Sir Alex is understood to have paid £18m for the 23-year-old.

I think Valencia has plenty of potential. He has plenty of pace and makes players around him better. But, he wont score more then 20 goals a season. I think Valencia is a step in the right direction, but we need a goal scorer.

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Lets start with United’s starting line-up. The back four were fine. My issue was in the midfield, Why was Rooney on the left? And why was Ronaldo playing as a lone striker. It should have been Ronaldo on the right, Giggs on the left, and Rooney up top.  Scholes in the center with Anderson and Carrick as a holding mid.

I think Sir Alex got caught up in the hype surrounding Park becoming the first Korean footballer to contest a Champions League final. Yes Park is in form, but like I’ve said before Park doesn’t have the presence to define a game, there are players that can take charge and change the outcome of a game and Park isn’t that player.

Next are the tactics. Barcelona did exactly what they were supposed to, they put the ball on the ground and kept possession. That way they took away two of United’s strengths, height and power. And United played right into it, they insisted on playing long ball. Making their make shift defensive line-up to look world class.

It will be interesting to see how United deal with the loss. Will Ronaldo and Tevez stay? Who will United sign if they leave? Can they make it to the final again while winning a record 19th premier league title? Make sure to check back all summer for the latest news.

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United could make history by being the first team to successfully defend their Champions League title. On paper, United are clearly favorites. Rio confirmed he will play and it seems Fletcher will be the only player to miss out on the grand finale. While Barca will be missing Abidal, Marquez, Alves, and Milito. While Henry and Iniesta remain doubtful.

United will have to attack and abuse Barca’s weak and vulnerable back four. While being able to contain Messi, Eto’o and Henry. Ferdinand and Vidic will hold Eto’o and Evra can keep up with Messi, but Henry may cause a problem for O’Shea.

While at the opposite end, Ronaldo will do what he wants with Silvinho. Rooney is already in Pique’s head, after the ex-United defender claimed “When he (Rooney) is focused he is simply unstoppable”

United are going into Rome with a “we will win” attitude, while Barca think “we might win” and that will mark the difference.

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With Florentino Perez most likely to win the Madrid presidential election, he has made it clear his number one priority would be to sign the current FIFA World Player of the Year.

But United have made it clear Ronaldo is not for sale, and now Ronaldo has expressed his current thoughts on the matter.

“At the moment I’m only thinking about the (Champions League) final independently of what will happen to me or my team-mates next season,” he told Atena 3.
“I’m sure Perez would create an incredible team at Madrid but at the moment I’m at United and I don’t care about what happens there.”
“I only care about what will happen next season at Manchester United.”

Will Ronaldo leave? I doubt it, if he cares about his football, he would be stupid to leave. He would be leaving what is being considered one of the best teams in the history of football to play for a mediocre Real Madrid, this is certainly not the Madrid of the late 50’s and early 60’s when they won 6 of their 9 European Cup/Champions League finals. They have not won any international silverware since 2002, and will finish almost 10 points behind Barcelona this season. While United have acquired their 3rd consecutive league title, and will likely retain the Champions League title on Wednesday.

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United’s final premier league match against Hull is three days before the Champions League Final in Rome. I highly doubt Sir Alex will use Ronaldo or any of the other starters. It is an ideal match for Macheda, Fabio, Foster and the other reserves.

Its happened before, just ask Sheffield United fans if they remember. It was on the last day of the 2006/07 season. United had already clinched the title and the FA Cup final was a week away. Sir Alex rested Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes, and Ferdinand for their game against West Ham. West Ham won 1-0 and survived relegation thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal.

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It was Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlitos Tevez who did the damage, netting a goal each before half-time.
But it was Tevez who dominated the pre-match talk, having made several statements in the previous weeks about his future at Old Trafford. Tevez has reiterated the lack of respect toward him at United, stating that he is too good a player to be sitting on the bench.

But Tevez did start against City and played great, netting Uniteds second goal just before halftime and playing the entire match.

Ronaldo on the other hand dominated the post-match talk, not for his spectacular trademark free-kick which opened the score-line but rather for his childish antics when he was substituted off in the 60th minute.

Sir Alex later played down Ronaldo’s actions by saying “It is great that he wanted to play on. It is fabulous. But I have to look at the big picture. He produced an incredible performance against Arsenal on Tuesday. He ran his socks off. Now I have Wednesday and Saturday to look after. There is no problem.”
Although I feel another boot incident coming on if Ronaldo continues to act like a spoiled brat.

So, lets blow past Wigan on Wednesday and celebrate at Old Trafford on Saturday against Arsenal.

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It only took United 2 minutes to create a scoring opportunity, when Fletcher’s cross was met by Rooney and his header was denied.

By the 16th minute it was clear that United’s attack was being led by Tevez. As he played a ball wide to O’Shea and followed up the one-two with a shot which was denied by Almunia for a corner. The corner that lead to the O’Shea’s goal. As Arsenal got caught chasing the ball, O’Shea was left alone in the back and put it away with no problem.

12 minutes later Tevez supplied Ronaldo with a stupendous ball, which Ronaldo headed directly into the hands of Almunia.

After the first half, it was all United. Arsenal had trouble advancing and creating any chances.

The second half didn’t change much. It was all United. Arsenal were extremely static, they would pass and stay in the same area.

There was a spark of brilliance from Ronaldo in the 69th minute when the Portuguese winger had  a go from 30 yards out which caught Almunia off his line and struck the crossbar. If Ronaldo was half a yard back it’s a goal!

I was disappointed Sir Alex took off Tevez, I honestly feel Ronaldo should have come off before Tevez. He spent 40 percent of his time on the ground,

It’s as if Ronaldo and Drogba are in competition to see who can spend more time on the ground during a match.

Giggs came on to make his 800th appearance and was convinced he scored the 2nd goal in the 78th minute, only to have it denied because he was slightly offside.

Rio Ferdinand picked up a knock, but no word on how serious it may be. He was rushed to the hospital immediately following the match.

United are definitely in the driver’s seat heading into the second leg next week, although United have yet to win at the Emirates.

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It only took Ronaldo 6 minutes to create the space necessary to unleash his rocket on goalkeeper, Helton. After a start like that, I began to brace myself for another mouth watering goal fest like the Chelsea v Liverpool game just a day before. But it was far from that.

Don’t get me wrong, United did what they had to do, and it was enough to get them through. They became the first British side to win at the Estadio do Dradao in over 40 years. I just expected more goals more excitement.  But I guess when your team gets through it doesn’t matter how its done.

United did secure their first shutout in over a month, thanks in large part to the return of Ferdinand and Vidic. And its that duo that will win trophies for United.

Because the offense could not keep the ball in top half of the field. Rooney would drop into his own 18 to win a ball and when it was cleared there was no one up top to keep the ball. Berbatov is only effective in front of goal, he has absolutely no speed, and is useless unless United is on the attacking half of the field.

I like Anderson and think he has great potential, but this was not a game for the young Brazilian. He just turned the ball over too easily. He needs to work on his right foot a little more and taking some shots while keeping them on frame.

Sir Alex took the right players off, Anderson and Berbatov were not contributing. But I feel the subs were made a little late, and I would like to have seen Tevez come on for Berbatov, not Nani.

But United are through! April 29th United will host Arsenal.

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Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, and Cristiano Ronaldo are representing United, with Steven Gerrard representing the rest of the Barclays Premier League.

Arsene Wenger was the first to criticize the nominees by claiming if the voting was conducted later in the season, United would not dominate the shortlist.

“What I believe is that the PFA players of the year decisions are all made in February,” Wenger said.

“But February is not a really important time and that means the players who are rewarded are those who played well until February.

“Now is the most important time of the season – April, May – so I believe these awards just reward the players of the first six months of the season.

“A player who has been out until January has no chance to be voted but he can still be very influential for the rest of the season.

“If they vote in May I hope some of my players would be in there because that would mean we have done well tomorrow and later.”

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It didn’t take long for Porto to figure out that United had absolutely no defense. First Hulk in the 3rd minute then the goal in the 4th. We all know Evans “clear” if we can even call it that, was something like that of a little school girl. But it was Ronaldo, who lost the ball at half which led to the goal. Not only did he lose it but he never once turned to win the ball back. Instead he pranced with his head down for about 10 meters before ever looking back. I don’t care if he is Ronaldo, if you lose the ball you need to win it back!

My other issue with Ronaldo is a true footballer knows when its “your” night, when every touch is crisp, every pass is accurate, every trap is exceptional. Tuesday was not Ronaldo’s night, when that happens you need to play simple one, two, or maybe three touches max. So why did Ronaldo insist on trying to take players on.

Personally I think having an extra player in the midfield was useless! Why use three players when two could do the job. Any combination would have done: Carrick/Fletcher, Fletcher/Scholes, Scholes/Carrick and United should have started the match how they ended it. With only two players in the center and an extra striker.

We have seen how Tevez and Rooney produce magic on several occasions so why not give them more time on the pitch together! Tevez has more than proven himself, so I don’t understand why he receives the treatment he does from the coaching staff. Tevez is too good to be just a “super sub”

Porto played very well and deserved the draw if not more. United can not afford to slip up anymore!

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