Vidic canvassing support

As the United players ready themselves to defend the Reds' English and European crowns, Nemanja Vidic says the supporters have a big part to play in the long season ahead.

When the Reds really needed backing during the Double trophy-winning campaign last term - Blackburn and Barcelona in April immediately spring to mind - United's army of supporters never went missing.


"The support we had was terrific," says Vidic. "In some games, it was as if the fans were deciding how the match would end."

After Carlos Tevez's late equaliser against Blackburn, Vidic commented that United's away supporters had willed the ball into the back of the net.

But it wasn't just on the road that United fans found their voice. The celebrations that met Paul Scholes' strike against Barcelona and, more importantly, the final whistle, are a spine-tingling recollection for any fan there on the night.

The message from Vidic is for fans not underestimate the part they can play, especially at Old Trafford.

"We always have fantastic support away from home," he added. "And at Old Trafford the fans have started to put real pressure on the opposition - they made it very intimidating for other teams.

"The fans are great. I hope they're as vocal this season."
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Keano gives up on Evans

Sunderland manager Roy Keane appears to have conceded defeat in his bid to take United defender Jonny Evans to Wearside in a permanent deal.

The 20-year-old Northern Ireland international impressed during two loan spells with the Black Cats, helping them attain Premier League status in 2006/07 and preserve it last term.

Sir Alex Ferguson has always resisted any temptation to permanently part with the promising young centre back, however, even in the face of rumoured multi-million pound bids from Keane.

For the Sunderland boss, United's sale of Gerard Pique to Barcelona represented the end of his chase for Evans.

"My mindset was always that Jonny was going to go back to United," said Keane. "When United sold Pique we were pretty sure they would hold on to Jonny."

Evans featured during United's pre-season campaign, and is expected to remain part of Sir Alex's first team plans as the Reds start the defence of the Double this weekend.
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Spurs set record fee for Berbatov

White Hart Lane chief Daniel Levy was left incandescent by claims from United that they were on the verge of competing a deal for the Bulgarian hitman, before Tottenham had even received a formal offer. Now Spurs will demand a British record fee in excess of the £32million United agreed to complete the full transfer of Carlos Tevez. While Tottenham had put a £30m price tag on Berbatov's head, they had been privately willing to settle for £28m.
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Fighting talk from Terry

Bullish Chelsea skipper John Terry says United "don't have another level to go to" and insists the Blues are ready to raise their game this season.

Sir Alex's misconstrued comments about ageing players earlier this summer have ruffled a few feathers at Stamford Bridge. The Reds boss said that, in comparison to United's young and developing players, Chelsea's older squad will find it difficult to see improvement from last season.

Terry hit back regardless. "Sir Alex realises we weren't too far away from them at the very top of their game," he countered. "I don't think they've got another level to go to.

"Take nothing away from United, they've been fantastic. But they have a lot of players in their team who have hit peak form in the last two years. Every year we're going to give them a good go for their money. We're no longer a nearly team."

When you consider the leading lights in United's attack - Ronaldo (23), Rooney (22), Tevez (24) - and emerging talents Anderson (20) and Nani (21), it would seem to contradict Terry's claims that United will not see yet further progress. Even Vidic, Hargreaves, Park, Carrick, Evra, Foster and Fletcher are 27 or younger.

Ultimately, Terry knows the emphasis is on Chelsea to up their game: "We need to raise the bar. At the end of the day last season we wasn't good enough," he says. "It still hurts me to see pictures of United lifting those trophies.

"We need to set ourselves big targets: to win the Premier League, the FA Cup, get to the final of the Champions League and win it. Those are the targets." You can bet United's wiser, now more experienced, young guns will have something to say about that.
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United close in on Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov expects to be a Manchester United player within the next 48 hours. The Bulgarian striker has told his Tottenham team-mates that he is on his way to Old Trafford. The £25million deal ends a year-long pursuit of the player by United boss Alex Ferguson. As we reported on Saturday, United were confident the deal would be done by the end of this week. Now the Champions hope to unveil him as their new signing in time to be eligible for their big kick-off against Newcastle on Sunday. Berbatov, 27, feared the deal might be off when reports surfaced of possible United moves for Thierry Henry at Barcelona and Valencia’s David Villa. But Berbatov was always Ferguson’s No1 one target. He has had three bids rejected — last summer, in the New Year and at the end of this season.
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...