Drubbing for Schalke
May 4, 2011
Manchester United, the top team in the English Premier League, were far too for Schalke, beating the visiting Germans 4-1 to take the semifinal 6-1 on aggregate.
United's manager, Alex Ferguson, fielded far from his strongest side, saving his best players for a critical Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday. But after their second goal, in the 31st minute, the writing was on the wall. Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer held his head after letting a low and straight shot by Darron Gibson cannon off his shin, onto the post and into the goal.
Schalke's Jose Manuel Jurado scored a few minutes later, but United had found its rhythm. The third and fourth goals in the second half were the final nails in Schalke's coffin, although the team offered greater resistance than the scoreline showed.
Wednesday's defeat means Schalke, who are in 10th place in the Bundesliga, will not be returning to the Champions League next season. Their only realistic hope of European football is to win the German Cup final against second division Duisburg later this month, which would qualify them for next season's Europa League.
Manchester United is now set to face Barcelona in the Champions League final, to be played at London's Wembley Stadium on May 28.
Author: Holly Fox (AFP, AP, dpa)
Editor: Joanna Impey