But Sir Alex is concerned there was little football in his training, this is what he had to say “Wayne’s done a week of intense (fitness) work so he’s not done a lot of football work,”

“We need to assess that a little more closely. He could make the bench but I don’t think he’ll start.”

But how will the once beloved striker be received at Old Trafford? Will you be cheering him on or booing him off?

Ferdinand and Smalling both picked up groin strains while on international duty and will be assessed.

While Rafael and Nani remain doubtful for Wigan, Giggs is definitely out and will not be rushed back into action any time soon.

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United will have a strong line-up for the quarter-final. I predict Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, and Evra across the back, Carrick and Fletcher as holding midfielders Nani on the left and Park on the right, with Rooney up top.

Robben looks to be in doubt for the big match, and that would be a big plus, seeing as how the Dutchman has been in impeccable form.

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Ferguson said, “If he gets a fair hearing Rio has a good chance. He was getting wrestled and punched. There were all sorts of things happening. He was just trying to get himself free of it and unfortunately caught the lad on the back of the neck.”

Ferdinand stated that any contact with Fagan was accidental. But he failed to convince the FA’s disciplinary panel. It was said that Steve Bennett, the referee of the match did not see any of this, but he has stated if he did, Ferdinand would have been sent off immediately.

The result in the case means Ferdinand will miss out on the match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. He will also have to sit out against Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton. But fortunately, Ferdinand will be able to play in the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on February 28.

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Not surprisingly, people have begun to play down United’s great accomplishment. Ex-United defender Paul Parker is one of them, claiming “Manchester United’s record 11th consecutive clean sheet in the Premier League is a great achievement, but I am not sure I would crown them the best defense of all-time.”

He continued by saying that “It used to be the case [ 10 to 15 years ago] that defenses were constantly tested, regardless of their league position” 10-15 years ago? Coincidently that’s when Parker was playing.

But Parker is an idiot! Football has evolved, the days of “kickball” are over in the EPL. Kickball is still played in the lower divisions of English football, which is some of the most unattractive football in the world, but in the premier league the game is much more diverse then it was 15 years ago. Defenders are smarter now, they have to be!

Defenders no longer wait for a long ball from the opponent, only to return it in the same fashion. Teams are much better at keeping possession and building an attack now.

The United defense have earned this achievement by playing great football, wonder if they can make it to 1000 minutes.

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“We were like schoolkids really, around a star coming to school,” Ferdinand said.

Ferdinand, who marked his 30th birthday by receiving a signed shirt from the Co-FIFA Player of the Century, explains how all of his teammates were eager to impress the new Argentina boss.

“He came and watched us train and I think the gaffer would probably like him to come every day the way he raised standards in the training. Everyone was trying to impress him.”
“I hope he will go back to Argentina and say he’s seen a great player – Rio Ferdinand!”

Ferdinand, who seemed to be the most excited continued “He is one of my heroes, if not the shining beacon when I was a kid. I had all his videos and he was the player everyone wanted to be,” he said.
“You can’t hold him in higher esteem than that so to be able to shake his hand, get a cuddle of him and a picture – it made my birthday.”

I can understand how Maradona could have such an impact on the United players, but I find it hard to imagine Rio or Wayne getting all excited about Maradona coming to watch them train. They are world class players themselves, they are the players kids want to be now.

But Maradona is Maradona and despite his dark private life, he is one of the best players to ever play the beautiful game.

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Ferdinand’s existing contract ends next year, so United made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. £31.2 to be exact, for the next 5 years.

And we all know Crisiano Ronaldo, at the moment, is the best player in the world. He will not be earning £120,000 too much longer, expect Ronaldo to renew his contract for a much larger sum.

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Both Rooney and Ronaldo on the bench to start.
Ferdinand passed the fitness test and he started alongside Brown, Pique, and Silvestre. Sir Alex went with a Carrick as a defensive mid Anderson and Hargreaves in the center. Park on the right and Giggs on the Left
17 year old Danny Welbeck was called up to the first team.

In the first 10 minutes United had 5 good chances to score. First Hargreaves centered the ball for Tevez in the 3rd minute but its deflected for a corner kick. Then Giggs finds Park making the run behind the Roma defense but Park puts it too wide looking for the far post. Then Park finds Tevez with a center inside the 18, but Tevez heads it wide. Then in the 10th minute Giggs connects with Owen Hargreaves, Owen was through on a 1v1 but couldn’t finish as Doni blocked to much of the angle.

United with another great chance in the 16th Owen Hargreaves sends a ball into Giggs who takes a shot  at point blank but Doni dives the right way.

Giggs delivers a great ball to Owen Hargreaves right in front of goal but was immediately rushed by Casseti and Juan. Owen couldn’t get the shot off

Hargreaves again with a ball that makes it all the across the middle, That time for Anderson who connects wonderfully but is denied by Doni. Great shot by Anderson and I’m glad to see he’s keeping the ball down when he shoots

A very greedy and selfish play by Tevez in the 27th minute. There was a counter attack from United which Tevez started, by playing Ryan Giggs to the left, Giggs carried and megged a player before passing it to Anderson who had a light touch for Tevez and immediately took off for the give and go. At this point Giggs had continued his run up the left completely unmarked and Anderson was making the right run. Tevez held WAY to long, and im not sure his last touch was intended as a pass, it looked like wanted to go solo, but Anderson who was offside ran to the ball and was called for it.

In the 30th minute Roma were awarded a PK after Mancini shook Brown and made Brown commit to slide tackling. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. 
De Rossi stepped up and with the pressure of an entire country (Roma was the only Italian club left), He couldn’t convert.
United got very lucky.

Again Tevez decided to play himself instead of giving the ball to Park, who would’ve been clean through.
Tevez ran straight into the opposition. His teammates must have been furious.

In the 34th minute United came close to conceding a goal but a bad first touch by De Rossi give United a chance to clear.

Ferdinand was limping around the whole match. Makes you wonder if he will be fit for the weekend.

A good counter from United as Anderson carried the ball a good 30 yards before passing off to Giggs on the left side, Giggs got past his defender but delivered a poor ball.

2nd half

No changes for United, Ferdinand was back on the pitch.

Roma kept taking shots from outside the 18, Van der Sar had some trouble holding on to the ball but none that would cost United a goal.

Silvestre in great form as he deflected a very dangerous shot taken by Roma. And Van der Sar also doing his part as he gets to a very difficult ball taken by Juan from the corner, and this time he holds on to it

And at the other end again Tevez has another greedy moment, he took one to many touches once again. Tevez did not lift his head to look for other teammates on too many occasions. Tevez wanted to do everything on his own.

Ronaldo and Rooney were warming up
Ronaldo is 9 away from breaking Dennis Law’s record of 45 goals in one season. V.Nistelrooy has come the closest to breaking the record with 44 goals in one season.

Bad ball by Anderson in the 62nd minute, he tried for the switch but he had his left defender making the run, why make soccer difficult? Play it simple.

Man Utd have played with composure and confidence. United were knocking the ball back in forth with no worries

Carlos finally gets his goal in the 70th minute, Hargreaves provided the perfect ball for a diving header,
Maybe now he’ll play with his teammates. And as he celebrated he lifted his shirt to reveal “Feliz Cumple Ariel” or Happy Birthday Ariel
That explains a lot, he was determined to score for “Ariel”

73rd minute Perrota takes his frustration on Park, as he deliberately kicked him. It was a late and cowardly tackle and he still gets upset over getting it called against him. Telling park to “get up”

Rooney on for Giggs in the 74th minute, and O’Shea for Carrick.
I found it very interesting Ferdinand was left on.

Gary Neville’s long awaited return would come in the 81st minute and Anderson  was the player to come off. Neville has not played a match in over a year with the 1st team.

Gary Neville was immediately given the captains armband.

Park was fed a lovely ball by Wayne Rooney in the 88th, No offside call but Park cant convert its out for a corner kick.

And that was the final whistle.

United through to the Semi-Final against Barcelona.

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There has been plenty of good news and bad news for both Manchester United and Roma.

First, Roma’s bad news and United‘s good news. Roma will have to do without their leading scorer and team captain, Francesco Totti once again. While United’s offense is unstoppable at the moment, With Ronaldo on the verge of breaking goal scoring records, Rooney back in scoring form, Nani set to return and that’s not mentioning Anderson, Scholes, Tevez or Giggs. The Roma defense will have their work cut out for them at Old Trafford. Oh, and Roma will most likely start their horrendous keeper Doni.

Now for United’s bad news and Roma’s good. United will have to do without Serbian international  Nemanja Vidic and possibly English captain Rio Ferdinand. Vidic still out from United’s first leg which took place in Roma. Ferdinand, who more recently injured his foot will have to pass a fitness test set to take place Wednesday morning to compete. United do have options like John O’Shea, Gerard Pique, Owen Hargreaves (who did play right back a couple weeks ago) even Mikael Silvestre and Gary Neville. While Roma’s defense has been boosted by Brazilian center defender Juan.

With at least one English team already guaranteed to be in the final, Manchester United have what it takes to make it two in the Champions League Final.

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United had to do without Vidic, who was out with a knee injury.
Scholes and Carrick take the center mid positions. Ronaldo and Giggs take the wings. This was Giggs 750th appearance for United, just 9 shy of Sir Bobby Charltons record.

Late challenge on Ronaldo in the first minutes of the match,  Boro tried to send a message early on.

Middlesbrough has scored 35 goals in all competition, Ronaldo alone has 36.

Carrick gets fouled about 30 yards out and Ronaldo has a go but it was deflected by the wall.

A corner for Man U in the 10th minute and United score. Its incredible that in a professional match the ball made it past everyone and got to Carrick in the back post. Carrick put it straight across the middle for who else, Ronaldo. 6 yards from goal,  Ronaldo was not going to miss.
He makes it 37 goals in all competition. 

In the 22nd minute middlesbrough showed some poor sportsmanship by not putting the ball out after Evra went down at their end of the field. Middlesbrough almost tied because of their lack of respect for United.

I understand if there was a clear scoring opportunity, not to play the ball out, But Evra went down in their 18! I lost some respect for Middlesbrough after that play.

Rio overpowers Alves in the 32nd minute for a Middlesbrough free kick 25 yards out. 

Alves took the free kick, and it was a powerful kick. Van der Sar was able to block it, only to have it go to a Boro player, and again Van der Sar makes a brilliant save.

2 minutes later Carrick committed 2 mistakes that would allow Middlesbrough to tie. Carrick was given the ball in the back by O’Shea, who then overlapped down the right side. Carrick didn’t play the short ball and instead tried a 50 yard long ball to the opposite side of the field for Giggs. Well Carrick is no Beckham, the ball was short, not only that but Carrick decided not to run back until it was to late. Alfonso Alves had snuck in behind him and Middlesbrough played a classic counter attack. In two touches the ball made its way to Uniteds right side where there was no defender. And it was no problem for Alfonso Alves as he slid it past Van der Sar.

Middlesbrough simply out hustled United. This was apparent in the 40th minute when the ball was in Uniteds danger zone, first O’Shea had a chance to clear it but it was blocked then Evra and it was blocked. Middlesbrough hustled to the ball and centered it to Downing who was wide open, luckily for United Van der Sar got to it with another great save.
 
2nd Half

No changes for United

Right away in the first 2 minutes of the second half United have a scare as Middlesbrough feed a long ball from their own half and it manages to bounce over eveyones head, and Pogatetz was there but United clear it just in time for a counter, it was 3v3 at the other end, Rooney tried to play a ball to Tevez on the right side but it was a little to much and Tevez could only salvage a corner from it. Good idea from Rooney

Rooney was booked in the 55th minute for sliding in on the keeper. Some might argue it was harsh, considering the condition of the field. Rooney slid and couldn’t stop due to the wet pitch. But rules are rules, if Alves challenged Van der Sar like that we would all be yelling for a yellow.

1 minute later, Middlesbrough luck out on some poor United defending, again. Brown does his job by challenging the ball in the air, there are 3 United players with in 5 yards of Wes Brown and all of them were too naïve to drop back behind Rio “Just in Case” Alves was the only one that ran through and past everyone and with a little luck found the ball at his feet for another break, and again he put it past Van der Sar with the nearest United defender 3 yards behind him.

A very close call for Man U. As Aliadiere heads a ball across Uniteds goal for Alves. Luckily for United Rio clears the ball of the line before Alves could get his hat trick.

Ferdinand came off in the 70th minute, this could spell disaster for United. Man U can not afford to lose another key defender.

A brilliant strike from Wayne Rooney off a corner. Rooney hit a volley first time but just put it wide. A very difficult thing to do.

Park, who came on for Tevez is the architect behind Rooneys goal. Park made the perfect run, he made the perfect fake, the finished it off with the perfect pass to Rooney. Rooney simply redirected it and salvaged a point for United.
Rooney doesn’t even celebrate, that’s what I love about this kid. He was knew where his team stood and he just wanted to get on with it. Rooney wanted the win.

A wonderful flying header by Rooney in the closing minutes but it was clocked then Giggs dished off to Scholes who couldn’t put it away.

United manage to tie  and keep themselves 3 points in front of Chelsea.

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