Thursday opponent: the Manchester United.

It is not a revenge. Let's not weigh down this game of meanings too much. We do not weigh it down too much for the quality of the opponent. Have fun playing it like a master at Old Trafford. The stadium at the beginning can be scary. The first fifteen minutes are decisive. If we get into the mentality of winning the game at Old Trafford well, we will see that the opponent and the stadium are not out of reach. It is not the Red Devils who won the Champions League. We have to play with confidence. I am completely sure we can win at their home.

The Red Devils also had their Superga. The Busby boys (named after their coach, Matt Busby) were virtually unbeatable in England and capable of reaching the Champions Cup semi-finals twice in a row. The first time they were eliminated by Real Madrid. The second time they failed to dispute it. Returning from Belgrade where they had eliminated the Red Star (2-1 in Manchester, 3-3 in Belgrade), the plane stopped in Munich to refuel, but was unable to take off and crashed into the fences. It was February 6, 1958. Among the survivors were the coach Matt Busby who later invented the nickname of Red Devils, which also became the team's logo, and Bobby Charlton who in 1966 lifted the World Cup and in 1968 the Champions Cup with Man Utd, a victory even for those who died in that tragedy.

They are favorites because of their great tradition and because they are very strong but if we have eliminated Ajax, we can eliminate another noble and strong club like Man Utd. Above all, we will have to have a good defensive phase and hit on the counterattack, but we will also have to dare and play with quality, also because they are often very long as a team. The English are an unpleasant opponent for the Italians, as Gianni Brera recalled, but Italy beat England at Wembley on two occasions always 0-1 with goals from Capello and Zola and that Italy was not just defense and counterattack, but it was also courage and technical quality.

They start with 4231 but then play with a very free pattern. In the offensive phase, their formation becomes a 235 with the full backs (both at the same time) in attack, so we can hit them on the counterattack, even if they are very quick to return. The right winger (Rashford) can also be on the left, the left winger (Pogba) can also be on the right, the attacking midfielder (Bruno Fernandes) plays as a left winger, as an added midfielder and occasionally also plays the forward (it is necessary to see if he does it even when Cavani plays). Bravo in assisting and entering, even if he is not in a very optimal period. Pogba is very dangerous on the left wing. Sometimes he makes many foul.

Transfermarkt gives Bruno Fernandes, Cavani and Rashford as right-footed, while Pogba and Greenwood as both feet. Remember that right-footers can also use the left foot to shoot, although it is always better to avoid the best foot, and those who are considered ambidextrous are mainly right. So we cover on both feet, mainly the right one. Rashford (right) plays right winger and Pogba (both) as left winger so we are careful with the shot, but in particular we are careful to assist for Cavani or Bruno Fernandes.

De Gea can take long shots and usually doesn't get out the door. From behind they build with Maguire and Lindelof, even if they are often not accurate. They are good at pressing and they suffer from it. They build with 4 defenders placed. McTominay helps Lindelof and Maguire in defense and construction. Fred is also good at construction.

On free kicks they keep the offside line very high, more or less like Ajax did, so we can look for the same solution.

I am sure we will have the qualities to win at Old Trafford. Let's believe it. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi