Birmingham's Lee Bowyer should have been sent off, says Alex Ferguson

The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the Birmingham City goalscorer Lee Bowyer should have been sent off for his first-half challenge on Darron Gibson during the 1-1 draw at St Andrew's. Bowyer received a yellow card from the referee Lee Mason after a late lunge at Gibson, who was starting his first Premier League game since April. Ferguson felt Bowyer, who is 34 next week, should have been given a red card and he took advantage of staying on the pitch by scoring a last-gasp equaliser.

The United manager said: "The Bowyer tackle in the first half, I thought it was a red card. He's gone over the top of the ball. Bowyer has been given a yellow card so nothing can be done about it [retrospectively]. But it's a dangerous tackle.

Ferguson's sense of injustice would have been increased when replays suggested the Blues striker Nikola Zigic was guilty of handball and committing a foul in the build-up to Bowyer's goal, which earned a point for the Midlands side.

But United head into the new year top of the table. They have lost only two league matches during 2010 and remain unbeaten in the top flight this campaign. Ferguson said: "I always say if we get to that top position on New Year's Day, then we've always got a great chance. There's five or six teams who are all contesting that area towards the top of the league."

With Wayne Rooney still without a club goal from open play in nine months, Ferguson will be relieved Dimitar Berbatov continues to sparkle. His 15th goal of the campaign at St Andrew's means he has already passed his totals of 12 and 14 for his previous two campaigns at Old Trafford. Ferguson said: "Dimitar is in great form and it is good to see that. His confidence is high too – and that is important."

Ferguson will hope that Arsenal find it as difficult as the other leading teams when they visit Birmingham on Saturday. Alex McLeish's side have already beaten Chelsea and drawn with Tottenham at home this season in addition to gaining the point against United, which moved them out of the bottom three.

Ferguson said: "Maybe it will be seen as a good point in the long run. Absolutely. Birmingham is a very difficult place to come to. You see their home record in terms of goals against them. Very few teams score goals at Birmingham. That has been going on since Alex [McLeish] came here as a manager. They set their stall out very well."

McLeish was full of praise for the resilience shown by his team and their never-say-die attitude surfaced once again in thwarting United. But the former Scotland manager is aware of the need for his team to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to climb away from the relegation zone.

He said: "Why are we near the bottom? We haven't scored enough goals. That is the bottom line. We've not been battered in any game this season and the players can be proud of that.

"I heard David Moyes talking the other day about the reason Everton are in their position they are because they haven't scored enough goals. We haven't done that either. The thing which has let us down is we've not scored enough goals. It will take us up the table if we score the chances we create."

McLeish believes United and Arsenal are the favourites to win the title. He said: "I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be United. Chelsea are still a wee bit away now. United and Arsenal are favourites now but we say that at different stages of the season and then a couple of results go against you and it changes.

"It has been such a topsy-turvy season. It has been a strange one, teams in the lower half beating the top teams. Even the top teams have been a little inconsistent but United's recent form has been great."

Read Full Entry

Don’t worry Manchester United, no other big guns beat Birmingham City at home either

Forget Anfield, Eastlands or Stamford Bridge, Birmingham City's St Andrew's is the true Premier League fortress. Unbeaten by a big six side at home for 18 months, Alex McLeish's men held on to the record on Tuesday night thanks to a controversial 89th-minute strike that had Rio Ferdinand calling foul and Edwin van der Sar offside.

Lee Bowyer's intervention at the back post not only brought the Blues' support to their feet but injected new life into the title fight. Although United return to pole position, the fallibility of the early months of the campaign made a welcome return in the eyes of the chasing pack. Before Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur get too excited, however, they should all look at their own recent history in the second city.

While Carlo Ancelotti's charges are the only heavyweight to fall to defeat, critical points have been dropped by all. The Gunners' faltering challenge fell apart thanks to a Manuel Almunia gaffe in March, while then City boss Mark Hughes' fatal run of stalemates included one at the ground.

Arsenal are next in the firing line on New Year's Day, with City to follow on February 1.

Since promotion back to the top flight in time for the start of last season, Alex McLeish has imbued his team with a desire unable to be stamped out by the big guns.

Certainly, St Andrew's imposing - and decaying - exterior is a culture shock to the visiting superstars spoiled by the exclusive facilities on offer at the likes of Old Trafford. Its location within a tough Birmingham neighbourhood must also unsettle the nerves.

Pin-ups such as Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney play within sedate 60,000-plus crowds at the Emirates and Old Trafford. No such timidity is present at St Andrew's.

The 30,009 baying Brummies create a tinderbox atmosphere hard to match in the division. While this can certainly - and unforgiveably - step over the mark, such as the ugly scenes in the recent derby with Aston Villa, big egos from visiting stars can be shrunk to size with a choice chant.

A tussle between Anderson and Barry Ferguson was greeted enthusiastically in the terraces. Wayne Rooney's repeated efforts to find the back of the net were met with a humour likely to further rile the Scouse firebrand.

This further ensures that McLeish's watertight tactics are given the backing they deserve. From every towering header from Roger Johnson, to each snapping tackle from Ferguson and a round of applause for each run down the channel from shot-shy striker Cameron Jerome, the pressure on the chalk board is carried through by the fans.

The Scot himself took the chance to bemoan the lack of goals from his side in his post-match press conference. While this slackness was an Achilles heel during the recent defeat to lesser lights Wolverhampton Wanderers, a rigid 4-5-1 against potential champions acheived the desired effect. Even attacking outlets Craig Gardner and Sebastian Larsson put in a shift for the team. Anyone who shirks responsibility, no matter reputation, will get an earful.

This was exemplified by Gardner's attack on Alexander Hleb after the mercurial summer signing failed to track back once he was thrown in to the action as a substitute. Never mind that the Belarus international can point to spells at Arsenal and Barcelona on his CV. This team spirit and commitment has ensured the Premier League big dogs now fear the trip to St Andrew's. Arsenal, you have been warned.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United have history on their side as they protect unbeaten record at Birmingham City

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, unbeaten in the Premier League since a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Old Trafford last April, travel to St Andrew’s as the only team in England yet to lose a league game this season. And only Sheffield United, who led the old First Division with an unbeaten record on Dec 31, 1899, have failed to win the league after starting the new year undefeated. On that occasion, the Bramall Lane club finished second to Aston Villa, despite not suffering their first league defeat until losing to Bury in mid-January.

Ferguson has repeatedly dismissed the prospect of United emulating Preston in 1888-89 and Arsenal in 2003-04 by sustaining the unbeaten run throughout an entire season. The United manager, speaking earlier this month, said: “It won’t happen again. The time Arsenal did it they had 12 draws. It was a great achievement, but in this present league, you cannot think for a minute you will go through undefeated.”Leeds United (1973-74), Liverpool (1987-88) and Arsenal (1990-91) all survived defeats in the second half of the season to win the league having been unbeaten at the start of the new year.

Yet with United, who have won just once away from Old Trafford this season, due to visit Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool in the second half of the campaign, the difficulty of avoiding defeat appears to justify odds of 11-1 for Ferguson’s team to remain unbeaten for an entire league season.

But Ryan Giggs, who is chasing his 12th league title this season, admits that United’s traditional improvement in the new year ensures that the squad expect to sustain their form. Giggs said: “We hope to get better in the second half of the season, but our form over the last few weeks has been really good. We looked sharp against Arsenal and Blackburn, and it was the same against Sunderland.

“You are obviously wary, though, because of the way the league has been this year. Anyone can beat anyone. We are thankful that we remain unbeaten and confidence is high, but we realise that nothing can be taken for granted. It is a tough league and we need to be at our best in every game.”United winger Antonio Valencia has revealed that he is unlikely to return from ankle surgery until March after being told not to rush back to action by the club’s medical staff.

Valencia, who was given permission to spend Christmas with his family in Ecuador before returning to Manchester early next month, had been expected to make his comeback in mid-February after having his recovery accelerated with work in a Nasa-developed underwater treadmill at United’s training ground. But he now admits that he is targeting the final three months of the campaign for his comeback.

Valencia said: “The injury was very hard. It has taken three months so far, but my recovery is well under way and I hope to be 100 per cent within three months. Last week, I was able to run and I felt very well, but I just need the swelling to go down now. “The team have told me that there is no rush because I have three months to recover and I do not need to take risks.”Unbeaten runs that have mark of champions

If United avoid defeat at Birmingham, they will become only the seventh team in history (dating back to the inaugural season in 1888-89) to enter the new year unbeaten in the top flight (Football League and Premier League). Only once, Sheffield United in 1899-1900, have a team reached that stage unbeaten and failed to win the league. Here are the teams who have achieved the feat, when they suffered their first defeat and where they finished.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to use part of £50m funds to bring in Liverpool's Pepe Reina

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be in the process of receiveing over £50 million to splurge on the transfer market. And the Daily Mail claims that the Red Devils boss is targeting a £20m move for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, as a replacement for Edwin van der Sar.

The Dutchman is widely expected to hang up his gloves at the end of the season, but it has been reported that Ferguson is willing to wait until the summer to swoop for the Spaniard. United have also been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid's young shot-stopper David De Gea, who has been appreciative of the interest that the club have shown in him.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United consider Barcelona clash in July

United, who prepared for the current season with a five-game tour of Canada, the United States and Mexico in July, are due to make a decision within the next month on their plans for next summer. But the prospect of United and Barca meeting on July 30 for the first time since the 2009 Champions League final in Rome, which United lost, is likely to prove hugely lucrative for both clubs due to the growing interest in the game in the United States.

With Sir Alex Ferguson’s tour squad expected to be at full-strength due to the absence a major international tournament next year, the club have also received money-spinning offers to tour the Far East, with fixtures in Malaysia, China and Indonesia under consideration.

United’s most recent tour of the Asia in 2009, when they played in Malaysia, South Korea and China, was marred by the cancellation of a fixture in Indonesia due to a bomb attack on the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Jakarta, just 24 hours before the team were due to check-in to that hotel.

It is understood that a return to the USA next summer is most likely, however, with Ferguson being impressed by the training facilities throughout the trip, plus the competitive nature of the friendlies played during the three-week tour. United’s close ties with kit manufacturers Nike, and their Chicago-based shirt sponsor Aon, are also set to influence where the club chooses to tour in preparation for the 2011-12 campaign.ends.

Read Full Entry

Premier League preview: Manchester United v Sunderland

Both sides come into the festive period in good spirits. Manchester United find themselves top of the Premier League and with a relatively kind draw in the last sixteen of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Sunderland harbour genuine hopes of a European spot themselves and should Steve Bruce's side carry their form into the second half of the campaign, there is every chance that it might just happen.

Having said that, the statistics indicate that the chances of Sunderland pulling off a famous victory are slim. The Mackems have not won at Old Trafford since 1968 and last beat United ten years ago in a League Cup tie. Last season, Anton Ferdinand's late own-goal denied Bruce's side a memorable win in the corresponding fixture.

The Black Cats will also have to contend with the fact that Manchester United remain the only unbeaten team in the country. Sir Alex Ferguson's side have rarely hit top form this season, but have yet to lose in 16 Premier League games and will feel that there is little reason not to extend that run on Sunday.

United are sitting pretty at the top of the table, two points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand. Ferguson will be aware that perhaps their main danger on Sunday will be a sense of over-confidence and should they suffer from complacency, Sunderland have shown that they have enough quality about them to take advantage. However, Bruce looks like he will have to contend with a number of absentees from his squad as he returns to the club at which he made a name for himself as a player.

The Sunderland boss has taken a realistic approach ahead of the game, saying "We know what to expect, it will be difficult. But I always enjoy going back, even if I do come back with my backside kicked."Certainly Ferguson will hope to send his former captain back to Wearside nursing his wounds.

Manchester United – Hoping that they don't slip up Sir Alex Ferguson will go into Christmas a happy man. Not only are his side in an excellent position, but importantly, they exude an air of stability and consistency somewhat missing from their title rivals. Ferguson's team has begun to more or less pick itself. Edwin Van der Sar continues to be an enormous presence in goal and will be sorely missed once he retires. Brazilian youngster Rafael Da Silva has made the right-back slot his own while Patrice Evra continues to impress on the other side of defence. Much of United's solidity is down to the fact that they have been able to call on the partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for a prolonged period this season, a luxury over the past couple of campaigns.

In midfield, Ji-sung Park has been in excellent form, including scoring the winner against Arsenal last time out. Anderson has also earned high praise from Ferguson while Michael Carrick should continue to patrol the middle of the park. Portugese winger Nani will be asked to continue impacting games to good effect.

All eyes though will likely be on the front two of Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney . The Bulgarian is the man of the moment, having hit five goals recently against Blackburn in United's 7-1 romp. The England striker though has still not found his scoring boots this season and will be anxious to hit the back of the net. Sunderland will hope that they are not on the receiving end of Rooney's return to form.

Sunderland – Down to the bare bones As if a trip to Old Trafford weren't difficult enough under normal circumstances, Sunderland will take on an in form Manchester United with up to seven players unavailable for selection as Steve Bruce looks to cobble together his starting eleven.

At least he knows that Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon goes into the match with plenty of confidence, having pulled off a sensational save against Bolton last week to help ensure a 1-0 victory for the Black Cats.

At the back, Sunderland will be without Titus Bramble and Michael Turner with knee injuries, while John Mensah is out for three weeks with an ankle knock. Expect either Argentinean Marcos Angeleri or 'the Egyptian Beckham' Ahmed Al Muhammadi to come in as cover.

Meanwhile, controversial midfielder and Black Cats' captain Lee Cattermole is suspended having picked up his fifth booking of the season. Youngster Jordan Henderson and Kieran Richardson more or less pick themselves, providing incisive running from out wide. Steve Bruce will hope that David Meyler is fit to take his place in the centre of midfield, particularly with Cattermole missing. The young Irishman suffered a knock at Fulham and it is unclear whether he is available for the trip to Old Trafford. Both Steed Malbranque and Boudewijn Zenden will hope that they can be accommodated in an inevitable midfield reshuffle.

Up front, the in-form Danny Welbeck is unavailable as a condition of his loan deal from Manchester United . The responsibility for breaching United's back four will rest upon Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan.

Steve Bruce will be hoping that a rather makeshift side holds its own at Old Trafford with a thin looking spine to both midfield and defence looking somewhat suspect.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United will not be caught out when Edwin van der Sar leaves

Sir Alex Ferguson says he expects Edwin van der Sar to retire at the end of this season but believes lessons learned from Peter Schmeichel's departure will prevent another goalkeeping crisis at Manchester United. Van der Sar was 40 in October and, despite recent mixed messages over his intentions when his contract expires next summer, has told Ferguson this will be his final campaign at Old Trafford. "We are planning for this being his last season," the United manager said today. "I expected it. It is amazing to be playing at this level at 40 years of age. You can only do it if you've got that structure and the mind. "To be able to programme himself and train the way he does is phenomenal. He's an outstanding man.

United have not discussed a possible coaching role with Van der Sar, although Ferguson indicated a position could be made available for the former Ajax, Juventus and Fulham goalkeeper. "He is a player that will be of interest because of his knowledge and standing in the game," said the Scot, who rates the Dutchman alongside Schmeichel as his most important keepers at Old Trafford and now faces a similar predicament over finding a permanent successor.

A procession of players failed to live up to the Dane's imposing reputation after his United exit in 1999, ranging from a World Cup winner in Fabien Barthez to calamities such as Massimo Taibi. Tomasz Kuszczak, who may also leave the club next summer, and Ben Foster failed to dislodge Van der Sar as No1. Although Anders Lindegaard has recently signed for £3.5m from the Norwegian club Aalesunds and there are high hopes for Ben Amos, Ferguson indicated a proven, top-class keeper will be on his transfer agenda next summer. David de Gea of Atlético Madrid and Schalke's Manuel Neuer are potential candidates.

"I think we have learned the lesson [from failing to replace Schmeichel]," Ferguson said. "I should have signed Van der Sar after Schmeichel. I made a mistake but now we think we know where we're going. Both of them have been magnificent. I've been very lucky to have had them both."

Ferguson gave no credence to rumours that David Beckham could return on loan during the MLS close season. "I don't think so with David at his age," he said. A more immediate aim for the United manager "is to be top of the league by 4 January. If we are, then we have done well."

The league leaders entertain Sunderland on Boxing Day, with games at Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion and at home to Stoke completing their festive campaign. Despite Tottenham's continued improvement, Ferguson believes United's closest challengers will come only from the usual suspects.

"There were indications last season when Tottenham got into the top four that things were changing and that elite four that people had spoken about for years had changed," he said. "And it looks as if it can change again because there's a battle for fourth place again. You have to recognise it's a different type of league but I don't think there'll be anyone outside of ourselves, Chelsea or Arsenal [challenging for the title]. I think those three will certainly be there.

"I know Harry [Redknapp] is talking up his chances very well at Tottenham but they're involved in the Champions League and it's a new thing for them. Particularly if they get through this next stage, it's not easy to manage European competition at that level and do the league programme and FA Cup ties. It's very difficult and usually your experience gets you through. [Manchester] City have got a chance, of course. That's the other team. And they've also got the Europa League but maybe they can buy in January. Harry could maybe buy as well because it's very difficult to manage them both."

Ferguson has no concerns over a rearranged date for United's visit to Chelsea, provided it is fair to both clubs' demanding schedules. The original game was postponed due to the snow last weekend and may not take place until the end of the season.

"I'm not concerned when it's played," said Ferguson. "So long as it's fair on both teams in the sense of congestion of fixtures when the game is actually played and wedging it between certain games. We've had to look at the fixtures in the last few days and it's quite a difficult one. It certainly seems like it's not going to be played until after March at least."

Read Full Entry

Dimitar Berbatov: I would rather quit football than leave Manchester United

Dimitar Berbatov has claimed he would sooner walk away from football altogether than leave current club Manchester United. The £30 million striker is the Premier League’s top scorer this season with 11 goals but has divided fan opinion since he joined the Old Trafford club. But the Bulgarian, coming into the final 18 months of his contract, is not about to give up his No.9 shirt.

"I fought to have a chance to play for United and now I can only go down if I leave," Berbatov said, as quoted by the Telegraph. "Why I should do this? It would be better to retire."Berbatov, 29, has been named Bulgaria’s Footballer of the Year for the seventh time and in November became only the fourth player in Premier League history to score five goals in one match, after United’s 7-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United non-executive director Mike Edelson reveals Glazer family intend to sell the club

Manchester United’s future has been thrown into doubt after one of the club’s top officials made it clear that current owners, the Glazer family, will sell up. Mike Edelson, who is the non-executive director at Old Trafford, told The Sun that they will be looking to leave at some stage. "It's no secret that, at some time, the family will sell," he said at a recent Q&A session at the Maccabi Sports Club in Prestwich, Manchester. And with this revelation, it is now believed this has opened the door for the Qatar royal family, led by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to seize their opportunity tio take control of United in a £1.5 billion takeover.

However, with Edelson’s comments it has given the first clear indication that the Glazers are ready to move on, having taken United into debt. It is also believed that the Glazers will almost double their money if they sell, having bought the Old Trafford club five and half years ago, for £790m. According to The Sun, sources have claimed that the Glazers are willing to sell so that they can pay back £252m of the £752m they have accumulated since being the owners at United.

"The belief is that they have already brought in extra finance from a third party in a bid to set the club up for a sale," one top city source was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, a Middle East finance expert has also said that Qatar holdings - who deal with business concerning the royal family - are waiting to strike to gain control of the Premier League giants.

"They have made tentative moves before with little success but this time it looks like they could be going for it," the source said. "Now they have landed the 2022 World Cup, the country wants to expand its influence in the game across the globe."

Read Full Entry

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has no time for retirement talk after beating Sir Matt Busby's record

The Manchester United manager, who celebrates his 69th birthday on New Year’s Eve, eclipsed Busby’s 8,810 days service as United manager on Sunday. And Ferguson will mark 25 years at Old Trafford if he continues to be in the charge of the club next season.

Having changed his mind on plans to retire at the end of the 2001-02 season, Ferguson has since claimed that he would not work beyond his 70th birthday. But with United now chasing a record 19th league title, the Scot admits that he has no idea of when he might call time on his management career. Ferguson said: “The older you get, the more worried you are about retiring. “You start to realise that, whilst you have got your health and good fitness, you should carry on in your job. All thoughts of retirement are in the back of my mind.

He described the decision to say he was going to go as “a mistake”, adding: “At the time there were some reasons for it. It was one of those things.”

United missed out on the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table following the postponement of Sunday’s clash with Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

But despite the growing threat from across Manchester in the shape of Roberto Mancini’s high-flying City team, Ferguson believes that Tottenham – who entertain United at White Hart Lane next month – can also challenge for the title this season.

He said: “It is a tough league, but do you want Manchester United and Chelsea or Arsenal to steamroller the league every season? “I think the public like what they’re seeing now, all of us dropping points, and you have also got the rise of Spurs.

“They have been fantastic since Harry [Redknapp] went there. They could have won some games and could have lost others, but there has been a real improvement by them. “As Harry says, why can’t they win the league? That is getting through to his players.”

Read Full Entry

Manchester United is not for sale at any price - Glazers

The Glazers have moved to quell the speculation concerning a potential sale of the Manchester United, by declaring that the club is not for sale at any price. There had previously been reports that Qatari Holdings were looking into the possibility of making a £1.5 billion move to takeover the club, with reports pointing towards manager Sir Alex Ferguson being given a mammoth war-chest for transfers.

It had been thought that the current owners may make a profit from the potential sale and walk away, but according to the Daily Star, a spokesman for the Glazers said: "There has been no bid for the club. Any such bid would be irrelevant anyway because the club is not for sale."The Glazers took over United five years ago, for a sum believed to be in the region of £790 million.

Read Full Entry

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny: I beat Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in a battle of wits

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has taken credit for the penalty miss by Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in the recent meeting between the two sides. Park Ji-sung had given the hosts the lead during the first-half, and the former Everton marksman was presented the opportunity to double the advantage from the spot in the second period.

However, the actual shot went awry as the 25-year-old ballooned the ball over the bar. And the Polish sho-stopper believes it was a mental battle in which he beat the England international. "I did prepare myself for a Rooney penalty before the game," Szczesny said, according to The Mirror. "I actually decided to try to delay him, show him my presence and hope for the best.

"Maybe my presence put him off and made him miss it. "It's obviously a mental battle between the goalkeeper and the striker, a psychological battle, so I tried him and stand off my line for as long as possible, until the referee put me on the line. Then I made myself big and he missed. "People were congratulating me for the saves in the second half but I don't think they were fantastic stops.

"Anderson pretty much hit it straight at my chest because I was in the right position at the right time and the second one, I don't think Rooney connected very well. I was a little bit scared when he took it on but if it had been a little bit higher, as he was trying to do, I maybe wouldn't have got it."

Read Full Entry

Wenger: Time to beat Man United

The Gunners remain top of the table after Didier Drogba's stoppage-time penalty miss at Tottenham meant Chelsea dropped down to fourth following Manchester City's win at West Ham on Saturday, which left them level on points with the leaders.

There is certainly little margin for error in what looks set to be one of the tightest championship battles for many seasons, with United still holding a match in hand on the teams around them. It has been four years since Arsenal beat the Red Devils on home soil. However, in each of the seasons in which they went on to win the Premier League, Wenger's side got a positive result at Old Trafford.

The Arsenal manager feels now is the perfect time for his latest generation to deliver. "We have an opportunity to show how good we are - that is what you want in life," Wenger said. "Let's go without any preconceived ideas, not [thinking] about any weakness of Manchester United, nor about any weakness from us, just let's focus on the day, to give your best, play with belief, play for each other and we have a good chance to beat anybody."

Wenger maintained: "I know that my team will be really up for it, and I always have great belief in my players - I know how hungry they are for success and am sure that will come out in the game."

Tonight's game will again pit Wenger against great rival Sir Alex Ferguson, and the Frenchman insists his former spats with the Scot should be taken in isolation. "It's always for me in the heat of the moment,""I'm not somebody who bears grudges for years. I can forgive - indeed, sometimes I need to be the person to be forgiven - but I'm not somebody who thinks for 10 years, forever, 'I will hate you'. "Relations with people go up and down a little bit. Why? Because many things happen in the heat of the moment and you know it's not for definite.

"I had [arguments] not only with him but with other managers."A decision on whether to play captain Cesc Fabregas, who is battling to be fit from a hamstring problem, will be left as late as possible, while Theo Walcott - who impressed when coming off the bench to inspire the Champions League victory over Partizan Belgrade - could make his first start at Old Trafford.

Walcott has struggled to crack the Arsenal first team in recent weeks but Wenger insists his patience will be rewarded. "Frankly I can understand that because for me Theo Walcott is doing well," Wenger said. "For me he is not an impact player, he is a regular player. "At the moment he does not play as often as he should but he will play soon. "In fairness, Theo is fantastic. His attitude and behaviour has been absolutely great."

Read Full Entry

Manchester United's Nani looks ready to torment Arsenal again

In his Manchester United career so far it has been Nani's great misfortune to be cast as Cristiano Ronaldo Lite, a less prolific, not quite as talented yet even more irritating version of his more famous compatriot. So much so that it comes as a slight surprise to be reminded that his time at Old Trafford only overlapped that of the more stellar stepover artist by a couple of seasons, and the winger more properly known as Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha only arrived in this country at the stage when Ronaldo was beginning to articulate a desire to leave.

The pair have more than United in common, of course. They played together at youth level in Portugal, both came through the Sporting Lisbon ranks, and briefly lived together when Nani was new to Manchester. They operate in tandem for the national side, where Nani could be seen fully playing to type in the 4-0 friendly defeat of Spain last month, brainlessly applying an unnecessary final touch to an exquisite chip by Ronaldo that had already beaten the goalkeeper and seeing a collector's item of a goal chalked off for offside. Ronaldo was furious.

In England, too, Nani's challenge has always been to live in Ronaldo's shadow. First he had to survive comparisons with someone who was arguably the hottest property in world football at the time, then he had to try and step into his shoes. Perhaps not immediately, for Antonio Valencia was signed to provide width and penetration first, and was gradually growing into the role when his ankle fracture thrust the spotlight back on Nani. Even then Sir Alex Ferguson, who described him as "immature" when he first joined the club, appeared to lack faith in Nani's ability.

The United manager has often seemed disappointed with the development of a player he bought for £17m as a 20-year-old, either damning him with faint praise or highlighting his reservations through his selections. It is perhaps revealing, though, that Nani is still around after voicing his frustrations last year, the sort of speaking out of turn that led to the rapid departure of Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy. If Ferguson has adopted a patient approach over a player who has only just turned 24, there have been distinct signs this season that the wait may not have been in vain. Nani not only seems to realise his responsibilities now, he has started to look capable of discharging them.

In the 7-1 rout of Blackburn last month Nani was probably United's best player, his contribution only overshadowed by the headlines commanded by Dimitar Berbatov's five goals. Nani scored a fine goal that day and made a couple more, the story of his season in miniature. His assists alone have earned him new respect at Old Trafford because he not only appears to have acquired unselfishness but decisiveness, the ability to select the right option then deliver.

Ferguson has noticed. "He's got better, that's the great thing," the United manager said. "He's always had pace, courage and great feet, but he's added a goal ratio to his game, which is important."

Arsène Wenger has noticed, too. A couple of Nani's best displays in this country have been against his team – not that everybody in north London has been impressed. After a fractious FA Cup tie two years ago William Gallas accused him of showboating and Gilberto Silva said he was a big-head. No shocks there, though it should also be recorded that Nani was man of the match with a goal and two assists.

Nani did more or less the same thing in the league victory at the Emirates last season. He says he enjoys playing against Arsenal because they give players a chance to show their quality – and though Wenger can only take that as a back-handed compliment he is big enough to concede that the player is worth watching.

"I like what he is doing," the Arsenal manager says. "He has great individual ability but he has improved a lot in his team play. He is a little bit less direct than Ronaldo but technically he is a virtuoso, he has remarkable speed and he is a great crosser of the ball."

United fans baffled by that last remark should bear in mind that Wenger has seen Nani mostly against Arsenal, when he always seems to raise his game. He has not necessarily seen all the crosses that miss their target, sometimes even miss the penalty area, at Old Trafford. Yet with two good feet, pace to burn and a propensity for scoring goals, Nani has the potential to be as deadly a supplier as David Beckham and as elusive in open play as Ryan Giggs.

While he may never eclipse Ronaldo, Nani is extraordinarily gifted by any other measure and appears to be finally understanding how to harness his talent for the benefit of the team.

Read Full Entry

Date confirmed for Blackpool : Manchester United game

BLACKPOOL FOOTBALL club’s Barclays Premier League home game against Manchester United has now been rearranged for Tuesday 25 January. The fixture, which was originally due to take place last Saturday, will still be televised by ESPN and the game will kick-off at 7.30pm.

All previously purchased tickets will remain valid for the game. In other Blackpool Football news, Blackpool Manager Ian Holloway has said he doesn’t expect to see too much transfer activity at Blackpool during the winter transfer window.

While speaking he said:

“I won’t be able to afford the people who will be being bought and sold in January, so we know where we are going and what we are looking at. We might get some free transfers. If there is one or two that I fancy – and I have already spoken to my chairman about one or two – if any of those deals come off and they are good for the club, I trust the chairman to do it and then we will do it. But I’d rather look after who I’ve got and keep working with them.”

Read Full Entry

Bennett ends FC United's dream but supporters remain on song

The thought that FC United of Manchester might participate in the same round of the FA Cup as the behemoth they broke away from five years ago was lost in the mist and frost last night. Portsmouth, who have less money than either of these supposed minnows, will at least be spared the expense of a journey to Bury for the third round in January.

Had Jake Cottrell not driven a penalty against the post midway through the second half, FC United might have taken this match into extra time, although fittingly it was Elliott Bennett, the man of this particular match who broke away to put the tie out of reach of an upset, although the sight of Matt Sparrow rolling the ball into the net in the final seconds of normal time was rather too cruel.

Sir Alex Ferguson might regard them as a footballing SDP but when their supporters split from Old Trafford they brought the great stadium's voice to Gigg Lane. Unlike Old Trafford, FC United's was a crowd that remained noisily to the bitter end.

Britain's new ice age had ensured that neither of these sides had played since the 1-1 draw 11 days before. And although 112 places separated a side at the top of League One from the team third bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier, Gus Poyet, the Brighton manager, wanted the odds shortened, selecting a stronger side than he had in the rather more genteel atmosphere of the Withdean Stadium.

As well as FC United played, Brighton were sharper and better and in the shape of Bennett, Poyet possessed a player who created both goals, cutting in from the left flank. The first was turned in from close range by Fran Sandaza, the second came in similar fashion but this time it was Inigo Calderon, the full-back signed from Alaves, who found the net with his head.

Although Nicky Platt led something of a fightback, that was pretty much that in the first half. The remarkable atmosphere, however did not fade, although the choice of songs did. Before kick-off, they demanded that Manchester United be brought on; as the tie wore on it was"Sloop John B" with its poignant line about wanting to go home. They would leave with honour.

FC United of Manchester (4-4-2): Ashton; Jacobs, Munroe, Parker (Battersby, 77), Quistin (Tierney, 90); Roca, Platt, Cottrell, Deegan; Ovington (Wolfenden, 59), Norton. Substitutes not used: Hibbert (gk), Holden, Carden, Ayres.

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-4-2): Brezovan; Calderon, El Abd, Greer, Painter; Bennett (Baz, 88), Bridcutt, Kishishev (Smith, 75), Murray (Hart, 72); Sandaza, Sparrow. Substitutes not used: Poke (gk), Elphick, Battipiedi, Dunk.

Read Full Entry

United secure top spot in Group C

Manchester United needed a rare goal from Anderson in a game bursting with missed chances for their more usual scorers to draw 1-1 with Valencia on Tuesday and secure top spot in Champions League Group C.

The 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder scored only his second goal since joining in 2007 to bring United level after the Spaniards had taken a first-half lead through Pablo Hernandez. United needed to avoid defeat at Old Trafford to win the group and peppered the Valencia goal with chances before their hopes of becoming the first team to go through the group stage without conceding were dashed with the opener.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United thrashing left Blackburn Rovers boss 'exhausted'

SAM Allardyce admits Blackburn Rovers’ Old Trafford thrashing had left him mentally exhausted and claims time off was the perfect tonic. The Rovers boss called off training on Wednesday and Thursday, due to the weather, but believes it provided the perfect chance to recover from their 7-1 drubbing. Allardyce’s men stormed back to form in style, with a 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, and he believes the enforced break was ideal for all concerned.

He said: “I can’t speak for the players but I can speak for myself. "I had two days off as well and it was the best thing I could have done. “My head was all over the place. Mentally I was fatigued because it is never off your mind when you suffer a defeat like that, particularly as a manager. “You get the criticism and you have to take it and you have to stand it on your shoulders because it is your responsibility. “I benefited hugely from the two days off and I am sure, from their performance, the players did as well. “We gave them two days off because we didn’t want them travelling two hours in and two hours home in those conditions.

"Some of the players could have been travelling five hours a day and that is not mentally good for you. “Mental fatigue could play a part so we gave them Wednesday and Thursday off. "We couldn’t get a piece of grass until Friday.”

Read Full Entry

Blackpool ready to train on the beach for visit of Manchester United

Blackpool may train on the beach this morning in preparation for tomorrow's visit of Manchester United. With their regular training ground frozen they used an artificial pitch at a local college yesterday, but Ian Holloway felt the surface was not sufficiently grasslike and was worried about players picking up strains.

"We'll use the beach if we have to," the Blackpool manager said. "We wanted to use it last winter but on that occasion it turned out to be frozen solid like everywhere else. Teams often used to train on the beach in the old days, and Stanley Matthews used to work out on the beach before going to training. If it's good enough for a player of that calibre it will do for us.

Holloway was offered the option of a few days' warm weather training in Marbella but turned it down. "I though it was better to stay here – it was purely a personal decision," he said. "The chairman was willing to pay, and we had accommodation lined up, but in the end I thought it might not be a good idea to come back from the warm into cold like this. Besides, Charlie Adam was moving house."Without undersoil heating Blackpool cannot be certain that the evening kick-off tomorrow will go ahead and are using warm-air blowers in an attempt to keep the pitch frost-free.

"The machine looks like something we've borrowed from a fairground," Holloway said. "I waited for about 10 minutes trying to get a hot dog. I hope the game can go ahead because the whole town has been looking forward to this fixture all season. If we play we stand a chance of being embarrassed on the pitch, but I think we'll be even more embarrassed if we have to call it off."

Read Full Entry

Manchester United’s Amos Hoping For Carling Cup Chance

Twenty-year-old Ben Amos is hoping for another chance between the sticks as Manchester United take on West Ham at Upton Park on Tuesday. The Cheshire-born stopper made his first appearance of the season – and his second for United in competitive games – when he played in goal for the Red Devils in their 3-2 win over Wolves in the Carling Cup fourth round last month. Amos spent some time on loan at Molde in the Norwegian League over the summer, making eight appearances, and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson declared at the start of the season that he would be the side’s third-choice keeper after Edwin van der Sar and Tomas Kuszczak. But while he admits that he looks on enviously at players younger than him playing more regularly in the first-team he says he realises that he needs to be patient.

“The next game is always a target for me,” he told the club’s official website. “They don’t come round too often being the number three keeper, so I’ve just got to make sure I’m ready and I’m peaking when those games come around.

“The patience helps when you know goalkeepers have a longer career; look at Edwin and how he’s still playing now.”Amos admits that training with someone much older than himself like the 40-year-old van der Sar was rather like training with your father although he admits the Dutchman is always keen to pass on advice.

“I’ve said a few times that it is a little bit like training with your dad, yeah. I don’t think he’ll appreciate that, but he’s great. I’m chewing at his ear all the time, trying to get bits of advice. He’s very open and he says what he thinks, so it’s great.

“He’s a good role model because of his presence.”Amos is hoping to make an appearance in tonight’s game at Upton Park but says he isn’t phased by the prospect of playing away in a hostile atmosphere. “Any game in the first team is a game in the first team, so that’s how I approach it. Whether it’s Old Trafford or not, it’s not really an issue. The atmosphere is something you’ve got to handle. I can’t see it being a problem to me personally at all.”

Read Full Entry

Brighton 1 FC United of Manchester 1: match report

Sir Alex Ferguson once described FC United of Manchester as publicity seekers but Brighton discovered they are an outfit of some substance. The non-league club produced a display of bloody-minded resistance to rival that shown by many of their kind during the collective mortification at the Glazer family’s takeover of Manchester United.

Long after they had secured a replay and a place in the FA Cup third round, the 854 travelling supports bobbed up and down at one end of the Withdean Stadium chanting “are you watching David Gill?” There is no greater tribute of the endeavors of a side pitted against supposed superiors when they provide the illusion that supporters are watching a league encounter rather than a cup tie.

In the first half FC United chased and harried Brighton, whose season has been marked by controlled football which has seen them establish leadership of League One. Success has whetted their supporters’ appetites for more and by the finish they booed their players off the turf, much to the displeasure of their manager.

“I’m very disappointed with the fans,” Gus Poyet said. “Anyone who boos, I invite them to stay home. Proper supporters support the team every minute of the season.”Criticism should be reserved for Brighton since they controlled proceedings but suffered from over-elaboration. Attacks were purposeful but a lack of incisiveness was crippling.

Frustration gripped them but the source of their exasperation was FC United goalkeeper, Sam Ashton. He was rejected by Bolton Wanderers and splits his time as a care worker with coaching in the community, but produced a display worthy of an accomplished stopper. In stoppage time, with Brighton pummeling the box, Karl Munroe pole-axed Francisco Sandaza and Ashton plunged to his right to repel Elliott Bennett’s penalty.

That save sparked gasps but that was not an isolated moment of heroism. In the opening period he kept out Ashley Barnes’ point-blank header. “Sam left Bolton and went from £60,000 a year to £60 a week,” FC United general manager Andy Walsh said. “He coaches in our community but he could play in the Football League.”

For a while FC United made a mockery of the 112 places that separate these clubs. Forward Michael Norton, a tiler by trade who earns £80 a week, pressurised Brighton’s backline. Carlos Roca, a debt adviser, embarrassed footballers on far higher salaries with trickery and pace. Brighton fell behind courtesy of a precise finish from green-keeper Nicky Platt. Norton controlled Roca’s pass and found Platt whose shot whistled in.

Brighton pressed in the second half and Munroe cleared off the line from Sandaza, yet the hosts were aided by Scott McManus’ sending off for clashing with Gary Hart. It took 37-year-old assistant manager Mauricio Taricco’s header to salvage the tie but not deflate wholehearted opponents.

Read Full Entry

Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers

If Manchester United avoid defeat they will equal their previous best ever unbeaten start to a season, set in the 1985-86 campaign. On that occasion they won 13 and drew two of their opening 15 games in the old First Division, but their form fell away and they went on to finish fourth. Of their 14 unbeaten games this season United have won seven and drawn seven. But at Old Trafford, they have won six and drawn one and last lost at home in April, against Chelsea.

United are at their best in the first-half of games. Of the 15 goals they have conceded, 13 have come in the second half, representing 87 per cent. In the first-half, they have also scored more second-half goals, 15, compared to the 13 in the first half. United need four goals for 100 at home in league football against Blackburn, in the 48th meeting at Old Trafford.

United can go top for the first time since April 24 and they face a side against who they have taken 39 points from a possible 48 at home in the Premier League. In those 16 games, United have won 12 and drawn three with the only defeat coming in September 2005. And in all competitions, home and away, United are unbeaten in their last nine games against Rovers, since the 3-4 Premier League defeat at Ewood Park in February 2006.

Wayne Rooney could return to league action following Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Rangers where he scored the late winning penalty. Blackburn are likely to be without Brett Emerton again while Martin Olsson, Steven Nzonzi, Vince Grella and Keith Andrews are also out.

Read Full Entry

This goal is just the start, says Manchester United's Wayne Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson insisted there were no lingering issues about Wayne Rooney's popularity with Manchester United's supporters after the striker marked his first start for two months with the goal that sent his club into the Champions League knockout stages.

Rooney's 87th-minute penalty was the decisive moment of a 1-0 win that relegates Rangers into the Europa League and Ferguson believes the forward can now move on from the various controversies that led to a minority of fans booing him when he came on a substitute against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

"There are no issues with that [the fans] at all," the United manager said. "Every time he scores he weds himself to the fans and the players and it's taken a lot of courage to take that penalty kick. I don't think he's ever been short of that – and it was a fantastic penalty. "He's not had an easy night, he's missed a couple of chances but that's what we expected. He's rusty, he needs games; that's obvious, but it's a start for him. We need him to keep playing 90 minutes and that will continue now."

Rooney had insisted before the match that his contract dispute with the club was "100% not about money" and afterwards he said he was relieved to be talking about football again.

"I had to wait quite a long time to take it [the penalty] but I knew what I was doing and where I was going with it," he said. "It didn't bother me too much. There weren't any nerves but it was a relief for me to score and hopefully now I can build on this. I felt good through the game. I felt fit and I want to go on a goalscoring run now."

Rooney added: "I wanted to celebrate with our fans so I went over to them and a fan jumped on me. It was a nice feeling. It was quite a frustrating night until then and we were thankful to get the win in the end. It was a job well done. They [Rangers] got a lot of men behind the ball and made it difficult for us and it was hard to break them down."

United have not conceded a goal in their five Champions League matches and though they are still not absolutely certain to win Group C – they must avoid a two-goal defeat on 7 December at home to Valencia, who last night beat Bursaspor 6-1 in Spain – Ferguson could reflect on a handsome run of nine wins from their last 10 away games.

"Our away form in Europe has been very good over the last few years," he said. "But for an injury-time winner for Bayern Munich [in March] we would have been unbeaten for three years. We've found a way of playing against foreign teams and with good composure. "The atmosphere at Ibrox … you have to quieten it, and I think we did that well and deserved to win.

"They [Rangers] were organised and disciplined and very difficult to break down but we had a high amount of possession, three or four half-chances and one very good chance when Michael Carrick went through on goal. That's the thing I will take from the game – the way we kept possession and controlled the game."

Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, argued that the penalty was unjust, the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca ruling that Steven Naismith had illegally challenged Fábio da Silva. "We worked extremely hard and we're disappointed to lose to that kind of goal," Smith said. "I don't think there was any intent from Steven to foul the player so it was maybe a harsh award. If they had carved us open, we wouldn't be happy, but at least you can accept that."

Ferguson, however, was adamant it was the right decision, saying: "It was an assault, a clear penalty." He was angered, too, that United had not been awarded one inside the opening two minutes, when Steven Davis brought down Dimitar Berbatov. "It was another clear penalty, six yards away from the assistant referee on the goalline."

Read Full Entry

Rangers v Manchester United: Dimitar Berbatov's lack of goals is my fault, says Sir Alex Ferguson

United’s £30.75 million record buy hasn’t scored since a hat-trick against Liverpool in September, and he was dropped for last Saturday’s Premier League match against Wigan. However, Berbatov is likely to start up front with Rooney against Rangers at Ibrox tonight, and Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News: "In fairness to Dimitar’s situation we have been changing the strikers quite a lot recently. I think I have to accept the responsibility for changing it too much. "Now we are going to have to be looking at getting consistency of performance.

"We have a lot of good young striker options who have played in a lot of games recently, but hopefully we can get Wayne back to his best and Dimitar is suited to playing with Wayne."Ferguson wants Rooney to treat his return to the United starting line-up tonight in the Champions League just like his first game of the season.

Aside from a couple of decent performances for England, Rooney endured a tepid start to the campaign, failing to score a goal in open play in a period that included some lurid allegations about his private life. Then came the mad week when it appeared the 25 year-old was intent on leaving Old Trafford before eventually signing a five-year deal, having been cut down by an ankle injury in the middle of all the furore.

Now, after a brief break in Dubai, another week's intensive conditioning work in Oregon and some time spent working at the Carrington training ground, Rooney is ready to face Rangers and show the world all his talent still remains. "Absolutely," agreed Ferguson, when asked if Rooney should regard it as a fresh start. "There is no question about that. "His fitness is good and maybe it will take two or three games but they will help to get him back as quick as we can. "But this is a high profile match, on a terrific pitch, in a great stadium with a terrific atmosphere. All the signs are plus ones, particularly for a player of Wayne's ability."

Read Full Entry

Rangers - Manchester United Preview: Wayne Rooney starts as Red Devils aim to seal Champions League qualification

A hamstring injury rules Madjid Bougherra out of the tie, with the centre-back set to miss the next three weeks, and he joins Maurice Edu, who is suffering from a knee problem, James Beattie and Andy Webster on the sidelines.

However, there is some good news as Sasa Papac could return, despite missing Rangers’ last two games against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock with a head injury. Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Wayne Rooney will start for the visitors and he may be joined by Ryan Giggs who has recovered from a hamstring problem and is expected to be named in the squad.

Rafael remains a doubt at right-back for the visitors and Paul Scholes could also feature having begun the win against Wigan on the bench. However, expect changes from the weekend, although not perhaps the 10 United made the last time they faced Rangers.

On the brink

Rangers welcome Manchester United to Ibrox currently sitting in third place in Group C and knowing that two wins from their final two games are imperative if they are to have any chance of making the knockout stages.

Whilst the final game for the Scots is away at the group’s whipping boys Bursapor, that match will be rendered all but meaningless should they fall to defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges.

Yet Rangers will take on the Premier League outfit with confidence having held them, comfortably it must be said, to a goalless draw at Old Trafford back in September.

The Scottish champions are also unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season, Bursaspor were despatched 1-0 and Valencia were held to a 1-1 draw.

Whilst the point against the Spaniards appeared a good result, the Scots will surely rue that draw now as had it not been for a Maurice Edu own goal and some profligate finishing from Kenny Miller, the Gers would have secured a vital win and with it a real chance of making the knockout stages.

Out to make a point

The visitors, meanwhile, sit top of the group with 10 points and only need a draw to confirm their progression having beaten Bursaspor home and away and Valencia at the Mestalla following their opening draw to Rangers.

Sir Alex Ferguson opted to field virtually a reserve side for the reverse fixture but may look for a more experienced line-up and will hope for a better outcome from the game at Old Trafford that was notable not for the drab football on show, but for the horrific injury suffered by Antonio Valencia.

While the Red Devils have rarely hit the heights this season, they are still unbeaten, and with eight wins from their last nine away games in the Champions League, will be favourites to depart Glasgow with their progression to the next round safely ensured.

Read Full Entry

Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United

Liverpool’s centre half, Martin Skrtel, had been forced to withdraw from Slovakia's team due to injury. The centre-back has been struggling with knee and ankle problems since his club's 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, when he had to take pain-killers to complete the match. Skrtel had therefore decided not to play in the international friendly and informed Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss that he was better off staying in England. The 25-year-old will now aim to regain full fitness for Liverpool's crucial match against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday.

Martin Skrtel said: "I've had problems with my knee and ankle (since the Stoke game). Before half-time, one of the opposing players kicked me in the knee from behind and I had to finish the game under pain-killers. Besides that, I also twisted my ankle, which has been haunting me since a friendly game against Costa Rica in June."

Liverpool will welcome London side, West Ham United, at Anfield for the 14th game of their Barclays Premier League campaign. Liverpool top the bottom half of the Premier League table and will be looking to move into the top half of the table with a win.

Manchester City:

The Citizens assistant manager David Platt has launched a spirited defence of his boss, Roberto Mancini. The Manchester City manager has come under fire for being taking too defensive an approach after successive goalless draws. The Manchester City faithful reacted by chanting "What is going on" when their manager opted to replace a striker with defensive midfielders towards the end of City’s latest stalemate against Birmingham. It seemed a pointless move, given an attacker was also present on the bench at that moment.

However, Platt was quick to reject any notion of Mancini being a defensive coach.

Platt said that it was wrong for people to judge the coach by saying he was defensive. He added, "He isn't (defensive), in any way, shape or form. It is too easy to look at it and say you have taken a striker off and put a midfield player on. It isn't a computer game. We more or less camped out in the Birmingham half for the majority of the second half. "

Despite Manchester City’s two consecutive draws, the Citizens are well placed in fourth spot in Premier League table, just three points behind their fierce-rivals Manchester United.

Manchester United:

Preston North End has agreed a deal with Manchester United for the loan signing of defender Ritchie de Laet. Ritchie de Laet joins two fellow United players at the Lancashire club. Manager Darren Ferguson moved swiftly to secure his services, after Sean St Ledger and Callum Davidson both picked up knocks against Hull City last Friday. The length of the deal is yet to be agreed between the clubs but the versatile defender will be included in the squad for Saturday's trip to Queens Park Rangers.

Darren said: "We've agreed a deal with United for Ritchie de Laet - it's been sanctioned by them. We've just got to finalise the length of the loan then everything will be done. He's joining us for training and will be available for the QPR game. Ritchie is a versatile defender; he spent a month on loan with Sheffield United recently so he knows the Championship."

Manchester United signed De Laet from Stoke City in January 2009, and has made three Premier League starts for the Red Devils.

Read Full Entry

Aston Villa learn a tough lesson as Manchester United show their never-say-die spirit

This was Manchester United’s seventh Premier League draw of the season and might have offered more ammunition to those who claim the title is Chelsea’s for the taking, but this match demonstrated exactly why it isn’t. Even at two goals down and with 14 minutes to play, United believed they could salvage something. For the young Aston Villa players this refusal to accept defeat was a lesson worth learning and, as their manager, Gérard Houllier, said afterwards, United “showed qualities that should inspire us in the future”.

Barry Bannan, 20, one of the young stars of the show, agreed that there was much he could take from the experience of competing against midfielders like Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick. “You see how comfortable their two central midfield players are on the ball and how much space they have,” he said. “You are learning and you try and take it into the next game.

The most important lesson he and his Villa team-mates – and indeed anyone ruling out United as title contenders this season – must take from the result, however, is about a special attribute which cannot be taught or learned any other way but through consistently experiencing victory: the eradication of self-doubt.

United beat Wolves last weekend with a goal in the 90th minute and had beaten Mick McCarthy’s side in the Carling Cup in October with another last-minute strike. Javier Hernández scored in the 86th minute against Stoke and Dimitar Berbatov rounded off his hat-trick against Liverpool in the 84th minute.

“It is part of the club’s history,” said Fletcher, who turned the ignition switch by rolling the ball to Federico Macheda to score with nine minutes left.

“It is the mentality of the manager and the players that you are never beaten until the last kick of the ball. We honestly believe if we keep going in the right way until the last minute we will be rewarded. When a manager has a history of doing it, you fall into it. No one gives in at this club. We go on to the end. It’s the United way.”

That might well be the case, but it is worth remembering that were it not for the width of the woodwork, United’s psychological strength would have been made redundant.

James Collins and Gabriel Agbonlahor hit the crossbar and a post respectively in the space of two minutes before Ashley Young outpaced Nemanja Vidic before being bundled to the ground in the area by Wes Brown and Mike Dean awarded the penalty.

Young picked himself up to score from the spot to put his side ahead. Four minutes later, Marc Albrighton’s finish to a stock-in-trade counter-attack started by Bannan, with Young and Stewart Downing the conduits, seemed to have settled the issue.

But Villa should have known all about United’s propensity to launch the proverbial kitchen sink in the final minutes. Evidently their young players did not know or had forgotten.

''It’s almost expected that United score in the final five minutes,” Fletcher said. “That plays a part — when other teams see the [stoppage time] board going up, they know that we are still going to go for it.”

And this match was no different. With their lead reduced to one by a sharp strike from Macheda, who was responsible for snatching United their 3-2 win at Old Trafford two seasons ago, Villa could still have closed out the game. But rather than calmly shutting the door in United’s face by retaining possession and running down time, they tried to match them for aggression.

They were duly punished as, with only five minutes left, Nani curled the ball in with his left foot to the far post and United’s captain Nemanja Vidic dived to head the equaliser.

Read Full Entry

Manchester City v Manchester United: Carlos Tévez has made Gary Neville eat his words

“He (Sir Alex Ferguson) knows exactly what he’s doing and he understands when a player’s time is up. I can’t disagree with his decision on Carlos Tévez.”Neville’s opinion on the merits of Ferguson’s decision to stand aside as Tévez left Manchester United for Manchester City in July 2009 prompted an ugly slanging match between the Argentine and the former United captain during the two clubs’ tempestuous Carling Cup semi-final double header last January.

Although United overcame a first-leg defeat to proceed to the final, Tévez’s performance over the two legs, when he scored three goals, provided the perfect riposte to Neville’s comments and Ferguson’s refusal to sanction a permanent £25million move for the forward, who had spent two years on loan at Old Trafford.

Tévez may have occupied third-ranking behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney during his time in a United shirt, but few could now argue against the suggestion that the City captain has emerged as Manchester’s most important footballer since moving to Eastlands.

City might still desire a superstar name in the mould of Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, but Tévez is arguably as important to Roberto Mancini’s team as Messi is to Barcelona and Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

The 26 year-old’s relationship with his manager at City is fractious and tension is rarely far from the surface, but whether they like each other or not, Tévez is undoubtedly delivering for Mancini. Since he replaced the sacked Mark Hughes as manager last December, Mancini has seen Tévez score 31 goals in his 45 games in charge.

Tévez has gone from bit-part player at United to the central figure at City, to the extent that his team-mates now concede that there is an huge reliance on the former West Ham forward.

City goalkeeper Joe Hart said: “Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the greatest managers that has ever lived, so if he decided that Carlos wasn’t right for his club, then that’s how it is. “But Carlos is a phenomenal player, the best I have played with. He can carry a team and he can carry 10 men.”With Tévez having returned to Argentina last week to visit his family and recover from a thigh injury, City lost to Wolves and Lech Poznan in his absence.

On his return against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, Tévez’s presence coincided with Mancini’s team securing a vital 2-0 victory. Despite the money spent on new players by City – more than £250million since May 2009 – their dependence on Tévez is striking.

With Tévez in the team, City have a win rate of 51 per cent in the Premier League. Yet without him, Mancini’s players have won just 25 per cent of their league fixtures. The win rate is an unimpressive 29 per cent when Tévez has come on as a substitute.

Tévez is rarely rested by Mancini, but that is unsurprising given that his strike rate sees him score roughly every one-and-a-half games. Last season, Tévez scored a Premier League goal every 124.7 minutes, while this term he is hitting the back of the net every 120.1 minutes.

His success rate in Manchester derbies is a black mark on his record, though. In five league derbies, for both United and City, he has lost four times and won just once – when he scored in United’s 2-0 victory at Old Trafford in May 2009.

On that occasion, he celebrated his goal by running to the touchline and directing a defiant ear-cupping gesture to United chief executive David Gill in the directors’ box. It symbolised the breakdown of his relationship with United and signalled his intention to move to City. As Neville said, his time was up at United, but their loss has been City’s gain.

Read Full Entry

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester City will continue to splash the cash in the transfer market until they secure some silverware

The Eastlands outfit have invested vast sums in an attempt to bring success ever since Sheikh Mansour completed his takeover of the club in the summer of 2008. And while their star-studded squad is the envy of many in the Premier League, both Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini have, as yet, been unable to secure any tangible reward despite the massive outlay.

The last piece of major silverware lifted by the blue half of Manchester was the 1976 League Cup, a fact which United supporters take great delight in reminding their rivals of, particularly with one famous banner at Old Trafford. United make the trip across Manchester to Eastlands on Wednesday evening trailing Premier League leaders Chelsea by two points after an unconvincing but unbeaten season, with Mancini's men three further back having snapped a two-game losing run.
Edge

And while Ferguson believes having their neighbours in the title race adds greater spice to an already fiery fixture, he feels that the thirst for success may add to the pressure on City's shoulders. "[City's good start this season] does put an edge on [the game]," the Reds boss told Inside United. "I don't believe there's any question about that.

"We know the kind of money they're spending - they've bought another five or six players in the summer - and they'll keep doing that until they win something. "You know that's going to be the way it is and you have to deal with it as it comes along. "They're up there [challenging for the title], and you can't wait until tomorrow when there's something there today. I'm sure they're thinking that way themselves."

Read Full Entry

Michael Carrick: We shouldn't 'get ahead of ourselves' in light of Manchester City's poor form

Michael Carrick believes that Manchester United will not start to think about the upcoming derby game against Manchester City, as they still have to take on Wolves before the battle against their neighbours.

The Eastlands club have lost three consecutive games in all competitions, the last of which was against Polish side Lech Poznan in the Europa League. The recent defeats have also sparked speculation that their manager Roberto Mancini could be heading for the exit door, amid reports of dressing room unrest.

But the 29-year-old insists that his side will remain focussed on the task at hand against Wolves, as they were one of the three teams that recently got the better of City - who still are in fourth position in the Premier League.

"We know the bigger picture," Carrick told reporters. "When things are going well we don't get carried away and when things aren't going so well we don't get despondent either because we know things will turn.

"We are on a good run at the moment. We are happy with the way things are going and are now bouncing into games. "The derby is there, but in another way, it still seems a long way off.

"We cannot afford to get ahead of ourselves because we have Wolves to play on Saturday and they beat City last week so that is going to be tough enough."Concerning the "bigger picture" that the former West Ham United man spoke of, United are currently five points behind league leaders Chelsea.

And a part of the lead could arguably be attributed to the Red Devils' early season blues as they surrendered leads and fell to draws with Fulham, Everton and West Bromwich Albion. However, despite drawing more games than any of the top eight in the Premier League, they are still in third place and are the only team not to have lost a league game this season.

"We are still frustrated about all those silly points we gave away but we are unbeaten and that gives us a lot of confidence," said Carrick. "It gives us confidence to know we are tough to beat again. "We have always been able to score goals. Now is the time to start getting the results we want."

Read Full Entry

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik 'pleased' to be on Manchester United's watch list

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik insists that he is delighted to be on Manchester United's watch list, ahead of the Europa League encounter against Liverpool. The 23-year-old is thought to have attracted interest from the Red Devils, and previously maintained that it would be hard to refuse if Sir Alex Ferguson came calling for his services.

And with The Mirror reporting that United scouts will watch the attacking midfielder in action at Anfield on Thursday, he said: "I am pleased people want to see me. "I want to perform well on this stage against a team like Liverpool at Anfield. "I know the English league is a great league with a wonderful atmosphere and great stadia. "There are rumours but no-one has contacted me or the club. "I am calm and relaxed and just want to play well for Napoli."

Read Full Entry

Ferguson hails new United captain Vidic

Sir Alex Ferguson is certain he got it right by naming Nemanja Vidic as Manchester United's new captain. The decision was a surprise to many but as alternative choices Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand all missed the trip to Turkey for Tuesday night's Champions League encounter with Bursaspor, it appears Ferguson made the correct decision to go with Vidic, who is already proving to be a sturdy leader.

"We had to choose someone we felt was going to be fit and playing every week," said Ferguson. "That is difficult when you rotate the squad the way we do. We felt Vidic was closest to that. And he is a defender and I always think they make better captains.

Vidic will lead his side into battle on Tuesday evening knowing victory against a team that has failed to register a single point in their three outings so far - and were beaten by Nani's early strike at Old Trafford a fortnight ago - will take them within touching distance of a spot in the last 16. As Chelsea and Arsenal are in equally comfortable positions, it has been used as evidence of the Champions League reducing in quality. Ferguson is having none of it.

"Have you seen the last six World Cups? It is better going to the dentist I suppose," he said. "It is a natural thing. If you look at the great teams in the European Cup now and think of the Premier League, you are not going to get the same crowd for Arsenal playing a lower team in the league, or the same tension and drama as you would Arsenal against Manchester United. "It is the same in the Champions League. Inter Milan playing one of the smaller teams will not get the same crowd. "The important thing is the Champions League has proved itself since its inception. It is better than the World Cup. It is unbelievable. There are some fantastic games. "Yes, you have to get through the group stages before you get to the really exciting stage but it is a fantastic tournament."

Read Full Entry

Five great Manchester United vs Tottenham matches - the fixture that’s always full of goals

In what is arguably the game of the weekend, Manchester United - unbeaten in the Premier League thus far - welcome Tottenham to Old Trafford, in the evening kick-off on Saturday. Matches between these sides have mustered some of the most exciting games in Premier League history, from incredible comebacks to last-minute equalisers, to thumping victories - this is a contest which has rarely disappointed.

Premier League title-chasing United were given a New Year's Day to forget after they were thumped by a Chris Armstrong-inspired Spurs. Armstrong ran Ferguson's side ragged in the most impressive performance of his career. Future United player Teddy Sheringham opened the scoring before Andy Cole equalised a minute later.

Sol Campbell put Spurs back ahead, before a brace from the former Crystal Palace man ensured Alex Ferguson (in the days before he was a knight) and his team travelled back up north with their tails between their legs.The hosts were the better team for all of the contest except stoppage time, when the Argentine bundled home a corner. United had looked clueless before that moment and fell behind to a close-range strike from Dimitar Berbatov, who would become United's club record signing the following summer. With Chelsea and Arsenal right behind them in the title race, Tevez's goal ensured a valuable point went United's way.Andy Cole's delicate lob kept United's treble dream alive as his strike sealed the Premier League title.

With Arsenal in hot pursuit, Ferguson's side needed to beat Spurs in the last league game of the season to finish top. After falling behind to a Les Ferdinand goal, United struck back before half-time through David Beckham.

In no mood to see the trophy end up with the Gunners, Cole's expert finish over Ian Walker's head began the most dramatic 10 days in the club's history, which would also bring FA Cup and Champions League glory.A neck-and-neck Premier League title race swung in United's favour after some suspect refereeing saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Harry Redknapp's side grabbed a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford after some shaky defending let in Darren Bent and Luka Modric. With Liverpool close behind them in the table, it took an incorrect penalty call from Howard Webb to spark United in to life.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on hand to score the equaliser and celebrated the third by tearing his shirt off to send a message to Rafa Benitez that the trophy was staying in Manchester. Wayne Rooney and Berbatov, now sporting the red of United, completed the sensational turnaround.Arguably one of the most thrilling Premier League game of the decade saw United race back from 3-0 down at half-time to clinch the win.

Spurs debutant Dean Richards opened the scoring with a header from a corner as the hosts dominated proceedings. Gustavo Poyet then pulled the strings to expert effect to set-up Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege.

Sir Alex Ferguson's hair dryer was at its most powerful at half-time to inspire his players to score five unanswered goals. New boy Juan Sebastian Veron drilled in the fourth before a fabulous team move saw David Beckham strike the fifth.

Read Full Entry

Wayne Rooney's new Manchester United pay deal highlights his silky skills

He's got his weekly wages up from £90,000 to £160,000 – all for the price of a few weeks abuse from Man U's fickle fans. Rooney knew that, with his contract running down, he could have bought himself out for £5m next summer. So what better time than now to make a public fuss?

Man U had no option but to offer him a new contract or watch their prize asset walk out of Old Trafford for a song. So he's offered the club a win-win. He gets more money. It gets a juicy transfer fee whenever he leaves. With skills like that, Wazza clearly has a career after football. He could swap heading for headhunting.

Read Full Entry

Wayne Rooney's Manchester United future: the best quotes of the week

"I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract."
Wayne Rooney starts the ball rolling on Wednesday ...

... as Sir Alex Ferguson responds
"I couldn't believe it. I just was dumbfounded. I could not understand it because only months before he was saying he was at the greatest club in the world and he wanted to stay for life." "I believe he is going to stay. But if at the end of day Manchester United decides that he is to leave, give me a call.

Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid coach

"Players have opinions and if they want to leave then good luck to them. Man Utd will more than survive. If I could say one thing to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would say 'look after yourself'. Players are likes pieces of meat."
Roy Keane, Ipswich coach

"He's very, very interested, yeah, so watch this space. Or listen to this space, depends on how it's going, but I sold Perth to him and told him what a lovely place it is."
Perth Glory's Robbie Fowler jests that Rooney is on the move

... as Perth coach Ian Ferguson continues the joke
"I just want to announce our new signing here. We just got him for 45 trillion," said Ferguson, wearing a Rooney mask at their Friday press conference.

"If Alex Ferguson is being bullied by a player and his agent, how wrong is the game? When are you (FIFA and UEFA) going to listen to the people who are involved in the game?"
Ian Holloway, Blackpool coach

"Rooney is a good player, and is like Carlos Tévez for us. If they lose him for next year, they will lose an important player."
Roberto Mancini, Manchester City coach

"We've got a great squad of players and he would add to that and strengthen the squad. He is the best player in the world for me."
John Terry, Chelsea captain
"If one player in the team doesn't trust the others he should not play in the team."

Read Full Entry

Wayne Rooney reveals why he wants to leave Manchester United

One day after Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed Rooney had vowed not to sign a new contract, the 24-year-old superstar broke his silence by claiming his move was not motivated by money. In a statement released before Manchester United's Champions League tie with Bursaspor, Rooney said he was leaving after failing to win assurances from the club that they would continue to be able to invest in elite talent.

"It is absolutely true that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract," Rooney said. "During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world."

"I met with (Manchester United chief executive) David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad.

Rooney also hit out at suggestions made by Ferguson in comments on Tuesday that he had failed to show the club "respect" by his conduct since making his decision to quit.

"I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it," Rooney said.

"I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?

"For me its all about winning trophies - as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified.

"Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18.

"For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one off and a genius."

Read Full Entry

Now Manchester United know how Coleen Rooney felt

Last month it was Coleen and her family who were betrayed and humiliated by Wayne Rooney and his super-sized ego. This time, just weeks later, it is Sir Alex Ferguson. He seemed genuinely confused about why Rooney is turning his back on him and the club which has been loyal to him for six years.

Coleen must have been as bewildered why her husband betrayed her. And their unborn child. With prostitute Jennifer Thompson. In a nightclub toilet (plus the offer of marital bed). On the face of it there aren't many similarities between the chirpy young mum and the surly football manager. In reality there are many. Coleen and Sir Alex both believe in the importance of strong families and decent values.

They have both stood beside Rooney since he was as a kid, giving him the stability he needed to realise his potential. But he has treated them with equal contempt - though surely someone as wily as Sir Alex must have seen it coming. If a man is prepared to cheat on his wife, he'll cheat on anyone. And that is exactly what Rooney has done - because, like others who cheat with hookers, he is incapable of respecting the people who love him.

He doesn't respect his wife, child, boss, club or fans. Whoever hires him - and whichever fans take him to their hearts - should understand he won't respect them either. For greed and ego have taken over. He clearly believes he can do whatever he wants and there will be no comeback on him.

One day, he may wake up and realise those who loved him are long gone - though Coleen is desperate to keep her family together and, in the short term, seems prepared to forgive. I doubt Sir Alex can do the same. Rooney has long deserved a good boot up the backside for his arrogance. If Coleen won't give it to him, we can only hope the Old Trafford boss will.

Read Full Entry