Fergie should learn old lessons, if United is to beat Barca

By Richard Sydenham Manchester United face their toughest cup final challenge ever on Saturday when they take on Barcelona in the Champions League showpiece. And Sir Alex Ferguson needs to learn lessons from his previous final experience with the Spaniards. It will be United’s sixth European final after four previous European Cup or Champions League finals and a single triumphant Cup Winners Cup appearance in 1990-91. Never, though, would England’s current league champions have faced an opponent as daunting as the current Barcelona side. Ironically, it was Barca who they defeated 20 years ago in the Cup Winners’ Cup final in Rotterdam when Ferguson achieved his first European success with United over Johan Cryuff’s outfit. [caption id=“attachment_16009” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Manchester United’s manager Ferguson will have to chuck his ego. Reuters”] [/caption] Saturday’s match at Wembley is something different. We’re not talking just another tough European clash, as it was then against a Barca team minus their pedigree of years prior or much later. No, Saturday will be a contest against possibly the greatest club team we have ever seen. With a core dominated by striker David Villa, goal-scoring playmaker Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta in the centre of midfield, and skipper Carlos Puyol, this team will take some shifting. Even a quality Real Madrid team could not outfox them in the two-legged semi-final and with the most cunning of managers in-charge in, Jose Mourinho. And to ensure a fair contest and a chance of victory, English football’s most celebrated manager Ferguson must not make the same mistakes as he did in Rome two years ago when the same teams went head to head. On that occasion rather than continue to do what United had done up to that point, and attack with vigour, the Scotsman seemed to focus on how best his team could temper Barcelona’s attacking threat - than back his own side’s talent. He played one of the world’s best strikers Wayne Rooney on the left flank, while in Rooney’s normal position he played Cristiano Ronaldo, who had created so much mischief for defenders from the left flank – the same one that Rooney had been instructed to occupy so uncomfortably. This was a major own goal for Fergie. One suspects he will have recognised his error almost immediately and will not make the same mistake again this time. However, his ego would not allow him to admit an error in judgment. Whatever happens, the neutrals among us can only hope that the match emulates former United Euro finals that ended with such drama like their last minute win against Bayern Munich in 1999, their tense penalty shootout triumph against Chelsea in 2009 or their enterprising 4-1 win against Benfica after extra-time in 1968 – their maiden European success. United know the pitch at Wembley well and there can be few excuses should they fluff their lines this time. Only a gulf in quality, perhaps, and Fergie is unlikely to admit to that.