Italy applauds United's `feat of season'

Manchester United's majestic 3-2 victory in Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final tie against Juventus received rave reviews from the Italian sports press yesterday.

The newspapers emphatically agreed that the best team had won and that United are more than worthy of their place in the final against Bayern Munich. "At no level was there a real contest between United and Juventus and you have to be honest and admit that much," commented Gazzetta Dello Sport, applauding Manchester United as the side that had pulled off the feat of the season, in a front-page leader.

"The English won the game in every corner of the pitch - only they could have believed they still had a chance after Inzaghi's remarkable if ephemeral start (two goals in the opening 10 minutes)."

Several commentators highlighted the fact that United's dominance had been so emphatic that, in the end, many of the 75,000 odd Juventus fans applauded the English side off the pitch. "United are the finalists, a side absolutely worthy of playing in the Barcelona final, so much so that almost the entire stadium stood to applaud them off the pitch . . . in a very sporting gesture," commented Milan daily Corriere Della Sera. "The better side goes on to the final. (United manager) Alex Ferguson may not be exactly the most likeable person in the world but his side knows how to battle and fight like few teams you've ever seen . . . If you take into consideration the fact that United hit the post twice, while (Daniel) Fonseca late in the game cleared off his own line, then the English side's success was totally legitimate," commented Rome daily La Repubblica.

Inevitably, Italian media comment was critical of Juventus, arguing that the Turin side had shamefully wasted brilliant starts, both on Wednesday night in Turin and, equally importantly, at Old Trafford in the away leg two weeks ago. "Juventus were doubly guilty - firstly, for not having either won or scored at least one other goal at Old Trafford, given their remarkable first hour of soccer that night. Secondly, they were guilty last night when failing to wrap up the game on the 2-0 scoreline. On the contrary, they stopped playing and handed the initiative to their opponents," commented Corriere Della Sera.

In analysing United's performance, most Italian commentators singled out four players for special praise, praising the defensive work of Jaap Stam, the midfield battling of Roy Keane, and the sheer liveliness and pace of United's strikers, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole.

More than one commentator expressed regret that Keane's second yellow card against Juventus rules him out of the final, with Corriere Della Sera commenting: "Keane's timing for his goal from Beckham's corner kick was just perfect, but his yellow card rules him out of the Barcelona final. A big loss." Many reports highlight the words of Juventus midfielder Angelo Di Livio: "Perhaps we got things wrong when the score was 2-0, perhaps we shouldn't have sat back so much but, with hindsight, it's easy to say things like that . . .

"What you've got to admit is that this result is also down to Manchester United, they played very, very well. There have been few games as intense as this one in recent seasons in Europe."

The final words, however, belong to the Juventus coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who did not go looking for excuses but admitted with disarming honesty: "You can say that our two goals in 10 minutes induced us to drop back too much, or that we were frightened of winning. Perhaps. "I'd say, though, that we came up against a side that, for one night at least, was better than us. If United play like that in Barcelona, then they can hope to win the Champions Cup."

Jaap Stam is a doubt for United's Premiership match against Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday because of an Achilles tendon injury picked up in Turin.

United's opponents in the European Cup final, Bayern Munich, have been told by Mario Basler that he could leave the club. Basler was particularly scathing towards Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness, adding: "We must ask ourselves, if he does not want me, that rather than letting my contract run 13 months more that he should let it run just one more month."