Ferguson praises in-form Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson had added to the praise heaped on England's midweek hero Wayne Rooney.

Rooney score twice in England's World Cup qualifier win in Belarus on Wednesday and says he is in the best form of his international career. 

Ferguson said: "What we have noticed is when he goes on one of his bursts, his performances improve with it."

"That is how it has been since he has been with us. We know he can score. It is a matter of getting consistency."

Both Ferguson and England coach Fabio Capello have tried to tinker with Rooney's game this season in a bid to get him to adopt a more selfish approach.

He has now hit a hot scoring streak, but Sir Alex Ferguson admits Rooney will never be a goal-poacher in the Gary Lineker mould.

"Some goalscorers I have seen, like Lineker, never kicked a ball in the game but score two goals," he said.

"Other players do not accept that. They feel they have to play well. Wayne Rooney is one of them. But he will get to a period when he scores goals even though he is not particulary playing well."

Source: BBC Sports.

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Red's Interview with Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs is ready to face West Brom at the weekend...

Journalist: West Brom are only a point behind United in the league and they're difficult to beat. But do you think they have the qualities to stay up?

R. Giggs: I've been impressed with W. Brom  and Hull, Both teams have good young managers in Tony Mowbray and Phil Brown. It's very difficult for teams coming up from the championship and trying to make it in the Premier League. But they got off to a good start and you have to respect that. We expect a though game on Saturday. They won't have had as many players away on the international break, so they will have been working all week to prepare for this game. We only start training as a group on Friday, so we know we have to be ready for them.

Journalist: Do the international breaks help or hinder those players who don't go away. Is the rest welcome or do you get rusty?

R. Giggs: I think that maybe used to be a problem. But now we have our sports science department and the fitness coach Tony Strudwick who makes sure we do our work in the break. We work hard. That's what I've felt over the last couple on International breaks , definitely, I've felt good coming back. It might be difficult coming back in for the first game. It takes a bit of time to be fully sharp, but after that the rest definitely does you good and you feel sharper for the coming games.

Journalist:  So the International break isn't time for you and Scholesy to put your feet up or lie on the sunbeds?

R. Giggs: [Laughs]. No, but the players not on international duty do get some time off. I went away for a couple of days in the last international break, but I stayed in Manchester for this one. But when you're back in training you're working hard in the week to keep yourself sharp.

Journalist: You've been doing your coaches badges in recent seasons. Has that helped your game at all?

R. Giggs: It's more that it helps me understand what we're doing in training and what we're trying to achieve. You understand that much quicker. When you're a player it's easy to turn up and train without actually thinking about what you're trying to achieve. Doing my coaching badges has helped me realise those aims.

Journalist: With no more international weekends this year, is the focus now on a solid run of results at club levels?

R. Giggs: Definitely. Once this international break is out of the way, you get the squad together for a long period of time and that's a really important period of the season for us. That's when we look to push on because, come christmas, you want to be right up there. That gives you the platform for the New Year.

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Manucho is called into Angola squad

Manchester United striker Manucho has been called up to Angola's squad to play in Niger in a 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

If he plays it will be his first appearance of the World Cup qualifiers. 

Angola, who reached the 2006 World Cup finals, were rocked on Sunday as coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves quit his post. 

Manucho made his debut in United in the Carling Cup a few weeks ago. 

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Interview with Rio Ferdinand

This week Rio Ferdinand joined us to talk about his Red's Life:

Journalist: If you weren't a footballer, What job would you be doing now?

Rio: I'd probably be working in the communities in Peckham, where I grew up. I'd be helping out in youth centres or football coaching for kids.

Journalist: What do you say to your team-mates when they scores?

Rio: I can't really say because there are normally swear words involved! Usually it's along the lines of 'well done'.

Journalist: What's it like to walk out at the packed Old Trafford before a big match?

Rio: When you walk out and the crowd's going crazy, it's an amazing feeling - the best.

Journalist: Did you ever imagine captaining United in a Champions League final?

Rio: Never, I thought we'd have a chance of making the final but to lead the side out was like a dream. And to go on and win it and get our hands on the trophy was brilliant.

Journalist: Which team-mates have you played against at international level?

Rio: I've played against Giggsy, Ronaldo and Nani. Ronny's quite competitive and Portugal have been lucky to beat us on penalties twice. He's always got that to throw at us when there are arguments about England and penalties. Next I'd like to play against Sheasy or Fletch. 

Source: manutd.com

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Blackburn 0 - 2 United

Manchester United defeated Blackburn 2 - 0 and added his second consecutive victory. The goals were turned Brown and Rooney. Tevez joined in the 2nd half. In this way, the last champions, was placed at three points of leaders Chelsea and Liverpool.

United defeated Rovers 2 - 0 and get his second consecutive victory in the Premier League. With this result, the Red Devils are only 3 points from the top, though with one-game less.

The Ferguson's babes had no significant inconvenience to overcome a rival low-level. At 31th minutes-of-the-match, Wes Brown get his goal after a confusing episode between Brown and Vida.

In the second half, at 19th minutes, Rooney score his goal to give United a little more of tranquility. Then, Rooney left his place and was replaced by Carlos Tevez, who got a chance to score, before 4 minutes of the final of the match. 

In this way, United have 11 points and start their defense of the Premierleague's title. 

"We said before the game this is one of most difficult grounds to come to, but it was a really emphatic performance. The confidence was outstanding and everyone was on song. Everyone's use of the ball was spot on and we controlled the match. We missed a lot of chances and it could have been a big score for us." said the United boss after the match.

United line-up:

Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (O'Shea 71), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs (Tevez 66), Berbatov, Rooney (Park 77). 

Subs not used: Amos, Nani, R. Da Silva, Evans.

Booked: Fletcher.

Goals: Brown 31, Rooney 64.

Attendance: 27,321

Referee: Steve Bennett.

Man-of-the-Match: Wayne Rooney.

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Carlos Tevez is ready for Rovers

With the help of formers Reds & Blackburn Rovers defender David May, we assess the danger that Carlos Tevez poses to Blackburn on Saturday.

Carlos Tevez's Ewood Park equaliser in April earned a valuable point on route to the 2007/08 title. His late header spoke volumes for his never-say-die qualities. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his got the ability by the bucket-load.

David May said: "What I really like about him is that if  he loses the ball he doesn't throw his arms in the air. He gets up and goes right back at you. There's not a moment's peace. Carlos movement is key to the confusion he causes in opposition ranks."

"I don't see why you can't play with Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo & Berbatov in the same side. Imagine that it almost seem unfair." added David May.

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United dealt Scholes injury blow

Paul Scholes will be out for 10 weeks after suffering medial knee ligament damage in the UCL win against Aalborg BK.

The 33-year-old midfielder was stretchered off after just 16 minutes of United's 3 - 0 victory in Denmark.

He may now miss 16 games, including against Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC, and Scholes could be out until the visit to Tottenham FC on 13 December.

Wayne Rooney was also forced off with an ankle problem. "We are hoping it isn't ligament trouble," said the Scot. Rooney could not be for the Blackburn game on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted it will be another three weeks before he was fully recovered from his summer ankle operation.

"It will be another two or three weeks before I can give 100%. I feel very good. There is good impovement there and I am very happy to be back, but my ankle has still not fully recovered." said the Portuguese winger.

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