Manchester United news and links

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has an injection to ease a back problem but there is still no date for his return to action.

John Terry grabs the only goal of the game to extend Chelsea’s Premier League lead to five points and deal a big blow to Manchester United’s title chances.

RIO Ferdinand is facing an extended period on the sidelines as United try to get to the bottom of his latest injury concern.


Ferdinand has already been ruled out of Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after failing to recover from a calf injury that has been plaguing him for a couple of weeks.

SIR Alex Ferguson today warned United to expect an aerial bombardment in Sunday’s match of the season against Chelsea.


Fergie has identified the free-scoring league leaders’ aerial threat as the biggest danger to his creaking defence in the top-of-the- table clash at Stamford Bridge.

WITH seven goals in 89 appearances at Wigan, Antonio Valencia was never likely to replace Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible output.


But Sir Alex Ferguson was still prepared to spend £16m to bring the Ecuadorian international to Old Trafford, convinced he could turn him into a goal-scoring winger in the long-standing tradition of United.

AS Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 23 years since he got the keys to United, MEN Sport’s
James Robson asks if he is not only football’s greatest – but the greatest sports figure of all time.


Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, the United manager’s phenomenal success rate in a managerial career that spans 30-plus years stands up to anyone from any sport.

TOMASZ Kuszczak has launched a stunning attack on teammate Edwin van der Sar. The Polish goalkeeper says he receives no help from United’s number one – adding that the Dutchman must not like him.



Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed the comments as merely a joke - but at a time when his rearguard is in dissarray, a fallout between two of his goalkeepers is the last thing the United manager will want ahead of Sunday’s top of the table clash with Chelsea.

Sir Alex is determined to atone for Anfield when his men face Chelsea.

Your one-stop information shop for Sunday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge.

• Reserve goalkeeper goes public on rift with United team-mate
• ‘You have to wait for a chance, but for how long?’

Edwin van der Sar is approaching the final stages of his career amid tensions behind the scenes at Manchester United, with his younger rival, Tomasz Kuszczak, openly asking whether the Dutchman dislikes him and criticising him for not offering any encouragement or help.

Van der Sar, twice the European goalkeeper of the year and a Champions League winner with Ajax and United, turned 39 last week and has a reputation as the consummate professional. Kuszczak, however, is so exasperated by his colleague’s lack of guidance the 27-year-old has publicly spoken out about what he perceives to be the failings in their relationship.

“To be honest, I must say this, and Edwin doesn’t like this too much, for sure, but he doesn’t help me too much,” he said. “I have told him a few times already to give me some more advice because he’s got more experience and got many more games under his belt.

“I say to him: ‘You have to give me something more because I like to know what I do wrong’. I like to watch other people because doing that I can take some good from the advice I get. But I don’t know, maybe Edwin doesn’t like me. You’ll have to ask him.”

For a player to question a colleague’s conduct is virtually unheard of at Old Trafford now that Roy Keane has left the club, and it is unlikely Kuszczak’s comments will go down well with Sir Alex Ferguson given the manager’s famous desire to keep everything in-house. It is even more embarrassing for United considering that Kuszczak made his complaints on MUTV, the club’s own television channel and the outlet for the infamous diatribe from Keane against his own team-mates that eventually led to the then captain leaving the club in 2005.

Kuszczak signed from West Bromwich Albion in August 2006 and the Pole is clearly frustrated about his inability to put together a substantial run of games as he competes with Van der Sar, the undisputed first-choice, and Ben Foster, who is marginally next in line.

“I’ve not played too much over the last three years,” Kuszczak added. “I hope in the future the games will come. The question is how long do you want to wait? I try every day but it’s a slow process and it’s not easy. I feel great in the position but I’m not called up and sometimes you think: ‘OK, it’s difficult, you have to wait’, but the question is how long. I’ve already waited three and a half years.

“I will wait longer but my ambition is so big and I want to have a nice feeling after games, be tired and go home and think: ‘Oh, you did a good job’. This is what I want to do. Now it’s difficult because I haven’t played too much, especially this season, but I’m hungry to play games. I have played a few games in the Champions League and Premier League, some important games, and it was OK. I know I’m able to do it.”

Kuszczak and Van der Sar would be far from the only goalkeepers not to have been close over the years.

Jens Lehmann hardly had a good word to say about Manuel Almunia when they were competing for the same position at Arsenal, describing it as a “humiliation” to lose his place to the Spaniard and saying he watched games having to “clench my fist in my pocket”.

David James has admitted cold-shouldering Brad Friedel when the American signed for Liverpool, while Ronald Waterreus used to switch on the television in the middle of the night to make sure his PSV Eindhoven room-mate and rival, Georg Koch, slept badly before games.

At Barnsley, meanwhile, the former goalkeeper Lars Leese remembers unnerving his rivals for the position by bombarding them with as many unstoppable shots as possible in training sessions. After he had fired another ball into the net, Leese would say: “Oh sorry, I forgot you weren’t good enough for shots like that.”

Midfielder wants United to attain psychological superiority over Chelsea.

DENIS Law believes United have the firepower to put the frighteners on Chelsea in Sunday’s Stamford Bridge collision.


But the Stretford End king, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-time favourite hitman, warns the Londoners have their own scary spearhead.

Gillingham’s new loan signing, Fabian Brandy, says he will develop better playing in League One rather than for Man United’s reserves.

WES Brown has revealed the full extent of Rio Ferdinand’s injury woe - but reckons the England defender will come back stronger.


Ferdinand, who will be 31 on Saturday, reported a thigh complaint at the start of the season in August and he missed four games. Recent absences have been put down to a calf injury, according to United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

UNITED have been linked with a swoop for Benfica star Angel Di Maria in a bid to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.


Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be at Goodison Park to watch the Argentinian in action against Everton in the Europa League, report the Daily Mirror.

UNITED midfielder Darren Fletcher is prepared to break the pain barrier this season to help the Reds.


Fletcher is set to soldier on through the campaign with painkillers, knowing that a summer ankle operation has been pencilled in.

Anfield defeat means Sir Alex’s men are keen to atone at the Bridge.

Patrice says Chelsea game is the one he wants to win more than any other.

Gillingham sign 20 year-old Manchester United striker Fabian Brandy on a three-month loan.

PATRICE Evra has warned his fellow United defenders they need to be on top form to stop Chelsea strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.


Evra has no hesitation in plumping for the Stamford Bridge outfit when asked who he regards as the biggest danger to the Reds hopes of landing an unprecedented fourth successive league championship.

DARREN Fletcher is not allowing himself to get affected by his new tag as Manchester United’s “big game player”.


Fletcher returned to action after a month’s absence with an ankle injury against CSKA Moscow - just in time for Sunday’s crucial Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

UNITED have defended their decision not to wear embroidered poppies in their shirts for Sunday’s Remembrance Day match at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.


The Reds won’t be making a U-turn but insist their action is not a snub to the Armed Forces, and point to the club’s unpublicised 12-month programme designed and dedicated to help our soldiers, airmen and sailors.

UNITED are one of the best run and most successful clubs on the planet. And you don’t build an empire as vast as theirs if your decision-makers make mistakes.


So, it’s fair to say that the shakers and movers behind the scene at Old Trafford generally know what they are doing.

• Brown calls for tighter defence after conceding three to CSKA
• United face Drogba and co at Stamford Bridge on Sunday

Wes Brown has conceded Manchester United will have to defend far better at Stamford Bridge on Sunday if they are to get anything out of their crucial Premier League match against Chelsea.

Both sides will go into the game with their Champions League knock-out place secure following draws last night. But while Carlo Ancelotti’s men were pleased with their efforts against Atlético Madrid, United looked far less secure.

It took another injury-time strike, this time a deflected Antonio Valencia effort, to earn a 3-3 draw against a spirited CSKA Moscow side.

The ease with which the Russians scored their three goals provides huge cause for concern, especially as Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed Rio Ferdinand is highly unlikely to return as he struggles to recover from a calf injury.

It means either Brown or Jonny Evans will continue in central defence alongside Nemanja Vidic, who should be fit. Brown knows that against the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, such defensive weakness will be punished.

“We cannot concede like that when we go to Stamford Bridge,” he said. “We have to be tighter at the back and give the strikers the chance to do a bit of damage at the other end.

“It will be our toughest game of the season. They have been doing very well. They are a well-organised team and they will be very strong. They are scoring goals at the moment and we will have to be really on top form to think of getting any points.”

Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher has spoken of his disbelief at the booking he collected for diving during last night’s encounter.

When the Scot went down under Vasili Berezutsky’s ill-timed tackle, it appeared a certain spot-kick. TV replays backed up that view but the Portuguese referee Olegário Benquerença showed Fletcher a yellow card for simulation.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already called on Uefa to amend their rules to allow appeals in such situations, mindful of the fact Fletcher missed last season’s final against Barcelona through suspension. The Scotland midfielder admitted he was completely stunned by the decision.

“It was a penalty,” he said. “I have turned and the lad has just swept me off my feet. I’ve not tried to fall or stay on my feet or anything. When the referee blew his whistle I just thought ‘great, it is a penalty and we are back in the game’. When I saw he was walking towards me with the yellow card I could not believe it.

“I am not having much luck with these cards. Hopefully it will change in the later stages.”

The Football Association rejects Liverpool’s appeal against Philipp Degen’s red card in the 3-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

UNITED produced a Champions League thriller to fire their way into the knockout stages - with Wayne Rooney branded a Red saviour.


Sir Alex Ferguson sent for new dad Rooney with his side trailing 3-1 to CSKA Moscow.

Vidic, Giggs and Berbatov could be back to face Chelsea on Sunday.

Boss delighted with Reds’ spirit, but disappointed by the defending.

Brown says it’s vital United improve their defensive play at Chelsea.

Darren Fletcher saw positives in the displays of both United and CSKA.

• Ferguson calls on Uefa to overturn Fletcher booking
• ‘It is the worst I have ever seen in my lifetime’

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Uefa to wipe out Darren Fletcher’s yellow card for diving in the 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow which led to Manchester United qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages.

United were trailing 3-1 when Fletcher was felled in the area by Aleksei Berezutski. The Scotland midfielder was then yellow-carded by the referee, Olegário Benquerença – a decision which an incensed Ferguson described as the worst he had seen in over 50 years in the game.

• In video: Ferguson calls on Uefa to change appeal system
• Today in Sport: Debate United’s defensive malaise
• Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow: Daniel Taylor’s full report
• In pictures: The best images from Old Trafford

Fletcher was suspended for last season’s Champions League final against Barcelona because of his accumulation of yellow cards and Ferguson said: “It was unbelievable. For what reason would a player six yards out even think about that? You can’t appeal a yellow card, that’s the problem.

“In domestic football it could get lost in the system but in European football it is crucial because, later in the tournament, to miss a really important game because of that is unfair. Uefa should look at that, really, but they won’t. It is a really bad mistake. OK, it’s human error but it is still a bad mistake.”

He continued: “I can’t believe it. I watched the camera by the side of the dugout and it is the worst I have ever seen in my lifetime – unbelievable.”

Sir Alex Ferguson is furious with referee Olegario Benquerenca for not awarding Manchester United a penalty in their 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow.

ALEX Nimely conjured up a stunning goal to settle the first Manchester reserve derby of the season.


The England Under-20 ace drifted in behind the United defence on 20 minutes to get on the end of Greg Cunningham’s pinpoint diagonal pass, and volley it first time over Reds keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

MANCHESTER United qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages after coming from two goals down to draw with CSKA Moscow.


Antonio Valencia’s deflected strike in injury time secured the point the Reds needed to progress.

MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed his side’s battling qualities after the 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow - but blasted referee Olegario Benquerenca for not awarding his side a penalty in the Champions League Group B match at Old Trafford.


The draw was enough to take United through to the last 16 but Ferguson was far from happy not to get a spot kick when Darren Fletcher appeared to be tripped in the area, the Scottish midfielder instead being booked for diving.

FIND out how we rated United for their performance in the 3-3 Champions League draw with CSKA Moscow.

• Fábio’s yellow card is transferred to brother Rafael
• Manchester United twins were mixed-up by Chris Foy

The Football Association have acted to resolve the case of mistaken identity involving the Manchester United twins, Fábio and Rafael da Silva, which resulted in the wrong brother being booked for a foul last month.

The incident happened during United’s 2-0 Carling Cup quarter-final win over Barnsley when both brothers challenged Jamal Campbell-Ryce in the 83rd minute. The referee Chris Foy showed a yellow card to Fábio, but television replays showed Rafael was the offender. The FA has now confirmed it has transferred the yellow card to Rafael.

Sir Alex Ferguson has previously admitted he can only tell the difference between the 19-year-olds by the wedding ring that Fábio wears.

Rafael, who wears 21 on his shirt, was playing his first match for United this season against Barnsley after returning from shoulder surgery in the summer.

United scored twice in the final ten minutes to come back from 3-1 down and book their spot in the knockout stages

Preamble: Good evening, and welcome to tonight’s Champions League action, brought to you in low-definition 2D text live from the Guardian’s award-winning offices in Kings Cross - some 160 miles from the venue for Manchester United v CSKA Moscow.

United can qualify for the knockout phase this evening, requiring only a draw to do so. If they win, and Wolfsburg fail to do the same in Turkey against Besiktas, then Sir Alex Ferguson’s mob will be assured of top spot as well.

For CSKA, who are now on their third manager of 2009, the omens aren’t good. They haven’t won on the road in the Champions League since beating Paris Saint-Germain in 2004; United are unbeaten at OT in 22 fixtures. Still, with Wolfsburg drawing at home last week, the Russians can still harbour hopes of going through even if they lose tonight.

Anyway, the big news is that Wayne Rooney, he that has recently sired a bairn, has disappointingly failed to take up his statutory two weeks’ paternity leave and is on the bench …

Tonight’s cast:

Man Utd: Van der Sar; Neville, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Fabio Da Silva; Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani; Macheda, Owen.
Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Anderson, Rooney, O’Shea, Obertan, Gibson.

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev; Alexei Berezutsky, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Shchennikov; Krasic, Semberas, Aldonin, Mamaev, Necid; Dzagoev.
Subs: Pomazan, Daniel Carvalho, Maazou, Odiah, Piliev, Rahimic, Grigoriev.

Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal)

So, Kai’s dad is among the subs and another youngster, Federico Macheda, is to make his European debut. Darren Fletcher returns after injury to add some girders to the United midfield, and Wes Brown partners Jonny Evans at the back.

For the Army Men (sadly not these Army Men), new broom Leonid Slutsky makes one change from the team that gave him a win in his first match at the weekend, the Brazilian Daniel Carvalho dropping to the bench for Evgeni Aldonin.

Come on then, let’s have it. Would you? Names can be a tricky business, given that the people who bestow them never have to carry the burden of their choice. But, really … couldn’t they have thought of a better middle name than Wayne? As for Kai, I’m secretly hoping that the inspiration may lie in Coleen and Wayne’s childhood love of biology, and in particular the Chi-squared statistical analysis test.

Pre-match emails: “I’ve just been advertising your wares on the BBC,” writes Colum Farrelly. “So make it good please!” Thanks, Colum. I only really rise to the occasion when I know I’ve been pitched head-to-head with the national broadcaster.

“Is everything OK with the ‘Bangster’ (part Ballerina, part Gangster! Guess who?),” enquires Pramod Hegde. I’m guessing Rooney, Pramod, and, if you didn’t already know, he’s a bit tired out from Coleen squeezing his hand.

“The photo of Kai is great but also coincidentally has a Russian connection - although Kai perhaps did not have this immediate advantage, the “Russian Underwater Birthing” method has proven to be a very healthy transition from womb to atmosphere - apart from reduced trauma, underwater babies do things many conventional babies find impossible and after only two or three months often can stand and at six months they can walk. They rarely fall sick, easily withstand cold and weather changes, do not have temper tantrums, sleep soundly, and are physically stronger, more active, brighter an more resourceful than average. Perhaps a recipe for a life of footie …?” Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist David Hilmy, there.

The teams take to the Old Trafford turf and the pre-match pleasantries get underway. They’re having a bit of a sing-song, that sort of thing …

Peep! We’re off!

1 min: CSKA charge forward from the kick-off, into acres of space in midfield, and Dzagoev fires a shot high and to the right of Edwin van der Sar’s goal.

3 min: After Akinfeev was fouled following a threatening ball into the CSKA box from United, Semberas this time fires wide for the Russians down at the other end. Then a long ball down the right from Neville sets Valencia off and running. His control isn’t the best, and he’s is squeezed out for a corner, which ultimately comes to nothing.

5 min: Valencia and Neville are already having success down the right, as United, despite missing a number of first-team regulars, settle into their usual smooth passing game. Be interesting to see how well Owen and Macheda dovetail tonight …

6 min: The Serbian, Krasic, is fouled by Fabio as CSKA probe down the right. Dzagoev whips in the free-kick but Van der Sar plucks it from the skies safely.

8 min: Owen looks to cause mischief through the middle but a heavy tough from the perpetually-infuriating Nani spoils the move. United are then forced back, with Wes Brown (now 30-years-old, incredibly) unable to find Owen with a long ball.

10 min: Oh my! Owen should have done better there. A slick move down the right saw Valencia exchange passes with Nani before driving to the byline and cutting the ball back. Owen is unmarked and tries to hook his right foot around the ball, but only succeeds in scuffing it at a defender. Tsk tsk.

11 min: Nani, whose backheel made that chance for Owen I should note, almost tricks his way into the box. Fabio then commits another foul. Looks like United are going to boss this one.

13 min: First Macheda, then Owen, is unable to get on the end of angled deliveries from the right, but after the ball is shepherded back into midfield, Darren Fletcher strides forward confidently and whips a shot that curls fractionally past Akinfeev’s right stick. Not a bad effort from the holding man - would have been a real netbuster.

15 min: “I was referring to ‘Berba’ (Rooney and a Ballerina??) with the Bangster comment!” says Pramod Hegde. Well, Rooney can be quite nimble-footed when he likes, Pramod. I suppose Berbatov has more of the look of a Mafioso though. He has a knee injury, I believe.

17 min: Owen really should score again. Nani feeds Owen on the edge of the box after a run down the left, and after a couple of lucky deflections, the United striker finds himself clean through but only manages to toe the ball straight at Akinfeev. Macheda, who was in an offside position, did well to leave the ball … but Owen has to do better there.

20 min: United’s patched up back line looks pretty comfortable, despite CSKA moving the ball around quite well in the final third. Van der Sar’s gloves have been warmed a couple of times, and Dzagoev looks tricky. Semberas lets fly from 30 yards, but only troubles the supporters in Row 32.

22 min: Nani mistimes a volley from a corner. Macheda is then inches from opening his European account, turning smartly on the edge of the box after Valencia’s pass and rifling a low, left-footed effort that swerves at the last minute past Akinfeev’s right post.

GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 CSKA (Dzagoev 25) Well, well. That really was a tremendous finish from Alan Dzagoev, and United are behind. Necid chested a through-ball on to Dzagoev, and a burst of pace took him past Wes Brown. He looked to have gone too far wide on the left, but as Evans came across, Dzagoev smashed a rising left-footed drive past a flabbergasted Van der Sar. Top finish from such an acute angle.

27 min: What was I saying about this being a United stroll? They have form in struggling against Russian opponents - their win in Moscow a fortnight ago was their first in six attempts.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 CSKA (Owen 29) Third time lucky for Owen, who swivels and tucks the ball home after another dangerous centre from Valencia. Nani was involved, but I couldn’t tell whether it was an intentional back heel or another miskick.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 CSKA (Krasic 31) Blimey, it’s all going off, and that previously sturdy United defence is breached again! Krasic looked offside when Necid played the ball into his path, but he was level. The Serb kept his cool to round Van der Sar and whack the ball into an empty net - although he almost fell over and missed in the doing.

33 min: United are being pushed right back, and Krasic wins a free-kick on the right after a crude Nani challenge. Danger here …

34 min: Krasic overhits his delivery by a mile, and United restart with a throw-in down in their corner. Fabio goes marauding down the left, the ball eventually breaking to Fletcher, who finds Valencia … but he loses the ball on the edge of the CSKA box and the visitors clear.

36 min: The Russians, cliche ahoy, are looking ice cool right now. Krasic does some dancing down the right - he’s really pulling Fabio all over the place tonight - but United eventually hoick the ball up to Akinfeev’s end. He then sticks it right back down in the corner with a huge kick.

37 min: Feel like hastily written internet prose on the beautiful game isn’t enough? Maudie Spurrier is with you: “As much as I love the Guardian MBM’s, WHY are there no radio stations covering the match? Five Live is covering Chelsea, Five Live Extra is for some unknown reason off air and Talk Sport is covering Chelsea too. Some of us don’t have Sky so can’t watch it and listening is the next best thing. If Five Live have got a commentator at Old Trafford (which they do because they check in with him every so often) why not put the game on Five Live Extra so I can listen to it as I’ve been looking forward to doing so all day (anything to make an essay on Gladstone’s first ministry more bearable)?” Ah, Gladstone’s first ministry. The memories …

38 min: Wes Brown gets a head on a Valencia corner from the right, but it’s not a firm connection and the ball drifts wide.

40 min: Fabio almost works an opening on the left, but the ball runs away for a goal-kick. “I think with Owen that whole ‘if you get one chance you want it to fall to him’ has always been a crock. Scholes every time on that front. But his movement in and around the box is so superior, that he gets in position for three times as many decent goal chances as other strikers. If Berbatov, say, was in his position today, I doubt he would have had three clear chances. When Owen’s bad, he hides. Today, he wants the ball, as though he can feel a goal coming - even though he should have scored a couple. Oh, there you go! Ha…” An epiphany strikes for Adrian Lobb.

42 min: Antonio Valencia may not be Cristiano Ronaldo, but he is by no means out of his depth on this stage. Still, he really should cross it rather than try to beat both of his markers twice over …

44 min: Macheda again serves notice of what a great player he is likely to be, trapping Neville’s misguided cross before dragging the ball away from his marker and drilling the ball at goal. Akinfeev is equal to it though; as he is 30 seconds later when Paul Scholes attempts a 25-yarder which the keeper beats away.

45 min: Scholes rakes the ball across field for Nani, who jinks inside and finds Macheda. Another back heel (the night’s trick move) sees the ball returned to Nani - but his driven strike hits a defender and loops well wide.

Half time: There’s no time for the corner, though, and Leonid Slutsky’s men have the upper hand at the break. Didn’t see that one coming.

Half-time emails: “A pet peeve of mine is when people refer to a football side as a nationality (e.g. The Russians) when the squad is actually multi-national. Am I wrong or should we refer to Man Utd as ‘The English’?” asks Colin Greer. They’re all just English and Russian pawns to me, Colin. That’s where they file their tax returns.

“Much as I sympathise with your reader Maudie, you should try listening abroad. The broadcasts cut off just as the match starts because the BBC, in its infinite dumbness, doesn’t have the rights. So the one medium which we would turn to first for a match we cannot watch and when we are beyond radio coverage is not available to us. It’s infuriating and has been going on for years. Beats me why they can’t negotiate the rights, it wouldn’t be competing with anyone as far as I can see. If you write to the BBC you get very smug replies.” Timothy Bird is having quite the opposite experience to our next emailer …

“I am in Saskatoon Canada and at present have live TV coverage of the Man U game, the Chelsea game and the AC/Real game. In addition am switching between the Guardian and the BBC text reports. No complaints here except from SWMBO. And she says I’m no good at multi-tasking.” At least Brian Loyd is happy.

“Why on earth has Nani not been jettisoned at this stage? While I agree he’s still young(ish) I do not understand that after 2 and a bit years of training with the likes of Giggs and as much as I hate to say it Ronaldo,” writes James Robinson.

Michael Jackson, remember him? Sky have been trailing this during the ad breaks. Could there be anything more brilliant?

Peep! We’re back with the footer, and United are off in hunt of an equaliser. Stay tooned.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-3 CSKA (Vasili Berezutski 46) They’ll need more than an equaliser now! Valencia brings down Mamaev, I think, on the left and Dzagoev’s delivery to the back post is expertly headed low back across Van der Sar by Vasili Berezutski.

48 min: Incredibly, Michael Owen appears to have been booked for a dive … by Darren Fletcher … that wasn’t a dive! Berezutski clearly clipped Fletcher near the penalty spot, but the referee gave CSKA a free-kick.

50 min: Fletcher’s name has come up with a yellow card on the tele, so maybe the ref was just a bit imprecise in his waving of the card. That was pretty ordinary, to borrow an Australianism, from the referee - United should have had a penalty.

52 min: Nani’s cross, from the left, is good this time, but Valencia can’t quite get on the end of it.

53 min: Aldonin goes into the book for chopping down Fletcher. “Great photo!” emails Justin Kavanagh. “I’d wondered what Shane McGowan was up to these days. He’s looking healthier on the vodka!” That is an uncanny likeness that Alan Dzagoev has for the Pogues crooner.

55 min: Here comes Wazza, then. Perhaps he’ll be inspired by the newfound responsibility on his shoulders … Or maybe he’ll just throw a tantrum in honour of baby Kai. He certainly knows how to spit the dummy. His dribbling should be spot on though. Okay, enough.

57 min: Nani makes way for Rooney. The only other time United have conceded three this season was … in the 4-3 victory over City. They’ll need something similarly dramatic tonight, as Krasic goes slaloming into the danger area again.

58 min: Will Ferguson pay for treating the CSKA threat lightly tonight? Fabio comes off for the experienced Evra, but it’s the Russian side who have the next sight of goal, Aldonin shooting wide.

60 min: Aldonin brings down Fletcher some 30 yards out and Scholes hits a rasping daisy cutter that Akinfeev does well to push away from goal. Valencia follows up with a shot that Akinfeev blocks at the near post - but the Ecuadorian was offside.

62 min: Neville and Valencia link up well on the right wing and Neville swings a cross in towards the near post. Rooney connects, but the ball slides off his forehead and bounces wide of the left post. Difficult chance, that.

63 min: Macheda, who has gone a bit missing this half, tries to combine with Owen down the left but Berezutski intercepts the ball and goes rumbling forward. Him and Necid are on completely different wavelengths, though, and Berezutski’s through-ball ends up with Van der Sar.

65 min: After being carved open frequently by United in the first quarter of this game, CSKA seem to have finally got the measure of their host’s attacking personnel. Owen concedes a free-kick deep in CSKA territory.

67 min: Neville shows pace that belies his years looking to latch on to Scholes’s chip behind the defence. He can’t quite get there, though, and the ball runs off for a goal-kick.

68 min: Macheda’s ball nearly slips Rooney in on goal and Ignashevich has to scamper across the cut off the danger. Owen is then almost presented with another one-on-one, but Akinfeev gets there.

69 min: Elvir Rahimic comes on in place of Pavel Mamaev. He’ll look to shore up CSKA’s left flank.

70 min: A precise pass from Rooney sends Owen running in to the left channel, but it comes to nothing. United then try to thread the needle down the right, with the lively-looking Rooney again at the centre of things.

72 min: Semberas goes into the book for a cynical clip on Owen, a blatant attempt to slow the game down. Daniel Carvalho comes in place of the goal scorer, Dzagoev.

74 min: Apropos of the BBC coverage debate, Gary Naylor has taken the opportunity to lob some bombs at Lord Ferg: “I’m very pleased that the BBC have chosen not to cover this match - perhaps when the purple martinet deigns to speak to them, the BBC should deign to cover his club’s matches.”

77 min: United are struggling to raise the tempo here (which we all know is crucial to unsettling a comfortably entrenched side protecting a lead) and the Army Men remain dangerous on the break. Akinfeev, who has looked very accomplished tonight, nearly finds Carvalho, I think, with a 60-yard hoof.

78 min: United have chances to score twice, but Akinfeev is equal to them both times. First Owen, on the penalty spot, does well to direct a header down and across the goal only for Akinfeev to sprawl to his left. He was then quickly on his feet to deny Rooney at his post …

80 min: Macheda hits the post! It was from a header, I think. Rooney is then thwarted by the alert Akinfeev. The CSKA goal is living a charmed life.

81 min: Ferguson sends on Gabriel Obertan in place of Macheda. United continue to probe, but Berezutski heads Neville’s cross away from danger.

82 min: Akinfeev turns over a Scholes piledriver from the edge of the box. It was going straight at him.

GOAL! Manchester United 2-3 CSKA (Scholes 84) Just as I was beginning to think that United were not going to get back into this, Paul Scholes rises to direct a header across the goal and in at the far post from a Gary Neville free-kick. It was a silly handball from Aldonin that gave United their opportunity.

86 min: The drowsy Old Trafford support comes to life with that goal, and the red shirts pour forward again. Fletcher looks a little bewildered when he concedes a free-kick … an act which gives Georgi Schennikov the chance to plead cramp (and waste a bit more time).

87 min: Slutsky is rocking back and forth in his dugout seat. He looks like he’s having a little episode, rather than a man on the brink of ending United’s four-year unbeaten run at home in Europe.

89 min: Slutsky’s praying his team don’t give it up, but they almost do just that, confusion among the defence seeing the ball rebound pinball-style towards Valencia, forcing Akinfeev to rush from his line and clean up once again.

90 min: Vasili Berezutski does well to block a Rooney shot … then Akinfeev, who has been immense, deals with a Neville cross.

GOAL! Manchester United 3-3 CSKA (Schennikov og 90+1) Heartbreak for Slutsky and Akinfeev, in particular! Antonio Valencia picked the ball up some 25 yards out on the right-hand side of the box and hit a shot that was going to fly wide of the upright - but which cannoned off Schennikov and flew almost at right-angles across the goal, completely wrong-footing Akinfeev.

90+4 min: Red card! (Semberas) Obertan is booked after an altercation with Semberas and then the Lithuanian receives a second yellow. He’s off for an ever-so-slightly early bath.

95+5 min: United are still pressing for a winner here, but a couple of goalmouth scrambles result in hands on heads and nothing more.

Peep! Peep! Peep! That’s it, United have salvaged the point they needed to secure qualification from Group B.

I’m not sure if that equaliser will go down as Valencia’s or an own goal, but it looked like the initial strike was heading wide to me, so I’m giving it to Schennikov. Fair play to United for not giving up, and Ferguson for throwing on Rooney and Evra - they looked well out of it with 10 minutes to go, but performed yet another Old Trafford comeback. Their unbeaten European home run continues and they remain well-placed to win the group, despite a win for Wolfsburg at Besiktas. Thanks for all your emails tonight and apologies for those I couldn’t use. Cheerio …

THERE is a sense of definite deja vu about this campaign - and that will only be enhanced by early European qualification tonight against CSKA Moscow.


Ensuring a place in the knockouts with two games to spare would be perfect and actually 90 minutes earlier than last season.

BIG game hunter Darren Fletcher will warm up tonight against CSKA Moscow in readiness to snare Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.


The midfielder has been absent from United’s squad since returning from Scotland’s jaunt in Japan with an injury.

MANCHESTER United are one of eight clubs in the Premier League who have not yet asked for permission to embroider a poppy into their shirt for this weekend’s Premier League match with Chelsea.


Birmingham wore a shirt with a poppy on against City at the weekend, and then auctioned the strip off in aid of the British Legion. 

MICHAEL Owen drifted off to sleep last night with CSKA Moscow on his mind - not the World Cup in South Africa.


Tonight on his agenda is Old Trafford. Saturday night it will be Stamford Bridge.

SIR Alex Ferguson has ordered United to finish off the job in Group B tonight.


Fergie will be happy to avoid the rollercoaster ride that his side so often put him through - and has told his players he wants no repeat of 2006.

Kenny Dalglish should be a role model for all managers aiming to infiltrate the existing Premier League hierarchy

The elite had a good weekend, as they so often do. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal won their matches by an aggregate of 9-0. So far the Premier League has not had the instability for which many had hoped. Even Liverpool’s fall from grace may not make for all that painful a landing. Rafael Benítez’s side, who stand sixth, are a point short of fourth. Elimination from the Champions League in the next few weeks is the true terror. So long as the manager has the services of a vigorous Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for the second half of the domestic campaign Liverpool are likely to retain membership of the governing group.

Saturday’s north London derby was also disappointing for anyone who hoped for an invigorating whiff of anarchy. The 3-0 result was the worst defeat Tottenham Hotspur had suffered at the hands of Arsenal in nearly three years. Harry Redknapp’s explanation was incomplete. He seethed at the sloppiness with which two goals were scored moments apart. The manager must have been spoiled for grievances since he did not waste much time on the third, even though a slow-witted Spurs had failed to react when the referee, Mark Clattenburg, played the advantage.

Redknapp also took issue with his captain Robbie Keane’s pre-match claim that their squad was at least on a par with Arsenal’s. That sounded like a manager preparing the ground to petition for more signings, but the inadequacies were a matter of fact.

While Arsène Wenger was coping with a greater number of injuries, any shortcomings were concealed. Tottenham, by contrast, struggled in all areas and were as lumbering in attack as defence. There is nothing new about that, yet these were meant to be weeks of upheaval.

With luck there will be disruption eventually. If means are what matters, Manchester City ought to be the exception and the club, as a matter of plain fact, are on course to wriggle into the elite. Only Chelsea, United and Arsenal are currently ahead of them.

All the same, this is no adrenaline-fuelled onslaught. Sunday brought up a fourth consecutive draw in the League. It was the team’s first clean sheet in any competition since August but one could pardon Mark Hughes if it slipped his mind to congratulate the team. Birmingham would most likely have won but for Shay Given’s penalty save from James McFadden.

The public will never develop a soft spot for City since the charm of supposed underdogs is squashed by the sheer weight of the funds invested in them. There ought, at least, to have been satisfaction in watching a British manager who had learned the ropes being given grand means.

Hughes’ credibility was established when he took Blackburn Rovers to a seventh-place finish in 2008. A different sort of acumen is called for at Eastlands. It must be a new experience to reflect on what he should do with a player such as the currently injured Robinho, who cost £32m and is paid on the same grand scale, when there are unceasing reports that he would prefer to be at a more glamorous club in a warmer part of Europe.

Attempts at concentrating on the more functional part of the team have led to questioning of whether there was any rationality to the £22m purchase of Joleon Lescott from Everton. It is the centre-half’s bad luck to be ever present in discussion of the wisdom of the transfer dealings.

Hughes is not short of boldness and that may be his salvation but for the time being outsiders marvel that he could press ahead with the £17.5m signing of Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn when he was affected by tendinitis. The player looked far from fitness at St Andrew’s on Saturday.

Despite it all, Hughes had and retains the credentials of a manager ready to make his mark. His travails simply illustrate the difficulty of putting to flight an establishment that has been well dug-in for several years.

Inspiration is called for and it is seldom found. Kenny Dalglish should be a role model for all the managers who intend to wreck the existing hierarchy. As Blackburn manager, the Scot could tap Jack Walker’s funds but he also identified brilliant bargains. Of the 1995 title-winning line-up, Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton and Graeme Le Saux were bought for a total of £9.2m. The club raked in some £30m when, with the Ewood mission accomplished, they departed.

Times are more complex and cosmopolitan now but the manager who breaks open the Premier League cartel will have to show the shrewdness that once made Dalglish such a force.

• Manchester United striker loves the buzz of European football
• Owen claims he does not think about making England squads

Michael Owen affected a studied nonchalance when the vexed subject of his seemingly fast-fading international career was raised yesterday. “I don’t go to bed thinking about if I will play for England again,” said the Manchester United striker as he looked forward to being given a starting place against CSKA Moscow tomorrow . “I think about playing well for United and the rest will take care of itself.”

Owen has long been synonymous with measured calculation and he duly kept his cool when it was suggested that goals on the Champions League stage could only boost his hopes of catching Fabio Capello’s eye. “I suppose so,” he said with a shrug. “The last squad I was in was a year ago now. It’s something that other people talk about more than I think about. I’ve played for England 89 times and I would love to play for them again – that is the bottom line. Yes, I can influence my chances by playing well and playing in the Champions League has got to help. But England’s not something I really think about.”

Such outward indifference contrasts markedly with Owen’s frequent comments on his near obsession with wearing shirts adorned by three lions during his Newcastle United days but a desire to conceal inner emotions is perhaps understandable after several injury- and criticism-punctuated seasons.

Even so he is mildly annoyed by the assumption that he has to score to play well. Amused that his rating was seven out of 10 when he scored but played averagely at Barnsley last week but only five for a decent, if goalless, preceding game against Bolton, Owen said: “I don’t need to get a goal to play well. At Barnsley I thought I was pretty average but scored a good goal. I thought I was better against Bolton when I didn’t score.”

It is five years since his last involvement in Europe’s elite competition with Real Madrid and Owen admitted that its lure helped attract him to Old Trafford this summer. “There are many reasons to join this club but one of the big ones is the thought of playing on Champions League nights,” he said.

Looking far more at ease with his surroundings than he ever did at Newcastle, Owen seems to have found a natural habitat. “I’ve loved every minute of it here,” he said. “It has been everything and more than I hoped. From the canteen ladies to the kit man I’ve been made welcome. I feel as if I’ve been here for years. The fans seem to have taken to me – they have sung my name – and I’m pleased about that.”

It has helped that he has pretty much remained fit and Owen hinted that this was partly due to United’s impressive sports-science infrastructure. “I’ve only missed one game through injury,” he said.

“But this club has a great structure behind the scenes that looks after the players. If you want to do anything extra – weights, yoga, whatever – there will always be a member of staff there to help. They will create programmes designed specifically for you.

“Because I’m a quick player I’ve always been prone to muscle-type injuries. So I do extra work to reduce the danger of picking up those niggles and, certainly, it’s a big help when you have so many staff on hand to help you.”

Although a couple of Owen’s many injuries have been career-threatening, CSKA’s new manager saw his own goalkeeping days ended after 13 professional appearances. Leonid Slutsky, who succeeds the recently dismissed Juande Ramos, turned to coaching after severely damaging himself falling from a tree.

If there seems little danger of United being dramatically toppled from the top of Group B before next month, much remains to be played for. Who knows, a goal or two from Owen tomorrow might just prompt a change of heart on Capello’s part after all.

• Ferguson says Ferdinand has been playing with injuries
• ‘He will come out of it,’ says Manchester United manager

Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledged tonight that Rio Ferdinand has “hit a little blip” but emphatically dismissed suggestions that the England centre-half’s game may be in terminal decline.

Manchester United’s manager is understood to have been privately irked by Graham Taylor’s claim that Ferdinand has “lost his legs”. On Saturday the former England manager expressed grave doubts about the defender’s capacity to continue performing at the highest level but Ferguson answered back today.

“There’s no discernible depreciation in Rio’s qualities, none for me at all,” said Ferguson after revealing that Ferdinand would miss tomorrow night’s Champions League game at home to CSKA Moscow with a calf injury which may also sideline him for Sunday’s game against Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney could yet feature in both games after becoming the father of a son, Kai Wayne, yesterday. The England striker had been expected to miss the tie, although his son’s late arrival means he could potentially be on the bench.

“In my time here we’ve always had the situation where one of the star players hits a little blip,” Ferguson added. “Rio is going to get criticism but that’s part and parcel of being a Manchester United player and we are all aware of that. With Rio it’s quite simple. No one likes to be criticised. They all like to be loved and have arms round their shoulders at times but he will come out of it, there is no doubt at all about that.”

As he approaches his 31st birthday Ferdinand has recently been plagued by back, groin and hamstring injuries and his manager hinted that he had been defending through the pain barrier. “Playing with injuries is not the easiest thing to do,” said Ferguson. “But of course we will try to get that right for Rio. Calf injuries can be troublesome and, if you don’t arrest them and give them their proper treatment, you can end up the way we are just now with players playing games when they are not 100% fit.”

Asked if Ferdinand would be fit for Sunday, Ferguson replied: “It’s difficult to say. He is doing some good work and hopefully we will see an improvement.”

With Nemanja Vidic also injured, Ferguson will pair Wes Brown and Jonny Evans in central defence tomorrow night. “We are very fortunate to have two players like Brown and Evans,” he said, taking the opportunity to talk up Brown in particular. “They are top defenders.

“The big plus with Wes is that he has stayed fit. He had a good pre-season with no injuries. Last year he had a terrible run of injuries. But when we bring him in there is no better defender in the country. Wes is a real, true defender and I have no worries about Sunday in terms of Brown and Evans – absolutely no worries at all.”

Would you follow in the Rooneys’ footsteps?

All the info you need for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Old Trafford.

Star-dusted couple’s first child is named Kai, weighing in at 8lb 2oz after delivery in NHS maternity unit

English football was cheered today by the arrival of its latest A-list infant as Coleen Rooney, wife of Wayne, gave birth to a baby boy. Kai Wayne Rooney, the couple’s first child, was born at 2.20pm at Liverpool Women’s hospital, nine days overdue and weighing 8lb 2oz (3.69kg).

Wayne Rooney was present at the birth, in the modern footballer fashion, having remained with his wife at the hospital since their arrival at 10pm on Sunday.

“Mother and baby are both absolutely fine. Wayne and Coleen are thrilled with the wonderful addition to their family life,” a Rooney spokesman said.

Baby Kai is expected to go home this evening, where the usual first-child problems of where to put the car seat and how to squeeze a pram in through the front door are likely to be mitigated by the fact that home, in this instance, is a purpose-built Cheshire mansion with a swimming pool, twin bathrooms with gold-plated lavatory seats, and a kitchen the size of a tennis court.

At first glance the Rooney’s choice of the name Kai might seem to be another footballing exoticism. In Japanese it means “big water” and in Hawaiian “the ocean”. In Maori it means “to eat” which could draw some predictable ribbing given his father’s famously sturdy build.

In fact Kai is an increasingly popular name for children of both sexes: it came 68th in the Office for National Statistics top 100 names for 2008. The baby’s middle name, Wayne, is also the first name of the baby’s grandfather, Wayne Rooney Snr; should Kai choose to be known by his middle name he could lay claim to the title Wayne Rooney III.

The Rooneys met at secondary school in Croxteth, Liverpool, and married last year on the Italian Riviera, the England player having reportedly proposed on a petrol station forecourt. In the transatlantic absence of David and Victoria Beckham, they are currently the nation’s most star-dusted footballing couple.

At 24, Wayne is England’s leading striker and is paid £110,000-a-week to play for Manchester United. Coleen, a year younger, has amassed a reported personal fortune of £8m through modelling clothes for Asda, television work and a spectacular eight-book deal with Harper Collins. Against this, the Rooneys have managed to carve out a profile that seems more homely than glitzy.

In a break from Premier League tradition, Baby Kai was born in an NHS hospital room, his parents eschewing the private clinic on the premises.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Rio Ferdinand will bounce back from criticism to rediscover his best form.