CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW
Manchester Uniteds 'Jekyll and Hyde season takes its familiar midweek detour into the Champions League, with a game against Olympiakos that could well secure qualification for the next phase at the half way point of this group stage, thanks to the way the results of first two matches have panned out. But, to paraphrase the old expression 'beware of Greeks perceived to be bearing gifts because Olympiakos proved, with their demolition of Bayer Leverkusen on the opening night, they cannot be taken lightly.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased that his team recovered from a goal down to beat Charlton on Saturday, but he will not be pleased that a side, bereft of the talismanic Roy Keane, proved so reliant on Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The boss had to take a chance on the strikers fitness, after resting his suspect hamstring for a start at The Valley, by sending him into the fray to turn the tide against Charlton. But it may have been a costly three points as the striker suffered a recurrence of the injury and is deemed a major doubt for tonight.
Fergie obviously felt United would be too strong for Alan Curbishlys side so he named Van Nistelrooy as a substitute but how wrong the Scot was. As soon as the Dutchman was introduced he revitalised a pale United team and set up Ryan Giggs to put United ahead before he scored the third goal to give the visitors victory. Yet, so unconvincing was the win that Olympiakos will be fancying their chances at Old Trafford.
At The Valley, Veron was absent, with a virus that Ferguson hopes will clear up before this evenings clash, and so David Beckham played on the right of midfield and promptly gave copious amounts of ammunition to the protagonists of the 'Beckham is more influential in the middle lobby. Poor old Diego Forlan also gave evidence, for the prosecution case, as he was unable to build on his first goal for United and contribute in the scoring department, from open play.
It is a sad indictment of Manchester United that the team is light in the 'goals for department, without Van Nistelrooy. Thankfully, Paul Scholes returned at the weekend doing what he does better than any other midfielder in Europe, getting into the box and scoring goals, a la Bryan Robson, with a typical strike to equalise for United and give them a fingerhold on the game that seemed to be beyond them.
It seems so trite to say United are deficient in the scoring stakes when they have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer available. That man has the patience of a saint and he must be yearning for his manager to show faith in one of the best strikers in Europe and say 'okay Ole, you will play up front for the next half dozen games, whatever.
Failing the selection of the Norwegian goal-poacher, and Van Nistelrooys absence would make Solskjaers inclusion a formality, it is time for Ryan Giggs to punch his weight in the scoring stakes. His goals contribution is too intermittent and maybe he should be frightening the life out of Champions League opposition with a goal threat BEFORE he even takes the field, instead of when he is running with the ball it at his feet, towards goal.
United are expected to recall Gary Neville, after his impressive outing at Charlton and despite Mikael Silvestre (knee), Ruud van Nistelrooy (hamstring) and Nicky Butt (back) carrying knocks all three are expected to be fit for selection. The home side are expected to win and a victory would almost certainly guarantee progress to the next phase but it has to be hoped that Fergie does not forget the Trojan horse.
Fergie, meanwhile, has praised the contribution of Arsenal and Liverpool in raising the profile and reputation of English clubs in Europe and says: "We have improved over the last three years and hopefully we can keep on progressing. Everyone tries to improve their station in life. Arsenal and Liverpool are big clubs and they have succeeded."
"We are no different. We want to be better as well. That is the nature of people with ambitions.'
Ferguson could have one of his strongest squads of the season available to him this evening, providing Van Nistelrooy overcomes a persistent hamstring problem, and he added: "We are getting closer in terms of numbers because of our strongest 22 only Wes Brown and Roy Keane are missing.'
