"Manchester United is his first choice in England, but there is a problem with that because of the price and his age. If it can be agreed with Valencia he would sooner go to Old Trafford."
Manchester United completed a record equalling 19th Champions League game unbeaten run to secure top spot in Group E. Carlos Tevez's fifth goal in a week after just three minutes seemed to set the Red Devils up for a comfortable win - and what would have been only the holders third in Europe so far. But an unexpected first-half response from the visitors left United trailing at the interval.
Although Wayne Rooney leveled soon after the second half begun; the hosts could not find a winner. There were 9 changes in the side that played against Sunderland last week. The best change being the pairing of Tevez alongside Rooney. After scoring 4 goals against Blackburn, Tevez is a man on a mission. He has been producing some stellar performances to put pressure on the United boss to give him chance in the starting eleven.
Man Utd will now travel to Japan for playing the Club World Cup and during this time the last-16 draw would be made that could pair them with, among others, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. So it would be great to watch who is paired against the holders. I am sure UEFA would make sure they give United a tough draw as they dont want to see United retaining the trophy. But who cares! Pitch any team against us and we would be victorious.
As the title holders, United will be looking to see off Aalborg in the final group game of the Champions league tonight. United currently top the group, on goal difference with Villarreal earning same points as United. The teams in this group are pretty clear about their positions after tonights matches. United and Villarreal are moving to the last 16, Aalborg are competing in UEFA cup and Celtic is retuning home empty handed.
United will entertain Allan Kuhn's side who have been unbeaten in the his 12-match stint. The home team will surely miss Cristiano Ronaldo who is recovering from a hip injury in Saturday's win over Sunderland. Michael Carrick is also out with a thigh injury. This means Sir Alex will surely change his side a bit.
Probably, Gary Neville and Ben Foster are set to start while Paul Scholes is expected to be on the bench. Carlos Tevez and Darren Fletcher may also be seen. Without doubt, United will be playing to win the group which will guarantee them a chance to play the second leg at home against the team in the last 16.
What a game it was! United were dominant right from the start of the game. And they kept on piling the pressure throughout, but the goal just was not coming. And finally, when Vidic scored after Carrick's shot hit the bar, Old Trafford erupted and United managed all three points against Sunderland.
With Roy Keane resigning mid-week, Sunderland were without a manager and came to Old Trafford with a series of defeats in the previous games. This game was completely one sided affair with United attacking and Sunderland defending the attack with all their 11 men. Berbatov, Rooney, Carrick had some opportunities but could not convert them. Also, with Ronaldo limping off to the tunnel meant more problems for United. Next week's trip to Tottenham would be without Evra and Rooney and may be Ronaldo as well.
Anyways, I am happy that ManU got all the 3 points to stay behind Liverpool and Chelsea by 6 and 5 points respectively, with one game in hand.
Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes is in line for a surprise early return. The Manchester United midfielder was not thought likely to return from knee surgery until Saturday at the earliest, but such has been the 34-year-old's impressive performance on the United training ground that Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to name him on the bench.
Sir Alex said, "I have Paul Scholes in mind, he is on the verge of playing again following his operation. He is training well and chomping at the bit to get started. A place on the bench with perhaps a few minutes' pitch time could be good for him. We will see how things go."
Scholes has not been involved with the Red Devils senior squad since damaging knee ligaments in the Champions League win over Aalborg at the end of September. The absence of Scholes and Hargreaves was felt in October, when even Carrick and Ronaldo were out with some knocks. But everything seems to be very promising in the United midfield now. And with younger players like Jonny Evans, Rafael, Darron Gibson, Rodrigo Possebon and Danny Welbeck, United truly have the caliber to win in the long run.
A perfect victory for United, hammering 5 goals past Blackburn in an all Premiership contest in the Carling Cup.
Carlos Tevez who got a chance to play - claimed four goals to send Man United to the Carling Cup semi-finals with a 5-3 win over Blackburn. He fired in United's opener in the 36th minute to send a reminder to Sir Alex Ferguson of his determination and striking prowess. Later on, Nani contributed to the goals in the 40th minute with a powerful finish to a solo run that involved receiving Tevez's cushioned return pass.
The re-start promised some hope for Paul Ince's side as substitute Benni McCarthy shrugged aside Gary Neville and belted home after a previously non-existent Roque Santa Cruz had flicked on Robinson's goal-kick. However, almost immediately Martin Olsson bundled over Tevez and the Argentine slotted home the penalty to put United in control, before virtually sealing the win with another fine goal after good work from Anderson.
Ben Foster did make some brilliant saves in the opening minutes, but after United were in complete control, they seemed to be a bit careless. This costed them when Derbyshire and McCarthy scored 2 goals. But Tevez was not going to be denied and lashed home another with the final kick to send United through. With Burnley, Spurs and Derby also sealing their berths in the semis, I feel its a test between Spurs to retain the title and United to win their second silverware of the season.
It was a golden chance for ManU to redeem their contender ship for the title this season. But as usual, they wasted a great opportunity to close the gap on current leaders Chelsea and Liverpool. United were held to a goalless draw at Villa Park as Martin O'Neill's side ended their 14-match losing sequence against the Red Devils.
Wayne Rooney missed a great chance to win it for United when he fired over the bar from close range in the second half. Rooney started with Tevez after recovering from his injury and with the absentee of Berbatov. But the wonder kid could not produce a goal with his usual magnificent class. Sir Alex Ferguson's side pressed for a winner in the closing stages but rarely looked like finding it, completing an unusual day when none of the Premier League's so-called `big four' could muster a goal between them.
The worst part of the match was Ronaldo limping out of the draw in the closing stages with a leg injury. This could mean that Ronaldo will miss Tuesday's Champions League crunch game with Villarreal. I hope Ronnie's injury is not very serious and he comes back to his top form soon as United need him desperately to repeat the accolades they won last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 100th goal made it a double cause for celebration at Old Trafford as Manchester United marked 50 years in the game for Sir Alex Ferguson with a comfortable 5-0 win over Stoke. Tony Pulis side which has attracted lot of awe from the football pundits, were crushed by the Red Devils.
Ronaldo took just three minutes to reach his personal milestone with a trademark free-kick and rounded off United's biggest win of the season in similar fashion at the end. And during the course of these 90 minutes Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and debutant Danny Welback found the net. Sir Alex marked his own landmark day with a trio of Premier League debuts in the form of Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson and Manucho.
With Chelsea and Liverpool also capturing 3 points, United trail them by 8 points. A long way to go to catch the leaders. Ofcourse, I am happy with United's emphatic victory, but I just can stop watching and appreciating Welbeck's goal again and again. Boy, it was some shot. It was fabulous. I am sure the England Under-19 forward will be one the leading strikers in the coming years.
England and Manchester United defensive midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Recently he traveled to Colorado for a meeting with renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman after being plagued by a tendinitis problem for almost two years.
And Manchester United have confirmed Hargreaves has had surgery on his right knee and will have a further operation on his left knee in a fortnight, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign. Although Hargreaves played in May's Champions League Final triumph over Chelsea in Moscow, it was virtually the only time he did get on to the field. He was also ruled out of his first pre-season campaign following an £18million move from Bayern Munich, the 27-year-old sat out another this summer.
He has been frustrated at a problem that does not seem to go away. One good news though is that will have some company from former United star Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has flown to see Steadman for treating his recent knee injury.
Ryan Giggs used his head to claim a deserved 1-1 draw against Celtic in their clash at Parkhead. When Scott McDonald lit up the Parkhead sky with a fantastic goal after 13 minutes,lifting the ball over Ben Foster, stunned United. But the persistent attacking football from the Red Devils ensured a point to remain in control of Group E.
United made an explosive start with Ronaldo seeing a shot blocked by a mass of players after the ball broke kindly to him inside the area following a corner. The Portuguese winger then saw a 25-yard free-kick fizz just over Artur Boruc's crossbar. But the 13th-minute goal, coupled with some tireless defending, looked to have earned a victory for Celtic. Until Giggs struck six minutes from time, after Artur Boruc had failed to hold a Cristiano Ronaldo thunderbolt. A stooping header from Giggs rescued a hard-earned point in this Battle of Britain contest.
Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that he want to progress in the next stage by winning the group. And he has every chance of doing it when United travel to Spain to face Villarreal in three weeks. BUt right now he is more focussed on Saturday's showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Champions Manchester United will host Hull today and hope to overtake them in the standings by a comprehensive victory. Hull boss Phil Brown has been phenomenal in Hull's progress so far. But after their 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, they must e charged up to take the champs.
Meanwhile, Tevez has said that he would like to stay with United despite Real Madrid and Manchester City are looking to sign him. Tevez has been an irregular start this season so far and expects that his solid performances will get him back in the starting 11.
I am eagerly waiting for United vs Hull. Should start in exactly 150 minutes from now.
Boy, we dropped crucial points at Everton. I wish we could have won it. First half was complete United as we looked to dominate the game. We were even rewarded when Fletcher got us 1 up. But then from no where there was an equaliser. Damn.
And we could not get the lead back. Now the road to catch up the leaders (Liverpool) becomes even more difficult. With 8 points to catch and a game in hand and a list of injured players, it is going to be really difficult to retain the title this season. United next host Zola's struggling West Ham om Saturday.
Did someone think we have already lost it? Wait! Red Devils are not finished yet. The season has just started and it has got better and competitive.
With not so much a battle as a mild swat, Manchester United contemptuously dismissed in their all-British encounter against Celtic with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
Two suspiciously offside-looking goals from Dimitar Berbatov - taking his Champions League tally to four - and a customary strike from Wayne Rooney, who now has nine in seven games for club and country were enough for killing Celtic as did not even make a fight of it.
The first goal came from a corner that Nani floated to the near post. At the second attempt, John O'Shea forced it on, and Berbatov, with his back to goal, flicked it past Artur Boruc. Just six minutes into the second half, Berbatov tapped home his second, profiting from a blistering Ronaldo free-kick that Boruc could not hold. Yet again, it seemed Berbatov was offside, but i feel it was compensated as the ref's assistant had earlier missed out on Rooney's goal when the England man raced onto Ronaldo's through ball and beat Boruc.
Berbatov was substituted by Carlos Tevez as he received a standing ovation, indicating that the fans love him. In his more rampaging moods, Rooney looks as though he could knock down a few walls and after another near miss, stroked home a deserved goal 15 minutes from time. It took his personal tally to nine in seven games and left Celtic facing a tough fight to claim a UEFA Cup berth as United continued their relentless march towards becoming the first side to retain this competition.
Wayne Rooney who has been criticized for a slow start to his season, has hit back by scoring in his last three outings for United. I have always admired the wonder kid since his Everton days. There is no doubt that he is a gifted striker and needs to be handled properly to give best results.
And now he feels the arrival of Berbatov from Tottenham will improve him as a player as he cannot now take his place in the starting eleven for granted. Also with Argentina star Carlos Tevez also vying for an attacking berth, Rooney has decided to show off his real colors. He has been demolishing oppositions since the last 4 games, be it in the league or an international.
Yesterday, it took Wayne Rooney's late double and Jermain Defoe's injury-time effort to eventually see of Kazakhstan with a 5-1 victory and maintain a 100% record in Group Six. It was an excellent game for all United players (Brown, Ferdinand & Rooney) as they contributed in the victory in a large share. It was stand-in skipper Rio Ferdinand who provided the breakthrough with his powerful header, before Rooney scored 2 late goals. One was from Wes Brown's teasing cross 13 minutes from time. And Rooney steered home another one from the cross of ex-United player David Beckham, who had a brief cameo.
Champions Manchester United and Budweiser have announced the renewal of their sponsorship agreement until 2010. The American beer brand have sponsored the Red Devils since 2002 in a deal which renews their position as United's official beer and also includes hospitality packages for promotional activities and digital on-field signage in both English and Mandarin, to satisfy the club's Chinese fan base. I feel that both Manchester United and Budweiser are a perfect match, both having strong, storied heritages and a commitment to being the best.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill said: "Budweiser is dedicated to football and has been a valuable partner to Manchester United. "Budweiser's use of Manchester United for marketing activities has brought loyal followers closer than ever to the club and helped create many new Red Devils fans along the way." Budweiser's current marketing campaign is centered around the 'True Dedication' slogan.
A double strike from the English duo of Wes Brown & Wayne Rooney ensured a 2-0 win for Man Utd against Blackburn yesterday.
The first 10 minutes was a typical Blackburn-United game, it was hammer and tongs, tackles flying in and it wasn't settled. But once United had the ball, they settled well and started threatening Rovers goalie Brown. Finally United broke the deadlock via Wes Brown who climbed high and headed the ball into the net. Blackburn boss Paul Ince was not happy with the goal as he thought it was a foul from Vidic on his goalie. Hence he has launched a verbal assault on referee Steve Bennett for not spotting the foul and allowing the goal to stand.
The second half was entertaining as United marched ahead with confidence and went on missing a lot of good chances, before Ronaldo set up Rooney for the second. With England head Fabio Capello in the stands, he must have been impressed with the English duo's performance; as he announces his squad for the international matches later today. But i feel United could have hammered more goals and won by a bigger margin. Currently with this win ManU sit at the sixth position in the table, 3 points behind leaders Chelsea: who play Aston Villa today.
The other day i was reading an article where Aston Villa manager, Martin O'Neill said that he feels Roy Keane will return to Manchester United one day; to manage them. Currently Keane is the manager at Sunderland and has achieved incredible results as he stepped in with no managerial experience and turned results around and won promotion from the Championship at the first attempt. Last year he made sure his team's promotion was not a fluke by avoiding relegation.
Defending champions Manchester United gained their first Premier League home win of the season - after beating near neighbors Bolton 2-0.
The first half ended goal less with both sides just managing to find the target unsuccessfully. Midway through the second half, Rob Styles awarded a controversial penalty to the home side after Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have been thwarted by Jlloyd Samuel. Ronaldo converted the spot kick and the penalty decision shocked Trotters and they began to lose the grip over the game. Wayne Rooney's excellent finish 11 minutes from time doubled United's lead, giving the wonder kid his first goal of the season.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that his side got lucky with the penalty against Bolton. Even he accepted Styles had got the penalty decision wrong, but showed no sympathy towards the ref. Sir Alex said, "Rob Styles turned us down four or five times last year so maybe it is payback time. But he still owes us another four."
This win against Bolton puts the champions in the top half of the table, with more fireworks to come.
