Raul KO lifts Fergie
Manchester United received a Champions League boost last night when Real Madrid superstriker Raul was ruled out of tomorrow´s Old Trafford clash with APPENDICITIS. The Spanish star, branded the best player in the world by Alex Ferguson after he scored twice in Real´s 3-1 quarter- final first-leg victory, was rushed to hospital for surgery. Raul, 25, will now be out for at least a month. The drama took place in Madrid after the player had trained apart from the rest of the Real squad because of an ankle injury. It gives increasingly-confident United even greater hope of a comeback and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy increased the war of words when he labelled Real a bunch of showboaters in their first-leg win.
Ross Gregory, The Sun
Keane: I put ZZ on top
Roy Keane admits that if Manchester United want to make the European Cup semi-finals he must tame the greatest footballer he has seen - Zinedine Zidane. United have to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the away leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid at Old Trafford tomorrow to reach the last four. And for Keane that means getting a grip on Zidane, the French superstar who makes Madrid tick. Zidane has vowed to score against United to make up for the disappointment of his performance in Real´s 1-1 draw against Barcelona at the weekend, a result that dented their hopes of winning La Liga. Keane is well aware he has a monumental task on his hands, especially as he lost out in the first leg.
Shaun Custis, The Sun
United up against it
It is going to require the finest one-night stand of Alex Ferguson´s long and illustrious career as the all-conquering manager of Manchester United. From the man himself and the players left at his disposal. Nothing short of their finest collective performance EVER will be good enough to overcome Real Madrid and the two-goal advantage the Spanish giants take to Old Trafford tomorrow night. Ferguson and many of his current squad have shared some memorable European nights together - not least the ultimate triumph at the Nou Camp where they got it all wrong for the most part, only for the trophy to drop from the skies into their grateful and highly fortunate grasp. Luck of that magnitude doesn´t strike twice. Victory over a side as accomplished as Real, and against the odds of a first-leg 3-1 deficit, has to be earned by a team in which everyone performs to his very best.
John Sadler, The Sun
Rauled out
Real Madrid’s Champions League plans for tomorrow’s visit to Manchester United have been rocked by striker Raul having emergency for appendicitis. The 25-year-old was rushed to hospital last night. The Real squad was due to fly to England today.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
Real panic as Van revs up for fight
Real Madrid have admitted they are running scared of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Champions Cup-holders are red-hot favourites to finish off Manchester United in tomorrow’s quarter final second leg at Old Trafford. But Real’s defensive kingpin, Fernando Hierro, revealed that the spectre of the 38-goal demon Dutchman van Nistelrooy, is haunting his team mates. “I think he’s a sensational player,” said the 35-year-old.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star
This might be my last chance to lift the European Cup
Roy Keane is unequivocal in his belief that he is not deserving of his winner’s medal from Manchester United’s dramatic 1999 Champions League triumph. Suspended from the final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, Keane refuses to acknowledge that he can count himself a European Cup winner, despite the heroic part he played in getting United there. And that sense of unfinished business that will act as the driving force tomorrow night at Old Trafford when Keane leads out United against Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarter final tie.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
We’ll sink the showboaters
Ruud van Nistelrooy has warned Real Madrid they will be made to pay for showboating two weeks ago as a war of words broke out ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown at Old Trafford. The Manchester United striker reckons that, for all their fancy footwork, Real did not hurt United enough in the quarter final, first leg at the Bernabeu – and will pay the penalty for failing to put the tie beyond reach.
Richard Tanner, Daily Express
Raul will miss United clash
Real Madrid striker is out of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with Manchester United after undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis.
Ian McGarry, Daily Express
Cruyff blast
Johan Cruyff reckons Manchester United can dump Real Madrid out of the European Cup – because the Spanish giants cannot string two passes together. The legendary Dutchman won the competition in 1992 when he was in charge of Barcelona. And he said: “Real Madrid are playing the worst football I’ve ever seen for years – it’s beyond belief. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s goal gave United hope in the first leg and I think we will see the best game of the quarter finals again at Old Trafford.”
Sports staff, The Sun
Becks’ ref luck
David Beckham will be hoping referee Pierluigi Collina again proves lucky for him at Old Trafford tomorrow. The bald-headed Italian, who takes charge of the Champions League quarter final between Manchester United and Real Madrid, has been the man in the middle for three of Beckham’s greatest footballing moments. He was the referee in May 1999 when United scored twice at the death to steal the European Cup 2-1 from Bayern Munich. He officiated in Munich the night England trounced Germany 5-1 in a vital World Cup qualifier in 2001. And he gave the penalty – scored by Beckham – in England’s 1-0 win over Argentina in the last World Cup.
Sports staff, The Sun
