The arrival of identical twins, both full-backs and Under-18 internationals for Brazil, slipped under the radar of most Reds. For those in the know, whispers abounded about the former Fluminense pair who were dubbed, unimaginatively, the ‘Samba Nevilles’.
Rafael impressed in pre-season at Peterborough and during his competitive debut against Newcastle, and has tasted more first-team action since, notably scoring against Arsenal at the weekend. Former Red Clayton Blackmore has watched with interest as Rafael has slotted into Sir Alex’s side, whether in the Premier League, Carling Cup or Champions League.
“Rafael’s been fantastic,” says Blackmore. “He’s like a breath of fresh air. He’s got so much energy, he’s lightning fast and he loves to get stuck in and make a tackle, which is perfect for the English game. He’s very similar to Patrice Evra in the way that he likes to charge forward. I think he’ll be well suited to a wing-back role, which is how we like to play these days.”
Sir Alex recently admitted that he’d been so impressed by his new no.21 that he now considers three players when selecting his right-back. Rafael got the nod when the Reds faced Aalborg on Champions League Matchday 2, and the youngster seized the opportunity.
“He wasn’t fazed by playing at the highest level and he was probably one of our best players that night,” Blackmore says. “He was cutting inside, shooting; he was playing in a similar way to Ronaldo. Obviously he doesn’t have quite as many tricks as Ronny, but he does look very comfortable with the ball at his feet.”
Blackmore, who often played at full-back during his 245-game United career, is quick to point out, however, that Rafael is far from the finished article. Experience will help him become that, insists the Welshman.
“He’ll be learning every day on the training ground from Gary, Wes and Patrice,” he says. “And don’t forget he’ll be up against the likes of Ronaldo, Nani and Park, too, so he’ll soon learn how to stop the best wingers in the world.”
Can we expect to see more of the tireless young Brazilian this season? Blackmore thinks so… “Wes and Gary are ahead of Rafael in the pecking order, but the manager won’t hesitate to give him games, especially when we find ourselves regularly playing twice a week.”
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Park praises youthful Reds
Ji-sung Park was impressed by the display of United's youngsters in the 1-0 Carling Cup win over Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.
The Korean winger lined up alongside the likes of Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Rafael in a fourth-round tie which was settled by Carlos Tevez's penalty 15 minutes from time.
Park told ManUtd.kr: "Many young players played and, although we only scored one goal, we controlled the match so it was not bad.
"The younger players have been training with the first team so we have no problem playing together, and they did very well."
Park improved as the game unfolded against the Championship side and almost capped his second successive 90-minute run-out with a goal, only to see his rising shot hit the post.
"I thought it was in!" he said. "I felt good when I struck the ball, but sadly it did not go in. I played against Arsenal and am now getting some consistent action, so I was able to keep up my pace throughout the game."
United return to league action against Stoke on Saturday and Park knows there is plenty of time for the champions to overhaul leaders Chelsea.
"We lost against Arsenal, which was obviously not good," Park added. "But we’re still in the season and there are many matches ahead, so I'm not worried."
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The Korean winger lined up alongside the likes of Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Rafael in a fourth-round tie which was settled by Carlos Tevez's penalty 15 minutes from time.
Park told ManUtd.kr: "Many young players played and, although we only scored one goal, we controlled the match so it was not bad.
"The younger players have been training with the first team so we have no problem playing together, and they did very well."
Park improved as the game unfolded against the Championship side and almost capped his second successive 90-minute run-out with a goal, only to see his rising shot hit the post.
"I thought it was in!" he said. "I felt good when I struck the ball, but sadly it did not go in. I played against Arsenal and am now getting some consistent action, so I was able to keep up my pace throughout the game."
United return to league action against Stoke on Saturday and Park knows there is plenty of time for the champions to overhaul leaders Chelsea.
"We lost against Arsenal, which was obviously not good," Park added. "But we’re still in the season and there are many matches ahead, so I'm not worried."
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United join race to sign Witsel
Manchester United have joined the chase for Axel Witsel after Sir Alex Ferguson sent one of his top scouts to watch the teenage midfielder in UEFA Cup action last week. The United manager has been alerted to growing interest in Witsel and may now join the bidding for him after studying a report on another impressive performance in Standard Liege's 1-0 win over Sevilla last Thursday.
Sportsmail can reveal that United and Inter Milan were both represented at the game but that Bolton's hopes of landing the 19-year old for £6million have been dashed after they were told it would take at least twice as much to prise him away.
John Edwards, Daily Mail Read more...
Sportsmail can reveal that United and Inter Milan were both represented at the game but that Bolton's hopes of landing the 19-year old for £6million have been dashed after they were told it would take at least twice as much to prise him away.
John Edwards, Daily Mail Read more...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Manchester United Vs. Queens Park Rangers Match Report
United’s mixture of youth and experience reached the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after overcoming a dogged Queens Park Rangers at a bitterly cold Old Trafford.
The Reds were much-changed after the weekend defeat by Arsenal but had enough to see off the Championship side in a scrappy game which only spluttered into life late in the second half.
Carlos Tevez broke the visitors' resistance from the penalty spot with 15 minutes left and United saw out the rest of the game without great alarm to reach the last eight for the first time since lifting the trophy three seasons ago.
As expected, Sir Alex Ferguson opted to rest several of his senior players and hand starts to youngsters Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon – the latter for the first time since suffering a leg injury in the last round against Middlesbrough.
And the Brazilian midfielder almost got on the end of Anderson’s sixth-minute corner, only to see the ball nicked from the top of his head.
Tevez started as the only out-and-out striker and was determined to impress, twice testing Radek Cerny from the edge of the box early on and then shaving the near post with a flick-on from John O’Shea’s cross.
Rangers, playing in a 4-5-1 formation, were largely effective in restricting United to long-range strikes in the first period. Anderson stung Cerny’s palms from the edge of the box, while Saturday’s goalscorer Rafael tried his luck again but his left-foot shot sailed over.
That said, the visitors offered nothing going forward, with Tomasz Kuszczak given little to do other than endure the freezing Manchester night air.
United began the second half with greater intent and Nani sent a flashing drive past Cerny’s right-hand post.
Ji-sung Park then went even closer with a rising shot that smacked the post after Rafael had superbly outfoxed two Rangers defenders on the byline.
Tevez was denied again minutes later as Cerny tipped over his powerful drive from an acute angle, before the Rangers keeper parried another drive from Anderson, still seeking his first Reds goal.
Danny Welbeck, whose only previous first-team appearance this season came in the last round of this competition, replaced Possebon with 20 minutes to go and had an immediate impact as he won the decisive penalty.
The pacy young striker ran onto Nani’s pass on the left-hand side of the box, poked the ball past Peter Ramage and was upended by the former Newcastle defender, leaving referee Phil Dowd with little choice but to point to the spot.Tevez stepped up to send Cerny the wrong way and all but end any hopes Rangers had of forcing extra-time.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side were, however, forced to come out of their shell and Dexter Blackstock saw a shot blocked before substitute Samuel Di Carmine was flagged offside as he diverted the ball home.
Nani twice could have sealed it but Cerny was again on hand to deny him, before Emmanuel Ledesma curled QPR’s best chance of the game wide at the death.
No matter, United held on and are in the hat for the next round, just reward for another sound performance from Ferguson’s youngsters.
Manchester United: Kuszczak; Rafael, Evans, Neville (Vidic 90), O'Shea; Gibson, Anderson, Possebon (Welbeck 72); Nani, Park, Tevez.
Subs not used: Foster, Carrick, Manucho, Cleverley, Gray.
Queens Park Rangers: Cerny; Stewart, Connolly, Hall, Ramage Mahon; Parejo (Ledesma 46), Buzsaky (Agyemang 33), Rowlands, Cook (Di Carmine 78); Blackstock.
Subs not used: Delaney, Gorkss, Ephraim, Cole.
Attendance: 62,539.
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The Reds were much-changed after the weekend defeat by Arsenal but had enough to see off the Championship side in a scrappy game which only spluttered into life late in the second half.
Carlos Tevez broke the visitors' resistance from the penalty spot with 15 minutes left and United saw out the rest of the game without great alarm to reach the last eight for the first time since lifting the trophy three seasons ago.
As expected, Sir Alex Ferguson opted to rest several of his senior players and hand starts to youngsters Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon – the latter for the first time since suffering a leg injury in the last round against Middlesbrough.
And the Brazilian midfielder almost got on the end of Anderson’s sixth-minute corner, only to see the ball nicked from the top of his head.
Tevez started as the only out-and-out striker and was determined to impress, twice testing Radek Cerny from the edge of the box early on and then shaving the near post with a flick-on from John O’Shea’s cross.
Rangers, playing in a 4-5-1 formation, were largely effective in restricting United to long-range strikes in the first period. Anderson stung Cerny’s palms from the edge of the box, while Saturday’s goalscorer Rafael tried his luck again but his left-foot shot sailed over.
That said, the visitors offered nothing going forward, with Tomasz Kuszczak given little to do other than endure the freezing Manchester night air.
United began the second half with greater intent and Nani sent a flashing drive past Cerny’s right-hand post.
Ji-sung Park then went even closer with a rising shot that smacked the post after Rafael had superbly outfoxed two Rangers defenders on the byline.
Tevez was denied again minutes later as Cerny tipped over his powerful drive from an acute angle, before the Rangers keeper parried another drive from Anderson, still seeking his first Reds goal.
Danny Welbeck, whose only previous first-team appearance this season came in the last round of this competition, replaced Possebon with 20 minutes to go and had an immediate impact as he won the decisive penalty.
The pacy young striker ran onto Nani’s pass on the left-hand side of the box, poked the ball past Peter Ramage and was upended by the former Newcastle defender, leaving referee Phil Dowd with little choice but to point to the spot.Tevez stepped up to send Cerny the wrong way and all but end any hopes Rangers had of forcing extra-time.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side were, however, forced to come out of their shell and Dexter Blackstock saw a shot blocked before substitute Samuel Di Carmine was flagged offside as he diverted the ball home.
Nani twice could have sealed it but Cerny was again on hand to deny him, before Emmanuel Ledesma curled QPR’s best chance of the game wide at the death.
No matter, United held on and are in the hat for the next round, just reward for another sound performance from Ferguson’s youngsters.
Manchester United: Kuszczak; Rafael, Evans, Neville (Vidic 90), O'Shea; Gibson, Anderson, Possebon (Welbeck 72); Nani, Park, Tevez.
Subs not used: Foster, Carrick, Manucho, Cleverley, Gray.
Queens Park Rangers: Cerny; Stewart, Connolly, Hall, Ramage Mahon; Parejo (Ledesma 46), Buzsaky (Agyemang 33), Rowlands, Cook (Di Carmine 78); Blackstock.
Subs not used: Delaney, Gorkss, Ephraim, Cole.
Attendance: 62,539.
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