Saha bides his time

Louis Saha admits he was frustrated after being left out of the starting line-up to face Sporting Lisbon, but he says Sir Alex Ferguson made the right decision for the team.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, still waiting for his first Reds start since February, was praised by Sir Alex this week for his physical presence and ability to lead the line, his qualities playing off perfectly against the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rooney was given the lone striker role in the 1-0 win over Sporting, but Saha will hope he is named in the first eleven when Chelsea visit Old Trafford this weekend.

"Everyone gets frustrated if they're named on the bench in a Champions League game," he said. "Difficult choices always have to be made and I think the manager made the right decision. It was a difficult game on a difficult pitch so it was a great win in the end."

The Reds have become masters of the 1-0 scoreline in recent weeks, and Saha would gladly take a fifth such result in a row on Sunday. "That's the main thing. We need to get points and that's what we're doing now," he said. "We've got the confidence back and we want to keep getting results because that is what will make us champions." Read more...

Man Utd's Nani: Playing Sporting Lisbon was special

Manchester United winger Nani admitted it was a "special feeling" as he helped defeat his old team Sporting Lisbon 1-0 last night.

"It is a very special feeling, it was here that I played great games and I developed. It was very good to come back and see this stadium full, with two teams who play good football," said Nani.

"When I knew that I was starting, I felt a little nervous, as any player would who returns to face their first team.

"I was confident that when I and Cristiano Ronaldo entered the field for the first time we would be applauded, but also that as the game went on, we would be booed. It is normal, this is football." Read more...

Bento delighted for Man Utd pair Ronaldo, Nani

Sporting Lisbon coach Paulo Bento hailed old boys Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani after defeat to Manchester United last night.

"The way the fans welcomed them did not surprise me," said Bento. "We were hoping that the reception for Cristiano and Nani was going to be good. Sporting knows how to treat their former stars and show their gratitude to those who did important things for the club.

"I was a teammate of one (Ronaldo) and a coach of the other and I feel equally pleased with my influence on both their careers."

He added: "Obviously I didn't want this result. I would've preferred we'd won 3-2, with Ronaldo and Nani both scoring." Read more...

Anderson: Scholes helping me settle at Man Utd

Anderson was delighted to taste action for Manchester United as a second-half substitute in last night's victory over Sporting Lisbon.

The former Porto star was booed by Sporting fans and said: "It happens at every club, it's normal in football. It went for two or three minutes and later it died down."

Asked about how he was settling at Old Trafford by the Portuguese media, Brazil international Anderson added: "It is going well. I was late arriving because of the Copa America and soon after I had an injury. But I am calm, because I know I will get chances to show what I can do.

"It is a dream to play in this dream. Cristiano (Ronaldo) has helped me, as has (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes. Everyone has helped." Read more...

Kerlon agent urges Man Utd to try again

The agent of Corinthians starlet Kerlon has revealed Manchester United came close to signing the youngster last season.

"His name is in the notebooks of every major European club," Mino Raiola told calciomercato.com. "Before his knee injury, we were close to Manchester United. Inter Milan were also interested and Juventus like him a lot.

"Whichever club wants him will have to pay around £15 million - a figure that I expect an English club capable of spending. Kerlon is a talent on the same level as Lionel Messi (of Barcelona) and will soon explode."

Read more...