PREMIER LEAGUE - ETAPA 17
Tottenham 0 - 0 Manchester United
PREMIER LEAGUE - ETAPA 17
Tottenham 0 - 0 Manchester United
Scholes: Goals will come[
Paul Scholes isn't worried by United's recent lack of goals, insisting the Reds' scoring form will return soon.
The Reds have scored only twice in the last four Premier League games, while Saturday's goalless draw at Tottenham was the team's fourth this season.
"We didn't create as many chances as we would have liked today, but we know we’re an attacking team and the goals will come sooner or later," Scholes told MUTV.
Scholes wasn't too disappointed with the draw at White Hart Lane, especially after leaders Liverpool dropped two points at home to Hull.
"We'd like to have won the game, but it didn’t happen for us today," he added. "This is a tough place to come and we have to take a point in the end.
"We’d like to have been a little closer to Liverpool, but they’ll be disappointed not to have beaten Hull and ours is probably a better point then theirs."
After another 20 minutes under his belt against Spurs, Scholes is hoping to continue his return to fitness during the Club World Cup in Japan.
The 34-year-old added: "I’ve played 20 minutes against Blackburn, half a game against Aalborg and 20 minutes today, so hopefully in Japan I can get 80 or 90 minutes in one of the games and kick on from that."
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Carrick keeps calm
Michael Carrick says the Reds are not worried by a congested fixture list brought on by being champions of Europe, insisting United would welcome the issue every season.
Following last season’s Champions League victory over Chelsea in Moscow, Sir Alex’s men have had to rearrange two league matches against Fulham and Wigan due to their involvement in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Carrick sees the extra matches as a happy headache rather than a hindrance and is confident in the squad’s ability to deal with the situation.
“We know there are games to be made up because of those competitions, but if we face this situation every season it would mean we were European champions. It’s not a hindrance,” he insisted.
“When you’re one of the best teams around that’s what you’re up against, but we just have to deal with it.
“We want to play in all the big games and win the big trophies. We’ve definitely got the squad and the set-up here to cope with the extra games.”
Having won three major trophies (two league titles and the Champions League) since joining the Reds in summer 2006, the 27-year-old is desperate to add a world title to his collection.
“The tournament is hard enough to qualify for in the first place, so we’ll be doing all we can to win the trophy,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for us to represent Europe and it’ll be a great experience for all the players.”
Berbatov to miss Gamba clash
Dimitar Berbatov will miss Manchester United's Club World Cup semi-final with Gamba Osaka after picking up a virus.
Berbatov has been unable to train since his arrival in Japan and the 27-year-old was absent on Wednesday as United went through their paces for the final time at the Nissan Stadium.
It means Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, who is expected to recover from a minor knock in time to play, should be paired up front as the Red Devils look to become the first English team to win the competition in its newly expanded format.
Sir Alex Ferguson would not confirm his full starting XI.
However, he did reveal Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville would be included, along with Paul Scholes, who will start for the first time since undergoing knee surgery at the end of September.
In addition, United's legion of Japanese fans, some of whom have maintained a constant presence outside their team hotel despite the inclement conditions, have been promised Cristiano Ronaldo will start.
The prospective world player of the year has inherited the mantle enjoyed by former United star David Beckham, who is such a popular figure in this part of the world, and is guaranteed an enthusiastic welcome in the venue for the 2002 World Cup Final.
Giggs Feels Ronaldo's Form Dipped Last Season
Ryan Giggs wasn't entirely impressed by team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or-winning form...
Manchester United's wily Welsh winger Ryan Giggs has a different take on Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable 2007-08 season from the majority of football fans.
The Portuguese superstar bagged some 42 goals - arguably from midfield - propelling the Red Devils to a league and Champions League double.
It was this kind of form that made him a must-have for admirers Real Madrid and saw him handed the Ballon d'Or recently.
Giggs, though, insists that Ronaldo was more impressive the season before and can't understand what the fuss was about last term.
The veteran told The Mirror: "In the 2006-07 season I thought Ronaldo was unbelievable, in terms of his overall play. He scored 23 goals and made a lot.
"Last season, I didn't think he was as good, although he did turn himself into an even greater goalscorer."
Perhaps the experienced winger was perturbed by Ronaldo's positioning. After all, at times last season he played as an out-and-out striker, as opposed to a straight-up wide-man.
Asked to explain Ronaldo's not-so-subtle emergence as a true footballing powerhouse, Giggs pointed to the 23-year-old's 'eat, sleep football' approach to life.
"He's dedicated in every part of his lifestyle and the people he has around him," Giggs continued.
"His diet, the way he looks after himself, his gym habit... he leads his life for football."
Asked if starlets Nani and Anderson can make a similar impact, Giggs replied: "They have got potential and they are at the right club to do it.
"Young players have got the best facilities now, it's amazing, so there can be no excuses."
You have to worry for the youngsters, however, as even 42 goals isn't enough to satisfy Giggsy's demands.
Ronaldo very happy at United
Crisitiano Ronaldo has insisted that he is "very happy" at Manchester United despite ongoing the Real Madrid saga.
But comments from Real director Pedro Trapote have been greeted with disdain at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson claiming 'I wouldn't sell them a virus' following his team's 5-3 Club World Cup victory over Gamba Osaka.
However, he has confirmed he remains happy with life at Old Trafford - after Ferguson persuaded him to stay last summer.
"I don't care what people are saying," he said.
"I have not read it. I am here in Japan and I know nothing about what is going on around me.
"But I am very happy playing for Manchester United."
"It would mean a lot for me to be a world champion," he said.
"It would be fantastic to win this trophy - and now there is a good chance, not just from a personal perspective but for Manchester United.
"We might only have one opportunity and we have to take it."
Ronaldo knows the bare minimum about Sunday's opponents, Ecuador's South American club champions LDU Quito.
They were not that impressive in beating Pachuca in yesterday's semi-final, but Ronaldo knows any club capable of overcoming the might of Brazil and Argentina must be respected.
"We are expecting a difficult game," he said.
"The second match is always more difficult than the first, and we have to prepare well.
"Quito are a good team, with a lot of experience.
"We have a couple of days to study them and to see who the best players are, but the most important thing for us is to put the ball in the net."
Wayne Rooney Can Be The World's Best No 9 - Rio Ferdinand
Man United's captain elect has declared that Roo could well become the most dangerous poacher on the planet...
Anyone who doubted Wayne Rooney's predatory instincts will still be working their way through a hearty serving of humble pie after his exploits in Yokohama on Thursday night.
Manchester United were in the midst of a thrilling Club World Cup semi-final against Gamba Osaka, when the England forward was introduced with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Two goals later, and the 23-year-old had steered the Red Devils to a 5-3 victory over the Asian champions and booked a spot in the final against Ecuador's LDU Quito.
But it was perhaps the manner of Rooney's strikes which was most intriguing, as they typified his new role in Sir Alex Ferguson's set-up - i.e. more an out-and-out striker than a deep-lying, playmaking forward.
And Rio Ferdinand, for one, believes his international colleague has what it takes to become the most lethal centre-forward on the face of the earth.
He said in The Sun: “He is playing more like a No 9. He could easily be the best No 9 in the world. He has more tools in his game than any other No 9.
“I have every confidence in him. It is just about him being given the time to do that. I am sure he will be able to put it into practice.
“The manager has asked him this season to be more of a player who runs through. He has the pace, strength and nose for where to run to be a threat in behind.”
However, Ferdinand admitted that Rooney must develop a greedy streak before he can become a truly world-class striker.
The centre-back said: “He has to be more selfish if he wants to score 25-30 goals a season. With Wayne, we see in training how difficult he is to play against.
“If he continues to keep working in the right areas, and being more selfish, then he has the capability to be top scorer in the Premier League.”
Neville On Ronaldo Rumours: 'United Don't Let Players Go'
Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes there should be a level of respect between clubs, and insists that Cristiano Ronaldo will remain at Old Trafford.
As a result of their Champions League success last term, Manchester United are currently contesting the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
They smashed Gamba Osaka 5-3 in the semi-final and have now booked a date in the final with Ecuadorian team LDU Quito.
Despite the prospect of becoming world champions, talk has still refused to veer away from man-of-every-moment Cristiano Ronaldo who, according to latest reports, has made a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid.
Club captain Gary Neville though is adamant that the Portuguese recipient of the Ballon d'Or will remain at Old Trafford.
Respect
"There should be a level of respect shown between the clubs, but we can't do anything about the specualtion. All we can do is look after our own situation," the United right-back told the club's official website.
"Cristiano is our player and he will continue to be our player as long as we want to keep him. The manager has already said that.
"Manchester United don't let players go that they don't want to sell, it's as simple as that. And they want to keep Ronaldo."
The draw for the first knock-out round of the Champions League was announced today, and United have been partnered with Jose Mourinho's Internazionale.
Ferguson: Ronaldo can be a legend
Sir Alex Ferguson believes everything is in place for Cristiano Ronaldo to go on and become one of football's true greats.
"Pele scored in a World Cup semi-final as a 17-year-old. Maradona played for his country at 17. Cristiano was 18. All the signs are the same." said Ferguson.
"What you don't know about him, but can say about Maradona and Pele, is that their careers lasted for a number of years.
"Pele played in two World Cup finals, as did Maradona. Maybe Portugal do not have the profile to get to World Cup finals, the same as Brazil and Argentina - so you have to judge him a different way."
It means Ferguson feels Ronaldo must maintain the high levels that brought him 42 goals last year and amass major honours in the same way Ruud Gullit and Zinedine Zidane achieved to assume the mantle of greatness. He would have to do even more to be regarded in the same company as Pele and Maradona.
Yet the Scots knows Ronaldo has all the attributes required to reach those heady heights. It is little wonder then that Real Madrid have been so keen to get him - and United just as determined the Madeira-born player should stay where he is.
"Cristiano is superb," said Ferguson.
"He has timing getting into the box, ability with two feet - and you would never associate a Portuguese winger with such magnificent ability in the air. He is like an old fashioned centre-forward.
"There are a lot of things in his favour to go on and become a legend. The answers will come in the next few years."
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Bench spot for Berba
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Dimitar Berbatov will be among United's substitutes for the FIFA Club World Cup final against Liga de Quito on Sunday.
The Bulgarian contracted a virus earlier in the week and was forced to sit out Thursday's 5-3 semi-final win over Gamba Osaka.
He returned to training the following day, but Sir Alex does not feel the striker is fit enough to start.
"I still don't think Dimitar is quite ready for the game at the moment," said the manager at his pre-match press conference.
"He'll be on the bench and may play some of the match, but he's not ready to start. Other than that everyone is okay."
The United boss admits he still has a few decisions to make regarding team selection, but he did confirm Ji-sung Park would be a definite starter.
"Ji will play on Sunday," revealed Sir Alex. "I've still to choose my team, but I will make changes [from Thursday] and freshen things up because I have to consider the games we have back home.
"Nevertheless, I'll be playing a side capable of winning the final and hopefully we can do it."
Alex Ferguson: Vidic Deserved To Go
United manager Ferguson believes that Vidic's red card against LDU Quito in the Fifa World Club Cup Final was fully deserved.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that the red card Nemanja Vidic received in the Fifa World Club Cup final was justified and the Serbian defender deserved to go.
The 27-year-old defender was sent off in the game against Ecuadorean side LDU Quito for elbowing Argentine midfielder Claudio Bieler.
United went on to win the game 1-0 after Wayne Rooney slotted the ball home after 73 minutes.
Vidic has received a one match European ban, but this could rise to a three game ban depending on the decision of a Fifa panel. However, Ferguson fully believes that Vidic gave the referee no choice but to send him off.
Speaking to Setanta Sports, Ferguson said, "We have been informed if there is a suspension it will be European Cup," said Sir Alex Ferguson.
"It was a soft sending off. But it depends how Fifa interpret it and how Uefa act in terms of the information they get.
"He didn't swing an elbow but he gave the referee no chance. He was correct to produce the red card.
"Vida is disappointed but he gave the referee no option. We were in a comfortable situation too. The two centre-backs were having their easiest game for weeks."
The ban will mean Vidic will miss United's crucial first leg Champions League tie against Inter Milan, and could miss the second leg depending on Fifa's decision.
Manchester United Must Keep Winning, Warns Carrick
Manchester United's England midfielder is confident that the Red Devils are still in the title race, despite the disruption to their season caused by the trip to Japan, but they must keep the pressure up by winning games.
Manchester United can now officially call themselves 'World Champions' after defeating LDU Quito in the World Club Cup Final at the weekend. Whether that title really means anything to fans is open to debate, as talk turns back to the more pressing matter of retaining the Premier League title.
Midfielder Michael Carrick thinks that, despite the nine-day trip to the Far East that has left the squad drained and jet-lagged, United are still very much in the hunt to capture a hat-trick of titles.
"Given what we have had to cope with so far this season, we always felt if we were within touching distance at Christmas, it would not be too bad," said Carrick, as the squad returned to Manchester today.
"We have achieved that. There is an awful long way to go in the season and games in hand are not guaranteed points, but we are pretty pleased with where we are. Now it is up to us to keep winning and applying the pressure to those above us."
United's first big test of the festive period comes on Boxing Day when they travel to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City. Carrick clearly feels that the Potters will carry more threat, albeit of a different kind, than Quito.
"Stoke is a different situation," he continued. "Quito was a test but Stoke will be tough. They will make it a battle and try to ensure it is not easy for us. They will probably come at us a little bit more than Quito did.
"As always, we are going there to win but Stoke have a decent home record, so it will be hard, especially coming back off this."
United now find themselves with a little ground to make up on fellow title challengers Chelsea and Liverpool, but home matches with Fulham and Wigan Athletic over the Christmas period perhaps offer some hope of making up ground.
Should the Red Devils slip up and lose those games though, thus finding themselves on the wrong end of a big points deficit in the New Year, questions will surely be asked about the wisdom of taking a trip to Japan in mid-season.
Now you'll see the real United
Rio Ferdinand is buzzing after captaining United to Club World Cup success but mindful that Boxing Day at Stoke could swiftly bring the Reds back down to earth...
Being a world champion is a great feeling. Not many teams in the world have ever got their hands on a trophy like this and to be the first British side to do it is phenomenal.
Our victory over Liga de Quito was fully deserved. We started the game well and could have had three or four goals in the first half, but their keeper did okay and our finishing probably wasn’t as good as it could have been. But credit to the lads, they kept on going and it was great to see Wazza put the ball in the back of the net. It wasn’t even really a proper chance, it was half a chance if that, so it was fantastic to see it go in.
A lot has been said about this tournament not having the profile of other major competitions, but it’s always been a big trophy for us and now we’ve got our hands on it we want to win it again.
As players your aim is to go out and try and ingrain your name in the club’s history - winning this trophy is a way of trying to achieve that and definitely a step in the right direction. But we’re not going to stop here, we want to build on this achievement and win a lot more.
We arrive home in the UK on Monday evening and immediately our focus switches to the trip to Stoke on Boxing Day (Friday). We’ve been disappointed in ourselves in the last couple of months in terms of the way we’ve played and the results we’ve got in the league. We’ve had opportunities to get closer to the leading pack but we haven’t done. The Club World Cup final was very important in terms of confidence and hopefully you’ll now see the real Manchester United.
Red Devils are United, in both senses
According to Fergie, Manchester United have returned from their victorious FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a greater team spirit.
United's Japanese sojourn was valuable not only in terms of silverware gained, but also as a great team-building exercise, according to club boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
"After the final, the players had a great time together", Sir Alex told the club's official website. "We were up and away early the next morning, so I don't think a lot of them slept that well."
"But after the game I allowed them a bit of relaxation on their own, they had their own time together and I think that was good for them."
"They all had a good sleep on the plane and then they had a good sleep when they got home, so I think it's worked out very well for us."
He continued: "There's no question it's a great boost to the club and the players."
"It was a great achievement and the most important thing is that they played well - surprisingly well in the sense that a lot of them had trouble with their sleep patterns."
"They showed good enthusiasm during the matches and good concentration, which is the most important thing in these types of games. So we've come through it well, with very good performances."
Fit and fresh for Friday
Any rival manager hoping for a United setback at Stoke on Boxing Day may be disappointed by Sir Alex Ferguson's pre-match press conference.
The Reds boss had no new casualties to report and insisted his players looked good in training this morning (Wednesday), less than 48 hours after arriving home from Japan.
"We've no injury worries," confirmed Sir Alex. "Everyone has come through the trip well.
"We just hope we've got enough time to prepare for Friday's game. They had yesterday off and looked quite fresh in training today."
United's players will be put through their paces on Christmas Day to ensure that they are fighting fit for the Potters, but Sir Alex insists that they are still able to join in the festivities with their families.
"We're in tomorrow, training, then we go down at night to Stoke," he revealed. "We’re training in the morning, and we’re back in plenty of time to enjoy the family gatherings.
"Of course, the Portuguese and some of the European players celebrate it the previous night, it’s a different culture. So you’re not hindered."
Rooney braced for crucial period
Wayne Rooney says the key Boxing Day clash away at Stoke City is the start of a crucial period for Manchester United.
Following United's Boxing Day trip to the Britannia Stadium, Sir Alex Ferguson's charges then play Middlesbrough at Old Trafford the following Monday, before an FA Cup tie away at Southampton.
In the midst of their two-legged Carling Cup semi-final against Derby are league games with Chelsea, Wigan and Bolton. January then ends with a possible FA Cup fourth round tie and a Premier League visit to West Brom.
Despite next month's hectic nature, Rooney is adamant that the recently crowned world champions are more than capable of handling such a congested fixture list and kick starting it all with a win against Stoke.
"It's a big game and a big time of the season for us so it's important we pick up the three points," he told the club's official website.
"We know it'll be tough especially after having only just returned from Japan. But all the games are winnable over Christmas and we're confident we can beat Stoke and Middlesbrough.
"The FA Cup starts soon after and we've got the Carling Cup semi-final with Derby and then the Chelsea game to think about.
"So the next few weeks are a big time of the season for us and they could have a real impact on how things pan out during the rest of the campaign.
"Hopefully we can get the results we want."
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