Champions League: T-Minus Far Too Many Minutes

By: Martha | April 24th, 2007

It's raining on Drea. It’s been raining in Manchester since Milan arrived yesterday, and according to weather.com, a change is unlikely. What was already going to be a cagey match will probably be made moreso by the wet pitch and constant “light rain;” despite Man U’s makeshift backline, chances are likely to be few and far between, and a single mistake could sink either team. Yes, I’m making myself even more nervous. Sorry, I’ll stop.

According to the Milan website, there was a 16-page Champions League insert in today’s London Times which, despite the fact that it “[calls] on the English teams to bring the Cup home” sounds absolutely dreamy. (In case you’re wondering, the only mention I’ve heard of the game so far today here in NYC is the guy on ESPN Radio who brought it up entirely so he could say “Kaka” and laugh like a fool. And yet I’m still listening.) Some of the Times articles are online, as are other of similar high quality from The Guardian, and despite picking different “key matchups,” they all basically say the same thing: Given the quality of the sides, their histories and the knowledge of their managers, this is going to be a freaking awesome match.

On the Man U side, injuries are a huge concern — they’ll be without at least three first-choices backs (Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are out, and Frenchman Patrice Evra is likely to be available as a substitute at best), which would be considered a crisis even if they were only facing, say, Watford. In addition, their first team has been playing a ton lately, and there are concerns about fatigue — Ronaldo was recently held out of training by Ferguson, simply because he needed the rest. And, finally, there’s the issue of cards: Ronaldo, Evra, Heinze and Scholes are all just one yellow from suspension and may either play with too much caution or whack the hell out of Kaka and find themselves missing the final leg. (Either of which would be just fine for Milan.)

For Milan, meanwhile, things are looking frighteningly rosy: Most everyone is healthy, only Madini is a card from suspension, the whole first team got at least some rest over the weekend, and Dida is back. Plus, today is Billy Costacurta’s ~~68th~~ 41st birthday, so the team will go into the match powered by cake as well as a hatred of Man U. What’s not to like?

All of that said, I’m terrified and will be very happy if Milan — who apparently have never lost an away first leg match in the knockout round — head home with an away goal and a 1-1 draw.