Manchester United news and links

Alan Smith has reminded Sir Alex Ferguson of his goalscoring capabilities.

Wayne Rooney believes Cristiano Ronaldo has come back from the World Cup stronger.

Ryan Giggs insists he is still fully focused on playing, despite all the accolades.

RYAN Giggs is convinced the high and mighty of European football will live in fear of being drawn against Manchester United in the Champions League knockout phase.

UNITED skipper Gary Neville does not believe booking a place in the Champions League knockout phase should be any cause for celebration at Old Trafford.

OWEN Hargreaves has reasserted his desire to come `home’ to United.

UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes a British club can win the Champions League this season.

David Moyes has hinted that he will take a leaf out of Alex Ferguson’s book and take advantage of the loan market.

Rio Mavuba tells skysports.com he would relish the chance to play for Man Utd.

UNITED just can’t help themselves as once again they managed to squeeze more drama out of a European group that should have been over a month ago.

Team news ahead of Saturday’s Premiership match.

Owen Hargreaves has begged Sir Alex Ferguson to bring him to Manchester United so he can be closer to his family.

Shaun Goater says pride and passion will decide Saturday’s game at Old Trafford

Owen Hargreaves remains determined to make his ‘dream move’ to Man United.

FIND out how the Reds rated against Benfica.

Manchester United (1) 3 Benfica (1) 1United responded superbly from being a goal down to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League with three headers from the outstanding Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha.

“Given the situation we were in this morning, we’re just glad to be in the draw,” Sir Alex Ferguson said, after witnessing his side defeat Benfica 3-1 at Old Trafford.

Champions League: United reverted from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 to blitz Benfica and top group F.

MANCHESTER United came from a goal down to secure qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

SIR Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United were at their “cut-throat” best when they played their trademark attack-focused game in the crucial Champions League victory over Benfica.

Chievo striker Victor Obinna has said that he would love to play for Manchester United.

THERE could be no better time for Wayne Rooney to storm Europe again.

BENFICA coach Fernando Santos insists he has no special plans to man-mark Cristiano Ronaldo in tonight’s make-or-break Champions League clash with Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson insists diving is not tolerated at Manchester United amid new attacks on Cristiano Ronaldo’s character.

SIR Alex Ferguson is putting his trust in his players to turn the screw on Benfica.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson, who voiced dissatisfaction about the number of times Giuseppi Rossi, the striker on loan from Manchester United, has played for the Tyneside club.

Gareth Southgate may soon find himself grouped with Arsene Wenger and Kevin Keegan as managers who occupy a particularly dark place in Sir Alex Ferguson’s heart, writes Tim Rich.

The growing influence of overseas wealth is best illustrated by the fact that six Premiership clubs – more than 25 per cent of the league – are wholly owned by foreign businessmen.

Man Utd v Benfica: Sir Alex called Gareth Southgate “naive” after he accused Cristiano Ronaldo of diving.

Glenn Roeder is happy to have Giuseppe Rossi available for selection again.

BBC will show the plum FA Cup tie of the round between Liverpool and Arsenal live on Saturday, 6 January.

SIR Alex Ferguson is convinced Manchester United have emerged stronger from their Champions League disaster against Benfica 12 months ago - but the Scot has no intention of suffering a repeat.

SIR Alex Ferguson backed Cristiano Ronaldo in his condemnation of Gareth Southgate’s cheat allegations and insisted the Manchester United winger did not dive to win a penalty at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

A FEW eyebrows were seen to be raised when Andy Anson revealed he planned to leave his dream job as commercial director at boyhood club Manchester United.

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson hits out at the critics of Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he is the “most fouled player in the country”.

Sir Alex Ferguson has called Gareth Southgate ‘naive’ after he criticised Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is ‘not bothered’ by the latest criticism aimed at him.

ROBERT Milarvie was the first, back in 1891. Andy Cole was the most recent. The list of players who have turned out for both Manchester clubs is longer than you might think.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson urges his side to be more clinical in Wednesday’s Group F decider against Benfica.

Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United and Arsenal are being favoured by Premiership referees this season.

MANCHESTER United are expected to be at full strength for the make-or-break Champions League clash with Benfica at Old Trafford.

FORMER United youngster Mark Howard has been re-born in Denmark . . . as the Ghetto Kid!

SIR Alex Ferguson’s side host the Super Eagles at Old Trafford needing a point to progress from Champions League Group F following defeat by Celtic last month.

AFTER collecting nine points from their opening three fixtures, Manchester United have been plunged into an unexpected make-or-break decider with Benfica after successive defeats by FC Copenhagen and Celtic in Group F.

Team news ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League fixture.

CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho admits he will be rooting for Benfica to overcome United in their Champions League Group F clash.