Points take precedence over panache at Old Trafford
The UEFA Champions League sponsored by Heineken returned last night and across Europe there were plenty of exciting encounters. Werder Bremen and Tottenham Hotspur shared four goals, as did FC Twente and the current holders Inter Milan, while at the Nou Camp Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was back to his best as Barca netted five times. Sadly the action at Old Trafford didn’t live up to the standard set by the other Champions League matches as a goalless draw between Manchester United and Rangers ensured that this ‘Battle of Britain’ won’t live long in the memory. So why was there a lack of excitement for football fans in Manchester?
European football nights are fantastic occasions. There are few better stadiums to host such nights than Old Trafford and The Theatre of Dreams was rocking, with Rangers fans hugely contributing to the fantastic atmosphere. The fans did their part, especially the Scots who travelled and were singing throughout, but this wasn’t rewarded with scintillating action on the pitch. Throughout the game Rangers lined up with ten men behind the ball, often with five across the back line, parking the proverbial bus in front of the goal. It was left to United to unlock the defence, something the Red Devils just couldn’t do and thus a frustrating night ensued. It’s not the first time we’ve seen this sort of encounter either.
The 2010 World Cup largely failed to live up to expectations, with many games mirroring the one at Old Trafford and a general lack of ambition shown as teams played for a point. Rangers can’t be held totally to blame for this, as an away draw will always be a good result. Ultimately they achieved what they set out to do and the cheers from the Rangers section as the final whistle was blown told you exactly which set of fans were happiest. Rangers manager Walter Smith seemed disheartened by the fact that he prepared a team with only one task in hand – to defend, but in this results-driven business points take precedence over panache.
It isn’t the first time that teams have shut up shop from the first whistle to the last and it certainly won’t be the last time it happens either. When teams of differing quality come up against each other 90 minutes of attack v defence will be played out. This time the defence came out on top, as was largely the case in South Africa and the consequence is that the football on show will struggle to capture the imagination of fans. Man United v Rangers will quickly be erased from the memory but the problem is that matches like this seem to be becoming common place across different competitions. So what’s the solution? Score within the first ten minutes and then the next 80 will fly by!
Check out the Top 10 Footballing ‘Battles of Britain’ – unsurprisingly Manchester United v Rangers didn’t make the cut!