The ever lasting saga of Cristiano Ronaldo did finally end with the Portuguese star moving to Real Madrid. But another transfer saga surrounding Old Trafford since the last 6 months has been that of Carlos Tevez.
Carlos Tevez has been very vocal in expressing his desire to stay at Manchester if they sign him on a permanent deal. After much speculation and negotiations about his situation, Man United have tabled the required £26million to retain Tevez's services on a permanent basis. Of course that is a good news for all the Red Devil fans that a quality player of Tevez's stature is staying at home. But wait, it now seems that Tevez has decided to play games with United.
After United decided to sign Tevez on a long term basis, Tevez has announced that he wants an increase in his weekly wages. Rather he has threatened that if his wages are not hiked then he will have no hesitation in joining the rival teams, crushing United's nose.
Currently Tevez earns £95,000 as weekly wages and wants to have £110,000 per week as he thinks that he deserves this amount after 2 years of consistent performance which has seen United win the English league. Mark Hughes has already shown his admiration for the south american forward and plans to bring him to the other part of Manchester. It has also been heard that newly appointed Chelsea coach Carlo Anceloti had a personal discussion with Carlos Tevez and wants him to play for the Blues next season.
Maybe Tevez has decided that pay his employers in their own medicine now. Just like United kept on delaying the decision over his deal, Tevez and his agent Kia Joorabchian are now making United wait and wait and wait!
Carlos Tevez scored twice at Craven Cottage to demolish Fulham 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter final.
Wonder kid Rooney and Ji-sung Park ended Fulham's hopes by adding one goal a piece to give an easy victory to Manchester UNited.
What really impressed me was the way Tevez partnered with Rooney upfront. He rarely gets a chance to come in the starting eleven, but in all his starts in the cups his scoring rate has been fantastic. Nine of the striker's 12 goals this season have come in cups, so it means that even when Tevez is on the bench for either the league games or European games, his performance does not degrade. But it only improves when he starts in the Cup games. I feel he is doing everything to make sure that Sir Alex offers him a full time contract after his loan term finishes at the end of this season.
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.
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.
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.
"I'm not as dangerous. I'm not as effective in the penalty area any more." These are the words of Carlos Tevez, who feels that he has lost his magical touch since he arrived in England. The United striker believes the demands of English football have lessened his threat in front of goal.
The Argentina international has scored just once this season for United and he feels his form has been affected because of the work he has to do for the team in a highly-competitive Barclays Premier League. He feels it is strange as the person up front has to do a lot more for the team than just score goals. They have to play more for the team and he thinks he has sacrificed himself recently with regards to that aspect.
"Scoring goals is something I have lost and I have to get that back. I used to score better goals, great goals."
Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-1 for the first time in Rafa Benitez's Anfield career. The Liverpool boss had never beaten United in nine previous league games.
A game that was looking very promising for United after Tevez put them ahead in 3 minutes, did not materialize as they conceded 2 goals and saw Vidic being sent off (meaning he will not play against Chelsea next Sunday). All eyes were on US$60 million striker Dimitar Berbatov on his first appearance for the Red Devils. He brought instant joy to the manager after his pass was netted by Tevez. United played well in the first 15-20 minutes of the game, but then succumbed to the relentless presure form Liverpool.
Sir Alex Ferguson said, "We were simply outplayed." He admitted that his side were simply outmuscled by Liverpool and not surprisingly, Ferguson was quick to vent his anger. He came down heavily on his defenders for both the goals, as first one was deflected by Wes Brown as an own goal and then Ryan Babel scored a winner after tricking his marksman.
