[Dirtycheat]

Phoney war kicks off as Barca legend Cruyff sticks boot into Fergie's United

Johan Cruyff offered a damning assessment of Manchester United's style of football as the phoney war ahead of next week's Champions League clash against Barcelona began in earnest.

There may be six more days to go before the first leg of the semi-final in Spain, but the Holland legend, who coached Barcelona to their first European Cup success in 1992 and is an adviser to president Joan Laporta, was quick off the mark.


away from Old Trafford, insists United assistant Queiroz

He said last night: 'Manchester United run a lot. Their style of football, and that of all the English teams, gives the false sensation that they run more than anyone.

'That's just because, despite having a majority of foreigners in their squads, they maintain the philosophy of long-ball football and sprinting 60 yards after the ball.

'That is how they exploit spaces in front of the midfield.

'If they played in the other team's half more often those spaces wouldn't exist. Despite recognising their effort, you can disarm an English side who press and look for the long ball by keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly.

'You know they will expend all their energy on closing down and chasing long balls, then you know you can beat them by playing the ball horizontally and around them.'

Barcelona, nine points behind leaders Real Madrid in La Liga, are being written off by many people in Spain, especially as they have lost star forward Ronaldinho to a thigh injury.

United will continue their preparation for next week's tie with a Barclays Premier League fixture at Blackburn on Saturday. They will fly to Spain on Tuesday morning.

Barcelona, meanwhile, play rivals Espanyol in the Nou Camp on Saturday evening and will hope for an improvement on their poor form.

Cruyff added: 'Our supporters should not be so negative. Barcelona have players who can open up the game, create space and make one on-one situations against United. Look at Lionel Messi. He is unique. Players like that can win any game.'

While United and Barcelona prepare for their semi-final, Liverpool and Chelsea are preparing to play each other for the third time at this stage.

The first leg takes place at Anfield on Tuesday, and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has offered a stark assessment of his team's chances.

Speaking on Spanish radio, Reina said: 'We're pretty f****d up in our own semifinal. I think Chelsea are going through a good moment, we have the second game away and they are desperate to beat us after what has happened before.'
Phoney war kicks off as Barca legend Cruyff sticks boot into Fergie's United | the Daily Mail

Err...I think cruyff has got counter-attacking football confused with long ball.

Yes, we do sometimes run for 60 yards but we run with the ball not to the ball.

Either way, we are not just a "counter attacking" (long ball for cruyff) team or a passing team. We are a mixture of different styles.

He sounds pretty bitter to me.....

[Prongs]

Firstly , i think Cryuff is playing mind games , if not , then he has confused our style of football to the scousers or chavs style of football . Yes english style of football contains a lot of long balls , but manutd and arsenal don't play english style of 4 - 4 - 2 with one tall central forward knocking down the ball for the second striker .


Besides we dont even have tall central forwards , and the only time we play long balls are , the type of balls carrick dismisses to some brilliant ronaldo or rooney run onto his feet which would not be classified as the typical long ball .

[dimz]

Yes Cruyff, we like to go balls deep on people.

corny? not corny?

[lorken]

He's probably trying to mess with the united players heads cus' he knows we have the better team

[Anderson]

hes either very naive and is in for a shock or just playin mind games

and when he says ; Cruyff added: 'Our supporters should not be so negative. Barcelona have players who can open up the game, create space and make one on-one situations against United. Look at Lionel Messi. He is unique. Players like that can win any game.'

WOW i wonder who we've got who can do that hmm ronaldo maybe?


one last rant

'If they played in the other team's half more often those spaces wouldn't exist. Despite recognising their effort, you can disarm an English side who press and look for the long ball by keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly.

'You know they will expend all their energy on closing down and chasing long balls, then you know you can beat them by playing the ball horizontally and around them.'

isnt that what Arsenal tried to do in the two games this season.... that REALLY worked

[simpsom]

i think he got some point right....
rooney or other SOMETIMES and not always will receive a ball from midfileder from half the field
and i think its just mind game,when will ferguson came out with something too

[lost883]

Sometimes Utd play 50 yard passes but they are from midfielders like Scholes and Carrick and they usually go to someones feet. That is not the long ball game that Cruyff talks about ALA Wimbledon.

If someone is in space 40 yards away why not play it to him

[godiam]

He is right, we run alot...with and without the ball...that's also why we create more chances and possibilities, movement that teams cannot handle and we win the ball back and fight....hence the reason why 3 ENGLISH TEAMS are left in the champions league...lol....hahahaha....