Preview: United v Chelsea (09-08-09)

Hi guys, this Sunday 9 United plays the Community Shield's final against Chelsea @ Wembley Stadium.

Carlos Ancelotti is the new Chelsea's boss and Sir Alex said that him won`t be the only radar on Ferguson's mind. Alex Ferguson will think on Federico Macheda for all the entire season.

Federico Macheda has made a good pre-season at Asia Tour 09 scoring twice and he's played well against Valencia FC last week. He's replaced Michael Owen on 2-0 victory to Valencia.

“I actually thought Macheda was brilliant on Wednesday night,” was the words of Sir Alex on Community Shield press conference.

“For his age he's exceptional. I think he's a top, top player. He's going to give me a real (selection) problem," added AF.

The United boss didn't reveal which players will start on Sunday game or if Ben foster or Tomasz Kuszczak will get the nod in goal. But the team will certainly be picked to win, not to merely warm up for the league opener.

This Community Shield's final won't be treated as a barometer as the previous shields. This time Alex ferguson won't give players some minutes on the clock. All United's players are already at a good level fitness-wise. And of course, when we play Chelsea, we always want to win this games.

Out: Joe Cole and Ferreira

Doubt: Michael Ballack and Yuri Zhirkov

Kick-off: 15:00 BST

So, What do you think? United could win three Shields in a row or not? Have your say!

Written by Paul Grippo

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Edwin Van der Sar out for eight weeks

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken finger and bone in his left hand.

The 38-year-old Dutchman sustained the injury saving a penalty from Danijel Pranjic in the Red Devils' 7-6 shoot-out defeat to Bayern Munich in the pre-season Audi Cup in Germany.

Van der Sar is not expected to be back in Sir Alex Ferguson's plans until late September, meaning the Scot will have to turn to either Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak between the posts for the start of the new season.

Source: Mirror.co.uk

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Rio Ferdinand is satisfied with Tour Workout

Rio Ferdinand reflected on a tiring but beneficial tour after the Reds' two-week trip to Asia and Germany ended with defeat in the Audi Cup final.

United lost on penalties to Bayern Munich after a goalless draw in the Allianz Arena, but enjoyed the physical benefits of the most competitive pre-season game so far.

"We're disappointed not to win the game, but the most important thing was for us to get a good run-out," said Ferdinand

"The games in Asia were fairly straightforward, but it was still good to get our feet on the ball and get used to being a team again.

"The standard improved against Boca Juniors and again against Bayern, which made for a good trip physically."

Rio admitted the Reds were now looking forward to the couple of days off promised by Sir Alex Ferguson, before the squad step up training at Carrington on Monday.

"It’s been a long two weeks but we've enjoyed being around each other, training and working hard. Now we’re pleased to get home to see our families," he added.

Source: Red View.

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Owen Hargreaves could comeback in two months

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves may have to be put his comeback from injury on hold.

The 28-year-old has had operations on both knees in the past year in a bid to cure tendinitis and there were hopes he would be back at the end of September.

But Hargreaves, whose last game was in September 2008, is out of the Audi Cup in Munich, which raises new concerns.

"We had hoped he would be joining us but he is still in rehabilitation," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He has had major operations on both knees and we are not rushing that."

Hargreaves is currently in the United States being treated by renowned knee surgeon Dr Richard Steadman.

The England international will be desperate to reignite his United career, having only started 25 times for his club since a £17m move from Bayern Munich in July 2007.

It has been a frustrating spell at Old Trafford for the Canadian-born midfielder, who last played for United in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on 21 September 2008.

Hargreaves had surgery on his right knee last November and on his left knee in January, with the procedures carried out under the guidance of Steadman.

The leading surgeon has previously operated on former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, new United signing Michael Owen and ex-Red Devils forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is now at Real Madrid.

Hargreaves' rehabilitation has had to be a long and delicate process, with BBC Sport revealing in June that he could be forced to quit top-level football in the next two years if the chronic knee problem were to persist.

His condition, patellar tendinitis, can be described as inflammation of the tendon that attaches the quadriceps (thigh muscle) to the tibia (shin bone).

Hargreaves may not have joined the United squad in Germany but centre-half Nemanja Vidic and summer signing Antonio Valencia have travelled to Munich.

Vidic appears to have recovered from an ankle injury he picked up playing for Serbia in June, while winger Valencia - seen as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has joined Real Madrid - needed to go back to Ecuador to gain a UK visa following his move from Wigan.

Ferguson also revealed that winger Gabriel Obertan would miss the first three months of the season with an injury that was already known about when he signed from Bordeaux.

Source: BBC Sports.

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Sir Alex thinks Valencia will shine this season

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes new signing Antonio Valencia will have a big influence on his side next season.

The Ecuador winger, 23, who signed from Wigan for about £16m this summer, scored on his debut in United's 2-1 win against Boca Juniors in a friendly.

"I think he'll figure in many games," said the United manager.

"He is a good athlete, has good power and running ability, as we saw with the way he created a good goal."

Source: BBC Sports.

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Sir Alex Ferguson says Real Madrid is unlikely to threaten in Europe

Big guns: AC Milan coach Leonardo, Luis van Gaal of Bayern Munich,

and Alfio Basile of Boca Juniors pose with Sir Alex Ferguson in Germany

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has joined forces with two of European football's superpowers to cast doubt on Real Madrid's prospects of securing success in return for their huge summer spending.

Ferguson, in Munich preparing for United's Audi Cup opener against Boca Juniors in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, will hand £18 million summer-signing Antonio Valencia his club debut against the Argentines.

Valencia has been United's most expensive summer recruit following the £80 million sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid last month. The Spanish club have also invested a further £92 million in Kaka and Karim Benzema.

With Real president Florentino Perez signalling a newgalacticos era at the Bernabeu, however, Ferguson, supported by Bayern Munich manager Louis van Gaal and AC Milan coach Leonardo, claims that Madrid will require more than star names to conquer Europe.

"There is a great example of a team not buying success," said Ferguson.

Sunderland spent so much money in the Fifties that they became known as the Bank of England club, but they didn't win anything and, in the end, they got themselves relegated.

"I'm not saying Real Madrid will get relegated, but they will have plenty of problems with balance. I do not know how coach Manuel Pellegrini plans to pick his side because it has no balance.

"I told Ronaldo before he flew out that he will end up playing centre-half because I don't think they have one!"

Milan, who will play Bayern following the United-Boca clash, sold Kaka to Real for £55 million, but newly-appointed coach Leonardo believes Madrid's policy is flawed.

"It will not be easy for Real and they have not succeeded in the past. They had their experiment with the galacticos, yet at the end of it all, they did not win anything.

"You can buy up good talent and create possibilities, but it is not easy to construct a squad and manage players like Kaka, Ronaldo and Benzema.

"You need more than just money to build a team. You need more than talent, you need spirit and we will have to see if Madrid have this spirit."

Bayern coach Van Gaal said: "My philosophy and belief is that you have to make a team. You just cannot go out and buy one.

"Sometimes you can – Alex Ferguson has done it for 20 years and I believe that I have managed to do it sometimes – but I know it is very, very hard." Having spent the last 10 days at United's Carrington training base while his new team-mates have played a four-game tour of Asia, Valencia will begin his career at the club in the right-sided position vacated by Ronaldo.

The positivity surrounding Valencia's debut has been overshadowed by the failure of Owen Hargreaves to link up with United in Munich.

Hargreaves, 28, had been due to begin light training with the squad in Germany after undergoing double knee surgery during the winter.

But the England midfielder's return to first-team action could be delayed until late autumn with Ferguson admitting that Hargreaves has remained in the US to continue rehabilitation.

Ferguson said: "Owen hasn't joined us in Munich because he is still in the United States.

"We hoped that he would be here with us, but he had two major operations and there is no point rushing him.

"He is still young and he has plenty of time on his side, so he won't be rushed."

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Red's interview with Zoran Tosic

"I’m trying to do my best in every training session and every game. I hope I’ll get a chance. I’m not thinking about how many games I want to play – I just want to train hard and take my opportunities."

How have you enjoyed your time at Manchester United so far?

Well, I’m very happy to play for this club and I’m trying to do my best every day. I hope that in the next few games [during pre-season] I’ll get my chance and when I do I’ll try to play the best I can.

We’ve seen you play a lot in the Reserves. How has that been for you?
For me it’s important to play games. In the last six months I haven’t played for the first team so much. If I’m only training then that’s not good – you have to play. I’m happy to play a few games for the Reserves because it helps me keep in good condition and means I’m ready if I get a chance in the first team.

How does the game in England compare to that back in Serbia?
It’s a very different kind of football and I was very nervous during my first few matches here. You have to be strong and very well prepared for every game. Everything’s different but I’m used to it now. It’s normal for me. I think it’s the best league in the world, but also the hardest.

What have you had to do in order to adapt to playing in England?
I have to do more on the physical side. In a game you have so many challenges – you need to be very strong at all times. I’m working in the gym a lot and I’m improving so I hope I’m ready when the season starts. I’d like to play more.

Who’s been the biggest help since you arrived at the club?
Of course, Vida [Nemanja Vidic] has helped me the most. I know him from the national team. He’s told me a lot about the club, the way we like to play and what to do both on and off the pitch. He’s with me all the time and helping me a lot. But not only him – all the players have been very good to me.

What’s it been like on those occasions when you've played for the first team?
The day I made my debut was the most important day in my life because I played for the club that I loved since I first started playing football. There were 75,000 people there so it was a very good atmosphere. You can only enjoy that.

What’s it like travelling to the other side of the world and playing in Asia?
This is my first tour but I hope there’ll be more in the next few years. It’s very hot so the games are tough. We have to train very hard and it’s difficult in this weather. But I think it will help us for when we get back to England – it will help us prepare for the new season.

What are your aims for the upcoming campaign?
I’m trying to do my best in every training session and every game. I hope I’ll get a chance and I’ll try to make the most of that chance. I’m not thinking about how many games I want to play – I just want to train hard and take my opportunities.

From watching you in the Reserves we know you’re very quick and you have lots of tricks in your locker. What do you most enjoy about your game?
Playing for the first team is different to the Reserves. In the Reserves you have more space and you can play free football. In the first team it’s quicker and stronger – there’s not so much space to do tricks. Instead you have to play the ball quickly. I just want to do my best to do well for the team. Then after that, maybe I’ll try some tricks!

We've heard you can take a good free-kick. If you get a chance in the first team will you put your hand up to take them now Ronaldo’s gone?
Of course I will… if they let me! I’m practising every day on the training ground and I’m doing well.

What have you made of Michael Owen?
I’ve been watching Michael since I was a kid and I remember the goal he scored for England against Argentina 10 years ago. I’m very happy to be playing with him and the rest of the team. I’m happy for him because he scored on his debut and I hope that I’m going to score soon.

Source: manutd.com

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