Gary Neville aims to continue his bid to be fully fit for the start of the season with some more minutes on the pitch over the coming week.
Old Trafford will play host to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial match on Saturday against Espanyol and a friendly with Juventus the following Wednesday.
After completing the full 90 minutes of United's 2-1 over Portsmouth in Nigeria on Sunday evening, the skipper is hoping to be involved in at least one of the Reds' upcoming games.
"It was important for me to play 90 minutes in Nigeria, but I did feel it in the last 15 minutes," he told MUTV.
"But then, when I was 23, I would have felt it in the last 15. I think everyone felt it. It was a tough game in humid conditions.
"Now I'm hoping to play in at least one of the games against Espanyol or Juventus."
Having been forced to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates sealed a glorious double last season, the 33-year-old is determined not to miss out this time round.
"Last season was very frustrating from a personal point of view. It was very disappointing not be involved in what was such a great season for the club," he admits.
"Playing in these matches in pre-season will help my fitness and sharpness and hopefully I can be a part of another successful season."
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Silvestre keen to stay, despite PSG interest
Mikael Silvestre, the Manchester United defender, is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain but he is still holding out for a testimonial.
The France international, 30, made just three Barclays Premier League appearances last term but will clock up 10 years at Old Trafford this season. PSG plan to offer £3.5m.
They also fancy United's injury-prone France striker Louis Saha but he would prefer to stay in England.
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The France international, 30, made just three Barclays Premier League appearances last term but will clock up 10 years at Old Trafford this season. PSG plan to offer £3.5m.
They also fancy United's injury-prone France striker Louis Saha but he would prefer to stay in England.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Eagels joins Burnley after Ferguson's advice
Chris Eagles revealed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded him to quit the European champions and join Coca-Cola Championship outfit Burnley.
The 22-year-old has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in excess of £1million after finally admitting defeat in his fight to become a first-team regular at Old Trafford.
Eagles joined the Red Devils at the age of 14 and despite being prominent in their pre-season campaign - scoring against Kaizer Chiefs and Portsmouth on their tour of Africa - he accepted his future lies elsewhere.
'I spoke to Sir Alex a lot about it because he's looked after me since I was 14,' said Eagles, who spent time on loan at Watford, Sheffield Wednesday and Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen in recent seasons.
'He told my mum and dad he was going to look after me and he did.
'He said it's going to be a big decision but he believes that with the talent I've got I need to go and play.
'It's no good me sitting in the stands.
'United need to win every game and they're not going to play someone who hasn't been playing regularly.'
Eagles spent United's tour of Africa agonising over the move but he knew he was in a 'comfort zone' as a fringe member of the club's first-team set-up.
'People don't realise that a decision like this bangs at your head and you need to just get it signed and sealed,' said Eagles after becoming Burnley's sixth summer signing.
'But I don't need to move here - I can still live in Manchester - and I think altogether the whole package was very good.
'I was in a comfort zone because I had been there since the age of 14.
'It was a hard move to leave a club where I knew everyone from the cleaner to the manager.
'It's a big step but I believe it's a step in the right direction. I was very impressed with Owen Coyle (Burnley manager) and am just looking forward to playing regularly.'
Eagles insisted his decision to leave United was in no way related to Cristiano Ronaldo's apparent failure to secure his dream move to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo's departure may have paved the way for Eagles to make his mark, but the winger said: 'It may have done but you just don't really know.
'I need to concentrate on myself and I don't need to worry about whether someone is leaving.
'He's a great player and I wish him all the best whatever he does.'
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The 22-year-old has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in excess of £1million after finally admitting defeat in his fight to become a first-team regular at Old Trafford.
Eagles joined the Red Devils at the age of 14 and despite being prominent in their pre-season campaign - scoring against Kaizer Chiefs and Portsmouth on their tour of Africa - he accepted his future lies elsewhere.
'I spoke to Sir Alex a lot about it because he's looked after me since I was 14,' said Eagles, who spent time on loan at Watford, Sheffield Wednesday and Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen in recent seasons.
'He told my mum and dad he was going to look after me and he did.
'He said it's going to be a big decision but he believes that with the talent I've got I need to go and play.
'It's no good me sitting in the stands.
'United need to win every game and they're not going to play someone who hasn't been playing regularly.'
Eagles spent United's tour of Africa agonising over the move but he knew he was in a 'comfort zone' as a fringe member of the club's first-team set-up.
'People don't realise that a decision like this bangs at your head and you need to just get it signed and sealed,' said Eagles after becoming Burnley's sixth summer signing.
'But I don't need to move here - I can still live in Manchester - and I think altogether the whole package was very good.
'I was in a comfort zone because I had been there since the age of 14.
'It was a hard move to leave a club where I knew everyone from the cleaner to the manager.
'It's a big step but I believe it's a step in the right direction. I was very impressed with Owen Coyle (Burnley manager) and am just looking forward to playing regularly.'
Eagles insisted his decision to leave United was in no way related to Cristiano Ronaldo's apparent failure to secure his dream move to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo's departure may have paved the way for Eagles to make his mark, but the winger said: 'It may have done but you just don't really know.
'I need to concentrate on myself and I don't need to worry about whether someone is leaving.
'He's a great player and I wish him all the best whatever he does.'
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Monday, July 28, 2008
Blatter's slave remark 'unfortunate' - Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out at Sepp Blatter's claim that Manchester United are treating Cristiano Ronaldo like a slave.
The FIFA president caused outrage with his comments, likening Ronaldo - who only signed a five-year contract with United 12 months ago - to a serf in feudal times.
Pictures of the Portugal winger sunning himself in Los Angeles this week certainly did not fit that description, although Ronaldo did agree when quizzed about Blatter's comments.
However, Ferguson takes a different view.
And, as he seems increasingly likely to stave off Real Madrid's continued attempts to sign the 23-year-old, he chose to admonish Blatter ahead of his side's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Portsmouth in Nigeria last night.
'It was an unfortunate statement from someone in such a position,' Ferguson told a pre-match press conference.
'Slavery was abolished many years ago. These days footballers can earn five or six million pounds a year.
'I do not want to dignify this kind of statement with a response but when you consider the history of slavery, it was a very unfortunate statement.'
Ronaldo is not due back in action until October following a recent ankle operation but could return to United's training HQ at Carrington at the end of next month to step up his recovery programme.
Meanwhile, United took the honours in the first of three meetings in a month with Portsmouth.
Chris Eagles and Carlos Tevez did the damage for the English and European champions in last night's friendly against the FA Cup winners.
Both sides will expect improvement when they meet again in the Community Shield on August 10 and, more importantly still, the Barclays Premier League two weeks after that.
Should the Premier League ever manage to force through their badly-received plan for a 39th game on tour, it is to be hoped they keep ticket prices at a reasonable level.
For, while Nigeria as a whole and Abuja in particular are viewed as teeming with United supporters, the national stadium was sparsely populated last night, lending a further air of unreality to an already surreal occasion.
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The FIFA president caused outrage with his comments, likening Ronaldo - who only signed a five-year contract with United 12 months ago - to a serf in feudal times.
Pictures of the Portugal winger sunning himself in Los Angeles this week certainly did not fit that description, although Ronaldo did agree when quizzed about Blatter's comments.
However, Ferguson takes a different view.
And, as he seems increasingly likely to stave off Real Madrid's continued attempts to sign the 23-year-old, he chose to admonish Blatter ahead of his side's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Portsmouth in Nigeria last night.
'It was an unfortunate statement from someone in such a position,' Ferguson told a pre-match press conference.
'Slavery was abolished many years ago. These days footballers can earn five or six million pounds a year.
'I do not want to dignify this kind of statement with a response but when you consider the history of slavery, it was a very unfortunate statement.'
Ronaldo is not due back in action until October following a recent ankle operation but could return to United's training HQ at Carrington at the end of next month to step up his recovery programme.
Meanwhile, United took the honours in the first of three meetings in a month with Portsmouth.
Chris Eagles and Carlos Tevez did the damage for the English and European champions in last night's friendly against the FA Cup winners.
Both sides will expect improvement when they meet again in the Community Shield on August 10 and, more importantly still, the Barclays Premier League two weeks after that.
Should the Premier League ever manage to force through their badly-received plan for a 39th game on tour, it is to be hoped they keep ticket prices at a reasonable level.
For, while Nigeria as a whole and Abuja in particular are viewed as teeming with United supporters, the national stadium was sparsely populated last night, lending a further air of unreality to an already surreal occasion.
Read more...
Ole backed to succeed
Working closely with Sir Alex Ferguson can make Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a success in management, according to Norway coach Age Hareide.
Although only three games into his fledgling managerial career, Ole has made a promising start to his new role at the Reserves helm and Hareide - who coached Solskjaer for Molde and Norway - expects that upward curve to continue.
"I think Ole has what it takes be a good manager," Hareide told ManUtd.com. "He has a lot of experience and he's certainly been under a manager who has shown how management should be done.
"Alex Ferguson knows the game and how to handle people, and Ole is a very quick learner and he picks up bits and pieces from everyone. If he can pick up some bits and pieces from Alex Ferguson then I think he could be a very good manager."
Hareide will be at Old Trafford this weekend as Ole celebrates his United playing career with a testimonial against Espanyol. Having played a pivotal role in Solskjaer's career by taking him to Molde, selling him to United and coaching him internationally, Hareide beams with pride at the striker's subsequent achievements.
"When you're a coach you always wish your players well and hope they succeed in life," he said. "Ole was very special because we built up a great relationship over the years and we still talk a lot. He's someone I'm very fond of; a special person in many ways."
Read more...
Although only three games into his fledgling managerial career, Ole has made a promising start to his new role at the Reserves helm and Hareide - who coached Solskjaer for Molde and Norway - expects that upward curve to continue.
"I think Ole has what it takes be a good manager," Hareide told ManUtd.com. "He has a lot of experience and he's certainly been under a manager who has shown how management should be done.
"Alex Ferguson knows the game and how to handle people, and Ole is a very quick learner and he picks up bits and pieces from everyone. If he can pick up some bits and pieces from Alex Ferguson then I think he could be a very good manager."
Hareide will be at Old Trafford this weekend as Ole celebrates his United playing career with a testimonial against Espanyol. Having played a pivotal role in Solskjaer's career by taking him to Molde, selling him to United and coaching him internationally, Hareide beams with pride at the striker's subsequent achievements.
"When you're a coach you always wish your players well and hope they succeed in life," he said. "Ole was very special because we built up a great relationship over the years and we still talk a lot. He's someone I'm very fond of; a special person in many ways."
Read more...
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