Has Jose Mourinho's availability brought about Sir Alex's retirement earlier than expected?

26 years. 39 major trophies. A stand to his name.

Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to call time on his career after ushering Manchester United to one final hurrah as they reclaimed the Premier League crown from rivals Manchester City.

Club sources earlier this week revealed that Ferguson has been booked in for a hip operation in the month of June which would force him to miss the early part of next season. However, for most of this year, both Ferguson and club towed a different line altogether with both saying that he intended to continue atleast for another year or two.

So, what changed in between?

I believe that Jose Mourinho's availability and desire to return to England has brought about Sir Alex's retirement a year earlier. Here's previewing Mourinho's likely arrival at Old Trafford along with that of some other potential candidates who have been touted around.

JOSE MOURINHO

Both the United board and Sir Alex probably waited to see the developments at Real Madrid. Their progress in the UEFA Champions League and Mourinho's 'will he won't he?' move has been the centre of all cynosure. Now that Real are out and Jose has indicated his desire to manage in a place where "he is loved" has opened up possibilities.

Jose's desire to take the Old Trafford job has been an open secret. Reports coming out from the club suggest that the successor has been in talks with Sir Alex for quite some time now. We all know that the 'Special One' shares a good friendship with the gaffer and the two managers hold each other in high regard.

Real Madrid played Manchester United in the Round of 16 in this year's Champions League. After United went out of the competition, losing 2-1 to Real Madrid in their home leg, Mourinho's comments had all the bearings of  someone who potentially saw himself managing the club one day.

For long, Mourinho's case for United has been sidetracked by some saying that he is not a long-term option and that he likes to do short spells of not more than 3 years. Well, this could very well be exactly that. Mourinho coming to United is definitely for a short spell, possibly a 3-year contract.

United's robust system put in place by Fergie will ensure that United remain contenders for the Premier League even with change of personnel. But, it is Europe where the bigger prize lies. And if ever there is a more qualified manager to try and deliver on that holy grail, it is the Portuguese.

Another thing that looks like a good match is that the current United squad plays a much more direct and efficient brand of football much like most of Jose's regular teams. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich went in for an overhaul last year with the players that were bought as well as the managerial choices in an attempt to bring about a more flamboyant brand of football. Would Mourinho really be the ideal manager for such a system? Someone like Juergen Klopp is perhaps better attuned to such needs.

In addition, there is a very strong likelihood of this being a double swoop which brings not one, but two Portuguese stars to Old Trafford, both of whom are managed by Jorge Mendes. Cristiano Ronaldo may well accompany his current manager and return to England. Both of them are managed by football 'super agent' Jorge Mendes, who also happens to manage Anderson and Nani among others. Ushering in arguably his 2 biggest clients into the gates of Old Trafford could very well see him take Ando and Nani out of the club.

In the long-term it does appear that a United legend and one of Fergie's favorite sons, either of Bryan Robson, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer or even Ryan Giggs will take over the hot seat on a more lengthy tenure. In the meantime, Mourinho, a manager with the personality and credentials to match Ferguson's could well be endowed with overseeing a short phase of transition at Old Trafford.

JUERGEN KLOPP

Borussia Dortmund have reached the finals of the Champions League knocking out Mourinho's Real Madrid. It marks the culmination of a journey that began about 5 years ago for both the club and their manager Juergen Klopp. We might be seeing the end of a cycle at Westfalenstadion too and 'Kloppo' as he his referred to could be moving on to another assignment.

Klopp would be a strong second favorite after Mourinho. The German coach is very good in nurturing young talent as evidenced not only in his current stint with Dortmund, but also from his time as manager of Mainz earlier. Sir Alex in his time at Old Trafford has overseen the prominent rise of many a talented youngster from David Beckham to Cristiano Ronaldo and now Phil Jones. Klopp would be an ideal choice in further forwarding that ideology.

The Borussia Dortmund manager may also be inclined to leave as there is a very real possibility that Dortmund could fail to hold on to most of their key players. Mario Goetze has already signed for Bayern Munich and Robert Lewandowski's departure is imminent. Ilkay Gundogan, Mats Hummels and Marko Reus have also been linked with moves away from the Black and Yellow.

If it is indeed to be Klopp, it could represent a more long-term option than Mourinho and someone who would be entrusted with building up the next great Manchester United side. And, like with Mourinho, i believe that with Klopp too it could be a double swoop. Shinji Kagawa is already at Manchester United and Polish striking sensation Robert Lewandowski could well accompany Klopp through the hallowed gateways of Old Trafford if the German tactician does come on board.

DAVID MOYES

And what about the other Scotsman whose reported to be a strong favorite to succeed his legendary countryman? Moyes has long been touted as a possible replacement when Fergie did decide to hang up his managerial boots. He has been part of the Everton project for a long time and with minimal resources has ensured that Everton compete for European places every year.

He is also know to be a good man-manager, like the Gaffer, and someone who manages to get the best out of his players. What could go against him is his lack of European experience and his ability to manage the dressing room egos that abound at Old Trafford.

We're set for a very intriguing 48 hours ahead as Manchester United have announced that Ferguson's successor is to be named in that time frame. The footballing fraternity will be waiting with bated breath to see just who is in line to take over from the footballing institution that is Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot has been known for many a master-stroke, his last one would surely not be any different.

Liverpool fan Nolan wants to have Fergie over for dinner

Liverpool and Manchester United are fierce rivals.

If you are a fan of Liverpool, chances are that you hate Man United.

Likewise, if you're a United supporter.

West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan though is a rarity; a Kop fan all his life, being born and bred in Liverpool, he  expressed his interest in inviting United manager Sir Alex Ferguson over for dinner. Speaking to the media ahead of the clash with Ferguson's United at Upton Park on Wednesday night, Nolan talked about how he had nothing but admiration for the job that Ferguson has done since taking charge of the Red Devils.

Nolan, who was speaking at the West Ham Sports Community event, said he would relish the chance to quiz Fergie over dinner as he seeks to gain insights on the astonishing levels of success achieved by the Scot. Nolan, 30, is contemplating a career in management and is preparing to take his coaching badges in the near future.


Said Nolan, “Fergie would definitely be one of my dream dinner guests. Manchester United have ruled the Premier League and it’s just something I’d like to pick his brains about. All my heroes were probably United players. I’d like to have a really good chat about how he did it, how he built the club, what’s the motivation, all that stuff."

He went on to add, “It was a massive statement when he said ‘when I leave this club I want to have more titles than Liverpool. I think everyone in the world of football respects what he’s done and no one can take away what he has done."

Nolan also went into how Sam Allardyce, his current manager gets along well with Fergie, “I’m hoping he doesn’t go away too soon because I love listening to him and I love him when he has his rants and winds people up. It’s great, I do chuckle. I know he’s close to Sam Allardyce too and the gaffer gets along with him and he takes a lot on board from him, so I really respect him.”

Of course, the Liverpool fan in him was not lost when he stated that he wished Ferguson had chosen Merseyside instead of Old Trafford: “I don’t know the ins and outs of United but what he’s built, obviously the training ground, the stadium, everything which has been done, it’s all because of him. I just wish he went to Liverpool all those years ago but it wasn’t to be and what he’s done for United is phenomenal.”

Winner, winner...Chicken Dinner!

Wayne Rooney: Will he be at Manchester United next season ?

Manchester United last Tuesday were involved in their biggest game of the season as they welcomed Real Madrid to for a crucial 2nd leg of their UEFA Champions League. European nights at Old Trafford always have a special air about them and manager Sir Alex Ferguson even mentioned that he lived for such nights. United though took to the field with one glaring omission from their starting line-up - No.10 Wayne Rooney.

Sir Alex's decision to leave out Rooney in such a big game got the gossip mill started and over the past week there have been many debates about whether the English striker's time at Man United is up. Countless articles have been written about it with opinions split either way. I've decided to wait till the Monday in order to have a look at Rooney turn out against Chelsea in United's FA Cup Quarterfinal at home knowing fully well that he was going to feature.

The official reason given by Ferguson before the game for Rooney's omission was a lack of match fitness. Three days earlier he had put in a superb performance against Norwich that saw him finish with a wondrous goal and two assists. He certainly looked sharp and incisive in that game and though Shinji Kagawa grabbed the headlines with his brilliant hat-trick, there was no doubt that Rooney had a profound impact on the game.

Robin Van Persie's stellar debut season has no doubt pushed Rooney behind in the pecking order at Old Trafford, but claims that the Englishman has been ineffectual are anything but far fetched. Rooney has a superb goals + assists record in the league with 12 of each contributing to 24 goals !!! That is just 6 short of Van Persie who has 19 goals and 11 assists. Talk about a destructive duo.

The match fitness issue that's come up while to some a little out of the blue, is actually less so. Ferguson this season has had concerns regarding his striker's match fitness with his injury early in the season and an apparent reduced effort in training. The Scot is one of the most experienced managers around and if he feels that one of his top stars is not pulling his weight in training, there is no reason why he should not be dropped.

And, Ferguson was well justified, as his team had the measure of Madrid before the red card to Nani changed the complexion of the game. His choice to go with Danny Welbeck and Nani to exploit Real's weakness on the counter was playing out to perfection until that fateful moment when Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir sent Nani off for an early bath.

Rooney's representatives have revealed that things aren't exactly cozy between player and manager. But, the fact is that they don't need to be. Ferguson has been known to have an up and down relationship with some of his players including guys such as Nani and even Cristiano Ronaldo for a brief while. Since the incident 3 years ago when Wayne held Man United to ransom stating that the club was not matching up to his ambition, relations between the fiery Scotsman and Rooney have been strained say sources. But disagreements do happen and they are never a reason for a player to be banished to the bench.

Rooney's contract runs until 2015 and with 2 years left, this is about the time that contract negotiations generally begin. Sir Alex has come out and rubbished reports that the striker's tenure at Old Trafford is drawing near and has offered his word that Rooney would be at Manchester United come next season for sure. But, we all know how press conferences work and more often than not they are meant to assuage fans in the short term and boost up a player's potential sale price when he is eventually moved.

What is important to delve into is this - is Rooney still the explosive player that lit up games with a moment or two of brilliance and one capable of single handedly turning a match on its head ? So far this season and last, we have seen glimpses of the good, but not the great from Wayne. While the stats above show that he has been delivering with great efficiency to the team's cause, there is an element of doubt that his powers are on the wane and that his best years are past him.

Against Chelsea last night, he scored the second of United's goals and put in another very efficient performance. In the first half that United dominated, he looked every bit threatening going forward but in the second half was reduced to a marginal figure and was not able to influence the game once Chelsea got a foothold. He also appeared a little fatigued towards the end indicating that the match fitness card played ahead of the Madrid game may have had some amount of truth behind it.

Let's rewind the clock a bit here to the 2009/10 season, one where Rooney scored 34 goals in all competitions and went on to bag the PFA's Player of the Year award. Ferguson started with a half-fit Rooney in their 2nd leg Quarterfinal tie against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. This after Fergie claimed in the lead up that he had no chance of playing in the return leg after injuring his ankle in the 1st leg in Munich which United lost 2-1 to a late goal from Ivica Olic. Wayne completed an hour before he was subbed after re-injuring his ankle. The season after he led United to the final of the competition where they were comprehensively beaten 3-1 by Barcelona and Rooney was the only United player to come out of that game with any credit. And lest we forget, last season, once again, he netted 34 goals as United agonizingly lost their Premiership crown to cross town rivals Manchester City on goal difference.

In football, memory is short and no matter what rumor mills might churn out, Wayne Rooney remains amongst the top players in world football. The real question on Ferguson's mind could well be if Rooney is still amongst the very best players in his position alongside the likes of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi because that's the level he was operating at a couple of seasons ago. In short, this decision is not one that is going to be influenced by the relationship between the two, but rather more by footballing and economical reasons. 

A benching for a big game on previous instances been a precursor to the eventual departure of the star under Ferguson. David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jaap Stam and a few others have been promptly shown the door due to a deterioration in their  relationship with the fiery Scot. Sir Alex has always steadfastly maintained that no player is bigger than the club and he has been able to successfully rebuild his sides after the loss of such established stars.

Rooney is currently the highest paid player on Manchester United's payrolls. He has been and continues to remain the talisman of the club. Man United being linked to Borussia Dortmund's prolific forward Robert Lewandowski has added further fuel to the thought that Rooney might indeed be shipped out in the summer. Rooney, were he to be sold, would command a significant fee which could be reinvested to buy a new forward and either a central mid/winger.

While talk of Rooney's exit seem premature, what is certain is that Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson have reached a stage where they need to reassess Wayne Rooney's position and role in the team. Sir Alex remains one of the finest judges of talent and player ability. The conundrum for Ferguson will remain as to whether Rooney can rediscover his explosive form that not too long ago made him a feared marksman across Europe; because if he does, Fergie would have a real top notch team at his disposal with the infusion of new talent this season and some small tweaks in the summer. However, if he feels that the forward's contributions have been reduced to that of merely a very good functional player, Fergie may very well take the gamble of cashing in on the superstar and prepare the ground for a fresh start.

UEFA Champions League: What we learnt from this week's action

 The first set of Round of 16 clashes in the UEFA Champions League was completed this week. Four teams have progressed into the next round – Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, and PSG. The match at Old Trafford which saw Real overcome Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United was by far the talking point of many a discussion this week, but the other teams in working their way into the quarterfinals will receive their fair share of the spotlight in the coming rounds. Amongst the many plots and subplots that panned out, here are a few takeaways that emerged from the clashes this week.

Manchester United – Real Madrid

Sir Alex got his tactics spot on for the game and his side had much the better of Madrid until the sending off. Ferguson having got burnt with a more attacking approach the last two times he’s encountered the Spanish giants, played his cards to perfection. The move was a reflection of his increased tactical nous in Europe, something which he has been often criticized for. The fact that United have only won 2 Champions League titles for all of their domestic dominance continues to be a cause for much heartburn for Fergie during his 26 year reign at United. 

The game also brought to light the increased maturity in some of United’s younger players such as Rafael and Danny Welbeck. Rafael was only a few years back dismissed as a headless chicken and someone who was considered a liability for Sir Alex. This is no longer true as the Brazilian has come of age and is now looking solid both domestically as well as in Europe.

Danny Welbeck, for me, was THE outstanding player for United across the two legs. His electric pace coupled with physical strength and running bodes well for the Manchester club and he offers something different in the four pronged forward line of United’s. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane needed to be at their very best to contain the young forward. He does need to improve his finishing though, but this tie has shown that the true blue Manchester lad can mix it with the best in Europe.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the best player on the planet - make no mistake. He is single-handedly carried this Madrid team this season and the kind of consistency that he has brought into his game is incredible. He also possesses such an all-round game that he can pose a threat to opposing defenses in more than one way. Good in the air and off the ground, threat at set pieces and with electric pace and dribbling skills, Ronaldo, in my opinion, has just moved ahead of Lionel Messi in the pecking order.

Real coach Jose Mourinho possesses two things in wholesome quantities – European experience and championship winning good fortune. Both were at the fore this week, as he once again took advantage of a fortuitous decision and made the right substitutions that gave his side the advantage. 

Another quality of Mourinho that has helped in his drive to success is his objective ability to see his teams play bad even in defeat.  And Real will need to improve markedly if they are to go on and win the ‘Decima’. Twice United managed to slow them down by taking the pace out of the game and conceding possession daring Los Blancos to take the initiative. 

Jose Mourinho said after the game that ‘the best team lost’. Taken alongside pre-match comments showering praise on the Manchester club, it looks evident that Mourinho is keen on taking up the manager’s role at OT sometime in the near future.

Ryan Giggs’ display on Tuesday night went some way to showing why he has been offered a 1-year contract extension at the tender age of 39. The Welshman has put in terrific performances in the league as well and his 1,000th international bow was earned and not handed to him by Sir Alex.

And, as for Wayne Rooney, while being benched for arguably the biggest game of the season is a setback, it is by no means a sign that it is the beginning of the end for the English striker. However, what it offers is a peek into the change in status that he now carries at Old Trafford. 

Borussia Dortmund – Shakhtar Donetsk

Dortmund are one of the finest attacking teams in Europe. Under Juergen Klopp, they play an attractive brand of football that most opponents find difficult to cope with. But, one of the primary reasons for their below par League defence this season has been their unusually leaky defence. They have already conceded more goals this season than the previous two and it could be a weakness that gets exploited by stronger teams in the latter stages of the competition. But, they still look a good bet to make the semis of the competition.

In Mario Gotze, Marko Reus, Jakub ‘Kuba’ Blaszcyszkowski and Robert Lewandowski, they have one of the most potent attacking quartets around. And how effectively they click will go a long way in determining how Dortmund’s season shapes up in the latter stages.

Mat Hummels has to now start being considered amongst the best defenders in Europe. The German international is a brilliant reader of the game and is also a ball-playing defender who can initiate the offense from the back. Also, a rugged tackler of the football, he has kept his game up even as colleague Neven Subotic has struggled with injury and Brazilian Felipe Santana has been inconsistent.

PSG – Valencia

PSG’s progression really cannot be talked up much. Valencia are a struggling side with nowhere close to the finances that the Parisian club have access to. PSG’s performance was more efficient than destructive as they crafted their victory out. 

What they can boast of is some mercurial talent on their rolls in the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic along with Javier Pastore, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lucas Moura and with the reassuring presence of Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, a man who has overseen successful European campaigns; they will be a tough team to beat.

Juventus – Celtic

The Italian champions effectively ended the tie with their clinical performance away in the first leg. They put up another efficient showing at home to achieve a 5-0 thrashing of a Celtic team that looked out of its depth in this stage of the contest. Juve have to be looked at as genuine contenders and as with all Italian teams, they started slowly, but have been building momentum as they've progressed.

Their defence and midfield match up with the best in the business and they also have veteran experience to call upon. Midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo is having another stellar season pulling the strings at the heart of the Juve midfield. With the industry of Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba, the Italians have a solid look about them and they are capable of grinding out results if necessary. They do lack a top draw striker though.

For Celtic, it has been a magnificent season regardless of their Round of 16 humbling. Theirs has been one of the stories of the year but the gulf in class between them and the big boys was apparent. Personnel, tactics and experience were the areas they were found wanting and with sound investment in those areas under the astute leadership of Neil Lennon there is no reason to believe we won’t be seeing more of them in coming seasons.

Manchester United vs Real Madrid: 2nd leg, Old Trafford

The last time Real Madrid came calling to Old Trafford, a man named Ronaldo stole the show with his brilliance. That was the Brazilian striker, nicknamed 'El Phenomeno', who scored a quiet magnificent hat-trick that sealed United's fate in that season's UEFA Champions League at the Quarterfinal stage. 

That magnificent treble saw the Brazilian receive a standing ovation at the famous Stretford End in appreciation of his display. Now, 10 years later, Real return to Manchester with another Ronaldo in their ranks - Cristiano Ronaldo. And boy is he going to receive a reception from the United faithful; even before the start of the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester United for the first time since his 80 million pound move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. While, it broke many a fan's heart to see him go, there is absolutely no doubt that he his loved and adored for his marvellous contributions to the Red Devils' success in his 6 seasons with them. The boy wonder who left Manchester returns an Unstoppable force of Nature.

The tie is evenly poised after the first leg at the Bernabeu between the two sides ended 1-1. Ronaldo did score in that game, pulling Madrid back on level terms with a 'hang-time' header after Danny Welbeck had put United ahead. Man United have the away goal and would seem to hold a slight advantage as Real have to score while a goalless draw would suit Sir Alex Ferguson's side just fine. But, as anyone who has had the opportunity to witness the two teams in action since the first leg would tell you, the possibility of that happening is lower than the sight of Rio Ferdinand outrunning Cristiano Ronaldo in a straight sprint.

FORM

Real since the draw, have enjoyed a stellar month of football winning all 4 of their games including 2 back to back victories against arch rivals Barcelona. What would be a welcome source of relief to boss Jose Mourinho would be the return of some rhythm in Madrid's game and the attacking prowess on display with Argentine winger Angel di Maria coming into his own to support Ronaldo up front. 

The Red Devils too have been perfect winning all 3 games even with leading scorer Robin Van Persie on a bit of a drought. The Dutchman who failed to put away a glorious chance in the first leg that would have surely put his side in the driving seat has now gone 4 games without a goal and United fans would be hoping he bucks the trend in tonight's game against Los Blancos.

TEAM NEWS

Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas is the only notable absentee for Jose Mourinho's side as he recovers from a broken hand with all the other major players available for selection.

Phil Jones, who had a standout game at the Santiago Bernabeu, is ruled out of the game with an injury, but you wouldn't be surprised to see him feature as Ferguson has been known to pull a fast one. The young Englishman was one of the key cogs in United's away performance as they managed to see off the danger of Ronaldo and his colleagues. Ferguson has mentioned that veteran Ryan Giggs will feature in tonight's clash deeming it the perfect setting for the Welshman to make his 1,000th international appearance.

KEY BATTLES

Real Madrid love to play on the counter; they are happy to concede possession and let the opponent have the ball confident in their abilities to score on the counter punch. The speed and guile with which they break is breathtaking as Barcelona found out recently when they were left chasing shadows. United like to play expansive football at home bringing the full backs and wingers into play, but having scored the away goal would not be too reluctant to keep it tight early. 

Ronaldo will without doubt hog a fair share of the limelight on his return and it will be interesting to see how the home side's right-back Rafael fares against him in Round 2; the Portuguese the clear winner in Round 1. Also, in Jones' absence, Ferguson would have to decide whether to bring in Tom Cleverley or Giggs to partner Michael Carrick in central midfield. 

Mourinho is likely to field the same side that took to the field in the 1st leg with the impressive Raphael Varane in defence alongside Sergio Ramos. Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso would sit in midfield allowing Mesut Ozil to roam up front just behind the striker with Ronaldo and Di Maria patrolling out wide. 

Shinji Kagawa and Nani have put in impressive performances to boost their chances of selection for the big game as Ferguson ponders who to pick as wingers with Welbeck also in the mix as he is known to track back and help out in defence in addition to being a threat from set pieces. Wayne Rooney has also quietly hit a purple patch of sorts scoring as well as setting up goals.

Carrick and Alonso will set the direction for their respective sides and that midfield tussle along with how well Rafael and co. deal with the returning Ronaldo will go a huge way in deciding the course of this contest.

Real this season have scored in every away game and it does look like United will need to score 2 at the minimum to guarantee progress. On the flip side, Madrid are yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels and that would give United a fillip.

Ferguson has failed on two previous attempts to get past Real, in 1999-00 and the 2002-03 seasons, both in the quarterfinals. He will look to set that record straight tonight. Mourinho who is rumoured to leave Madrid at the end of the season will be keen to sign off on a winning note claiming Europe's top prize with a third different team.

Ronaldo, Van Persie, Rooney, Ferguson, Mourinho. If that ain't an A-list cast, then nothing is. A starry night at Old Trafford beckons; a packed Theatre will turn up to witness some of the finest Actors in football's world stage. And at the end of it all, when the final whistle blows, one team would be able to continue the pursuit of its dreams while the other would have them shattered. 

LIKELY XI's

Man United: De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Rafael, Giggs/Cleverley, Carrick, Kagawa, Welbeck, Rooney, Van Persie

Real Madrid: Lopez, Coentrao, Varane, Ramos, Arbeloa, Alonso, Khedira, Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Higuain/Benzema

Will it be third time lucky for Fergie ?

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side will take on Spanish giants Real Madrid in their second leg clash in the UEFA Champions League. The Round of 16 clash in Europe’s premier club competition is one of the most awaited matches of the round, with both teams on level pegging after the first leg ended 1-1 at the Bernabeu.

This is the 3^rd time that Ferguson’s side has drawn Real Madrid in the Champions League/European Cup and the previous two instances have ended in heartbreak for the English side. What’s more, in both instances, the 2^nd leg of the tie was played at Old Trafford and United were dumped out on both occasions by some Real brilliance from the Spanish side. So, will it be third time lucky for Fergie? Or will a glittering European night once again end in disappointment at the hands of Europe’s royalty.

Manchester United 2-3 Real Madrid, 1999-2000 Quarter-finals [First leg: Madrid 0-0 United; Real progressing 3-2 on aggregate]

United were the defending champions at the time  and were favorites to go through having completed a famous treble the previous season beating Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou to secure Europe’s top prize. The first leg of the tie at the Bernabeu ended goalless. So, it was all to play for in the return leg and in a straight shootout, Real emerged victorious on the night to progress 3-2 on aggregate. The contest bore witness to some fine attacking play from both sides after a subdued first leg in Spain. United had been happy to come back with a draw hoping to finish the job at home. The game will be remembered for Real coach Vicente Del Bosque’s brilliant tactical change that caught Ferguson and Man United off guard. Opting for a 3-3-2-2 formation in place of the regular 4-4-2 with Fernando Redondo the sole central midfielder. The formations allowed full backs Roberto Carlos and Michel Salgado to romp up and down the pitch constantly terrorizing the United back-line  Roberto Carlos in particular had a memorable game as he proved to be a handful down the left for Gary Neville and David Beckham.

The hosts suffered an early setback as a Roy Keane own goal put Real ahead in the 19^th minute. Though United controlled large swathes of the game in the first half, the equalizer never came. And after the break in a matter of 138 seconds, Raul effectively sealed the Spaniards’ progress into the next round; first, capitalizing on a 3-on-2 break from a United corner to make it 2-0 and seconds later finishing off a chance fashioned single-handedly by the magnificent Redondo who had what many claimed to be best ever showing in a football match. Redondo back-heeled the ball between the legs of Henning Berg, ran back to collect it himself and cross it for Raul who turned it in at the far post.

Needing nothing short of a miracle to turn the tie around, Ferguson brought on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham for Andy Cole and Berg and switching to a 3-4-3 formation. Then came a moment of magic from the previously non-present Beckham as he zig-zagged his way past 3 Madrid defenders to score a magnificent solo effort past Iker Casillas. United grabbed one more in the 89^th when Paul Scholes blasted an unstoppable penalty. But, it wasn't enough as Del Bosque’s Los Blancos ended the Red Devils’ reign as European champions and went on to replace them at the helm beating Valencia in the final to claim the trophy.

Manchester United 4-3 Real Madrid, 2002-03 Quarter-finals [First leg: Madrid 3-1 United; Real progressing 6-5 on aggregate]

3 years later, the 2 teams met again at the very same stage of the competition. The roles were slightly reversed this time around as Real had won 2 Champions League titles since their last meeting including the one in 1999-00 and well into the Galacticos era at the Bernabeu with the additions of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Claude Makelele added to the ranks. Man United meanwhile had slipped a bit, with losses to German opposition in previous seasons. Prolific striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy had become the mainstay of the United team after the departures of Cole and Yorke and was enjoying another stellar season after scoring 36 goals in his debut season. Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron had been brought into midfield with Scholes playing behind Van Nistelrooy.

Los Blancos were the overwhelming favorites and United fans’ worst fears were confirmed when their side got beaten 3-1 in the first leg at the Bernabeu. Amidst reports of a rift between Ferguson and star man David Beckham, Sir Alex consigned the winger to the bench for the game. The night was lit up by one of the finest displays ever seen by a striker as ‘El Phenomena’ Ronaldo ripped the heart out of United’s attempted fight back with a magnificent hat-trick. Three times Real took the lead through the Brazilian and three times United equalized.

Van Nistelrooy scored the first of them in the 43^rd before Ivan Helguera put through his own net to bring the hosts level a second time. Beckham came on off the bench to score a brace as he inspired a late United charge. But, it never looked like they would pull it off especially after the catastrophic damage caused by Ronaldo’s treble.