Showing posts with label Uefa Champions League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uefa Champions League. Show all posts
Alan Hansen’s Premier League Pick: Stoke v Manchester United
Manchester United travel to Stoke this weekend brimming with confidence after impressive victories over both Tottenham and local rivals Man City. The champions really impressed me at White Hart Lane and although they left it very late against City, there’s no doubt they deserved to win the match. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side may miss the guile of Cristiano Ronaldo but they have maintained their competitive winning edge and it’s hard to back against them at the Britannia Stadium.
It’s well worth noting that United won both home and away against Stoke last season without conceding a goal. However, they did not have it all their own way at the Britannia Stadium as an 83rd minute Carlos Tevez goal was all that separated the teams. Sir Alex’s side may have suffered an upset at Burnley earlier in the season but after such impressive performances, it’s hard to imagine they are ripe for another shock defeat.
Wayne Rooney is in the form of his life after scoring 6 goals in his last 6 league games and no side will find him easy to handle. The young striker has been backed up superbly by the form of veteran Ryan Giggs who rolled back the years against Man City last weekend turning Micah Richards inside out with his dribbling ability. The Welshman has already created 24 goal scoring chances for his team-mates this season which is more than any other player and a fantastic testament to his enduring ability in the Premier League.
United goalkeeper Foster gets Ferguson's vote of confidence
LONDON — Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will persevere with Ben Foster despite the goalkeeper's error-strewn start to the season.
The England international's gaffe led to Manchester City's first goal at Old Trafford last weekend before the defending Premier League champions eventually beat their neighbour 4-3.
Despite Tomasz Kuszczak keeping a clean sheet in the League Cup victory over Wolverhampton on Wednesday, Ferguson will have Foster start at Stoke on Saturday and remain his first-choice Premier League goalkeeper while Edwin van der Sar recovers from injury.
"Edwin is still three weeks away," Ferguson said Friday. "It was a good opportunity for Tomasz to play on Wednesday, but Ben will start against Stoke. He's not had a lot of game experience but he'll be OK."
The Red Devils are second in the standings after six matches, three points behind Chelsea, thanks to Michael Owen's stoppage time winner over City.
Ryan Giggs created each of United's four goals to show that he remains a key component in the team at 35.
"The horrible part of being a footballer is that at some stage you are finished with the game," Ferguson said. "It catches us all. When someone like Ryan is playing at the level he is at, he realizes to stay there, he has to prepare himself in the right way.
"He has to look after himself and do the right things. It is not a matter of him defying his age. It is more a case that there is no discernible deterioration in his game at all. It is remarkable."
Chelsea may be protecting a 100 per cent record at Wigan on Saturday, but manager Carlo Ancelotti knows it won't last forever.
"It's very difficult because now the team is doing very well," Ancelotti said Friday. "We have maintained a good control of the injury situation and we have players in good condition and there is a good atmosphere.
"But in football in my experience it's very easy to pass from good to bad situations. It's very difficult to win and maintain a good situation."
Winger Florent Malouda has attributed Chelsea winning six straight games to the play of strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
"If you are an opponent and you see Didier and Nicolas are playing against you, you won't feel comfortable," Malouda said. "When they are confident, there is danger all the time for the opposition. And it helps us if the other team focuses too much on those two players as it will create space for the others.
"We have a strong midfield so when you have the pace of Nicolas with the power of Didier, it's good."
Meanwhile both Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott should return for Arsenal which plays at Fulham in Saturday's late kickoff.
Arshavin has missed four matches with a groin problem, while Walcott has not played this season due to a side strain as the Gunners have lost twice and fallen nine points behind Chelsea.
"We are very pleased because Arshavin gives us an attacking option that is always very interesting and away from home he's always very efficient as well," manager Arsene Wenger said. "He's a guy who turns up at the right moment and can always create chances or score himself."
Third-placed Liverpool missed out on the title last season in part because of its seven home draws, one of which was against newcomer Hull, which is back at Anfield on Saturday.
"We had difficulties last season with all the draws but now we are able to score goals in the first half," striker Dirk Kuyt said. "It's really important to score as early as possible because then it will be more difficult for them and easier for us.
"Hull are a good team as well but we have to look at our own strengths and we must believe we can beat them."
Level with Liverpool on 12 points are Manchester City, which hosts West Ham on Monday, Aston Villa, which is at Blackburn on Saturday, and Tottenham, which hosts Burnley at the same time.
In Saturday's other matches: Portsmouth, searching for its first point of the season, hosts Everton and Bolton is at Birmingham.
In Sunday's only match, Sunderland hosts Wolverhampton.
December decision time for Van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar has set his usual December deadline to decide whether to extend his Manchester United career.For three seasons now, the 38-year-old has waited until the depths of winter to determine his fate, which the answer coming up positive each time. And Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed it will be no different this term, even though the Dutchman has apparently already said he wants to continue.
"It has always been the case with Edwin that he has made the decision around the end of December and it will be this same this season too,'' said Ferguson. "There is going to be a time when he decides it is time but he never does anything at this stage of the season.''
In fact, Ferguson is more concerned Van der Sar is available again this season after he suffered two broken fingers in a pre-season game against Bayern Munich in July.
It was originally thought the former Fulham star would be out for two months, but Ferguson has confirmed he will be sidelined for another three weeks, meaning the first time he will be available is the encounter with Bolton on October 17.
In theory, Van der Sar's continued absence left Ferguson with a selection dilemma for the trip to Stoke.
Poland international Tomasz Kuszczak certainly must have been fancying his chances after keeping a clean sheet against Wolves on Wednesday, just three days after Ben Foster's dismal performance against Manchester City.
However, Ferguson has already decided to keep faith with Foster, who he believes will go to the World Cup as England's first-choice keeper.
"Ben will play tomorrow,'' he said. "I didn't have any doubts. We are not worrying about the odd mistake - young players make them all the time -- and he has not have a great deal of game experience. I do not have a problem with the boy."
Alex Ferguson: Best Yet To Come From Manchester United
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has warned his rivals in the Premier League with a defiant claim that the best is yet to come from the champions this season.
United suffered a shock defeat at Burnley early in the season, but have since won six consecutive games in all competitions, causing Ferguson to state that they will only get better as the campaign continues.
"We had a bad start, there's no doubt about that, but the form of the team has been coming on well," Sky Sports report the United manager as saying.
"Our best performance was at White Hart Lane [United won 3-1 against Spurs]. I'm happy with our form now. We have the squad and my only dilemma is who to play.
"Usually October sees us become more consistent and hopefully that will be the case again. The squad is a strong one and my only problem seems to be who to pick for each game."
One player who has impressed in United's recent run is 35-year-old veteran Ryan Giggs, and Ferguson concedes that there is little else he can say to add to the plaudits that have already come the Welshman's way during a long career.
"I don't know what more there is to say about him," the Scotsman added.
"It's not a matter of defying age with him because there has been no deterioration in his game at all – and it's remarkable.
"It's down to how he has lived his life, how he has looked after himself and done the right things and his form is just as good as it was last year."
United suffered a shock defeat at Burnley early in the season, but have since won six consecutive games in all competitions, causing Ferguson to state that they will only get better as the campaign continues.
"We had a bad start, there's no doubt about that, but the form of the team has been coming on well," Sky Sports report the United manager as saying.
"Our best performance was at White Hart Lane [United won 3-1 against Spurs]. I'm happy with our form now. We have the squad and my only dilemma is who to play.
"Usually October sees us become more consistent and hopefully that will be the case again. The squad is a strong one and my only problem seems to be who to pick for each game."
One player who has impressed in United's recent run is 35-year-old veteran Ryan Giggs, and Ferguson concedes that there is little else he can say to add to the plaudits that have already come the Welshman's way during a long career.
"I don't know what more there is to say about him," the Scotsman added.
"It's not a matter of defying age with him because there has been no deterioration in his game at all – and it's remarkable.
"It's down to how he has lived his life, how he has looked after himself and done the right things and his form is just as good as it was last year."
Sir Alex Ferguson: Owen Hargreaves Is Back For Manchester United
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has confirmed today that midfielder Owen Hargreaves, for so long on the sidelines after major surgery on his right knee, is back in full training ahead of the weekend's trip to Stoke City.
"Owen Hargreaves is back now, and hopefully the boy gets a break and continues his progress without any further mishaps," the United boss told reporters at his Friday press conference.
"It's been long time for the lad and normally when a player has been out that length of time, he's always helped during his rehabilitation by with other players.
"The fact he did it on his own in America under the guidance of the doctor [Richard] Steadman. Then it's not easy, but he's got the determination and the resilience to see it through and he's now back with us.
"I feel that maybe it'll still take us four weeks to get him into the rhythm of training again and get to the point of match play. But I think that hopefully he is on the way back."
Ben Foster will be in goal again for the Red Devils at the Britannia after Ferguson also confirmed that Edwin van der Sar will be absent for at least another three weeks with a broken hand.
Tomasz Kuszczak impressed between the sticks in the League Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night, but Ferguson today revealed that he is sticking with the England international for the visit to the Potteries.
"Edwin is still three weeks away. It was a good opportunity for Tomasz to play on Wednesday, but Ben will play against Stoke," Ferguson explained.
United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Stoke, a club for which Ferguson retains the utmost respect.
"Stoke have a good home record, and I'm not surprised how they've started the season at all," he added. "They're a club on the up and they're going to be a force this season."
"Owen Hargreaves is back now, and hopefully the boy gets a break and continues his progress without any further mishaps," the United boss told reporters at his Friday press conference.
"It's been long time for the lad and normally when a player has been out that length of time, he's always helped during his rehabilitation by with other players.
"The fact he did it on his own in America under the guidance of the doctor [Richard] Steadman. Then it's not easy, but he's got the determination and the resilience to see it through and he's now back with us.
"I feel that maybe it'll still take us four weeks to get him into the rhythm of training again and get to the point of match play. But I think that hopefully he is on the way back."
Ben Foster will be in goal again for the Red Devils at the Britannia after Ferguson also confirmed that Edwin van der Sar will be absent for at least another three weeks with a broken hand.
Tomasz Kuszczak impressed between the sticks in the League Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night, but Ferguson today revealed that he is sticking with the England international for the visit to the Potteries.
"Edwin is still three weeks away. It was a good opportunity for Tomasz to play on Wednesday, but Ben will play against Stoke," Ferguson explained.
United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Stoke, a club for which Ferguson retains the utmost respect.
"Stoke have a good home record, and I'm not surprised how they've started the season at all," he added. "They're a club on the up and they're going to be a force this season."
Manchester United Goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar Undecided Over Retirement
Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has refused to confirm whether he will retire at the end of the season, saying that he will only make his decision in December.The 38-year-old, who has yet to feature this season due to a broken thumb, admitted that while he felt as fit as ever, the inevitable end of his career was nearing.
“I've said for a few years that it sometimes may be my last season,” Van der Sar said, according to The Daily Mail.
“Six months before my contract with Manchester United ended in December 2006, we extended for one year and so far it has been the same every time.
“I wait each season to see where I stand, if everyone is happy and if I can still get motivated. But I know, because I always get older, it is increasingly likely that this will be my last season.
“In December, it will be clear how it goes. By then, I'll have clarity. It is a horrible dilemma. On the one hand I do not oversleep, I feel as good as a few years ago.”
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said previously that he did not expect the Dutch 'keeper to continue beyond 2010 - but he may be hoping to be proven wrong, given Ben Foster's recent efforts between the sticks.
Ben Foster's place in Manchester United goal threatened by Tomasz Kuszczak recall
With United facing a difficult trip to Stoke on Saturday, Ferguson is expected to make 11 changes to the team that started Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Foster, who has played every game this season because of Edwin van der Sar’s thumb injury, was always likely to be rested against Wolves, but his shaky performance against City has now placed his Premier League position in jeopardy.
Ferguson unusually criticised Foster in his programme notes on Sunday for failing to deal with Andrei Arshavin’s goal in last month’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal and, with two goals at the weekend down to the England goalkeeper’s indecision, Kuszczak could dislodge the 26 year-old at Stoke if he impresses against Wolves.
Van der Sar is two weeks from returning and former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel expects the 38 year-old Dutchman to reclaim his starting place.
Schmeichel said: “Ben Foster has done well this season and he certainly looks to be a very good goalkeeper, but I’m sure Edwin will be back in when he’s fit. The manager knows he’s the right guy for the team at the moment.”
Teenage forwards Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck are vying for the right to partner Michael Owen this evening and, after being billed during pre-season as first-team contenders by Ferguson, the United manager has urged the pair to focus on their club football.
He said: “I just think that they are away that much with the [international] youth squads they have forgotten where their real place is. I have also made them aware that you have to work to be successful.
“Welbeck has been called away so much with every single England squad I don’t know if he is our player or their player.
“Macheda has been away with Italy youth teams all the time. He has hardly been with us.”
Owen Hargreaves returns to United on Wednesday to step up his recovery from double knee surgery following months of rehabilitation in the United States.
Brown still upbeat as he starts out again for Manchester United
Wes Brown refuses to get downhearted at the way his injury curse returned just as he was starting to fulfil his enormous potential.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always viewed Brown as one of the most natural defenders he has worked with at Manchester United.
Yet, on too many occasions, the 29-year-old's progress has been halted. Cruciate operations on both knees, a broken ankle and a host of muscular problems have kept Brown on the sidelines for extended periods.
His hopes of hitting the ground running this term were wrecked by a thigh problem suffered during a pre-season game in Munich, condemning the likeable Mancunian to spend the start of this term warming the bench.
Although the defender has made three appearances, his only starts came against Burnley and Arsenal last month and he did not even make the bench for Sunday's amazing derby clash with City at Old Trafford.
So once more, Brown has a sense of making up for lost time when he features in tonight’s Carling Cup tie with Wolves.
“It was frustrating not to be able to build on where I was at the end of 2008,” he said.
“Getting injured for most of last season was not very pleasant but I am used to it I suppose.
“There is no point thinking 'Why me?' I just get on with it and try to be confident. I am fit at the moment. That is the main thing.”
Brown will not be the only United player eager to make an impression against Mick McCarthy's men with Tomasz Kuszczak, Darron Gibson and Michael Owen all likely to get starting roles.
Brown still upbeat as he starts out again for Manchester United
Wes Brown refuses to get downhearted at the way his injury curse returned just as he was starting to fulfil his enormous potential.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always viewed Brown as one of the most natural defenders he has worked with at Manchester United.
Yet, on too many occasions, the 29-year-old's progress has been halted. Cruciate operations on both knees, a broken ankle and a host of muscular problems have kept Brown on the sidelines for extended periods.
His hopes of hitting the ground running this term were wrecked by a thigh problem suffered during a pre-season game in Munich, condemning the likeable Mancunian to spend the start of this term warming the bench.
Although the defender has made three appearances, his only starts came against Burnley and Arsenal last month and he did not even make the bench for Sunday's amazing derby clash with City at Old Trafford.
So once more, Brown has a sense of making up for lost time when he features in tonight’s Carling Cup tie with Wolves.
“It was frustrating not to be able to build on where I was at the end of 2008,” he said.
“Getting injured for most of last season was not very pleasant but I am used to it I suppose.
“There is no point thinking 'Why me?' I just get on with it and try to be confident. I am fit at the moment. That is the main thing.”
Brown will not be the only United player eager to make an impression against Mick McCarthy's men with Tomasz Kuszczak, Darron Gibson and Michael Owen all likely to get starting roles.
Alex Ferguson warns Manchester United's young strikers
Sir Alex Ferguson has long used the Carling Cup as a testing ground for his budding young talents and two, in particular, will be under scrutiny as Manchester United begin their defence of the trophy at Old Trafford this evening.
Ferguson has high hopes for Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda, but the United manager has warned that the 18-year-old strikers need to get their priorities right as they prepare for their first run-outs of the season in the third-round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Macheda burst on to the scene at a vital stage last season, the Italian coming off the substitutes’ bench to score a decisive late goal on his debut in United’s 3-2 victory at home to Aston Villa in April and following that up with another winning strike away to Sunderland.
The Manchester-born Welbeck also impressed, scoring three times in eight starts in all competitions last season, including a powerful 30-yard strike on his league debut in the 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City at Old Trafford in November.
However, while Ferguson denied that the plaudits had gone to the heads of either player, the manager suggested that Macheda and Welbeck had lost some of their focus after regular call-ups to the Italy and England Under-21 squads respectively.
“Welbeck has been called away so much with every single England squad [the Under-19s and Under-21s] that I don’t know if he is our player or their player,” Ferguson said. “Macheda has been away with the Italy youth teams all the time and has hardly been with us, either. They are away that much with the youth squads, they have forgotten where their real place is.”
Michael Owen, fresh from his stoppage-time winning goal in the 4-3 victory at home to Manchester City on Sunday, is likely to start up front against Wolves with Macheda alongside him and Welbeck expected to offer support from the left wing.
Tomasz Kuszczak is expected to start in goal, with Ben Foster rested and Edwin van der Sar still recovering from a broken finger.
Kenyon: Chelsea broke Man United-Arsenal cartel
ZURICH — Outgoing Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said Monday that the best achievement of his six years at the club was breaking Manchester United and Arsenal's grip on the Premier League.
Speaking about Chelsea's titles in 2005 and 2006 -- the London club's first in 50 years -- Kenyon said: "We broke that cartel."
"We became a respected domestic club, we became a respected European club," Kenyon told football industry executives at a conference in Switzerland.
"We're now seen as a very serious European football club. We've got a squad that is as good as any, and better than most, in Europe."
Kenyon, who joined Chelsea in 2003 when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club, regretted that Chelsea had not yet won the Champions League, despite reaching the final in 2008.
But he said the club was on target to fulfill his aim of being an internationally recognized brand within 10 years.
"To do that you have got to ultimately, at some point in that period of time, win a Champions League because that elevates you to one of the very small group of clubs who have ever done that."
Chelsea announced last week that Kenyon, who previously worked at Man United, will relinquish his role next month.
One of his last official duties was to address the International Football Arena gathering Monday where UEFA-backed proposals for controlling the high spending of Europe's top clubs was prominent on the agenda.
Kenyon warned football not to turn away wealthy benefactors and praised Chelsea's Russian owner for backing the club.
"Roman Abramovich's investment has been fantastic for Chelsea. He's put money in and he's committed for the long term for the right reasons," he said.
"We've got no external debt. We're not leveraged. We've got secured ownership with secured financing. We've never shied away from the amount of money we have invested in the club "
Kenyon is a member of an influential panel which drew up the "financial fair play" policy, and will stay in UEFA president Michel Platini's inner circle despite stepping back from his club role.
Platini wants clubs to break even on football-related business if they want to play in the Champions League after 2012, and build up debt only to invest in stadiums, training grounds or developing young players.
Kenyon said Abramovich's infrastructure spending would "stand Chelsea in good stead for many years to come."
He also pointed to Chelsea's trading successes during his six-year stint.
"We've doubled turnover, we've increased our sponsorship revenues, we sell out now every game," Kenyon said.
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