=>un article tres long mais tres interesant de la BBC sur la meilleur equipe possible ave les effectifs de man utd et du real...
=>"The ultimate eleven"
By Paul Fletcher
Manchester United against Real Madrid in the Champions League is the biggest fixture in European football.
But what would you do if you had to select just one team from both squads with everyone fully fit and raring to go?
It´s tricky and sure to cause controversy, but here goes.
--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Goalkeeper
Fabian Barthez(1) is a World Cup and European Championships winner with vast experience and real presence.
Barthez has vast experience
The Frenchman is a superb shot-stopper who has recovered from dips in form since moving to Old Trafford and is in the midst of his most consistent season at the club.
Iker Casillas is a hugely talented keeper who broke into the first team at a very early age, but he does not turn 22 until May and Barthez´s vast experience gives him the nod.
--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Left-back
Much as Mikael Silvestre has impressed this year, Roberto Carlos(2) is widely recognised as the world´s best left-back.
He boasts phenomenal speed, both charging forward and tracking back.
The Brazilian also possesses a fearsome free-kick - the ball seems to accelerate the closer it gets to the goal.
Central defence
Fernando Hierro(3) is for Real Madrid what Laurent Blanc patently isn´t for Manchester United.
At 37, Blanc´s legs are shot and a once-great defender is something of a liability.
Hierro has real presence
Hierro may be 35 but he is still very much a world-class defender who boasts superb distribution and marshals his fellow defenders.
Ivan Helguera is an accomplished football but more naturally suited to midfield than defence and although Wes Brown has had a solid season the second berth goes to Rio Ferdinand(4).
The England defender has made mistakes this season but remains that most rare of commodities - an England defender with real footballing skills.
It is a potent combination and he should complement Hierro superbly.
Right-back
Michel Salgado is superb going forward, pressing the opposition´s left midfielder back into his own half and causing problems for the opposition.
Gary Neville(5) isn´t exactly renown for his goalscoring capabilities but he knows a thing or two about the overlap.
And he is a solid, reliable defender who rarely lets his team-mates down and is not shy of perking up with a word or two should the situation demand it.
606 debate
Who would you pick?
--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Left midfield
Ryan Giggs got the bird from the Old Trafford boo-boys earlier in the season but has silenced his critics with a string of fine performances.
A mazy dribbler, extremely quick of capable of breathtaking moments in big games.
Unfortunately for the Welsh wizard, Real tend to play a certain Zinedine Zidane(6) - and not Steve McManaman - on the left.
The Frenchman is the world´s best footballer - skilful, hard-working, a real eye for goal, an inspiration to his team-mates.......
Central midfield
Claude Makele, Flavio Conceicao or Esteban Matías Cambiasso tend to play in the park for Real.
Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Juan Sebastian Veron or Roy Keane for United.
Scholes(7) and Veron(8) - a fearsome combination
Considering the centre of midfield is such a pivotal area Real tend to deploy their key assets elsewhere but give them freedom to roam through the middle of the park.
Makelele, Conceicao and Cambiasso are all capable but, on paper at least, United have the edge here.
Veron has in many ways been a disappointment for United, especially domestically, but he has been a lynchpin of the team in Europe.
He may be injured for the first-leg in the Bernabeu but he could yet have a key role to play in the return leg.
A couple of seasons ago Keane would have been a definite but the Irish dynamo is not as mobile as he once was.
Scholes, on the other hand, remains a technically gifted attacking midfielder capable of creating scoring opportunities for the dynamic forwards in front of them.
Right midfield
One of the toughest dilemmas of them all - David Beckham(9) or Luis Figo.
Two different players.
Figo a sublime, purposeful dribbler with a superb shot.
Beckham owner of the most gifted right foot of them all, dead-ball specialist and architect of the killer pass.
With so little to choose form counts - and Beckham is better than Figo and has a superb understanding with Neville.
--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Forwards
Lots to choose from here.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Diego Forlan and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the one hand.
Raul(10) - sublime genius
Ronaldo, Raul, Guti, Fernando Morientes and Javier Portillo - the wonder kid of Spanish football who can hardly get a game - on the other.
Raul is a sublime striker with a touch and vision that beguiles and mystifies opposition defences. Hence he has scored more Champions League goals than any other player.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been in breathtaking form in this season´s Champions League. Powerful, hard-working and the top scorer in this season´s Champions League.
It is hard to leave the Dutch striker out - but that would mean Ronaldo(11) on the bench.
Fitness is always an issue with the Brazilian - but at the moment he is healthy, full of running and in top form.
Dropping Van Nistelrooy seems harsh but Ronaldo is the goalscorer supreme and must have his place.
Substitutes
Iker Casillas, Wes Brown, Ryan Giggs, Luis Figo, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
N.B: les joueurs titulaires etaient en gras, je leur ai donc donne un n° pr que vous les reperiez!
