>Manchester Knocked out by Robben screamer!

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Manchester United’s European campaign has ended after Robben send the devils packing with a volley from the outside of the box. There was so much pre-match buzz about Rooney returning from injury to play this match. Because Manchester United knows that they needed him to help overcome a deficit of 2-1 at Munich. I personally felt if Rooney did appear, it would be too rushed and if he ends up injuring his ankle again, their title push might suffer a huge blow……..and so will England’s World Cup hopes and England fans will want Ferguson’s head on a platter for this!

Manchester couldn’t have asked for a better start as Gibson’s shot gives United the lead that they needed. What i don’t understand from this goal is what on earth was the keeper doing? He just stood there and watch as the ball sneaked past him on his near post. It was poor goalkeeping and Gibson’s goal isn’t that great. United’s second goal came from Nani, now that is a pure class goal from Nani, he has been in fine form last few months. I was not surprised to see him pull something like that but Bayern definitely didn’t defend well enough as the second goal was scored just five minutes after the first goal. Bayern was in total shock as they didn’t know what has hit them, they failed to create any clear cut chances inside the first half hour of the game as Manchester played magnificent football. When Bayern started to get into the game, Nani pops up with a third goal for United. The tie looked all over but Bayern had other plans. Bayern quickly got themselves together and pulled a goal back before half time. That meant that they only needed one more goal to send them to the semi finals on the away goal rule.

When second half started, the German side played with a purpose and started to pose a threat to the United defenses. United’s right back Rafael decided to do something stupid to put United under more pressure when he was sent off for a second yellow card. Manchester had to play forty minutes with just ten men. So if there was a person to blame for the defeat they could have avoided, it would be Rafael. With Rafael gone, Rooney had to be taken off to be replaced by O’Shea. With Rooney gone and ten men, Manchester’s plan was to grind out the result. Unfortunately, the wave after wave of Bayern attack finally paid off when Robben volleyed a corner from Ribery to send the German side to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Bayern Munich definitely deserved their place in the semi finals as Manchester United wasn’t organized and discipline enough to hold the German side from coming back into the game. They would have to blame themselves for not holding on to the a 3-0 lead. I have some sympathy for the devils but Bayern Munich definitely deserved to go through. It will be interesting to see how they comeback from this devastating defeat in this week’s English Premier League fixtures.

Signing off,
Prosoc8

>Manchester United, a one man team?

>Wayne Rooney is on the best form of his footballing career, scoring his 34th goal of the season, in the 2-1 loss to Bayern at last night’s Champions league encounter. However, on the 92 minute of the match, only a few seconds before Olic scored that crucial goal that gave the home side a win, Rooney rolled on his right ankle and had to walk out of the stadium with crutches with protective boots in place. Manchester United fans should start worrying and praying as they have a crucial game in the weekend against Chelsea and then a second leg match against Bayern in Old Trafford…..






There has been so much hype about Rooney getting injured, which i feel only amplifies how much the team relies on him. The last minute double blow at Munich may have demoralized the team, with Rooney potentially injured and a last minute goal dealt to them. It will be interesting to see how the Devils will bounce back from this. Rooney has scored most of United’s goal, he has really stepped up his game this year after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. But i think it is unfair to Rooney that he has the burden of the entire fan base and team on his shoulders  as they look to him to provide the goods. They should have enough players to provide as well, they have the squad dept and quality in them to match up to any team, so i don’t understand why Rooney is the focus of the team when everyone else has the potential to provide the same!


Rooney may have scored the first goal in less than 2 minutes but Bayern slowly got a grip of the game and started pouring forward. If you look at the stats of the game, Rooney was slowly marked out of the game as the scoring opportunities started to favored Bayern. To be honest , Manchester United were very poor and thinking that they could just rely on Rooney to bail them out… not this time… the tide has turned and Bayern have done a 1999 Champions League final reverse on United. Manchester were lucky that Robben wasn’t fit to play, it could have been a far worst scoreline as  Robben and transfer targeted Ribery would have turned the United back four inside out. 


Here is a little food for thought,
What would happen if Rooney couldn’t play both crucial matches? Lose out on the title race and Champions League glory on the reliance of one player. 


Signing off,
Prosoc8