Review: United v. Celtic …
In the aftermath of United’s triumph over Celtic, Sir Alex Ferguson must have taken pleasure in United’s attacking potency whilst regretting the concentration lapses of his defenders.
Although he might not admit it, Ferguson must have be delighted too that United’s return to European competition pitted them against a team made equally in the British tradition of blood and thunder football.
The match was a treat for the neutral with both sides committed to attack and many chances made. Most of these opportunities were spurned, acts of loyalty perhaps to the error-strewn character of the contest. Fortunately for United, Celtic’s mistakes proved decisive.
United started the match from where they had left off against Tottenham. The central defensive pairing of Ferdinand and Brown, which had looked imperious before the international break, now breaks out in a cold sweat whenever a high ball comes into the centre. United should have been punished severely for the free headers they allowed Spurs and Celtic’s forwards. Luck of such proportion cannot last.
Ferdinand’s wandering attention has been a feature of his Old Trafford career but he has begun the season in the form that earned him honourable mentions at the World Cup. Against Celtic, however, he chose to take the night off, his poor control gifting the Scottish champions an opening which they converted.
‘We suffered from a lack of concentration,’ Sir Alex admitted. ‘We went 1-0 down and this encouraged Celtic. In fairness it made it one hell of a game. We did fantastic to come back to 2-1 but we then gave away a slack goal. We could have scored more but for some slack finishing and three fantastic saves. But I am happy with the three points.’
In midfield, United also looked less than secure with Carrick and Fletcher fading as the game wore on. Scholes, by contrast, was at the centre of United’s better work, a contribution noted with relish by Sir Alex.
‘Scholes was the man of the match,’ said Ferguson. ‘He is just fantastic and his passing won us the game. Scholes at 31 has phenomenal composure and passing awareness.
Though deprived of the suspended Ronaldo, United still revealed the attacking flair that had swept all before them this season. Two-goal hero Louis Saha garnered all the tributes but also a rebuke from the manager.
‘Some of our attacking play was superb, and we could have had 10 goals,’ said Ferguson. ‘ But we were also slack with our finishing in front of goal and their keeper made some excellent saves.
‘Louis could have beaten the all-time European scoring record. He’s got everything and he will score a lot of goals for us this season if he stays fit.’
Saha was United’s best player on the evening and took his goals with aplomb. Yet, as he showed on Saturday, he also misses chances top class strikers should put away comfortably. He was not alone in this failing against Celtic, with Wayne Rooney also having an evening-to-forget in front of goal.
United now move on to the third game of a crucial week. Arsenal are the visitors on Sunday with Sir Alex conscious that victory would put his team 13 points ahead of Arsene Wenger’s outfit. Even at such an early stage in the Premiership, such a points margin would be daunting.
Giggs’ will sit out the match with a hamstring strain, the latest victim of United’s injury jinx which has already cursed Neville, Vidic and Park Ji Sung, out for three months with ankle ligament damage. United’s terrible luck with injuries continues. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
