Ronaldo: We didn't Perform

Cristiano Ronaldo has echoed Sir Alex Ferguson’s opinion that the best team won in Rome on Wednesday night.



Ronaldo and his Reds team-mates were left to watch Barcelona lift the Champions League trophy after a game in which the Catalan side outplayed United for 80 minutes.

United – and Ronaldo, in particular – started the match brightly, but Samuel Eto’o pounced on 10 minutes to send Barcelona into the lead. That, Cristiano admits, was the moment the game turned.

“We started very well but after [the goal] I didn’t see any more of Manchester United," he told MUTV. "Barcelona played better than us, they controlled the game, created more opportunities and they deserved to win.

“You lose games because you make bad mistakes and this is what happened [on Wednesday]. We didn’t play well, we didn’t play compact. “

Despite the disappointment of losing in Rome, Ronaldo is confident United fans will see more European silverware at Old Trafford in the coming years.

“It’s really hard to retain this trophy but I still believe Manchester [United] has the chance to win more in the next [few] seasons.”

source : manutd.com

Ferdinand: United Will Bounce Back from Defeat

Rio Ferdinand insists his Manchester United team-mates are big enough to handle the shattering disappointment of Wednesday's Champions League final defeat in Rome.

Ferdinand was desperate to enter the record books as a back-to-back European Cup winner but those dreams were quashed at the Stadio Olimpico as Barcelona registered a richly-deserved triumph.

So, instead of a bus parade around the city, United flew back to Manchester with an acute sense of deflation, although Ferdinand thinks United are strong enough to bounce back.

''If we had won it would have been an unbelievable end to the season but we knew if we lost we would be finishing on a low no matter what we had achieved before,'' he said. ''We were not silly enough to think the garden will always be rosy

''We are grown men. We can handle it. We just have to brush ourselves down and come back stronger.''

Ferdinand is happy to postpone the debrief that must follow as Sir Alex Ferguson works out why United were so badly outplayed.

Poor tactics are being blamed in some quarters, although the argument is difficult to fathom given United set up in exactly the same way as when they defeated FC Porto and Arsenal earlier in the competition.

Ferdinand has no in-depth answers to add. However, his gut feeling was that too many players made too many errors at the wrong time against talented opponents well capable of taking advantage.

''To play a team like Barcelona you need your A game. We didn't have it,'' he said. ''We did well in those first 10 minutes. If we had scored then it might have been a different game.

''But we gave away two soft goals at crucial points in the game and didn't put away the chances we had. In a Champions League final, if you do not play well, either as individuals or a collective unit, you do not deserve to win.''

Ferdinand accepted it was scant consolation for the 30,000 United fans who bellowed their backing to their team and magnanimously applauded Barcelona at the end, but is confident when the new campaign begins again in August, the Red Devils will be fully motivated and ready for battle.

''The belief is still there,'' he said. ''We have come a long way in these last few years. You do not lose all that by getting beaten in one match.

''We need strength of character now but we have it in abundance.''

source : soccernet.espn.go.com

Tevez: United Might`ve Won with Me

Carlos Tevez feels that Manchester United might not have lost the UEFA Champions League final if he had been named in the starting XI.

The Argentine's future at Old Trafford remains uncertain as he nears the end of a two-year loan deal, and press reports on Friday suggest an exit is inevitable.

Tevez has grown frustrated at a lack of regular first-team action at United and he failed to land a starting berth in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Barcelona.

The attacker was introduced at half-time but he could not inspire the Red Devils as Barca cruised to a memorable success in Rome.

Tevez has reiterated that he is keen for his future to be resolved, with talks ongoing between United and his advisors.

He said in the Daily Mirror: "I wanted to play in the starting line-up in Rome but that decision was down to the coach.

"But with a strategy more attacking in the first minute then perhaps the result would have been different.

"It has not been a good time for me because I believe that I should have played more minutes. My future will now be decided. My agents are negotiating and I am waiting to hear some news."

source : football365.com

Giggs Forgets Rome and Targets Third Final

Ryan Giggs believes defeat in this year's Champions League final will serve as motivation for Manchester United and the 35-year-old is already targeting a third consecutive European Cup final next season.

United arrived back in Manchester on Thursday after relinquishing their European title in Rome after being soundly beaten by Barcelona, and while Sir Alex Ferguson will waste no time analysing what went wrong and attempting to find solutions Giggs has already set a challenge for his team-mates to achieve.

''Great teams and great players always look forward to the next challenge and we are going for a third Champions League final,'' said the Welshman.

''No one likes to experience this kind of feeling and we must use that as motivation next season.''

Ferguson and the United players have been magnanimous in defeat and admitted that Barcelona were the better side at the Stadio Olimpico, with a clear edge in all areas.

It is not the way Giggs intended to begin his summer holidays and presents a marked contrast to the jubilation they experienced 12 months ago after beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in Moscow.

But, while the veteran winger is as disappointed as anyone by United's uncharacteristic failure to perform, he insists there are moments to cherish from the campaign as well.

''It has been a fantastic season and we must not forget that. We have achieved so much,'' said Giggs. ''All we have done is fall just short at the final hurdle in the Champions League.We are still a great team and we have great players in that dressing room.''

Whereas this season history beckoned in Europe with the ultimately doomed attempt to become the first team to retain the European Cup since it was reinvented as the Champions League in 1992, next year it will be at home.

Having drawn level with Liverpool on 18 league titles this term, Giggs knows one more - which would be his 12th - would not only allow the Old Trafford outfit to overtake their north-west rivals, it would also see them become the first side in English football to win the championship four years in a row.

''To win three Premier League titles on the trot is an unbelievable thing to do,'' said Giggs. ''Now we must look to make it four.''

source : soccernet.espn.go.com

Giggs: Remember What We Did Achieve

Ryan Giggs has told his devastated Manchester United team-mates not to forget it has been a season to remember.

Instead of a victory parade around Manchester, United flew home to the inevitable inquest about what went wrong in Rome on Wednesday night after their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Barcelona.

To a man, the Red Devils have held up their hands to admit Barca were the better side at the Stadio Olimpico, with a clear edge in all areas.

It is not the way Giggs intended to begin his summer holidays and presents a marked contrast to the jubilation they experienced 12 months ago after beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out.

But, while the veteran Welshman is as crushed as anyone by the chronic failure to perform, he insists there are moments to cherish from the campaign as well.

"Great teams bounce back after big disappointments," he said.

"It has been a fantastic season and we must not forget that. We have achieved so much.

"All we have done is fall just short at the final hurdle in the Champions League.

"We are still a great team and we have great players in that dressing room.

"Next year we will come back stronger and look forward to the challenge."

And the challenge is not an insignificant one.

Whereas this season history beckoned in Europe with the ultimately doomed attempt to become the first team to retain the Champions League since its inception in 1992, next year it will be at home.

Having drawn level with Liverpool on 18 league titles this term, Giggs knows one more - which would be his 12th personally - would not only allow the Old Trafford outfit to overtake their north-west rivals, it would also see them become the first side in English football to win the championship four years in a row.

"To win three Premier League titles on the trot is an unbelievable thing to do," said Giggs. "Now we must look to make it four."

Looking on the bright side, last night's defeat ensures United will not suffer the kind of fixture congestion that almost proved their undoing this term, with Barcelona now the ones committed to facing Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Super Cup and to represent UEFA at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Of far more importance to Ferguson is putting plans in place for next season.

The United boss has already stated there will not be much movement this summer, with most of the replacements already in place for Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar, who by this time next year will already have, or be very close to, calling it a day.

Owen Hargreaves' return is eagerly-awaited after his tendinitis trouble but clearly, beyond even that significant event, are the futures of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The body language of Ronaldo last night did not suggest a man at ease with the world, although looks can be somewhat deceptive with the Portugal superstar, who has hinted at a desire to remain at Old Trafford, at least for another year.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has also claimed a deal has been done for Ronaldo to move, which promises to make for some intriguing tittle-tattle over the next few weeks.

A more clear cut situation, if not a prospective outcome, is that of Tevez, whose lease arrangement has now run it course, leaving United chief executive David Gill to decide whether it is worth pursuing a permanent transfer.

If the answer is no, Ferguson might shuffle his squad around, possibly bringing in Franck Ribery in addition to Ronaldo, whose future surely lies as an out-and-out forward.

Ferguson's players however might spend a little more time reflecting on the past rather than pondering the future.

"You work so hard to get to a Champions League final," reflected Giggs.

"After winning it last year we wanted to win it again. I guess this result proves why it has not been done before."

source : football365.com

Sir Alex: We Missed Fletch

Darren Fletcher was perhaps the perfect player to disrupt Barcelona's possession football, and Sir Alex Ferguson's fears before the game that the suspended midfielder would be a great loss sadly proved prophetic.



The Reds boss recognises that Barcelona also had players missing through suspension, but from a United point of view Fletcher would have been key in disrupting the flow of passes from Andres Iniesta and Xavi to the front three of Eto'o, Henry and Messi.

"I thought before the game it may have been a problem," said Sir Alex.

"I knew it might count against us because he is a big-game player and he was a big loss. It's difficult to say how big, and they had players missing too, but it showed for us tonight."

Fletcher's ability to cover every blade of grass in the middle of the park would have been an asset as United tried to regain possession - but keeping the ball was also a problem.

"The simple reason we lost was possession," Sir Alex added. "You have to wait minutes to get it back off Barcelona but when we did get it, we didn't do anything with it.

"That was the disappointment, our use of the ball when we had it.

"We recognised beforehand their strength was their central midfielders. It wasn't really Messi who was the problem. It was Iniesta and Xavi. They can keep the ball all night long.

"You have to give credit to a very good Barcelona team. If they get in front of you they are very difficult to beat."

source : manutd.com

Reds Will Challenge Again

It was painful for the Reds to concede the European title to Barcelona, but Edwin van der Sar is certain that United will be back challenging again next year.



The Reds didn’t ever reach the performance levels the team is capable of, and a possession-rich Barcelona capitalised with goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi.

“We are all really disappointed with the performance and the result,” said Edwin.

“It was a bad first goal to concede and after that we suffered a little bit and we couldn’t get back into playing our game. Barcelona kept possession very well.

"After the first goal it just all seemed to go wrong for us. We seemed to be under pressure, even when we had the ball. It was just one of those nights when things didn't go so well for us and everything they tried seemed to come off."

There were certainly no sour grapes and, for what little consolation it is, United emerged with dignity for accepting the best team won on the night.

“You have to give Barcelona credit,” added the Reds' goalkeeper.

“They have won the European title so they are now the best team in Europe. They played very well, and all we can do is try to do better next year.”

source : manutd.com

Barca Were Better Than Us - Rooney

Wayne Rooney admitted Manchester United were beaten by the better side in Rome on Wednesday night.

United's hopes of becoming the first side to successfully defend the trophy since it was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992 were crushed by Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men simply had no answer to the Catalans' class once Samuel Eto'o had prodded them into a 10th-minute lead.

The margin of victory could have been even greater than Lionel Messi's second-half effort helped them achieve, with even Rooney conceding the final 2-0 scoreline did not flatter Barca.

"It is a big disappointment but Barcelona were the better team," said Rooney.

"Barcelona scored two good goals and unfortunately for us, they came at good times. That made it very difficult for us."

United had no answer to the craft of Xavi, the guile of Messi and the direct running of Eto'o and Thierry Henry, who was making amends for defeat in the final against Barcelona with Arsenal four years ago.

But it was Andres Iniesta who ran the show as far as Rooney was concerned.

"Barcelona are a brilliant team and in my opinion Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world," he said.

"Against a team like that if you don't take your chances, they will punish you. That is what happened.

"It is very disappointing and the feeling at the moment is not a good one. We are hurting. But we have to forget it and look forward to next season."

Having clinched a third successive Premier League title and the Club World Cup and Carling Cup in addition to becoming the first side since 1997 to reach the final a year after winning the Champions League, United can still take plenty of positives out of their distress.

However, for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, defeat left a bitter taste.

"This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career," he said.

"We were always confident before the game but unfortunately we couldn't do it."

Speculation is now bound to surface once more about whether the 24-year-old has played his final game for the Old Trafford outfit.

It was not a subject up for discussion as Ronaldo assessed a sound beating.

"It is always bad when you lose a final," said Ronaldo.

"But we didn't play well.

"We did okay in the first 10 minutes but you have to say Barcelona deserved to win."

source : football365.com

Defeat Biggest Blow For Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo had admitted Wednesday night's Champions League defeat to Barcelona was one of the biggest disappointments of his career.

Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi were enough to overcome Manchester United in Rome's Stadio Olimpico, denying Sir Alex Ferguson's men the chance to become the first side to successfully defend the trophy since it was rebranded in 1992.

Ronaldo did cause Barca some early problems, but ultimately the Portuguese winger faded like his team, with Messi now set to claim the World Player of the Year prize he has cherished.

"This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career," said Ronaldo.

"We were always confident before the game but unfortunately we couldn't do it."

Speculation is now bound to surface once more about whether the 24-year-old has played his final game for the Old Trafford outfit.

It was not a subject up for discussion this evening as Ronaldo came to terms with the defeat.

"It is always bad when you lose a final," said Ronaldo.

"But we didn't play well.

"We did okay in the first 10 minutes but you have to say Barcelona deserved to win."

Wayne Rooney was equally distressed at United's first European Cup final defeat, although few would argue Barcelona fully deserved their victory.

"It is a big disappointment but Barcelona were the better team," said the England forward.

"Barcelona scored two good goals and unfortunately for us, they came at good times. That made it very difficult for us.

"Barcelona are a brilliant team. Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world in my opinion.

"If you don't take your chances against them, they will punish you and that is what has happened.

"It is very disappointing and the feeling at the moment is not a good one. We are hurting. But we have to forget it and look forward to next season."

source : football365.com

We'll Learn Champions League Lesson - Fergie

James Robson

SIR Alex Ferguson has promised United will return better than ever after losing their Champions League crown to Barcelona.



Goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi ensured no team has successfully defended the trophy in the Champions League era – but Fergie insisted his players would be all the better next year because of the disappointment.

“You learn from defeat,” he said. “That’s the great thing. In adversity you move forward quicker. It is a disappointment, but we are still a young team and can improve from that.”

The United manager was magnanimous in defeat, after seeing his side fail to recover from going 1-0 down after just 10 minutes.

The reigning champions had started brightly with Cristiano Ronaldo twice coming close, while Gerard Pique produced a brilliant block to deny Ji-Sung Park in the opening minutes.

Messi’s 70th minute header killed off any hopes of a fight back, but United had rarely looked like getting back into the game even before that.

“I think the first goal was a killer,” said Ferguson. "It was their first attack and a bad start for us. We had started brightly and very confident, but we got nervous after that.

“We knew if they got a goal they could keep the ball all night. We had plenty of time and some half chances in the second half when we should have done better when crossing.

“But in fairness we were beaten by the better team. We weren’t at our best. After the first goal it was very difficult for us."

Later Fergie criticised the defending and added: “In our best performances this season we have defended very well, but the defending tonight was shoddy.

“The first goal didn’t help. It gave them the opportunity to keep possession. We didn’t plan to lose a goal early and we didn’t deal with it well enough. That was the story. To lose a goal like that was a bad goal. It was a disappointing performance and some individuals will feel it themselves.”

Ferguson claimed he was not surprised with the way Barcelona approached the game, even when they swapped Messi from a wide position up front into midfield.
And he put the blame for the loss squarely on his own players.

Possession

Ferguson said: “The disappointment was the use of the ball when we got possession. You have to wait minutes to get it back off them. Could be it was an off night. Could be it was a mountain too big to climb.

“We knew what a good football team they were. We had difficulty in defending against them. Messi dropped into midfield and they kept possession and made it difficult for us.”

Ronaldo collected a yellow card for a foul on Carles Puyol and it was a disappointing match for the United winger who went close with a couple of long-range shots but too often let his exasperation get the better of him.

Ferguson also admitted United missed the protective presence of Darren Fletcher in midfield who was suspended after being sent off harshly against Arsenal in the semi-final.

“He is one big-game player,” said Ferguson. “It was a loss but they had losses also. And it is difficult to measure how big a loss it was.

“We’ve done well to get to the final, but we had to win it. It was a big opportunity for us. With the players we have we expected better, but losing the first goal was decisive for us. We couldn’t recover from that.”

Ferguson, however, was generous in his praise of Barcelona and their manager, Pep Guardiola, who also won the Champions League as a player with Barcelona.

“You have to give credit to a very good Barcelona team,” said Ferguson. “If they get in front of you they are very difficult to beat. They kept possession of the ball and made it very difficult to get back.

“When we did get possession we didn’t do well with it. Credit to them, the better team won.”

On Guardiola, who has guided Barcelona to a treble of league title, domestic Cup and Champions League, he added: “It is a great achievement as a coach in his first year. Well done. Fantastic. Everybody enjoys their football and it is great credit to him.”


source : manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Giggs: Barcelona Deserved It

VETERAN midfielder Ryan Giggs admitted United did not play to their potential and were beaten by the better team after the 2-0 defeat against Barcelona.



Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi ensured that United did not retain the Champions League trophy.

“At times Barcelona can make you look silly because they keep the ball so well” Giggs told Sky Sports News.

“At times we maybe chased it and didn’t keep our shape as well as we should have. But still - we created chances and probably more chances than Barcelona.

“We said whoever turned up on the night would win and that proved to be the case. They turned up and played some great football - we didn’t really.

“I think if we had gone a goal ahead, we’re capable of keeping the ball like they are. But credit to them, they deserved it tonight.”

source : manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Barcelona v Man United Min-by-min

Full-time: Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0

90: The referee blows his whistle for full-time and Barcelona have won 2-0 to become champions of Europe for the third time. The Catalan outfit deserve their victory with Messi, Iniesta and Xavi all producing superb displays tonight. Pep Guardiola's side have now won the treble of La Liga, the Copa Del Ray and Champions League this season and deserve all the plaudits they will receive for their performance in this match.

90: United are losing their discipline at the end of the match as Vidic catches Messi with a late challenge. The defender is rightly booked.

90: Barcelona make a late change with Pedro Rodriguez taking the place of Iniesta. The midfielder has been fantastic tonight.

90: Vidic does well to prevent Iniesta adding a third goal as he is forced to knock the ball behind for a corner. Barcelona take a short corner and happily retain possession on the left flank.

90: United are struggling to break through Barcelona's defence as the fourth official indicates there will be three minutes of additional time.

89: Richard in Scunthorpe has already e-mailed in to congratulate Barcelona on their victory. This match isn't over just yet as United have proved in the Champions League in the past but the Catalan outfit are certainly favourites to claim the glory.

88: Pique does well to play the ball off the legs of Tevez to win a goal-kick for Barcelona.

87: Rooney's corner from the right is sent over the top of the bar by a poor header from Berbatov. That is a wasted chance for United as time runs out for them to put Barcelona under late pressure.

86: Rooney works a short corner to Tevez on the left and the striker's resulting cross is headed behind for another flag-kick by Puyol.

85: We have a break in play as Puyol receives treatment. The defender is unhappy with the challenge van der Sar made as he saved the previous shot. The defender will be fine to continue.

84: Barcelona work a superb passing move to Puyol in the United box. Van der Sar does really well to race out of his goal and save the driven effort.

83: Barcelona are keeping the ball with ease. Messi looks like he has all the time in the world every time he receives possession.

82: United have the ball but they are being put under pressure by Barcelona at every opportunity. The Catalan outfit haven't just impressed in attack as they have defended with great tenacity throughout the whole night.

81: Scholes caught Busquets with an awful challenge in the build up to Iniesta's effort. The referee waved play on but rightly books the United midfielder when the move comes to an end.

80: Iniesta cuts in from the left flank and sees his powerful effort saved by van der Sar at his near post.

79: Ronaldo fails to keep van der Sar's long ball in play on the left flank. United are starting to run out of ideas.

78: Ronaldo is booked by the referee after bundling Puyol to the ground on the left flank. The United winger is starting to lose his cool.

76: Barcelona deserve to be leading this match 2-0. Xavi, Messi, Iniesta and Pique have all been superb tonight as the Catalan outfit show just why they are so highly rated.

75: United make their final change with Scholes taking the place of Giggs.

74: Xavi's free-kick from the right is headed straight at van der Sar by Puyol from close-range. That was a great chance for Barcelona.

73: United are preparing to bring on Paul Scholes as Ronaldo concedes a free-kick on the right flank.

72: United work the ball from the left flank to Ronaldo at the far post of the Barcelona goal. The winger sees his effort superbly blocked by Valdes as this continues to be a frustrating night for the Premier League champions. The resulting corner is wasted.

71: Barcelona make their first change with Seydou Keita replacing Henry.

70: GOAL MESSI! Xavi's cross from the right is headed into the top left hand corner of the United goal by Messi's looping header from the eight yards. The Barcelona playmaker sent his effort straight over the head of van der Sar to leave the keeper with no chance. Barcelona lead 2-0.

70: Giggs' corner from the right is cleared from danger by a strong header from Pique. The Barcelona defender has impressed against his former club tonight.

69: Pique concedes a corner as Rooney looks to break forward,

68: Puyol's clearance is deflected out of play for a Barcelona throw-in by Ronaldo. More of this match is starting to take place in the Catalan outfit's half.

67: The referee, who has done very well so far tonight, does well to calm everyone tonight after Ronaldo and Puyol's aerial challenge. Play continues with a spell of Barcelona possession.

66: United make their expected change with Berbatov taking the place of Park.

66: Henry makes space inside the United box and sees his low effort easily saved by van der Sar.

65: Iniesta falls to the ground on the edge of the United box but the referee rightly waves play.

64: It looks like Dimitar Berbatov is preparing to come on for United. No word yet on who he will replace.

63: Giggs' corner from the right evades everyone in the Barcelona box and the ball races out of play for a throw-in. United need to improve the quality of their set-pieces.

62: Barcelona keep the ball in midfield as they look to halt United's recent attacks. The Catalan outfit still look comfortable but they are definitely vulnerable down the flanks.

61: Carrick overhits his attempted through ball to Rooney and the United striker is unable to prevent a Barcelona goal-kick.

60: O'Shea wins a free-kick on the United box as he is pushed to the ground by Henry. The Premier League champions are starting to impress again.

59: Ronaldo is again caught offside as he looks to find space on the left flank. United are starting to pose more questions to the Barcelona defence.

58: Ronaldo is caught offside as he looks to reach Ferdinand's long ball. The United winger has been quiet since his impressive start to the game.

57: United may find some joy against Puyol and Sylvinho on the flanks. They have yet to be consistently caused problems tonight by Rooney or Park.

56: Rooney's bouncing cross from the left narrowly evades an attempted clearance from Yaya Toure and Park at the far post. United have enjoyed a better last few minutes.

56: Puyol is forced to clear the ball out of play as he is put under pressure by Park on the left flank.

55: A rare period of United pressure ends as Yaya Toure clears Carrick's attempted through ball away from Rooney.

54: Barcelona have been superb ever since Eto'o opener. They have defended well by giving United's attack no time on the ball in the final third.

53: Xavi's free-kick strikes the left hand post of van der Sar's goal and bounces away from danger. This is a worrying time for United.

52: Iniesta's superb forward run is ended by a clumsy challenge from Tevez on the edge of the box. The Barcelona midfielder has once again been fantastic tonight as his side win a free-kick.

51: Messi appeals for a penalty as he tumbles in the United box but the referee waves play on. Barcelona are in top gear at the moment.

50: Henry's powerful cross from the left is gathered by van der Sar just before Eto'o can get to the ball. Barcelona are in control as they find space in the final third.

49: Barcelona are still in charge of the ball. Henry is finding space on the left flank as O'Shea continues his tough night.

48: Henry cuts in from the left and works the ball away from Ferdinand to leave the defender on the floor. His resulting shot is easily blocked by van der Sar as Barcelona start this half on the front foot.

47: Barcelona are keeping the ball with ease. Henry cuts in from the left and sees his cross headed clear by Vidic.

46: The second half is under way and United are keeping the ball at the back early on.

The change is confirmed as Tevez replaces Anderson. Will this be the striker's last game for United?

It looks like Tevez will replace Anderson. The teams are back on the pitch as we near the start of the second half.

HT: The referee blows his whistle for half-time. Barcelona have been the better side and deserve their 1-0 lead. Messi and Xavi have been magnificent so far to leave Sir Alex Ferguson with plenty of work to do at the break.

45: There will be one minute of additiona time.

44: Messi storms into the United box and sees his low cross from left fumbled by van der Sar. United clear the loose ball. The Barcelona playmaker is in great form tonight.

43: Messi and Iniesta fail to work a neat one-two as van der Sar is able to gather the ball. Not long until half-time as Barcelona continue to dominate this match after Eto'o's opener.

42: Messi dances towards the United box and works the ball to Eto'o. Park does well to put the striker under pressure and win possession. Messi has been a joy to watch at times during this half.

41: Park slips on the edge of the Barcelona box and allows Xavi to win the ball. That was great defence from the Catalan outfit.

40: Rooney is caught offside on the edge of the Barcelona box as frustration grows for United.

39: Messi's attempted through ball to Henry is cleared from danger by a flick from Ferdinand. The England defender has been more impressive than Vidic so far tonight.

38: Busquets' looping header drifts through to van der Sar as Henry is offside and unable to win possession.

37: Puyol's low cross from the right is turned away from the United box by Ferdinand. United have been on the back foot since Eto'o gave Barcelona the lead and they may need to make some changes at the break.

36: Iniesta's corner from the left narrowly evades Pique as the defender nips in ahead of Pique. It has been a tough night for United's defence so far.

35: Barcelona work a short corner from the right and force Carrick to head the ball behind for another flag-kick.

34: Henry wins a throw-in on the left flank as he forces O'Shea to knock the ball out of play.

33: Xavi continues to be the main man for Barcelona. He is pulling the strings in their midfield as United are forced to get men behind the ball.

32: Rooney and Evra fail to work a one-two as Barcelona clear the ball away with ease from their penalty area.

31: Another spell of Barcelona possession at the moment. United have to get hold of the ball in order to stop the Spanish champions' dominance.

30: Barcelona are on the front foot. Xavi and Messi are looking dangerous as United struggle to break out of their own half.

29: Van der Sar is forced to knock the ball away from danger as Ferdinand sends a poor header back to the United goalkeeper. Barcelona are on top.

28: Messi wins a free-kick as he is knocked to the ground by three United players. The playmaker gets back up as his influence on this match starts to grow.

27: Xavi sends the free-kick narrowly wide of van der Sar's right hand post. The goalkeeper had the effort covered.

26: Barcelona win a free-kick in a decent position on the edge of the United box as Iniesta is bundled to the ground by Anderson.

25: Barcelona are continuing to keep possession as Iniesta slides the ball to Henry on the left flank. The striker keeps hold of the ball as his side continue to impress.

24: It is Barcelona's turn to keep control of the ball for a sustained spell. Xavi is the man who is making the Catalan outfit tick so far.

23: Giggs' corner from the left is headed well over the top of the bar by Ronaldo from 12 yards. You cannot keep the United winger out of the action at the moment.

22: We have a break in play as Valdes receives treatment from the Barcelona physio. The goalkeeper will be fine to continue but Puyol will take the goal-kick.

21: Ronaldo makes space on the edge of the Barcelona box and sends a weak effort wide of the left hand post. The United winger is creating plenty of chances for himself.

20: Valdes races out of his goal and wins the ball from Park with a strong challenge on the left hand side of his box. The Barcelona goalkeeper could have a future as a defender.

19: Lionel Messi cuts in from the left flank and sends a rasping effort high over the top of the bar. The Barcelona playmaker is starting to find some space in the final third.

18: Sylvinho fails to keep the ball in play on the left flank as he heads the ball out of play. This match has been very easy to watch so far with both sides impressing in possession.

17: Giggs takes the free-kick and he sends his effort way over the top of the bar from 20 yards. Wasted chance for United.

16: Ronaldo is blocked by Pique on the edge of the Barcelona box and the defender is rightly booked. Free-kick to United.

15: Both sides are happy to keep the ball for long spells. Barcelona currently have possession with Xavi in charge of the move.

14: Giggs is caught offside as he looks to break behind the Barcelona defence on the left flank.

13: United are now keeping the ball at the back as Barcelona get plenty of men behind the ball. This match is living up to the hype so far as the two best sides in Europe clash.

12: Barcelona work a short corner to the edge of the United box but they waste two chances to test van der Sar and the danger is cleared. Pep Guardiola's side are now on the front foot.

11: Barcelona celebrate with Eto'o. They have started this match slowly but they hold a 1-0 lead.

10: GOAL ETO'O! Barcelona break forward at speed and work the ball to Samuel Eto'o on the right hand side of the United box. The striker takes the ball away from Nemanja Vidic and sends a driven effort under the body of Edwin van der Sar. The Spanish champions lead 1-0.

9: Ronaldo turns on the left hand side of the Barcelona box and sends a driven half-volley narrowly wide of Valdes' far post. The Spanish champions are having a tough night so far.

8: United continue to dominate possession. They are doing well at the moment.

7: Ronaldo turns 40 yards from the Barcelona goal and sends a powerful effort narrowly wide of the left hand post. Lively start from the United winger.

6: Rooney fails to find Giggs on the left flank as he sends the ball racing out of play for a goal-kick. United have been the better side so far.

5: Valdes sends a poor clearance out of play for a United throw-in. It has been a nervous start for the Barcelona goalkeeper.

4: Thierry Henry and Sylvinho fail to work a neat one-two on the left flank and United are able to win possession. Lively start to this match.

3: The corner finds Wayne Rooney on the edge of the Barcelona box and he sends a driven effort wide of Valdes' goal.

2: Ronaldo's powerful free-kick from 25 yards is parried by Valdes to the feet of Park. Pique does superbly to knock the ball behind for a corner as the United midfielder looks to shoot.

1: Anderson wins a free-kick for United in a shooting position as he is blocked by Yaya Toure.

1: The match is under way as Barcelona get the match under way. Victor Valdes quickly sends a sloppy pass out of play for a United throw-in.

source : football365.com

John O’Shea Ready to Take His Place Against the Very Best

Sir Alex Ferguson is nothing if not a man of his word. Even before Manchester United had secured their place in the Champions League final, he had promised John O’Shea a place in the starting line-up in Rome and it is a promise that he had no intention of withdrawing.



O’Shea has rarely ventured beyond the fringes of the United team since making his debut in a Worthington Cup tie almost a decade ago and has usually been the man to make way when the big occasions have come around. However, he scored the only goal of the semi-final first leg against Arsenal and will play at right back this evening. He is confident of dealing with whichever opponent he finds himself up against, whether it is Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi.

“Obviously you’re thinking who you might be up against, whether they start on your side or on the opposite side,” the Ireland defender said. “To be fair, the Barcelona team are like us. They pop up all over the place. You’ve got to be prepared for every eventuality. If Henry plays on the left, it could be him, but equally it could be Messi. Even easier, then . . .”

The last statement was delivered with tongue in cheek. O’Shea knows that he is not one of the game’s artists, having settled into a no-frills player in the six years since he famously nutmegged Luís Figo during a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in his breakthrough season for United.

His prospects at United have looked bleak at times over the past few campaigns, but even though, at 28, he is older than you might realise, he insists that he never for a moment considered leaving Old Trafford in pursuit of more regular football.

“I would never just stay at a club for the sake of winning a medal,” O’Shea said. “I would have to play a part. There was a case where the manager brought in a few new additions and it was probably the hindrance of me playing in so many positions that came into play. But luckily I’ve stuck at it and I’ve played a part in every season so far when we’ve been successful. Hopefully that will continue.”

Maintaining spirits and a competitive edge in such a large squad may look difficult, but Ferguson, to judge from the mood of his players as they trained at the Stadio Olimpico last night, has managed it. “It’s the man-management,” O’Shea said.

“He makes you feel involved. He might say that you’re not playing in such-and-such a game, but I want you right for that game. It’s the little things and he’s the best in the business at it.”


source : timesonline.co.uk

United Taking Route 66 to Glory

As Manchester United FC prepare for their 66th and final match of a mammoth and potentially momentous campaign, Sir Alex Ferguson has called for one more performance of "determination and courage" from a squad which has risen to every challenge this season.

'Character'
A far cry from the razzamatazz of Rome and a UEFA Champions League final against FC Barcelona, Sir Alex pointed to United's win at Stoke City FC on 26 December – which came after travelling back from their FIFA Club World Cup triumph in Yokohama – as a match which "showed the true character of the team". He said: "The team elevated themselves in accepting the challenge of going to Japan which was a big test for us. Everybody found it difficult sleeping over there and to come back and beat Stoke on Boxing Day was a fantastic win. When you have a bunch of players who are talented and don't want to lose, then that's special."

'Maturity'
Recent performances in Europe have also given Sir Alex renewed hope that United can become the first team in the UEFA Champions League era to win successive titles. "When the chips were down in Porto we rose to that, it was a fantastic performance," said the Scot of their last-eight decider in Portugal, adding of the semi-final: "In the second leg at Arsenal the team showed their capabilities again. They didn't play beyond themselves but to their capabilities and when they do that they're a very good team. What you see over the last year is maturity; we've won the league again and have a fantastic squad."

Rousing words
The squad may be the most talented ever assembled at Old Trafford, yet it is the manager who continues to drive them to greatness. Before the 1999 final victory against FC Bayern München at the Camp Nou, Sir Alex told his players that they would always regret it if they were able to get up close to the famous trophy without actually getting their hands on it. Rather than being carefully scripted, however, the 67-year-old revealed on the eve of the game that he had not "thought about one word" of what he would say before sending his players out at the Stadio Olimpico. "These things usually happen to me about three in the morning when I am trying to get some inspiration from the deep chambers of my tiny little brain," he said, "but at the moment nothing is coming out."

Heat
Inspiration is not something United have been short of, yet the manager knows "a bit of luck" could be equally important if the English champions are to get the better of their Spanish counterparts in the Eternal City. "Certain things will be important such as concentration and the bit of luck that teams get in a certain moments which can decide or turn a game," he added. "It will be a game in which both teams won't want to give the ball away; what we do with it as opposed to them will be the deciding factor. The heat won't affect preparations but if it's uncomfortable we'll have to rely on the determination and courage of our players and that's something I'll be looking for."

source : uefa.com

Park Ji Sung is a Seoul Star Out of the Ordinary

Which Manchester United footballer leads the most extraordinary life? Cristiano Ronaldo? Wayne Rooney? Rio Ferdinand? Wrong on all counts. Try Park Ji Sung.

Park’s is a parallel life, the kind of which is usually to be found only in fiction, and researching an article on him merely confirms this.

While his every move is pored over in his native South Korea — think David Beckham or the Queen — barely a word outside of the obligatory mentions in match reports has been written about the energetic midfield player in this country.

Even his team-mates, save for his closest friends, Carlos Tévez and Patrice Evra, from whom he bought his house in Wilmslow, Cheshire, might profess to know little about Park’s life outside of his love for football. A king in South Korea, then, but a relative mystery in Manchester.

Indeed, it must be strange for someone who is mobbed on the streets of Seoul to be able to walk through Salford without people offering more than a passing glance, but given his almost excruciating shyness — a trait that his parents and early coaches feared would severely impede his development — it is not hard to understand why Manchester is manna from heaven for the poster boy of South Korean football.

In October last year the Korean edition of FourFourTwo magazine dedicated 40 of its 178 pages to him, the front cover adorned with his picture and bearing the words “Legend of JS Park”.

It was, in effect, a condensed version of his 2006 autobiography, Infinite Challenge, which topped Asia’s bestsellers’ list, a comprehensive account of his life “From The Cradle To The Pitch” as one heading read.

There were even three pages dedicated to discussing the minutiae of the Nike boots he wears. No detail is considered too minor where Park’s followers — more than 87,000 of whom are members of his official fan club — are concerned.

The same magazine rated him this month as the second most powerful person in Korean football, after Chung Mong Joon, a Fifa vice-president, although Park will probably occupy top spot next year if he becomes the first Asian to play in a Champions League final tomorrow when United take on Barcelona in Rome.

It will be just reward for a player who was left out of United’s squad for last season’s Champions League final victory against Chelsea, despite the influential role that he had played in helping to get his team to Moscow, but then Park’s story is, in itself, a triumph against adversity.

He was born in Seoul in February 1981 and brought up in nearby Suwon, where he now has a street named after him. His mother, Myung Ja, was convinced that her son would grow up to be as strong as the mythological Korean dragons she had dreamt about during pregnancy, but initially the opposite — at least in body — was true. Imagine his parents’ surprise then when Park, while still in third grade at elementary school, professed a wish to become a professional footballer.

Small and weak, it must have seemed a fanciful dream at the time, but Park would not be deterred. Impressed with his son’s iron will, Sung Jong, Park’s father, gave up his job working in a metals factory to run a butcher’s so that his only child would have a choice of meat with which to strengthen that fragile frame.

Largely overlooked at high school because of his stature, hope appeared to be fading until, aged 17, Park grew six inches in the space of 12 months to his present height of 5ft 9in (1.75m). It would not prevent him from being rejected by every professional club or university he applied to in South Korea, but his steely determination impressed Lee Hak Jong, his high-school football manager, whose recommendation was enough to secure Park a place at the Myung Ji University in Seoul.

It would prove to be just the break he needed, and over the next three years, a star was born. Park followed up his fine form at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and for Kyoto Purple Sanga, of Japan, by helping South Korea to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002 before Guus Hiddink, the mastermind behind that success, took the player with him to PSV Eindhoven.

After a difficult start, when, for a time, he conceded that he “didn’t like the ball coming to me because the fans were booing so much”, Park won over the detractors.

A £4 million move to United was sealed after a man-of-the-match performance for PSV in first leg of the Champions League semi-final against AC Milan in 2005, but while he did not encounter quite the resistance from United supporters as he had from PSV’s, many were left wondering if his arrival constituted little more than a commercial exercise. Almost four years on, no one is questioning United’s motives any more. Commercially, though, Park’s arrival has more than compensated for the loss of Beckham.

Since their launch in February 2006, United have sold 1.2 million credit and debit cards in South Korea. By contrast, only 380,000 have been sold in the past ten years in the United Kingdom. In effect, it means that one in five of United’s “core” Korean fans have one.

The Korean edition of United’s official website receives more than two million page impressions every month and United also agreed a lucrative sponsorship deal with the Seoul Metropolitan Government that runs to 2011. United, it seems, now have the best of both worlds. Only don’t expect Park to shout about it.

Cha the trailblazer for Asians in Europe

Park Ji Sung hopes to become the first South Korean — and the first Asian, for that matter — to play in a European Cup final, but one of his compatriots left his mark on Uefa Cup finals. Cha Bum Kun, below, widely considered to be South Korea’s greatest player, was a big hit in Germany after moving there in the late 1970s.

Cha helped Eintracht Frankfurt to win the 1980 Uefa Cup, playing in both legs of the final as Borussia Mönchengladbach were beaten on away goals. He also won the competition with Bayer Leverkusen when they beat Espanyol in the 1988 final. Having left the field injured before Espanyol scored all their goals in a 3-0 first-leg win in Spain, Cha played throughout the return, scoring the late third goal to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out.


source : timesonline.co.uk

Ferdinand Ready to Step Into Greatness

Manchester United FC captain Rio Ferdinand said he was "feeling good and glad to be back" after declaring his fitness on the eve of the UEFA Champions League final against FC Barcelona.

'Working hard'
"I've spoken to the manager who knows that I wouldn't put myself forward to play if I was not 100 per cent as it's such a talented squad," said the centre-back, who has struggled with a calf injury since the 5 May victory at Arsenal FC which guaranteed United's presence in Rome. "If my fitness was detrimental to the team or result I wouldn't play but I've been working hard and don't see any problems."

'Place in history'
A cornerstone of a defence which has laid the foundations for success in the Premier League, League Cup and FIFA Club World Cup this season, the England man's next goal is to rubber-stamp a second straight triumph on European club football's biggest stage. "We need to achieve that," continued Ferdinand. "That's why we're here. Until you win it back-to-back you don't really know where it puts you compared to other teams. We want to win it then [the media] can decide where our place in history is."

Options
Ferdinand's partnership with Nemanja Vidić is among the most revered in world football, not least by their appreciative manager Sir Alex Ferguson who believes "when my defenders are at the top there's no one better". Yet the 30-year-old knows plaudits will count for nothing if United fail to get their tactics spot-on against Barcelona's attacking talents. "If you defend too deep against a team with such quality players then it can be dangerous," he said. "We've proved we can play deep and hit on the counter or play further up. We have the strength to alter our approach and will need to pick the right option."

Messi threat
Ferdinand knows all about the Spanish champions having played in both legs as United eliminated them in the semi-finals last term – clean sheets in both legs proving pivotal in a 1-0 aggregate victory – and is confident of snuffing out Lionel Messi again. "It will be difficult for whoever plays against him as he's a fantastic player with great close control," said the former West Ham United FC and Leeds United AFC defender. "But we've done it before. Patrice Evra has played against him a couple of times and done very well. We don't need to do things differently."

Spot-kick training
With little seemingly to choose between the sides, Cristiano Ronaldo said both he and the team had been practising penalties – "a lot" in fact. The Portuguese scored a fantastic header at the Stadio Olimpico last season as United beat AS Roma 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final, and is ready to impress again. "This is a great stadium," he said. "I've played well a few times here. I have to play well because the pitch, stadium, supporters are amazing. I think it's going to be special."

source : uefa.com

Sir Alex: This is Our Time

There are moments Sir Alex Ferguson rues in past European expeditions; missed opportunities that fuel his burning desire to maintain a relentless pursuit to put United where he says the club belongs: among the continent’s elite.



Reigning European champions, the Reds are the dominant force despite Barcelona's protestations, but Sir Alex wants more trophies to prove it. He joked in Rome that his team-talk will come to him during a restless night's sleep. You can bet it’ll be a spine-tingler.

Just as equalling Liverpool's 18 league titles was never even considered ‘job done’, neither would becoming the first team to retain the Champions League. Sir Alex has bigger plans, but winning on Wednesday would be a good start, or rather a continuation.

“There’s an opportunity for us to put ourselves alongside Europe’s great teams. This is a squad with a great future, a young team withh experience to do well in the next few years. On Wednesday we can endorse that.

“To be considered a great team, you have to win the European Cup again. But there have been unlucky teams down the years. You have to win this cup, it's a prerequisite. Teams like ourselves and Barcelona have to win this trophy to be considered in that regard. But not everyone can win it.

“Nobody has retained the trophy,” he adds. “But we're good at firsts. We have a opportunity to repeat that. It’s interesting – unusual – that nobody has retained the trophy since the Champions League started. It was done regularly in the sixties and seventies. There were cycles of great teams, like Ajax, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. We have an opportunity to change that; I hope we take it.”


source : manutd.com

Ronny Set On Team Glory

One for all, not all for one
“Whoever wins the final will have a better chance of being World Player of the Year.
But I don’t care about that, what I want is to win the Champions League – that’s it."
- Cristiano Ronaldo -

The notion goes that whomever comes out on top - Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi - then the World's best player tag is automatically theirs.

Cristiano is on the throne currently, but he says retaining his crown will not be his motivation in front of a packed Stadio Olimpico crowd on Wednesday. Believe it or not, his aim is shared glory.

“Whoever wins the final will have a better chance [of winning the award]," Ronny said. "But I don’t care about that, what I want is to win the Champions League – that’s it. Some players in my team have played fantastic football this season - they deserve it.”

Ronaldo is aware that the TV cameras and photographers' lenses will focus on him all night, but it's a pressure he's learned to live with. “It’s normal for people to talk about me," he says. "I’m 100 per cent focused on the game. I try to help my team, I will try to score and win the game.

"It's a great stadium. I feel very good to play here. I’ve played here a few times and, in my opinion, I played well. I have to play well now. The pitch, the stadium, the fans… they’re amazing; I look forward to playing here and winning. It’s going to be special.”


source : manutd.com

United and Barça Promise 'Fantastic' Final

FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC are ready to put on a spectacle worthy of a place in history when they meet in the UEFA Champions League final in Rome, the Eternal City.



Stirring finale
Two of European football's most evocative names, the newly crowned champions of England and Spain, cross paths at the Stadio Olimpico with United aiming to become the first team in 19 years to successfully defend the European Champion Clubs' Cup and the first in the UEFA Champions League era. Having already lifted the Liga and Copa del Rey this month Barcelona have the chance to claim an unprecedented Spanish treble. It promises to be one of the more stylish gladiatorial contests staged in the city of the Colosseum, with Sir Alex Ferguson saying simply: "It has the capability to be a fantastic final."

History help
United have never lost a European Cup final while two of this competition's three previous showpiece matches in Rome ended in an English victory. According to Sir Alex, another success is essential to justify his club's ever-growing stature. "I've repeated many times we should have done better in Europe. To be in the pantheon of great teams, the prerequisite is to win this cup. It's an opportunity for us to go alongside a lot of the great teams. This team has that type of future – it's a young squad with the right type of experience which can do well in the next few years. Hopefully we can endorse that."

Ferdinand return
Captain Rio Ferdinand is fit again after a calf injury, although United will be without the suspended Darren Fletcher as they bid to become the first side since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 to land back-to-back European Cups. "We're good at doing things for the first time," Sir Alex added with pride. "It's interesting and unusual that no one has defended the trophy since the Champions League started, because in the history of the European Cup it was done regularly. We have an opportunity to change that and hopefully we can take it."

Glorious campaign
While the United boss is at the end of his 35th season as a manager, Josep Guardiola is concluding his first and, though two trophies are already in the Camp Nou cabinet, the 38-year-old – 29 years Sir Alex's junior – is not finished yet. "It's been a great season but it can still finish badly, there's a lot still to do. In football things can change very suddenly. I've been very lucky to have a squad of players who are very good tactically and technically. We want to show how good we are and how hard we've worked by winning tomorrow."

Defensive reshuffle
Barcelona's usual full-backs Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal are suspended and Rafael Márquez has a knee injury so Yaya Touré will drop back to central defence with captain Carles Puyol filling in at right-back, Seydou Keita on the left and 20-year-old Sergi Busquets replacing Keita in midfield. Andrés Iniesta and Thierry Henry should be fit after thigh and knee problems respectively, with Guardiola adding: "If they're OK they will play – if they're not, they won't. I think they'll be there. I would have liked to have more players at my disposal but that's how it is. It's going to be a great final."


source : uefa.com

United Will be All White on the Night

FC Barcelona will wear their traditional colours at the Stadio Olimpico, with Manchester United FC sporting an all-white kit in a European final for the first time since they defeated the Blaugrana in the 1991 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Dramatic wins
Unbeaten in three European Champion Clubs' Cup finals, United wore all blue when getting the better of SL Benfica in 1968 and their favoured red shirts in 1999 and 2008 as they enjoyed dramatic victories against FC Bayern München and Chelsea FC respectively. Sir Alex Ferguson's side have donned their third-choice white strip just once this season, in a 2-1 loss at Liverpool FC, but have sported it five times against Barcelona in the past.

Robson hopeful
The most prestigious of those occasions came in Rotterdam 18 years ago when Mark Hughes scored twice in a 2-1 triumph over Barça which secured the club's first European trophy since that heady night under Sir Matt Busby – who would have been 100 on Tuesday – at Wembley. Bryan Robson, the United captain in '91, told uefa.com: "I hope it will be a good omen. Every time United have played in white against Barcelona they seem to have won, so I hope they do it again."

First meeting
The Red Devils were also kitted out in white in the 3-3 home and away draws against Barcelona in the group stage of the 1998/99 UEFA Champions League, and in the semi-final at the Camp Nou last term where Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in a 0-0 first-leg draw. Paul Scholes spared his blushes in the return leg at Old Trafford. Their only reverse in those unfamiliar colours came in their first meeting with Barcelona, a 2-0 defeat in 1984.

Final losses
Barcelona are looking to claim a third European Cup in their sixth final, with two of their losses – to FC Steaua Bucureşti in 1986 and AC Milan in 1994 – having come against teams decked out in white. Benfica paraded their red shirts when overcoming the Spanish giants in 1961, while Barcelona wore orange when beating UC Sampdoria in 1992 and their preferred blue and deep red in the 2006 success against Arsenal FC in Paris.

Relaxed Sir Alex
Perhaps squaring up to a United side reminiscent of Real Madrid CF will not be so daunting given they thrashed their great rivals 6-2 earlier this month. Sir Alex Ferguson disagreed with that notion, saying with a smile: "That was an annihilation, but we're better than Madrid."

source : uefa.com

Anderson's Winning Streak

James Robson

BRAZIL-BOY Anderson has promised an unforgettable celebration if he finally breaks his United scoring duck in Wednesday's Champions League final.



The South American midfielder - who is yet to score in open play in 73 competitive appearances for United - revealed he is planning to streak naked around the Stadio Olimpico in Rome if he finds the back of the net against Barcelona.

Anderson's only goals so far for the Reds have come in the penalty shoot-outs that led to Champions League victory over Chelsea last season and in the Carling Cup final against Spurs in March.

But after seeing fellow Brazilians Robinho and Elano light up Eastlands with some stunning strikes, the 21-year-old is desperate to get in on the act.

"Competition is quite tough," he said. "I will strip naked and run around the stadium if I score in the final.

"I have already scored two goals - but they were penalties.

"My aim is to help the team and I will do anything to help them. If I can score even better."

Anderson is in line to start against Barcelona with Darren Fletcher suspended after his controversial red card in the semi-final against Arsenal.

And the Brazilian international says winning the trophy for Fletcher will be a motivating factor.

"I'm very sad because every player wants to play in the final," said Anderson. "Especially the Champions League final. But every player has ups and downs and he had a bad moment. We are going to try to do our best to win the trophy for everybody and for him too."

Sir Alex Ferguson has described Anderson as the future of United in the tradition of Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. And it is Scholes who the former Porto star says he would be happy to emulate.

"He's top class," he said.


source : manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Champions League: Step by Step

Check out how United made it to the final:

GROUP E

MAN UTD 0 VILLARREAL 0 (September 17)

United kicked off their defence of their Champions League crown with a stalemate at Old Trafford notable mainly for Cristiano Ronaldo's first appearance since last season's final. Both teams can count themselves unlucky not to have snatched a victory as Guille Franco saw his effort rebound off the inside of the post while Jonny Evans' point-blank header also rattled the woodwork.

AAB AALBORG 0 MAN UTD 3 (September 30)

United strolled to victory in Denmark courtesy of Wayne Rooney's strike and a Dimitar Berbatov double. The Bulgarian got off the mark for his new club 10 minutes into the second half and lashed home an acrobatic second 11 minutes from time, while the Red Devils also had a Carlos Tevez effort ruled out for offside.

MAN UTD 3 CELTIC 0 (October 21)

Another Berbatov brace saw United secure a second consecutive 3-0 victory. He pounced either side of half-time before Rooney added another in the 76th minute to see United earn a comfortable victory in the Battle of Britain.

CELTIC 1 MAN UTD 1 (November 5)

Celtic thought they had secured their first win of their campaign courtesy of Scott McDonald's brilliant lob in the 13th minute. However, with six minutes remaining, goalkeeper Artur Boruc could only parry Ronaldo's drive and Ryan Giggs headed home to break Scottish hearts.

VILLARREAL 0 MAN UTD 0 (November 25)

Both sides mathematically secured their place in the knockout stages with their fourth goalless draw in as many meetings. Ronaldo, who hit the bar in the first half, enjoyed his best performance since coming back from injury and the Portugal star created havoc in the Villarreal defence all night. Joan Capdevila was sent off for a rash tackle in the 82nd minute.

MAN UTD 2 AAB AALBORG 2 (December 10)

It seemed set to be business as usual when Carlos Tevez opened the scoring in the third minute but first-half goals from Michael Jakobsen and Jeppe Curth gave the hosts a scare. Rooney equalised seven minutes into the second half to ensure United remained unbeaten.

LAST 16

INTER MILAN 0 MAN UTD 0 (February 24)

Sir Alex Ferguson will probably be scratching his head as to how his team did not put the result of the tie beyond doubt at the San Siro. United battered the Nerazzurri goal for 90 minutes, but wayward shooting coupled with an exceptional performance from Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar kept the tie scoreless. The result did see United set a new Champions League record as it marked their 20th game without defeat.

MAN UTD 2 INTER MILAN 0 (March 11)

Nemanja Vidic made up for missing the first leg of the tie (following his red card in the World Club Championships) by heading United into the lead after just four minutes. Inter had several chances to get back into the tie before Ronaldo's 49th-minute header ensured Ferguson got the better of his old adversary Jose Mourinho for the first time.

QUARTER-FINALS

MAN UTD 2 PORTO 2 (April 7)

An 89th-minute equaliser from substitute Mariano left United with everything to do in the second leg. Porto had stunned Old Trafford by taking the lead through Cristian Rodriguez's fourth-minute strike before Rooney levelled matters 11 minutes later. United thought they had snatched a win when Tevez fired home with five minutes left but Mariano scored even later to secure a deserved draw.

PORTO 0 MAN UTD 1 (April 15)

United needed something special if they were to become the first English team to win at Porto and progress to the semi-finals and it was fitting that it came from World Player of the Year Ronaldo. The former Sporting Lisbon player lashed home an unstoppable 40-yard strike in the sixth minute.

SEMI-FINALS

MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 0 (April 29)

Just as they had done in the first knockout stage against Inter, United dominated the first leg but did not get the result their performance deserved. John O'Shea's first-half goal giving them the slenderest of advantages in the all-English semi-final after a man-of-the-match performance from Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

ARSENAL 1 MAN UTD 3 (May 5)

Arsenal were dead and buried after just 11 minutes as Ji-Sung Park's strike and a 40-yard free-kick special from Ronaldo effectively put the tie beyond reach. A lightning counter-attack on the hour mark started and finished by Ronaldo had the Arsenal fans streaming for the exits and few witnessed Robin van Persie's consolation from the penalty spot. That was the only black spot on a magnificent night for United as the referee judged Darren Fletcher's foul harsh enough to warrant a red card and the midfielder will miss the final in Rome.


source : manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Rio Ferdinand Boosts Manchester United By Saying He's Fit for Final

Manchester United have breathed a sigh of relief after Rio Ferdinand declared himself fit for tomorrow night's Champions League final. The centre-half has not featured for Manchester United since the semi-final second-leg victory away to Arsenal three weeks ago and his recovery from a calf injury is a boost to Sir Alex Ferguson's side, which the manager says is on the verge of greatness.

"My injury is fine, I've been training the last couple of days with the team – I feel good and I'm glad to be back," Ferdinand said. He is likely to replace Jonny Evans in the centre of defence to restore his successful partnership with Nemanja Vidic, which kept the feted Barcelona front three of Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o scoreless over both legs of their semi-final last year.

Ferdinand insisted he would not risk the team by putting himself forward for selection if he was not 100%. "I wouldn't do that," he said. "There is no way I will play if my fitness was detrimental to the team. Tomorrow is more about the team winning than me playing in a cup final. In any case, I have been working hard with the medical staff and training well. There are no problems. I am fine."

Should United win in Rome tomorrow night it will be the club's fourth European title and their third under Ferguson, equalling the record set by Liverpool's Bob Paisley, but the United manager had bad news for their rivals when he suggested the current United squad's best days are ahead of it.

"[Tomorrow] is an opportunity for us to get that victory that would put us alongside a lot of the great teams of Europe and this particular team is for the future," he said. "It is a young team with the right kind of experience and could do well in the next few years and hopefully tomorrow we can endorse that."

A fourth European Cup success will put United on a par with Ajax and Bayern Munich. However, no team has successfully defended the trophy since the Champions League's inception, and no one the European Cup since Milan lifted back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.

"It hasn't been done," Ferguson said. "We're good at first things, doing things for the first time, and hopefully it is another opportunity for us to do that tomorrow. It is interesting, I think unusual, that nobody has defended it since the Champions League started and if you look over the history, going back to the 1960s-70s it was done regularly – teams going two, three years in a row winning it.

"Cycles of great teams like Ajax, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, of course. I can't give you a reason for it, but we have an opportunity to change that and hopefully we will take it," added the United manager, who said he had given no thought as yet to his team-talk, saying: "These things usually come to me in the night."

However the Scot does not think he will have to instil his team with hunger or motivation, even after last year's success, citing examples in the quarter- and semi-finals where they displayed their desire.

"When the chips were down in Porto they rose to that with a fantastic performance and I think in the second leg at the Emirates, where Arsenal have never lost," he said. "The team showed their capabilities, they didn't go beyond themselves, they played to their capabilities."

Barcelona, meanwhile, are hopeful Thierry Henry and Andrés Iniesta will be fit to play in Rome. Iniesta is recovering from a strained thigh muscle and Henry is bidding to shake off a knee injury. "Today is the last training session and we will see how their condition is," coach Pep Guardiola told a news conference. "I think they will be there tomorrow. I am confident."

source : guardian.co.uk

Iniesta - We Fear Rooney

Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta says Wayne Rooney epitomises Manchester United's sublime work ethic.



Although Rooney may not have scored the number of goals Barca's forward line have plundered this season, Iniesta believes he plays a key role.

Iniesta, who scored Barca's priceless leveller in their 1-1 draw at Chelsea, says Rooney's versatility and commitment makes him an invaluable member of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

The 25-year-old knows the UEFA Champions League final between the sides in Rome on Wednesday will be a tight affair and that keeping mistakes down to a minimum could be the key to success.

Work ethic
"What I value most about the way they play is how hard players like Rooney work," explained Iniesta.

"He was filling in at left-back against us last year in the semi-final.

"Finals are not usually very tactical. We can plan a million things before the game but in the second minute they can strike and all the plans go out the window.

"We cannot commit any mistakes because they have so much firepower up front."

Unstoppable
Meanwhile, former Red Devils defender Gerard Pique believes that on his day Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is unstoppable.

The former Red Devils stopper knows the England international well from his time at Old Trafford before his Camp Nou switch last summer.

"When he is focused he is simply unstoppable," explained Pique.

"I have never seen a player as powerful as Rooney - the way he goes past people, the intensity of his play, the runs he makes from the first minute to last and the shot that he has. World class.

"Perhaps he does not get the credit he deserves because he should score more goals, but he offers so much."


source : skysports.com