Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[no_faith]

imho, recent few matches solely depend of ronaldo to snatch victories.
if ronaldo were to return old trafford wif lengthy injury, it will be the turning point in the EPL crown.
it could have at least an impact on the manu squad.
and the blues could have slightly higher hopes that manu might drop points.

manu are in the run for 3 cups and chelsea for 4, hope we can meet in the CL final in athens.


tbh, hope manu will meet liverpool in the CL semis but not chelsea, kekeke

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by no_faith

imho, recent few matches solely depend of ronaldo to snatch victories.
if ronaldo were to return old trafford wif lengthy injury, it will be the turning point in the EPL crown.
it could have at least an impact on the manu squad.
and the blues could have slightly higher hopes that manu might drop points.

manu are in the run for 3 cups and chelsea for 4, hope we can meet in the CL final in athens.


tbh, hope manu will meet liverpool in the CL semis but not chelsea, kekeke

Quarter-finals (Ties to be played on April 03/04 and April 10/11)
Milan v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool
Roma v Manchester United
Chelsea v Valencia

Semi-finals (Ties to be played on April 24/25 and May 01/02)
Winners of Chelsea or Valencia v winners of PSV Eindhoven or Liverpool
Winners of Roma or Manchester United v winners of Milan or Bayern Munich

Alamak, what happened to you? The above are the draws for CL's quarter and semi finals. Your team will meet Liverpool in the semi if both teams win their quarter finals. Time to wake up from your cheonging dreamland liao?

Ronaldo has injury scare, Neville out for 6wks and Rooney is off form, etc etc. The show must still go on. Many Utd fans still place their hopes and faith on Sir Alex to orchestrate the finale. Not easy to be Champions of England.

[no_faith]

bro qbdp, i know the match mixtures on the uefa.com. it juz tat in my heart i hope it feel will be tis way mah....

luck and hardwork is a sign to be champ.
juz look at the CL mixtures, roma leh, kuku italian team.
shd manu overcome them, either ac or bm, np to take on lah. ac and bm tis season, playing bad football. manu could book the tix to athens now.
fa cup, vs watford, lol. cls 1 eye liao.

see, chelsea, the unlucky side. tough matches. must kill off pool to athens leh.
fa cup, vs blackburn.



haha, like jm whining rite? kekeke

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by no_faith

bro qbdp, i know the match mixtures on the uefa.com. it juz tat in my heart i hope it feel will be tis way mah....

luck and hardwork is a sign to be champ.
juz look at the CL mixtures, roma leh, kuku italian team.
shd manu overcome them, either ac or bm, np to take on lah. ac and bm tis season, playing bad football. manu could book the tix to athens now.
fa cup, vs watford, lol. cls 1 eye liao.

see, chelsea, the unlucky side. tough matches. must kill off pool to athens leh.
fa cup, vs blackburn.

haha, like jm whining rite? kekeke

Ok ok, I now know what you meant. My mistake, paiseh paiseh.

Bro, any team with Totti cant never be underestimated. Italian teams are masters of defence so the 2 legs will be tight.

FA cup is well-known for upsets. Thats the romance of it. Cannot play with one eye closed. Must open both eyes big big and focus.

Yaya...good impersonation of Mourinho. Keep it up! haha.

[qbdp]

Fergie: Treble repeat unlikely

Sir Alex Ferguson has played down the chances of Manchester United repeating their treble success of 1999 this term.

United are in contention to win the Premiership, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League this season as the campaign draws to a close.

Ferguson's men won a historic treble eight years ago, but the Scot believes a repeat is unlikely due to the current injury problems they have to contend with.

"We have done well and the players are playing with a great deal of confidence," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

"They are showing a lot of maturity they are growing up together which you always hope to get when a new team comes along.

Ferguson insists no one in the squad talks about winning another treble.

"No-one talks about that," added Ferguson. "It is a possibility but more of an impossibility given the number of games we have, the speed of games and the competition.

"In 1999 we had no injuries to contend with so that was the lucky break we got in that particular year.

"This year we are dealing with a few injuries at this moment in time but we do cope very well with them and we will have a go at everything."

Ferguson also believes winning the Premiership has become harder as he regards it as the best league in Europe.

"I think the competition in the Premier Division has got harder in the last few years, there is no question about that," continued Ferguson.

"I think standard, as you can see English teams doing better in Europe now, has risen.

"The quality we have in the Premier League is the highest. I think we have the best division in Europe.

"I think for a while the Spanish league eight or nine years ago they were in front, but I think we have overtaken them.

"The excitement and entertainment you get in the Premier League is second to none."

[qbdp]

Ferguson: Scholes is the key

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Paul Scholes' return from suspension can give Manchester United the final push in their hunt for silverware. Scholes returns to face Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford encounter on Saturday after receiving a three-match suspension for a red card at Liverpool at the beginning of March.

And Ferguson is confident his side will gain the benefit as United chase the first of six wins from their remaining eight games that will clinch the Premiership title.

"Paul regards family life as very important," Ferguson said. "He knows the travelling with the international team is tremendous and coming to his age, I think he felt it was time to give more time to his family. That is the reason he gave up international football.

The 32-year-old retired from international football 2004 and has resisted concerted attempts by Steve McClaren, the England coach, to reverse his decision."His form this season has been absolutely fantastic and now we are getting him back fresh after a little break," Ferguson added.

The United manager could also have Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back this weekend after recent injury problems, particularly welcome news ahead of next week's Champions League quarter-final with AS Roma.

But Ferguson has refused to discuss the possibility of another treble. "No-one talks about that," he said. "It is a possibility but more of an impossibility given the number of games we have. The competition in the Premier Division has got harder in the last few years and the standard is better in Europe as well. In 1999 we had no injuries to contend with either, while this year we are having to deal with one or two.

"We are coping very well with them at the moment and if we do that we will have a go at everything because the players are playing with great confidence. We have had a great season and I just hope it continues."

[axeman24]

Thanks for the inform good work

[machoman]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Ferguson: Scholes is the key

Looks like Fergie will rest Ronaldo & field Scholes instead for this Saturday's home match against Blackburn & Rooney also if Saha & Solskjaer are fit.

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by machoman

Looks like Fergie will rest Ronaldo & field Scholes instead for this Saturday's home match against Blackburn & Rooney also if Saha & Solskjaer are fit.

Ya, rest and bring Ronaldo on at 60mins if we are not leading. It is the best time for Rooney to prove those who had been critical of his England's preformances wrong.

[qbdp]

FERGIE: I'VE GOT A FEW SEASONS LEFT AS BOSS

MARK HUGHES, Roy Keane and the other hopefuls can stop dreaming about being Manchester United boss for a while - Sir Alex Ferguson is going nowhere.

The Reds gaffer is now 65 but reckons he can stay in charge for a few more seasons at least.

Ex-United ace Hughes, seen by many as the natural successor, takes his Blackburn side to Old Trafford on Saturday.

But Fergie has warned Hughes, Keane and the other contenders hopeful of taking over from him that he has no intention of standing down just yet after 20 years in the hot-seat.

He said: "I'm not in control of who succeeds me but there are many people who would want my job, there's no question about that. But I've got a few years left.

"Mark has been around so many clubs. He's played for United, Chelsea, Blackburn, Everton, Southampton, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, so I'm sure he's gathered a lot of knowledge in his football life.

"And the one thing he always had, without any influence from managers, was a fighting spirit second to none."

United skipper Gary Neville recently hailed Hughes as the man to succeed Fergie and the Rovers boss would certainly be a popular choice with their fans.

But United are still in the hunt for three trophies and Fergie thinks leading them to a second Treble will be harder than when he achieved the feat in 1999.

He said: "No one talks about the Treble here. It's a possibility but more of an impossibility, given the number of games we have.

"I think the competition in the Premiership has got harder in the last few years and the standard is better in Europe.

"The quality we have in the Premiership is the highest there is. I think we've overtaken Spain. Excitement and entertainment is second to none."

United can extend their lead to nine points with a win before Chelsea kick off against Watford.

Fergie believes his men have what it takes to deliver his ninth Premiership title. He said: "We're playing with great confidence."

[qbdp]

Park wants league trophy

Park Ji-sung admits his priority is winning the Premiership with Manchester United this season.

The Red Devils are chasing success on three fronts, having also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and semi-finals of the FA Cup.

With a six-point advantage over Chelsea in the title race, reclaiming the Premiership is currently the team's best chance of a trophy.

And Park, who has scored on his last three Premiership starts, feels winning the league is the prime target.

"Personally, my number one target is the Premier League," Park told the South Korean media.

The former PSV Eindhoven midfielder, though, is refusing to dismiss the prospect of United repeating their 1999 Treble feat.

With Roma to face in the Champions League, and Watford the opponents in the FA Cup, Park feels three trophies are not beyond the team.

He added: "It is possible for us to get the results to succeed in all competitions.

"I have had a similar experience in the Netherlands.

"Even if we have bad results, we have to bounce back quickly and concentrate on the next game."

[qbdp]

Hughes backs Manchester United's title claims

Mark Hughes is backing Manchester United over Chelsea in a battle of his former clubs for the Barclays Premiership title. The Blackburn Rovers manager returns to Old Trafford on Saturday aiming to further his side’s prospects of a top-six finish, claiming with it a place in next season’s Uefa Cup.

A repeat of last term’s 2-1 win at United would certainly offer Chelsea hope of catching Sir Alex Ferguson’s leaders, with the top two currently separated by six points. But, even if Rovers were to cause an upset, Hughes reckons United will still have too much for Chelsea over the closing eight games of the campaign.

“I think United will win,” Hughes, who made 345 appearances for the club in two spells before playing 95 games for Chelsea, said. “Chelsea will run them very close, but I sense United have a real desire and a hunger to win the league this season, and that will take them over the line. They’ve been in this position before, a number of players know what it takes at this stage of the season to win titles and that is what will help them.”

In particular, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes - names who Hughes remarkably played alongside in his final days at the club in the mid-1990s. “It’s fantastic because, more often than not in days gone by, once you got to 30, you were history,” Hughes said. “But they’re special players, and credit to them as professionals that they are still playing."

Hughes is unsurprised such an illustrious trio are still at United and continuing to perform superbly under Ferguson. “When there is an emotional bond with a club, and even though deep down you think you should leave, it is very difficult to make that decision,” he said. “More often than not, it is made for you by Sir Alex, so you don’t have to face it yourself."

Ferguson has intimated Hughes would be the ideal man to step in at Old Trafford come the day he finally retires. “It’s always reassuring when somebody of the stature of Sir Alex acknowledges you are doing a decent job, and I think I am," Hughes said. "Sir Alex is very supportive of his ex-players trying their hand at management, and trying to make their way in a very difficult field of work."

[machoman]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Park wants league trophy

South Korean midfielder Park Ji Sung, seen here in June 2006, admits he would sacrifice success in Europe if it means Manchester United can win the Premiership. - AFP

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by qbdp

...In particular, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes - names who Hughes remarkably played alongside in his final days at the club in the mid-1990s. “It’s fantastic because, more often than not in days gone by, once you got to 30, you were history,” ..unsurprised such an illustrious trio are still at United and continuing to perform superbly under Ferguson. “When there is an emotional bond with a club, and even though deep down you think you should leave, it is very difficult to make that decision,” he said. “More often than not, it is made for you by Sir Alex, so you don’t have to face it yourself."

Bang on for my money. Classic (evergreen?) trio, part of fixtures at OT.. Liked the last bit on SAF cutting the strings for you kekekeke

[qbdp]

United target Huntelaar to keep the momentum going

Sir Alex Ferguson may have his hands full as Manchester United step up their pursuit of an unprecedented second treble, but the manager is already planning enthusiastically for next season.

Ajax are bracing themselves for a bid from United for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, their prolific young striker, who Ferguson is understood to have identified as one of his main summer targets along with Owen Hargreaves, the Bayern Munich and England midfield player, and Nani, the Sporting Lisbon winger.

Huntelaar has established himself as the new golden boy of Dutch football since failing to make the grade at PSV Eindhoven and has already drawn favourable comparisons to Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United striker.

While Ajax are loath to lose Huntelaar, the clamour for the 23-year-old forward’s signature is such that John Jaakke, the club’s chairman, is thought to be confident of being able to name his price for the player, who would cost at least double the £6.8 million Ajax paid SC Heerenveen for his services just over a year ago, and possibly much more.

Ferguson is believed to retain a serious interest in Fernando Torres, the highly rated Atlético Madrid and Spain forward, although he would come at a far higher premium than Huntelaar.

Torres recently signed a new deal with Atlético that ties him to the club until 2009, but while the escape clause in the 23-year-old’s contract was reduced from £41.4 million to about £27 million as part of the agreement, that price may still prove too prohibitive for United, who are expected to spend about half of their estimated £40 million transfer budget on Hargreaves.

Huntelaar cost Heerenveen just £70,000 when he joined the club in 2004 after turning down the offer of a new contract with PSV, where he struggled to make much of an impact.

In his first season at Heerenveen, Huntelaar scored 20 goals in 38 appearances and followed that up with 21 goals in as many games during the first half of the 2005-06 campaign before Ajax came calling. He finished the season with a staggering 45 goals in 46 matches and has looked equally impressive this term, scoring 28 times in all competitions.

Despite being in Marco van Basten’s preliminary Holland squad for last year’s World Cup finals, Huntelaar did not travel to Germany but he has impressed for the national team since, scoring twice in the 4-1 win over Ireland last August.

Ferguson has already sent scouts to watch Huntelaar, most recently in Ajax’s 4-1 win over FC Twente just under three weeks ago, when the striker scored a hat-trick.

The United manager has been encouraged by the apparent ability of Dutch players to adapt quickly to the demands of the Barclays Premiership, a quality that may make Huntelaar seem like less of a gamble than Torres, whose style is more suited to the Continent.

Of more immediate concern to United, however, is the Premiership game at home to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow, when victory would open up a nine-point gap at the top, if only for a couple of hours with Chelsea not playing until later in the day against Watford.

While United are still in contention to win the FA Cup and Champions League, Park Ji Sung, the midfield player, wants to help to ensure that the Premiership title returns to Old Trafford after a four-year absence.

“It is possible for us to get the results to succeed in all competitions,” the South Korean said. “But my No 1 target is the Premier League.”

Park did the double of league and cup with PSV in the Netherlands and he believes the experience will hold him in good stead as United’s season enters its critical phase. “I have had a similar experience in the Netherlands,” he said.

“Even if we have bad results, we have to bounce back quickly and concentrate on the next game.”