UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Marseille prepare to face Manchester United in Champions League

Record ID: 809381

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Marseille prepare to face Manchester United in Champions League
  • Date: 14th March 2011
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 14, 2011) (REUTERS) PAN INTERIOR OF OLD TRAFFORD TO SEE MARSEILLE PLAYERS TRAINING OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE MANAGER DIDIER DESCHAMPS PLAYERS RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARSEILLE MANAGER DIDIER DESCHAMPS SPEAKING, SAYING: " If you look purely from a statistical point of view, Manchester United have not been beaten at home, they only conceded one goal in seven Champions League games this season, so it's a tough task. On paper you would expect fully that Manchester United will qualify tomorrow night but we have our chance, our little opportunity. And football is not about statistics alone." WIDE SHOT OF PLAYERS RUNNING MARSEILLE GOALKEEPER STEVE MANDANDA TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARSEILLE GOALKEEPER MANDANDA SPEAKING, SAYING: "When you see what Manchester United have achieved here it is inspirational, and it fills you with respect. Respect yes, but certainly not fear." VARIOUS MARSEILLE TRAINING DESCHAMPS (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIDIER DESCHAMPS SPEAKING, SAYING: "It was a good result for Manchester United ... if you look again at stats, if you get an away draw and do not concede, around 70 percent of the time the team goes through when they play at home, We are talking about Manchester United here, they know how to manage whatever situation might occur on a European occasion. They know they are more obliged to go on the attack when they are at home and it's tough having not scored away if they do happen to concede at home it does complicate the issue a little bit for them. They will certainly go on the attack without risking too much at the back as they are familiar with dealing with these sort of situations." DEFENDER GABRIEL HEINZE STRETCHING WIDE SHOT TEAM STRETCHING
  • Embargoed: 29th March 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABSPTS78SSRCAG1WRSQQ8Q0KEY
  • Story Text: Olympique Marseille threw the statistics book overboard on Monday (March 14) as manager Didier Deschamps plotted to sink Manchester United's "armada" in their Champions League last-16 second leg.
    With the tie finely balanced following a 0-0 draw in France, Marseille head to Old Trafford on Tuesday (March 15) knowing their English hosts have not lost there all season and are favourites to reach their fifth successive quarter-final.
    " If you look purely from a statistical point of view, Manchester United have not been beaten at home, they only conceded one goal in seven Champions League games this season, so it's a tough task. On paper you would expect fully that Manchester United will qualify tomorrow night but we have our chance, our little opportunity. And football is not about statistics alone,"Deschamps told a news conference.
    Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda said he doesn't fear Manchester United's record at Old Trafford.
    "When you see what Manchester United have achieved here it is inspirational, and it fills you with respect. Respect yes, but certainly not fear."
    Deschamps said France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, who struggled in Marseille's 2-0 league win over Stade Rennes on Friday after returning from injury, could be key to their plans, while United winger Nani's surprise return from injury could be damaging.
    Further statistics Marseille will want to forget are that United have never lost to French opponents at home and that a team who go into a home second leg having secured a 0-0 away draw will usually progress.
    "It was a good result for Manchester United ... if you look again at stats, if you get an away draw and do not concede, around 70 percent of the time the team goes through when they play at home, We are talking about Manchester United here, they know how to manage whatever situation might occur on a European occasion. They know they are more obliged to go on the attack when they are at home and it's tough having not scored away if they do happen to concede at home it does complicate the issue a little bit for them. They will certainly go on the attack without risking too much at the back as they are familiar with dealing with these sort of situations." said Deschamps.
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