BUT SIX YEARS is longer. From going for it all to relying on just the one. Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday knowing that, victory would not only mean a Wembley semi-final but also that a physiological jab could be landed on their title rivals.
One look at Manchester United’s team sheet should have infused them with confidence. United lined out with seven defenders. The Da Silva brothers flanked John O’Shea and Darron Gibson in midfield. Not exactly Xavi and Iniestia.
But United did what they always do against Arsenal. Alex Ferguson has a blueprint for success against the Gunners and it is a slight on Wenger that he has yet to counter it. Ferguson afterwards spoke about picking a team with energy. Wenger mused that United counter well and were clinical. If he knew why didn’t he react?
Box to box, Arsenal are pretty and industrious. Then they stall. Like a prize fighter who has all the shots but no knockout. Their latest setback may not be fatal but they are on the ropes and time is running out.
Rome derby lives up to its billing
Yesterday Lazio and Roma clashed in the Olympic stadium in the Eternal City’s derby. It is a game that defines the season for both. Roma fans could easily stomach their champion’s league exit to Shakthar Donestk if it meant they could vanquish their greatest foes.
They seem to have the Indian sign over Lazio recently. Two Francisco Totti goals sealed their fifth consecutive derby win. A drab first half exploded to life in the 70th minute when Totti fired home a free-kick.
A suitably chaotic ending ensued when first Lazio’s Stefan Radu was sent-off for this insane head-butt and then captain Mario Ledesma walked in stoppage time. This derby usually happens just twice a season. Imagine if an Old Firm style seven series happened.
Just another week at F.C Hollywood
If it seems this column is obsessed with the events at Bayern Munich then I do apologise. But even with Broussia Dortmund streaking clear on top of the Bundesliga (Despite losing the weekend) Bayern remain by far the biggest story.
Louis Van Gaal confirmed what we all knew last week by announcing he was leaving Munich at the end of the season. So what do they do after an announcement like that? Stuff Hamburg 6-0.
They host Inter Milan this week in a tie that is still anybody’s despite Bayern’s away-goal lead. Various names have been mentioned in the race to replace Van Gaal. Current Germany coach Joachim Loew was ruled out by sports director Christian Nerlinger on Saturday, while any notion of an interim appointment was also dismissed.
Matthias Sammer remains strongly linked but what price Rafa Benitez? Or Carlo Ancelotti? After all, FC Hollywood rarely stick to the script.
At any level, United and Liverpool comes with enmity
The FA Youth Cup while remaining a big competition, holds nothing like the stature it once did.
But Liverpool against Manchester United at any level in any competition carries with it history and downright hostility.
United overcame a two goal deficit to advance to the youth cup semi finals yesterday in a game at Anfield that had in no particular order: goals, flares, four red cards (one of which was because of a penalty), and a beaming Alex Ferguson in the stands.
The game featured two players that may very well go on to great things. Rahaem Sterling for Liverpool and Ravel Morrison for United were a class apart and both seem to have a good chance of making it for England’s two biggest clubs.
