When it comes to 'cup matches' - where you have to win or you are eliminated - there is very little margin of error, especially when you go away from home. Teams tend to be slightly more cautious on the road in home-and-home series like you find in the European Champions League. The old adage is that 'you play for three points (a win) at home, and no less than one point (a tie or win) on the road.'
The Manchester United versus Inter Milan match-up in the Champions League round of 16 tomorrow pits two of the great tacticians in the modern game - Sir Alex Ferguson (Man Utd) and Jose Mourinho (Inter) - as well as two well-balanced and flexible teams. Don't be surprised to see a chess match break out between these two sides, with United facing the initial task of having to play the first leg on the road.
"Man Utd changed to play away from home. They are not going to come here to have fun," said Mourinho. "I am not saying they are afraid of us, no, but they respect us and they know that they can lose."
Points are hard to come by at this stage, and whether it be a tie or a win, coming away with points on the road is vital in Champions League competition.
Mourinho has never been bashful about trying to send messages to his own team through the media (as well as his opposing manager), and it appears like 'the Special one' will be looking to play as tight defensively as possible.
"It will not be an open game - we want it to be tight and tactical," said Mourinho. "So the strikers will not have time and room to work in. That makes it important for us that Zlatan Ibrahimovic produces his very top performance."
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