Uefa Champions League, Group E – Man Utd v Villarreal Venue: Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 17 September Kick-off: 1945 BST
Just time for a very short preview today. United have to bounce back from the defeat to Liverpool on Saturday with a good win against Villarreal in the Champions League. Last night both Liverpool and Chelsea won, so it is even more important to get a morale boosting win before the game at Stanford Bridge.
Scholes is suspended following the Super Cup, Carrick is out with a broken foot and Berbatov is a doubt with knee trouble (I hope Dimitar isn’t a direct replacement for Louis Saha in the injury department as well). However, tonight could see the return of Christiano Ronaldo after an operation and a summer of transfer rumoured discontent. Virrarreal will be without ex-United player Giuseppe Rossi who would have received an excellent reception from the United crowd.
PREMIER LEAGUE Venue: Anfield Date: Saturday, 13 September Kick-off: 1245 BST
It feels like the season is just starting now. After a draw at home to Newcastle, then an away win against Portsmouth, United’s season stopped. First there was a “friendly” in Europe and then there was an international break.
So, it starts again away to Liverpool. Good place to start, even though Gerrard and Torres have been declared fit. Incredibly we are seeking our 6th straight win over Liverpool which is a remarkable run against one of the Big Four teams. However, for as long as I can remember, United have done well over Liverpool. Even when Liverpool were winning title after title, United managed to raise their game.
It is expected that Berbatov will make his debut tomorrow but I wonder who will make way for him. Carlos Tevez has played well so far for us this season, and returned early from international duty after a red card for Argentina. Tevez also scored the winning goal at Anfield last season.
Wayne Rooney was excellent against Croatia when England astonishing stuffed them 4-1 (but then he is usually underrated by the media when playing for England. Of course, Ronaldo is still injured so the temptation is to play all three. But the Champions League starts midweek and I expect some sort of rotation to occur. With Berbatov having no Champs League experience, he will probably be a sub on Wednesday.
I’m really looking forward to the match. It feels like the season really starts tomorrow. Come on United. Good luck Berbatov in your first match.
Manchester United 4 (Ronaldo 17, Tevez 33, Rooney 53, 70) Aston Villa 0
Manchester United put on a commanding display to destroy Aston Villa. It was capped by a number of great goals and one astonishingly impudent goal from Christiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo scored one and helped make the other three in an display that will have Chelsea and Arsenal seriously worried about their title prospects despite weekend wins for both teams.
Ronaldo’s goal, on 17 minutes, will live long in the memory of those at Old Trafford to see. A back flick from around the penalty spot that went through a crowd of players and into the net. Not just a back heel into the net from a yard out (Scholes scored one of those a while ago) but from so far out, I doubt any other player could pull it off.
If the first was individual brilliance, the second was a team goal of the highest order. Tevez started the move in the middle of the park, and the ball was played intelligently out to Rooney on the left. With Villa played out of position, Rooney gave the ball to Scholes whose pass out to Ronaldo on the right was so good that Ronaldo didn’t have to break step before playing a perfect first time cross. At the end of the cross was the man who started it all, Carlos Tevez with a simple header to make it 2-0.
The game effectively over, it was a question of how many of the chances United were going to put away. Rooney put the ball just past the post, then Ronaldo’s shot was deflected onto the bar. Eventually United got their third and Rooney scored at Old Trafford twice, both from great passed from Ronaldo.
If United, and Ronaldo and Rooney in particular, can keep up this form, the title will be in the bag.
Ah, it was very nice writing the title of this post. I’ve been away for the long Easter weekend, checking out the excellent Eden Project. I was actually driving during the first half of this game and it was very funny listening to Liverpool fans Alan Green and Mark Lawrenson on Five Live “enjoying” the first half. We stopped off to see my aunt and therefore missed the second half and the subsequent Arsenal Chelsea match up. Observing radio silence on the way home, I watched the second half “as live” via Sky + and then watched Match of the Day 2 to watch the highlights and see Chelsea winning. Chelsea fans didn’t deserve to win that game with their “You don’t know what your doing” chant.
Key points from the game.
An early booking for Mascherano for a poor tackle on Scholes. Mascherano then proceeds to spend the rest of the half moaning at the ref.
United carve up the Liverpool defence on a number of occasions but Rooney is no Van Nistelrooy and doesn’t take his chances.
Wes Brown gets a rush of blood to the head, stays up field after a pass, then heads into the penalty area after our lone striker is sent wide. Rooney plays a great ball in and Brown heads the ball goalward. Reina manages to punch Brown in the back and miss the ball. 1-0!
Torres picks up a booking for complaining too much about Ferdinand not getting a booking for fouling him. Mascherano marches 30 yards, shrugs of Alonso and “asks” the ref what the booking was for. Referee Bennett, clearly of the show not tell school, shows Mascherano exactly why the Spaniard was booked and gives the Argentine a second yellow.
Mascherano completely loses it and has to be “assisted” off the field. Liverpool end the half in complete disarray and give United fans a special Easter comedy to watch.
Liverpool actually have a spell in the second half of some good play, but Ferdinand and Vidic completely contain the Liverpool attack.
Anderson blasts one wild shot over the bar too many, and Giggs runs into a Liverpool defender once too often and are replaced by Tevez and Nani (a bold substition; but Fergie “knows what he is doing”)
Ronaldo, clearly thinking his is offside, tamely shoots when 1-1 on Reina. From the resulting corner, Ronaldo beats his marker and heads home for his 34th of the season. Once again Reina comes for the ball and misses.
Rooney and Nani combine well and the young Portuguese star shows Anderson just how to lash home a ball. The shot was so quick that Reina didn’t bother to move for it.
In the end, a very comfortable win and the main talking point is the sending off, which was just very silly and childish from Mascherano. United would have won anyway. Chelsea beat Arsenal so United are 5 points clear at the top. Arsenal’s title hopes appear to be over after no wins in five games. United still have to go to Stamford Bridge where a draw will probably be enough to bring United the title.
It was announced today that Rio Ferdinand has been named England captain for the upcoming France friendly. Good news for the man. Whether Fernando Torres will have been let out of the England captain’s pocket before the game kicks off is not certain.
Rafael has no fear of playing and has great belief in himself. He is only 18 but he has started very well. He did well against Middlesbrough last week and he has progressed again.
Ronaldo’s goal, on 17 minutes, will live long in the memory of those at Old Trafford to see. A back flick from around the penalty spot that went through a crowd of players and into the net. Not just a back heel into the net from a yard out (Scholes scored one of those a while ago) but from so far out, I doubt any other player could pull it off.