayern could prove the ideal
opportunity to do just that.
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: GROUP D: BARCELONA 3 MANCHESTER UNITED 3
Dwight Yorke, Manchester United's record signing,
scored twice in a pulsating end-to-end match in the
Nou Camp to underline the growing belief that he
can fire Alex Ferguson's side to Champions League
glory. The double from the £12.6m man took his
tally for the season to 12 and he has now netted
five goals in his five games in this competition.
But Yorke was not the only star to shine in another
unforgettable encounter between these two sides.
Rivaldo scored twice and the superb Brazilian was
only denied a third by the crossbar. The only pity is
that these two sides cannot meet again to see if
that would separate them after their two thrilling
3-3 draws - their failure to claim all three points and
Bayern Munich's win over Brondby means the
Spaniards cannot now qualify.
United's cause had been helped by the fact that
Barca coach Louis van Gaal was down to 14
first-team players because of injury, suspension
and ineligibility and he could only name five
substitutes. That appeared to make little difference
to the Spanish champions when Sonny Anderson
fired them into the lead after just 49 seconds. Denis
Irwin's header from Giovanni's cross fell to
Anderson on the edge of the area and he evaded a
challenge from Gary Neville before scoring his
fourth Champions League goal in five games.
United's veterans of their 4-0 mauling in 1994 must
have had a terrible sense of deja-vu and for the
next 20 minutes Barcelona ran them ragged. Peter
Schmeichel, who had at least one object thrown at
him during the warm-up, dived well to his left to
deny Rivaldo after United's defence had stood off.
Twice the Catalan side created two-man overlaps
with their swift counter-attacking, but each time
they failed to capitalise on the opportunities. On the
second occasion, Schmeichel saved well from
Anderson and the Brazilian must have rued his miss
when, two minutes later, Yorke equalised.
Jesper Blomqvist found Yorke with a superb pass
from the left and United's record signing drilled
home. It was Manchester United's first goal on their
third visit to the Nou Camp and it gave Alex
Ferguson's men fresh heart. Schmeichel pulled off a
fine double save when he parried Figo's shot and
he then palmed the rebound away before
Barcelona could pounce.
Yorke continued to cause problems for the home
side's makeshift defence and twice he went close
from crosses from David Beckham and Andy Cole.
The ex-Villa star was denied the chance of scoring
a second just before half-time when he was tackled
by Okunowo after controlling Roy Keane's cross
beautifully on his chest. Yorke and Paul Scholes
went close just after the interval before the
Yorke-Cole partnership brought goal number 20 for
the season in the 53rd minute.
Yorke let the ball run to his fellow forward, who
then played a one-two with his strike partner
before slotting home his third Champions' League
goal of the season. But, just like at Old Trafford in
September, back came Barca and Schmeichel was
caught flat-footed four minutes later when Rivaldo
floated the ball past him and it bounced on its way
into the net.
The match was becoming more exciting by the
minute and Scholes drove over from a good
position. Midway through a pulsating second half,
Yorke headed just wide from Beckham's pass, but
he adjusted his sights and, 60 seconds later, in the
68th minute, he headed United back in front from
an almost identical Beckham cross.
Barca knew their Champions League hopes were
on the line and back they came once again. And it
was that man Rivaldo who hauled them level with a
superb goal after 73 minutes. He controlled Sergi's
cross on his chest before executing a terrific
overhead kick. The Brazilian was denied a hat-trick
by the width of the crossbar when he hit a
piledriver against the woodwork.
The home side turned the screw in the final minutes
and Schmeichel lumbered off his line to thwart
Giovanni after Rivaldo had put him through with a
lovely back-heel. In stoppage time, Cole and
substitute Nicky Butt went close, but there was to
be no winner. Which was probably right.
WHAT THEY SAID...
Alex Ferguson is undaunted by the prospect of
having to beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in two
weeks time to guarantee qualification for the
quarter finals. This result at the Nou Camp and
Bayern's 2-0 win over Brondby means they are a
point behind the Germans going in to the deciding
clash.
But United boss Ferguson claims this is what he had
expected all along: ''I think it was always going to
end up that we would have to win that match. We
said before this match that unless we got a victory
that it would be down to winning our last game and
so it has turned out.''
He added: ''It was the kind of game where both
teams could have scored a lot of goals and we have
to be satisfied coming away with the draw because
one team was eventually going to score more goals
than the other if we kept attacking like that. It was
a horrible start for us going a goal down after 50
seconds and that put us on the back foot for 20
minutes. But Yorke's goal did light us up a bit and
we improved from there.''
Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal claimed the
showdown between United and Bayern was too
tight to call. ''I think the match in Manchester will be
a very dangerous one because United have a great
chance because they are playing at home,'' he said.
''But they need a victory because Bayern Munich
have ten points so for them it could be easier.''
The pulsating draw ended Barcelona's slim hopes of
reaching the Champions League final which, in their
centenary year, will be staged at their stadium, and
Van Gaal was desperately trying to put on a brave
face. ''The pain is big because the final is in the Nou
Camp,'' he said. ''But after one week I believe the
pain will have gone, although it will return when the
final is played here. I think though that the Spanish
title will be sufficient for the people here.''
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: United pair match Barcelona Brazilians
By Kevin Fylan
BARCELONA, Spain, Nov 25 - Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole
proved a match for Brazilian stars Sonny Anderson and Rivaldo on Wednesday as
Manchester United clinched a 3-3 draw in the Nou Camp which pitched Barcelona
out of the European Cup.
Three goals, expertly taken each one, by the Manchester United strikers enabled
their team to recover from Anderson's first-minute opener and take the lead at 2-1
and 3-2 in the Champions' League group D match.
Even a dramatic intervention from Rivaldo, who scored a superb flighted free kick
and an even better overhead either side of Yorke's second goal, proved insufficent to
save Barcelona from going out at the League stage for the second successive year.
With one round of matches to come in the Champions' League phase Bayern
Munich lead group D with 10 points after a 2-0 win over Brondby. Manchester United
are second on nine points and Barcelona out of contention on five.
The performance of Yorke and Cole had United boss Alex Ferguson purring as he
looked forward to a showdown with Bayern Munich at Old Trafford to decide the
group winners.
"The forward play tonight was absolutely superb," said a jovial Ferguson.
"We could even have scored more and I'm sure the Barcelona defenders would
agree with that."
For his counterpart at Barcelona, Louis van Gaal, the result was "a terrible pain".
"For everyone -- the players, the coaches the fans -- this will feel terrible tomorrow,"
the Dutch coach said.
"But life goes on and we'll now concentrate on playing attractive football and trying
to win the domestic title."
Barcelona had made an electric start to the game, Giovanni and Anderson
combining to put them ahead in the first minute.
Giovanni, advancing down the right, sent over a measured cross which the United
defence could only partically clear.
Anderson was first to the loose ball and the former Monaco forward lashed home for
his fourth Champions' League goal of the season.
The turning-point of what, until then, had looked like being another Nou Camp
nightmare for United, came midway through the first half as, in the space of a
minute, Barcelona spurned the chance to go 2-0 up and then conceded the
equaliser.
Anderson, found once again by Giovanni, drifted past a bemused United defence
and seemed certain to notch his second, only for Danish World Cup goalkeeper
Peter Schmeichal to block superbly at the near post.
United immediately made United pay for their profligacy as Jesper Blomqvist raced
down the left and threaded a pass through to Yorke, who crashed the ball past Ruud
Hesp.
United went clear 11 minutes into the second half with a wonderfully worked one-two
between Yorke and Cole, the former Newcastle man finishing off nervelessly.
Rivaldo got his first on 56 minutes as his free kick wrong-footed Schmeichel, who
could only watch as the ball flew past him to his right.
Yorke then appeared to have put the game beyond Barcelona as he first forced a
brilliant save from Hesp and then, from the resulting corner, powered in another
header that this time the Dutchman was powerless to stop.
Barcelona, now fighting for their Champions' League survival, came back again,
though, through an inspired Rivaldo, whose chest control and overhead kick left
Schmeichel flapping.
But despite a flurry of chances at either end they could not find their way past the
heroic Dane for a fourth time and they had to settle for a point which is worthless to
them.
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: United crackle
Thursday, November 26, 1998
Let's get ready to Ramblas! The hooligan element among Manchester United's
fans were up for it, alright, with or without a Spanish paraphrasing of American
boxing's colourful call to arms.
They created enough havoc and caused enough damage to close the bars early
along Barcelona's historic Ramblas boulevard the night before.
Unhappily, their players were not on the same state of alert when the vandalism
gave way to the football here 24 hours later.
It was Barcelona who were ready, primed to put into action the Dutch master's
plan for rumbling United's attacking game.
Louis van Gaal is not the most popular figure in Catalonia. Neither the people
nor the players of Barcelona like the rigid system which brought him so much
success with Ajax in Holland and Europe that he is unwilling to change.
The disenchantment with van Gaal is deepening so rapidly there is a feeling
that, despite his long and costly contract, he may not survive as coach should
Barcelona fail to win this Saturday's home match against Atletico Madrid.
That fixture will launch the year-long celebrations of this great club's centenary
and anything less than victory would put such a damper on the fiesta that van
Gaal might be shown the back door.
Yet, in a sense, the intensity of the pressure coming three days later took a
little of the heat off him last night.
Barcelona's obsession with Europe's Champions League is partly on hold at the
moment. They seemed to have accepted that, win or lose against United, they
were not going to qualify for the culminating knock-out stages of the old
European Cup.
Van Gaal was also required to try to keep his prospects in this group
mathematically alive with little better than a team of reserves.
There were enough injured and suspended stars watching from the stands to
have filled an alternative XI - if not the vast Nou Camp.
So depressed is this football obsessed city with the team which is the region's
political and cultural flagship, that the ramparts of this towering stadium were
barely two-thirds occupied.
There might have been more locals willing to come out and watch live rather
than on television had they anticipated the explosive start.
With the noteable exception of van Gaal, the population were confidently
expecting a win for Manchester United. But their coach, as if he was not under
enough pressure already, stuck his neck out still further by predicting that his
makeshift team could exploit United's 'typically English, open play.'
It took his men barely a minute to prove him right. Sony Anderson applied the
brilliant finish to the night's opening goal but there were other factors of greater
significance at work than his explosion of skill and shooting.
For a start, Louis Figo brought his presence to bear on the build-up and was to
have a huge influence on the first half.
More significantly from United's viewpoint, their defenders were caught dozing at
the onset of Barcelona's first attack. Gary Neville and Denis Irwin were the most
obvious culprits but, in addition to their respective heading and marking errors,
the rest of the team were also missing.
The gaps in the Barcelona team were mirrored by the empty spaces around the
cavernous stadium.
The cool demeanour of under-pressure Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal did not
change between the moment when his team entered the arena and the short
time it took them to power ahead.
But there was a smile playing around his mouth when his face was flashed
around the ground on the banks of television screens as thousands of fans
abandoned their dissent and started to celebrate noisily.
United's penalty area resembled a shooting gallery for the first 20 minutes until
they were able to put their house in order. South American after South
American lined up to fire at goal and only a thilling save from Peter Schmeichel
prevented Brazilian Rivaldo from making it game, set and match before five
minutes had passed.
Little Sonny Anderson had inflicted the real damage with a flamboyant finish
after only 50 seconds after Giovanni's cross was headed down by Figo. Neither
Denis Irwin nor Gary Neville handled the situation the way they would have
wanted and the bad start allowed nerves to flourish.
Then Rivaldo's shot looked set for the bottom corner but United's Dane
goalkeeper repaid manager Alex Ferguson for his errors this season against
Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.
Good footwork allowed him to narrow the angle and push the ball round the post
but Giovanni helped Schmeichel a few moments later by failing to convert a
good chance from the edge of the penalty area.
The only question was whether United had the guts, patience and will to win
which was needed to steady things.
Despite the vast gaps, the lunging challenges which were born of adrenalin not
judgment and the evident confusion they showed that they did possess the
necessary qualities.
Barcelona's ability to vary their shape between 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 had been leaving
United stretched and gradually the response was to defend deeper, in greater
numbers and play on the break.
Van Gaal's team were sucked in, if not actually suckered, and it was Dwight
Yorke who hit pay dirt on one such rapid upfield move.
Jesper Blomqvist crept up the left touchline, delivered a precise pass inside to
the Trinidad and Tobago international striker who scored his fourth goal in five
Champions League games with a firm drive under Ruud Hesp's ill judged dive.
The intelligence and variety of the running by Yorke and Andy Cole was enough
to confuse and torment the inexperienced African Okunowo whose partnership
with Michael Reiziger was makeshift.
Although David Beckham's night was strangely pallid for much of the contest
United's game was stiffened by Neville and Stam at the back, held firm by Roy
Keane down the middle and prompted along by the confident Blomqvist.
To be fair to Barcelona they could easily have scored twice more before the
break when only another first class save by Schmeichel stopped Anderson and
the Dane played a bit of pat a cake with the ball, just to entertain the crowd no
doubt, when Figo's shot temporarily evaded his grasp.
The Anderson chance in particular showed Barcelona at their very best when
three passes took them from penalty box to penalty box courtesy of Zenden,
Rivaldo and then Anderson in around four seconds.
Having weathered the storm, equalised and started to match Barcelona chance
for chance United re-invented some danger for themselves thanks to their
treatment of the Figo menace.
Outstandingly the best player on the field the Portuguese was fouled by Irwin,
Blomqvist and Keane but the Austrian referee Gunter Benko was lenient.
Keane was booked but Irwin escaped punishment and so did the Swede who
would have been off because his failure to retreat at a previous free kick had
already brought him a booking.
Cole and Yorke kept on niggling and the latter's astounding dribble around
Reziger and Okunowo, twice, didn't bring the goal it deserved but did bring him
an ovation from the generous and knowledgeable Catalan fans
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Stam Quotes
Man United 26 Nov 1998
STAM PLAYS DOWN POINT AT NOU CAMP
For someone who had just played in one of the greatest games witnessed at
Barcelona's Nou Camp in recent years Jaap Stam was far from happy.
The Manchester United centre-half took little satisfaction from the
pulsating Champions' League clash because his side did not take all three
points.
Stam knows United missed a great chance to reach the quarter-finals and
Bayern Munich's victory over Brondby means they must beat the Germans at
Old Trafford to ensure qualification.
Bayern top Group D by one point from United going into the winner-takes-all
showdown on December 9.
``For the people in the stands it was a nice game to watch, but we really
had to win this match,'' said the Dutchman.
``Everybody will say it was a great performance from us over here to get a
3-3 draw, but I don't know.
``It was not a very good result for us and we may have a point, but we
needed all three because now Bayern are top of the group. Now we have to
win our home game against them.''
Sonny Anderson gave Barcelona the lead after 49 seconds to raise the
spectre of United's 4-0 drubbing on their last visit to the Nou Camp in 1994.
But Dwight Yorke dispelled such fears when he hauled United back into the
game with a 25th-minute equaliser before Andy Cole put them ahead eight
minutes after half-time.
The brilliant Rivaldo levelled four minutes later from a free-kick only for
Yorke to head United back in front on 68 minutes with his fifth Champions'
League goal in five games.
Barca refused to lie down and Rivaldo earned them a point with an overhead
kick in the 73rd minute.
Rivaldo's efforts, though, ultimately proved futile because the draw
snuffed out their lingering hopes of qualification.
Eric Cantona was an interested spectator and he will have been impressed by
his successors' striking success.
Yorke and Cole have shared 21 goals between them this season to the obvious
delight of manager Alex Ferguson.
``The front players were absolutely superb,'' he said. ``They were always a
threat and they could have scored more goals and I think Barcelona can
testify to that.
``Our attacking play kept us in the game and we always looked like we would
score goals.''
Ferguson, though, will not have been so pleased with the bookings for
Jesper Blomqvist, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and Denis Irwin, which mean he
now has six players just one yellow card away from suspension.
Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal was left with the task of trying to lift the
club after their dream of winning the Champions' League in their centenary
year ended.
The philosophical Dutchman said: ``The pain is very big for everybody,
especially the players and the coach, but we are professionals and we can
recover from a loss like this one.
``Life goes on and our aim now is to retain the Spanish title, which I
think is still possible.''
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
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