1-0 away in Europe in the 1st leg is a very good result against anyone and you would think that against Benfica it would be a dead cert that we will get through. But we must remember that both teams will now go into the games with entirely different mentalities than if we were the ones who had lost 1-0. Just imagine if we had come back from Napoli with a 1-0 win. You can be sure the way the game both teams played in the second leg would have been different and the score would not have been 4-1. No matter how good and how experienced you are, you will always feel a bit lax when you have a solid home victory or an away win. Just look at Arsenal vs AC Milan for an example of the former. We cannot allow that to happen to us, especially not in the general form we have been in this season. A goal for Benfica at 0-0 and things will become very nervy. Let's not forget that we are playing one of the three European teams that taught United a lesson in football (the other two being Athletic Bilbao and Basel). We do of course now carry all the UK's weight on our shoulders and the FA will be hoping we make it to the semis so that we can keep England's coefficient in good standing along with giving us an extra two games so that the FA and media's darlings have a greater chance of top four and making it to the FA Cup final.
agreed, its only half time and if benfica grab a goal first our away goal is nul. need to hit them hard from the off, bag another and then keep hitting them !!
We have learned the hard way, more than once, that one goal is NEVER enough !! Don't think we will forget that in a hurry. Benfica couldn't play that badly again could they ?? Or did we just stop them ?? Either way, a great win, job now half done.
I think we actually overestimated them last night . We definitely could've scored more if we went for it! I agree though, Yurilly, we have to be aware on Wednesday!
Before last night we all hoped for a draw -at best 0-0 or 1-1 expecting a result in our favour at SB! So things surely must be us in the driving seat!!!
I thought Robbie set the team up perfectly to hit them on the counter even with Meireles in it. I think we'll see some changes next week and I hope we don't go out trying to hold on to our lead cos it may get us into trouble. With their lack of pace at the back, Sturridge & Torres have to start. Romeu in for Mikel & Lamps for that twat Meireles.
I was at the 4-4 qtr final with Liverpool. We won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield and most assumed the game would be a formality. To their credit, Liverpool's attitude to the game at S.B was amazing. It is never over especially at 1-0. However, I would take not losing at S.B to progress every day of the week.
