For all those still standing in the Champions League, FA Cup and fighting for the Premier League title, Michael Carrick is warning them all that Manchester United are back to their best.
For a team who previously went 15 games without conceding a single goal, the last five games have all produced a score for the opposition. That run of five games has seen United’s title credentials called into doubt and the defence of their Champions League crown was looking shaky to say the least. But Sir Alex Ferguson's team became the first English team to beat Porto on their own patch as they booked a semi-final meeting with Arsenal.
When you have a couple of bad results people start questioning you," Carrick said yesterday. "But we have always known what we are capable of and last night we got back to what we do best. We defended well as a team and looked really solid. All of a sudden everything looks great again.
Carrick understands, though, that the picture can change depending on how individual results go. A meeting with Everton in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley offers its own challenge, although for now the talk is of Arsenal and a renewal of the rivalry between Ferguson and his Emirates counterpart Arsène Wenger.
Carrick knows the two-legged tie, the first in United's history against another English club, will be eagerly anticipated.
Obviously, we know each other inside out, sometimes, you can have quite a cagey affair, on other occasions it can open right up, as it did between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. I am sure they will be great matches for the neutral to watch, but hopefully we will come out on top.
Cristiano Ronaldo's match winner kept United on course for the quintuple.
It is relentless," Carrick said. "We are on course to play the most number of games we could play in one season. That is the aim. There is a game every three or four days now and they are all going to mean so much. That is what you want. It is great to be part of it. We are in a good position. Fingers crossed we will succeed.
Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Cristiano Ronaldo's wonder strike that delivered Manchester United a Champions League semi-final showdown against Arsenal.
Ronaldo's early 40-yard strike earned Ferguson's side a 3-2 aggregate victory as United became the first English side to win in Porto.
"It was unbelievable. A magnificent hit," Ferguson said. "It took them by surprise and the keeper had no chance.
"To do it at that point gave us a real platform to go into the game."
Ronaldo struck after six minutes and Ferguson, who became the first manager to reach a sixth Champions League semi-final, said the early goal was a huge bonus.
"We wanted to start the game quickly with good tempo ... but to get a start like that, no-one can expect it, no-one can expect that type of goal," added the United boss.
Ronaldo himself described the goal as the best of his career, admitting he could not wait to watch it again.
"It is the best I have scored," he said. "It was a fantastic strike and I can't wait to see it again on DVD. I am very happy with it."
Porto rarely looked like breaking through as United kept their first clean sheet since 11 March, having conceded 11 goals in their last five games.
And Ferguson, who was taking charge of his 150th Champions League clash, admitted Rio Ferdinand's return after a three-game absence had made a huge difference.
"Rio coming back was a major part of our success," said the United boss.
"He and Nemanja Vidic have a partnership that goes back three years. They have a great understanding of the game and there is a good balance between them.
We are two good footballing sides, so it should be a terrific semi-final against Arsenal
Sir Alex Ferguson
"We defended very, very well and that was the key to it really, because if we get back to that foundation of not giving away goals then we can do well.
"They had to chase. That early goal had them on the back foot. I don't think they made any chances in the match."
United have now stretched their unbeaten run in the Champions League to 23 games, winning a second leg away from home for the first time since the 1999 semi-final triumph in Turin against Juventus.
"We tried to change and spread the team around the field and hope Manchester would make some mistakes," Jose Gomes, who replaced suspended Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira, said.
"We feel very bad. You can understand our emotions. We feel that wasn't a very just result. They scored one goal and it was scored by the best player in the world."
United's semi-final with Arsenal will be the first time they have met English opposition in a two-legged European tie.
Arsenal beat United 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, and Ferguson is predicting another classic encounter.
"It would be tough no matter who we played but the fact it is another English side gives a different type of spice to it," said Ferguson.
"We are two good footballing sides, so it should be a terrific semi-final. Our game earlier in the season was fantastic. It was the way football should be played and we will look forward to it.
"The first leg is at home, so 1-0 would be perfect for us. But it is not going to be easy."
Just one post from me today. Liverpool out Of the Champions League, Chelsea through to face Barcelona in the semi final and tonight Manchester United play Porto in their second leg match of the last 8 needing to win to get through, but do you know what? Who cares? Who really cares about all of this when we remember that today, Wednesday 15th April 2009 is 20 years since Hillsborough.
That day 1000s of people attended a game to watch the team they love, Liverpool, play in the Cup Semi Final at Hillsborough football ground, Sheffield. Ninety six of them never returned home again.
One day justice will be done for the families of those who lost their loved ones that day. It's been a cover up of huge proportions and it is still going on now.
The sad fact is the Hillsborough stadium should never have been used in the first place, as the ground did not hold a valid safety certificate. The FA moved games from Hillsborough for six years after 38 Spurs fans suffered crush injuries during the 1981 semi final against Wolves.
In the inquest after the accident Lord Taylor had also documented evidence of crushing in the Leppings Lane End pens during the 1987 and 1988 semi finals. Liverpool football club had objected about being allocated Leppings Lane after complaints of crushing the previous year.
Well, here's news for Lord Taylor and all those involved in the enquiries, people want the truth; just give us the truth and clear the Liverpool fans’ names because people around the world still think the Liverpool fans caused the disaster, when they were the heroes that day.
These people didn’t just die in an accident, they died through lack of care, lack of care from the police, and they were all saveable !!
There is no way on God's earth a Liverpool badge would ever be published on this blog, it would get me blasted by United fans worldwide. But on the 15th April every year I'm sorry, but that badge will be here and it will be BIG.
Ninety six people lost their lives that day and they will never be forgotten.....and THEY WILL NEVER WALK ALONE !!!!
The Justice Bell
A schoolboy holds a leather ball in a photograph on a bedroom wall the bed is made, the curtains drawn as silence greets the break of dawn.
The dusk gives way to morning light revealing shades of red and white which hang from posters locked in time of the Liverpool team of 89.
Upon a pale white quilted sheet a football kit is folded neat with a yellow scarf, trimmed with red and some football boots beside the bed.
In hope, the room awakes each day to see the boy who used to play but once again it wakes alone for this young boy's not coming home.
Outside, the springtime fills the air the smell of life is everywhere violas bloom and tulips grow while daffodils dance heel to toe.
These should have been such special times for a boy who'd now be in his prime but spring forever turned to grey in the Yorkshire sun, one April day.
The clock was locked on 3.06 as sun shone down upon the pitch lighting up faces etched in pain as death descended on Leppings Lane.
Between the bars an arm is raised amidst a human tidal wave a young hand yearning to be saved grows weak inside this deathly cage.
A boy not barely in his teens is lost amongst the dying screams a body too frail to fight for breath is drowned below a sea of death
His outstretched arm then disappears to signal thirteen years of tears as 96 souls of those who fell await the toll of the justice bell.
Ever since that disastrous day a vision often comes my way I reach and grab his outstretched arm then pull him up away from harm.
We both embrace with tear-filled eyes I then awake to realise it’s the same old dream I have each week as I quietly cry myself to sleep.
On April the 15th every year when all is calm and skies are clear beneath a glowing Yorkshire moon a lone scots piper plays a tune.
The tune rings out the justice cause then blows due west across the moors it passes by the eternal flame then engulfs a young boys picture frame.
His room is as it was that day for thirteen years it's stayed that way untouched and frozen forever in time since that tragic day in 89.
And as it plays its haunting sound tears are heard from miles around they're tears from families of those who fell awaiting the toll of the justice bell.
Youth sports development gets $15m boost@Straits TimesThe Singapore Youth Sports Development (SYSD) committee announced yesterday that $15 million will be jointly committed by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Totalisator Board to support youth sports development initiatives.The committee, jointly set up by MCYS and MOE last
Who would pay £22 million for a goalkeeper. Well, it would seem Fergie is prepared to do so. Manchester United are preparing a £22 million bid for Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
The People says Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate to sign a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar with Ben Foster still considering his future at Old Trafford. The United boss sees Valdes as a top quality replacement and cannot, yet, offer Foster the first-team football he craves in his bid to make England's World Cup team. The Barcelona keeper's current deal finishes in June 2010, and, having rejected the chance to open talks on a new contract, Fergie hopes the lure of Premier League football can snatch him away from La Liga.
Valdes is a product of the Barca youth system. In the 2003–04 season, he emerged as first-choice goalkeeper, and in the 2004–05 season, he played in almost all of Barcelona's matches helping Barcelona to their first league title in six years. He also won the Zamora Trophy for the best goalkeeper in Spain.
In the 2005–06 season, he helped Barça to the double. He played a big part in Barca's UEFA Champions League 2005–06 title and in the final against Arsenal, he denied Thierry Henry twice from point-blank range. His efforts saw him singled out for praise from Coach Frank Rijkaard. The "Zamora" title however eluded him as Víctor came third after Santiago Cañizares and the winner José Manuel Pinto.
On 17 June 2007, the last round in La Liga, Valdés matched a goalkeeping record of Barcelona legend Andoni Zubizarreta. The record held by Zubi is that he went all season long, all 38 rounds in La Liga without leaving the starting line-up nor getting substituted. It has never been matched, by any Barça goalkeeper, until Valdés.
Valdés set the FC Barcelona club record for not conceding a goal in European competition with a clean sheet against Rangers on 7 November 2007, which saw him re-write the Barça record books after not conceding a goal for 466 minutes. Unfortunately Valdés was beaten twice by Lyon's captain Juninho through a 45-yard free kick then a late penalty at the Stade de Gerland.
On 1 April 2008 he made his 250th appearance for Barça. Despite being a regular in the squad, he has never played for Spain, with Iker Casillas of Real Madrid and José Manuel Reina of Liverpool the preferred goalkeepers.
I wouldn't believe it if it were fiction. Italian Federico Macheda came to Manchester United's rescue for a second successive time in the Premier League as the 17-year-old scored the winner in a 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday.
Second-placed Liverpool had earlier piled on the pressure with a 4-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers and champions United once looked set to be overhauled at the top of the table when Kenwyne Jones cancelled out Paul Scholes's opener.
Macheda, however, turned in Michael Carrick's wayward shot with his first touch seconds after coming on in the 75th minute.
Thanks to his decider, United restored one-point lead over nearest rivals Liverpool, who have 70 points from 32 games.
Chelsea nearly threw away a four-goal lead at home to Bolton Wanderers but hung on for a 4-3 win which saw the visitors pull three goals back in nine minutes.
Guus Hiddink's side retained third with 67 points, six clear of Arsenal who won 4-1 at Wigan Athletic.
Tottenham Hotspur moved up to eighth and boosted their hopes of qualifying for Europe after overcoming West Ham United 1-0 at home.
In the other end of the table, Newcastle United gave Alan Shearer his first point as manager, but remain in the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at Stoke City.
Middlesbrough recorded a rare league 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Hull City while West Bromwich Albion let a lead slip in drawing 2-2 at Portsmouth.
Considering next Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal second-leg tie against Porto, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson rested Edwin Van der Sar, Patrice Evra and Cristiano Ronaldo at Sunderland.
Scholes gave United a 19-minute lead, heading Wayne Rooney's fine cross into the far corner before Jones bundled home from close range to equalize 10 minutes after the restart.
Macheda came off the bench, in place of Dimitar Berbatov, to turn home the winner on 76 minutes to claim a priceless three points.
Chelsea maintained their title challenge in dramatic fashion.
They seemed to have secured a victory after an hour by opening up a 4-0 lead through Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba with two and a Frank Lampard penalty.
But Bolton took advantage of their defensive vulnerability and they were suddenly trailing 4-3 as Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor each scored from 70th to 78th minute.
Although the visitors went on to threaten to draw, Chelsea held their nerves and Petr Cech kept out any further goal.
