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Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled Danny Welbeck out of Manchester United’s Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday - but hopes to name Reds legend Paul Scholes on the bench.

http://www.manutd.com/sitecore/shell...n=0,30,594,251

The 38-year-old midfielder has not played a minute of action since featuring in a 4-1 win over Fulham on 26 January, sitting on the sidelines ever since with a troubling knee injury.

However, speaking at his weekly press conference at Carrington, the boss outlined his desire for Scholes to return against the Blues before starting the veteran against Swansea for the final home game of the season, whilst giving an update on Nemanja Vidic.

"Welbeck is out of Sunday,” Sir Alex told reporters. “The rest are all fit. Scholes and Vidic are training and I’ll probably put Scholes on the bench on Sunday to get him back into the fray. I’d love him to play in the Swansea game.

“We did pretty well at Arsenal last weekend and should’ve won it with the chances we had. Chelsea are chasing a Champions League place as well and we'll be playing the strongest team we can.

"Chelsea have done fantastically well over the last few weeks and they are in the final of the Europa League. It should be a good game. We need to play with good enthusiam and enjoy it. We should express ourselves and try to finish off a good season."

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 10:24 PM

Another award for Robin

Quote:

Robin van Persie has added to his bulging trophy cabinet by scooping the Barclays Player of the Month award for April.

http://www.manutd.com/sitecore/shell...gn=0,2,529,796

The Dutchman picked up the ManUtd.com accolade for the same period this week and has followed it up with the league-wide prize after his goals helped clinch the title.

It is the second time that the United No20 has won the trophy this term after also coming out on top in December.

Chelsea’s interim boss Rafael Benitez pipped Sir Alex Ferguson to the monthly manager award, which means the Reds chief has only won it once this season (in October) despite steering the side to a runaway success in the division.

:cool:amazed:.

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 10:26 PM

Vidic: We still want to win

Quote:

Nemanja Vidic admits it's nice to not have the pressure of needing points from the final few games of the season now the Reds are champions, but the skipper insists the players' winning mentality has not been affected one bit.

http://www.manutd.com/sitecore/shell...n=0,68,768,353

Victory over Aston Villa nearly two weeks ago secured the title with four games to spare. But Vidic maintains that the players are still determined to finish the campaign with positive results.

"The most important thing is to win the games and keep that winning mentality," he told PA Sport and BBC Radio. "Sometimes when you play without the pressure you can have a good game and enjoy it more.

"There is enough of a motivation for us. We are motivated every time we step out at Old Trafford. When we go into the games we have a mentality to win which is not going to change against Chelsea or anyone else. The only difference is we are relaxed. We are not chasing points for the trophy. We have won that so we can enjoy the game. We will try to win. We don't want to lose the last three games. We want to finish in a good style."

The 2012/13 campaign has been another impressive one for Vidic bar the disappointment of spending two months on the sidelines recovering from further knee surgery following on from cruciate ligament damage in December 2011.

"The manager and medical staff didn't rush it this time when I came back from injury. I managed my injury well," he added. "Hopefully next season I will be competing for every game and trying to play in every game. That is my target."

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 10:28 PM

Boss expects Nani to stay

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Sir Alex Ferguson sees no reason why Nani won't be at Old Trafford next season.

http://www.manutd.com/~/media/81E2F2...n=0,63,541,264

The Portuguese winger has endured a frustrating season with injuries blighting his campaign and opportunities being limited. That has led to speculation surrounding his future, particularly with only a year left on his contract.

Sir Alex insists he not planning to offload any players and is confident Nani will be a Red next term.

"There is no need for us to sell anyone. We have no plans to do that. That’s a fact," the boss told reporters on Friday.

"Nani played last week at Arsenal and I thought he did well.

"He is one of our squad players. When he is in form there are very few better than him. So I think we will bring him back in pre-season training and he will be all right."

When asked about a new contract for the 26-year-old, the manager added: "That is not my department. It is something David [Gill] and George Mendes [Nani's agent] are working on. That is ongoing. But there is no progress as far as I know."

I still reckon that SAF is bluffing and Nani will leave!

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 10:29 PM

Van Persie to keep no.20 shirt

Quote:

Robin van Persie has confirmed he'll continue to wear the no.20 jersey for Manchester United in 2013/14, despite having the option to switch to no.9.

http://www.manutd.com/sitecore/shell...gn=0,1,582,435

When the Dutchman joined the Reds he said he chose the no.20 shirt because he was determined to help the club chase a 20th league title.

That mission has been accomplished now, although van Persie has told official matchday programme United Review he'll stick with the shirt next term.

"I think I’ll keep it,” he said. “I have the option to take no.9 but I don’t think I’ll do that. I’ll stick with what is right and what feels good.

"Also, I don’t want to be harsh to the fans who have no.20 on their kit. I don’t want them to have to buy a new shirt. It's been a good number for me and now I can at least celebrate the 20th trophy for another year. I’ll stick with it.”

The Dutchman has also revealed he was convinced “from day one” that he would get his hands on silverware this season.

He had only one major honour – an FA Cup winners’ medal in 2005 – to show for his eight-season spell at Arsenal when he joined United. Nine months later and he’s already a Barclays Premier League champion.

Certainly, van Persie’s decision to leave the North London club at which he was captain and talisman appears to have been vindicated.

“I wouldn’t have moved if I’d had doubts. Instead, from day one I was almost certain we’d win trophies – not in a couple of years but this year. I saw the players training, I saw the way they behaved, the way they lived, their mentality, the way the staff worked, the way the manager and the staff acted... When all those elements combine you end up with a team of champions."

Van Persie speaks in detail in Sunday’s matchday programme about winning the league, his potential Golden Boot and that sensational strike against Aston Villa.

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 10:32 PM

Ferguson confident he will be fit for United's title defence despite summer hip operation

Quote:

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed reports he will miss the start of Manchester United's Premier League title defence next season following hip surgery.

The United manager will have his right hip replaced at some point this summer and is expected to have the surgery after the club's three-week tour of Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong - although Ferguson insists a date for the routine operation has not yet been set.

Last night, Ferguson assured supporters he has every intention of being in the dugout at the start of a campaign to claim what would be his 14th Premier League crown.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...68_634x427.jpg

'There is no definite date for the operation yet,' he said. 'But I'm confident that everything will be sorted out before the season starts. I don't envisage any problems.'

Ferguson, who had a pacemaker fitted in 2004 to regulate his heartbeat, stated in February the only reason he would consider retiring from football management would be on health grounds.

But the news he requires hip surgery has not caused him to even consider that eventuality.

I hope that SAF's operation in the Summer goes well! They will have to carry him out of Old Trafford when he decides to retire, but I think he loves it that much that he will just keep going and so he should!

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 10:36 PM

Quote:

Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to break the bank to keep Manchester United at the summit of English football.

The Red Devils manager wants to build on *reclaiming the Premier League title by making at least one stellar signing this summer.

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that *Ferguson has identified a need to *recruit a centre-back, a midfielder and a *left-back – but he has assured *United’s fans that the club’s - American owners will give him their full financial backing if he identifies a big-name signing.

United are monitoring Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation at Real Madrid, while Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric are also attracting Ferguson’s attention.

Ferguson said: “Everything is in place for a big signing. I think that the Glazers have been great.

“Whenever I have asked, they have delivered.

“If I ask to go for a certain player, I think they will do that.

“When I spoke about value in the market a while back, I was talking about young, developing players.

“Maybe there has been a wind of change and I could go for a really top player now.

“We have a nucleus of young players here, but we may spend something.

“When it’s a top player, it doesn’t matter what position they play in. I will bring them in if they add to the team.

“Last season we had [Javier] Hernandez, [Danny] Welbeck and [Wayne] Rooney and we still went out and bought Robin van Persie.”

United’s consistency on the pitch has been matched by strong financial results off it. They have just announced a record third-quarter turnover of £91.7million and are expected to generate in excess of £350m for the year.

Vice-chairman Ed Woodward, the former investment banker who will replace David Gill as chief executive this summer, has *insisted that there are no major recruitment plans.

But if Ferguson identifies a player who will make a difference, he expects to be backed with hard cash.

Ferguson has been trailing Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski for the past year, although the Pole will now cost much more than the £25m suggested following his *exploits in the Champions League.

Ferguson also retains an admiration for Modric after losing out to Real *Madrid last year when the midfielder left Tottenham.

The support of Gill was unwavering last *summer when Ferguson wanted Van Persie, even though buying a 29-year-old broke with the club’s *stated transfer policy.

Ferguson said of the former Arsenal striker, who cost United £24m: “Van Persie’s age was *certainly an issue *because it has not always worked when we have bought older players.

“David Gill said to me after we bought Dimitar Berbatov [from Tottenham for £30m] that we had to be careful when signing older players, but Van Persie was *different.

“He was phenomenal for Arsenal last season and so I was confident it would work.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson has few regrets – but failing to buy Frank Lampard still haunts the Manchester United manager.

Interesting quotes. A big marquee signing this Summer would be amazing, but I just really hope that we finally strengthen our Midfield and aim to sort out the weaknesses in that area!

bbfan1991

04-05-2013 11:32 PM

Preview: United v Chelsea

Quote:

Date, time and coverage: Sunday 5 May, kick-off 16:00 BST. Live on Sky Sports.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...v-Chelsea.aspx

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 12:26 PM

Sir Alex drops transfer hint

Quote:

Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that he may make a big-name signing again during the close season if the right player becomes available.

http://www.manutd.com/~/media/47B0F6...n=0,23,800,618

United rocked the football world with the capture of Robin van Persie from Arsenal last August and the manager has stressed that he will add to his squad despite the fact that his team have been crowned champions. The Reds are constantly being linked with a host of names from all across the planet but the groundwork has already been made in the hunt for fresh talent over the course of the campaign.

When asked which position he is looking to strengthen, the boss replied: “Not necessarily midfield. I think with top players it doesn’t matter what position they play in. I think if I get a top player in, it adds to the team and it improves it. Last season, we had Chicharito, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney but still went for van Persie. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. We won the league because we had a strong squad in terms of numbers and I think we should add to it."

In some previous years, Sir Alex stressed there has been no great value in the transfer market when looking to make additions but he feels the situation has now changed.

”Well, I think the value I was talking about then was maybe some young, developing players were overvalued and there wasn’t the right quality,” he clarified. “But maybe there’s a wind change in the fact that we may go for a top player. That’s possible. We’ve got a nucleus of young players but we may spend something, you know.”

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 12:28 PM

Boss' respect for Lampard

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Sir Alex Ferguson admits there is much to admire in Chelsea’s midfield – including a player he regrets not signing - as he prepares to pitch Anderson and Tom Cleverley into action against them at Old Trafford.

http://www.manutd.com/~/media/B759A4...=0,263,706,526

“Fantastic” and “unbelievable” were the words he found to describe Frank Lampard, when prompted by Sunday newspaper journalists at his pre-match press conference. The England international recently scored his 202nd goal for Chelsea – equalling the club record set by striker Bobby Tambling – even though he has spent his 12 seasons at Stamford Bridge in their engine room.

“The guy has had a great career,” acknowledged Sir Alex at his pre-match press conference. “I must say we looked at him when he was at West Ham as a young player and I maybe regret not having done it.

“Where else could I get 200 goals [from midfield]? I don’t think a midfield player will be able to do that again. It’s quite phenomenal. He’s had a great knack, like Bryan Robson had, of timing his run into the box at the right time. John Wark at Ipswich was another one exactly like that, he could time his runs late into the box.

“That has got Lampard 200 goals, but also I can’t remember him ever being injured. If he’s not been playing, then maybe it’s because they thought he was past it or whatever.”

Another factor in Lampard’s diminishing number of starts for Chelsea is the form of three younger midfield stars in Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata. Sir Alex feels that trio has been key in keeping Chelsea competing for trophies and a

Champions League place while under the interim management of Rafa Benitez.

“I think those three players are three good players,” said Sir Alex. “It’ll be difficult for any manager to change that as they’re their three best players by far. Benitez is only there as interim until the new man comes in. But any new manager would be silly to get rid of those three players.”

As for the make-up of his own midfield, the United boss could bring Anderson and Tom Cleverley back for their first starts since the Easter weekend. Sir Alex feels the latter was below par in the two FA Cup clashes against Chelsea but believes he would now benefit from a return.

“Tom hit a quiet spell and I wonder if he maybe needed a little break at that point,” pondered the boss. “He’s going to be involved on Sunday without doubt and he’ll play before the end of the season. I played him and Alex Buttner in the U21s the other night as they needed a game. Tom is a very good player, a good footballer with a good brain and good energy.

“Anderson came on and made a difference last week at Arsenal. He really opened the game up for us and will definitely be involved on Sunday. I may even start him.”

Ryan57

05-05-2013 01:19 PM

Cleverley forgiven by Fergie then it seems, after the rumour he got too big for his boots.

Quote:

Tom is a very good player, a good footballer with a good brain and good energy.

Going a bit far.

Brother Leon

05-05-2013 01:27 PM

How is it going far? Lol

That's him really. Good brain and a good footballer with potential.

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 01:33 PM

SAF in United matchday programme "I want a good performance from us in keeping with our returned status as champions".

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BJgVjNECYAAXsLx.jpg

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan57 (Post 5976249)

Cleverley forgiven by Fergie then it seems, after the rumour he got too big for his boots.

Going a bit far.

Rumours are rumours though. I am remaining impartial because we do not know if there is any truth in them or not, if there is then Tom probably does deserve bring back down to earth as a reminder.

Ryan57

05-05-2013 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Leon (Post 5976264)

How is it going far? Lol

That's him really. Good brain and a good footballer with potential.

You'd say Cleverley is a very good player?

I'd consider very good to be someone like, say... Oxlade - Chamberlain, Lucas Moura, Jagielka etc. Players that are very good but not quite world class.

No way is he very good. He's decent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbfan1991 (Post 5976275)

Rumours are rumours though. I am remaining impartial because we do not know if there is any truth in them or not, if there is then Tom probably does deserve bring back down to earth as a reminder.

If is true, he most certainly does. Miles from having any sort of right to think he's made it.

AnnieK

05-05-2013 01:37 PM

Cleverly hasn't lived up to his early potential....it's a shame he's had a few injuries that have stopped him coming on like it looked like he was going to....

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 01:41 PM

I agree that Tom Cleverley needs to step up and show more potential, same for Danny Welbeck really and with Welbeck he needs to improve on his finishing and trying to get more goals but the potential is there for both.

I prefer Javier Hernandez as a player over Welbeck tbh and I would be gutted if there was any truth in the rumours about Chicha leaving.

Ryan57

05-05-2013 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anniek76 (Post 5976280)

Cleverly hasn't lived up to his early potential....it's a shame he's had a few injuries that have stopped him coming on like it looked like he was going to....

Has barely progressed at all from the good start he had last season. Good squad player but that's about it. The thought of trying to pass the ball forward a good distance appears to cause the lad to shiver uncontrollably, so he just passes it short to someone else.

Shame.

Ryan57

05-05-2013 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbfan1991 (Post 5976285)

Welbeck's finishing has been s h i t for sometime now for some reason. Started last season well but, he does offer some good things despite being unable to realise the two corner flags aren't infact the goal posts. Whereas, Cleverley doesn't seem to offer a whole lot.

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 01:42 PM

United spend since inception of PL in '92:

• Chelsea £842m - 3 titles
• Man City £704m - 1 title
• L'pool £602m - 0 title
• United £532m- 13 titles.

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan57 (Post 5976289)

I think Cleverley has given us a bit more energy in Midfield considering our options there and he has linked up well with Carrick.

He seems to tire in the second half of matches and probably needs to work on his stamina.

Ryan57

05-05-2013 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbfan1991 (Post 5976293)

Not hard to give energy to a midfield where we played Scholes last season, xD.

Seriously though, good energy, but as you say, tires. And really, even with all that energy, hardly provides a whole lot. He's not been in the team for weeks and it's not like he's been missed.

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan57 (Post 5976295)

We do need energy in our midfield if we are to press teams, which is why I hope that SAF finally invests money in that area because we cannot keep waiting if Fletcher is going to come back or not, but I do wish him well.

Scholes will probably retire on the quiet unless he wants to do one more season and Anderson is probably in last chance saloon, which it might go the other way and SAF wants to keep him.

In a way Ando being converted from an CAM to CM was the wrong move by United!

Ryan57

05-05-2013 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbfan1991 (Post 5976297)

Surely will buy central midfielders this summer. If not, then deary me. Unless we signed Bale and Falcao. :joker:

bbfan1991

05-05-2013 02:07 PM

‏@AdamSMarshall
Paul Scholes got off the coach with the squad - team news soon

Nemanja Vidic and Marnick Vermijl also appear to the in the matchday squad.

All times are GMT. The time now is 10:15 AM.

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