Video:

The picture quality on Manchester United: Play Like Champions is broadcast quality, with especially clear colors being the best feature. There are some pixelation problems when white colors move quickly on the screen, but otherwise the transfer is solid.

Sound:

Unless you really need to hear the dulcet tones of van Niestelrooy or Ryan Giggs in surround sound, the 2.0 mix is more than adequate. The instructions for the individual skills are easy to understand despite what had to be difficult recording conditions, and if you are really stuck for what a player is saying, there's an English subtitle option.

Extras:

The extras on Manchester United: Play Like Champions all do a good job of showcasing the mammoth size of the club. Only the New York Yankees and a select few other European soccer giants can boast of the resources and fan options of a Manchester United.

Along with a few bonus skill exercises and longer interviews about manager Sir Alex Ferguson and captain (and famous hothead) Roy Keane are tours of the Manchester United training ground and Old Trafford, United's home pitch (with included museum and theme restaurant), profiles of the 2003-2004 first team, including American goalkeeper Tim Howard, a team timeline littered with events from the club's start in 1902 through the 2003 Premier League title victory, a listing of team honors (Manchester United has won the Premier League title eight of the 12 times it has been awarded) and more information on the Manchester United Soccer Schools.

Curiously missing from the extras is any highlights or game footage. Manchester United has put out its own series of DVDs, ranging from great goals scored at the club to one commemorating it's treble-winning season of 1999, when United won the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the Champions League title. Seeing some of the skills shown in the instructional footage used in game situations can be almost as helpful as the step-by-step diagrams.

Final Thoughts:

The Coerver series of tapes are the gold standard by which all other soccer instructional videos are measured, and Manchester United: Play Like Champions is nowhere near as comprehensive as that line of videos. But what Play Like Champions does is take some individual skills, break them down as far as possible, and give kids a chance to learn them by watching some of the most famous international stars of the sport. The video has little relevance or entertainment value for those not interested in improving their game, but is recommended for those looking either for refreshers on the basics or a supplement to the Coerver line.