Ferdinand agrees a new deal

Sir. Alex Ferguson has confirmed Rio Ferdinand is on the verge of signing a new contract with Manchester United.

The 29-year-old's representative, Pini Zahavi, had revealed the defender has agreed a new five-year deal, believed to be worth £ 130,000 a week.

And Ferguson said: "He is on the point of signing a new contract and we are happy with that."

"We always try to get players on longer contracts so we are not chasing things. Rio has been fantastic this season."

Signed from Leeds for a British record £30m in 2002, Ferdinand has become the key figure in United's defence and has formed an excellent partnership with Nemanja Vidic. 

He has two years remaining on his current contract and talks over an extension were planned for the summer. 

Zahavi believes it may not be his last contract at Old Trafford, and that Ferdinand may even go on to surpass the remarkable achievement of AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, who is still playing at 39.

"I believe he can play longer than Maldini - and they believe so at Manchester United as well," Zahavi said.  

Source: BBC Sports

Image: Getty images

UNITED 2 - 1 ARSENAL

Barclays Premier League

Old Trafford, Sun 13 April

MANCHESTER UNITED 2

(Ronaldo (pen) 54, Hargreaves 72)

ARSENAL 1

(Adebayor 48)

Owen Hargreaves secured the winner for Manchester United against Arsenal as they closed in on a title.

The England midfielder's superb free-kick in the 72nd minute all but ended the Gunners hopes in the process. Arsenal had gone ahead through Adebayor in the 48th minute, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to equalise from the penalty spot six munutes later. Then Hargreaves strike won it in the 72nd minute for the Hosts. 

 Team Line-ups:

United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Piqué, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Hargreaves (Giggs 89), Scholes (Anderson 55), Park (Tevez 55), Rooney.

Subs not used: Kuszczak, O'Shea.

Booked: Brown, Carrick.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Toure (Justin Hoyte 85), Gallas, Song, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 61), Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Van Persie (Bendtner 76), Adebayor.

Subs not used: Djourou, Fabiansky.

Booked: Van Persie, Gallas, Lehmann, Adebayor, Justin Hoyte.

Attendance: 75,985.

Referee: Howard Webb.

Man of the Match: Wayne Rooney. 

UNITED 1 - AS ROMA 0

Champions League Q/F 2nd Leg

Old Trafford, Wed 9 April

MANCHESTER UNITED 1

(Tevez 70)

AS ROMA 0

Carlos Tevez ensured United's progression to the Champions League semi-finals and a mouth-watering meeting with Barcelona as the Reds ran out 3-0 aggregate winners over AS Roma at Old Trafford. 

The Reds were already two up from the first leg, and Carlos Tevez glanced home Owen Hargreaves cross after 70 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. 

Earlier, Roma passed up a chance to haul themselves back into the tie when De Rossi basted a penalty way over the bar. 

Meanwhile, Barcelona beat Schalke to set up an intriguing semi-final. 

Ferguson decided to leave C. Ronaldo and W. Rooney on the bench with a crucial Premier League match to follow against Arsenal on Sunday. 

The goal eventually came in the 70th minute thanks to Tevez fourth goal in the Champions league and his 17th of the season. 

Further good news for the buoyant home fans arrived with 10 minutes left when Gary Neville came on for his first appearance since picking up an ankle injury on 17 March 2007. 

Team Line-ups:

United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Pique, Silvestre, Hargreaves, Park, Carrick (O'Shea 74), Anderson (Neville 81), Giggs (Rooney 74), Tevez. 

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Ronaldo, Scholes, Welbeck.

Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Cassetti (Tonetto 56), De Rossi, Pizarro (Giuly 69), Taddei (Esposito 81), Perrota, Mancini, Vucinic.

Subs not used: Curci, Cicinho, Alquilani, Brighi. 

Booked: Perrota.

Attendance: 74,423

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway).

Man of the Match: Owen Hargreaves. 

BORO 2 - UNITED 2

Barclays Premier League

The Riverside Stadium, Sun 6 April

MIDDLESBROUGH 2

(Alves 35, 55)

MANCHESTER UNITED 2

(Ronaldo 10, Rooney 74)

Wayne Rooney rescued a point for United after Alfonso Alves' double had looked set to give M'boro a shock win at a wintry Riverside Stadium. Rooney converted from close range with 16 minutes left after good work by substitute Ji-Sung Park to ensure the Reds extended their lead over Chelsea at the top of the table to three points. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's 37th goal of the season had given United an early led, but Alves produced two superb finishes in each half to put Boro in command in an end-to-end game. Ryan Giggs made his 750th United appearance and he follow counting matches. 

Manchester United Manager Sir. Alex Ferguson:

"We could have lost the game there's no question - they had some chances. At times the defending was a bit haphazard I thought."

"But in other ways we could have won the game because some of the approach and football was very good. At 1-0 we looked very strong."

"They changed their formation to a 4-4-2, got an equaliser, and it was a great game of football after that."

Team line-ups:

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor, O'Neil, Boateng, Arca, Downing, Aliadiere (Johnson 90), Alves (Tuncay 77).

Subs not used: Turnbull, Cattermole, Grounds.

Booked: Young, O'Neil, Boateng.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (Pique 70), O'Shea (Hargreaves 67), Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez (Park 65).

Subs not used: Anderson.

Booked: Rooney.

Attendance: 33,952.

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Man of the Match: Middlesbrough's Alves

 

Cristiano Ronaldo: I'll be Champions League King

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his desire to lead United to Champions league glory this season, like in 1968 and 1999.

"Many times on television I've watched United winning the Champions league in 1999", said Ronaldo, "It looked incredible and It's something I want to do as well".

"I agree with Sir. Alex that United should have won it more than twice. This is a fantastic club with a great players and a great fans. It's a biggest club in the world". 

"We have the players to win the European Cup this year, we have the experience and we have the team. So we must have a great chance".

"It's a fantastic competition and every one of the lads wants to win the Champions League and go down in history at United."

After netting his 36th goal of the season in Rome on Tuesday night, Ronaldo could to become only the third player in United's history to reach the 40-goal mark in a single campaign. With six games left in the Premier League and potentially another four in Europe if United go all the way to the final in Moscow, it is hard to see Ronaldo failing to break the 40-goal barrier. 

"At the moment the team is brilliant, everyone is so confident. I feel the team is more mature and I'm more mature, too."

"We know that there is a big difference between the Champions League and the Premier League. But the way we are playing right now, we feel we can win both of them."

Source: Mirror.co.uk

Vidic will be out for two or three weeks

Nemanja Vidic won't be available for two or three weeks, the club have announced. 

This thursday, Vidic had a second scan on his left knee, which it gave like result no damage. Vidic will miss three premier league matches, such as M'boro, Arsenal and second-leg match against Roma. 

The Serbian defender could also miss a semi-final first leg against Barcelona or Shalke. But he could be fit for the match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 26 April and the second leg semi-final on 29/30 April. 

"There is no damage on his left knee and he will be out for two or three weeks," said a United spokesman. 

Sir. Alex Ferguson has plenty of defensive options such as John O'Shea or Gerard Pique both having played at centre-back in recent weeks, while switching Wes Brown from right-back is another alternative. 

Mikael Silvestre returned to first-team in Rome following a knee injury while Gary Neville is also close to a return. 

http://www.boosterblog.es

Source: BBC Sports

Image: Getty images

Ronaldo 'Player of the Year'

Manchester United star had won the price 'player of the year'. 

Ronaldo is better than Kaka, according to Real Madrid's Coach Bernd Schuster. 

"Right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world" said Schuster.

Schuster would like to sign him in a near future, but he think, "it won't be possible towards not less than four years."

"But in a couple of years, I believe he could be playing at the Bernabeu" he added.