BARCELONA V UNITED- Preview

Well, its the biggest fixture in the world football!!
The world's best players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will battle it out to win the biggest European Club competition.

Rio Ferdinand is back in United's squad. Henry and Iniesta are fot for Barcelona.

Fixture: Manchester United v Barcelona
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Venue: Stadio Olympico,Rome
Date:27.5.09
Time:19.45 UK 00.15 IST
Channel:TEN SPORTS India

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Hull v United - Preview

United are likely to field a much-changed team at relegation-threatened Hull City as they prepare for the Champions League Final against Barcelona.

That is excellent news for the Tigers who go into the game just outside the relegation zone after securing a vital draw at Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

However, such is the strength in depth of the current United squad that any team Sir Alex Ferguson decides to field is certain to push Hull all the way.

City can take heart from their performance at the Reebok Stadium when they were unfortunate not to return to the east coast with all three points, but their record at the KC Stadium is awful - they have only won three of their 18 home games this term.

It is possible that Phil Brown's team could lose on Sunday and still avoid an immediate return to the Championship but it is bound to be a nervous afternoon for all concerned.

Long-term injury victim Jimmy Bullard (knee) once again misses out as do Ian Ashbee (cruciate knee ligaments) and Anthony Gardner (back), but Brown is hopeful that Bernard Mendy and Kamil Zayatte could feature.

Having secured a third successive Premier League title by drawing 0-0 with Arsenal at Old Trafford last weekend, United are likely to be in celebratory mood at the KC Stadium.

Recent history suggests they may not be at their best as, two years ago, they lost at home at West Ham United on the final day of the campaign after securing the title.

That allowed the Hammers to stay up while Sheffield United were condemned to the drop.

Ferguson is certain to rest most of his key players but will definitely be without injured quartet Rio Ferdinand (back), Ben Foster (thumb), Owen Hargreaves (knee) and Wes Brown (ankle).

The two teams produced an amazing game at Old Trafford earlier in the season when United held on to win 4-3 despite conceding two late goals.

Fixture: Hull City v Manchester United
Competition: Barclays Premier league
Venue: KC Stadium
Date: 24 May
Time:15.00 UK 20.30 IST
Channel: STAR SPORTS India

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Mindblowing Manchester United Quotes!!

We're Man Utd and we are loud,
Loyal fans and totally proud,
Beat 'em at home beat 'em away,
Kill any b*stards that get in our way,
We hate City, Scouse, Leeds scum,
And we make the b*stards run,
With this team we shall go far,
Hughes, Giggs, Sharpe and Cantona,
Won the league let's do it again,
By just one point instead of ten,
We'll keep the red flag flying high,
'Coz Man United will never die.
Hello, hello, we are the the Busby boys,
Hello, hello, we are the the Busby boys,
And if you are a City fan,
Surrender or you'll die,
We all follow United.

----
I don't drink coffee, I drink Beer my dear,
Man United is my side,
Hear me singing and my accent will be clear,
I'm a Mancunian..
Oh oh, I'm Mancunian..
One-hundred per-cent Mancunian!!

----

M a hardcore Manchester United fan!!!n if u not b one
The Red Flag:
The Red Flag
United's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded all our Munich dead,
Before their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their heart's blood dyed it's ev'ry fold.

Then raise United's banner high,
Beneath it's shade we'll live and die,
So keep the faith and never fear,
We'll keep the Red Flag flying here.

We'll never die, we'll never die,
We'll never die, we'll never die,
We'll keep the Red flag flying high,
Because Man United will never die.

----


"Manchester United they are the best,
They stand out above all the rest,
In Manchester we wear with pride,
The red shirts of our favorite side,

Old Trafford is the ground we want to be at,
There’s never a doubt, it’s a true fact,
Manchester United we follow around,
Even when their not at their home ground,

So many players with fantastic skill,
Is so good to watch, it’s just brill,
Win or lose no matter which,
We are there when their on the pitch,

No matter what people say,
You should see Manchester on a match day,
They say all the fans come from the south,
Until they hear the accents when we open our mouth,

Yes it is true without a doubt,
Manchester United is what we shout about,
We are from Manchester, yes it’s true,
But we are red and certainly not blue, "
Come on you reds, come on you reds
Just keep your bottle and use your heads
For ninety minutes we'll let them know
Who's Man United, here we go

Come on you reds, come on you reds
Just keep your bottle and use your heads
For ninety minutes we'll let them know
Who's Man United, here we go

Glory Glory Man United
Glory Glory Man United

We'll maintain the status quo
We're Man United, here we go

So Old Trafford let us hear you loud
Cheer us on and we will do you proud
Fifty thousand voices sing our song
Keep us at the top where we belong

So here's to Alex Ferguson
He'll take us all the way
We're on the road to glory now
Winning at home and away

If man is 5, and the devil is 6, then God is 7
: BEST - ROBSON - CANTONA - BECKHAM-C.RONALDO!!!

----
Forever and a day, United fans
will ask "Where did you
watch the 1999 European Cup Final?"
...and 50,000 or so will be
able to say "I WAS THERE"..

----

I saw my mate,
The other day,
He said to me,
I've seen the white Pele!
so i asked, who is he?
He goes by the name of
Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney!
Wayne Rooney!
He goes by the name of,
Wayne Rooney!!!

----

Manchester united thou are my love
You mean more to me then the heaven above

U have carved an irreplaceable place in my heart
Kissing the badge morning my every day starts

U always make my eyes shed a tear
U are so far but yet seem so near

U have taught me to be strong
through the good and the bad
I promise I will be with you
When the times are happy or sad

U have taught me the true way
To really love someone(referring to the club as a person)
And I promise I will keep loving
Till my breaths last none

And when its time to go
my last wish shall be
god if I have to die now
let old Trafford the place be

and god all the good deeds I have done in my life
be substituted by a wish if you can
in the next life when I am born
let me be a MAN UTD fan

----

United united all the way
Everyone else has nuthin to say
We are the best
We easily beat the rest
Man United on the way to the treble
Rivals can stare at us and turn to rubble
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED.
MAN UNITED HERE WE GO.
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A life in football-History of SAF

Sir Alex Ferguson, born 31 December 1941, Glasgow.

1957: Starts amateur playing career at 16 with Queen’s Park.

1964: Turns professional with Dunfermline Athletic.

1967: Joins Rangers for a record Scottish transfer fee of £65,000.

1969: Moves to Falkirk before finishing playing career with Ayr United.

1974: Appointed manager of St Mirren, winning the first division title in 1977.

1978: Moves to Aberdeen FC and European Cup Winners’ Cup glory in 1983.

1986: Moves to Manchester United. Goes on to make football history.

What his rivals say

Arsène Wenger (Arsenal manager):
“Nobody has done better. It is remarkable to have such a consistent motivation at that level - and deal with the stress and all the other ingredients.”

José Mourinho (Former Chelsea manager, now at Inter Milan):
“I call him boss because he is the manager’s boss. He’s the top manager in the country. Maybe when I become 60, the kids will call me the same.”

Rafael Benítez (Liverpool manager):
“Ferguson is killing referees.”

“When you talk about United you’re talking about a side spending big, big money on every player, every season. For me that is the main difference between the teams.”
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We're Champions again!!!!

Manchester United have retained their Premier League titlefor a third successive season after drawing 0-0 with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

The result also means United have already secured a treble of trophies in the 2008/09 campaign, following victories in the Carling Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

And finally, the draw at Old Trafford and United retaining the Premier League once again also has the added significance in that the Red Devils have now won 18 EPL titles, equalling the record set by fierce rivals Liverpool.

Saturday 16th May 2009 is yet another memorable day in the lives of all Manchester United fans across the world.

UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND FOR THE THIRD YR IN A ROW!
11TH TITLE UNDER SAF!

HAYS OFF TO SAF AND RED DEVILS FOR ENTERTAINING US!!
UNITED WILL ACHIEVE QUADRUPLE IF THEY WIN UCL!!

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United v Arsenal - Final Title Crunch - Preview

Manchester United need to get at least a draw out of today’s game against Arsenal to win the Premiership for the third year in a row.

If Manchester United manage to get at least a point from their clash against Arsenal on Saturday, then United will be presented the trophy straight after the game.

Yet, the game against Arsenal will not be an easy one. The Gunners have flourished in the majority of their ‘big four’ clashes this season, including their 2-1 win last time these two teams met in the Premier League.

The gap between both sides is 18, and although Arsenal have very little to play for they will still be looking for pride. This is a side who have won 18 of the last 20 Premier League matches.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Arsenal will be keen to help second placed Liverpool. “They have had a bit of criticism recently and they will want to register their abilities on a day when everyone expects Manchester United to win the title,” he said.

Even if Manchester United fail to win this game, the title is still very likely to be heading to Old Trafford, as they still have go to relegation bound Hull City on the final day of the season.

Man Utd can now match Liverpool’s historic record of 18 titles, but Ferguson had admitted that he’d never get this far.

“I never even thought about moving level with Liverpool,” said Ferguson. “My first intention was to win one and break the stranglehold Liverpool had on the title. The big challenge was that first one.”

Fixture: Manchester United v Arsenal
Competition: Barclays Premier league
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

Date: 16.5.09

Time:12.45 UK 18.15 IST
Channel: ESPN India

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Wigan 1-2 United

Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick's goals helped Man United come from behind to beat Wigan 2-1 and move to within a point of the title.

The battling Latics stunned United when they took a first half lead through Hugo Rodallega at a rain-hit JJB Stadium. However the visitors rallied after the break and super-sub Tevez levelled, before Carrick won the game late on to leave United just a point against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday away from retaining their Premier League crown.

Wigan had the first opportunity to score in the second minute when Luis Antonio Valencia burst through on goal, but he chipped the ball just wide of he upright under pressure from Nemanja Vidic.

However United started to take control and should have gone ahead on 10 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov did well to get a cross in from the right and Wayne Rooney somehow managed to head wide with the goal at his mercy.

A minute later some good passing play by United saw Cristiano Ronaldo hand a chance to Michael Carrick, but his effort from inside the area just looped wide of the post.

Charles N'Zogbia had a fierce free kick from the right side of the area tipped behind by United keeper Edwin Van der Sar on 15 minutes.

The Red Devils looked to be getting to grips with the game when they fell behind on 28 minutes.

Lee Cattermole's cross into the area was won by Rodallega in an aerial dual with Vidic. After both players momentarily lost sight of the ball, the Colombian reacted quickly to hammer a low shot past Van der Sar from close range.

Wigan looked fairly comfortable with the lead until the final minute of the first half when Rooney had another opportunity at the back post after a flowing, passing move, but blazed his effort over Richard Kingson's crossbar.

United started the second half brightly and continued to chip away at the Wigan back line, before they finally got the equaliser on 61 minutes. Tevez, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, cleverly back-heeled a wayward Carrick shot past Kingson from close range.

United thought they should have had a penalty on 72 minutes when Ronaldo was clearly knocked over in the area by Maynor Figueroa as he burst into the box.

However they did grab the all-important winner on 86 minutes when John O'Shea teed up Carrick on the edge of the area and his left-foot strike flew into Kingson's top corner.

Ronaldo had the chance to put the icing on the cake but wasted his third good chance of the game, lashing it wide from the right side of the area in stoppage time.
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Wigan 1-2 United

Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick's goals helped Man United come from behind to beat Wigan 2-1 and move to within a point of the title.

The battling Latics stunned United when they took a first half lead through Hugo Rodallega at a rain-hit JJB Stadium. However the visitors rallied after the break and super-sub Tevez levelled, before Carrick won the game late on to leave United just a point against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday away from retaining their Premier League crown.

Wigan had the first opportunity to score in the second minute when Luis Antonio Valencia burst through on goal, but he chipped the ball just wide of he upright under pressure from Nemanja Vidic.

However United started to take control and should have gone ahead on 10 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov did well to get a cross in from the right and Wayne Rooney somehow managed to head wide with the goal at his mercy.

A minute later some good passing play by United saw Cristiano Ronaldo hand a chance to Michael Carrick, but his effort from inside the area just looped wide of the post.

Charles N'Zogbia had a fierce free kick from the right side of the area tipped behind by United keeper Edwin Van der Sar on 15 minutes.

The Red Devils looked to be getting to grips with the game when they fell behind on 28 minutes.

Lee Cattermole's cross into the area was won by Rodallega in an aerial dual with Vidic. After both players momentarily lost sight of the ball, the Colombian reacted quickly to hammer a low shot past Van der Sar from close range.

Wigan looked fairly comfortable with the lead until the final minute of the first half when Rooney had another opportunity at the back post after a flowing, passing move, but blazed his effort over Richard Kingson's crossbar.

United started the second half brightly and continued to chip away at the Wigan back line, before they finally got the equaliser on 61 minutes. Tevez, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, cleverly back-heeled a wayward Carrick shot past Kingson from close range.

United thought they should have had a penalty on 72 minutes when Ronaldo was clearly knocked over in the area by Maynor Figueroa as he burst into the box.

However they did grab the all-important winner on 86 minutes when John O'Shea teed up Carrick on the edge of the area and his left-foot strike flew into Kingson's top corner.

Ronaldo had the chance to put the icing on the cake but wasted his third good chance of the game, lashing it wide from the right side of the area in stoppage time.
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United 2-0 City

Manchester United moved a step closer to retaining the Premier League title after beating rivals Manchester City.
Cristiano Ronaldo's deflected free-kick put United ahead after wrong-footing keeper Shay Given, who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
Carlos Tevez struck the City woodwork before powering in a 20-yard strike off the post to extend United's advantage.
Robinho wasted City's best chance when he shot wide from eight yards as the home side eased to victory.
United had gone into the game having seen Liverpool draw level with them at the Premier League summit with a win at West Ham on Saturday.

Rafael Benitez's side were hoping the pressure would produce a wobble from the Old Trafford side but, instead, United's pace, power and passing was too much for City.
United have a habit of timing their good form for the end of season run in and, even though this was their 62nd match of the season, they showed little sign of letting the league title slip from their grasp.
The hosts quickly set about City and Ronaldo teed up Ji-Sung Park, who dragged his angled shot wide of the far post.
United had slipped into their slick passing game and it did not take long for their pressure to be rewarded with a goal after City midfielder Vincent Kompany lost possession.
United broke and a back-tracking Stephen Ireland fouled Berbatov to leave Ronaldo to score from the type of 25-yard free-kick he excels at.

Robinho tried to respond for City when the ball broke kindly for him just outside the United area only for the Brazilian to shoot wide.
Too many of City's passes were going awry and left their defence straining as they gave United the chance to continually launch attacks.
Tevez almost made them pay when he shifted inside and curled a strike which came off the angle of the woodwork.
But the Argentine made no mistake when Berbatov sublimely controlled a long Darren Fletcher ball and squared the ball for him to smash in a shot off the inside of the post.
City came out with more ambition after the break and Robinho had a great chance to pull one back.
He latched on to a Nigel de Jong through ball and showed excellent control only to shoot horribly wide from eight yards.
That was a rare chance for a City side who were unable to exert any concerted pressure on a resolute United defence led by the towering presence of Nemanja Vidic.

United were even able to step off the gas and conserve some energy ahead of playing again on Wednesday against Wigan.
Martin Petrov did force United keeper Edwin van der Sar into a full-length diving save to turn his shot round the post, while at the other end Tevez again hit the post, this time with a close-range header.
The only slight on United's win was the angry reaction of Ronaldo to being substituted but they now need four points from their remaining three games - with the others against Arsenal and Hull - to clinch the title.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Evans (O'Shea 71), Evra, Ronaldo (Scholes 58), Fletcher, Giggs, Park (Rooney 58), Berbatov, Tevez.Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Carrick, Nani.
Booked: Fletcher.
Goals: Ronaldo 18, Tevez 45.
Man City: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, Elano, Ireland, Kompany, De Jong (Petrov 73), Robinho (Evans 89), Caicedo (Bojinov 63).Subs Not Used: Hart, Zabaleta, Fernandes, Berti.
Booked: Ireland.
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Arsenal 1 - 3 United: (United win 4-1 on aggregate)

Sir Alex Ferguson will attempt to rule Rome in three weeks' time after Manchester United produced an awesome attacking display to destroy Arsenal.

A fortuitous opener from Park Ji-sung was followed by a thunderous 40-yard free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo to effectively book a Champions League final date with Chelsea or Barcelona on May 27 after only 11 minutes.

Ronaldo capped a fine performance and drew howls of glee from David Beckham, who had made the trip from Milan to witness a victory that will go alongside that staggering win over Juventus in 1999 that the former England skipper was a part of, by sliding home a third goal, his 25th of the season.

It was not quite a perfect night for United. How could it be when Darren Fletcher ended it in disbelief at the red card for a tackle on Cesc Fabregas which will rule him out of the Italian job.

However, it was not far off, leaving United to await events at Stamford Bridge tomorrow with so many neutrals, if not a Chelsea side hell-bent on revenge, hoping Barcelona set up what would be a dream decider.

No amount of meticulous planning can legislate for bad luck.

It is the unknown factor that, in an instant, can screw any amount of hopes and dreams into the tightest ball and throw them out of the highest window, never to be seen again.

Kieran Gibbs has not been a first-team regular very long. Fitness permitting, he has almost a decade and a half in front of him in the Arsenal side.

It is a fair bet, at the end of his career, the 18-year-old still regards the horror that unfolded eight minutes into what was such an eagerly-awaited contest as the worst moment he had to endure.

In his head, Gibbs was about to control Ronaldo's cutback, then decide whether to play a short pass out of defence or present Manuel Almunia with a routine clearance. Fate had other plans.

Instead, poor Gibbs lost his footing and hit the ground with a thump. Like lightning, Park seized on the loose ball, delicately lifting it over Almunia, whose arrival came just too late.

The United contingent went delirious. Fans, coaches, manager, players, Beckham alike all knew what it meant. They knew the prospect of Arsenal getting three to go through was so remote to be beyond comprehension.

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Middlesbrough 0-2 United

United moved six points clear at the top of the table after a comfortable win against relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.

Both sides started brightly but were restricted to long-range efforts in the opening stages, Wayne Rooney having three strikes which didn't trouble Brad Jones.

The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when Ryan Giggs found himself in space at the edge of the area from a corner and drove the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

United then sat back but Boro were unable to create anything clear-cut in front of goal, and had penalty appeals waved away when Vidic appeared to handle the ball in the area.

United were immediately on the front foot after the break and it was 2-0 five minutes after the interval, Rooney picking out Ji-Sung Park who fired the ball past Jones into the bottom corner.

Boro brought on Afonso Alves and Didier Digard but were unable to fashion anything close to a chance and never seriously tested Ben Foster in the United goal.
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