Andy Gray - Sky Sports Expert

Legends in the making

Andy Gray says the all-England final is a sign of things to come

Posted: 20th May 2008 14:47

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Champions League Final Alex Ferguson Avram Grant
In many ways, given the season that he's had, this final is made for Ronaldo to score the winning goal, but Chelsea are driven and I think they might just nick it.

Andy Gray
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Manchester United v Chelsea
6pm, Wednesday
Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Click here for live listings

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There is that possibility that this final may end up like the insipid FA Cup final we had between these two teams last season.

Sometimes you can know each other too well, which doesn't add to the occasion, and that might well be the case again in Moscow. But I'm hoping that it won't be.

I can't see either of these two teams taking too many chances early in the game, it would go against the grain in many ways so we, as spectators, may have to be patient.

I believe this game will improve as it goes on and could boil up to being a thoroughly engaging game of football.

Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Avram Grant have employed different tactics in the Champions League this season as opposed to the Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo was deployed at centre forward in Rome and at the Camp Nou for example.

Whereas on a Saturday Sir Alex would normally play Ronaldo wide left or allow him to roam from flank to flank.

But in Moscow I don't see either of the managers doing anything surprising with regards tactics.

We pretty much know how Chelsea play and they've been set in stone with the 4-3-3, come 4-5-1 formation and I don't think that'll change now for the most important game they've ever faced.

It will be interesting to see if Sir Alex Ferguson goes 4-3-3 as he has done most of the season or goes in with two up front. He has the players who have the know-how of playing both ways.

Like-for-like

I think he'll go like-for-like with Chelsea to start with and if that's the case then we may well see both teams cancel each other out.

So I don't think tactics will come into it too much on Wednesday night, what's going to be important on the night is going to be the players.

Most of the time players win you big matches, not tactics. Both mangers will be hoping their big-game players perform on the night and whichever team gets the most out of their best players, usually wins finals.

Manchester United know, having played and lost to Chelsea recently in the Premier League, that the centre of midfield is the crucial area for Chelsea.

If United can dominate Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and Michael Ballack, who are likely to start, then they'll be halfway there, but of course that will be extremely difficult.

Sir Alex Ferguson knows that he cannot allow those three to dominate the game like Ballack, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel did in the recent league game.

Both teams will probably defend well, as they have done all season, so you'll be looking at the midfield to come up with something special to unlock the door.

Scholes

Fergie has already said that Paul Scholes will start the match so it will probably be two from Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Anderson or Ryan Giggs to make up the United midfield.

Of course Scholes missed the 1999 Champions League final win through suspension so I'm delighted that he will play in this final.

Normally football doesn't reward the good guys too often but that's not the case here. Scholes must have thought year-after-year missing out on the final that he was never going to get a chance.

So it's great that he gets the opportunity to play in the final especially when you look at what he's contributed to his club over the last 10-12 years.

He's a fantastic footballer, a top lad, an excellent professional and Sir Alex Ferguson has set the stage for him to win the game for United.

Domination

As long as Roman Abramovich is at Chelsea they will be in the mix most seasons. There's too much at Chelsea now for them to let that slip away.

Manchester United will always be contesting for the top honours because of the size of the club.

So at the moment Chelsea and Manchester United are the benchmarks for the rest. Back-to-back titles for Chelsea and now back-to-back titles for United shows both clubs' domination in the Premier League.

This final could be a marker for what may be to come in the following years as we could see English teams dominate in Europe.

And as I said a couple of weeks ago, this United team are close - very close - to being Fergie's greatest, but to become that, they need to win the Champions League.

Both teams have match winners all over the pitch. In many ways, given the season that he's had, many people will have a feeling that this final is made for Ronaldo to score the winning goal that would top of what's been a memorable season for such a young player.

But Chelsea are driven, there's no doubt about that. They have a desire to win this coveted trophy and will be doubly determined after just missing out on the Premier League.

They're fresh and their main men haven't played as many games as United. All the big players should be hitting form at the right time and the collective is as good as United's.

There really is nothing between the two teams and you could make a good case for either team winning this final, but I think Chelsea might just nick it.

Do you agree with Andy Gray? Will the Blues win in Moscow, or will United take home the Champions League trophy? Let us know what you think by filling in the feedback form below.

Comments

Johhny Davies (Manchester United fan) says...

CHRIS BIRCH AND ALL LIVERPOO FANS....I just find it really funny and a little sad that a liverpoo fan are more worried about results for Chelski rather then their own results. Going back to the game between Manchester United and Liverpoo, if Torres felt picked on, surely he should have confronted the ref himself, rather then Mascherano running half the length of the field to have a pop. i just feel if Liverpoo fans worry about their own results and not the tittle contenders', it would make (maybe, but unlikely) every see them in a diifferent light. Also 18 League tittles and 5 CL tittles, were getting close boys, so dont start hating because reality hurts. Finally....why do Liverpoo fans feel the need to comment on stories that have nothing to do with them. United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 17:55 6th June 2008

Paul Williams (Manchester United fan) says...

i personaly think that it will be a very entertaing game. it will be a game of 2 halves, united dominating the first half and chelsea dominating the second half. i just hope the referee doesnt spoil it as i def see sum1 getting sent off maybe drogba. if i was 2 bet on the match i would go for a 1 all draw then united to nick it on penaltys.

Posted 05:13 6th June 2008

Kieran Lavery (Manchester United fan) says...

chris birch is talking a load of rubbish just because liverpool didnt win anything they have to gang up against man united, you telling me chelsea havent been lucky with decisions this season or had a decision they shouldnt of just because they were near the end of the season people go on about them, oh well good enough for premiership champions and champions league wins!!!

Posted 09:56 5th June 2008

Kieran Make (Manchester United fan) says...

If you look at the site which details who should be where on account of refs decisions, you'll see that united should actually have more points than they do, and everton should have finished above liverpool.

Posted 14:28 4th June 2008

Chris Roger (Chelsea fan) says...

i dont agree wid andy manutd gonna nick it on penalties

Posted 23:46 2nd June 2008

Sam Joshi (Manchester United fan) says...

This is more a response to that deluded Liverpool fan with the first post - if you were at the game mate, you would have known that Torres already had a freekick (the treatment he got was no worse than the treatment meted out to Ronaldo/Rooney), and didn't need to give back chat to the ref. In the same instance, Mascherano didn't need to run the width of the pitch to complain, you already had the freekick!, he also did not have to constantly kep swearing at the ref throughout the game(after being booked for a horrendous tackle, that probably warranted a red card anyway)....a point all of you Liverpool fans seem to ignore. As an aside your team failed to show up again at OT, as you have done for the last god knows how many years, your talisman was non existant in the game too (again). You want to get this right mate, NOBODY handed the league to us, we won it fair and square, and I would like to point you to an independant website feaqtured in The Times and The Guardian which will back up my point. They actually have us winning the league by a greater margin had correct decisions been made all season by the referee's. Oh and by the way your team would have finished 5th behind Everton had the right decision been made by referee's throughout the season. For your reference I have kindly provided the details here: www.rightresult.net Happy reading.......

Posted 18:07 28th May 2008

Dennis C. (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I would like to hear what Mr Andy Gray has to say about next season, what teams like Spurs have to do to catch the top four clubs and whether or not he thinks it is possible to bridge gap created by the top four teams. Thank you.

Posted 20:21 26th May 2008

Adam Carter (Colchester United fan) says...

Well, the suggestion that Man. Utd only won the premiereship title because of referees being on their side is quite simply ludicrous. Some decisions go in favour of teams, some go against. The examples given in the comments here are all very good points, but I feel that this is a case of 'selective vision' as there were many other decisions that went against Man. Utd and went the way of teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Man. Utd played the best football, scored a great many goals, conceded very few and therefor deserved to be crowned champions. p.s. Man. Utd were 1-0 up before Mascherano's sending off and I very much doubt that Liverpool would have come back from that at Old trafford.

Posted 12:33 26th May 2008

Andrew Mccabe (Manchester United fan) says...

Yea well done Andy Grey good call UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE AND ENGLAND and we,r gona do it all over again. I dont see why Andy Grey has to be so biased against united iv heard it in his cimmentry dis year and in his team of the year selection when clearly players of united well outperformed players he picked like Vidic.

Posted 14:16 24th May 2008

Dele Oket (Manchester United fan) says...

All said and done ,its united

Posted 13:27 24th May 2008

Michael Woods (Liverpool fan) says...

Man United deserved to win the premiership and I also see them take the Champions league trophy because of their famous attacking style. Bit its not to be a big win Man United - Chelsea 1-0 (Ronaldo)

Posted 11:07 24th May 2008

Richard Cooper (Manchester United fan) says...

chris birch u seem to have selected memory of referees in the premiership too, ok man utd had some decisions go there way, but what about the penalty we should of had against chelsea at stanford bridge? forget that one? over the course of the season decisions level themselves out, dirk kuyts flying kick for example in the merseyside derby should of been a straight red but he only got a yellow card, these things happen in football. Also i heard a poll of who got more decisions out of bennett over the season united or chelsea and suprise suprise chelsea got more decisions.... anyway united won the game in moscow fair and square no refereeing decisions went our way and we won and we deserved it too as we should of been 3-0 up by half time, only a really fluke goal which took 2 deflections beat van der saar that night he had no other saves to make.

Posted 21:03 23rd May 2008

Michael Gordon (Manchester United fan) says...

It was a very tight game as predicted by everyone but with a little bias i have to say United just about deserved it given 1) the amount of clear cut chances they create and 2) Chelsea only shot on target was their goal. Van der Sar's first save from a chelsea player was the Anelka penalty. One other thing can you ask Cris Birch if he felt sorry for Chelsea when Liverpool got the Luis Garcia non goal in the 2005 semi.

Posted 16:36 23rd May 2008

Laa Laa (Chelsea fan) says...

Chelsea Played Exellent Against Man-U Its Their Luck John Terry SLipped

Posted 14:46 23rd May 2008

Andrew Lambert (Manchester United fan) says...

Chris Birch you obviously blind to all the decisions that have gone Liverpool's way over the years. It is a fact thet Liverpool had more penalties than the rest of the division put together in the 80's (A time when your goalkeeper has been convicted of rigging games) If you had the same as the average you would have not won the title in that time. Count how many controversial decisions you have had and you will see your comments come from a bitter supporter who knows their team is shortly going to be eclipsed by the worlds biggest football club.

Posted 13:09 23rd May 2008

Andy Cintron (Manchester United fan) says...

Andy, I enjoyed your commentary of the match. In the US, we get horrible commentary on the ESPN feed but luckily I was able to see the SKY broadcast later on another channel. What were are your thoughts on John Terry sneakily spitting on Carlos Tevez after Drogba got sent off?

Posted 12:50 23rd May 2008

Stefan Rossi (Manchester United fan) says...

chelsea are jelous 100 mil for robinho n kaka whats rong with there youth team never seen chelsea play there youngsters always there 1st team they 3 teams 1st team 2nd team 3rd team 12 defenders 9 midfielders and bout 6 strikers then ya youth united dont go and buy there way into winning trophies we build a squad up we was succesfull with our youth giggs scholse keane neville and more. CHELSEA NEED TO GIVE THERE YOUTH A CHANCE IT AINT FAIR ON THEM BET THERE OVER 25 N STUFF LIKE THAT BUSTIN A GUT TRYIN 2 GET INTO THE 1ST TEAM

Posted 10:59 23rd May 2008

Chris Birch (Liverpool fan) says...

I think Chelsea will be highly motivated to win this games and to get some revenge for losing the premiereship to Ref Steve Bennett, He sent off Liverpools Javier Mascherano for moaning to him about the treatment Fernando Torres was getting from Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand leaving Man Utd with an easy job of beating a team of 10 and gaining 3 points, He then against Wigan missed the Rio Ferdinand hand ball for a penalty (selective Vision) and also let Paul Scholes of with a red card for a very late tackle which would have been his second yellow card and again gave Man Utd the three points they needed to win the premiership. At least Chelsea gave Man Utd a run for their money, it makes you wonder what would have happened if Chelsea had the refs on their side for most of the season. I feel the FA need to investigate Steve Bennett performance as they did with the match fixing allocations a few years ago. All us supporters want is a fair game and consistent decission from the refs. If you book a player from say Wigan for an offence one week and the next week a player from one of the big 4 does the same thing book them to .

Posted 18:58 21st May 2008

Darren Connearn (Manchester United fan) says...

Without doubt, everyone expects a tight game. I personally think that Uniteds irreprssible attacking style, reputation, and foremostly the attacking abilities of Ronaldho, Rooney, Tevez and Scholes, not to mention the rest of the Red Devils will be just too much for Chelsea. I have respect for Chelsea and believe they have backbone and patience but they will be overwhelmed by a United side searchng for true greatness who will not be unnerverved, on the contrary they will play the fluent attacking football which they are famous for . Chelsea are not ready for the United they are playing tonight. 3-0 United

Posted 18:22 21st May 2008

Sam G. (Manchester United fan) says...

I have to disagree with Andy on this one. I don't think Sir Alex will tell the team to sit back and try and nick one on the counter. He's already done it at Stamford Bridge and we all saw what happened. With the attacking might of Chelsea's midfield and strikers, it's folly to just sit back and let them have a go at your defense. Unlike Deco's 2 chances for Barca in the semi-finals, I'd bet that neither Ballack or Lampard would waste those chances. However, all said and done, Manchester United's wingers need to perform in this game. I hope Ryan Giggs won't be scared to take on Beletti or Fereira as Giggs still can be a handful if he goes on one of his crazy runs that is typical of Giggs. I hope he'll think that it'shis very last opportunity and not be shy to take on defenders and give them a hard time. His performance in the last 2 league games were very impressive. I think United really miss a powerful striker who's good in the air and can win aerial challenges for these kind of games. How many times has Drogba held the ball up-field and let the midfielder's have a crack from outside the box? I also hope that Carrick ups his tempo a little and passes the ball a bit quickly. IF Park plays the game tonight, I've a feeling that he will score one goal. Its THE test for Cristiano Ronaldo, whether he can rise up to the occasion and deservedly claim to be the best player in the World, or he will have to wait a few more years to be where he ALMOST is: The Best Footballer in the WORLD. Same goes to Rooney. This is the time for him to prove that he's not just praised on his potential but that he's a proven Champion. Good luck to both supporters and let's hope that whoever wins, we'll get to see one of the greatest finals of our time. Somehow I think it'll be Chelsea 1-3 Manchester United. Just 2 hours 25 minutes left for the game. I'm bl**dy excited!!!!

Posted 17:25 21st May 2008

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