Champions Of England, Champions Of Europe And Now Champions Of The World

What a year ! Manchester United Champions of England in March, Champions of Europe in May and now in December Champions of the World.

Although it must be said that this competition does not have the greatest of reputations or the most prestigious of following, but at the end of the day, it is the best from Europe against the best from all around the world. United came out on top so there we have it, Champions of the World. So that's a total of four trophies for the year if you include the Community Shield.

The team Fergie fielded was: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Anderson; Park, Rooney, Ronaldo; Tevez.

The guys from Ecuador seemed very keen and fit but they didn't offer much by way of creativity and to be honest United should have buried them in the first half but missed a few good chances.

Vidic got his marching orders in the 50th minute and that was a very dubious decision.

This was Evra's last game before he begins his four match ban.

The goal came in the 73rd minute. Carrick's picked out Ronaldo on the edge of the box who sidefooted the ball to Rooney on the left who took a touch then fired low into the far corner of the net. A great goal and very well deserved.

So we are now officially world champions but was there ever any doubt?

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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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A Carling Cup Headache

Manchester United and Blackburn have yet to resolve the dilemma over when to play their Carling Cup quarter-final tie. As I have said before the Prem fixture list is unforgiving. The game is scheduled to take place during week commencing December 1. The problem is Manchester United United tackle Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday, November 30, with Blackburn facing the more geographically challenging trip to Portsmouth on the same day, the Carling Cup tie would normally be scheduled for Wednesday, December 3.

However, that situation is complicated because Manchester City are in UEFA Cup action against Paris St Germain that evening and local police prefer both their major clubs not to play at the same time. I think Al-City should give way personally as they have no hope of actually winning the UEFA Cup, why would they win it, they've won nothing for 33 years after all. But I am a little biased.

With United due to play a Champions League tie against Aalborg the following week before flying to Japan for the World Club Cup, there is little opportunity for the Carling Cup tie to be played at a later date as the semi-finals should take place at the beginning on January. Discussions with Greater Manchester Police are continuing, with the likelihood remaining that Blackburn will travel to Old Trafford on December 3......Back To Home Page.....

It's Liverpool's Year .... NOT !!

I've heard it every year for 12 years ! "This year we'll do it, this is our year" - yes it's the annual war cry from Merseyside as the Liverpool fans declare they finally got the combination of players to topple Manchester United - I love Fergie's remarks he made when he took over at United: "I'd love to knock Liverpool off their fucking perch, and you can print that !". He did that alright. They have gone 19 years without the league championship and guess what, this year will make it 20 !!

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed Liverpool's challenge to Chelsea this weekend. United boss Fergie said: “I don’t think it’s the most important top-of-the-table clash. When Arsenal play Chelsea could be more significant. There have been quite a few Chelsea and Liverpool 0-0s over the past few years. Sunday’s game will be very tight, not many goals in it. But Arsenal could win there because they’ve got the quality to win".

United are six points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool after dropping points at both the Bridge and Anfield. They travel to Arsenal in a fortnight’s time but Ferguson believes Christmas will be the crucial period of his side’s season — after their gruelling trip to Japan to play in the World Club Cup.

“It’s interesting the bookies make Chelsea favourites for the title. I think the reason for that is that we’ve got the World Championship, when we’re away for 10 days. Coming back from that is a test for us. We’re back on December 23 and play Stoke on Boxing Day. That’s where the title will be decided for us — how we handle that.” .....Back To Home Page

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