Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[machoman]

Man Utd march on as Fulham beaten

Sunday, April 10, 2011, 00:55:04 HRS

Manchester United's striker Dimitar Berbatov (C) scores the opening goal of their English Premier League football match against Fulham at Old Trafford in Manchester. Manchester United won 2-0.

Manchester United moved to within touching distance of a record 19th league title after a 2-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring in the 12th minute with his 22nd goal of the season before Antonio Valencia made it 2-0 as United opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the table after an eighth win in 11 league games.

It capped a bitter-sweet day for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his horse, What A Friend, failed to finish the Grant National, which was taking place at the same time as this game.

With Wayne Rooney serving a two-match suspension for his expletive-laden tirade at West Ham, Berbatov started on his own in attack as Ferguson had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea.

In total, the United manager made eight changes to the side that earned a 1-0 first leg lead at Stamford Bridge in midweek.

Rio Ferdinand was not involved in the 16 while keeper Edwin van der Sar, Javier Hernandez and Michael Carrick were among the substitutes.

Fulham has lost on all seven visits to Old Trafford since their last victory at the venue in 2003, but the mid-table visitors quickly settled as they twice tested United's stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszczak in the opening exchanges.

The Polish stopper kept out Gael Kakuta's 20-yard drive in the opening minute before Kuszczak made an even smarter save to deny Moussa Dembele in the sixth minute.

United had not had an effort on goal when Bobby Zamora was presented with a great opportunity to give Fulham the lead after the ball deflected into his path inside the United penalty area.

However, the England international was unable to keep his composure and lashed the eighth minute effort high and wide when he should have at least tested the keeper.

It was to prove a costly miss. Four minutes later United were ahead as Berbatov demonstrated why he is the Premier League's top scorer.

There was certainly a touch of good fortune as replays showed the striker may have been off side, but there was no disputing the fact that Berbatov finished well from eight-yards after collecting a pass from the lively Nani.

United failed to scale the heights of their midweek European success yet, with their noses in front, they rarely looked like allowing Fulham back in.

Manchester United's striker Michael Owen (L) clashes with Fulham's player Gael Kakuta (R) during their English Premier League football match at Old Trafford in Manchester. Manchester United won 2-0.

Indeed, Ferguson's side doubled their adavantage before half time as Fulham's bright early opening became a distant memory.

Anderson had already spurned a 19th minute opportunity to make it 2-0 when the Brazilian screwed a 16-yard attempt hopelessly wide after the visitors defence had been sliced wide open.

Fortunately for United, fellow South American Valencia was not so wasteful in the 32nd minute.

The 25-year-old, who has recently returned to action after recovering from a broken ankle, was presented with the simplest of headers two yards from goal after Nani's attempted finish from an acute angle was deflected by Fulham defender Aaron Hughes.

- AFP

[valkyria]

It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise as Ronney get rested for the big UCL games for that stupid ban for swearing, I mean seriously...

[alex18122003]

Champions League Q-Finals

Manchester United Vs Chelsea

HT Score : 1-0

[yinyang]

Well worth staying up for, this morning. And yes, chelskis erred on leaving Drogba on start line up. Half time sub for duck zero Torres

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...pe/9454028.stm

Man Utd 2 - 1 Chelsea (agg 3 - 1)

Manchester United sealed a place in the Champions League semi-finals with victory over Chelsea as Carlo Ancelotti's decision to axe Didier Drogba in favour of Fernando Torres backfired at Old Trafford.

Ancelotti took the gamble of favouring the British record £50m capture from Liverpool ahead of Drogba in an attempt to overhaul the one-goal advantage United were protecting from the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

The striker's struggles continued, however, and he was hauled off at half-time after Javier Hernandez doubled United's lead in the tie moments before the break.

Drogba underlined the error of his coach's ways with an outstanding second-half show that even brought Chelsea hope when he scored with 13 minutes left as Ancelotti's side struggled under the handicap of being reduced to 10 men when Ramires was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Nani.

If Chelsea harboured any ambition of turning the game on its head, it was short-lived as Park Ji-sung restored United's lead seconds later to clinch a meeting with either holders Inter Milan or Schalke 04 in the last four.

As Old Trafford celebrated at the final whistle, Ancelotti cut a predictably disconsolate figure with only the very faint prospect of challenging United for the title left in his attempts to follow up the Premier League and FA Cup Double he claimed in his first season.

And while his decision to go with Torres ahead of Drogba showed commendable courage, as did his decision to take the Spaniard off after only 45 minutes, he now faces the prospect of the selection potentially starting the credits rolling on his Chelsea career following the exit from the tournament owner Roman Abramovich is desperate to claim.

If Torres is looking an expensive misfit at £50m, United's swoop for Hernandez can already be regarded as one of the great bargains with another prime example of the goal-poaching instincts that came with only a £6m price tag attached.

United can now turn their attentions to Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against neighbours Manchester City at Wembley as their charge for a repeat of their 1999 Treble remains firmly on course.

Ancelotti made the big call in selecting Torres ahead of Drogba and the early signs looked good for Chelsea as they took the game to United with ambition and purpose in pursuit of the goal they required.


Drogba gave Chelsea hope in the second half at Old Trafford
Chelsea created early opportunities but crucially, given the balance of the tie, they were wasted. Nicolas Anelka was twice narrowly off target and Frank Lampard should have done better than shoot straight at Edwin van der Sar following good work by Florent Malouda.

Wayne Rooney and Hernandez have developed a potent partnership and they almost created the breakthrough for United when the Mexican headed in an inviting cross, only to be ruled offside by the slenderest of margins.

United keeper Van der Sar made light of his 40 years with a sprightly dash from goal to make a perfectly timed tackle and clearance on Anelka as the Chelsea striker escaped the attentions of his markers.

As Chelsea neared the end of a first half they would have regarded with a measure of satisfaction, United struck a devastating blow that underlined the importance of those missed chances.

John O'Shea fashioned the original opening with a perfect pass inside Anelka and Giggs was equally incisive with a cross that was bundled into the roof of the net in trademark fashion by the predatory Hernandez.

Ancelotti needed to act and his response was dramatic by any standards, hauling off Torres and replacing him with Drogba in an attempt to rescue a quarter-final that was slipping away.

And Drogba wasted no time in making more of an impression that the struggling Spaniard, firing in an effort that left Van der Sar scrambling and a free-kick that the keeper was forced to punch to safety.

Chelsea's efforts to somehow snatch at a lifeline suffered a setback with 20 minutes left when Ramires flew into a reckless tackle on Nani and left referee Oligario Benquerenca with no option other that to brandish a second yellow card.

Drogba then gave Chelsea hope, if only for a matter of seconds, when he took Michael Essien's pass on his chest and drilled a low finish beyond Van der Sar.

If Chelsea had thoughts of completing an unlikely fightback, they were snuffed out almost immediately as another Giggs cross found Park unmarked on the angle of the penalty area, the South Korean making the most of the time and space afforded to him to beat Petr Cech.

United ran down the clock with comfort - now time may also be running out for Ancelotti.

[machoman]

United through as 10-man Chelsea exit Champions League
Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 05:18:08 HRS

Manchester United's English forward Wayne Rooney (R) and Mexican forward Javier Hernandez (L) congratulate goal scorer South Korean forward Park Ji-sung during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester. United won 2-1.

Manchester United powered into the semi-finals of the Champions League here Tuesday, downing Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford to clinch a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Goals from Mexican striker Javier Hernandez and South Korean international Park Ji-Sung either side of a lone Chelsea effort from Didier Drogba clinched a deserved victory for United in front of 74,672 fans.

The win put Sir Alex Ferguson's side into a semi-final against either Schalke 04 or holders Inter Milan, who play each other on Wednesday.

"Overall we were the better side, though, it was I thought as well a competitive game and played in a good spirit but also a great advert for the Premier League," said Ferguson.

"I think we've hit our form and the players are relishing the challenge on three fronts."

United, leading 1-0 from last week's first leg at Stamford Bridge, were worthy victors against a Chelsea side who struggled to match their opponents' precision in the final third.

Defeat piled the pressure on Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, who in all probability will see his team finish the season without a trophy.

Chelsea's misery was summed up by Ancelotti's decision to remove £50 million striker Fernando Torres at half-time after another lacklustre contribution from the Spaniard, still goalless after 11 hours since joining the club.

Ancelotti took defeat graciously.

Manchester United's English forward Wayne Rooney (L) crosses the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester. United won 2-1.

"We had good control of the game in the opening 25 minutes but didn't take our chances," said the Italian, who twice guided AC Milan to the trophy.

"Our performance was not so bad but United deserved the win.

"We have to move on from this disappointment and ensure we finish in the top four places (to make the Champions League)."

An open first half saw Chelsea, lining up in their more familiar 4-3-3 formation, enjoy plenty of possession and territory without ever really threatening United's goal.

Chelsea's best chance came after 15 minutes, when a surging run from Florent Malouda, operating on the left side of a front three with Torres and Nicolas Anelka, took him deep into United territory.

The Frenchman threaded his pass through to Frank Lampard but the England midfielder was unable to get a clean shot off and his low effort lacked the power to trouble Edwin van der Sar in the United goal.

United had the ball in the net on 26 minutes when an exquisite curling cross from the right from Wayne Rooney was turned in by Hernandez, the young Mexican stooping to head home only to be given marginally off-side.

An increasingly niggly opening spell saw three Chelsea players find their way into referee Olegario Benquerenca's book, Ramires, Malouda and John Terry all picking up yellow cards against a lone caution for United's John O'Shea.

Two minutes from half-time United got the goal that their more incisive play merited. A lovely ball from O'Shea saw Ryan Giggs race into the Chelsea area and the veteran's low cross found Hernandez who buried from point-blank range.

Ancelotti had clearly seen enough of the misfiring Torres for one night, and Chelsea came out for the second half with Drogba at centre-forward.

Drogba did not take long to make more of an impression than Torres, turning his marker and sending a low shot flying just wide on 56 minutes.

Moments later Patrice Evra was booked for wrestling the Ivorian striker to the ground on the edge of the area.

Yet Drogba's arrival could not alter the fundamental inferiority of Chelsea's approach work, and again it was United who looked likeliest to score.

Nani forced a smart save from Petr Cech on 68 minutes with a curling shot, and Hernandez should have grabbed a second when he headed a teasing Rooney cross wide a minute later.

Chelsea's problems deepened on 70 minutes when Ramires followed through on Nani to pick up his second yellow and be sent off.

Yet just as Chelsea looked dead and buried, Drogba gave Chelse a flicker of hope with a fine goal on 77 minutes, latching on to a through ball from Michael Essien, controlling with his chest and drilling in to make it 1-1.

Thoughts of a Chelsea Houdini act were short-lived however, and United made it 2-1 on the night a minute later when Park latched on to a lovely ball from Giggs and swept past Cech.

- AFP

[PussyDigger2]

is 1999 going to repeat again ???
really hope so.

[imom]

Frankly, I only covet the Premier League title this year. Anything else will be bonus. In order of priority for me:

1. EPL (so we do not have to share the record with anyone)
2. CL
3. FA Cup

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by imom

Frankly, I only covet the Premier League title this year. Anything else will be bonus. In order of priority for me:
1. EPL (so we do not have to share the record with anyone)

Ahh, so we can gloat.. Catch us if you can? (on back of your new jersey?)

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by mr_missile

players like vds, giggs and vidic have been consistent throughout the season, rooney & carrick are finding their form now, valencia & ferdinand are back from injuries, with smalling, nani, hernandez and berbatov (and even owen) supporting, united can really give the treble a go.

i will gladly forego the fa cup for the 19th league title and 4th champions league win.

the 19th league title will put us ahead of pool while the 4th champions league win will put us just one win behind pool's record.

with sir alex declaring that he may go on for another 3 years, i'm sure he will gun for a couple more champions league titles before finally retiring with united truly the most successful football club in england.

Originally Posted by imom

Frankly, I only covet the Premier League title this year. Anything else will be bonus. In order of priority for me:

1. EPL (so we do not have to share the record with anyone)
2. CL
3. FA Cup

i am more greedy than you bro. would love the EPL and CL for reasons in my earlier post.

[yinyang]

Really??

Italian speak
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13085059.stm

Old fart talk cock
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbeva...itys_time.html

Scouser thinks MU koyak
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...up/9456826.stm

[imom]

Originally Posted by yinyang

Ahh, so we can gloat.. Catch us if you can? (on back of your new jersey?)

No need for 'catch us if you can lah'.

At the risk of jinxing the title - I will just replace Welbeck's name (he may be off permanently anyway) on his shirt:

[mr_missile]

HARRY TALKS UP MOURINHO FOR MAN UTD

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is confident Jose Mourinho is a future Manchester United manager.

Redknapp came up against the Real Madrid coach in the Champions League quarter-finals, with his Spurs side bowing out 5-0 on aggregate after Wednesday night's 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.

Mourinho has divided opinion since arriving on English shores with Chelsea in 2004, fresh from winning the Champions League with Porto.

Despite going on to coach Inter Milan and Real, Mourinho has spoken of his desire to return to club management in England.

But Redknapp believes the Portuguese will have to bide his time with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson giving no sign he is set to retire any time soon.

"Of those (managers) I have faced this campaign there is one who stands head and shoulders above the others - Jose Mourinho," Redknapp told The Sun.

"Some are calling the Real Madrid boss the Marmite manager - you either love him or hate him.

"I am one of those who has nothing but admiration for the former Chelsea chief, who I think will end up managing Manchester United one day in the very distant future when Alex Ferguson calls time.

"But every time I see Alex he looks younger than the last occasion I bumped into him. He is showing no signs of wear and tear. His enthusiasm is limitless. He wants to carry on - so Jose could have a very long wait."

Ferguson was appointed in 1986 and has led United to the most successful spell in the club's history.

But Redknapp reckons Mourinho is one of the few men with the ego and the self-belief to take on the challenge of succeeding him.

"Sure, Jose is arrogant but what is wrong with that?" he added.

"After our game on Wednesday night, Mourinho said that the Premier League is his natural habitat and I'd have to agree.

"Jose is switched on to the demands of the modern game and tuned in to his mega-star, world-class players who give him the utmost respect because they know he is exceptional at his job. For me, he is a very clever manager."

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by imom

No need for 'catch us if you can lah'.

At the risk of jinxing the title - I will just replace Welbeck's name (he may be off permanently anyway) on his shirt:

this is very nicely done bro!

with hernandez keeping even current epl top scorer berba on the bench, and macheda coming back on loan, wellback may truly be sold or or as a cash-plus player for ashley young.

[A Red Devils]

Dream of Treble,a repeat of 1999 gone.
But we will have the record for most championships won by myself soon.
And our chance of going to the UEFA Champion League Final at Wembley is very good.

[mr_missile]

Originally Posted by A Red Devils

Dream of Treble,a repeat of 1999 gone.
But we will have the record for most championships won by myself soon.
And our chance of going to the UEFA Champion League Final at Wembley is very good.

no treble nevermind lah. the 19th league title, followed by the champions league are given more priority.