New Kit For Manchester United 'v' Inter Milan

Manchester United today get to wear the new kit that has been designed with the Club World Cup Winners badge on it. The badge sits in the middle of the shirt to recognise United's success in the tournament held earlier in the season.

Good old Sepp Blatter, Manchester United's best friend in the whole world will present United with the special 'Champions' badge at Old Trafford this evening. The white emblem features an image of the Club World Cup trophy and is inscribed with the words 'Manchester United Champions 2008.'

The new shirt will be worn during Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup games until there is a new holder of the Club World Cup. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was an enormous honour to become the first British club to win the Fifa Club World Cup and this is a badge we will wear with great pride.".....Back To Home Page...

Sir Alex - What A Friend

What is it with Sir Alex and these horses he keeps getting involved with. After the "Rock of Gibralter" incident where he fell out with United's joint owners John Magnier and JP McManus over the rights to who won what with the animal, I thought he would have steered clear of joint ownership plans. Now he has another half share in a nag called "What A Friend" - this should be Rafa's horse. "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" as he prays for United to do a Newcastle and surrender the title limply with little resistance.

Anyway, the fact is Fergie's horse is booked to race in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paul Nicholls' charge was, as expected, among the 19 entries declared yesterday for next Wednesday's big race. However, on the very same day Fergie has a date with Inter Milan at Old Trafford so I do hope he leaves the horse to get on with it. He can tune in on the radio and listen.

If you fancy having a bet on Fergie's nag, it is running on 10th March in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham and it is currently 5/1 second favourite, 1/4 the odds each way. Carly's tip - do what Fergies going to do and watch United instead as gambling is not good for you.... Back To Home Page...

Would You Bet Against Manchester United?

Just like these girls pictured left, I'm sure we all like to have a bet from time to time and why not. Manchester United are 2/1 to win in Italy and take a lead into the home leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.

The holders are 8/13 to win the tie overall and 6/5 to bow out against Jose Mourinho's team - his Porto side conquered the Reds at this stage in 2004.

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Inter present the toughest test United could have faced in the last 16 and as a result, the reigning European champions are 11/2 third favourites to retain the trophy. Barcelona are favourites to win the competition at 3/1, ahead of United’s victims in the 2008 final, Chelsea, at 5/1. The other English sides, Liverpool and Arsenal, are 10/1 and 14/1 respectively.

With United and Inter widely thought to be quite evenly matched, many pundits tip a tight game in the San Siro - it’s 8/15 that there will be two goals or fewer scored. Three or more goals is priced at 11/8. The Reds' last away match against Inter finished 1-1, en route to the 1999 Treble. That scoreline is 5/1 to occur again. Paul Scholes bagged a late equaliser on that occasion and the midfielder is 4/1 to score at any time in the match and 66/1 to be the last goalscorer in a 1-1 draw.

Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer of a stunning free-kick on Saturday, is 11/2 favourite to net first. Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic are 6/1 co-second favourites. What a match, I can't wait.....Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Lose Evans For The Trip To Inter Milan

Manchester United played Jonny Evans alongside Rio Ferdinand against Blackburn so the two of them could get some match time playing alongside one another ahead of the Champions League clash with Inter Milan on Tuesday. The reason for this was the suspension of Nemanja Vidic from that game.

Evans, however, picked up a knock during the game with Blackburn and Vidic had to come on anyway. Now Sir Alex is rapidly running out of centre backs to play on Tuesday. Evans limped off in Saturday's hard-fought 2-1 Premier League win over Blackburn Rovers at Old trafford with a recurrence of a recent ankle injury.

United racked up a 10th consecutive league victory but are now short of options for the trip to the San Siro.

"It's a bit sore," Evans told MUTV. "I kicked the ground when I tried to make a long clearance and now it's a bit tender. I don't know (if I'll be ready for Tuesday's game). The doctor said he'd have a look at it on Sunday. We'll have a better idea then."

"We've got some injuries of course," Ferguson told Setanta Sports after the win against Rovers. I just hope I can get two centre backs but at this moment in time it's very doubtful. Jonny Evans would have played on Tuesday but he's very doubtful. I'm hoping I'll have John O'Shea fit as I won't have Vidic, Neville or Brown either," he added.

O'Shea injured his heel against Fulham last Wednesday but Ferguson is hoping he will recover to partner Rio Ferdinand in defence against Jose Mourinho's side.....This really is not the kind of news we need heading into this fixture.....Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Had Better Fear Jose And Inter Milan

Jose Mourinho is probably one of the few managers who Manchester United fans should fear. He has a good record against Fergie and his boys and indeed, he has a good record against most teams. His Chelsea side were invincible at The Bridge and were a handful away from home too. His knowledge and experience is incredible. He has been talking to MUTV about how he is setting his sights on toppling United when he comes face to face with Fergie in the last 16 of the Champions League next weekend.

His Internazionale side host United at the San Siro on Tuesday 24 February with the second leg scheduled for Old Trafford on Wednesday 10 March. Mourinho, always up for a challenge, says it’s the perfect tie for his team.

“Before the draw I said that I wanted United and some people thought I was crazy, after all, why would I want the top team in Europe? But I wanted them because it’s a big challenge and because it will be difficult. It’s a special draw for my players and I won’t need to motivate them for this tie. The best matches to play in are against the best sides and the best side at the moment is Manchester United.”

Although Manchester United have never been beaten by Inter in a competitive fixture, Mourinho has never been at the helm. Overall, Jose does have the edge over Sir Alex. In fact, the Reds’ boss has only tasted victory once against a Mourinho-led side.

“We know we can win, United are a special team with special players. They are very solid in defence and dangerous in attack. You look at the talent they have on the pitch and then at the bench too, and you know this will be difficult. My side has a lot of experience, we have a lot of talent and we know how to play the big games. It will be a close tie.”.....Back To Home Page...

CR7 Slates Ibrahimovich, Mourinho And Inter

Cristiano Ronaldo, while speaking to Italian television company RAI, has sent a message out to Zlatan Ibrahimovich. Manchester United are stronger than Inter and he is better than Ibrahimovich. Not that any of us United fans had any doubts about this, but Zlatan has been shooting his mouth off a bit lately along with the 'Special one'. Maybe we call them the 'Special Two' as they both have their heads up each others arses.

United clash with Inter later in the last 16 of the Champions League and we all know who Ronaldo thinks will win. When does he ever suffer from lack of confidence or being afraid of anyone ?

“Inter are a strong side with great players, but we are better than them and I firmly believe we’ll be able to beat them, by eliminating Inter, we can feel a step closer to the Final.”

Jose Mourinho began the 'mind games' last month by declaring that Ibrahimovic was “a better player” than Ronaldo and more deserving of the Ballon d’Or.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, but the trophies that count are in my house.

He was also critical of Inter and Mourinho for failing to get the best out of Ricardo Quaresma, who was sent on loan to Chelsea just six months after signing.

“Ricardo has great quality and it’s a shame he didn’t get the chance to prove his true value, he was wonderful at Porto and with the Portugal jersey, so he cannot be judged on the basis of just a few games that were not up to his usual standard. It's probably the fact he was bought for so much money that put excessive pressure on him and it's not easy to do well in Italy right away".......Back To Home Page...

Tevez To Stay With Manchester United For £30 Million(ish)

When Dimitar Berbatov joined Manchester United in the summer, and Wayne Rooney was riding on the crest of a goal scoring wave, things didn't look too rosy for Carlos Tevez. In fact things got quite hard for him as he was left on the bench game after game after game.

At this point he could have given up faced with a seemingly impossible task to get into the first team. But not Carlos Tevez. He rolled his sleeves up and got stuck in. As I write this, I would say it is impossible for Fergie to choose which of the three options he has up front.

Well, such dedication and commitment has paid off for him as United are now keen to offer him a new deal. Kia Joorabchian, Tevez's agent has been in negotiations (eventually) with United and a deal has reportedly been sorted out.

It is believed that the deal will be worth £30 million, but how that breaks down with the complicated issue of Tevez's 'third-party' registration is impossible to say at this stage.

The player himself, already reputed to be on £75,000 a week, will be offered a contract that will see him take home £11.7m during the three year duration of the deal. Perhaps a good job then that United also announced pre-tax profits of £59.6m this week.

Jose Mourinho was continually harping on about how he would be signing Tevez this summer - wrong again Mourinho, wrong again.....Back To Home Page...

Zlatan's Sour Grapes At Manchester United's Ronaldo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made fun of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or victory. The award which is voted for by sports journalists around the globe, was given to Cristiano Ronaldo last month for his sparkling season at Manchester United.

United finished the season as Premier League winners and Champions of Europe and on the way to these victories Ronnie fired in an incredible 42 goals in 49 games.

However the Swedish international, currently playing for Inter Milan, believes the award means nothing.

He said: "Now the Ballon d'Or has become a publicity stunt. It all depends on what people see in order to judge. For me it is more important to win with the team rather than anything else."

Sour grapes indeed. Either that or he is trying his hand at some mind games ahead of the Champions League clash between the two clubs which is coming up shortly. I think it will have put paid to him actually winning it himself in the future after he made it sound like a 'Mickey Mouse' award. Nice one Zlatan, looks you just pissed on your own strawberries Mr....Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Defender Nemanja Vidic Could Receive Three Match Ban

Manchester United's Serbian international central defender Nemanja Vidic is waiting for UEFA's verdict on Friday as to whether he will receive the mandatory one match ban for the straight sending off he received in the Club World Cup or whether they will extend it to three games should they deem the challenge as serious enough to warrant that.

Vidic received the straight red card for 'violent misconduct' after elbowing Claudio Bieler who plays for Ecuadorian champions Liga De Quito in the Club World Cup in Tokyo in December.

Under the normal rules, if a player is sent off for misconduct during this tournament he is to serve a minimum one game ban in his confederation’s tournament, theUEFA Champions League.

But the problem arises if UEFA’s disciplinary committee deem the misconduct of a serious nature and therefore increase the punishment, which could mean a three game ban. This situation already means he will miss the first leg of the Tie with Inter Milan in the CL last 16 scheduled for 24th Feb. Should the ban be extended Vidic would miss the return at Old Trafford and the first leg of the quarter finals, should the Red Devils progress.

Losing Vidic for just one game is hard enough for United who currently have a number of injuries making selection a problem for Sir Alex. I'm sure he doesn't need all the problems brought on by this situation. I would be very surprised if UEFA increase the ban but they are renowned for doing and saying very odd things.....Back To Home Page...