Manchester United lost to Bayern Munich in their first leg of Champions League quarter final. The score line stays 2-1 in favour of the German giants, but the tie is not over yet!
United got off to a dream start as Rooney scored his 34th goal of the season just after 64 seconds. At that time it looked like the Red Devils will have an easy game at the Allianz Arena. However, the performance levels dropped after the early goal and eventually Bayern Munich snatched a victory.
Sir Alex Ferguson said, "We didn't play well enough to be honest. We gave the ball away far too easily from minute one. It is a part of our game we pride ourselves on and has been part of the reason for our progress. We caused our own defeat.”
The performance of the Red Devils was absolutely below par at the Allianz Arena. I thought the midfield was totally ineffective. I think Park and Carrick were the worst performers on the night. They were giving away possession so easily and United was not able to build that pressure in the center of the pitch.
Man-of-the-match Edwin van der Sar truly deserves to be applauded as his efforts kept the score line 2-1. He made some amazing saves and kept United in the game. Another disappointment of the night was to see Wayne Rooney leave the Allianz Arena on crutches. Rooney suffered an ankle injury following a challenge with Mario Gomez.
The first leg defeat ended a six-match winning streak away from home for the Red Devils. The second leg will be played at Old Trafford on April 7. I believe United's away goal will be a big factor in deciding this Champions League tie.
Manchester United has a date with Franck Ribery as they clash with Bayern Munich tomorrow in their Champions League quarter-final. Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his players to go for an all-out attack at Allianz Arena and gun for goals.
United had followed a similar philosophy against AC Milan in the previous round. Despite falling behind to Ronaldinho's early goal, the Red Devils maintained an attacking mentality and scored vital away goals; and Sir Alex would love to have such an advantage before Bayern visits Old Trafford.
The German giants represent Manchester United's most famous opponents given they were the victims of that amazing Champions League final clash 11 years ago. Sir Alex said, "The history of Bayern and our games against them in past European ties tells you it is going to be a very difficult game."
This game would feature two of Sir Alex’s favorite players who would be against his side: Robben & Ribery. The Red Devils boss had tried to unsuccessfully sign both these players in 2004 and 2009 respectively. Both have them have real pace and it’s going to be difficult for Evra and Neville to control these Bayern wingers.
Sir Alex had agreed for a £40 million switch for Ribery last year, but Bayern tagged him with a price of £70 million and the deal failed to materialize.
The Champions League quarter-final would give the Red Devils boss a chance to take a closer look at Ribery. He believes that Ribery would leave Bayern Munich this summer; however, his destination won’t be England but Spain.
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona reunited with Sir Alex Ferguson when he paid a visit at United's Carrington training ground on Monday. He was in town and decided to meet his old pal.
Eric Cantona formed a memorable partnership with Sir Alex and is often regarded as having played a major talismanic role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing powerhouse.
During his five year stint at Old Trafford, Eric won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups. No doubt, he enjoys an iconic status at the club and in English football.
Nicknamed "King Eric", he was voted as Manchester United's player of the century in 2001.
Manchester United have announced their third major sponsorship deal in a week with Africa’s largest mobile telephone operator, MTN Group Ltd. This is the club’s third lucrative agreement in the space of a week.
Following on from high-profile partnerships with Telekom Malaysia and Turkish Airlines, Manchester United have added a seven-figure contract with African telecoms giant MTN that will see the company become their exclusive South African telecommunications partner for the next three-and-a-half years.
The deal will see MTN become the South African extension of the club with exclusive mobile content and online inventory such as match highlights, player profiles, ringtones available to customers for download through the MTN Play entertainment portal.
Additionally, MTN has the rights to produce co-branded premiums and will receive signed memorabilia to use in competitions to reward its customers. It will also offer exclusive United-branded MTN products such as airtime vouchers and will run competitions for its customer base where some lucky fans will get an opportunity to have one-on-one interactions with players in the local and international football arena.
Man United Chief Executive David Gill said: "The partnership with MTN is a very important step in the club's plan to get closer to its fans based all over the world. MTN's strength, particularly in the pre-paid market will provide us with the perfect platform to achieve that."
Edwin van der Sar, Antonio Valencia and Patrice Evra were at Old Trafford for the announcement of this partnership.
Sir Bobby Charlton also attended the launch. The United legend said: "I’m delighted to welcome MTN to our club. The fact we have sponsors in various parts of the globe and millions of fans in different countries makes me feel quite proud. But it’s not a surprise to me because ever since I was a player here, I’ve always been well aware that our fans are everywhere in the world.”
Manchester United have signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Turkish Airlines. This seems to be a multi-million pound sponsorship deal which will make Turkish Airlines, the official airline partner for the Red Devils.
Turkish Airlines is Europe's fourth-largest carrier by passenger numbers. As the team's official carrier, Turkish Airlines will transport the club's players and officials to relevant matches, tournaments and training camps throughout Europe and the World.
The three-and-a-half year deal will see the airline’s fleet livery carry the Manchester United crest as well as other iconic club and player imagery on the airline’s fuselage. The airline will receive a number of rights from the deal including perimeter board advertising at Old Trafford and consumer promotions using the club’s intellectual properties.
While revealing details of the sponsorship, United players Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Nani, Ji Sung Park and Darren Fletcher were at Old Trafford alongside the Club’s Chief Executive David Gill, Director of Commercial Richard Arnold, Turkish Airlines Chairman Hamdi Topcu, and Co – Chairman Cemal Şanlı.
While welcoming the deal, David Gill said:
We are delighted to have secured a long term partnership with Turkish Airlines. This deal is yet another indication of the global appeal of Manchester United and we are very pleased to welcome them to the Club.
They are already proving to be a dynamic and committed partner which will no doubt allow us to further develop the reach of Manchester United and for Turkish Airlines to grow their customer base in Manchester and around the World.
Last week, Manchester United partnered with Telekom Malaysia making them "Integrated Telecommunications Partner" of Manchester United in Malaysia.
Manchester United may become the busiest club in the transfer market during this summer. The Red Devils have been looking for players to strengthen their defense and are banking on young players like Dodo and Jack Rodwell.
According to the News of the World, Manchester United are ready to spend lot of cash to bring Everton's young midfielder Jack Rodwell to Old Trafford. The total fee is believed to be near about £20 million.
Everton boss David Moyes has already expressed reluctance to sell his younger players. He was very rigid about keeping Joleon Lescott last summer but had to bow down to a huge transfer fee from Man City. It is believed that Chelsea and Man City are also interested in Jack Rodwell, but the player wants a move to Man United.
United scouts are also closely monitoring Dodo, who's a young Corinthians defender. He can play at either left-back or in the centre of defense.
Dodo has also attracted interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, and Manchester United may swoop a move for the Under 17 international Dodo.
Manchester United have already signed young defenders Chris Smalling from Fulham and Marnick Vermijl from Standard Liege. With United interested in so many defenders, I think Vidic will be on his way out of Old Trafford at the end of the season.
With Sir Alex Ferguson planning to buy more defenders in the summer, it clearly shows his vision on the long term replacements of aging players like Neville and Ferdinand.
Manchester United has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Malaysia’s leading telecommunications provider - Telekom Malaysia. The partnership will bring online content to MU supporters and TM customers, as well as giving fans the chance to win trips to Old Trafford to watch the team play.
This deal will make Telekom Malaysia the "Integrated Telecommunications Partner" of Manchester United in Malaysia. This communications group was an official partner for United's tour of Asia in 2009. Through this deal, United would look to tap in to Far East market where they have a huge fan following.
Man United has a large fan base in the East Asian country. It was probably the David Beckham era that raised the popularity of the club in Asian countries like Japan, Malaysia and Korea. This recent long term deal would help raise its profile further.
United's CEO David Gill was delighted about a five-year deal. He said,
Anyone who went on our tour of the Far East last summer knows the strength of feeling that Malaysians have for the club. Over 40,000 attended our training session and another 40,000 came to the second match in Kuala Lumpur, despite only having 48 hours' notice of the fixture.
The press launch for the partnership was attended by David Gill, Sir Alex Ferguson and players Wes Brown, Jonny Evans and John O'Shea.
Sir Alex commented,
The size of our fan base in Malaysia, and the affection they have for our club, is phenomenal. The statistic that almost 25 per cent of the Malaysian population support Manchester United is staggering, quite incredible.
I know this will be a fantastic partnership because we share the same ambition, to be the best at what we do. We’re always striving to do that here at United. We’re very much alike in that respect.
Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his side of complacency ahead of the Champions League clash against AC Milan. Manchester United were 3-2 winners at the San Siro and have a heavy away goal advantage but the Red Devils manager has warned his players against overconfidence as AC Milan arrive at Old Trafford today.
Manchester United are in a great position to progress to the quarter-finals, but that their progress is not guaranteed. Today’s game would mark the return of David Beckham to Manchester United after 7 long years. It would definitely be an emotional game for Becks and Fergie knows that very well.
I’m sure Fergie has prepared his players to deal with the Beckham circus. During the pre-match press conference, he stressed on being focussed to progress to the quarter-finals.
He said,
I don’t think we should be confused by the scoreline and think that we have a bye into the next round.
I don’t think we’re very good at defending leads. We need to play our normal game and that includes attacking. We’ve got to accept that it’s going to be a very difficult game and one we have to win.
It's certainly an open tie which should make for a great game of football. We hope to kill the tie by our own attacking abilities, but obviously AC Milan have to score and that should make it a really open match.
It would be an exciting game at OT tonight and surely there will be some goals. I just hope Man United thrash Milan like Arsenal did to Porto yesterday. But for that, Berbatov needs to show his magical class to help United progress to the quarter finals.
Manchester United are favorites to sign Joe Cole in the summer if the midfielder fails to sort out his contract with Chelsea. However, I believe (for a number of reasons) that Cole would be a big misfit at Old Trafford.
Cole is an attacking midfielder who has got pace and an ability to score goals. He played a crucial role in the team when Jose Mourinho was the boss at Chelsea. However, his absence for 18 months due to a knee injury and inconsistent form on his return has seen him warm the bench under Carlo Ancelotti.
Joe Cole wants an increase in his wages and that is the only reason why his contract talks with Chelsea have stalled. The Blues are unwilling to increase the midfielder's wages from £80,000-a-week to in excess of £100,000.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been an admirer of the mercurial Englishman and it is believed that Fergie will be favorite to win the battle if Cole and Chelsea can't reach an agreement. Other English clubs like Tottenham, Liverpool and Man City are also monitoring Cole’s position and may plan to secure his services.
I know Joe Cole is a great player but I just don’t see him fit at Manchester United due to these reasons:
- Cole generally plays on the wings and United have plenty of options in that area with Nani,Giggs, and Valencia.
- If Man United sign Ribery or Angel Di Maria in the summer, then there’s more competition on the wings.
- Depending upon the form of Gabriel Oberton, he too may challenge for a first team place since he too is a similar player to Joe Cole.
- Just like the horrible injury of Owen Hargreaves that has seen him out of action for more than two years, Joe Cole too has suffered a serious injury and may need attention from time to time.
- The most important factor – Will Man United be able to match Joe Cole’s high salary demands? I don’t think so.
Manchester United is already battling ways to reduce the huge debt on the club. Though David Gill has stated that Fergie has cash to splash in the summer, I don’t think he’ll think of signing Joe Cole.
Fergie had played a gamble by bringing Michael Owen on a free transfer last summer which has not even yielded average returns. I don’t think he’ll play another gamble on Cole, who probably may move to Italy.
Reports in Belgium have confirmed that Manchester United have signed 18-year-old defender Marnick Vermijl from Standard Liege. Vermijl is a versatile defender who can play all across the backline but is predominantly a right back.
Marnick Vermijl is expected to join the Red Devils during the start of the 2010/2011 season. It is being said that the youngster will directly join Fergie’s first team squad. He is the second Belgian defender in United’s squad after Ritchie De Laet.
I have never heard of Marnick Vermijl and I’m not sure whether United have really signed him. Its surprising to see Vermijl arrive from Standard Liege since I was expecting to see Steven Defour arrive at Old Trafford from the same club.
Vermijl has never played a first team game for the Belgian side and was tracked by the scouts of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Marnick Vermijl is expected to join the Red Devils during the start of the 2010/2011 season. It is being said that the youngster will directly join Fergie’s first team squad. He is the second Belgian defender in United’s squad after Ritchie De Laet.
I have never heard of Marnick Vermijl and I’m not sure whether United have really signed him. Its surprising to see Vermijl arrive from Standard Liege since I was expecting to see Steven Defour arrive at Old Trafford from the same club.
Vermijl has never played a first team game for the Belgian side and was tracked by the scouts of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney has been in excellent form for Manchester United this season. He is probably playing the best football of his life and is naturally enthusiastic about it. But he had to pay a heavy price for being over-enthusiastic as Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly accused Rooney of jeopardizing United's season.
Sir Alex Ferguson was incensed that Rooney defied him by not pulling out of England's midweek friendly against Egypt. Rooney had been troubled with a knee injury for several weeks and went into the game with an injury. Also, he virtually played the entire game and has aggravated his injury. He now appears doubtful for the game against Wolves today due to swollen knee.
The Scot was so angry with his star striker that he accused him of being irresponsible and jeopardising Manchester United's chances of silverware. Fergie has been battling with player injuries this season and with the season approaching climax, he wants to ensure that his best team remains fit. With 28 goals already, it is obvious why Fergie is desperate to protect Rooney.
Carling Cup final against Villa saw Michael Owen get injured and he has been ruled out for the reminder of the season. United’s attacking options are further limited due to Dimitar Berbatov's erratic form and unavailability of Daniel Welbeck who’s on loan at Preston North End. Mame Biram Diouf did score a goal on his debut but he is new to English football.
Fergie’s frustration is understandable since there’s a massive European game against Milan coming up. It is widely known that Sir Alex Ferguson never criticises his players in public. However, his recent attack on Wayne Rooney has surprised me. I dont understand the logic behind this public attack and the timing too!
Do you think Fergie’s accusations on Rooney could backfire?
If you are a Manchester United fan, you must be hearing about the Red Knights recently. This special group is frustrated with how the Glazers are running the club and want to oust the owners. So who are they and why do they intend to takeover Manchester United?
The Red Knights are described as a group of "high net worth individuals." They include a mixture of City bankers, lawyers and lifelong United fans, including Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill, Paul Marshall, a partner at the hedge fund Marshall Wace, Richard Hytner of advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi.
The Red Knights also include Mark Rawlinson who is a partner in Freshfields' corporate practice and he's the man who had advised Manchester United on their takeover by Malcolm Glazer and his family in 2005. This group includes Jim O'Neill, who's been a one-time friend of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Manchester United is currently under a huge amount of debt and the Red Knights are sickened by it. To complete the successful takeover of the club, they (somehow) need to raise £1billion to buy out the Glazers, who have plunged the club into debt to the tune of £716.5million.
The Glazers have said that Manchester United is not for sale. However, with fans and supporters losing their patience, it will be interesting to see whether the Red Knights are able to displace the Glazers. They have spoken with the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST), to strengthen their bid.
Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), has been vehemently opposing to the Glazers from day one. Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of MUST, has indicated they will back any bid to oust the American owners.
Manchester United successfully defended their League Cup as they defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley. Wayne Rooney scored his 28th goal of the season to seal the victory for United.
The 50th League Cup final started in the perfect manner for Aston Villa as they scored in the opening five minutes. Gabriel Agbonlahor was brought down in the box by Nemanja Vidic and referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot. James Milner put Villa ahead after converting his spot kick. Vidic was really fortunate not to be sent off, heck he didn’t even get a yellow card for his tackle.
The lead couldn’t last too long as Man United were level after 13 minutes. Michael Owen scored the equalizer after Dimitar Berbatov had robbed Richard Dunne close to his own penalty area. Owen’s final was short lived, however, as he suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Rooney after 41 minutes.
In Carling Cup matches, Sir Alex Ferguson generally rests his star players. Wayne Rooney was put on bench but how could he not be a part of the Wembley showdown. He came and United were beginning to play their natural and attacking football. And 16 minutes from time, Rooney got on the end of Antonio Valencia's cross and sent a powerful header over goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
This victory ensured Manchester United successfully defended their Caring Cup trophy which they won last season by edging past Tottenham. Also, this victory gave Sir Alex Ferguson his 34th trophy for Manchester United and hopefully we can see some more being added in the coming days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
