Manchester United were made to look pretty average by Barcelona. But Barcelona suffered an Arsenal disease; they got stuck in front of a defensive wall all the time because they could not effectively counter-attack.
United returned with a flattering score line and Barcelona left happy that they had played better (like Arsenal usually do) but with nothing.
Counter-attacking is by far the best and most lethal form of attacking. It is the one form of attacking that has no respect for the quality of the opposition.
All it needs is speed and good touch from the team and an opposition that will attack you. Even though United were rubbish, it was always possible that they could score. That is why they are in the position they are in.
I am sorry for going back to the Invincibles so often but they were the best counter-attacking side I have ever seen. Ashley Cole, Lauren, Robert Píres, Patrick Vieira or Dennis Bergkamp could move the ball 60 yards in 5-9 seconds after winning it.
And then they would find a runner in Thierry Henry or Freddie Ljungberg or Píres himself in the 9th to 11th second and there would be a goal. No defence or team could recover in 11 seconds after losing the ball if they had made a commitment in the attack.
United always look like they will score because they are the best counter-attacking team in the league and in the Champions League. But unlike Arsenal’s Invincibles who used 3 quick passes to move the ball 60 yards, United rely solely on Ronaldo to run the ball 60 yards in 9 seconds with the ball.
He can. But if he’s in the wrong place, or if he fails to beat the first man then it’s all over. United are therefore have a much more vulnerable counter-attacking style because it relies too much on one player.
In compensation United have a defence that can pretty much hold out for 90 minutes. It makes them a little more boring than Barcelona or the Invincibles but there is no one with good enough counter-attacking to really punish them.
Intricate passing around the box (like Barcelona) and as most Arsenal fans know is so dependent on precision that even the smallest issue with the playing surface or the sharpness of one player can totally render it useless.
In summary, Messi looks cute but Ronaldo looks lethal.
Anyway, I look forward to the second legs. I have got over the fact that Arsenal are not there so I am relaxed and watching. I just don’t want Chelsea or United to win. I don’t think United deserve it as much as others think.