Schalke seeking San Siro inspiration
Reuters - Tuesday 03 May 2011, 18:49
MANCHESTER - Schalke 04 are hoping
to draw inspiration from last month's shock victory at Inter
Milan when they try to overturn a 2-0 deficit away to Manchester
United in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg.
The German side stunned holders Inter 5-2 in the first leg
of their quarter-final at the San Siro and need to produce
something similar to make amends for a woeful performance at
home to United last week.
"Tomorrow we will show we can play better than we did last
week and that we have learnt our lessons," Schalke coach Ralf
Rangnick told a news conference on Tuesday.
"In football you can get the chance so we will see what
happens... when we played in Milan against Inter people didn't
give us much hope either."
The Bundesliga team's task is immense at a stadium where
United have not lost for more than a year and have conceded only
three goals in Europe this season.
United repeatedly tore apart Schalke's defence last week and
on home soil they could prove even more devastating, even if
manager Sir Alex Ferguson is resting players ahead of Sunday's key
Premier League match against Chelsea.
VISA PROBLEMS
But with Schalke having already overcome problems travelling
to Manchester, with the team delayed in Germany for a couple of
hours because of visa issues affecting some players, they are
showing no signs of giving up without a fight.
"I think we have to be well organised in the first 10
minutes and then we have to take our chances when they're
presented, even if there are just two minutes left," Rangnick
said.
"You think of Manchester United and the Champions League win
when they came back to win 2-1," he added, referring to the
English club's stunning 1999 final victory over Bayern Munich
which came after two stoppage-time goals.
United could easily have notched several more goals last
week had it not been for the heroics of Manuel Neuer who
Ferguson said had produced "arguably the finest goalkeeping
display against us in Europe in my time".
Asked how important Neuer, who has caught United's eye as
they seek to replaceme the retiring Edwin Van der Sar, would be
on Wednesday, Rangnick grinned: "I hope a lot less important
than last week."