Champions League: Do or die

Champions League: Do or die

QUARTER-FINAL, SECOND LEG

BAYERN MUNICH vs MAN UNITED (Tomorrow, 2.40am, SingTel mio TV Ch 111)

l Tie level at 1-1 after first leg

This is it. This is Manchester United's final chance to salvage something from their miserable season.

One game against one team where only one goal is required to book a place in Europe's final four.

Only one problem: It's against Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.

David Moyes, however, will not be daunted by reputation.

Last week, when few predicted anything else other than a crushing defeat, United actually played well.

Had it not been for a harshly disallowed goal and Danny Welbeck's enduring lack of composure, they might even have travelled to Germany with the lead.

Bayern, so dominant in their own league, were unable to press home their advantage.

But tomorrow morning (Singapore time), it will be different.

United will play in front of Bayern's supporters.

But they will do so with Wayne Rooney. The Englishman was thought to be out with a toe injury, but he trained yesterday and Moyes is set to take a gamble with him.

Bayern defender Dante spoke of Rooney's "world-class qualities" this week and Guardiola went even further, describing him as one of the best players he'd ever seen.

ROONEY WILL PLAY

Nor was the Spaniard in any doubt as to whether he'd play.

"I bet you a large glass of beer that he starts," he told journalists yesterday.

United could certainly do with Rooney, though they coped perfectly well without him at the weekend when they crushed Newcastle 4-0 at St James' Park.

Moyes, with one eye on this game, fielded a weakened side, but they performed admirably.

Unfortunately, Newcastle are so risible at present, that it is hard to know if United were particularly good or their hosts were extremely bad.

The performance of Shinji Kagawa certainly gave food for thought.

The Japanese playmaker has endured a frustrating season, rarely trusted by Moyes and believed to be on the brink of an ignominious exit from Old Trafford.

KAGAWA POSER

At St James' Park, linking up with Juan Mata, cup-tied after playing in the Champions League for Chelsea, Kagawa was a force renewed. But will it be enough?

Bayern's long unbeaten run finally came to an end last weekend when they were beaten by lowly Augsburg.

After 53 games without defeat, the giants were brought to their knees.

But it might not be the good news that United fans hope.

Guardiola fielded a very experimental team, packed with veterans and youngsters, lacking the coherence and understanding of the usual side.

He was happy to sacrifice the long run of invincibility because he values the Champions League more.

The German champions will be fresh, fit and focused for this. They have taken no chances.

Moyes has fallen well short of expectations at United.

Few expected a seamless period of transition, but to drop out of the Champions League places is a shock for supporters and owners alike.

This is not what they expected. While publicly and privately, the club insist that they will not dispense with the Scotsman this summer, there are whispers across the continent that replacements are being quietly sounded out.

Louis van Gaal, once set to sign up with Tottenham for next season, has refused to confirm or deny anything until he knows what it is happening at Old Trafford.

Moyes has to do something in these final weeks of the season to prove his worth.

He has to give the board a reason to trust him with the largest transfer war chest ever entrusted to a United manager. He has to win this game.

It may seem unlikely, it may seem impossible, but that's exactly what people said about Liverpool in 2005.

This is the final battle. Moyes cannot afford to lose.

npsports@sph.com.sg

This article was published on April 9 in The New Paper.

Get The New Paper for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.