Fletcher's Armageddon: I don't want to miss a thing
Wednesday, 06 May 09, 06:20 AM · Comments(0)
By Michael Sinnerton
After eleven minutes this second leg had less life in it than Heather Mills'. As good as Manchester United were, it's very difficult to get excited about watching an 80 minute procession, luckily the third goal was pure class and Robin Van Persie may have even given Dimitar Berbatov and co. a few tips on penalties should United face that eventuality in Rome.
This game turned out to be less of a contest and more of a chance for Cristiano Ronaldo to lay down the gauntlet to Leo Messi. The current world player of the year and the heir in waiting could be on a collision course for a Champions League final showdown. Any football fans whose loyalties don't lie with Chelsea, or perhaps Real Madrid/Espanyol, must root on Barcelona tonight, not only so that attacking football is the winner but also so that we get a chance to see Europe's top two teams go head-to-head. There is no doubt in my mind that Barcelona are the best team in Europe this season, regardless of tonight's result, but Manchester United have arguably the best squad and showdown between the two would help rejuvenate this great competition in an era when English dominance threatens to take some of the shine of club football's greatest prize.
Back to the events of last night, given that Manchester United had already sealed their path by the time Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra were removed, surely Darren Fletcher should just have given Fabregas the chance to score. Given that the tie was won, any rash challenges were ill advised and whilst Fletcher may have got a touch on the ball, the challenge was still a rash one. Despite touching the ball he did bring Fabregas down from behind, had the Spaniard been able to stay on his feet he may well still have scored since Fletcher's touch was so minimal. I think it's a penalty. Furthermore, any talk of Fletcher's will to win must be tempered by the logic that the game already won.
One man who may have had mixed feelings about the sending off is Paul Scholes, having been in a similar position he must have felt for his friend and colleague but Fletcher's red card makes Scholes' place in the starting XI in Rome almost inevitable, strange how things work out. Fletcher must hope now hope his time comes again.
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As a footnote, hopefully this game has put all talk of Manuel Almunia playing for England to bed, forget his nationality he simply doesn't have the ability. What next? Trying to get El Hadji Diouf a passport or desperately searching for possible English relatives of Mido?
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