Manchester United Fans Club

Ryan Giggs believes Manchester United’s Champions League victory against Dynamo Kiev proves they can cope with the injury problems that threaten to derail their season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side romped to a 4-2 win in the Ukraine on Tuesday despite being without Paul Scholes, Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Louis Saha.

The Premier League champions lost Scholes to an injury in training before the match, while Evra was ruled after suffering an injury to his calf in the pre-match warm-up. (more…)

Ronaldo and Rooney form are getting better from matches to matches. This time around it was Ronaldo who scored a double as United struck four times for the third game running, virtually sea a place in the Champions League group stage.

Rio Ferdinand also scored for the second time running, his best ever scoring streak for United since his’ days at United. Rooney, in particular also need to be praised for his seventh goal in six games for club and country, gave United a flying start before Cristiano Ronaldo’s double wrapped up a victory for more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

Dynamo Kiev’s defending was virtually not existence, (more…)

Manchester United are facing a major midfield injury crisis after Paul Scholes has ruled out of tonight’s Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev with a knee problem.

Scholes suffered the injury in training at the Olympic Stadium last night and will have a scan on his return to Manchester to discover the exact extent of the problem.

‘Paul will miss tonight’s match,’ Ferguson told MUTV.

‘He got a knee injury in training last night and he will have a scan when we get him home.

‘It is unfortunate, but these things happen and I am sure we have enough experience to cope.’

John O’Shea, Darren Fletcher or Anderson should replace Scholes in the United line-up this evening but Ferguson will desperately hope the 32-year-old is not too seriously hurt.

Already, United are without two experienced midfielders in Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick.

Although Hargreaves could be available for the crunch Premier League encounter with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on November 3, he is unlikely to play against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Carrick, who dislocated his elbow against Roma earlier this month, is not due back until the end of next month.

Scholes has already been sidelined by one knee injury this term after being forced to fly home from the club’s Far East tour with a cartilage problem that forced him to miss the remainder of United’s pre-season campaign, although he did figure in the opening-day draw with Reading.

Patrice Evra believes Manchester United “have a point to prove” in the Champions League this season, ahead of Tuesday’s clash at Dynamo Kiev.

United resume their campaign in the Ukraine next week having already won their first two group matches and handily placed to seal a last 16 berth with time to spare.

And once their spot in the knockout stage is secured, the Red Devils can start to plan their revenge for last season’s gut-wrenching semi-final exit.

Having beaten AC Milan at Old Trafford in the opening leg at Old Trafford, a tired and weary United side were hammered in the return meeting at the San Siro, allowing the Serie A giants to move on to the final, where they subsequently accounted for Liverpool.

“Losing against AC Milan last season was very frustrating,” said Evra.

“I don’t like making excuses but we had players missing through injury and suspension and it affected us.

“This year we have even more quality, so our chances are good.

“Just because we have signed quality players it doesn’t automatically mean we will do better. But I do feel as though we have a point to prove after last season’s frustration.”

No trip to Kiev can be taken lightly, but Sir Alex Ferguson has done his best to minimise the effects of the journey by ordering a Sunday flight for his team rather than setting off 24 hours before kick-off as usual.

With their own dietician and chef on board, nothing will be taken to chance.

And while a number of senior men, including Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Gary Neville, remain on the injured list, Ferguson will feel confident of picking up at least a draw, as he did on his only previous trip to Kiev with United seven years ago.

The only survivor from that night will be Ryan Giggs, who signed a one-year contract extension earlier this week.

Evra knows Giggs well having played on the same flank since his £5million arrival from Monaco in January 2006.

In fact, at times Evra has even occupied Giggs’ usual left-wing slot as Ferguson tried to cope with a mass of early-season absentees, producing performances so effective some United supporters have branded the jovial Frenchman their club’s best performer so far this term.

“If some fans are saying that then it is a nice compliment but really it is all about the team,” he said.

“I always work for the team and just try to respect this great shirt, which means giving everything and trying to do well in each match.

“I am not aiming to be something special but I feel good this season.

“I want to do my best because I want to reach the same level as I did last year.”

Wayne Rooney was disappointed to miss out on a hat-trick as Manchester United thrashed Aston Villa 4-1 at Villa Park. ‘We had a disappointing start but after that we started playing well, passing it well and played some great football before half time,’ Rooney said.

‘In the second half they had two men sent off which made it a bit easier. ‘I’m pleased to be back scoring but obviously disappointed to miss the penalty but happy with the two.’ Rooney’s England colleague Rio Ferdinand was keen to claim United’s third goal, which was helped into his own net by Craig Gardner. (more…)

Wayne Rooney continued his recent fine form with two goals against the improving Aston Villa at Villa Park as Manchester United come from a goal down to scored four.

Rooney took his tally to six goals in the last five games for club and country, after England’s EURO 2008 disappointment in Russia Rooney help the Red Devils chalk up a seventh successive win in the Premier League - and only a penalty saved denied him a hat-trick.

Sir Alex was forced to reshuffle the line-up as Vidic, Saha, Hargreaves, Carrick and Neville still not available. Ronaldo was on the bench after suffering a slight knock on international duty, Anderson was handed his second start while Pipue deputised at right-back as Wes Brown filled in for Vidic.

United looks to have moved away from the version of grinding out 1-0 wins earlier in the campaign and moved in a gear to play with fluent passing, movement, vision and the blossoming strike pairing of Rooney and Tevez.

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Craig Gardner has revealed his desire to remain Aston Villa’s deadball expert as he set himself a 10-goal target ahead of the clash with Manchester United at Villa Park. Gardner has scored with free-kicks from the edge of the penalty area in Villa’s last two games with Tottenham and West Ham.

He faces competition from the likes of skipper Gareth Barry and Shaun Maloney for the role but is hopeful of being retained against the Red Devils as Villa seek a fifth successive home league win. Gardner, who is confident of shaking off a groin strain to face United, told PA Sport: “It was nice to get on the scoresheet twice in five days, but I want to get around the 10 goal mark for the season.

“Overall, that’s two in eight league games now for me this season so it can be done. I’ve scored with basically the same free-kick both times, driven hard and low, but I am sure I will score other sorts of goals as well, maybe bend one into the top corner!

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Veteran winger Ryan Giggs has signed contract extension at Old Trafford and is hopeful his latest Manchester United contract will not be his last.

Only three weeks after Giggs confirmed tentative talks had begun over an extension to his present deal, which was due to expire in the summer, negotiations have reached a successful conclusion.

The long-serving winger’s new deal will keep him at Old Trafford until 2009, extending his first-team career with the Red Devils to an incredible 18 years. (more…)

Nemanja Vidic will be celebrating his 26th birthday this Sunday and United’s boss is hoping to make the birthday boy is fit to face Aston Villa, while Edwin van der Sar has confirmed he could play.

Vidic, 26 on Sunday, was withdrawn from the Wigan game a fortnight ago after just 21 minutes, and he has since missed Serbia’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, the big defender could now return to action in United’s trip to the Midlands.

“We don’t have many changes from Wigan. I’m hoping that Vida will be ready,” said the boss at his pre-match press conference. Van der Sar limped off with a toe injury against Birmingham City, but he is also expected to return at Villa Park. (more…)

Manchester United will meet table-toppers Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on November 3rd. Some pundits have already suggested Arsenal are too raw and inexperienced to last the pace this season, feeling United, Liverpool and Chelsea will eventually emerge as the major championship contenders.

Ferguson disputes that theory. He only has to look back 12 months to find similar opinions being expressed about his own side, who went on to win the title in such glorious fashion. It is still an open race but Arsenal have had a great start and they are the ones we are chasing at the moment,’ said Ferguson.

‘I know challenging for a title is a new experience for a lot of their players but some of them have been there before and the manager has, which is a help. People said the same thing about us last year but we led the league for three-quarters of the season, so I don’t think it is a handicap.

‘The main thing is I know we will chase them with great fervour and determination. Our team is coming together now. We are getting on with the business of winning games and hopefully we can continue to do that now.’