United v. Wigan - League Cup Final Preview
Final Day
By Chris O'Brien
February 28 2006
Manchester United's hopes of a successful season hinge on Sunday's League Cup final, as the Red Devils do battle with Wigan Athletic. Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be anxious to lift their first silverware for almost two years as they travel over the border to Wales, and to the Millennium Stadium.
Manchester United will look to win their first silverware for almost two years as they take on the season's surprise package, Wigan Athletic, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the final of the Football League Cup.
The Red Devils have won the Carling-sponsored competition only once in the club's illustrious history, beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the 1992 final. Brian McClair scored the only goal of a hard-fought encounter, with United missing out on the league title to Leeds United, then boasting Eric Cantona in attack, by four points.
United's form in League Cup finals is hardly textbook. Defeats to Liverpool in 1983 and 2003, Sheffield Wednesday in 1991, and the treble-denying loss to Aston Villa in 1994 have been greatly frustrating for the fans who will be anxious to see Sir Alex Ferguson's men put Wigan Athletic to the sword on Sunday afternoon.
The competition has enjoyed something of a roller-coaster ride since its conception in 1961. Having always proved an important part of the calendar to Football League clubs, the introduction of the 'big money' Premiership and increased European commitments for teams saw the League Cup take a major blow in popularity, seeing reduced attendances and often weakened line-ups taking to the field. However, it has recently gone through a major revival, and with last season's winners Chelsea dominating the domestic scene, Sir Alex Ferguson has underlined the importance of the competition for United.
"You have to take winning one trophy - no matter what it is - as a successful season, purely because of the competition we face nowadays," admitted the Scotsman, who brought Treble success to Old Trafford in 1999.
"Money is being thrown at the Premiership now, not just by Manchester United and Chelsea, but by a lot of clubs who are under pressure to deliver and win trophies themselves. We are facing far stiffer opposition now than we were before. We all only have four possibilities to win anything and there will be some big, big clubs, with great histories, who will not win a trophy this season."
The Opposition:
Wigan Athletic certainly promise to provide stiff opposition in what is their first major cup final. The club has previously only enjoyed minor cup success in the Associate Members Trophy and Northern Premier Cup, but they are not comparable with the 72,000 roaring spectators who will pack the Millennium Stadium this weekend.
Long-term investment from chairman David Whelan and, more recently, the successful management style of Paul Jewell has lifted the club into England's top flight for the first time in their history. The Latics have already made a real impact in the Premiership and continue to challenge in the top half of the table, sitting 6th as we go into the game.
The Lancastrian outfit have sold their 25,000 allocation for the game, despite continuing to struggle with attendances at the JJB Stadium. A pitiful 12,181 were at the club's semi-final victory over Arsenal, whilst despite recent improvements, their impressive stadium has generally been empty on their much-publicised rise through the Football League.
Wigan are a confident and dangerous side. In Jason Roberts they possess a lethal and strong striker, whilst Henri Camara also provides plenty of attacking threat. A solid midfield, boasting the impressive Jimmy Bullard and Graham Kavanagh, should prove hard to break down whilst Arjan De Zeeuw continues to defy the age barrier at the back.
Jewell's men go into the game without a win in their last six games, whilst their last meeting with United, the only game ever between the two sides, ended in a 4-0 rout for the Red Devils.
Team News:
United look set to welcome back Rio Ferdinand who has recovered from a hamstring
strain. The England international will start at centre-half, with Gary Neville
certain to wear the captain's arm-band at right-back. Sir Alex must then choose
from Mikael Silvestre, Patrice Evra, Wesley Brown and Nemanja Vidic as he
selects a backline quartet that will play in front of Edwin Van Der Sar. The
defence was a major problem as United crashed out of the F.A Cup last weekend,
so it is vital that an unfamiliar defensive partnership is not opted for.
Meanwhile, John O'Shea could be a surprise inclusion in midfield with Paul Scholes and Alan Smith both ruled out for the remainder of the season. United are left rather short in the middle of the park, and the Irishman may well line-up alongside Darren Fletcher in a pairing that hardly inspires confidence and has plenty to prove. Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo should occupy the flanks, with Louis Saha likely to warm the bench behind the formidable strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Possible XI: Van Der Sar,
Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Fletcher, Giggs, Van
Nistelrooy, Saha.
Substitutes: Howard, Vidic, Richardson, Saha, Park.
Wigan, who have the advantage of playing with the 'under-dog' tag, have seen a recent injury crisis ease and Paul Jewell is faced with a series of selection problems. Though an attacking line-up of Roberts and Camara is the obvious choice, Andreas Johansson has been in superb form with the main duo out for suspension and international commitments respectively.
Jewell will be sweating on the fitness of defender Stephane Henchoz who picked up a knock against Spurs last weekend, whilst Lee McCulloch has also returned to the fitness and the versatile powerhouse forward will be keen to play some part.
Betting Watch:
Odds from Sky Bet
Win in 90 minutes:
Manchester United - 8/13
Wigan Athletic - 9/2
Draw - 9/4
Win the League Cup:
Manchester United - 2/7
Wigan Athletic - 5/2
ManUtdWeb's View:
This is a crucial game for Manchester United F.C and the supporters. The
heartache of last season's unjust Millennium Stadium defeat to Arsenal still
hurts, whilst we are all desperate to see some silverware in the Old Trafford
trophy cabinet.
Wigan blow hot and cold. United swept aside the newly-promoted side with ease
earlier in the season, but the Latics have impressed in the Premiership and are
capable of beating anybody on their day. It promises to be a great encounter.
United to shade it, perhaps with the aid of extra-time.