Patrice Evra is the next United player in line to sign a new extended contract, and the Reds full-back says he couldn’t be happier at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old has been one of the Reds’ outstanding performers this season.
His current deal expires in around 18 months, but Evra is keen to extend his stay in Manchester.
"I love the club and I am really enjoying my football," he told MUTV.
"I've got one season left on my contract after this one, but Manchester United know my situation. I'm just concentrating on playing, I'll leave the rest to my agent and the club."
Evra modestly, almost reluctantly, accepts praise for his performances this term.
"I work hard every day," he said. "Football for me is like a pyramid and you have to always try and stay at the top. I need to continue my work. Everyone at the club has really helped and I have no excuse not to do well."
Not only is Patrice proving popular on the pitch, his personality makes him a well-liked figure off it among team-mates and with the manager - except when international matters are at stake.
"I remember when France lost to Scotland, when I got back to Manchester the boss and Fletch absolutely killed me! Now it's my turn," Patrice joked.
Evra helped France secure qualification to Euro 2008 alongside Italy, at the expense of Scotland.
However, he says he would have gladly seen Scotland go through, so long as it wasn’t at the expense of les bleus.
"I would have been happy if France and Scotland had qualified,” he added.
"They did very well in the qualifying games. Conceding the goal after just two minutes against Italy made it difficult, but the atmosphere was absolutely amazing at Hampden Park.
"I was certain that Scotland would beat Italy, but football can be like that."
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Monday, November 26, 2007
Double boost for United
Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic are both fit to face Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night in United's penultimate Champions League Group F match.
The United pair, who were key absentees in the 1-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, both trained with the rest of the squad at Carrington on Monday and Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed they are both in contention for a starting berth against the Portuguese side.
"Vidic and Ronaldo are both fit," revealed the United boss at his pre-match press conference. "They'll be in the squad for Tuesday night."
Sir Alex also hinted that Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea and Tomasz Kuszczak may start, but insisted he won't be making too many changes.
United have won all four matches in Group F so far and are assured of a place in the last 16. But Sir Alex will be keen to secure top spot and a potentially easier first knockout round draw.
The Reds boss is expected to go for a mixed selection against Sporting, who must better AS Roma's result in Kyiv to keep alive there hopes of progressing as a group runners-up. Read more...
The United pair, who were key absentees in the 1-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, both trained with the rest of the squad at Carrington on Monday and Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed they are both in contention for a starting berth against the Portuguese side.
"Vidic and Ronaldo are both fit," revealed the United boss at his pre-match press conference. "They'll be in the squad for Tuesday night."
Sir Alex also hinted that Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea and Tomasz Kuszczak may start, but insisted he won't be making too many changes.
United have won all four matches in Group F so far and are assured of a place in the last 16. But Sir Alex will be keen to secure top spot and a potentially easier first knockout round draw.
The Reds boss is expected to go for a mixed selection against Sporting, who must better AS Roma's result in Kyiv to keep alive there hopes of progressing as a group runners-up. Read more...
Tevez to go permanent?
Sir Alex Ferguson wants to extend Carlos Tevez's stay at Old Trafford.
The energetic forward has become a popular figure at United since joining in the summer.
The 23-year-old's existing loan contract will expire at the end of next season. But Sir Alex is hopeful of making the deal permanent, and he believes the fee is a bargain.
"There is no question about his long-term future here. David Gill has spoken to his agent and told him we are very happy with him," Sir Alex told Setanta.
"The fee is in place. I won't tell you what it is but it is still cheap. I want to make his happen. He has impressed everyone with his appetite for the game.
"He'll get me 15 goals this season and what's more they will be important goals." Read more...
The energetic forward has become a popular figure at United since joining in the summer.
The 23-year-old's existing loan contract will expire at the end of next season. But Sir Alex is hopeful of making the deal permanent, and he believes the fee is a bargain.
"There is no question about his long-term future here. David Gill has spoken to his agent and told him we are very happy with him," Sir Alex told Setanta.
"The fee is in place. I won't tell you what it is but it is still cheap. I want to make his happen. He has impressed everyone with his appetite for the game.
"He'll get me 15 goals this season and what's more they will be important goals." Read more...
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Ref frustrates Ferguson
Sir Alex was frustrated by refereeing decisions during United’s 1-0 loss at Bolton Wanderers.
The Reds' boss was sent to the stands at half-time after confronting Mark Clattenburg about what he described as Bolton's over-physical approach.
“There were late tackles and I can’t believe some of the things that were going on,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “I thought there were two or three very dodgy tackles and you hope the referee is strong in those situations. We do play our football and it was important to keep playing football. But you need the protection and we did not get that.
“I made my feelings known to the referee and he did not like it. Some referees don’t like the truth and so I had to spend the second half upstairs.
“I think we improved in the second half, in terms of our passing. And the movement was better. It was difficult to break Bolton down because after they went 1-0 up at their home ground, they just defended."
Gerard Pique was the subject of criticism on post-match phone-ins after missing a header In the lead-up to Nicolas Anelka’s 11th-minute strike. But Sir Alex refused to single out the young Spaniard for blame.
“You don’t like losing goals and Bolton are famed for their set-piece play. It was something we discussed before the game - we said, 'If you handle that we should be okay'. But we didn’t and it was a good start for them.” Read more...
The Reds' boss was sent to the stands at half-time after confronting Mark Clattenburg about what he described as Bolton's over-physical approach.
“There were late tackles and I can’t believe some of the things that were going on,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “I thought there were two or three very dodgy tackles and you hope the referee is strong in those situations. We do play our football and it was important to keep playing football. But you need the protection and we did not get that.
“I made my feelings known to the referee and he did not like it. Some referees don’t like the truth and so I had to spend the second half upstairs.
“I think we improved in the second half, in terms of our passing. And the movement was better. It was difficult to break Bolton down because after they went 1-0 up at their home ground, they just defended."
Gerard Pique was the subject of criticism on post-match phone-ins after missing a header In the lead-up to Nicolas Anelka’s 11th-minute strike. But Sir Alex refused to single out the young Spaniard for blame.
“You don’t like losing goals and Bolton are famed for their set-piece play. It was something we discussed before the game - we said, 'If you handle that we should be okay'. But we didn’t and it was a good start for them.” Read more...
Giggs: We Must Move On
Ryan Giggs says it's important United don't dwell on Saturday's disappointing result against Bolton Wanderers.
The Reds couldn't find a way back from Nicolas Anelka's 11th-minute strike and United now linger three points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.
"We're obviously disappointed," Giggs told MUTV, "but we have to move on now. We have a game [against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League] on Tuesday and we have to go out and perform. We need to get back on track as soon as possible. We've done it before and we have to do it again."
Giggs struggled to put his finger on why United struggled at the Reebok Stadium, although he was quick to dismiss suggestions the Reds missed Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
"We've played without them this season plenty of times and got results. I don't know what it was today. We just didn't perform the way we know we can, the way we were performing before the international break."
United forced Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen into just one save during the game, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession.
"We didn't create many chances and that's disappointing," Giggs said. "We got ourselves into good positions but were lacking some composure in the final third. In tight games like this you have to punish their mistakes on capitalise on your own good play – we didn't do that." Read more...
The Reds couldn't find a way back from Nicolas Anelka's 11th-minute strike and United now linger three points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.
"We're obviously disappointed," Giggs told MUTV, "but we have to move on now. We have a game [against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League] on Tuesday and we have to go out and perform. We need to get back on track as soon as possible. We've done it before and we have to do it again."
Giggs struggled to put his finger on why United struggled at the Reebok Stadium, although he was quick to dismiss suggestions the Reds missed Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
"We've played without them this season plenty of times and got results. I don't know what it was today. We just didn't perform the way we know we can, the way we were performing before the international break."
United forced Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen into just one save during the game, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession.
"We didn't create many chances and that's disappointing," Giggs said. "We got ourselves into good positions but were lacking some composure in the final third. In tight games like this you have to punish their mistakes on capitalise on your own good play – we didn't do that." Read more...
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