Manchester United Vs. Manchester City Match Preview

Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Manchester United's trip to Chelsea as the make-or-break match for their Premier League title ambitions. United travel to Stamford Bridge on April 26 and, with both clubs and Arsenal still very much in the race, Ferguson believes the outcome of that game could be decisive.

Ferguson said: ``The games between the three clubs will be very important. We have to go to Chelsea in April and that could be the crucial game given their home record. ``We have Arsenal and Liverpool at home, and we still have to go to Blackburn, so there are some difficult games ahead for us and for the others - Arsenal have to go to Chelsea and come to our place.''

United's match against Manchester City on Sunday is a must-win game, even more so given the fact it will also be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. Ferguson hopes that the club have done all they can to ensure that the 3,000 City fans due to come to Old Trafford will respect the minute's silence before the game.

He added: ``Hopefully we are killing that problem by closing the gates five minutes before kick-off so people don't arrive late already singing and chanting, and then opening the gates afterwards. ``It was right to have a minute's silence as it is an especially poignant time for English football.''

Danny Welbeck is set to become the latest heir apparent to the Busby Babes with Ferguson set to thrust him into the team tomorrow. Ferguson has revealed that due to his shortage of strikers he may pick the 17-year-old forward to face City.

With Wayne Rooney suspended and Louis Saha injured, Ferguson is desperately short of forwards and Welbeck has impressed him hugely in recent weeks. The teenager has yet to make his competitive debut but did play for part of United's friendly in Saudi Arabia last month after which the manager announced he would stay with the senior squad for the remainder of the season.

Ferguson said: ``I may bring in the boy Welbeck, possibly from the start. ``The boy has a chance of making it. We think he has that temperament. ``I think we want to keep Cristiano Ronaldo as a wide player, we are short up front, Louis Saha is not back and we could have played Ryan Giggs through the middle but I think Welbeck has got the temperament.''

Ferguson added there were many comparisons between Matt Busby's team of 1958 and the latest generation of United stars. He added: ``They had so many young players then who were so exciting and I think the young players we have these days are equally exciting, doing the same thing Manchester United have done in the past.''

Both teams will be wearing special shirts to commemorate the disaster, in which eight United players died as well as former City goalkeeper Frank Swift, who was working as a sports reporter. Ferguson does not expect City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to spring any surprises though he will try to predict who will replace the absent Brazilian playmaker Elano.

``Sven has made sure they are defensively tight, in the main it has been one striker and I expect he will do that, most teams do at Old Trafford,'' added Ferguson. ``He will have to replace Elano so we will try to work that one out but he is generally consistent with his selection so we should know what to expect.'' Read more...

Boss brings in Welbeck

Eighteen year-old striker Danny Welbeck is the surprise inclusion in United's squad to face Manchester City.

The highly-rated teenager has been tipped for a bright future by Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks, and the United manager revealed on Friday that Welbeck's first team promotion could be fast-tracked.

"I'm bringing the boy Welbeck in," he told his pre-match press conference. "We think he's got the temperament."

Welbeck's inclusion in the squad has been prompted by the suspension of Wayne Rooney and, after a hectic midweek programme of internationals, Sir Alex is waiting on the fitness of a number of players who picked up knocks with their countries before naming his side.

"On the injury front, it's a bit difficult to say at this moment in time," he said. "I have to be clear about everyone's fitness before I start thinking about the team. Seven players played 90 minutes for their respective countries, so it's difficult to assess where I am.

"We're going to have to wait until tomorrow to get a real idea of how they are. Some have come back with knocks, some have travelled far distances like Ji-sung Park to Korea and back, so hopefully by Sunday we'll have a team we want."

Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are suspended for Sunday's match after picking up five bookings each, while Brazilian playmaker Elano and Croatian defender Vedran Corluka are also banned for City. Read more...

Derby Kit Unveiled

The special retro kit to be worn by United for Sunday's Manchester derby has been unveiled.

The strip, which has been specially designed without kit manufacturer or sponsorship logos, is based on the kit worn by the Busby Babes in the 1950s - in recognition of this week's 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

Also abandoned are modern squad numbers, with United's 16-man squad set to don numbers 1 through 16 on Sunday after gaining special dispensation from the Premier League.

Chief executive David Gill said: "The sincere thanks of the Club go to AIG and Nike for their wholehearted backing for the kit change, and to the Premier League for allowing us to mark the event in a unique way."

Like United, opponents Manchester City will don a retro strip, free of sponsorship, especially for Sunday's match. A black ribbon motif, bearing the words ‘Manchester Remembers,’ has also been incorporated.

Both teams will observe a minute's silence and every fan attending will receive a special memento. Read more...

Reds have a duty to perform

In the week of the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, and with United embroiled in an absorbing title race, Sir Alex Ferguson feels his players have a duty to perform in Sunday's Manchester derby.

The United manager is hopeful that his side can use what has been an emotional week as a source of inspiration, as Sven-Goran Eriksson's side make the short trip to Old Trafford.

"We hope it's a motivation, absolutely," Sir Alex told his pre-match press conference. "I think the players have got a responsibility on Sunday to do well. They always have, but the expectation levels may be a bit higher on Sunday.

"We have to be aware it's a derby game and stay focused on playing. Every game's a must-win. We're going for a league title, that makes every game a must-win, regardless of who we're playing."

Since Denis Law's matchwinning strike for the Blues in 1974, the Blues haven't won at Old Trafford in 27 attempts - but such stats only mask the fact that City invariably raise their game against United, and Sir Alex is wary that logic counts for nothing in derbies.

"It's an excellent record at home," he admitted. "We have a good home record in general, but it is particularly good against Manchester City.

"But we do know in derby games that anything can happen. The first game earlier this season was an amazing result. I'm saying to my players 'well done', when we've lost 1-0.

"City had one strike at goal that was deflected, but that's football. It can do these things to you. It can produce miracles and you just have to accept it can happen. Hopefully it doesn't happen Sunday." Read more...

Sir Alex appeals to City fans

Sir Alex Ferguson admits that Manchester City have done everything within their power to honour the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster. Now he hopes that the Blues' fans will follow suit.

City will sport a special one-off kit devoid of branding and sponsorship on Sunday, and have written to their fans travelling to Old Trafford imploring them to observe a pre-match minute of silence.

The anniversary's significance and the inevitable high emotions surrounding the match will undoubtedly prompt intense media scrutiny towards behaviour in the stands, and Sir Alex is hopeful that respect will prevail.

"There's been a lot of speculation about Manchester City fans and how they're going to behave," he told his pre-match press conference. "But I think the club themselves have done their very best to ensure that it's a peaceful day

"Hopefully we can enjoy a good game of football without any disruptions to it. I don't think there will be any problem with our fans, I just hope City fans listen to their own club and make it a game we all want to remember. I think that's very, very important."

Once the minute's silence has been completed on Sunday, attentions will quickly switch to the three points on offer and Manchester's bragging rights.

Sir Alex is hopeful that his side can take the points and the plaudits, courtesy of a display reminiscent of the great Sir Matt Busby side at the heart of the game's poignancy.

"I hope we win the game and I hope we put on a really good performance," he said. "The two go hand-in-hand on this occasion, given the history of the Munich disaster and the way the team played.

"I think we've got equally exciting players at our club at the moment, young players who are doing the same thing Manchester United have done in the past, tried to entertain and excite. We basically ask the same things these days, just go and play." Read more...