Van der Sar: Reds determined to replicate Moscow
Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar says both he and his team-mates will be driven on by memories of last year’s Champions League final triumph in Moscow when they face Arsenal in their semi-final first leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have wobbled in recent weeks, losing to both Liverpool and Fulham in the Premier League, drawing 2-2 at home to Porto and having to come from 2-0 down at half-time to defeat Tottenham Hotspur and maintain their lead at the top of the league standings.
The Red Devils now face the Gunners for the first time ever in European competition.
And Van der Sar, whose penalty save from Nicolas Anelka sealed last year's success against Chelsea in the Russian capital, says United are more determined than ever to recreate the jubilant scenes of 12-months ago.
“We’ve never played English opposition in a two-legged European game before," said the 38-year-old, named in the PFA Premier League team of the year on Sunday.
“The preparation and the way we go about our job will be no different. It’s just two games on the way to something big we experienced last year. We’ll do everything in our power to achieve that goal again.”
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.