Rooney set to leave United

Wayne Rooney is all set to leave Manchester United at the end of this season. This speculation broke out when he was dropped for their second leg Champions League tie against Real Madrid at Old Trafford. Rooney only came on in the second half when United were down to ten men. Sir Alex Ferguson preferred Danny Welback, who scored the all important away goal in the first leg.

Van Persie who replaced Rooney as United's top scorer this season has adopted well to United's style of play, which led Rooney to the bench at Old Trafford.

United are listening to offers of £25 million for the England star and is expected to end his nine year stay at Old Trafford.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea and PSG are set to bid out for the England International. 

by  John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                           
posted on 3/9/2013

Categories: Manchester United, Most Talked About

Read More

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Nani, Champions League

The first leg of the massive tie between Manchester United and Real Madrid in the Champions League may have ended in a 1-1 draw, but brought out the best in their respective teams.

Cristiano Ronaldo flew past Rafael and he couldn't mark the former United star, Rooney who played on the right wing was also trying to mark Ronaldo. And it was clear that if Ronaldo couldn't be stopped in the second leg, United would be out of the competition.

With all possible calculations, Ferguson will put out a team which can only defend well. May be, with five in the mid-field and surely Rafael not playing.

Another choice would be to attack, with the player similar to Ronaldo and who performed better for United in their first 100 matches than CR7, Nani.

Nani was out with an injury and had bad experiences recently when an unnoticed police car hit his Bentley, the case is still in investigation. He was back for United in their FA Cup match against Reading where he scored one and assisted another.

Sir Alex said "We all know he's a fantastic talent, and he was right on the form from the first moment he went. If he keeps the form up it makes my job of selection more difficult."

He will come on to play at sometime in the second leg when United face Real Madrid at Old Trafford, he has the talent to move and have the same presence as Ronaldo had in the first leg.

His record when compared with Ronaldo is better and impressive. Nani will look to perform better than his captain when they meet in the second leg of the round of 16 Champions League tie.

  

by  John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                       

posted on 2/22/2013 

Categories: Champions League, Manchester United

Read More

AC Milan win 2 - 0 over Barcelona

AC Milan have turned their season up side down, with the signing of Mario Ballotelli they were back with back to back wins in the League and even managed the same against the footballing giants Barcelona. Milan took an impressive 2-0 lead in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 match last night.  

Two precious goals at home meant that if Milan score atleast one at the Camp Nou, they will be having a major chance of getting through to the next round.

Barcelona as usual had the majority of possession, a whopping 73 percent, but having possession itself doesn't help in winning the match, this was again proved by Milan as their strong defense and bursting attack helped them to take the vital lead over their opponents.

Champions League, 20th Feb 2013
AC Milan           2       Boateng 57, Muntari 81
Barcelona         0

The breakthrough came in the second half when Milan's Zapata took the ball into the box which eventually fell in front of Boateng who fired it past Valdes into the Barcelona goal.

The lead was doubled as the second half came to its last ten minutes, Muntari volleyed the ball past Valdes to make it 2-0 for Milan.

The second leg will be played at the Camp Nou on the 13th of March

by John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                        
posted on 2/20/2013  

Categories: Champions League

Read More

Arsenal lose to Bayern Munich 3 - 1

Arsenal lost their Champions League round of 16 match to Bayern Munich last night and ended their hopes of going through to the next round of the competition. Arsenal now need a miracle to get past their rivals, as Bayern have a 3-1 advantage going into the second leg in Germany.

Bayern started the scoring with Kroos finding the net just after seven minutes from kick off. Muller then doubled the lead for the away siders all thanks to sloppy defending from Arsenal.

Champions League, 19th Feb 2013
Arsenal                           1           Podolski 55
Bayern Munich               3           Kroos 7, Muller 21, Mandzukic 77

Arsenal did manage to pull one back, ten minutes from the start of the second half, Lukas Podolski scoring from a Jack Wilshere corner. 

Arsenal were seen off when Bayern scored a third when Mandzukic slide past the defender allowing the ball to fly into the Arsenal net.

Arsenal next travel to Germany on the 13th of March for their second leg tie, where only a miracle can possibly save them.

by John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                     
posted on 2/19/2013 

Categories: Champions League

Read More

Manchester United vs Real Madrid

The first leg of the much awaited clash between Manchester United and Real Madrid is scheduled to kick off tonight at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. Manchester United look to clear the acid test at Madrid and hope to clinch their fourth Champions League title, and third under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson with 12 points clear of their rivals Manchester City in the League, is confident about his team and said "This is the acid test, no doubt about that, and we have to get through to win the competition."

Mourinho, whose team in third, in La Liga is looking forward for this amazing game of football and he said "Its a game everyone waited for."

This would be an important game for Christiano Ronaldo, who was at United for six years and then moved to Madrid for a £80 million record transfer in 2009. He is all set to face his older club and said "It'll be a match in which I will feel a lot. I was there for 6 yrs & I've lots of friend. It'll be a match with a lot of emotion." 

He also added  "For me Sir Alex is one of the most important people in football. I've an excellent relationship & it'll be nice to see him again."

Ferguson on Ronaldo,  "Ronaldo is the one I worry about, but you can't dismiss they have a good team and good players in other positions."

The second leg will be played in Old Trafford on the 5th of March 2013.

by John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                    
posted on 2/12/2013 

Categories: Champions League, Manchester United

Read More

Manchester United to seal Wilfried Zaha's move to Old Trafford

Manchester United have successfully agreed terms with Crystal Palace for their targeted winger Wilfried Zaha for a move worth £15 million. Arsenal and Spurs who were also in the race for signing the England International have failed in capturing the youngster whose value picked up from £10 million to £15 million depending on the players success at his current club.

Zaha, 20 will be undergoing a medical at Old Trafford in the next 48 hours for an agreed fee. He will be loaned back to Crystal Palace where he would be completing the rest of the season. He will be joining Sir Alex's squad only when the next season begins.

Zaha may be the possible replacement for Nani who has been finding the difficulty to make it to the starting eleven at Old Trafford. Arsenal have already shown interest in the Portuguese winger with their bid of £20 million.

by  John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                         
posted on 1/24/2013

Categories: Manchester United, Transfers

Read More

Manchester United wants to land Celtic star Wanyama

Manchester United are set to make a £10 million bid for the Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama. Sir Alex is interested in the youngster and checked him out in every match Celtic played in the Champions League.

With Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes set to retire, Fergie believes that Wanyama is the man to resolve his midfield issues at Old Trafford.

Wanyama is a defensive midfielder who can also play as a center back. He also contributes in terms of  goal when he scored in their impressive home win over Barcelona in the Champions League.

Ferguson will face stiff competition from Arsene Wenger who believes that he'll be the next Alex Song at Arsenal.

Wanyama reportedly rejected a new contract at Celtic where he spend 2 seasons, a signing from Beerschot for £900,000 in 2011.

by John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                        
posted on 1/23/2013 

Categories: Manchester United, Transfers

Read More

United and Arsenal target Cesar

Both Manchester United and Arsenal have their own goal keeping issues with their respective number 1 keepers struggling in front of the net. Having lost the faith in their keepers, the top English sides target the Brazilian stopper Julio Cesar this January.

De Gea will be leaving United this summer and Szczesny who has injury problems at Arsenal, have not be successful in winning their respective manager's faith.

Cesar has won five Serie A titles and one Champions league in his seven years at Inter Milan. The Brazilian may be sold out due to his high wage at QPR who currently have Robert Green who also is paid high.

by  John Paul Komaravalli                                                                                        
posted on 22/1/2013

Categories: Manchester United, Transfers

Read More