BROADSHEETS
Last updated : 20 February 2003 By Editor
Telegraph:
After all the speculation about his future, David Beckham showed last night
why he is such a special servant to Manchester United. Employing that
renowned right boot to devastating effect in an otherwise hesitant
performance by United, Beckham created goals for Wes Brown, the
defender's first in his 96 United appearances, and late on for Ruud van
Nistelrooy.
Beckham's commitment to Old Trafford was also reflected in the final minute
when, having taken a knock after dribbling around Edgar Davids, he insisted
on remaining in the fray and was saluted at length by the fans. Beckham will
have received a far warmer greeting when returning to the dressing-room at
the final whistle from Sir Alex Ferguson than the flying boot encountered on
Saturday, particularly with United moving within touching distance of the
knock-out stage of the Champions League.
The governing body of European football declined the request, forcing Lippi to
summon three teenagers from Turin. When Antonio Conte then pulled up in
the warm-up with a muscle problem, Lippi had to start the Uruguayan,
Marcelo Zalayeta, leaving an inexperienced bench where four of the five subs
shared only two appearances between them.
Instead of building on their lead, United were nervy and dropped too deep.
The deployment of two anchormen, Roy Keane and Nicky Butt, seemed to
concede too much space to Juventus in central midfield.
Pavel Nedved needed little encouraging and kept pushing forward, even
sending a 25-yarder spitting wide as United sat off, and Zalayeta tested
Fabien Barthez with a smart header.
These were worrying times for United. Keane was off the pace; ditto Butt.
Ryan Giggs kept running down culs-de-sac. Beckham attempted to rally the
team, even drilling a wonderful 60-yard crossfield pass to Gary Neville, but
still United lacked spark.
Juventus were far more impressive, particularly given their depleted
resources. Alessio Tacchinardi was outstanding in central midfield, completely
eclipsing Keane and Butt but a booking for dissent rules the influential Italian
out of next week's return.
An ill-judged header backwards by Montero fell invitingly for Van Nistelrooy.
The Stretford End stood in anticipation of another clinical finish by the
Dutchman. Van Nistelrooy ran at Chimenti and was crudely upended.
Penalties do not come much clearer but Kim Milton Nielsen had spotted
Scholes's run on to the loose ball and played advantage. Yet Scholes erred
badly, hitting a post. United screamed in frustration, particularly as Chimenti
should also have been sent off.
The danger inherent in Beckham's right foot was then witnessed to thrilling
effect, the England captain driving the ball into the path of Van Nistelrooy,
who lifted the ball over Chimenti. But as the cheers were still reverberating
around Old Trafford, Nedved scored with a cross-shot. The final whistle soon
followed - so did renewed cheers for Beckham.
Guardian:
Manchester United were wary about the beating of a weakened Juventus and
their second goal, when Ruud van Nistelrooy volleyed home a Beckham
cross, did not come until the 84th minute. They had thus made virtually certain
of a quarter-final place, but the riposte by Pavel Nedved, whose cross crept
crept into the net in stoppage time, was indicative of an enigmatic affair.
There is no advantage in being an unknown quantity when your own manager
is among the most puzzled. Whole departments of the Juventus squad were
off work after an outbreak of the 'flu and injury problems beset the club all the
way to the kick-off, with the name of the captain Antonio Conte hastily
removed from the line-up at the last moment. Marcello Lippi still had good
players, but the blend was not really of his choosing.
The statistics presented Juventus as a study in vulnerability, but Uefa were
gradually vindicated in their decision to reject the plea for a postponement.
Although Lippi's line-up occasionally appeared ill-assorted, the midfield was
still infused with ability.
That factor nudged United towards the circumspect manner they regularly
adopt in European competition. In one of the more subtle developments, the
team has learned to distance itself, when necessary, from the club's outgoing
traditions. These players can be reserved on occasion and a remarkable
record in reaching the closing stages of this tournament is their reward.
Ferguson had talked beforehand about the name of Juventus and the weight
it carried, no matter the make-up of the team selection. Lippi's side had that
ingrained sense of their own heritage. They have an eye to the future as well,
seeing themselves as the side who can take the Champions League for the
third time in their history and so restore the prominence of Italian football.
United's display did have its merits, but they were not of the type to send Old
Trafford into raptures.
Indie:
The only danger David Beckham's valuable visage faced in the dressing room
last night was being poked in the eye by a wayward high five as Manchester
United celebrated their near-certain inclusion in the Champions' League
quarter-finals.
It was not a vintage United performance but an early goal from Wes Brown
and a late one from Ruud van Nistelrooy enabled them to open up a five-point
cushion at the top of Group D. Unlike on Saturday, they could even afford the
luxury of a great chance missed, Paul Scholes following in Ryan Giggs' errant
footsteps.
A point in Turin on Tuesday will be enough to confirm United's place in the
knock-out stage for the seventh successive season. Juventus, though, did
enough to suggest that that will not be an easy encounter. Pavel Nedved's
injury-time goal was too late to affect the result but it was the least their
understrength side deserved.
With Roy Keane having another quiet match, United struggled for control and
their defence afforded Marcelo Zalayeta the first of several wasted
opportunities. Their anxiety manifested itself in a lax pass by Nicky Butt, from
which David Trezeguet shot over, and a rash challenge by Scholes which
brought him a caution.
Juventus continued to look more organised in the second period but should
have conceded again when Van Nistelrooy intercepted Ciro Ferrara's back-
pass after an hour.
If Nielsen's decision to play the advantage was excusable, his neglect at least
to caution Chimenti was not. As Beckham will testify, he used to be far more
prepared to show his cards. United, angered, raised the tempo but the
chances still fell mostly to the visitors, with Alessio Tacchinardi shooting wide
and Zalayeta putting yet another header adrift.
The Turin side's polished resistance worried United until the final five minutes,
when Van Nistelrooy ran on to Beckham's superb arrowed pass and deftly
lobbed the ball over the advancing Chimenti. It was a high-class goal but not
the final word. Giggs was evidently unhappy at being substituted late on while
Nedved's deflected injury-time strike made for a nervous last few moments.
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