Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United | Match Report
April 23, 2008
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty as Manchester United held Barcelona in a cagey Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Nou Camp.
Gabriel Milito needlessly threw his hands in the way to block a Ronaldo header in only the second minute.
Barcelona - Manchester VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
But the Portuguese star wasted the opportunity by sidefooting wide.
Barcelona dominated the game and substitute Thierry Henry almost caught out United keeper Edwin van der Sar in the dying stages.
United will be rightly pleased with their defensive display, especially having lost Nemanja Vidic before the game to a stomach problem.
But they may live to regret Ronaldo’s early miss from the spot when the two sides meet again at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
They could not have imagined a better opportunity to grab an away goal and silence the home fans early on.
When the ball was played into the centre, Cristiano Ronaldo went up for the header and Milito stuck out an arm to block.
Barcelona protested Milito’s innocence but referee Massimo Busacca rightly pointed to the spot.
The Argentine defender was, however, given a let off when Cristiano Ronaldo opened his body and screwed his spot-kick wide of the upright.
Barcelona responded by taking a grip on the game, probing in and around the visitors’ area.
But United’s reworked backline - with Wes Brown at centre-back and Owen Hargreaves filling in at right-back - held firm.
Van der Sar was largely untroubled, except for the problems he caused himself with a couple of errant clearances.
United had vowed to attack but they were forced to play a containing game as Barcelona played possession football, with Lionel Messi at the heart of everything.
Wayne Rooney found himself almost in a defensive role and Ronaldo had little say in the game, being forced to pick the ball up deep and wasteful with the odd free-kick opportunity that came his way.
He was almost handed a chance to atone for his early penalty miss when he latched on to an errant and dangerous pass from Andres Iniesta.
Cristiano Ronaldo looked set for a run on goal but Rafael Marquez got his body in the way to shepherd the ball back to Victor Valdes and United’s penalty appeals came to nothing.
Samuel Eto’o had his first sight of goal just before half-time, but after cutting inside Rio Ferdinand his effort was charged down by Wes Brown.
Barcelona continued to dictate play after the break, with United fortunate that Eto’o chose not to go to ground in the box after skipping past Ferdinand.
When he squared he could not find a team-mate and a minute later the Cameroon striker shot poorly into the side netting after a neat move involving Messi and Deco.
Michael Carrick could have proved himself an unlikely hero as he did brilliantly to weave his way into the box, but he then wasted his good work by firing into the side-netting rather than square for a team-mate.
Messi was replaced by Krkic Bojan and though they continued to enjoy the bulk of the ball, they looked short of a cutting edge without their most potent weapon.
Henry was handed 15 minutes to show his worth and he looked keen to impress as he fired in a shot that Van der Sar managed to parry to safety.
However, there was to be no dramatic ending to a game that promised so much after such a splendid start.
Barcelona - Man Utd | Cristiano Ronaldo: We Can Prove We’re The Best
April 22, 2008
Cristiano Ronaldo believes the end of the season will provide “a definite answer” to whether the current Manchester United team is the best ever.
Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed recently that this was probably the best United squad “in terms of completeness” he has had under his command since taking over at Old Trafford in 1986.
Ronaldo also believes the current crop of players is packed with talent, but the Portuguese superstar believes the team needs to prove it over the next few weeks as they chase a Premier League and Champions League double.
“It makes me feel good. He (Ferguson) has been at the club for 17-20 years, he has signed great players, incredible goalscorers,” Ronaldo told Spanish newspaper Sport.
“I also think that this is the most talented team, but you can only confirm this at the end of the season, seeing what the team has won.
“There is a lot of talent, I think that we are going along the right path.
“Game after game we have shown that we have a fantastic team, with a lot of talent and magnificent players, but at the end of the season we will be able to provide a definite answer if this team is the best Manchester United side of all time.
“If we win the Champions League or the Premier League we will have a better idea.”
Ronaldo was speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
United are favourites heading into the tie, but Ronaldo is taking nothing for granted against a Barca side who were European champions just two years ago.
“At this stage there are no easy games. They are all very important matches where the pressure is very high for both teams and you need the maximum concentration. Anything can happen,” said Ronaldo, who is looking forward to locking horns with Barca ace Lionel Messi.
“Messi is a very good player. It is a pleasure to play with players like him. We seem similar - we always want to score and win.
“Our objective is to win as quickly as possible. We will play to find the best result in the Nou Camp. I want to win.”
On a personal level, Ronaldo admits he is thoroughly enjoying life at United, who he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
“I feel very proud to represent this club, for whom I have been playing for five years,” he explained.
“I feel privileged to have played so many games at this stadium for so many years. It is a great honour for me to show my ability on the pitch, in front of the 60,000 or 70,000 people who go there every weekend, it is amazing.
“I am at a club which allows me to work well and win all the competitions that we participate in. I want to win both trophies with the team and individually.”
Ronaldo is enjoying a remarkable season at United and has netted 28 league goals already as the Red Devils look to defend their Premier League title.
That form has seen the 23-year-old emerge as one of the favourites to walk off with a host of individual awards this year, but the flying winger insists his main aim is to help United to silverware.
“My objective at this point is to win all the competitions that I am still playing in,” he added.
“The Premier League is a reward for the whole year but they are all very important. I am not obsessed with the best player award. What I want is to play well and to always win.”
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Manchester United | Match Report
April 20, 2008
Carlos Tevez’s late equaliser kept Manchester United on course for the Premier League title as they earned a crucial point at Blackburn.
Blackburn Rovers - Manchester United VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Roque Santa Cruz threatened to blow the race for the championship wide open with a calm finish after 21 minutes.
And Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel kept United at bay almost single-handedly with a string of stunning saves.
Tevez’s 88th minute header gives United a three-point lead over Chelsea before their visit to Stamford Bridge.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made four changes ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona - with Nemanja Vidic returning after a three-game absence because of a knee injury and Tomasz Kuszczak stepping in for Edwin van der Sar in goal.
It contributed to moments of uncharacteristic uncertainty at the back, with Kuszczak having to rush out to block Jason Roberts from point-blank range after six minutes.
Tevez wasted a glorious chance to give United the lead three minutes later when he failed to apply the finishing touch to an inviting cross from Wayne Rooney.
And Blackburn made them pay after 21 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen’s throw led to a mix-up between Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, leaving Santa Cruz to slide in his 20th goal of the season from 12 yards.
David Bentley then forced Kuszczak to turn over his 25-yard shot as Blackburn grew in confidence after taking the lead.
Rooney demonstrated the lack of discipline that still dogs his game when he picked up a deserved yellow card six minutes before the interval.
He was still seething after being refused a penalty by referee Rob Styles when he tumbled under a challenge from Steven Reid.
And it was all too inevitable that Rooney would pursue retribution almost instantly, launching a dangerous two-footed tackle on Christopher Samba that was lucky to be only punished with a booking.
There was more frustration after 42 minutes when Ronaldo rose to meet Ryan Giggs’ corner, only to see Friedel produce a fine diving save.
It was Giggs’ final contribution as he was replaced by fit-again Nani during the interval.
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United, predictably, upped the tempo after the break and they were desperately unlucky not to draw level after 63 minutes when Ronaldo sent an angled long-range drive against an upright.
But they survived a scare 10 minutes later when Pedersen drove into the United area and flashed the ball across the face of goal with no-one able to make contact.
Rooney appeared to be struggling with a hip injury, but he was still a threat and tested Friedel with a powerful low shot.
Blackburn somehow survived again with nine minutes left when Rooney set up Ronaldo, who was denied by Johann Vogel’s tackle. Tevez turned the loose ball towards goal, but Friedel got a hand to his effort and then snatched the ball off the goal-line.
And United looked to be denied a penalty when Michael Carrick’s goal-bound header clearly struck Brett Emerton on the arm, but once again their claims fell on deaf ears.
Blackburn were under fierce pressure, and once more Friedel was the hero with six minutes left, saving brilliantly from Rooney when he was clean through.
Friedel was turning in an inspirational performance, and he somehow denied substitute John O’Shea from almost on the line as United laid siege to Blackburn’s goal.
But he could do nothing as United finally got the equaliser they deserved with two minutes left.
Nani’s corner was flicked on by Paul Scholes and Tevez headed in from six yards to send the United’s hordes wild in celebration.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Manchester United could still lose
April 17, 2008
Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that his club could still yet fail to win the Premiership this season. United have a commanding five point lead at the top of the table.
“Wigan holding Chelsea puts us in a good position but in my experience in life you don’t take things for granted,” he said.
“We’ve got some difficult games ahead - Blackburn, West Ham, Chelsea and Wigan. We have three away games and one at home so we have to do a job.
“Because we have difficult games left, there is still a lot to play for and it could still go down to the wire.
“We could lose to Chelsea and we could lose all our remaining games. It’s a very difficult league these days.”
Red Devils end Arsenal’s hopes | Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal
April 14, 2008
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 38th goal of the season and Owen Hargreaves’s free-kick lifted Manchester United to a 2-1 win over Arsenal and a step closer to retaining their Premier League title on Sunday.
Defeat at Old Trafford left Arsenal contemplating a third successive season without silverware.
The Gunners are nine points adrift after a disastrous run of just two wins in 13 games that has effectively cost them any chance of honours at home and in Europe this term.
It was a point conceded by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who, when asked on Sky Sports about his side’s title hopes after this defeat, replied: “Yes we are out.
“We played with quality and spirit, and I’m very proud of our performance. What can you do?,” the Frenchman added.
Arsenal had been five points ahead in February but, despite their slump, Wenger said bad fortune rather than poor performance had been the Gunners’ greatest problem.
“The last two months, we have been not very lucky - and you could see that again,” Wenger insisted. “I believe this team is good enough.”
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose team still have to go to second-placed Chelsea on April 26, added: That was a big big game for us and we’ve come through it.”
Emmanuel Adebayor’s 48th minute opening goal had threatened to blow the title race wide open as Arsenal responded bravely to their devastating midweek Champions League defeat by Liverpool.
But Ferguson’s side responded to move six points clear of second-placed Chelsea with just four games remaining.
Any suggestion that Arsenal were still smarting from their painful defeat at Anfield was quickly overruled by a determined start that saw the visitors take control of the game without managing to turn their supremacy into goals.
Ferguson, asked what it was like to watch the game, replied: “Torture.”
The Scot added: “The quality of that game was outstanding, you won’t get a better game this year. You couldn’t ask for more from a team than Arsenal have produced today and we still managed to win it.”
Outspoken Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who last week vented his fury at being left on the sidelines by Wenger, made some fine saves after a wrist injury to Manuel Almunia gave him a rare start.
His afternoon’s work that blemished only by the keeper’s questionable positioning for Hargreaves’ match-winning free-kick.
Before then Arsenal had appeared to be on course to revive their title challenge when they finally took the lead three minutes into the second-half through Adebayor.
The chance came after Robin van Persie rescued a fluffed free-kick routine and sent a left wing cross into Edwin van der Sar’s six-yard box where indecision between the keeper and centre-back Rio Ferdinand allowed Adebayor to score, although replays indicated he’d handled, not headed, the ball home.
Just as against Liverpool, Arsenal’s challenge was to hang onto the lead but - echoing the Anfield clash - they conceded a penalty within minutes to allow Ronaldo to level.
William Gallas’s clumsy handball presented the Portuguese with the spot-kick and Ronaldo kept his nerve to beat Lehmann twice after being ordered to retake the first effort after Park Ji-Sung had encroached into the box.
“That was some pressure wasn’t it,” Ferguson said of Ronaldo’s penalty.
Ferguson signalled his intention to go for victory by immediately introducing Anderson and Carlos Tevez and the move almost brought immediate reward when Tevez flashed a 30-yard drive inches wide.
“When Arsenal scored, it forced my hand,” Ferguson explained.
Arsenal responded by hitting the post when Brown inadvertently deflected Gael Clichy’s cross but the decisive moment of the game came in the 72nd minute when Patrice Evra was brought down by Gilberto Silva.
The position appeared tailor-made for Cristiano Ronaldo but instead it was Hargreaves who curled the ball over the wall and inside Lehmann’s right-hand post.
Tevez goal steers United into semis | Photos
April 10, 2008
Manchester United FC can start preparing for a fascinating-looking UEFA Champions League semi-final meeting with FC Barcelona after Carlos Tévez’s second-half header completed the conquest of AS Roma.
The Premier League leaders may call Old Trafford the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ but for Roma it is a place of nightmares. Humiliated here last season and beaten again on their return in this term’s group stage, their faint hopes of a comeback from last week’s 2-0 loss effectively vanished altogether when Daniele De Rossi sent a 30th-minute penalty high over the crossbar.
Tévez’s goal merely confirmed the inevitable, leaving United to look forward to their fifth last-four berth under Sir Alex Ferguson, who, given his plethora of forward options, must fancy their prospects of a first final appearance since 1999.
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- AS Roma’s Daniele De Rossi reacts after missing a penalty as Manchester United’s Mikael Silvestre looks on during their Champions League quarter-final, second leg football match at Old Trafford in Manchester
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- Manchester United’s Owen Hargreaves (top) is tackled by AS Roma’s Philippe Mexes during their Champions League quarter-final, second leg football match at Old Trafford in Manchester
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- Manchester United’s manager Alex Ferguson (R) speaks with Wayne Rooney during their Champions League quarter-final, second leg football match against AS Roma at Old Trafford in Manchester
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- Champions League Manchester United-AS Roma Tevez
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- Champions League Manchester United - Roma Gary Neville returns
Manchester United 1-0 AS Roma 10.04.08 | Match Report
April 10, 2008
Carlos Tevez capped an industrious display to steer Manchester United into the semi-finals of the Champions League for a second successive season.
The Argentina striker put the game out of Roma’s reach by scoring in the 70th minute at Old Trafford to ensure a 1-0 victory.
It was his fourth goal of the European campaign and his 17th of the season and set up a clash with Barcelona in the last four, after the Spanish club defeated Schalke 1-0 at the Nou Camp.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson decided to leave Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney on the bench with a crucial Premier League match to follow against Arsenal on Sunday.
It looked a bit of a gamble but it paid off and Owen Hargreaves was outstanding on his return to the side.
Hargreaves had a reputation as a defensive midfielder for Bayern Munich. But he played more as a second striker and looked the part.
He was recalled along with Mikael Silvestre, Anderson, Ji-Sung Park and Gerard Pique to emphasise the depth in quality in the squad.
United dominated the first half and should have extended its 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Italy.
However Roma squandered a great chance of pulling a goal back when it missed a penalty in the 30th minute.
The home supporters were keen to see United extend its lead and Ryan Giggs released Tevez in the 67th minute but he had strayed into an offside position.
The goal eventually came in the 70th minute thanks to Tevez’s fourth goal in the Champions League and his 17th of the season.
He peeled away from his marker to head home following a cross from Hargreaves to put United 3-0 ahead on aggregate.
Middlesbrough 2-2 MU 06.04.08 | Match Report
April 7, 2008
Afonso Alves sent an icy blast through Manchester United’s hopes of winning the title with a superb double to earn Middlesbrough a 2-2 draw.
Sunday’s result at The Riverside sees United’s lead over Chelsea down to three points - and they still have to go to Stamford Bridge.
The Red Devils could point to several chances apart from Cristiano Ronaldo’s 37th goal of the campaign and an equaliser from Wayne Rooney, but there was an unusual frailty in defence and Boro were well worth a point.
Perhaps the absence of Nemanja Vidic upset the balance - John O’Shea was never comfortable and Rio Ferdinand also limped off in the second half.
Ronaldo (10) tapped home after good work from Michael Carrick, but two cool finishes from Alves (35 and 56) had United rocking.
But Rooney (74) levelled from substitute Ji-Sung Park’s pull-back from the right.
AS Roma 0-2 MU Champions League 01.04.08 | Match Report
April 2, 2008
Cristiano Ronaldo’s purple patch continued as he scored in Manchester United’s comfortable win in Rome.
Roma dominated the opening exchanges, but were stunned when the Portuguse winger opened the scoring with his 36th goal of the season.
Then to heap more misery on the Italian title-chasers Wayne Rooney extended United’s lead in the second half after a defensive mix-up in the six-yard box.
It was a marvellous show of composure from the English champions, who went into the match on the back of six straight Premier League wins.
Given they had taken four points off the Serie A club in the group stages this season, it was little surprise they approached this match with confidence.
And although the Italians had the bulk of possession in the first half they found their opponents hard to break down.
Park Ji-Sung’s inclusion in the United side was a surprise and he got into a good position after 12 minutes only for Christian Panucci to take the ball off his toes as he shaped to shoot.
The hosts hit back and Mirko Vucinic should have tried his luck on goal but opted instead to pass to Alberto Aquilani and the move broke down.
This was a good spell for the home side and Mancini saw his effort deflected to safety by Nemanja Vidic. Then Panucci headed over the top from Rodrigo Taddei’s corner.
Vidic then needed treatment after landing badly following an aerial challenge with Vucinic.
The Serbian seemed to have twisted his knee and was forced to come off.
He was replaced by John O’Shea, who partnered Rio Ferdinand at the back.
Ronaldo was anxious to improve on his 35-goal tally but not surprisingly was finding himself closely marked.
However, he broke free of his shackles in the 39th minute to make the breakthrough.
Rooney released Scholes on the right and he delivered a delicate chip into the area.
Ronaldo ran from deep and headed the ball beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Doni for a brilliant solo effort.
The 23-year-old was left dazed in the incident but recovered quickly to United’s relief.
However, the Giallorossi could have equalised in the three minutes later but Vucinic dragged his shot wide of the post.
Roma started the second half brightly and Vucinic released Max Tonetto but he sent his effort over the bar.
Substitute Ludovic Giuly then got clear down the right only to send a poor cross into the grateful arms of Van der Sar.
However Van der Sar needed to look alert to make a fine one-handed save from Vucinic’s header.
This was a difficult time for United and Vucinic was proving to be a bit of a handful in the absence of Francesco Totti.
United, however, made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Park headed the ball into the area at the back post.
It resulted in a mix-up between Doni and Panucci with Rooney on hand to knock the ball home.
Then Ronaldo skipped away from his marker only to see his effort come back off the post.
With a two-goal cushion, United were knocking the ball around well and Michael Carrick came close in the 71st minute, his effort going narrowly wide.
Rooney had put in a hard shift and was replaced by Carlos Tevez with six minutes remaining as Roma looked dispirited.
Tevez saw his effort go wide then Ronaldo rattled a superb volley narrowly over the bar as United finished the match in style.
Manchester United 4-0 Aston Villa 29.03.08 | Match Report
March 30, 2008
Wayne Rooney returned to goalscoring form by grabbing a brace as Manchester United cruised to a 4-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
First half strikes from Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez put United in control before Rooney added a brace in the second period.
The Portuguese winger put United in the lead with the most audacious of flicks (17).
After Villa failed to deal with a United corner, Ronaldo flicked the ball behind his standing foot, through the legs of Martin Laursen and into the Villa net.
Ronaldo turned provider on 33 minutes, crossing for Tevez to head home from close range.
Wilfred Bouma deflected Ronaldo’s volley onto the bar before Rooney rounded Carson to grab United’s third (53).
The England striker grabbed the fourth, sweeping home to round off a one-touch move involving Michael Carrick, Tevez and Ronaldo (70).
