Page 117 - Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography

The game itself was a marvellous drama which drew some terrific performances from our side. I
thought Wes Brown had one of his best games for United and set up Ronaldo’s opening goal with an
excellent cross.
In Chelsea’s semi-final, Michael Essien had played right-back, and I decided while watching

Avram Grant’s team that Ronaldo would play wide left to make life uncomfortable for Essien, a
midfielder by trade.
For our goal, Ronaldo out-jumped Essien, so the plan worked. A midfielder playing right-back
against an attacker of Ronaldo’s brilliance was a big ask, and our man tore him apart. Moving
Ronaldo left opened the door for someone to play wide right. I chose Hargreaves, who was quick,
had energy and could cross the ball. He did well in that role. In the centre of midfield we had Scholes
and Carrick, though Scholes was to come off with a bleeding nose. His breathing was starting to

become congested. Giggs went on in his place and prospered.
Despite the culture shock of Moscow and the hotel, our preparation had been smooth. In the semi-
finals we had beaten Barcelona, drawing 0–0 over there and winning by a single goal at our place.
Scholes’ goal was magnificent, a typical thunderbolt from 25 yards. In the first 20 minutes at Camp
Nou we played well, as we often did against them, striking the bar and missing a penalty. When they
took a grip on the game we just retreated towards the box, which we might have done again in the

2009 and 2011 finals, had I not been determined to win those games our way.
You could call that tactically naive if you wish, but I disagree. We were trying to strengthen our
philosophy about winning in the right manner. My thought on two semi-finals was that we endured a
lot of heart-stopping moments. We lived on the edge of the box, or inside it, desperate to escape. At
Old Trafford, in an even game, we ought to have won by more, with our good counter-attacking.
Equally, when they brought on Thierry Henry for the last 15 minutes, they besieged us in our penalty
box. It was agony on the touchline, looking at my watch. Later I called it the greatest example of the

fans getting behind our men. Every clearance from our box raised a cheer, unusually. Henry missed a
sitter. We showed great character. The team absorbed immense pressure and maintained their
concentration.
After the game I also said: ‘They can’t be shrinking violets here. They have to be men, and they
were men that night.’
We always fancied our chances of adding to the European Cups of 1968 and 1999, provided we

could take control of the ball quickly in Moscow, which we did from the start. Our game was full of
thrust and invention and we might have been three or four goals up. I started to think it would be a
massacre.
Goals can turn games upside down, however, and Chelsea enjoyed a dash of luck just before half-
time, equalising through Frank Lampard, which set us on the back foot. Chelsea progressed from there
and were the better side for 25 minutes of the second half. Drogba struck a post. That was my signal
to think fast about how we might regain a hold on the game. I sent Rooney wide right and brought

Hargreaves into a more central position, which put us on top in the game again. By the end I felt we
were the superior group of players.
Caught in the ebb and flow of events at pitch level, you can never be quite sure whether the
spectacle in front of you is entertaining. But everyone felt this was a terrific piece of theatre, one of
the best European Cup finals. It was satisfying to be part of a show that displayed our League in such
a good light. I must give credit to Edwin van der Sar for the intelligence of his shot-stopping. As

Anelka jogged towards the penalty spot I was thinking – dive to your left. Edwin kept diving to his
right. Except for the penultimate Chelsea kick, which Salomon Kalou took, when Edwin dived to his