Vidic: Clean sheet imperative at Old Trafford

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Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic says keeping a clean sheet in their Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal at Old Trafford is imperative if they are to retain their European crown.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side came dangerously close to bowing out to Porto at the quarter-final stage, drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford before a Cristiano Ronaldo rocket rescued the Red Devils in Portugal.

While United's defence appeared equally shaky against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, conceding two first-half goals before a stunning comeback sealed an unlikely 5-2 triumph.

And the 27 year-old Serbian international says the Reds' slump is a result of Ferguson needing to rotate his squad amid a hectic match schedule.

"In the first half [against Spurs] we didn't defend very well," he said.

"In the second half we came back much stronger, and that is how we need to play against Arsenal and any team we play against. It just happens, sometimes things go wrong.

"We will try to fix the problems we have had in the last games, but we need to remember as well that we have changed many players. We have not played with a consistent team at the back, even in the middle or up front.

“We have so many games that sometimes you have to change the team and sometimes you need time to adapt."

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Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

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.

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