Sir Alex : We Were Vindicated

After his side demolished Schalke 6-1 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-final, the jubilant boss said: "It's fantastic for the club (to be in a third final in four years). I've said it many times, we should have done better in Europe over the years.

"I think we're getting closer to that. I think this team can win the cup. I think it's a team full of great desire and determination. These qualities, allied to their ability, will help them at Wembley."

Sir Alex acknowledges that Barcelona - conquerors of United in the respective clubs' last final, in 2009 - are a different prospect to Schalke, indeed to any other team in the world currently.

"I think they (Barcelona) are definitely, without doubt, the team of the moment. There's no question about that. They play fantastic football. It's a pleasure to watch them play. Their semi-final (against Real Madrid) was unfortunate in that we expected a lot better from both sides."

Turning back to his own team, the manager admitted he'd lost some sleep on the eve of Wednesday's win over Schalke, as he pondered his line-up. He made eight changes from the side that started at Arsenal and given the stage of the competition, this was seen in some quarters as a gamble.

"I woke up about four times last night and picked different teams. But they did me proud. When I analysed each individual who was playing, I said to myself, 'This is a Manchester United player. Why can't I play him?' The fact it's a semi-final and such an important game does create a certain bit of doubt in your mind as to whether you're doing the right thing but I'm glad we were vindicated.

"We're in the final now and we'll prepare properly. We've got a big game on Sunday, so let's look forward to that."

Sir Alex recognises, of course, that a European Cup final at Wembley has special meaning for United, given that the Reds first won the biggest prize in club football there back in 1968. Could that be an omen?

"Let's hope so. This club has created destiny many times and its fate follows things like that."

@Manutd.com

Valencia Back To Boost United

Antonio Valencia is making rapid progress in his recovery from a broken ankle and damaged ligaments and could be back in the first-team fold at the end of February.

Sir Alex Ferguson has described the winger's impending return as "a big boost" to United's hopes of clinching silverware come May. The Ecuadorian suffered the injury against Rangers in the Champions League match at Old Trafford back in September.
It was initially feared he would be missing for the rest of the season. That timescale was then brought forward after a successful operation, but he is still ahead of schedule.
"Antonio is doing well now, he has started his running programme and he's out with the physios every day, which is a big step forward," confirmed the boss. "He's been given the all clear from the doctors, so he's under our complete control now. That's great news."
The prospect of having Nani on one wing and Valencia on the other flank is an exciting one. "I think possibly towards the end of February he should be back in the first team squad," added the boss. "That's a big boost to us."
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United-Arsenal:More Respect Now

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is desperate to be fit enough for the clash against Arsenal, so as to help his side register a victory over old foes that, he says, they have now come to respect.

The 31-year-old centre-half is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and is a doubt for the encounter, though there have been encouraging words from manager Sir Alex Ferguson that the defender will be back in time for Monday night's game.
And Ferdinand, for his part, wants to put pressure on the north London club by beating them, with inspiration coming in the form of United's defeat to the Gunners in the 2005 FA Cup final.
Ironically, that was the last trophy that Arsene Wenger's side won, as they have since gone without silverware in the past five years.
"The 2005 FA Cup final, when we battered them but lost on penalties, was one of the worst moments of my career," Ferdinand told The Telegraph.

"But then we have had some very good times against them. They have had us when we would have beaten anyone in the world, like in the 2008 Champions League semi-final [when United beat Barcelona].
"There used to be a genuine rivalry bordering on dislike between us. You saw that when we had a couple of fracas in the tunnel. Now it is more respect."
But looking beyond the game against the Gunners, Ferdinand insisted that he would like to remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of his career.
"I want to finish my career at United," he said. "I have two years on my contract, and if the manager sees that I am fit enough, a four year deal at that age would be great."
After missing the start of the season due to a knee injury that he suffered on the eve of the World Cup finals in South Africa, subsequently ruling the England captain out of the tournament, Ferdinand's return to fitness has seen him rocket up the Castrol Rankings. The centre-back is now rated as the 94th most influential player in Europe's top five leagues.

Football Without Sir Alex ?

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho insists that "only a special manager" can fill Sir Alex Ferguson's shoes at Manchester United when the Scot calls it a day.

The Red Devils boss will be 69 years old in December, and there has been speculation concerning who could replace him in the Old Trafford hot-seat after his retirement.

And Mourinho is not surprised that several managers have been linked with the potential job opening at the club. There have been reports that Everton manager David Moyes and Barcelona's Pep Guardiola have both been linked with the position.
However, the Portuguese coach does not envision Ferguson walking away from United in the near future.

"Football without Alex Ferguson? I’m not sure that will happen any day soon," Mourinho told The Mirror.

"The man lives and breathes football and Manchester United is his club.

"His hunger and desire to win the biggest trophies remains so I cannot see the day he considers walking away from football approaching.

"Like Real Madrid, the Manchester United job is special and only a special manager is good enough to take the job on if and when it does become available.

"Of course, jobs like that don’t become available every day so the interest will be vast. Like Madrid, it’s a job everyone will want."

Real were one of the clubs linked with a move for Wayne Rooney after the forward had expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford. But the 25-year-old recently did a u-turn and signed a five-year contract with his employers.

And the former Chelsea boss insists that the outcome was never going to be any different.

He said:"Could I ever see him leaving? Never. He is Manchester United through and through and he is working with one of the best coaches in football. He’s a great player but he belongs to United. I wasn’t surprised to see him stay, I expected it.

"There was no way Alex Ferguson would have considered selling him, not to anyone. If you take the decision to leave a club like United there are not many options open to you. Few clubs come any bigger."

For now, however, Mourinho remains intent on guiding the Bernabeu boys to silverware.

"Madrid is a special club and came to me at special time in my career," he said. "After winning my second Champions League and after my success at Chelsea and Inter, the Real job and the challenge to be successful was very appealing.

"I came to a team that had had no success for two years and faced the challenge of a very special Barcelona team and some of the great clubs in Europe in the Champions League.

"Despite everything and all the success I have enjoyed, my desire to continue winning remains. I love a challenge and this is a huge challenge for me.

"Madrid didn’t win the Champions league for 10 years, the Spanish Cup for 19 years and haven’t won the Championship for three. So there is a great deal of work to be done. I love the pressure and that is immediate at a club like this because failure doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone."

Mourinho also believes that he has about 15 years of management left in him, insisting that retirement is not something he will consider anytime in the near future.

"I still have at least 10 or 15 years left in football management," he said. "Naturally a day will come when my circumstances change and I will want to lead a quieter life.

"But it is not something I will be giving any consideration too for a long time to come."


@mirrorfootball

Focused Amid A Storm

Sir Alex Ferguson wanted more of a cutting edge from his team against Bursaspor but, under the circumstances, a victory was top of the agenda after a tough week at Old Trafford.
It was far from a classic, but the boss was pleased to collect all three points to move two points clear at the top of the Group C. “A win was important, it was important for the fans,” he told MUTV. "The players worked hard and there was good unity among them and a good atmosphere in the dressing room.

"I think we could have pushed on better. That’s why I put on Chicharito to try and get more impetus in the striking part. But I think we did our job well in the sense we kept our intensity and we controlled the whole match. They had one shot with two minutes of the match remaining. So we can take credit for that, the players worked really hard. But we could have done better in the final third.”

Nani had earlier given United the lead after seven minutes with a thunderbolt strike. “He is getting better, that is the great thing,” added the boss “He’s added a good goal ratio to his game. He’s got great feet, and courage, and he’s quick. He loves playing, he loves training. A lot of these things are coming together for the lad and we’re pleased at that.”

But throughout the match there was a cloud looming over United. Wayne Rooney released a statement hours before kick-off reiterating his stance that he wants to leave. Rooney’s reasoning centred around ambition. Sir Alex smiled and responded: “Is it 30 trophies I’ve won, or what?” Asked if it was important not to let the saga affect morale, he added: “Absolutely, we will put it to bed tomorrow.”


@MANUTD.COM

Valencia 0 Man U 1

Hernandez had the final say.




pic : manutd.com