=>La reaction de Sir Alex...

Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to the press after the Champions League clash with Deportivo. This is what the boss had to say…

Feelings About the Match

"We lost the second goal at a bad time as it was right after half time. I think as the game grew on, we got better in some parts of our game and we kept trying which is important. But I´m satisfied that they have done their best, as we didn´t expect to win the game in terms of the experience that our opponents had, but we had a couple of chances. Darren Flecher had one knocked of the line and we hit the post, so some moments we had bad luck in."

Looking forward to the Quarter Final?

"That´s what we have been thinking about ( laughing). We could possibly get them ( Madrid). And we don´t know what will happen tomorrow of course in the Arsenal group and the Newcastle group obviously, but Real Madrid are certainly one of the ones we could get. We saw them today on a terrible pitch but they survived."

Would you like to avoid Madrid?

"It doesn´t matter to me now."

=>Maintenant on attend le tirage, à 11h heure GMT ce vendredi ( 12h heure francaise et 5h heure USA cote est...)

Dommage pour Manchester...
Belle performance de Bale, dommange pour eux aussi ^^
lmarco, quand tu parles des tirages du 21 mars, c´est pour la suite de la ligue des champions??? C´est quoi "GMT"???

Bientôt les 500 messages ^^

Up!

oui, le tirage des 1/4 de finale.... GMT=Greenwich Meridian Time

lmarco12 Posté le 19 mars 2003 à 12:33:53
" =>Maintenant on attend le tirage, à 11h heure GMT ce vendredi ( 12h heure francaise et 5h heure USA cote est...)"

->>>> lol...
T´as ecorche une heure, ca sera 6h chez nous... Mais, tres bi1 tente^^
Bonne nouvelle:
FC Valence 2
Arsenal 1

oui c´est vrai que c´est une bonne nouvele qu´arsenal soit éliminé mais maintenant ils ont plus que le championnat

=>me***, desole Greenpepper, j´ai tape trop vite...

=>Et gde nvlle, elimination d´Arsenal....leur arrogance les perdra.....belle simulation de Pires ; -)

=>qq news ; -)

=>Reds kid gets star man vote "

"It says something about the potential of a player when he earns more than a third of the votes in a man of the match poll in only his second start for the club.

That is exactly what 19-year-old United midfielder Darren Fletcher has done.

Fletcher produced his second composed performance in a crucial week in his young United career.

The young Scot showed some nice touches against Deportivo in the Riazor stadium, and subsequently, 39.1% of the readers have voted for Fletcher for the man of the match award.

After the game Ferguson was keen to play down the excitement surrounding the latest talent in his squad. He said: "What we hope with Darren is that he can become a bit stronger.”

But the United boss could not resist acknowledging what fantastic potential Fletcher possesses. “He has lovely balance,” Sir Alex said. “There is marvellous potential there.”

Ryan Giggs weighed in with 23.6% of the voting – he hit the woodwork for the second successive match. A turn and shot against the foot of the Deportivo post came after his woodwork-striking free kick against Aston Villa.

John O’Shea – an experience player amongst the kids on show in Spain – received 12.6 of the votes in third place. But it was Fletcher who stole the show.

Well done, Fletch!"

=>"Fergie confident of Fletcher´s future"

"Reds manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes United have a player with "marvellous" potential in young Scot Darren Fletcher.

Fletcher made only his second start for the first team against Deportivo on Tuesday, but Fergie is confident the Edinburgh-born midfielder has what it takes to be a big success at United.

"Darren took a bit of time to get going but you can see there is a lot of quality there," said Ferguson after the game against Deportivo. "He has lovely balance but what we hope with Darren is that he can become a bit stronger.”

Fletcher has seen his fledgling United career hit by a series of injuries, but after numerous appearances on the substitutes bench for Fergie’s side, the youngster will be hoping to build up his strength with more first team football.

”He is still growing but until he fully grows he won´t get the physical part right,” Sir Alex said. “That is going to take two years but there is marvellous potential there.” "

=>Des rumeurs....

=>"Figo’s exit to pave way for Beckham to join Madrid in £30m deal
As Sir Alex Ferguson flew home from Spain yesterday musing over his possible Champions League quarter final opponents, he left behind another frenzied bout of transfer speculation over David Beckham. In an attempt to play down reports Real Madrid will rival Inter Milan’s declared interest in Manchester United’s golden boy, Bernebeu president Florentino Perez only succeeded in muddying the waters.
Richard Tanner, Daily Express"

( rumeur stupide pour faire vendre...)

=>O´Shea: The boys are OK
John O´Shea believes he should be a role model for the Manchester United new kids on the block who lost to Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League. United handed European debuts to defenders Lee Roche, 22, and Mark Lynch, 21, and gave rare run-outs to Danny Pugh, Darren Fletcher, Michael Stewart, Danny Webber and Kieran Richardson. That meant O´Shea, still only 21, found himself in the unusual position of being one of United´s most experienced players. The Deportivo game was his 43rd appearance of an increasingly impressive campaign. And he is certain the newcomers will have learned a lot despite being comprehensively outplayed in a 2-0 defeat on Tuesday, though, the result was unimportant as United had already qualified for the quarter- finals. He explained: "I have made a breakthrough by playing so many games this season and maybe that will encourage the other young lads."
David Facey, The Sun

=>Now heat is on for title bid
Valencia was a city ablaze with bonfires and fireworks last night as Arsenal´s Champions League hopes turned to ashes in the Mestalla Stadium. Outside, in the teeming streets, the thunderous din of firecrackers split the air as the locals lost themselves in wild midnight celebrations for their annual Festival of the Fires. But as the Arsenal team coach made its way back to the airport, the atmosphere was thick with the acrid stench of a dream that had crashed and burned. So much for the Treble. So much for the idea Arsenal had left Manchester United in their slipstream in the chase for European glory. So much for Arsene Wenger´s proud boasts about his side´s ability to rule Europe. They were left smouldering in the smoke here, too, on a bonfire of his own vanities. How humiliating it must be for Wenger that after all his mind-games with Sir Alex Ferguson, United have progressed serenely to the quarter-finals and now carry England´s standard alone.
Oliver Holt, Daily Mirror

=>Hat´s off to United
Manchester United are lining up a £7million swoop for Real Sociedad´s Turkish striker Nihat Kavheci. Sir Alex Ferguson´s brother Martin, United´s European scout, flew out to Spain to watch Nihat grab his 14th goal of the season in last weekend´s victory over Racing Santander. The 23-year-old Nihat, a member of Turkey´s World Cup squad and likely to line up against England at the Stadium of Light next month, has been the surprise package of the Spanish season. Powerfully built and with an eye for goal, his pairing with former Sheffield Wednesday striker Dejan Kovacevic has propelled Sociedad to an almost certain Champions League spot for next season.
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror

=>United are flying the flag for English football in the Champions League >

O´Shea can show the way for Fergie´s new boys
A year ago John O´Shea was in the same position as the young Manchester United hopefuls given a rare first-team run-out by Sir Alex Ferguson against Deportivo La Coruna. Yet within 12 months, the Irish defender has made the transition from promising youngster to first-team regular, with 43 appearances already to his name this season. O´Shea´s rapid rise makes him the perfect candidate to assess the size of the task facing the next generation of United players as they strive to bridge the chasm between the reserves and first team. United may have gone down 2-0 to Deportivo in their Champions League tie on Tuesday, yet O´Shea believes it was a vital lesson for the young players desperate to make the step up. "It´s strange because when we beat Aston Villa on Saturday I was the youngest player in the side, but against Deportivo I was one of the more experienced," said O´Shea. "It was a big step up for some of the lads. Deportivo are an experienced side who make teams work hard when you don´t have the ball."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

=>New Wenger warning
Sir Alex Ferguson last night denied playing mind games with Arsene Wenger - then embarked on his latest bout of psychological sparring with the Arsenal boss. Fergie has already accused Wenger and his players of being "over confident", now the United manager claims Arsenal strikers could suffer from fatigue in the title run-in, something the United boss believes could cost them the title. "I think where it might affect them is up front, when you need that sharpness," said Fergie. "When you start playing all the games, there´s a hum-drum nature about your football and eventually it can slow you down."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror

=>Fergie´s denial
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted he has not been playing mind games with Arsene Wenger. Ferguson and Gunners boss Wenger have aired their opinions on each other´s teams in recent weeks as the race for the Premiership title hots up. The United boss claimed this week the Gunners have been guilty of "triumphalism". But Ferguson said yesterday: "It´s a lot of nonsense. It´s something manufactured by the press, that no matter what you say, it´s construed as psychological warfare against your opponents. It´s nonsense."
Sports staff, Daily Star

=>O´Shea has come such a long way
The irony of Manchester United´s Champions League trip to La Coruna wasn´t lost on John O´Shea. The 21-year-old Irishman was the club´s unofficial rookie of the year last season. Now, he is a veteran! O´Shea´s appearance against Deportivo was his 35th start of the season. Half of the team around him had mustered only 10 appearances between them. "We had so many young lads out there that I was looked upon as an experienced player," said O´Shea with a self-mocking smile.
Bill Thornton, Daily Star

☺

C´est incroyable comme je suis heureux pour arsenal...
Quel beau cadeau d´anniversaire: l´élimination d´arsenal en ligue des champions, que demander de plus???

=>hummm...un titre de champion d´angleterre pr man utd et la champions´league ; -)

=>qq news, comme d´habitude..... ; -)

=>Fergie´s fantastic week
He did his best. My God, he did his best. You could almost see the muscles in his face straining as he battled to keep the smile at bay. But, in the end, he knew he was fighting a losing battle. A broad grin finally settled on the contented features of Alex Ferguson as his brother Martin, sitting next to him, gave full vent to some rather more demonstrable feelings. Celtic, the team from Ferguson´s beloved Glasgow, had just taken the lead. At Anfield, the home of his not-quite-so-beloved Liverpool. Ferguson may have played his football for Rangers, but last night his heart was with the men in hoops. What a week it has turned out to be. Arsenal - and the over-confident Arsene Wenger - snuffed out in Valencia, Newcastle finally extinguished by Barcelona at St James´ Park. It left Manchester United, again, as the sole English representatives in the Champions League quarter-final.
Steven Howard, The Sun

United are Real deal
Alex Ferguson believes his team has the know-how to go all the way and lift the European Cup this season. He will certainly have no fears with today´s draw for the quarter-finals, despite three of the continent´s big guns awaiting them. They will be drawn against holders Real Madrid, Italian giants Inter Milan or legendary Dutch masters Ajax. But none of them will fancy facing Manchester United, who have an enviable record in Europe this season and are the top-ranked club in the competition. Ferguson said: "We have faced tough intense situations in Europe before and we can do so again. We no longer need be in awe of any team. The players have had nine years at the top end of the game battling for championships and in European football and they have a great appetite to play. In terms of winning matches in Europe, we are more confident now than we have ever been."
Neil Custis, The Sun

=>Can can be man for us
Manchester United want Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares. Alex Ferguson has targeted the Spanish international to provide competition for current No1 Fabien Barthez. He could even replace Barthez should the Frenchman opt to move back abroad. Canizares, 34, helped Valencia through to the Champions League quarter-finals at Arsenal´s expense on Wednesday. Spanish sources claim Fergie is trying for a deal which will involve his own back-up keeper, Ricardo, joining Valencia as part of a swap deal.
Shaun Custis, The Sun
( ca serait bien si Fabulous Fab part, maic le Sun alors mefiance!!!)

=>Pals feel board heat
Manchester United have told two of Alex Ferguson´s friends and key shareholders they are not wanted as Old Trafford supremos. Irish racehorse owners John Magnier and JP McManus have become the biggest single shareholders in the Premiership giants after recently increasing their stake to 10.37 per cent. There is a real belief the multi-millionaires are about to launch a concerted takeover bid as early as this summer. But United´s director of communications Paddy Harverson has made it clear neither would be wanted in charge. Harverson said in response to local backing for a takeover: "I would ask our rank-and-file supporters this question. Should a takeover bid materialise from Messrs McManus and Magnier, would you like your club under the control of two Irish racehorse owners who know nothing about running a football business or prefer it to remain in the hands of a plc board with a track record in all fields which speaks for itself?" The attack on the duo is sure to anger Ferguson, who is very close to the pair.
Neil Custis, The Sun

Arsenal are wobblers
Manchester United believe Arsenal will bottle their whole season. United coach Brian McClair revealed the growing feeling at Old Trafford is the Gunners are not up to the job. Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday night, hold just a two-point lead over arch-rivals United in the Premiership and face a tough FA Cup replay with Chelsea. McClair, a striking legend in his playing days for the club, said: "In the space of eight days they could be out of two cups and in disarray in the league. "This is not the time to lose your faith, confidence or form. Yet the vibes from Highbury suggest, amazingly, that all may not be well. Wasn´t it odd that the club should be talking about their concerns over FA Cup replays when they face one. It suggested there were fears within Highbury that their players were not up to the job."
Neil Custis, The Sun

Learn Fergie’s lesson, Arsene
It must have been all Sir Alex Ferguson could do to keep a straight face yesterday as he pondered a question about Arsenal and Newcastle’s elimination from the Champions League. ‘Surprise and pity,’ was the Manchester United manager’s response, when a punch in the air would, one assumes, have been a more accurate representation of his feelings. But before Arsene Wenger goes in search of an equaliser in his recent, rather tiresome, exchange of thinly veiled insults with Ferguson, he should perhaps examine what it is that enables United to make light work of reaching the latter stages of Europe’s illustrious competition.
Matt Lawton, Daily Mail

Double vision drives United
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men now believe they can win the Champions League and take full advantage of Arsenal’s sudden dip in form to clinch the Premiership title. United will learn their quarter final opponents in Europe later today and then have the chance to top the Premiership if they beat Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday. With Real Madrid, Ajax or Inter Milan waiting in Europe and Arsenal facing a far easier run-in, United still have plenty to do if they are to lift a trophy this season.
Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

Wenger hunts for missing link
As Manchester United eagerly await today’s Champions League draw, it is inquest time for Arsenal after they failed, for a second successive season, to make it to the quarter final stage.
Rob Shepherd, Daily Express

McClair turns up the heat
Manchester United coach Brian McClair has had a swipe at Arsenal, claiming Highbury’s top brass fear that Arsene Wenger’s squad is struggling. United can replace Arsenal at the top of the Premiership by beating Fulham at home tomorrow. And McClair says Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are ready to take advantage of alleged tension inside the Highbury dressing room ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Everton on Sunday.
Sports writer, Daily Express

=>ATTENTION.....
"Friday´s quarter final draw "

Manchester United go into Friday’s 11:30GMT Champions League draw flying the flag for English football.

The draw had originally been scheduled for 11:00GMT but the quarter final draw will no take place at 11:30GMT.

Fergie´s side are the sole survivors as Premiership representatives - Newcastle and Arsenal both crashed out at the second stage on Wednesday.

Friday’s draw will see United pitted against either Real Madrid, Inter Milan or Ajax in a mouth-watering quarter final two-legged tie.

=>GIGGSY doit rester!!!

"Inside United: Giggsy´s great "

If reports in the press are to be believed Inter Milan are interested in signing Ryan Giggs, but with the help of Opta´s stats, we can show just how important the Welshman is to United...

More and more reports are claiming that Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs may well be leaving the club in the summer.

However, as Opta can show, the loss of the Welshman would leave a huge gap to fill at Old Trafford.

In Europe and the Premiership so far this season, only Ruud van Nistelrooy has scored more goals than Giggs. The winger has also hit the target with same percentage of his shots as the Dutch striker.

2002/03 Prem and Champs League
% Shots % Shots
Rank Player Goals On Target Scored
1 R van Nistelrooy 22 61% 27%
2 R Giggs 10 61% 22%
3 O G Solskjaer 10 54% 15%
4 P Scholes 9 44% 15%
5 D Forlan 7 49% 15%

Ryan has also been influential when it comes to creating goals. No Manchester United player has more assists than Giggs this season in the Champions League and Premiership combined.

Giggs is United´s second top scorer in the Premiership and Champions League whilst, as the table below illustrates, Giggsy is also top of the assists league.

2002/03 Prem and Champs League
Rank Player Assists
1 R Giggs 8
1 D Beckham 8
1 J Veron 8
4 M Silvestre 7
4 O G Solskjaer 7

Experience has been a crucial factor in United progressing to the quarter finals of this season´s Champions League. Players like Ryan Giggs are part of the experienced make-up of United´s side that has seen the Reds progress in the tournament this season, where others have failed.

The loss of Giggs would be a huge blow to United, and a player of his calibre would be very hard to replace, even for a club of our stature.

=> Webber breaks leg

Manchester Senior Cup
United Reserves 2
Oldham Reserves 2
( Oldham won 7-6 on penalties)

Striker Danny Webber suffered a suspected broken leg as the Reserves lost 7-6 on penalties to Oldham on Thursday night.

Webber had previously scored the Reds´ two goals in the Manchester Senior Cup as Ricky Sbragia´s lads came back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 only to lose their lead to Ben Burgess´ second of the night in the 70th minute.

Danny, who came on as a second half substitute against Deportivo la Coruna on Tuesday, left Altrincham´s Moss Lane ground in an ambulance as the penalty shoot-out was taking place.

Lee Roche missed his spot-kick to give the Latics a 7-6 win, but it is still mathematically possible for United to reach the final that Oldham have already qualified for.

United have three points to second-placed Manchester City´s nine, with two games to make up on the Blues. The Reds need two high-scoring wins against Bury in their last pair of matches to reach the final, though.

United line-up: Carroll, Lynch, May, Roche, Pugh, Richardson, Stewart, Wood, Davis, Webber, M Williams.

=>"United in form "

Manchester United head into the most crucial part of the season in great shape – the Reds are top of the Premiership form table.

United have won four of their last six games taking 14 points from a possible 18.

United’s closest rivals, and current league table toppers, Arsenal are down in a lowly fifth place taking just 11 points from their last six games.

The form guide shows the teams occupying the top six places in the Premiership. Although Arsenal are two points clear at the peak of the Premier League, United are fast reducing their lead, and are picking up much better results as the title charge stampedes into it´s most crucial stage.

Form table position Team Form Goals for Goals against Goal difference Points
1 Manchester United WWDDWW 8 3 5 14
2 Newcastle WDWWLW 9 3 6 13
5 Arsenal DWDWWL 12 7 5 11
6 Liverpool DWDLWW 12 7 5 11
8 Everton WWLWDD 8 5 3 11
10 Chelsea WDWLLW 11 8 3 10
( Correct at 19/3/3)

Arsenal may be more prolific in front of goal – having scored 12 goals compared to United’s eight, but United have a tighter defence. Fergie’s side have conceded just three in the last six matches, where as Arsenal, who looked shaky at the back against Blackburn, have conceded seven in their last six.

United will be hoping their recent form continues as the title race enters the final straight.

=>"Giggs hopes experience counts "

Ryan Giggs says that United´s experiences in the heat of Premiership battle give them the upper hand as the season comes to its climax.

The Reds will go toe to toe with Arsenal over the next eight games, with the first side to blink likely to lose the Premiership crown. And Giggsy says that United´s previous triumphs from this situation will help no end.

"The amount of times that we´ve won the League after it´s been close, you´d hope that our experience will help us," Ryan told Manchester United Radio 1413AM.

"I´m sure it´s going to go right to the wire this year, but we just have to look after our own form and hope other teams slip up. It´s in our hands - if we beat Newcastle and Arsenal and win our other games we´ve won. It sounds easy doesn´t it!

"But we´re capable of doing it. We did it earlier in the season when we needed to do it, so hopefully we can adopt that attitude again."

While a lot of people have said that it´s a two-horse race, Giggs refuses to discount the threat of Newcastle who are still hanging on United´s coat-tails.

"A lot of the talk is around us and Arsenal, but Newcastle are up there," he insisted.

"They were in a similar position last season but then lost Craig Bellamy. They´ve got him now and they´re a dangerous side. We´ve still got to go to their place, so it´s tight and whoever can go on a run until the end of the season will win it."

United´s first opposition on that run is Fulham, who the Reds will take on at Old Trafford this Saturday in yet another early kick-off. All the noon starts haven´t helped United´s consistency, says Ryan.

"We´ve been unfortunate with morning kick-offs after playing on a Tuesday or a Wednesday. It does effect you, just those few hours. You may not realise it but it does.

"We´ve played then about a dozen times, which is too much. Other teams have had extra time and extra days to recover from games. We´ve not been helped in that way, but you´ve just got to get on with it.

"Fulham have been tough opposition since they were promoted. This is probably their most disappointing season, but they´ve got quality players and it will be a tough game. The pressure is on us now as we could go top."

=>Pr finir, qq infos sur man utd-fulham...

"Sean Davis is out suspended, with Luis Boa Morte a doubt with an ankle injury. Lee Clark, Steve Marlet and Alain Goma should all be fit to start, however"

"For United, Roy Keane and Juan Veron will again miss out, with Nicky Butt and Phil Neville set to deputise in midfield after both starting in Deportivo on Tuesday. Sir Alex will bring back all the big guns who missed the trip to Spain for the match that the Reds simply must win."

Probable teams:

United: Barthez; G Neville, Ferdinand, O´Shea, Silvestre; Beckham, P Neville, Butt, Giggs; Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy.

Fulham: Taylor; Melville, Goma, Djetou, Finnan; Harley, Legwinski, Ouaddou, Clark; Marlet, Saha.

et bien voila manchester united rencontrera le real madrid en quart de final superbe match en perspective