Jean Tigana could not have asked for a sterner test on Fulham’s Premiership debut than a trip to runaway 2000-01 champions Manchester United.
Tigana’s west London side – backed by Mohammed Al Fayed’s millions – took Division One by storm last season, leading almost from start to finish and ending up 10 points clear of nearest rivals Blackburn, having scored 90 goals and garnered 101 points in total.
Obvious parallels arise between Tigana’s side and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, who were comfortable winners of their third consecutive Premiership title.
The Red Devils achieved their title victory in similar fashion to Fulham, blasting the opposition away with an average of 2.08 goals per game from 544 shots – the most in the top flight.
United dominated last season’s title race thanks in part to their ability to keep hold of the ball and use their possession wisely. Usual suspects such as Roy Keane and Paul Scholes chipped in, completing 87% and 83% of all passes respectively.
And the champions have further strengthened the midfield with the British record purchase of Juan Sebastian Veron. The Argentine conjuror set up six goals for Lazio colleagues in Serie A last term and will add an extra dimension to the United midfield this season with his precision passing and eye for goal.
Meanwhile Jon Harley has jumped ship from Chelsea to join the Premiership newcomers and Fulham have three other former Premiership stars in their midfield to help the Cottagers establish themselves in the top flight this season. Former Sunderland and Newcastle star Lee Clark is a key man in the Fulham engine room, while Bjarne Goldbaek provides an occasional threat from the right flank and John Collins is a calming influence on the left or in the middle of the park.
Collins completed an outstanding 77% of passes in the opposition half in his last Premiership campaign with Everton and was one of only six players to make in excess of 1,700 passes in the entire league. Clearly if he can remain fit he can pull the strings for Tigana’s troops.
But with goals galore for both sides last term, this match could be all about the strikers, with 32-goal Louis Saha doing battle with deadly marksman Ruud van Nistelrooy. Saha will be keen to prove he can make it second time round in the Premiership, after failing to shine for Newcastle, while van Nistelrooy has looked sharp in pre-season – pulling England apart in the recent friendly, and was looking lively against Liverpool in last weekend’s Charity Shield before popping up to score.
