Manchester United Beats Schalke to Reach European Champions League Final
Baku, May 5 (AZERTAC). Manchester United beat Schalke 4-1 to advance to the Champions League soccer final against Barcelona.
Antonio Valencia and Darron Gibson had first-half goals and Anderson scored twice in the second half last night at Old Trafford as United completed a 6-1 win over the two-game series to reach the final for the third time in four seasons.
United and Barcelona, both three-time winners of Europe`s elite club competition, will meet May 28 at Wembley Stadium in London. Both teams won the title for the first time at Wembley -- United in 1968 and Barcelona in 1992 -- and Barcelona beat United 2-0 win in the 2009 final in Rome.
“Barcelona plays extremely good football and it`s going to be difficult, they showed that in the 2009 final,” United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar told ITV. “We have to make sure we learned our lesson from that one and be better prepared.”
After a 2-0 win in the first leg in Germany, and with a game against Chelsea over the weekend that will help determine the Premier League title, United manager Alex Ferguson rested first-team regulars. Van der Sar and Valencia were the only starters from the opening game, while Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand weren`t even among the substitutes.
“They did me proud,” said Ferguson, whose team last won the European Cup in 2008. “The fact that it`s such an important game does create a bit of doubt in your mind of `Am I doing the right thing?` but I`m glad we were vindicated.”
“I`ve said it many times before that we should have done better in Europe over the years and I think we`re getting closer to that,” said Ferguson, who will coach his fourth final. “This team can win the cup. It`s full of great desire and determination.”
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