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| Wednesday, May 23, 2007 |
| Manchester United 0 - 1 Chelsea |
 Didier Drogba scored during extra time Saturday to give Chelsea a 1–0 victory over Manchester United in the first FA Cup final at rebuilt Wembley stadium. Among the biggest let-downs of a final where tired legs ensured there was no hope of lofty pre-match expectations being met by England's top two, Drogba produced his 33rd and final goal of an incredible season at just the right time as a penalty shoot-out seemed certain. Chelsea now has four cup titles and joins Arsenal (1993) and Liverpool (2001) in becoming the third club to win both cups in the same season. United did their best to rally but after a draining season, in which they extended every sinew to finish champions, they had nothing left to give as two teams too tired to reach the Champions League final did finally fall on the ropes exhausted. Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba, widely accepted as the best two players in the Barclays Premiership, were virtual bystanders. United manager Ferguson still has five FA Cup titles to go with his nine in the Premier League, and Manchester United’s record of FA Cup titles stays at 11.
"It’s disappointing. It was a big game simply because of Manchester United’s history in the FA Cup," Ferguson said. "It’s exceptional, it’s very good. We’ve lost two FA Cup finals now (in three years) and haven’t scored a goal. But today it was just about tiredness. I think that’s a genuine reason." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 4:07 AM |
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| Thursday, May 17, 2007 |
| Mourinho Wants Cup Classic |
 Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hopes this weekend's FA Cup final at Wembley can be one of the greatest ever and he has called Ferguson to help make a classic one. The Portuguese is preparing for his first FA Cup final, and wants to make the event as spectacular as possible.
"Everybody has a responsibility in the final, everybody - me, Sir Alex, the players, referee Mr (Steve) Bennett and his assistants," Mourinho said.
"I will be very sad and disappointed if the final is not a good event, a fair event, without problems, with a good winner and proud loser.
"I will be very sad and disappointed if the final is not a good event, a fair event, without problems, with a good winner and proud loser.
"I want to win but Man Utd want to win. Chelsea gave a good example of how to behave when we lost the Premiership crown.
"I would be disappointed if some of the players were diving or trying to get others red-carded, I would be very disappointed with that.
"It is up to us all to make it a sporting event to remember. If both teams can have an attacking and positive spirit, we can make the game a real final - a final the new Wembley deserves.
"I have a big desire to make it a big sporting event, a very good game of football - that is the message I am passing on to my players.
"Play with happiness, an open mind and heart and really enjoy it. I believe the other side have similar feelings to ours."
Mourinho admits he still has many decisions to make regarding the final make-up of his side.Injuries have already robbed him of striker Andriy Shevchenko, midfielder Michael Ballack and defender Ricardo Carvalho, and there are doubts over John Obi Mikel, Arjen Robben and Ashley Cole. |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 12:05 AM |
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| Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
| Ronaldo Collect Another Award |
 Cristiano Ronaldo will collects collect another award at the Football Writers' Association 60th anniversary dinner in London tomorrow night as the Footballer of the Year Award. The 22-year-old Manchester United winger has already collected a plethora of accolades after helping drive his team towards the Barclays Premiership title, and potentially an FA Cup double.Ronaldo was earlier this week named the United fans and players' player of the year, as well as scooping both the awards from the Professional Footballers' Association - the first man to win each category in the same season since Andy Gray in 1977.United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will also attend the gala event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel to honour one of his star men, who recently agreed a new five-year deal with the Old Trafford club.
Chairman of the FWA, Paul Hetherington said: "Cristiano has picked up every award in sight - which is an indication of the superb season he has had.
"The football writers' have clearly got their choice right as the Footballer of the Year, which shows there have been no agendas carried over from the World Cup last summer.
"Even though Cristiano has already been presented with many awards, we believe tomorrow night will be be a very special occasion for him."
Hetherington added: "This is the original of all awards to honour the outstanding footballer of the season.
"It is our 60th anniversary - we started off with a famous winger in Sir Stanley Matthews as our first winner and now our latest recipient is also a winger blessed with breathtaking skills."
Cristiano Ronaldo signed by United in a £12.2million deal during August 2003, before the season is out could yet get his hands on more silverware, with the FA Cup final against Chelsea set to be played at the new Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
"I am at a great club, with great players. We should be looking to win something every year," said Ronaldo.
"This season is not over yet either. We still have a chance to win the double and, while you can never say who will win any match, the confidence in the team is high and I believe we have a good chance." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 11:05 PM |
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| Saha Ruled Out Of FA Cup Final |
 Ferguson has confirmed that United striker Louis Saha has been ruled out of Saturday's FA Cup final with Chelsea because of a knee injury. He has been struggling with a combination of knee and hamstring problems and his last appearance came as a substitute in the final 13 minutes of second leg Champions League semifinals at San Siro.
"Louis is out," said Ferguson.
"He picked up the knee injury in Milan and we did another scan on Monday to identify the problem for clearly.
"With Louis now, it is a matter of deciding what to do next. We will be making a decision next week but we are considering an operation."
Saha has 13 goals for United this season. Manchester United is seeking to win the Premier League and FA Cup titles in one season for the first time since 1999. |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 10:49 PM |
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| Tuesday, May 15, 2007 |
| Gill Promises Funds |
 Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill has promised Sir Alex Ferguson funds to improve his squad for next season. Ferguson has celebrated his ninth league title in charge of United but Gill insists there is no chance of complacency creeping in at Old Trafford.
"You can't just assume the success you've achieved will continue," Gill told Manchester United Radio.
"You have to always look to improve and invest, and that's what we're going to do. We've got a great team who have done very well and we'll be looking to tweak it here and there.
"Manchester United has been - and always will be - a club that buys players as well as giving youth its chance. And that's what we'll see next year and for many years to come."
Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves tops the list of players linked with a summer move, with Dimitar Berbatov and Gareth Bale also reputed targets for the Red Devils manager. Only players who improve the quality of his squad will arrive at Old Trafford over the summer that Ferguson Insist.
"Any time you bring a player into a winning team you have to measure whether it's going to improve you," he said. "We're doing that at the moment with some players.
"Assessing what we've got is hopefully right, and if we do bring someone in they'll contribute and compliment the team or the squad."
Gill also paid tribute to the work done by the Glazer family, revealing their expertise off the field has helped facilitate success on it.
"The Glazer family understands the sports business and know that success on the pitch is key to success off the pitch," said Gill.
"Before they'd taken over there was a lot of talk about what the ownership structure was going to be and we had the disciplines of the Stock Exchange to follow.
"I think now, with the private ownership, we have stability and can concentrate on delivering a great team on the pitch." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 6:24 AM |
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| Manchester United 0 - 1 West Ham United |
 West Ham United secured their Premiership safety with a single goal victory by the Argentinan striker Carlos Tevez over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Carlos Tevez scored a minute into first-half injury time when he neatly chipped over Van Der Sar from close range after Bobby Zamora's pass deflected its way through and West Ham ahead 1 - 0. The Hammers, not for the first time this season, have Carlos Tevez to thank for getting them all three points and the result was enough for Alan Curbishley's side to survive. If Manchester United ended the 2006-07 season as Barclays Premiership champions, the campaign will forever be remembered for Tevez, whose mere presence in the famous claret and blue continues to cause upset and rancour among the Hammers' fellow relegation scrappers. Ferguson left Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes on the bench but on second half Ferguson send they on. Until the end of the game, West Ham still ahead and Manchester United winning Premiership party start.
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| posted by j4ckpot @ 5:20 AM |
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| Thursday, May 10, 2007 |
| Chelsea 0 - 0 Manchester United |
 Before game, Chelsea players saluted Manchester United when The Red Devils ran out onto the field at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday as the new Premier League champions. It was even more satisfying for the United players because they had to do precisely the same thing in recent seasons, first for title-winning Arsenal three years ago and then for Chelsea in 2005. Manchester United is celebrating its ninth Premier League title in 15 seasons under manager Alex Ferguson, who has captured a total of 20 major titles in his reign at the club.Chelsea held Manchester United to a 0 - 0 draw. The two clubs will also meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 19 and, with nothing at stake in terms of the league championship, Ferguson and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho decided to rest several starters. Already with several players, such as leading scorer Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack missing through injury, Chelsea left out goalkeeper Petr Cech and Frank Lampard.United rested Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs and had Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes on the bench.
Chinese striker Dong Fangzhou, making his first United appearance, stole the ball in the opening minutes and lost it without a shot. United's second-team goalkeeper, Tomasz Kuszczak, then blocked Shaun Wright-Phillips' shot from close range. Chelsea pushed for a goal in the second half, with Wright- Phillips, Salomon Kalou and Lassana Diarra all testing Kuszczak with long-range shots. |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 4:36 AM |
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| Wednesday, May 9, 2007 |
| Mourinho Apologises To Ronaldo |
 Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to newspaper because Mourinho had apologised for the personal attack criticising his upbringing. Chelsea boss had been quoted as describing the dual PFA Football and Young Player of Year is a “liar” and then he attack Ron again as "ill-educated, disrespectful and immature" after Ronaldo had said his compatriot could never admit a mistake. Sir Alex was angry with his Chelsea counterpart’s bashing of Ronaldo.But United scheduled to visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Mourinho has apologised for his comments and problems between the two Portuguese has ended.
"Mourinho has apologised to me and now I have no problem with him," Ronaldo told the Daily Mirror.
"I am pleased that this has happened. As far as I am concerned, the whole thing is now in the past." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 2:35 AM |
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| Monday, May 7, 2007 |
| Man City 0 - 1 Man United |
 Manchester United took a big move winning the EPL title by beating Manchester City with 1-0.
On 34th minutes Cristiano Ronaldo get penalty after he was fouled by City defender Michael Ball and on 80th minutes have a penalty kick chance after ball was brought down by United defender Wes Brown but goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved United from equalize score.Scored 1-0 for United until end of the game. United can win the English title if two–time defending champion Chelsea does not beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. If Chelsea wins, it could be down to Wednesday’s match between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge. United ahead with 88 points and Chealsea 80 points.
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| posted by j4ckpot @ 9:30 AM |
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| Saturday, May 5, 2007 |
| Manchester United Freshen Up For Derby |
No new injury concerns for Fergie and he will freshen up his squad for Saturday's Manchester derby at Eastlands. Rio Ferdinand, Louis Saha, Alan Smith and Patrice Evra could all be recalled, and Ferguson is weighing up changes after the midweek defeat to Milan.
“There are no injuries from Wednesday night’s game,” said Fergie.
"There are some players who are available for that, in that respect - Rio Ferdinand, obviously, Louis Saha, Alan Smith, Patrice Evra, of course, is available after he was suspended on Wednesday."
"We are just assessing what the players are like today. It's difficult to assess how players are after a European defeat, and also playing on Wednesday then a lunchtime kick-off.
"The fact it's a derby game, it's difficult to assess what the right thing to do is as they all want to play in a derby game, so I will have to make good decisions on that.
"At least for the first time in a few weeks there are some options to freshen it up if I want to."
United will get the EPL title if they win on Saturday's game.
"Historically, in my time here, we have had bad defeats and have recovered very, very well.
"No one likes to lose, particularly in the semi-final of a European tie.
"The players know in a derby game that City will want to put one over us to try and prevent us from winning the league, but these are all things, in a way, that will make it a bigger incentive for us." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 2:04 AM |
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| Thursday, May 3, 2007 |
| Sir Alex Praise Milan |
 Fergie praise Milan in there 3-0 defeat on second leg semi final at San Siro and admitted that the best team reach Champions League final. United did contribute to their own downfall somewhat, but Ferguson also chose to point to an impressive display from Milan. The Old Trafford manager, however, did rue the 'cheap' goals given away by his side.
"I think Milan got their goals cheaply and that's disappointing - at that level you can't do that. They were sharper and quicker to the ball and pressed really well. I think they've been good winners. We were on the back foot all the time and found it difficult.
"I think they were better prepared physically, they were resting players and it can make a difference.
"I don't think we lacked in a physical sense, but they were certainly sharper and quicker to the ball and pressed very well.
"I think they were good winners."
In fairness, Fergie felt his team never really looked like they were going to score - they were on the back foot all the time and found it difficult.
"In the 15 minutes after half-time we looked like we were getting some joy and momentum, maybe a half chance and a couple of shots blocked and we needed that goal to get some momentum."
"I think we just have to give credit to them. They were well prepared and I think that made a difference."
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| posted by j4ckpot @ 2:26 AM |
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| Wednesday, May 2, 2007 |
| AC Milan 3-0 Manchester United |
 United brought a one-goal lead into the second leg of their Champions League semifinal clash with AC Milan at Old Trafford but at San Siro Milan embrassed Ferguson squad in every way and winning 3-0. Milan created two dangerous scoring chances, when the goal came, after only 10 minutes, the wonder was that it had taken so long, Clarence Seedorf headed a ball back to Kaka's and the Brazilian drilled it into the corner of the net. Second goal for milan came when Heinze and Vidic make mistake withhold ball in danger area and slipped as vidic tried to clear and Seedorf lashing the ball into the same bottom corner of the net. Milan lead the aggregate. On second half time, United finally summoned a spell of pressure. In the 78th minute Milan sealed the victory, Alberto Gilardino alone in the middle of the United half and 3-0 for Milan until the end of game and Milan go to final meet Liverpool after crushed Chealsea before. This is not a best performance of United because their played were timid, they had no rhythm, they looked like they were playing scared, they rarely resembled the team they usually are. |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 8:29 PM |
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| Tuesday, May 1, 2007 |
| Vidic And Rio Travel To Milan |
 Defensive duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both flew out to Milan ahead of the Reds' Champions League semi-final second leg clash on Wednesday evening at San Siro. Sir Alex has been without his first-choice defensive pairing recently, while Gaby Heinze and Wes Brown have stepped into the breach. Vidic broke his collarbone against Blackburn in the 4-1 win over Blackburn on 31 March and has been unavailable since, Ferdinand aggravated a groin injury playing for United in their recent 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough. However, Ferguson was optimistic enough over both players to name them in his travelling party.
"It is too early to say whether they will play," said Boss.
"They will travel and we will assess the situation after training."
Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes - who famously missed the 1999 Champions League final - are one caution away from a ban, although Sir Alex will hope the trio remain fully focused on winning United to what would be only their third European Cup final.
Louis Saha could be named as a substitute despite his recent hamstring problems, but the continued absence of Gary Neville with an ankle injury is a blow. Neville may be ruled out for the rest of the season.
United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Fletcher, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Eagles, Saha, Smith, Solskjaer, Rooney, Dong.
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| posted by j4ckpot @ 3:42 AM |
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