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Have Manchester United sacrificed style in search of success?
Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey looks at Frank Rijkaard's assessment of English teams in Europe and asks whether Manchester United have indeed sacrificed their attacking instincts in search of success?
That is the view of Frank Rijkaard, manager of defeated Champions League semi finalists Barcelona, who has stated that though English clubs are hard to beat, they no longer play the beautiful game.
"They are very strong and very disciplined," Rijkaard told The Times.
"For them the result is all-important. It is strange to see English teams defending for their lives in Europe and trying to win games on the counter-attack.
"I think it started when the foreign coaches came. English football in Europe became more cautious. It is great for them to do so well, but it is also a pity. It is not the most beautiful way of football."
But should these comments be seen as a warning for the future of English clubs or just sour grapes from a jealous nation?
After all, La Liga has almost descended into farce this year and the Spanish national team is the biggest underachievers in the international game aside from England.
Does Rijkaard have a point though - are United, Liverpool and Chelsea simply focused on winning regardless of style? And if so, is this a bad thing?
United were very drab to watch against Barca, particularly after the billing the game received, but I doubt many fans are acknowledging this fact as they book their tickets to Moscow? Should they focus on the end game and reaching their goals at all costs?
Or do United have a responsibility, as Rijkaard implies, to uphold the high standard of pure, exciting, attacking football that they have embodied in the past?
Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey looks at Frank Rijkaard's assessment of English teams in Europe and asks whether Manchester United have indeed sacrificed their attacking instincts in search of success?
That is the view of Frank Rijkaard, manager of defeated Champions League semi finalists Barcelona, who has stated that though English clubs are hard to beat, they no longer play the beautiful game.
"They are very strong and very disciplined," Rijkaard told The Times.
"For them the result is all-important. It is strange to see English teams defending for their lives in Europe and trying to win games on the counter-attack.
"I think it started when the foreign coaches came. English football in Europe became more cautious. It is great for them to do so well, but it is also a pity. It is not the most beautiful way of football."
But should these comments be seen as a warning for the future of English clubs or just sour grapes from a jealous nation?
After all, La Liga has almost descended into farce this year and the Spanish national team is the biggest underachievers in the international game aside from England.
Does Rijkaard have a point though - are United, Liverpool and Chelsea simply focused on winning regardless of style? And if so, is this a bad thing?
United were very drab to watch against Barca, particularly after the billing the game received, but I doubt many fans are acknowledging this fact as they book their tickets to Moscow? Should they focus on the end game and reaching their goals at all costs?
Or do United have a responsibility, as Rijkaard implies, to uphold the high standard of pure, exciting, attacking football that they have embodied in the past?
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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