Ahead of our first Champions League game of the new campaign against Besiktas tonight, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra have reflected on the pain defeat in Rome caused.


“Having lost a Champions League final, I know what it feels like,” said Rio. “It was sickening in Rome because we felt we were on the cusp of greatness, so to lose the way we did was really difficult. The worst thing about it was that we didn’t even put up a fight. We never got going. If we had scored in the first 10 minutes, I think we’d have gone on to win the game, but Barcelona got the first goal and it stunned us. We never recovered after that and that was so disappointing.”

Ferdinand believes that there is great expectation put on United’s shoulders which means you have to deal with the stick that follows if they fail.

“You want to win it at all costs and as long as we’re winning, that’s all that matters,” added Ferdinand. “Over the last three seasons, we’ve performed really well. We won the league three times, reached two Champions League finals so people expect a lot of us. If you sometimes don’t deliver the big one, then you get a bit of flak and you have to deal with that.”

Patrice Evra has echoed Rio’s sentiments claiming that the disappointment of the final overshadowed the success we had, but that makes them all the more determined.

“I’m a winner – I like to win – so I still think about what happened in Rome,” said Evra. “Everybody says we did well last season and we won three trophies, but when you lose the final in the manner we did – we didn’t give a true account of ourselves – it’s very frustrating. We didn’t show people the real Manchester United and we were very upset with ourselves. We missed a big opportunity in Rome and that’s a real shame. It killed all my dreams last year. When I think about last season now I don’t think about winning the league or the Club World Cup or the Carling Cup: all I think about is losing in Rome and that’s made me very determined to do well this year and make up for that. But that doesn’t mean my focus is only on the Champions League – my ambition is for the team to do well, no matter what competition we’re in.”

Manchester United were more or less written off when we sold Cristiano Ronaldo, given the great contribution he made to our team over the past few years. Similar things were said after Ruud van Nistelrooy was sold, when David Beckham joined Real Madrid, when Eric Cantona hung up his boots etc. It seems as though the media and rival fans just don’t learn.

Ahead of our 3-1 victory over Spurs, where we played with ten men for the last half an hour, this current bunch of players were described as ‘the worst United team in years’ by one journalist, something our manager finds highly amusing.


“Some guy at the weekend said this was the worst United team in years,” said Ferguson. “That was a beauty. Maybe it is. Maybe we’ll only win the league.”

There is a report on the PFA Website that reads as follows:

"It has been reported that Manchester United are keen on highly-rated Lazio shot stopper Fernando Muslera.

The Lazio goalkeeper is seen as one of a number of candidates to replace Van der Sar as the United manager is still keen to strength his squad.

The reports coming from Old Trafford are that, Alex Ferguson is looking at the 23-year-old Uruguayan with a view to signing him. The news was reported in the Sportal.it at the weekend, that the Lazio keeper is attracting plenty of interest from the top clubs in Europe.

Lazio offered the talented star a new deal in the summer in the attempt to prevent the interest of the big money spending Premier League clubs.

Although Manchester United have not confirmed their interest in Muslera, don't be surprised if the Old Trafford fortress look to improve their chances of retaining the Premier League crown with this new addition to the squad. "

Source: http://www.givemefootball.com/

We're linked to yet another one!!

Diego Forlan’s last game for Manchester United was on the opening day of the 2004-2005 season, on a day where Miller and Djemba-Djemba started in midfield, with Roy Keane filling in at centre back during an injury crisis.

A fortnight after leaving United Forlan scored for Villarreal on his début. Given that it took him 27 matches to score his first for us, you’d imagine that was the reason behind his departure, but Forlan has today revealed the real reason for his leaving.


“Ferguson wanted me to play with high studs, the interchangeable ones that suit wet pitches, but I feel more comfortable in low ones,” said Forlan. “I agreed to change, but I didn’t and, against Chelsea, I slipped in front of goal and wasted a chance. Afterwards, I rushed to the dressing room to change boots, but Ferguson caught me. He grabbed the boots and threw them. That was my last game for United.”

Forlan reckons his relationship with the manager has improved since then and that he also gives the club transfer tips.

“When we were in London Ferguson showed up at our hotel,” he continued. “I still have a good relationship with Sir Alex and his brother Martin. We have conversations and sometimes he asks me about South American players I might know of.”

So does his mean the gaffer has not given up on Sergio Aguero?

Ugly Scenes in Manchester City Centre last night.........
Teves and Lescott went out for a drink together.:guinesssm