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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Boss says starlets will shine
Sir Alex Ferguson is confident his United starlets will not be fazed by the task ahead of them on Wednesday night at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Reds' boss has brought a decidedly youthful squad to Rome in a bid to provide the club's next generation with some vital Champions League experience after United assured themselves of top spot in Group F with victory over Sporting Lisbon two weeks ago.
The likes of Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson and Jonny Evans are all set to be handed a starting berth against Roma on Wednesday night. And despite suffering an embarrassing Carling Cup defeat against Coventry City in September, Sir Alex is confident they won't let him down this time round.
"We don't want to send teams out here to get humiliated or embarrassed, that's for sure," he insisted at his pre-match briefing in the Italian capital.
"We expect any Manchester United team we field to be 100 per cent committed and I'm sure you'll see that on Wednesday night."
The Reds will be up against a Roma side Sir Alex believes is much stronger than last season. The United boss was also full of praise for the way the club have stood by manager Luciano Spalletti following the humiliating 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford in April.
"When a coach in Italy loses a game 7-1, normally the guns come out and you are dead before morning," declared the Reds' boss.
"But they trusted Luciano and stood by him. He has repaid that trust because he is an excellent coach and I am very pleased his team is doing well now."
The Reds lost out 2-1 to the Italians in the first leg of last season's quarter-final, an occasion which was marred by clashes between supporters and local police. Sir Alex remains hopeful there will be no similar instances on Wednesday night.
"Everyone who loves the game does not want to see the incidents we saw last year," he said. "Roma don't want it and Manchester United do not want it. The reputations of both clubs are very important.
"We dearly hope there are no problems and some lessons will have been learned from last season." Read more...
The Reds' boss has brought a decidedly youthful squad to Rome in a bid to provide the club's next generation with some vital Champions League experience after United assured themselves of top spot in Group F with victory over Sporting Lisbon two weeks ago.
The likes of Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson and Jonny Evans are all set to be handed a starting berth against Roma on Wednesday night. And despite suffering an embarrassing Carling Cup defeat against Coventry City in September, Sir Alex is confident they won't let him down this time round.
"We don't want to send teams out here to get humiliated or embarrassed, that's for sure," he insisted at his pre-match briefing in the Italian capital.
"We expect any Manchester United team we field to be 100 per cent committed and I'm sure you'll see that on Wednesday night."
The Reds will be up against a Roma side Sir Alex believes is much stronger than last season. The United boss was also full of praise for the way the club have stood by manager Luciano Spalletti following the humiliating 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford in April.
"When a coach in Italy loses a game 7-1, normally the guns come out and you are dead before morning," declared the Reds' boss.
"But they trusted Luciano and stood by him. He has repaid that trust because he is an excellent coach and I am very pleased his team is doing well now."
The Reds lost out 2-1 to the Italians in the first leg of last season's quarter-final, an occasion which was marred by clashes between supporters and local police. Sir Alex remains hopeful there will be no similar instances on Wednesday night.
"Everyone who loves the game does not want to see the incidents we saw last year," he said. "Roma don't want it and Manchester United do not want it. The reputations of both clubs are very important.
"We dearly hope there are no problems and some lessons will have been learned from last season." Read more...
Ex-England boss hails Ryan
Former England manager Graham Taylor says there's no question Ryan Giggs deserves his OBE honour.
Writing in The Telegraph, Taylor said the Welshman is one of just a handful of modern-day footballers who "tick every box, on and off the pitch".
"Talent on its own only takes you so far, perhaps not even to first base," said Taylor.
"Applied talent, which requires a deep desire to succeed and a commitment to dedicate yourself to your profession, is the hallmark of a true professional."
Taylor first saw Giggs in action back in 1991 and immediately recognised a number of winning traits.
"His pace when in possession of the ball, coupled with his willingness to take on defenders, did for all football supporters what his colleague, Cristiano Ronaldo, does now – lifts you off your seat with an air of excitement and expectancy."
But it's not just Giggs' skill on the field that Taylor finds so appealing.
"In this age of 24-hours-a-day football news, when have we read anything about Giggs that would question his professional approach to his career? To achieve what Giggs has achieved over so many seasons requires a mental rod of steel, and along with his applied talent he deserves every recognition that comes his way."
Giggs received an OBE for services to football on Tuesday 11 December. Read more...
Writing in The Telegraph, Taylor said the Welshman is one of just a handful of modern-day footballers who "tick every box, on and off the pitch".
"Talent on its own only takes you so far, perhaps not even to first base," said Taylor.
"Applied talent, which requires a deep desire to succeed and a commitment to dedicate yourself to your profession, is the hallmark of a true professional."
Taylor first saw Giggs in action back in 1991 and immediately recognised a number of winning traits.
"His pace when in possession of the ball, coupled with his willingness to take on defenders, did for all football supporters what his colleague, Cristiano Ronaldo, does now – lifts you off your seat with an air of excitement and expectancy."
But it's not just Giggs' skill on the field that Taylor finds so appealing.
"In this age of 24-hours-a-day football news, when have we read anything about Giggs that would question his professional approach to his career? To achieve what Giggs has achieved over so many seasons requires a mental rod of steel, and along with his applied talent he deserves every recognition that comes his way."
Giggs received an OBE for services to football on Tuesday 11 December. Read more...
Carrick: Let's keep it going
Michael Carrick is urging his United team-mates to maintain their Champions League winning streak and finish their group campaign with a 100 per cent record in Rome on Wednesday night.
The Reds have won all five of their Group F fixtures ensuring they go through to the knock-out stages as group winners. Roma have also qualified rendering the final match between the pair a dead rubber.
Nevertheless, Carrick is hoping the Reds, minus the majority of their first team regulars, will leave Italy with maximum points.
"It would be some achievement if we could finish with a 100 per cent record," he told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
"It will give us all more confidence and self-belief as it will be some achievement. The fact that only three teams [AC Milan, Spartak Moscow and Barcelona] have ever won all their group games before is a statement that, if we do it, we are a very good team.
"Wednesday's game is still a huge match irrespective of the situation in the group and we want to keep the momentum going and finish with six wins.
"It was a great experience to be involved in the games last season and it'll be a fantastic experience for the young lads on the trip. We're all looking forward to it."
While Carrick is hopeful of victory, he concedes that it's during the latter stages of the competition when the Reds really need to hit top gear.
"We want to win in Rome, but it's important that we produce on the big stage when it really counts," he insisted. "The squad is looking very strong at the moment and you've seen that whoever steps in to play is more than capable of doing a job.
"It'll be during the latter stages of the season when you need as many of your big players as fit as possible. That's probably the time when the squad will really come into its own and hopefully we can do well." Read more...
The Reds have won all five of their Group F fixtures ensuring they go through to the knock-out stages as group winners. Roma have also qualified rendering the final match between the pair a dead rubber.
Nevertheless, Carrick is hoping the Reds, minus the majority of their first team regulars, will leave Italy with maximum points.
"It would be some achievement if we could finish with a 100 per cent record," he told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
"It will give us all more confidence and self-belief as it will be some achievement. The fact that only three teams [AC Milan, Spartak Moscow and Barcelona] have ever won all their group games before is a statement that, if we do it, we are a very good team.
"Wednesday's game is still a huge match irrespective of the situation in the group and we want to keep the momentum going and finish with six wins.
"It was a great experience to be involved in the games last season and it'll be a fantastic experience for the young lads on the trip. We're all looking forward to it."
While Carrick is hopeful of victory, he concedes that it's during the latter stages of the competition when the Reds really need to hit top gear.
"We want to win in Rome, but it's important that we produce on the big stage when it really counts," he insisted. "The squad is looking very strong at the moment and you've seen that whoever steps in to play is more than capable of doing a job.
"It'll be during the latter stages of the season when you need as many of your big players as fit as possible. That's probably the time when the squad will really come into its own and hopefully we can do well." Read more...
We'll Reign with Rooney
Alex Ferguson reckons Wayne Rooney can be Manchester United’s new Captain Fantastic.
The striker is skipper in Rome tonight and Fergie believes his reign can become permanent in the very near future.
And the Reds boss thinks Rooney can even be a leader of the stature of Roy Keane and Bryan Robson.
Ferguson said: “Wayne has been pestering me for ages to be captain.
“He has a lot of the ingredients needed to be a captain of this club in the future.
“For me he is like a Robson or Keane in his determination, will to win, and the fact that he will never give up."
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...
The striker is skipper in Rome tonight and Fergie believes his reign can become permanent in the very near future.
And the Reds boss thinks Rooney can even be a leader of the stature of Roy Keane and Bryan Robson.
Ferguson said: “Wayne has been pestering me for ages to be captain.
“He has a lot of the ingredients needed to be a captain of this club in the future.
“For me he is like a Robson or Keane in his determination, will to win, and the fact that he will never give up."
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...
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