After easing past Fulham at the weekend, I really feel that the confidence is high
and the players really seem like they mean business. Lyon aren't any pushovers
by any means, but United should really be dispatching them at Old Trafford. Lyon
won both their league games since the first leg, beating FC Metz (2-0), and Lille
OSC, (0-1) away. So they'll be full of confidence coming into the game on Tuesday
night, so it's vital that we start well and grab an early goal if possible to end
whatever hopes the French Champions have left of progressing through to the
next round. With the score at 1-1, on aggregate, it is crucial that we're tight at
the back and don't leak any stupid goals which could send us out of the
Champions League.
My Line-Up:
--------------------------------------Van Der Sar-----------------------------------------
-
-----O'Shea---------------Vidic-----------------Ferdinand-------------------Evra-----
-
----Ronaldo--------------Carrick---------------Scholes-----------------Anderson---
-
-----------------------------Rooney-------------Tevez-----------------------------------
Bench: Kusczazk, Nani, Brown, Giggs, Fletcher, Saha, Hargreaves
Fergie will start a strong team for this one, to me. He knows that he needs a
good win and the above team is more then capable of winning the tie. Lat year,
we relied on a certain, Mr. Henrick Larsson, who nodded in a Ronaldo cross to
help us move on in the competition. Paul Scholes seems to be hitting form again
after watching Saturday's game so he'll be a key figure in midfield. Carrick knows
that he's going to be fighting with Hargreaves for that midfield spot almost every
week, but this game needs a Carrick style player. Juninho will be trying to set up
most attacks and Carrick is able to monitor his possession. Along with his pin
point passes, Carrick must start in the center for me. Ronaldo and Rooney will
surely start and they're both in super form so the Lyon defence will have a lot to
deal with. Then add, Anderson and Tevez to the mix and it just spells out a win.
The back four picks itself these days although Vidic may not be back in time. If not
I'd have Wes step in for him and even still, the back looks as solid as ever.
Lyon will have to come out all guns blazing, in a bid to tame the crowd and the
United superstars. Benzema will be eager to prove his quality after netting a
splendid finish in France. Ferdinand now knows what's going to be ahead of him
so he'll be prepared and should put in yet another solid display. As for their
goalkeeper, Coupet, we all know that he's the French number 1, so we have to
respect that and realise that he is a quality keeper, proving it last time out against
Rooney and Ronaldo. We have to be smart about our shots and not try to score
from ridiculous angles because this guy will be equal to the majority of them.
Manchester United key-Man: Michael Carrick
Lyon Key-Man: Juninho
Prediction: 3-0 (4-1)
