Manchester United news and links

Manchester United 1 Lyons 0: United have great room for improvement if they are to proceed further in the competition

They may be champions of England, but United must be seen as outsiders for the prize they crave the most

Rio Ferdinand was firmly grounded after United’s narrow win over Lyon.

Elsewhere in the Champions League, Arsenal shock holders AC Milan.

Manchester United (1) 1 Lyon (0) 0Agg:2-1Cristiano Ronaldo recorded his 30th goal of the season, an almost fanciful tally for a winger, while his side swept to a 10th straight European win at Old Trafford at Lyon’s expense. Oliver Brown reports.

More historical resonance looms for Manchester United in a Champions League campaign which is already laden with it. United fans need no reminding that it was in the club’s first European Cup-winning campaign that George Best scored more goals in a season than any winger for the side – 32 – and Cristiano Ronaldo, now two away from that target, may well have broken the record by the time United play their quarter-final tie.

Manchester United move on in pursuit of the second Champions League triumph that Sir Alex Ferguson craves with a growing passion, but it was the news from Milan that caused the biggest stir.

A first-half strike from Cristiano Ronaldo was enough to see off Lyon and put United into the last eight

United stroll into quarter finals

by Richard Jolly

West Ham face two legal challenges over the Argentina striker’s transfer but neither has much to do with ethics or principle

Confirmation of the starting eleven and substitutes named for the evening game at home to Lyon.

Some match photos from United’s game against Olympique Lyonnais can now be viewed at the gallery.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 30th goal of the season in all competitions fired Manchester United into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Lyon.

There are two ways to watch United’s Champions League battle with Lyon.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half goal is enough to see United through to the last 8.

The Reds boss says United should have taken advantage of superior pressure.

Andy Hunter: Even in defeat at Old Trafford, Lyon striker Karim Benzema showed why he is coveted by Sir Alex Ferguson

Patrice Evra hopes Lyon will be overawed by playing United on home soil.

Get the odds for tonight from Reds fan and Betfred boss Fred Done.

Eric Cantona hopes United will triumph in this season’s Champions League.

Ryan Giggs could miss the game against Lyon through injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he has some big desisions to make on picking the side to face Lyon.

The United boss praises his Argentine striker’s goals tally and timing.

United’s most experienced player could miss Tuesday’s match against Lyon.

Ferdinand says conquering Europe isn’t the only criteria for a great club.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Lyon’s Karim Benzema is a big threat to their chances of reaching the Champions League last eight.

Team news ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match.

Hargreaves says every player has a part to play in Reds’ quest for glory.

Lyon’s Brazilian star says United still have work to do to go through.

Van der Sar says Reds are enjoying the challenge of chasing three trophies.

Forget the training pitches of Carrington, Manchester United should choose Craven Cottage the next time they fancy some gentle warm-up exercises.

The United teamsheet delivered to Roy Hodgson contained no Rooney, no Ronaldo, no Giggs, no Vidic and no Carrick. No matter. Fulham still had no chance. If their manager received any kind of lift from the absentees, it was probably quickly deflated by the chill realisation that Sir Alex Ferguson was confident he would win in any case. He was right and the ease of the victory was discomforting in an apparently competitive league.

Premier League: United fired a warning sign towards north London as they saw off Fulham with a weakened team

Fulham 0 Manchester United 3: Manager rests star players yet reserve team win with ease as Owen Hargreaves gets his debut

Sir Alex Ferguson has reveaed that Paul Scholes would be his first name on the team sheet should United reach the final of the Champions League.

Patrice Evra has revealed his delight at having Louis Saha back in the United first team squad.

Manchester United made light work of Fulham and closed the gap to leaders Arsenal to just one point on a profitable weekend for the Premier League champions.

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that United’s game at Fulham had not been a grea spectacle.

Some match photos from United’s game against Fulham can now be viewed at the gallery.

Marcus Christenson: The striker coveted by Sir Alex Ferguson could prove to be his nemesis in the Champions League

Fulham 0 Man Utd 3: never has a team gone within moments of taking the top spot in the Premier League with such ease

Fulham (0) Manchester United (2) 3Alex Ferguson could afford to restrict Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to substitute cameos as United cantered to another victory against Fulham.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he will pick Paul Scholes in his team for “sentimental” reasons if Manchester United go on to reach the Champions’ League final this season.

There are supposed to be no easy games in what many believe to be the world’s strongest league, but this was just about as easy as it gets away from home. The bonus for Manchester United came with confirmation that Arsenal had only drawn again, allowing the champions to cut the gap at the top of the table to a single point, with every indication that they are suddenly the form horses. They were even able to rest several key players ahead of Tuesday’s Champions’ League tie at home to Lyon.

Owen Hargreaves scored a fantastic free-kick as understrength United closed within a point of Arsenal

Match report from the afternoon away win versus Fulham

Confirmation of the starting eleven and substitutes named for this afternoon’s fixture away to Fulham.

Follow Tuesday’s match live via our radio and text commentary.

Sir Alex Ferguson has some decisions to make for the Lyon game.

Ji-sung Park scored his first of the season in United’s 3-0 win.