sport football competitions champions-league 8493665 ----- # Manchester United v Schalke: Ferguson's 'free pass' into final will have Barcelona scratching their heads ## In the directors' box at Old Trafford last night, the spies from Barcelona must have wondered how it happened. ![Anderson - Manchester United v Schalke: Ferguson's 'free pass' into final will have Barcelona scratching their heads][1] All smiles: Anderson celebtaes with Manchester United fans on a comfortable night for his team Photo: REUTERS [![Jim White][2]][3] By [Jim White][4] 6:00AM BST 05 May 2011 [Comments][5] How come, while their club had been required to play out a tetchy, testy, grubby kickfest against their greatest rivals in order to qualify for the [**Champions League**][6] final, here were the side they will face on May 28 being gifted what was effectively a golden pass to Wembley? Whatever happened to that favouritism in which Jose Mourinho insists the Catalans bask? It certainly wasn't in evidence in the semi-final draw. For [**Manchester United**][7] this was a romp, a gentle run-out for their understudies, as untroubled a semi as they have experienced in their long, emotional engagement with Europe. There was none of the fate-imbued catharsis of drawing with Real Madrid in 1968, none of the astonishing display of will power as there had been against Juventus in 1999, no whizz-bang counter-attack like that required at the Emirates in 2009. After doing all the work last week in Germany, the fact is United reached their fifth European Cup final barely breaking sweat. Here's how easy it was for the home side against a Schalke team that might struggle to shine in the Championship: Anderson, who has spent much of his career at Old Trafford doing a sound impression of the only goal-shy Brazilian on the planet, scored twice. ## Related Articles * [Manchester United 4 Schalke 1; agg 6-1][8] 04 May 2011 * [Wembley to inspire United][9] 05 May 2011 * [Manchester United v Schalke][10] 04 May 2011 * [United v Schalke: ratings][11] 04 May 2011 * [Man Utd v Schalke: as it happened][12] 04 May 2011 * [Manchester United v Schalke: preview][13] 04 May 2011 As the game petered out into a testimonial stroll, the crowd were so relaxed they ran through a repertoire of songs for past heroes. That their programme finished with a lusty name-check for Teddy Sheringham tells you all you need to know about how untouched by tension was this occasion. No wonder the visiting observers left early. If they were looking for clues as to how United will play in the final, they were to be found sitting behind them in the comfy seats, where Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Ji-Sung Park and Michael Carrick were dispatched, not even required for dug-out duty. This might have been a Champions League semi-final, but it turned out to be an evening when football's least sentimental manager gave his bit-part actors a public thank you. So how will Ferguson set out his side to play Barcelona? Not with Darron Gibson and Anderson in central midfield as he did here, that's for sure. Not with Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans at centre-back either, and certainly not with Dimitar Berbatov strolling languidly around as a lone forward, stopping occasionally to tug at his shirt, to ensure the material was crease free. The manager will, however, know he needs to do something more than he managed the last time his team met Barca in this competition. Back in 2009 United were brushed aside with an ease that bordered on contemptuous. And this with a side that included Cristiano Ronaldo, a player whose singular ability has yet to be replaced. Yet missing from that line-up was a player whose name is rarely mentioned amonght e club's greats. Darren Fletcher, suspended from action in Rome, was back in contention on Wednesday night. After a long illness which caused him to lose two stone, the Scotland captain came on as a late substitute. As usual he did nothing flashy, nothing ostentatious, refusing to indulge the loud insistence from the stands that he shoot on sight. But he showed he was getting closer to being ready to assume the most substantial role in United's team for the final: shackling Lionel Messi. With Owen Hargreaves now effectively retired, Fletcher is the only man in the United squad capable of man-marking the world's best player. And while it would be facile - with all the other resources at their disposal - to suggest that if you stop Messi, you stop Barcelona, unless Ferguson can find a way to contain the Argentine genius, United have no chance. As was proven in 2009. Playing alongside Ryan Giggs and Carrick, behind Rooney and Javier Hernandez, with Antonio Valencia supplying dash on the wing, Fletcher would provide the kind of defensive cover so clearly missing two seasons ago. And in doing so, United's least acknowledged squad man could make the difference. Which would be fitting comment on a season in which United have been widely regarded as a thin parody of Ferguson's teams from the past. For a bad team they are doing all right. Here they are in the Champions League final and approaching the climax of the Premier League injury and suspension free, their top players rested and ready. On Wednesday the visitors from Catalonia must have returned to Barcelona thinking that in football some guys really do get all the luck. [X][14] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][15] * Share: [Share][14] [ ][16] [ ][17] [Tweet][18] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions- league/8493665/Manchester-United-v-Schalke-Fergusons-free-pass-into-final- will-have-Barcelona-scratching-their-heads.html Telegraph ## [Champions League][6] * ### [Sport »][19] * ### [Jim White »][3] * ### [Football »][20] * ### [European »][21] * ### [Manchester United »][7] External Links * ### [Uefa Champions League][22] * ### [FC Schalke 04 (in German)][23] In sport [![Pep Guardiola - Champions League final: Johan Cruyff believes Barcelona coach could walk away][24] ][25] ### [Guardiola exit talk unsettles Barca][25] [![Champions League final: Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's giant gloves 'impossible' to fill][26] ][27] ### [Van der Sar's gloves 'impossible' to fill][27] [![Rio Ferdinand - Champions League final: Henrik Larsson on the Manchester United line-up for Wembley][28] ][29] ### [Henrik Larsson on United][29] [![Champions League final: Barcelona's Lionel Messi - behind the mask of the world's best player][30] ][31] ### [Messi: behind the mask][31] [![Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][32]][33] ### [Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][33] [X][14] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][15] Share: * [ ][14] * [ ][16] * [ ][17] * [Tweet][18] * Advertisement ![][34] telegraphuk Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][35] [blog comments powered by Disqus][36] Advertisement [PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS »][37] Advertisement Classified Advertising * [Engineering Jobs][38] * [Cars][39] * [Games][40] Loading [Find your ideal job with Telegraph Jobs][41] var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "663501"; var headline = "ENGINEERING MANAGER, KENT"; var description = "Kent £60000 - £65000"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/663501/permanent/kent/engineering- manager-kent-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=663501"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/B6/46/B6E34F1D-0404-41A1-A940-BAC94E2BB846_ 140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669090"; var headline = "Engineering Opportunities with e2v"; var description = "United Kingdom On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669090/permanent/united-kingdom/engineering- opportunities-with-e2v-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669090"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC- C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "670674"; var headline = "Graduate Recruitment"; var description = "Lancashire, Belfast, Isle of Man On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670674/permanent/lancashire-belfast-isle-of- man/graduate-recruitment-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670674"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/48/EC/483698DD- 7BDF-4023-97B3-12F0E6A45AEC_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "673197"; var headline = "Head of Tunnels and Structures"; var description = "London On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/673197/permanent/london/head-of-tunnels-and- structures-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=673197"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/DC/C4/DC97BBEE-5BEE-4B8F-808F- 5F406B9EA5C4_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669239"; var headline = "Chief Engineer - Strategic Programmes"; var description = "Chelsmford On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669239/permanent/chelsmford/chief-engineer- strategic-programmes-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669239"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC- C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "668730"; var headline = "Instrumentation and Control Engineer"; var description = "Berkshire On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/668730/permanent/berkshire/instrumentation- and-control-engineer-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=668730"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/67/C1/67297E9F-24CA-4855-ABCA- E1BA0C66D3C1_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669237"; var headline = "Power Electronics System Design & Test Engineer"; var description = "Chelmsford On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669237/permanent/chelmsford/power- electronics-system-design-test-engineer-job- vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669237"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC- C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "670248"; var headline = "Engineering Management Positions"; var description = "United Arab Emirates On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670248/permanent/united-arab-emirates /engineering-management-positions-job- vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670248"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/TGJobs-logo_140x87-v2.gif"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669475"; var headline = "FEA Engineer"; var description = "Stonehouse On Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669475/permanent/stonehouse/fea-engineer-job- vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669475"; var imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/F4/1C/F4E5E3E5-E431-4211-8E3F- FE8AA4CCE91C_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); [1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01887/fans_1887601c.jpg [2]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01757/JimWhite_60_1757412j.jpg [3]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/jimwhite/ [4]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/jimwhite/ (Jim White) [5]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions- league/8493665/Manchester-United-v-Schalke-Fergusons-free-pass-into-final- will-have-Barcelona-scratching-their-heads.html#disqus_thread [6]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions- league/ [7]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/ [8]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8492635/Manchester- United-4-Schalke-1-agg-6-1-match-report.html [9]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8492919/Manchester-United- ready-to-storm-Wembley-again-four-decades-after-Busby-first-conquered- Wembley.html [10]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8493387/Uefa-Champions- League-semi-final-second-leg-action-in-pictures.html [11]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8492833/Manchester- United-v-Schalke-player-ratings.html [12]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8492625/Manchester- United-v-Schalke-live.html [13]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8490372/Manchester-United-v -Schalke-match-preview.html [14]: # [15]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this- article-What-are-these.html [16]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in this article&body=Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar. %0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions- league/8493665/Manchester-United-v-Schalke-Fergusons-free-pass-into-final- will-have-Barcelona-scratching-their-heads.html %0A%0AFor the best content online, visit www.telegraph.co.uk [17]: javascript:print() [18]: http://twitter.com/share?via=Telegraph [19]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ [20]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/ [21]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/ [22]: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/index.html [23]: http://www.schalke04.de/ [24]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/pep- guardiola_1907581g.jpg [25]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8543194/Champions-League- final-Johan-Cruyff-believes-Barcelona-coach-Pep-Guardiola-could-walk-away- after-Wembley.html [26]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/edwinvansdersar_1907103g.jpg [27]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8541120/Edwin-van-der-Sars- giant-gloves-impossible-to-fill-as-Manchester-United-goalkeeper.html [28]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/Rio_1907631g.jpg [29]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8541124/Champions-League- final-Henrik-Larsson-on-the-Manchester-United-line-up-for-Wembley.html [30]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/lionel_1907458g.jpg [31]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8542900/Champions- League-final-Barcelonas-Lionel-Messi-behind-the-mask-of-the-worlds-best- player.html [32]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01838/newtwit_1838978g.jpg [33]: http://twitter.com/#!/TelegraphSport [34]: http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imp.gif?client=ca- telegraph_uk_420x200&event=noscript [35]: http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=telegraphuk [36]: http://disqus.com [37]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier- league/8229445/Barclays-Premier-League-video-highlights.html [38]: #configurableTab_8257595 [39]: #configurableTab_8120678 [40]: #configurableTab_8255335 [41]: http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/?utm_source=TMG&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaig n=jobslink