Manchester United Should Be World Champions Barring A Miracle

Manchester United jet off to Tokyo early next Monday in a quest to become the World Club Champions. Why they would want to do such a thing is beyond me but they have taken the decision to do so.

Back in 1999 when United won it, the only British team to have done so I might add, the competition was a one match competition between the best of South America and the Champions of Europe. But now, nine years after United last won it, the cup has taken the form of a seven team knockout tournament.

By the time Manchester United first step out onto the pitch, Waitakere United from New Zealand should be back home in New Zealand already, along with two other teams.

Sepp Blatter is really keen to make this tournament work but swathes of empty seats have not helped FIFA's case in former competitions and Thursday's curtain raiser between Waitakere and Adelaide United in Tokyo hardly sets pulses racing.

AC Milan broke Europe's Club World Cup jinx by beating Argentina's Boca Juniors 4-2 in last year's final after Barcelona and Liverpool had failed in 2005 and 2006.

"We're the only British team to have won it," said United manager Alex Ferguson, whose side face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at the weekend before jetting to the Far East.

"I consider that to be one of the club's greatest achievements."

Ecuador's LDU are likely to be United's biggest threat after becoming the first team from their country to win South America's Libertadores Cup.

The Quito-based side face the winners of the first quarter-final between Mexico's Pachuca and Al Ahly of Egypt.

Fergie's boys, currently six points adrift in the Premiership, start their campaign on December 18th in the second semi-final which should, in theory, be against Gamba Osaka of Japan and a defeat against them is unthinkable for Fergie!

Barring a rather odd result in the other semi-final United should meet up with Ecuador's LDU in the final. They became the first side from Ecuador to win the Coa Libertadores hence their participation in the competition.

The form book says this is a win for United but as we all know, things can go wrong in a big way with these trips to Japan......Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Squad For Japan

Manchester United have name the squad for the World Club Championship in Tokyo from 11 Dec 2008 until 21 Dec 2008.

The United squad for Japan:

1. Edwin VAN DER SAR
2. Gary NEVILLE
3. Patrice EVRA
5. Rio FERDINAND
7. CRISTIANO RONALDO
8. ANDERSON
9. Dimitar BERBATOV
10. Wayne ROONEY
11. Ryan GIGGS
12. Ben FOSTER
13. PARK Ji Sung
15. Nemanja VIDIC
16. Michael CARRICK
17. NANI
18. Paul SCHOLES
19. Daniel WELBECK
21. RAFAEL
22. John O SHEA
23. Jonny EVANS
25. FINCH
24. Darren FLETCHER
28. Darron GIBSON
29. Tomasz KUSZCZAK
32. Carlos TEVEZ

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December Could Be Difficult !

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson knows they face a tricky December. Already a game behind after their appearance at the European Super Cup, United will add a postponed game against Wigan on December 21 to their backlog due to their commitments at the World Club Cup in Japan.

"We will be away for 10 days and coming back will be a test for us, that is where the league will be decided. How we handle that period will be crucial."

Ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton, Ferguson notes with a wry smile that his side will have faced last season's top eight away from home before they leave for the Far East.

"They say the league is not handicapped," he said. Not that Ferguson would have it any other way. If fate had not intervened, John Terry might have stayed on his feet as he strode up to take that fateful penalty for Chelsea in the Luzhniki Stadium and the Londoners would have scored, leaving them to juggle the fixture difficulties. Unsurprisingly, Ferguson prefers it just the way it is.

"Of course it is worth it, it is the world championship and we are the only English team to have won it. We are only in it because we have won the European Cup, so I hope we are in it for the next three years."

Nevertheless, United need to continue their six-match winning streak on Saturday as Ferguson feels matches in hand during 2009 may not necessarily translate into victories.

"By the time we get to the end of December we will have two games to make up, if we were to have a good run in the League Cup - United face QPR at Old Trafford in the fourth round next month - which we have to try and do to be successful at all levels, the second-half of the season is going to be a big test for us. By New Year's Day we need to be around the top of the league to give ourselves a proper chance because those two games may be difficult for us." .....Back To Home Page