Hoping to continue their strong play in the 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League, Manchester United enters Wednesday’s quarterfinal second leg against Bayern Munich with a legitimate chance to move past the defending champions. Thanks to earning a 1-1 draw at the famed Old Trafford, the Red Devils have place themselves in position to take down the top team in the German Bundesliga. United’s struggles in the Barclays Premier League have been well-documented this season and even though they’ve been playing better of late – earning consecutive victories in the English league following a 3-0 loss to rival Manchester City – the club has still not met consistently high expectations.
Part of the reason Manchester United has a chance to get past Bayern at Allianz Arena is due to the play of scorer Wayne Rooney. The long-time United star has recorded 21 goals on multiple levels this season but due to the fact that he suffered a toe injury in the opening leg against the German’s, head coach David Moyes wasn’t sure if the 28-year-old would be ready to go for the finale, especially since he sat out United’s recent 4-0 victory against BPL affiliate Newcastle. Despite the worries however, the first-year Red Devils boss is confident that Rooney will take the pitch for the biggest match of the season.
“He is massively keen to be involved,” Moyes said of Rooney’s determination and desire to help the club. “He has not trained all week so we will have to be wary of that, but we will do everything we possibly can. We need him as well because he is a really important player to the team. We think it is OK because we wouldn't do anything medically wrong. We take advice from the doctors but everyone knows the character Wayne is. He is determined to play, if he is determined we would be mad not to let him do so. He is happy to take an injection, which shows his feeling about the game and the club.”
While Rooney hopes for improve fitness heading into the crucial match, Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola is preparing for a tough battle between his talented team and a Manchester United team capable of shutting opponents down with tremendous defense. Though he has full belief in his sides’ ability to move into the semifinals in front of the home crowd, the Bayern coach says his players can’t afford to make crucial mistakes, since English teams and Manchester United in general are very good at making you pay.
“They are so defensive,” Guardiola said of English clubs. “They use the counter-attack very well. It's always difficult when one team stays there just to defend, and waits until you make a mistake. Obviously when they play at home they attack a little bit more but when they play away they defend. Maybe David Moyes thinks another thing, but I think they are going to wait back with eight or nine players in the box, await our mistake and wait for a free-kick or a corner to punish us.”
Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO
DATE: Wednesday, April 9
TIME: 2:45pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: FOX Sports 1
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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