De Gea: Insists decision over his future is on hold
Atletico Madrid keeper David De Gea has denied reports he's agreed to join Manchester United and insists any decision on his future is on hold.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson spoke in glowing terms about the 20-year-old earlier this week and speculation in both England and Spain has suggested De Gea would complete a switch to Old Trafford in the next couple of weeks.
But the Spaniard has refuted claims a deal has already been struck and wants, instead, to focus on the upcoming European Under-21 tournament in Denmark which gets under way on June 11.
De Gea's lawyer released a statement to Spanish news agency EFE which read: "News has appeared in various media outlets today that Atletico Madrid's David De Gea has signed for Manchester United. I hereby notify you that it is not true a deal has been signed." The statement added: "De Gea will not consider the contract extension offer from Atletico or any other offer until June 30 when he has finished his commitments with the Under-21 national team."
Ferguson has earmarked De Gea as the long-term successor to Edwin van der Sar, who will retire after Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona. Speaking after Gary Neville's testimonial on Tuesday, Ferguson told the club's official website: "We've been working on it [De Gea transfer] for quite a while. We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for.
"He's a young goalkeeper, very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for Van der Sar.
"We were looking for the same type of qualities as Edwin, because the one great quality Edwin always had was his composure and organisational ability.
"With David De Gea, he is very similar that way."
Atletico, who finished this season in seventh spot in the Primera Division, remain keen to tie De Gea down to a new contract with his current one running until 2013.
Dwight Yorke believes Ryan Giggs will put the trauma of the past week behind him when he lines up for Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday night. The flying winger has found himself at the centre of a media storm after it was revealed he had an affair with former Big Brother contestant Imogen Thomas.
But Yorke, a former Old Trafford team-mate of Giggs, insists the recent furore won’t affect his performance against Barcelona.
He told talkSPORT: “Giggs will have seen it with past and present players. It’s one of those things that happens, but I don’t think it will affect him. If anything it will inspire him.
“Knowing Giggsy as I do, this is the sort of thing that will spur him on to show people what he’s all about. “Not that he has to justify himself or prove himself to anyone. What he’s done in the game speaks volumes and he still has a burning desire inside him. “He will want to contribute [at Wembley], which is what he’s been doing throughout the season for his team.”
By CHRIS WHEELER Last updated at 7:21 AM on 16th May 2011
Manchester United may be on the brink of a domestic and European double but they will carry out the biggest overhaul of their squad in 16 years this summer.
Chief executive David Gill confirmed on Sunday that veteran Paul Scholes is likely to follow Gary Neville into retirement and up to eight more could leave Old Trafford in the most significant shake-up since Sir Alex Ferguson famously turned to his young generation after offloading Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis in 1995.
Tomasz Kuszczak - horribly unconvincing at Blackburn on Saturday - will follow Edwin van der Sar out of the club while Michael Owen is unlikely to be offered a new deal.
Injury-plagued Owen Hargreaves is out of contract and, at best, can expect a pay-as-you-play agreement, while Ferguson has a big decision to make over Dimitar Berbatov, who has become an increasingly peripheral figure despite being the Premier League's leading goalscorer.
Wes Brown, Darron Gibson and even Jonny Evans could also be sold if the right offers come in. Ferguson is set to move for Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder and Ashley Young of Aston Villa although his interest in Everton youngster Jack Rodwell is believed to have cooled.
United are also expected to sign Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea, with Gill confirming: 'We know the keeper we want. We are in a good situation with that.'
On Scholes, he added: 'It wouldn't surprise us if Paul Scholes retired. He will have a conversation with Sir Alex at the end of the season.'
Despite the doubts about the squad, Ferguson believes victory over Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley a week on Saturday would 'end all arguments' about this being the weakest of his 12 title-winning teams.
United have faced criticism all season that they lack the star quality of previous generations but victory at home to Blackpool on Sunday would put Ferguson's side on 80 points - one better than the Treble winners of 1999. 'Beating Barcelona would end all arguments about this team and that is their challenge at Wembley,' said the Old Trafford manager. 'It's not fair to say it is a bad United team or a bad league. 'It's difficult to say where this one stands because we've had some great teams. The 1994 team and the one in 1999 stand out.'
Resilience: Manchester United have not been at their swashbuckling best this season but they are still champions Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Mark Ogden Last Updated: 6:36AM BST 16/05/2011
They have delivered a historic 19th league title, progressed to the last four of the FA Cup and face a Champions League final in 12 days’ time, but Sir Alex Ferguson concedes his Manchester United players must defeat Barcelona at Wembley on May 28 to “end the debate” over the true quality of his class of 2011.
Typically, the champagne corks had not even been popped before Ferguson’s thoughts had shifted from Blackburn to Barcelona following the draw at Ewood Park which confirmed United’s 12th Premier League title, to add to their seven League championships, and secured sole ownership of English football’s title-winning perch.
In the manner that has typified their season, United achieved their goal against Blackburn by performing as roundheads rather than cavaliers, prising a point from another mediocre performance away from Old Trafford.
There has been no Cantona or Ronaldo brilliance this season, just the bloody-mindedness of Nemanja Vidic, the timeless experience of Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs and the blossoming of Javier Hernandez.
But of Ferguson’s dozen title-winning teams, this one faces the unenviable – and probably unmerited – distinction of being labelled the ugly duckling alongside the Treble winners, the Double winners and the European champions.
Yet with United having sealed their 59th piece of silverware, to move one ahead of Liverpool’s haul of 58, Ferguson has challenged his players to silence their critics once and for all by making it 60 against Barcelona at the end of the month.
“Beating Barcelona would end all arguments about this team and that is their challenge at Wembley,” Ferguson said. “I know we are playing a terrific team in Barcelona, but would you back against us in a big way? I don’t think you would.
“We are capable of doing very well in the final. There is nothing wrong with accepting challenges, we are good at that. It doesn’t matter where they come from, you have to stand up to the mark. But these players don’t give in and that is their great quality.”
Rather than master the art of winning this season, United have instead cracked the code of snaring points when they appear destined for none and once again highlighted their ability to produce decisive moments when the sands of time are reduced to the final grains.
Ferguson has acknowledged that a return of five victories from 19 away games has weighed his team down, but Rio Ferdinand insists United deserve credit, despite their flaws.
Ferdinand said: “To win this league you have to be mentally strong. You can’t win a league and be weak.
“You have to go to hard grounds, play away from home and I think, this season more than any other that I’ve been involved in since I came here, we’ve dragged games back from the dead.
“That’s the sign of a team with great resilience and character. If you have that in your side, you’ve always got a chance.
“People are going to criticise, but at the end of the day, if you win the league you’re the best team in the country. That’s what we are – we’re the best team in the country because we’ve won the league. We’ve done what we set out to do.”
The absence of stardust, save for the surprise of Hernandez and the odd glimpse of the spectacular from Wayne Rooney, makes the title success all the more rewarding for Patrice Evra, who claims that winning as a team is a greater achievement than being led to glory by a stellar individual.
“I don’t say that we’re better without Ronny but, sure, we look more like a team. That’s an achievement as well.
“If you were asked to pick one player this season, I don’t think anyone stands out. That’s why the credit for winning the title this season goes to the Man United spirit.”
The power of Ferguson’s personality has been credited as driving United to the title, with the 69 year-old’s determination propelling his players to success. And Evra admits that an ultimatum from the Scot following the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal earlier this month provided the jolt required to take United over the line.
“The manager put really big pressure on us.” Evra said. “I remember after the defeat at Arsenal he said, ‘Do you really not want to win the 19th title? Are you crazy? Now you’ve got to win it. How many titles are you going to throw away?’
“Against Blackburn, it was very important to get the result, otherwise someone would have got the hairdryer. But I always believed. A lot of people criticised United at the beginning of the season, but I was very confident because no team that beat us deserved to win.
“If you remember my interview after the Bursaspor game (in October), I said that you have to pay the musician after the end of the show. Now we have to pay the musician.”
The musician is waiting for an encore at Wembley, however, with United determined to secure a fourth European Cup at venue of their first success, in 1968.
A victory against Lionel Messi and Co would elevate this crop and perhaps lift them onto the shoulders of giants such as Charlton and Best, Schmeichel and Keane and Ronaldo. But regardless of the outcome against Barca, Ferguson insists United’s future is strong and that number 19 can lead to 20, 21 and beyond.
“All the teams we have had have risen to the challenge which, at this club, is to win things.” Ferguson said.
“Some of the young players had their first trophy today (at Blackburn) – Valencia, Gibson, Hernandez, Smalling – and that gives them the impetus to move on and realise what being a Manchester United player involves.
“We try to select and produce players properly. All the players we have produced through the years have had that quality, that hunger. That hunger will always be there because that is my job.”
Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his Manchester United team as worthy champions - but admitted this campaign does not compare with the 1999 treble-winning season.
A 73rd-minute Wayne Rooney penalty proved enough to earn United a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers and give the Red Devils a record 19th championship. It also meant United will end the season with only five away wins, matching the total of Liverpool in 1977.
Yet Ferguson still feels his side deserve the accolades that should come their way, despite repeated doubts being cast over the quality of this particular season.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
"It is not fair to say it's a bad Manchester United team or a bad league," he said. "It is a tighter league, a harder league to win. Any campaign has got blips for anyone. You have got to look at the league in general."
However, even though his team could yet win the Champions League and were one game away from reaching the FA Cup final, Ferguson knows the overall campaign has been below the standards set in 1999.
"Let's not get carried away," he said.
"The treble season was something special. I don't think anyone will ever do it again. We made a go at it, as a manager of the club, you have to try that. "But I didn't think it would happen. I thought we would get knocked out somewhere along the line. Fortunately it was the one you would want to win least of all because the Premier League and the Champions League are paramount." Rooney admitted to being "terrified" before he took the penalty that won Manchester United their 19th league title on Saturday afternoon.
Needing just a point to clinch the prize at Blackburn Rovers, United trailed to Brett Emerton's first-half goal before Rooney levelled from the spot.
"I was terrified, the ref took a long time to give it," Rooney said. "I had to compose myself, I'd been practising all week."
Making reference to his transfer request and contract dispute earlier in the season, Rooney added: "After the year I've had, with the ups and downs, this is for the fans and the team." United's 19th title is one more than Liverpool, and former Everton striker Rooney said: "For me personally, being an Everton fan, to win a 19th title is special."
WIN TROPHIES
Ryan Giggs, winning his 12th title, said: "It's a tough league to win and it's still as special as ever. "We have the desire and it's a pleasure to play in this team. We want to win trophies."
Asked if he was concerned with the criticism that United's current team does not compare to others in their history, Giggs added: "We're champions and in the Champions League. We're rubbish aren't we? "Twenty years ago we were nowhere near Liverpool. It's great credit to the club, the manager and the players and it's a good feeling to be ahead of our greatest rivals.
OUR REWARDS
Twenty-two goal striker Dimitar Berbatov, out of the side in recent weeks, said: "A second title for me is great. I scored many goals this season and helped the team win it. I'm still the leading goalscorer."
United great Gary Neville, now working in the media following his retirement earlier in the season, said: "These are the moments you live for. They will have the best night of their lives."
England defender Rio Ferdinand added: "We missed out last year by a point and it was here we pretty much lost the league (with a 0-0 draw) so it was nice to come back here and get it done. "We gave away a soft goal but we persevered and got our rewards. To get it done this week makes it easier for the manager, I'm sure.
"It's a better league this year, teams have been beating each other from the bottom to the top which makes it more exciting for the fans." Ferdinand has endured a tough time with injuries over recent seasons and added: "I'm delighted, it's been a hard couple of years being out but if you work hard you get your rewards."
ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY
United will hold a victory parade in the city on 30th May to celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League title.
The event will take place at lunchtime and the open-top bus parade will give fans the chance to join in the celebrations of a record-breaking 19th league title and also a potential Champions League success.
United's chief executive David Gill has revealed the club has been inundated with pleas from fans for a parade and he feels that it is a perfect way to honour this season's achievements. "Breaking the record of league title wins is a big day in the club's illustrious history," he said. "We have received many letters and e-mails from fans encouraging us to hold a public celebration of that achievement and we believe this is a fitting way to mark it."
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester United winning their 19th top flight title is a remarkable and historic achievement.
"We're sure fans will come out in their droves to celebrate and acclaim their heroes and that 30th May will be a memorable day for the whole city."
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed how he turned down the opportunity to be Arsenal manager just months before taking over at the helm at Manchester United.
The offer came early in 1986 and Ferguson was keen to take Walter Smith to London with him.
But Scotland’s World Cup campaign in Mexico that year meant the move to Arsenal fell through.
Ferguson made the revelations in Tuesday night’s match programme for Rangers’ Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against Dundee United – Smith’s last match in charge at Ibrox.
Ferguson said: “I was offered the Arsenal job and I wanted to take Walter with me. So I said to him ‘Do you fancy coming with me?’ Then he dropped the bombshell that he was going to Rangers.
“The thing about the Arsenal offer was that they wanted an answer right away but I couldn’t give them one because I was going to the World Cup in Mexico with Scotland.
"So the Arsenal thing fell by the wayside. Walter went to Rangers and then later that year I went to Manchester United.“
We have now comes across an better leaked image of the new Man Utd home shirt, which will be released over the summer. Manchester United have now all but confirmed winning the English Premier League title and are also in the Champions League Final against Barcelona on 28th May. This new shirt will be manufactured by Nike.
The 2011-12 Man Utd home soccer jersey is mostly red, which is what would be expected. It has a relatively plain design and the collar features both white and black detail on it. The white Nike logo is on the right chest and the Man Utd club badge sits on the left chest. The AON sponsor is in white across the middle of the shirt.
Tell us what you think of this new football shirt in the comments box below.
Something to shout about: Wayne Rooney is unlikely to face any action over suggestions he made a gesture to Chelsea fans during Manchester United's win Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Rory Smith Last Updated: 10:21PM BST 09/05/2011
Manchester United will not be presented with the Premier League trophy this weekend even if they earn the point they need to win a record 19th title against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday lunchtime.
Following their 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday, United will overtake Liverpool’s record of 18 league championships — a record set by the Anfield team in 1990 – as long as they avoid defeat against Steve Kean’s side.
But United captain Nemanja Vidic will have to wait until the visit of Blackpool to Old Trafford on May 22 to lift the trophy after the League confirmed its intention to stand by its policy of holding the official presentation at the champions’ final home game of the campaign.
Sources at the Premier League have confirmed that the trophy will not be on standby at Ewood Park to cap United’s celebrations should they win the league less than half-an-hour before Manchester City take to the field in the FA Cup final.
Ferguson will have to name winger Antonio Valencia, so impressive against Chelsea as United all but secured the championship, in at least one of his side’s remaining two games for the Ecuadorean to be certain of being awarded a league winner’s medal.
Valencia has made just nine appearances this season after missing six months following the horrific ankle injury he suffered in the Champions League group stage game with Rangers in October, meaning he is one short of the 10 required to be assured of a medal.
Michael Owen, despite starting only one game and admitting on his Twitter feed that he “does not deserve one as much as half the team”, has played enough to be awarded a medal, by virtue of his nine substitute appearances.
Wes Brown and Gabriel Obertan, both of whom have started more games than the former England international, will not record the requisite number of appearances but United do have the option to apply for both to be awarded medals, as well as Gary Neville, whose retirement came after just three Premier League appearances.
It is believed that the club are unlikely to ask for any of those three players to be given medals unless either Brown or Obertan, both on seven, feature against both Blackburn and Blackpool, though they may appeal — as is traditional — on behalf of Tomasz Kuzszcak, the substitute goalkeeper, who has played just four times but has been a virtual ever-present on United’s bench.
Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, is unlikely to face any disciplinary action despite suggestions he directed a V-sign at Chelsea’s fans during Sunday’s game.
Greater Manchester Police have received no complaints over his behaviour and the Football Association confirmed yesterday it did not expect the striker to be punished.
He may, though, be afforded a rest by Ferguson as the Scot seeks to prepare his side for the Champions League final with Barcelona on May 28, a game for which the United manager believes his team should not be billed as overwhelming underdogs.
“Everyone has acknowledged how great a team Barcelona are,” Ferguson told Sirius XM in the United States yesterday. “But Manchester United are in this final, too. Everyone has said this is not a good United team, that we are not this or not that. But we have scored more goals than anyone else.
"Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and will win the league by getting one more point.
“We have to find a solution to the Xavi-Iniesta-Messi problem. Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers, but we have our share too, players who can cause any team a lot of bother.”
Chelsea beaten: Javier Hernandez and Nemanja Vidic were the goal scorers as United virtually ensure a record 19th league title Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Henry Winter, at Old Trafford Last Updated: 11:46PM BST 08/05/2011
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday May 8 2011.
Sir Alex Ferguson has all but completed his mission to knock Liverpool off their famous perch as the most successful club in English league history.
Manchester United are so close they can almost reach out and touch that record 19th trophy. They certainly played like champions on Sunday.
In 1991, Liverpool had 18 titles and United seven. Twenty years on, and thanks to Ferguson’s astonishing ability to build and rebuild sides, United are within one point of breaking Anfield’s mark. The lady with size issues will sing either at Ewood Park next Saturday or against Blackpool here next week.
United demonstrated why they are the best in the land yesterday, why they feel they have a hope in the Champions League final against Barcelona. Nemanja Vidic set the tone, a goalscoring captain who embodied the team’s will to win.
Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick again excelled as the central partnership, delivering the ball constantly to friendly feet.
Wayne Rooney shuttled selflessly and productively between midfield and attack, supporting Javier Hernández, who took his goal with the ease of a natural-born scorer.
Not even Cristiano Ronaldo ever gave Ashley Cole, the Chelsea and England left-back, as much relentless grief as Antonio Valencia did yesterday.
Any number of contenders for the sponsors’ bubbly could be found in the victorious home dressing room, and it eventually went to Giggs, but the real catalyst was Ji-Sung Park, who ran and harried and created for 90 breathless minutes.
This is why United are champions, they possess so many players like Park who rise to the big occasion.
By contrast, the vanquished champions had nobody who came close to matching such high standards. Chelsea will panic in the summer, probably dismissing Carlo Ancelotti when the very obvious lesson preached at Old Trafford is the importance of stability.
Ferguson’s respect for Ancelotti was evident in the way he embraced the Italian at the final whistle, consoling him, along with his comment that Ancelotti doesn’t deserve “to have his future queried”. Sadly, it will be.
Ancelotti must take some responsibility for yesterday’s flat-footed, slack-tempo approach. The Old Trafford DJ played Pump It Up before kick-off – as if the electric atmosphere needed it, as if United needed any additional impetus.
Giggs, Park and Hernández flew through the champions, cutting through within 36 seconds to score. Red Devils? They were more like the Red Arrows.
This was United at their best, moving with speed and skill, giving an opponent little chance to form a meaningful barricade. Giggs teased a pass to Park, who let the ball run across him and then swept it forward.
Chelsea had a split second to stifle the whirlwind, to keep their title dream alive. They missed it. David Luiz should have cut Park’s ball out. He missed.
Hernández did not. A twitch of the Mexican’s shoulders wrong-footed Petr Cech, a strike from his right boot sent the ball racing into the net, bringing almost a guttural roar from the United support.
Ancelotti, not a man easily given to expressing anger, conveyed his displeasure to Luiz. He should have taken responsibility. He should have cut out the danger.
“Not me,” replied Luiz, unwilling to accept the blame. And that is where part of Chelsea’s problem lies, in the failure of some individuals to be accountable. And that is where part of United’s prominence, the desire of players to fulfil their missions.
Chelsea were as sluggish as United were fleet of foot and mind. Salomon Kalou was dispossessed by Giggs. Park was immense, hounding blue shirts, pressing them into losing the ball. He quickly found Rooney, whose 25-yarder was turned away by Cech.
Still United pressed, still Chelsea yielded possession. Park nicked the ball off Didier Drogba. The South Korean was everywhere, linking with Giggs, dinking a ball to the far post, where Hernández just failed to make contact. Chelsea were a mess.
United’s work-rate and superiority deserved a second. Then came another magical moment for United, another reminder of Giggs’s imagination. Giggs and Park worked a short-corner routine, and the Welshman tricked his way past Kalou. The yard of space by the byline created, Giggs lifted the ball across for Vidic, allowed a free run by Branislav Ivanovic, headed in.
The cadaver of Chelsea’s season twitched occasionally. Edwin van der Sar saved well from Kalou and then pushed away a Drogba free kick. Chelsea could easily have gone down to 10 when Ivanovic caught Rooney painfully on his heel.
Chelsea fans felt United’s No 10 was milking the contact and turned the air blue. Rooney responded with a V sign, although United claimed he was signalling to the assistant referee, Darren Cann, that he had been the recipient of two fouls by the Serb.
Few were taking bets on Ivanovic emerging for the second period and a top-class right-back is required this summer. Amazingly, Ivanovic survived.
Alex came on for Luiz and Ramires replaced Mikel. For all Luiz’s rawness as a defender in the white heat of the Premier League, the Brazilian could have been pushed into midfield, shaking it up. Chelsea claimed afterwards Luiz was carrying an injury.
Just after the hour, Ancelotti played his last card, a £50 million one that Chelsea had hoped would be an ace. Fernando Torres, still shorn of belief, was greeted by chants of “You should have signed for a big club” from the Stretford End.
The Spaniard ran hard enough but Chelsea remained too disjointed, barring one moment.
With 20 minutes remaining, Ramires crossed from the right, the ball deflecting high towards Ivanovic, whose head-down was turned in neatly by Frank Lampard. Apart from this poacher’s touch the midfielder was largely anonymous.
Moments after Cole’s desperate attempt to equalise from his own half failed, Howard Webb blew the final whistle and United players gathered in a massed, jubilant huddle.
Ferguson marched purposefully down the touchline, acknowledging the salutes. His players had proved themselves the best in England. Now they have to prove themselves the best in Europe.
Say a prayer ... how Little Pea left Blues on their knees
Manchester United fans already consider Javier Hernández heaven-sent, and their new hero is clearly able to summon divine intervention. Having prayed in the centre-circle just before kick-off, he took just 36 seconds to open the scoring with the fastest goal in the Premier League this term.
Read a full match report of the Champions League semi-final second leg between Manchester United and Schalke at Old Trafford on Wednesday May 4 2011.
London calling for the clash. Manchester United versus Barcelona at Wembley in a duel for the Champions League crown is an occasion that quickens the pulse even 22 days away. This is a show-case final dripping with glamour and intrigue: a good team in United against a great one in Barcelona.
United enjoyed a semi-final ride up Wembley Way as easy as the final will be hard. By the end of this rout, the home fans were chanting “we’re Man United, we’ll do what we want”, which was pretty much anything against supine Schalke. The M1 will probably prove more troublesome for United in reaching Wembley than the guileless Germans did.
Barcelona, the team of all the talents, will be far less accommodating on May 28. Pep Guardiola, who travelled to Old Trafford to watch a largely second-string United cut Schalke to tiny dark-blue ribbons, will send out such stars as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. It will be roll-call at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
La Liga’s finest will be the favourites, with box-office billing also going to other attackers like David Villa and Pedro, not to mention the expert defensive likes of Gerard Pique and the attacking right-back, Dani Alves. But nobody, certainly not the respectful Guardiola, will dismiss United’s chances. There is a belief to Ferguson and his team, a refusal to bow to adversity that gives them a chance.
United players also remember the ruins of Rome, the 2009 final defeat to Barcelona. They know they will be the underdogs, perceived as John Bull before Spanish matadors, being led to a death by a thousand passes. United will not go quietly; it is in United’s psyche to prove people wrong and themselves right.
To live with this exceptional side of Guardiola’s, Ferguson must be true to his instincts. He must be bold. If he decides to flood midfield, hoping to swamp the passing movement of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, and playing only Wayne Rooney up top, then United will be broken down. Barcelona roll like waves towards opposing barricades, relentless in their constant repetitions, and one will eventually sweep through.
Ferguson must fight flair with flair, using Javier Hernandez as the fleet-footed striker looking to prey on any sluggishness in Carles Puyol (assuming Barcelona’s captain moves across from left-back as Eric Abidal returns). Rooney can then link with midfield, also closing down Sergio Busquets. It’s a one-off tie, a final at a fabled venue, and Ferguson must go for it.
Central midfield appears to pick itself, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs, unless Darren Fletcher, who returned to an emotional reception, replenishes his post-vuris energy levels fully in time.
Antonio Valencia will provide the width down the right while Ji-sung Park could keep out Nani on the left, simply because the tactically smart South Korean dynamo will be needed to deal with Alves, Barcelona’s rampaging right-back.
Ferguson knows the surname of his right-back, Da Silva, but has to choose between Rafael or the more disciplined Fabio. One key conundrum United must solve as they prepare for Wembley is how to pick up Messi, nominally the central attacker but dropping deep. Rio Ferdinand may need to be brave and follow him into midfield.
These are the myriad challenges when facing Barcelona, who think like chess grandmasters and move like ballroom dancers. And United will need to be going some to eclipse the formidable work-rate of Guardiola’s players, whose famous pressing tactics see them descend in a swarm over opponents.
If the main occupation for United could be getting hold of the ball, the test for their countless supporters will be getting hold of a ticket. United’s allocation is 25,000, the cost ranging from £80-£300. Hotel accommodation in London has long been at a premium. United fans will find a way; 300 of them rented bunks on a boat moored in the Moscow River for the 2008 final.
They will certainly be in good voice for Wembley, judging by Wednesday night’s choir practice. As Valencia, Darron Gibson and Anderson twice put the ball into the Germans’ net, the Stretford End tore through their hymn-book, singing in praise of Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, Rooney, Paul Scholes, Andy Cole, Nicky Butt and Bryan Robson, amongst others along with incessant chant of “we’re going to Wembley”. United went down memory lane and up Wembley Way.
They had plenty to sing about. Valencia got the party started after 26 minutes. When Uchida lost possession, Anderson pounced and United raced through the gears. No matter the changes, this was classic United, going for the opponents’ jugular.
Anderson found Gibson, whose ball to Valencia carried echoes of Iniesta’s sumptuous pass to Pedro. It was a majestic delivery, completely destroying Schalke’s defence. Valencia, gliding down the inside-right channel, needed only one touch to tee the ball before beating Manuel Neuer with a firm shot.
Within five minutes, Ferguson’s men led 4-0 on aggregate. Gibson has an eye for the long-range strike, although many United fans have often wondered whether he would develop into a top-class midfielder. Following Rafael’s throw-in, Anderson and Valencia worked the ball to Gibson, who met it first time. The shot arrowed straight at Neuer, whose excellence in the first leg was hailed by Ferguson “as probably the best goalkeeping performance against us in Europe”.
Not here. Not when Gibson came calling. This was more Manuel than Neuer. The German international keeper spilled the ball, which bounced in off the post. There was almost a gasp of disbelief that such a good keeper could make such a mistake.
Schalke were poor, barring the tireless Raul and occasionally inventive Jose Manuel Jurado, who drilled the ball past Edwin van der Sar 10 minutes from the break.
Schalke fans started chanting “only three more”. Some of their number lit flares while a few others leant over the edge to taunt, and lob a bottle or two, at their United counterparts in the lower tier. The police eventually sorted that out.
The Germans were less trouble on the pitch. United grabbed a third after 72 minutes. Nani was the architect, racing down the right, and cutting the ball back to Anderson, who collected the ball at the second attempt, and fired it low past the sluggish Neuer.
When Anderson then turned in Dimitar Berbatov’s cross, London was calling even louder.
Teddy Sheringham has warned Manchester United they can’t afford to take Schalke lightly as they look ahead to Sunday’s Premier League title showdown against Chelsea.
With United 2-0 up from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Germany last week, there have been suggestions Sir Alex Ferguson would rest key players on Wednesday night as he prepares for Sunday’s visit of the Blues.
But Sheringham, who helped United win the Treble in 1999, insists that would be the wrong approach.
He told the Keys and Gray Show: “United have got a great cushion, 2-0 up, but I think Sir Alex will put out a full team and get the game won, and then rest people with half an hour left.
“If you do come unstuck by playing a weakened team, you could lose 2-0, go to extra-time and then everything’s chaos and it could spill over into Sunday’s game.
“So I think they’ll get that one out of the way first and then focus on who’s fit, ready and able to take on a charging Chelsea team.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have all the momentum going into Sunday’s huge clash after a sensational run of form, but Sheringham believes that could actually prove to be to United’s advantage. He added: “The momentum is with Chelsea, but if Man United want to put a spin on that they can say they’re three points clear. Chelsea have to do all the running and sometimes that can work in your favour that the other team is coming forward and attacking.
“If you imagine with 20 minutes to go and the game’s still 0-0 or 1-1, Chelsea have to win the game and that could play into United’s hands with the pace and power they’ve got up front.
“United have been there, seen it and done it. They know the situation. And one good thing for United is Chelsea have got a stable side, but they’re not quite sure what their strikeforce is.
“They’ve got three outstanding centre-forwards but it’s plain and obvious they can’t all play together, maybe not even two of them. So it might be just one up front, or maybe two of them but not quite firing on all cylinders.
There are questions for Fergie to answer, but it’s a troublesome problem for Ancelotti as well.” And Sheringham also insists there will be no repeat of the lacklustre attitude that cost United dearly at Arsenal last weekend. “United weren’t at it in the first half [at the Emirates],” he said. “They took it a bit easy from the first minute and Arsenal attacked them and United didn’t really have any response. It was like ‘we’re six points clear, it’s not a problem’.
“You can’t take the game like that, they needed to get at least a draw in that game. All of a sudden it’s game on again, but they won’t be in the same frame of mind on Sunday.”
MANCHESTER UNITED will have to cough up a staggering £85million if they want to sign Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan this summer.
That’s the financial package Sir Alex Ferguson will have to sanction if he wants to make Dutch international Sneijder the new Paul Scholes.
Ferguson has been on Sneijder’s tail for two years and thought he could grab the 26-year-old star last June after Jose Mourinho left Inter Milan for Real Madrid and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez took over at the San Siro.
Sources close to him say the midfielder with an explosive shot is now ready for a fresh challenge – with Old Trafford his No.1 destination.
Inter are said to want £35m for the star – even though they only paid Real £16m for his services two years ago.
Sneijder is reportedly on an annual salary of £10m and would want a five-year contract – a huge £85m investment that would test the commitment of United owners, the Glazer family.
SOURCE: Sunday People
By all accounts Sir Alex Ferguson will push the club’s money men to meet the asking price to secure the Inter Milan playmaker who appears ready for a new challenge after two seasons at the San Siro. The Man United boss is very keen on bringing in a goal scoring midfielder and wants the Glazers to fund the big money move and prove that the Premier League table toppers can compete in financial terms with the likes of Man City and Chelsea.
26 year old Sneijder has been a Ferguson target for a couple of years and the Man United manager was linked with a move for the Dutch international when he was stagnating at Real Madrid before his move to Serie A. Some sources believe that having secured the treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia in his first season at Inter Milan that he is now considering his options after seeing his side struggle to compete this term.
Ferguson has a number of central midfield options but the likes of Michael Carrick, Anderson, Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson and Darren Fletcher are not exactly goal threats and this has led to a great interest in a number of prospective players to fill that void with the likes of Tottenham’s Rafael Van der Vaart and Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik also linked with moves to the Premier League table toppers.
Manchester United have made a dramatic late swoop to hijack Manchester City’s deal to sign the highly-rated winger Alexis Sanchez for up to £26.5 million.
It is understood that Sanchez’s representatives met with City officials on Friday to thrash out personal terms for the Chilean international. But in an unexpected twist that will cause alarm at Eastlands, it is believed the agents then had a further meeting, this time with United, yesterday morning.
Indeed, it is thought that the 22 year-old’s representatives have now indicated that their client would prefer to join United if a deal can be agreed, even though it appeared that a deal was well advanced with their City rivals.
Neither club has yet to agree terms with Udinese, although the Italian club have accepted that Sanchez can leave this summer and is free to discuss a move. Personal terms are not an issue for either Premier League club.
It had been thought Udinese would hold out for up to £35.4 million for Sanchez, who can play as a winger or central striker, but it is now accepted that a fee of between £18 million and £26.5 million is more realistic.
If United have gazumped City — and it is believed that Sir Alex Ferguson personally intervened in the hope of doing so, having also followed the player for some time — then it will be a severe blow to City, who regarded Sanchez as their key summer signing.
They have tracked Sanchez for months, with officials, including football administrator Brian Marwood, travelling to Italy to monitor his progress.
Further talks were held with his representatives three weeks ago and since then the club have been confident that a deal was on the verge of being completed.
Despite City’s vast spending power they will not want to get into a tug-of-war with United over the player. United still have a greater global appeal than City when it comes to signings, even if the latter also qualify for the Champions League next season.
Real Madrid and Internazionale have been reported as interested in the player but, according to sources at City, both clubs have given no indication that they want to sign him.
La Liga rivals go head to head for Old Trafford post.
JOSE MOURINHO and Pep Guardiola go head to head again in the Champions League this week.
But the winner will not just land a Euro final – the big prize is the keys to Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson steps aside.
Fergie will continue for two more years – as revealed exclusively by People Sport – but, as auditions go, the reward could not be bigger for the Real Madrid and Barcelona rivals, who are both destined for the Premier League.
Guardiola’s friend and fellow Spaniard, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, closely follows La Liga matters and said: “It is not going to be longer than two years before Guardiola is in the Premier League and, by that time, I think Mourinho will be here, too.
SOURCE: Sunday People
The pressure has been piling on Jose Mourinho of late and a recent spat with Cristiano Ronaldo has left many wondering if the Bernabeu boss may be axed. Pep Guardiola has had great success at Barcelona but has been linked with moves away from the Nou Camp, something that would greatly surprise many given his huge success at the Catalan club.
Pep’s friend Roberto Martinez appears to believe that the Barca boss is destined for a move to the Premier League and given that Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly leaving in two seasons then perhaps the Red Devils will look to either of these options as replacements for their hugely successful boss.
The much debated issue of who Man United will turn to when Ferguson does finally retire is one that must worry supporters of the club as the day the Scot leaves his post will bring an end to a incredibly successful spell and as such any prospective replacement must be something the club’s board is pondering and there are few manager’s in Europe with better credentials than the Barcelona and Real Madrid boss’s.
Old Trafford boss ready to make summer move for White Hart Lane duo.
Manchester United are ready to make a double Tottenham swoop this summer as Sir Alex Ferguson prepares bids for Gareth Bale and Rafael Van Der Vaart. The Old Trafford boss will be encouraged in any move for either White Hart Lane star if the North London club fail to secure a top four finish and miss out on Champions League football for next term.
Ferguson has targeted both Tottenham stars for some months and is looking to bring in new additions that can help resolve areas of his first team that he feels he can add quality to. The Scot has been looking to bring in a goalscoring midfielder and has identified Dutch international Van der Vaart as the ideal man for the job.
The former Real Madrid man arrived at Tottenham last summer for a fee of just £8m and Ferguson is willing to offer around three times that fee and will hope that the 28 year old will be tempted by a move to a club that can offer him the chance of winning major honours. Van der Vaart has been an instant success in the Premier League netted 12 goals and 8 assists thus far this season.
Whilst Ferguson has a number of central midfield options the likes of Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick do not offer much in the way of a goal threat hence the move for the Tottenham playmaker.
Man United are also looking for a long term replacement for Ryan Giggs and believe that young Welsh winger Gareth Bale is the best man for the job and even though the 21 year old has recently signed a long term contract extension Ferguson will make a significant offer for the former Southampton man.
The Premier League table toppers plan to trim their squad to make way for new arrivals with the likes of Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves likely to not be offered new deals when their current deals run out and the under performing stars Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson as well as on loan youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda may be offloaded.
Sir Alex Ferguson has also been promised money for new additions regardless of the levels of debt reportedly placed on the club.
A new photograph of what appears to be Manchester United’s home shirt for the 2011-2012 season has been leaked on the Internet.
The new photo appears to be consistent with the one of the new Man United home jersey that we leaked in December. The latest image is much clearer and shows a simple yet elegant design. The unique feature is the black and white collar that accentuates the shirt. The remainder of the shirt is a solid red color except for the white Nike swoosh logo and sponsor name.
The Reds and Red Devils Do Battle for £15m Rated “New Steven Gerrard”.
Liverpool and Man United are set to enter a bidding war for highly-rated Standard Liege star Steven Defour who is tipped to leave his native Belgium this summer. The goalscoring midfielder has been a long term target of Sir Alex Ferguson but now Anfield director of football Damien Comolli has identified the creative youngster as a target. Read More >>
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is keen on signing Stoke City centre back Ryan Shawcross and will look to offer Tony Pulis around £11m for the England hopeful this summer. The Anfield manager is hoping to beef up his defensive options and has been impressed with the consistent displays the Chester born 23 year old has put in this term. Read More >>
