[joeysteele]

Really good result in my opinion, good on them and hard lines on not quite getting another.

[bbfan1991]

What a save. In David We Trust!

[bbfan1991]

This one too.

[bbfan1991]

Report: Real Madrid 1 United 1

http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-An...ch-report.aspx

[Brother Leon]

Love David. Take a bow.

[bbfan1991]

Boss: It's within our grasp

Sir Alex Ferguson thinks United have a great chance of progressing in the Champions League following a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid.



The boss was pleased with his side's performance, if disappointed that a number of chances were not taken in the second half, and sportingly paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo for his excellent equaliser.

"I think it was an interesting match," he told Sky Sports. "There were chances at both ends. David De Gea made three or four terrific saves and we missed some really good chances ourselves. Their keeper [Diego Lopez] made a fantastic save in the last minute and when Robin van Persie hit the bar. There were a lot of incidents and it made it a really interesting game.

"We sat back off them too much in the first half and they had a lot of play around the edge of our box which is not healthy or good to watch. It was unlike us in many ways but we changed it around in the second half and put Danny Welbeck around Xabi Alonso. It made a great difference and the ebb of the game definitely changed.

"We had a really good start to the second half and, all in all, created a lot of chances with good attacking football at times but we've not had the possession we should have. Real won the possession without question but they were at home and it's a difficult place to come.

"I've got to be pleased. The players dug in and got the result. It takes us back to Old Trafford with a great chance."

Sir Alex hailed Ronaldo's leveller and realises he will be a big threat again in the return leg.

"What a header," he exclaimed. "Unbelievable. You can't stop that, I've got to say, with that leap and spring and he holds himself in the air. And the power in the header. I came in at half-time and said: 'Patrice did you not challenge for it' but I've seen the video.

"I thought we did well and it was difficult for Cristiano playing against us, his old team. Maybe there was a little bit of emotion attached to it but he was still a big threat for them.

"It's very open. I think they'll score at Old Trafford. We know they're going to be a tremendous counter-attacking team because we've seen it when they played Manchester City at the Etihad. They absolutely dominated the game in the first half.

"So we've got a big job on our hands but it's definitely within our grasp, no doubt."

[bbfan1991]

The British press giving De Gea some well deserved praise AT LAST.

[Ryan57]

Fu-cking w@nk referee. Varane clearly should of been off.

Fantastic performance though. De Gea shutting a lot of tw@ts up.

[bbfan1991]

Nice. Sky said that Cristiano Ronaldo had popped into the United dressing room for a bit of a catch up with SAF/players/staff etc, which is nice and I hope the emotion of being back at Old Trafford gets to him in the second leg.

[bbfan1991]

This was from before the Real Madrid match, so true.

Manchester United keeper David de Gea insists he has improved since he joined the club amid continued backing from Sir Alex Ferguson.



Now nearing the end of his second season at Old Trafford following an £18million switch from Atletico Madrid, some observers believe it will be his last.

The summer arrival of Jack Butland at Stoke suggests Asmir Begovic will be on the move, with United long since being viewed as a likely destination.

But De Gea has defended his record and believes he has improved since he joined the club, a view shared by boss Ferguson.

The Spanish keeper said: "Of course when you arrive at a new club it is normal there will be low points. The important thing is to learn from them and improve.

"I know I am much better than when I first arrived at Manchester United."

Ferguson added: "David has shown his character because he has taken a lot of criticism, sometimes unfairly.

"What we are good at is developing people. He came to us as a very young man, not used to the English game and unable to speak the language. Also he was still to mature physically.

"But it's like a young kid taking his first steps forward, he wobbles, then gets up, wobbles, then gets up again and eventually he walks.

"The boy is walking now."

[bbfan1991]

Vote: Man of the Match

There were several outstanding performances in the United ranks as the Reds regsitered a hard-fought 1-1 Champions League draw at Real Madrid.



David De Gea was by far the busier goalkeeper on show, and the former Atletico Madrid stopper was equal to almost everything Real could throw at him. An early world class stop from Coentrao was the highlight of his display, run close by his improvised hoof away from the same opponent's shot. Another magnificent big-game display from the Spaniard.

Phil Jones turned in a selfless shift in a defensive midfield position, coagulating Real's approach play in central areas and providing a fine foil for Michael Carrick. The youngster once again gave absolutely everything for the cause.

United's attacking threat was largely reduced to counter-raids, but Robin van Persie's role within them was integral. The Dutchman's use of the ball and hold-up play was superb, though he'll be haunted by passing up the chance to bag a second away goal for the Reds.

In addition to his well-taken goal, Danny Welbeck was an inspirational presence in the United attack, applying his trademark hustle with abandon and providing a lively outlet throughout his 73-minute outing. A really impressive shift from the Longsight lad.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...drid-away.aspx


David De Gea just edges Danny Welbeck for me.

[Legend killer]

Fergie was bang on with tactics tonight especially second half

Credit where credit is due

[Legend killer]

I hate to say a bad word about RVP because he has been AMAZING for us but damm he misses a lot of sitter's which is amazing considering some of the amazing goals he does score. Main reason why Ruud will always be my fav Dutch striker at United

[bbfan1991]

Ronaldo: It was emotional

Cristiano Ronaldo didn't celebrate after scoring for Real Madrid against United because of the emotion of playing against his former team.



The Portuguese, who spent six years at Old Trafford before his world record transfer to Spain, equalised Danny Welbeck's opener with a thumping header in the Champions League draw between the two sides.

"To play against Manchester was hard, especially for me, but I just tried to be professional and tried to do my best," Ronaldo told MUTV.

"I didn't celebrate because I played in Manchester for six years and it was very emotional for me. I just tried to do my best, to play for Madrid, to score goals, but I didn't commemorate because I think it's not fair, not respect if I commemorate."

An absorbing first leg tie ended all-square in Madrid, with the joy of Welbeck's goal offset by the frustration of further missed openings and Real's constant menace in attack.

With another enthralling 90 minutes of the tie still to come, Ronaldo feels his side are still firmly in with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals - though he is already anticipating another emotional outing on his former stomping ground. "It will be amazing to play there after four years and it will be another emotional game."

[bbfan1991]

Robin: Draw a decent result

Robin van Persie viewed United's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid as a positive result, but lamented his own missed chances in a thrilling encounter in Spain.



The Dutchman had three second-half opportunities, seeing two efforts well repelled by Real stopper Diego Lopez, but it was a scuffed effort which Xabi Alonso cleared off the line which most haunted van Persie.

"We had a couple of good chances and I think if you'd said we would play out a 1-1 before the game, most of us would take it," the 29-year-old told Sky Sports.

"Away from home it's a good result. For the people who watched that game, they've seen chances on both sides and I think it was a great game to watch.

"I had three [chances] in the second half, especially the one just after I hit the bar. That was a big chance. I should have put that one in. I just slightly mis-kicked it, didn't hit it properly.

"With a bit of luck it could have gone in but they didn't and in the dying seconds the keeper made a really good save - I was counting on that one to go in."

Danny Welbeck's first-half header ensured the Reds have an away goal in the bank ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford, but van Persie warned against placing too much stock in its importance.

"At this level I don't really think that these kind of teams really care if they play home or away," he said. "We don't really care and they don't really care; it's just half-time now and we'll be ready for the second half."

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Legend killer

I hate to say a bad word about RVP because he has been AMAZING for us but damm he misses a lot of sitter's which is amazing considering some of the amazing goals he does score. Main reason why Ruud will always be my fav Dutch striker at United

I wouldnt sweat on that too much, hes so brilliant he actually creates half these chances for himself anyway, most great strikers miss a few

wellbeck did well tonight , de geas saves were awesome
incidentally ryan giggs played his 998th first class game tonight, 2 more for immortality

[Ryan57]

Originally Posted by Legend killer

I hate to say a bad word about RVP because he has been AMAZING for us but damm he misses a lot of sitter's which is amazing considering some of the amazing goals he does score. Main reason why Ruud will always be my fav Dutch striker at United

All strikers miss sitters to be fair. I think Alonso put him off tonight, as did RVP probably thinking he was offside.

[bbfan1991]

Jones: We could have won it

Phil Jones says the players were slightly disappointed to come away from the Bernabeu with a draw after a display of determination and grit against Real Madrid.



Jones was one of the Reds' star performers in the 1-1 Champions League last 16 first leg draw, which produced football of the highest order.

Danny Welbeck's opener on 20 minutes came against the run of play and gave the visitors a crucial away goal, before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled 10 minutes later.

And while David De Gea had to be at his very best to keep Madrid's goal count down to just one, United created enough chances to have come away with the win.

"The lads were disappointed in the changing room after the game because we all felt that we could have scored more than the one goal. We had the chances and with a bit more luck some of them might have gone in," Jones told PA Sport.

"Going in front first gave us great belief. It gave us a spur. But they hit back with a great header from Ronaldo. Once they scored it was a bit of a backs-to-the-wall job, but we dug in deep and it was important to get to half-time without conceding again.

"At the break we said we just had to show some more belief. We know we can play some good stuff and we did that in the second half. If Robin’s effort had gone in over the keeper and also past him at the end it could have been 3-1.

"All over the pitch we were superb defensively," Jones added. "You always have to be on your guard against them. We now have to repeat the same performance at Old Trafford and go out and beat them."

Jones revealed he had known for a few days that he would be involved from the start in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 clash and was given specific instructions to monitor the movements of Ronaldo.

"The gaffer told me I had to be wary of him and if he made runs inside then I had to follow him," explained the England international. "Once or twice he escaped and it was a wake-up call because he is so sharp, but overall I thought we dealt with him well.

"Obviously Cristiano is the main threat for Madrid but there are other players who can cause you a hell of a lot of problems. It was about being solid and getting that foundation and base at the back. We did that terrifically well.

"Madrid are a great team and they played some really good stuff, but I thought we limited them to a few chances. You have to ride your luck at times, but on another day we could have scored a few more. Overall, I think a draw was a fair result."

[bbfan1991]

Madrid trip 'just another game'

Danny Welbeck revealed the secret behind United's professional display against Real Madrid in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu: treating it like any other game.



The 22-year-old striker opened the scoring for the Reds in Spain and, although Cristiano Ronaldo quickly levelled matters, United gave as good as they got in securing a 1-1 Champions League draw.

"You come to the Bernabeu and it's a magnificent stadium," Welbeck told Sky Sports. "With all the names they've got we just knew we had to set out as if it was going to be another game.

"We came here to play the game, not the occasion, and no matter who we're playing against we're going to set out like Manchester United do and try to win the game."

Welbeck admitted his well-taken header from a Wayne Rooney corner was the result of well-rehearsed set-piece routines, saying: "Once Wazza took the corner, I knew exactly where he was going to put it. We've got different routines, and thankfully it came to me and I stuck it in the back of the net."

Shortly before half-time, he came agonisingly close to doubling his haul, only for Real shot-stopper Diego Lopez to turn away his prodded effort from a Robin van Persie cross.

"It was very close," he added. "It was a great ball by Robin, it was just inches away. Just a step forward and maybe I could have stuck it in the back of the net, but it was just a bit too far."

I am pleased for Welbz last night, he was class. What a night it must have been for him being Manchester born and bred, a Manchester United fan and scoring at the Santiago Burnabeu, he has United running through his veins and has so much potential at United and with England too!

[bbfan1991]

Manchester United profits rise

Manchester United has reported a 74% rise in profits for the second half of 2012, on the back of rising revenues.



The Premier League club said pre-tax profits for the last six months of the year were £22.3m.

Total revenues were up, with income from sponsors particularly strong, though broadcast revenues were down.

The club, owned by the Glazer family, listed on the New York Stock Exchange last year. It still has debts of £366.6m.

Manchester United has had a successful campaign on the pitch so far this season. They currently sit top of the Premier League and are in the last 16 of the Champions League.

On Wednesday evening they drew 1-1 in the first leg of their Champions League match with Real Madrid.

Staff costs rose by more than 10%. The club said it spent a total of £84.5m, mainly on signing new players, player wage increases and on increasing its commercial staff numbers.

Ed Woodward, Manchester United's executive vice chairman, said the club's commercial operation "continues to experience extremely strong growth particularly in sponsorship".

WOW. Great news!

[bbfan1991]

'The party is not over': David De Gea warns Man United are not through yet

"We are talking about Real Madrid, one of the world's best. They still have to come to us," the keeper says:



David De Gea is not getting carried away despite his starring role in Manchester United's draw at Real Madrid.

The 22-year-old has been under pressure this season after some uncertain displays between the sticks this season, but he was in fine form on Wednesday night in the Champions League match in the Bernabeu, helping the Red Devils come away with a 1-1 draw.

But De Gea is still wary of the Spanish champions ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford in three weeks.

"The party is not over," he said.

"We are talking about Real Madrid, one of the world's best. They still have to come to us.

"It was a good result for us though, one we deserved."

The Spaniard started the game well, tipping a Fabio Coentrao shot on to the post in the opening minutes, before keeping out another effort from the Portuguese with his legs in the second half.

"It all happened so fast," he said. "I got across and was lucky enough to save it with my feet.

"Overall, I am very happy with my performance. I am improving every at Old Trafford and I am very happy."

Ex-United keeper Mark Bosnich says De Gea needs to be given time to establish himself.

"He has been criticised time again in United's goal," said Bosnich.

"It has been very harsh and has come from people who don't really know.

"When you're in goal at the Bernabeu you can feel Madrid's momentum. The roar becomes deafening.

"I speak from experience. I was fortunate enough to stand in those very shoes when United played against Real Madrid in 2000 quarter-final. It's some experience.

"So well done to David De Gea.

"He has been linked with a move back to Madrid - possibly as Iker Casillas' replacement at Real - but I hope he stays in the Premier League and continues to prove his value."

Well said DDG. There is still one more leg to play yet, but what a performance from him and the British press are finally giving him some credit for once!

I am glad that he is happy at United too.

[Brother Leon]

They will be back to hating him the second we are playing in the prem again. CL is different as he's representing England for Man United in a way so they will him to do well.

[bbfan1991]

David de Gea looking the part in Manchester United's glove department

It was in an airless room, in the bowels of the Bernabéu, that we learned a little more about the young guy with the sloping shoulders and Tintin haircut who had picked his moment well to turn down the volume on his critics.

"In Spanish we call it cresta cabeza," Eric Steele, the goalkeeping coach who has taken almost paternal care of David de Gea at Manchester United, explained. It means, literally, quiff-head. "Any criticism goes off that quiff. That is the great thing about him. He's able to say: 'Right, fine.' He might have dark moments but he keeps them away from the training ground. If he is ever hurt, he doesn't show it."

Steele can pass off a little Spanish because he has been learning the language to help the lines of communication. De Gea's English is evidently improving, too, on the back of his twice-weekly lessons. On Tuesday, sitting beside Sir Alex Ferguson in a news conference in Madrid, he had wanted to show it off. "He was disappointed he got only two questions," Steele disclosed. "He was ready to answer some in English."

It is a brave man who is willing to try a new language in front of the world's media but, if there is one thing we are coming to learn about De Gea, it is that the 22-year-old is not short of courage.

There have been lapses, as might be expected of a goalkeeper his age, and it is a brutally two-faced media when the people stampeding to bury him a few weeks ago are now trampling each other out of the way to lavish him with praise.

Steele has said himself that De Gea was "slightly disappointed" with his first season in Manchester but perhaps now it is clearer why Ferguson, a manager who has described a goalkeeper's best attributes as maturity and experience, was prepared to replace Edwin van der Sar with someone half the Dutchman's age.

It was, Steele admitted, a calculated gamble. Van der Sar was 34 when he made his United debut and nearly 40 when he left. Peter Schmeichel was 27 when he signed. Fabien Barthez was 29 and Tim Howard 24. De Gea was 20 when he arrived in Manchester from Atlético Madrid for a fee of £18.9m. "The manager missed out on Petr Cech when he was younger and he didn't want to do that again. Joe Hart was the other one. The manager just said if this guy is as good as we think and we have scouted him strongly, then we don't want to miss out on him like we did with Petr Cech."

It has been a difficult journey at times. "You bring a boy into the Premier League at 20," Steele said. "It's not easy. He's learning in the toughest environment in the world. But the one thing he has is fantastic inner strength. We teach him that the calmest man on the field has to be the goalkeeper. And one of his great strengths is his calmness.

"There have been dark moments but he has his family close to him. He doesn't read the press. All the other mediums are there, which he knows about. But everything that has been going on around him for the last four or five months … trust me, he's very mature for his age. He's had to be because you're not just replacing a goalkeeper in Edwin, you're replacing a legend.

"It's not just about the shot-stopping. There's more to it. Put it this way, if you think about what David has been through, he has to have inner strength. He has dealt with it. And he's such a likable lad. He hasn't come in swearing and squeaking. He's just got on with his job."

What a job he did, too, against José Mourinho's team. As Steele put it: "He was born in Madrid, played for the enemy. There were all these different pressures on him – but you wouldn't have known."

De Gea had left the Bernabéu saying merely that he was "very happy" with his performance. Ferguson had described him as "superb", making "three or four top saves" and sparing United a potential ordeal with that slight yet decisive touch, at full-length, to turn Fábio Coentrão's shot against a post early on.

Steele blew out his cheeks in admiration. "That was the one. If we go one-nil down to Real Madrid after five minutes at the Bernabéu, that makes things a lot harder. He saw it late – one of their boys might have been offside in front of him – but he got a finger to it. Some [goalkeepers] may have had the anticipation. David also had the speed of the first-step movement and that great long reach to get enough on it. That's the fine line for a goalkeeper. That's why a goalkeeper can be a hero one moment and zero the next."

The key, of course, is consistency. De Gea will almost certainly slip back again at some point and the scrutiny will not let up, as it never does at a club of United's size.

"It's the variation of the Premier League," Steele continued. "We knew he had to go to places like Stoke, Birmingham, Wolves. That's what he's having to learn: each week is a different challenge. He's still growing physically. He's working hard on that. He'll get stronger physically and that will help."

It helps, too, that De Gea is in a working environment where they shelter their players. Ferguson and his staff have retained their trust in the Spaniard, accepting there will be mistakes, just as there were when Schmeichel, the greatest of them all, first arrived in England.

"We have a staff that closes ranks, stays together," Steele said. "We know what we have. We bring in a lot of young players here. The manager has always done that and, if you're bringing in young players, you have to have confidence in them and let them build and thrive. We just put the shield up. You're there to be shot at but that's fine, you deal with it. And David will be fine. He has always been a goalkeeper. He believes he was born to be a goalkeeper."

Great article on DDG, he has so much potential. In David We Trust!

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

They will be back to hating him the second we are playing in the prem again. CL is different as he's representing England for Man United in a way so they will him to do well.

So true LOL. The press are annoying and predictable, at least DDG does not read what they say and his English is apparently improving.

[bbfan1991]

De Gea deserves plaudits

Michael Carrick says David De Gea deserves all the plaudits he has received since his Man of the Match display against Real Madrid which has helped give United a slight edge in the Champions League last 16 tie.



The Spaniard produced a host of top quality saves at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night which, Carrick believes, helped keep the Reds in the game. And following Danny Welbeck’s crucial away goal, Sir Alex’s men now hold a minor advantage ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford on 5 March.

“David’s performance just showed what he is all about,” Carrick told PA Sport. “There is no bigger pressure cooker really than this stage of the Champions League and coming to a place like this. Coming back home [to Spain] as well, there was an extra spotlight on him. Some of his saves kept us in the game at times.

“It is never nice when people question you but that is natural at a club like this. You are always getting questioned and criticised,” added Carrick, when asked about the flak De Gea has received this season, mainly within the media. “That is just how it is. You have to deal with it.

“He is a top keeper and he is only going to get better. To play at this club at such a young age and have so much on your shoulders and to then produce a performance like that [against Madrid] just showed what he is all about.”

Carrick was also full of praise for the Reds’ goalscorer on the night Danny Welbeck, whose all-round display was saluted by Sir Alex after the game.

“I thought Danny was magnificent,” declared Carrick. “It just showed what he is capable of. He has all the attributes to be a top player. I was delighted for him. He worked so hard. He probably doesn't get the credit he deserves really, but on Wednesday night he was terrific and getting his goal will be a massive boost.”

Welbeck’s 20th-minute header was only his second United goal of the season, but Carrick insists the striker is about much more than just goals.

“He is a genuinely nice lad who gives everything he has got. He is a Manchester lad and just loves the club. We all appreciate what Danny gives to the team, even if he is not scoring,” continued the midfielder.

“The team is winning so it is not such an issue who is scoring. It was nice to see him get one in Madrid and even if he is playing and doing well but someone else is scoring I am sure Danny will take that.”

Nice praise for both lads from Michael Carrick.