Nemanja Vidic returned against Blackburn but Rio Ferdinand says he has every confidence in Gerard Pique should the young Spaniard be required to step in against his old club on Wednesday.
Pique, a versatile defender who can also push into midfield, arrived at Old Trafford from Barcelona in July 2004 after spending seven years in the Catalan club’s junior ranks.
First-team opportunites at United have been limited, although with Vidic recently sidelined with a knee injury the 21-year-old partnered Rio Ferdinand in the heart of the Reds’ defence.
And Ferdinand saw enough to convince him Pique has what it takes to perform consistently at the top level.
“Gerard Pique is a class player,” Ferdinand told ManUtd.com.
“Remember, he spent a whole season on loan at Real Zaragosa [in 2006/07] and after that spell there were a few clubs interested in him because of his quality.
"But the manager wanted to keep him, which shows how good he must be.
“There’s absolutely no question that Gerard Pique is a very good player. He’s extremely technically sound and he’s comfortable with the ball at his feet.”
Press reports have linked Pique with a possible move back to Spain at the end of this season, but Ferdinand is adamant there’s a future for the defender at Old Trafford.
“Like anybody, Gerard wants to play regularly and he might not have played as often as he’d have liked this season,” he said.
“But the manager showed great faith in him by playing him against Arsenal recently.
"He slotted in terrifically in that match. It was a massive game and he showed he could play on the big stage when it was necessary.
“That game was really significant to the title race, so he would have had a confidence boost by being selected for that match. He’ll know just how highly the manager rates him.”
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Monday, April 21, 2008
Sir Alex: Show your colours
Sir Alex Ferguson is calling on United supporters attending the Barcelona home game on Tuesday 29 April to make Old Trafford a "sea of red and white".
The Reds boss believes fans have a real part to play in the remainder of this season and says that, with the help of United’s support, the home leg of the Champions League semi final against the Barca could be a memorable occasion.
Many of Old Trafford’s greatest atmospheres have come in European games – Barca ’84, Porto ’77, Inter ’99, Roma last season – and Sir Alex is urging fans to help add Barcelona 2008 to that list.
“There have been so many occasions over the years, we’ve always referred to it time and time again, of the crowd being the 12th man in the way they create such great encouragement,” the boss told MUTV.
“If it’s like that on that night with our supporters bringing their red and white scarves it should be fantastic. We want to make sure it’s a real sea of red and white, and if we can do that we have a big, big chance [of reaching the final].”
We know that not all fans are keen on wearing a scarf to the match but we’re calling on all Reds to make an exception for what is the biggest game of the season so far.
Sir Alex believes the backing of the fans really gives the players a lift – so show your colours, exercise your vocal cords and let’s roar the lads to Moscow.
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The Reds boss believes fans have a real part to play in the remainder of this season and says that, with the help of United’s support, the home leg of the Champions League semi final against the Barca could be a memorable occasion.
Many of Old Trafford’s greatest atmospheres have come in European games – Barca ’84, Porto ’77, Inter ’99, Roma last season – and Sir Alex is urging fans to help add Barcelona 2008 to that list.
“There have been so many occasions over the years, we’ve always referred to it time and time again, of the crowd being the 12th man in the way they create such great encouragement,” the boss told MUTV.
“If it’s like that on that night with our supporters bringing their red and white scarves it should be fantastic. We want to make sure it’s a real sea of red and white, and if we can do that we have a big, big chance [of reaching the final].”
We know that not all fans are keen on wearing a scarf to the match but we’re calling on all Reds to make an exception for what is the biggest game of the season so far.
Sir Alex believes the backing of the fans really gives the players a lift – so show your colours, exercise your vocal cords and let’s roar the lads to Moscow.
Read more...
Carrick hails fan force
Michael Carrick says it wasn't just Carlos Tevez who the Reds had to thank for rescuing a point at Ewood Park, it was as much United's 8000-strong support who ensured the Reds' title destiny remained in their own hands.
There was a constant cacophony of noise coming from the away end throughout Saturday's tea-time clash and Carrick insists the supporters played a crucial part in helping the Reds claim a vital point in the 1-1 draw.
"The fans were unbelievable again and they probably sucked the ball in for us in the end," he told MUTV.
"They're always great at Old Trafford, but when we come away from home the fans are something else."
The Reds now travel to Chelsea safe in the knowledge that even a defeat would keep them top of the pile.
On the flipside, three points for the Reds would all but secure the title and Carrick says winning at Stamford Bridge is upper most in the players' mind.
"We're in a good position," he insisted. "We know we've got a good cushion over Chelsea, but we're not thinking about going there and losing or drawing. We want to win and cement our place as the best team in the country."
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There was a constant cacophony of noise coming from the away end throughout Saturday's tea-time clash and Carrick insists the supporters played a crucial part in helping the Reds claim a vital point in the 1-1 draw.
"The fans were unbelievable again and they probably sucked the ball in for us in the end," he told MUTV.
"They're always great at Old Trafford, but when we come away from home the fans are something else."
The Reds now travel to Chelsea safe in the knowledge that even a defeat would keep them top of the pile.
On the flipside, three points for the Reds would all but secure the title and Carrick says winning at Stamford Bridge is upper most in the players' mind.
"We're in a good position," he insisted. "We know we've got a good cushion over Chelsea, but we're not thinking about going there and losing or drawing. We want to win and cement our place as the best team in the country."
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Robbo backs Reds
Former United captain Bryan Robson is tipping the Reds' fine form to take them past Barcelona and into this year's Champions League final.
Robson, who recently agreed to take on an ambassadorial role at Old Trafford, concedes that the Catalan giants will ask questions of Sir Alex Ferguson's side, but feels that United are on the crest of a wave going into the season's climax.
"They’ll be tough games because Barcelona have got outstanding players," Robson told Manutd.com. "They’ve got the likes of Eto’o, Messi, Ronaldinho and Henry, and they’re a great attacking team.
"But I’m sure United can trouble their defence with the forwards they’ve got. I think there will be goals in the games because of the style of the two teams, and I’ve got United down as favourites for the way they’re playing at the moment."
With the Reds five points clear at the Premier League summit, Robson is hopeful that they will have wrapped up another league title before Barcelona's second-leg visit to Old Trafford, allowing Sir Alex Ferguson to focus on masterminding a Double.
"Hopefully United will have tied up the Premier League before the second leg has come around. If they win both then it would definitely be deserved, after the way they’ve played," said Robson.
"In every game they've played in Europe this season, they've deserved the result they've got. In the league they’ve been playing some great football, and you can tell how dominant they’ve been just by looking at the goal difference and points tally they’ve racked up."
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Robson, who recently agreed to take on an ambassadorial role at Old Trafford, concedes that the Catalan giants will ask questions of Sir Alex Ferguson's side, but feels that United are on the crest of a wave going into the season's climax.
"They’ll be tough games because Barcelona have got outstanding players," Robson told Manutd.com. "They’ve got the likes of Eto’o, Messi, Ronaldinho and Henry, and they’re a great attacking team.
"But I’m sure United can trouble their defence with the forwards they’ve got. I think there will be goals in the games because of the style of the two teams, and I’ve got United down as favourites for the way they’re playing at the moment."
With the Reds five points clear at the Premier League summit, Robson is hopeful that they will have wrapped up another league title before Barcelona's second-leg visit to Old Trafford, allowing Sir Alex Ferguson to focus on masterminding a Double.
"Hopefully United will have tied up the Premier League before the second leg has come around. If they win both then it would definitely be deserved, after the way they’ve played," said Robson.
"In every game they've played in Europe this season, they've deserved the result they've got. In the league they’ve been playing some great football, and you can tell how dominant they’ve been just by looking at the goal difference and points tally they’ve racked up."
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Sunday, April 20, 2008
United play down Fergie retirement talk
Manchester United have played down reports that Sir Alex Ferguson is finally set to call time on his illustrious career in 2009.
The date of Ferguson's retirement has frequently been the subject of intense speculation since his initial U-turn six years ago.
Ferguson himself is not interested in discussing the matter, maintaining the stance that as long as he is enjoying the job and remains fit and healthy, he will continue.
Only once has he expressed any irritation over the subject being an issue of public debate, when he accused those suggesting he might quit of trying to railroad him into retirement. Since that time, which came more than 12 months ago, the 66-year-old's inquisitors have tended to steer clear of the matter altogether.
And United have responded to the new rumours in their usual manner.
While they accept one day someone is bound to get the date of Ferguson's departure correct, they insist no concrete plans are in place for the Scot to end his remarkable stint at Old Trafford, which is now three years into its third decade.
'We get this every year,' reflected a club official.
It would hardly seem the sort of topic Ferguson has any time to consider at the present time.
Following last night's late equaliser at Blackburn, United head into Saturday's table-topping clash with Chelsea three points ahead of their nearest rivals, boasting a better goal difference and just three matches to go.
However, before that, the Red Devils face the mouth-watering prospect of a Champions League semi-final with Barcelona on Wednesday, United's first visit to the Nou Camp since their epic victory over Bayern Munich in 1999, which remains Ferguson's only triumph in the competition.
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The date of Ferguson's retirement has frequently been the subject of intense speculation since his initial U-turn six years ago.
Ferguson himself is not interested in discussing the matter, maintaining the stance that as long as he is enjoying the job and remains fit and healthy, he will continue.
Only once has he expressed any irritation over the subject being an issue of public debate, when he accused those suggesting he might quit of trying to railroad him into retirement. Since that time, which came more than 12 months ago, the 66-year-old's inquisitors have tended to steer clear of the matter altogether.
And United have responded to the new rumours in their usual manner.
While they accept one day someone is bound to get the date of Ferguson's departure correct, they insist no concrete plans are in place for the Scot to end his remarkable stint at Old Trafford, which is now three years into its third decade.
'We get this every year,' reflected a club official.
It would hardly seem the sort of topic Ferguson has any time to consider at the present time.
Following last night's late equaliser at Blackburn, United head into Saturday's table-topping clash with Chelsea three points ahead of their nearest rivals, boasting a better goal difference and just three matches to go.
However, before that, the Red Devils face the mouth-watering prospect of a Champions League semi-final with Barcelona on Wednesday, United's first visit to the Nou Camp since their epic victory over Bayern Munich in 1999, which remains Ferguson's only triumph in the competition.
Read more...
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