Rooney - We have quad quality

Wayne Rooney firmly believes Manchester United have the quality to win the quadruple and says they are stronger than ever before.

United face Tottenham in Sunday's Carling Cup final which is their first chance of domestic silverware before competing for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles and the FA Cup.

The Red Devils already have the Fifa Club World Cup in their Old Trafford trophy cabinet and the 23-year-old believes the other four could soon follow.

"I hope the quadruple is possible," Rooney told The Sun.

"We have a great chance in the Carling Cup, we're in a good position in the league, the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and have a good chance of reaching the same stage in the Champions League.

"We are stronger than last season when we won the double.

"Winning the Champions League has given us an added confidence and belief which has brought us on."
Childhood dream

Rooney has been desperate to fulfil a childhood dream of lifting a major trophy at Wembley since he watched Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 in the 1995 FA Cup final as a boy.

He added: "It was an amazing occasion and something that has always stuck in my mind. To play in a major final is still a dream come true for me."

Meanwhile, hard-working midfielder Darron Gibson is likely to be in United's start line-up for the Wembley final after impressive cup displays in earlier rounds.

But the 21-year-old revealed he tries not to think about being in the first XI to help curb his nerves.

"I haven't thought too much about Wembley because if I did think I might be too nervous," the Irishman said.

"I don't want the occasion to get the better of me so not thinking about it is the best way of coping.

United takes on Tottenham on their first cup final of the season

United will be trying to win their first trophy of 2009 tomorrow . Sir Alex's men are in pole position to add another 3 more this season .United boss has given his young stars and the old ones equal chance in the league cup so far and this will be another testing ground for his young stars to perform in big stage

Sir Alex Ferguson has told youngsters Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck they will start Sunday's Carling Cup final.Rafael Da Silva is out with a fractured ankle but Wayne Rooney should start as he continues to build match fitness.

Tottenham will be looking to put an end to Manchester United's hopes of a quintuple when the two sides meet in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

Holders Spurs will not want to give up their crown without a fight and will fancy their chances after United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that he would be sticking with his youngsters who have got him this far.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has seemingly traded Uefa Cup glory for a win on Sunday after he rested all of his big guns for the last-32 tie against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.

If the gamble fails to pay off and United succeed in the first part of their record-breaking conquest Redknapp can expect a backlash from the Spurs supporters.


ottenham's Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Cudicini and Pascal Chimbonda are all cup-tied.

Jamie O'Hara (hip) has declared himself fit but on-loan Fraizer Campbell cannot play against his parent club and Ledley King (knee) will have a fitness test.


Man Utd (from): Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Fabio, Gibson, Evans, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evra, Welbeck, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Scholes, Nani, Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney.

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, King, Bentley, Jenas, Modric, Zokora, Lennon, Pavyluchenko, Bent, O'Hara, Huddlestone, Bale, Dawson, Gunter, Giovani, Taarabt.

Ferguson rues lack of away goal

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League but regretted not grabbing an away goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs went close to set up an intriguing return leg at Old Trafford on 11 March.

"I hope not scoring a goal doesn't come back to bite us," said Ferguson.

"We deserved to win. We showed good composure and maturity. The second leg is at Old Trafford and with our record there we have a good chance to win."

United fielded an unfamiliar defence, with Jonny Evans partnering Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea coming in at right back in the last-16 clash at the San Siro.

Inter were restricted to second-half efforts from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso and it was home goalkeeper Julio Cesar who was the busiest of the two men between the posts. Hoping his side can turn things round in the second leg and proceed to the quarter-finals, Ferguson added: "They gave us 15 to 20 minutes of pressure as we expected in the second half.

"There's obviously disappointment we haven't won the game, for sure.

"We need to win the match in front of own fans. We're capable of doing that, the game isn't finished, but we've given ourselves a chance of doing that."

Inter coach Jose Mourinho was full of praise for his keeper Cesar and admitted he was satisfied with the result.

"When I won the Champions League (with Porto in 2004) we drew 0-0 at home in the semi-final and then won away to Deportivo La Coruna," stated the former Chelsea boss.

"It's a result that the team who plays at home in the second leg is happy with because they know if they win at home they are in the quarter-finals.

"But for us it was an important result. We didn't want to go to United with a deficit because they had intensity and speed that we didn't have."

United were held on by Inter keeper

United spun chance after chance to give Inter hopes to advance to next stage . It was a contest between the Inter keeper and the United forwards in the first half with the former saving well and the latter spoiling chance after chance . Berbatov and Giggs were the main culprits and it raises the question of why Rooney was put on the bench . If the England forward have been started the story would have been another one as he has scored goals on all his previous 4 appearances

Manchester United dominated for much of this lively Champions League last-16 clash but had to settle for a goalless draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro.
A Cristiano Ronaldo bullet header was well saved after four minutes and Ryan Giggs then missed when clean through.Inter were much-improved in the second half as Zlatan Ibrahimovic burst to life, and after dummying for Adriano the Brazilian shot tamely wide.A new-look United defence stood strong as Inter pushed for a late winner.


With Nemanja Vidic suspended, and Gary Neville and Wes Brown injured, Ferguson's hopes of improving on a measly record of one win in 12 games against Mourinho rose slightly with Jonny Evans and John O'Shea declared fit an hour before kick-off.

But the Inter boss, without Patrick Vieira, Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel, might have felt vindicated on hearing that his opponents were leaving Wayne Rooney on the bench with Dimitar Berbatov playing alone up front.

However, if either team was guilty of playing cagey football it was Mourinho's side, who were off the pace for much of the first half. With Giggs and Michael Carrick dominant in the middle in the opening exchanges it was the visitors who settled the quickest, with Ronaldo in the thick of the action.

The Portuguese winger had already gone close with a free-kick, and after four minutes his rocket header from a Giggs corner was brilliantly saved by the left arm of Julio Cesar.

While Inter's attackers were struggling to make friends with the ball, their defenders were faring little better and were lucky to get away with a Giggs through-ball to Berbatov, who failed to cross to the unmarked Ji-Sung Park.

A shockingly-timed Nelson Rivas tackle then allowed Giggs to squirm his way though again but the Welshman could only blast the ball at the over-worked keeper.

The home support became increasingly agitated as the sea of red piled forward, with Ronaldo just inches away from opening the scoring with yet another free-kick. He then headed just wide.

Ibrahimovic, misfiring until the 40th minute, pulled the ball back for Adriano but Edwin van der Sar sniffed out the danger. The Inter bench even got in on the action just before the interval as reserve keeper Francesco Toldo was booked for dissent.

The Inter manager was the first to change tactics, the Colombian Rivaz making way for Ivan Cordoba, and it seemed to rouse his team.

Esteban Cambiasso crossed from the left and, after an Ibrahimovic dummy, Adriano's shot flew high and wide.

The Brazilian was soon shouting for a penalty but his theatrics that followed a Rio Ferdinand hand on his shoulder did not fool the referee. The Italians were much better and more composed in the second half with the menacing Cambiasso pushing the United defence regularly onto the back-foot.

Mario Balotelli and Julio Cruz were thrown on for Inter, but the Old Trafford side were not content to sit back with Ronaldo pulling back for Park, whose sliding legs just avoided the ball.

Giggs, once again on imperious form, went on a dazzling run, only to be thwarted by a lunging blocked tackle by Cordoba on the penalty spot and then Rooney, on as substitute with five minutes left, was denied by the legs of Cesar.

After Cordoba had brought Ronaldo down on the edge of the box in injury time and the Portugal star strolled up to take the free-kick, you sensed the headlines may be his.

But the ball flew safely within range of the impressive Cesar and so Old Trafford awaits for battle to recommence in a fortnight.

Although United cannot celebrate an away goal, they can take pride in increasing their unbeaten Champions League run to 20 matches and breaking the record they shared with Ajax and Bayern Munich.

Man Utd vow to chase win at Inter

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has brushed aside Jose Mourinho's suggestion that defence will be the priority against Inter Milan.

"I'm sure Jose has seen us enough to know that we very seldom go into a game not trying to win," he said.

The sides meet at the San Siro on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

But Inter coach Mourinho believes United will keep it tight ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford on 11 March.

The former Chelsea manager claimed earlier on Monday that he expects a cagey encounter between the respective leaders of Serie A and the Premier League.

"Nothing will be decided tomorrow. I don't think Manchester will come to try to win. They'll play very defensively," he said.
"There will be another great game at Old Trafford."

But Ferguson said the competition's away goal rule means United cannot afford to play too defensively.

"We still have the opportunity to take Inter back to Old Trafford with a good result. If we score an away goal it will give us a great chance," he stated.

"You're always intent in Europe to get that goal that means something really big when you get back to your own ground."

With Nemanja Vidic suspended, Gary Neville and Wes Brown already ruled out through injury and Jonny Evans and John O'Shea unlikely to recover in time for the match, Ferguson is juggling various makeshift defensive options.

And he conceded that whatever back line he decides on, United will face a testing evening against Inter's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"Their star player without any question is Ibrahimovic. He's had a fantastic season and is getting all the praise he deserves," confirmed Ferguson.

However, Ferguson was dismissive of Mourinho's superiority in head-to-head meetings with Manchester United.

The Portuguese coach masterminded Porto's defeat of United at the same stage of the competition in 2004, where a last-minute goal from Costinha prompted him to sprint from the dug-out to join his players' celebrations.

While in charge at Chelsea he avoided defeat in all but one of his 10 meetings against Ferguson and clinched consecutive Premier League titles.

"I don't think about the defeats to different managers. One defeat in 12 depends on how you look at it. It wasn't as though we lost all 11 games, if it was I'd worry. What matters is tomorrow night," insisted Ferguson.

Mourinho promised that his team would go on the attack against last year's Champions League winners.

"We won't change our style of play, it will be 4-4-2 with a diamond formation in midfield and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano in attack," he added.

"I've told the players not to think about the possibility that in two weeks they'll be out of the Champions League but that in two weeks they could have beaten the champions of Europe.

"We shouldn't be afraid, we have to keep our way of playing. We are playing a great team but so are they.

"Beating Manchester wouldn't be anything special, the important thing is qualifying for the next round."

Inter Milan v Manchester United

The much waited match of the day contesting between the champions of Italy with the Champions of World, Europe and English football playing each other . It will be the battle between the two best managers in Europe – Ferguson the long serving coach of United and Mourinho the new one in the block who can claim to be Fergie’s real successor . With his spells with Porto , Chelsea and now with Inter the Portuguese has shown that he is also a genius
Defensively United are in trouble now with Vidic suspended and Evans & O’shea injured United does not have two experienced centre backs in the back. With Neville and Brown also injured United somehow have got a defensive crisis. But otherwise they are flying high in their league and it is a chance for van der Sar to break the European record for keeping maximum hours without conceding
Battles will be fought between the United forwards and their counterparts. Though it is seen as a battle between Ronaldo and Ibramovic Rooney and Berbatov will have main hand on the outcome on the match. Rooney is in fine form and he is not showing any signs of the hamstring problem which sidelined him for 7 matches.


Inter coach Jose Mourinho has similar, if less extreme, problems to negotiate.Argentine defender Walter Samuel is unlikely to make his starting line-up after missing the weekend's 2-1 victory over Bologna with a calf injury. With Italy international Marco Matterazzi also struggling to recover in time for the Italian champions, the heart of their backline will be selected from Ivan Cordoba, Cristian Chivu and Nicolas Burdisso.

Man Utd squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Ferdinand, Evra, O'Shea, Evans, Fabio, Eckersley, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Nani, Scholes, Possebon, Gibson, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, Welbeck

Man Utd 2-1 Blackburn:

Wayne Rooney puts the home side ahead, nipping between Ryan Nelsen and Paul Robinson to poke the ball home




Blackburn break the United's record of 1337 minutes without conceding through Roque Santa Cruz's smart equaliser







Jonny Evans appears to crash in a set-piece for a second United goal only for it to be ruled out for a shove




Rovers have much of the second half, hitting the post, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to slam home a match-winning free-kick

Ronaldo rocket again provides the win

Ronaldo scores a stunner to provide United 3 points . Blackburn break the United's record of 1337 minutes without conceding through Roque Santa Cruz as Kuszack has deputised for van der Sar in the goal and he was not at his best throughout the night raising questions about his selection

Wayne Rooney lashed in a shot to put United ahead . The England international scored for the fourth league game in a row to seemingly set United on course to live up to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's recent 'untouchables' tag when collecting Nani's pass and slotting past Paul Robinson in the 23rd minute.

However, Rovers were back on level terms nine minutes later as Andre Ooijer found Roque Santa Cruz and the Paraguayan rounded Tomasz Kuszczak, surprisingly selected as Edwin van der Sar was rested, to equalise.

Santa Cruz's goal ended United's 1,333-minute clean-sheet record in the league. Jonny Evans' header was controversially disallowed for the home side

Ferguson's side almost found themselves behind minutes after the half-time interval when Ryan Nelsen hit a post, but United reclaimed the lead on the hour-mark through a trademark Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick.

World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or recipient Ronaldo had been correctly booked for diving shortly after the break when attempting to win a penalty, but the Portuguese reinforced the positive side of his reputation when superbly dipping over the head of Robinson from the left corner of the 18-yard area.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans (Vidic 64), Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes (Giggs 82), Nani (Tevez 64), Rooney, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Fletcher.

Booked: Ronaldo, Berbatov.

Goals: Rooney 23, Ronaldo 60.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Nelsen, Givet, Warnock, Grella (McCarthy 79), Diouf (Treacy 83), Andrews, Dunn (Kerimoglu 73), Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Khizanishvili, Mokoena, Roberts.

Booked: Andrews, Givet.

Goals: Roque Santa Cruz 32.

Neville agrees new United deal

Manchester United captain Gary Neville has agreed terms on a one-year contract extension which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010.

The 34-year-old has spent his entire career at Old Trafford and made his debut against Torpedo Moscow in 1992.

Neville joins fellow veteran Ryan Giggs in signing a new deal at the club.

"Manchester United is the only club I wanted to play for so I am delighted to sign for another year," he told the club's official website.

The full-back has been plagued by injury for the past two seasons and spent 13 months on the sidelines with an ankle problem.

However, despite the emergence of young Brazilian full-back Rafael in his absence, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to tie Neville to the club.

The England international has started nine Premier League games so far this season, featuring in a further three as substitute, and has also played three times in the Champions League.

Since breaking into the first team in the early 1990s, Neville has made 565 appearances for the club and Ferguson says the new deals for both him and Giggs are vital.

"Gary, Ryan and Paul Scholes are the spirit of Manchester United and so we are delighted that Gary has signed for another year," said Ferguson.

"He is a true professional and I admire how he has overcome an injury which kept him out for over a year, returning as good as ever. He deserves this new contract and we are very happy to have him here."

United takes on Blackburn

United are on a fantastic run now as they are now started scoring goals with people from all over the park and they they are not letting anything into their net . United can stretch their lead at the top of the table to eight points with a win on Saturday also van der Sar will be hoping for a clean sheet to break the European record as he has gone without conceding in 14 games . So he is counting every minute

With second place Liverpool not playing until Sunday, United will want to apply as much pressure as possible on their title rivals.Sam Allardyce's Rovers side currently occupy the last relegation spot and find themselves a point from safety.

Rooney is expected to start after his goal scoring come back from injury . He showed no signs missing games as he has scored with the first touch .Defenders Gary Neville and Wes Brown both missed the game against the Cottagers with minor knocks but both could be back for Saturday.Veteran Ryan Giggs was rested in midweek but his sterling displays of late could see him recalled for the clash.

Blackburn defender Chris Samba is suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards this season.Rovers' on-loan United right-back Danny Simpson is ineligible to play against his parent club

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Gibson, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Fletcher, Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, Welbeck.

Blackburn (from): Robinson, Bunn, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Warnock, Givet, Olsson, Dunn, Villanueva, Grella, Tugay, Andrews, Diouf, Pedersen, Treacy, Mokoena, Haworth, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts.

United cruises

Paul Scholes produced a majestic performance as Manchester United moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a 3-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford. Rooney came from and scored with his first touch .United veteran Scholes rolled back the years with a virtuoso display as he opened the scoring .A dip into the archives brought about United's opening goal on 12 minutes as Michael Carrick played out a corner to Scholes, who struck a trademark volley from 25 yards which Mark Schwarzer saved only for the ball to spin back across the Fulham keeper and over the line.

Berbatov made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark as he tapped in from close range after Schwarzer dithered when John O'Shea turned Scholes' dinked pass back across goal.Berbatov should have increased the lead further when poking another shot wide before he had a header from Ronaldo's free-kick ruled out for offside.

The fit-again Rooney was introduced for Berbatov on the hour mark and within minutes he had scored the third, slotting home at the far post from Park Ji-sung's shot-cum-cross.

Schmeichel hails Man Utd defence

Former Old Trafford keeper Peter Schmeichel has hailed Manchester United's defence as "the best in the world" and praised Nemanja Vidic.

United have gone 13 Premier League games without conceding, taking a firm grip of the title race in the process.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has taken a lot of credit but Schmeichel said defender Vidic has played his part.

"Edwin gets a lot of praise but Vidic's displays in the last two years are second to none," said the Dane.

United can go five points clear of second-placed Liverpool if they beat Fulham at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have already won 10 of their 11 home league games, scoring 25 goals and conceding just four in the process.

"We've the best defence in the world," said Schmeichel, who spent eight years at United, winning the title five times and skippering them to victory in the 1999 Champions League final.

"I can't see anyone scoring (against them). It's great to have that feeling of confidence."

While their top-flight rivals may have found goals hard to come by against the league leaders, United did concede to Championship side Derby County at the weekend.

Miles Addison beat Van der Sar's deputy, Ben Foster, with a second-half header as United reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 win.

Van der Sar should be back in goal for the visit of Fulham - and Schmeichel says the 38-year-old Dutchman has been a major source of "inspiration" for the team.

"I think Edwin has done tremendously well," said the ex-international. "It's great to see him come into the team and give stability.

"You can see the faith and trust everyone has in him. He is an inspiration to the players in front of him."

Schmeichel also said the 27-year-old Vidic, a £7m capture from Spartak Moscow in January 2006, had been a positive influence on those around him, in particular fellow centre-half Rio Ferdinand.

"Ferdinand is the best defender in the world," said Schmeichel, who also played in the Premier League for Aston Villa and Manchester City. "He's learned so much from Vidic."

Wenger: United are "untouchables"

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger are in awe of Manchester United and has sportingly called them the new "untouchables".

Wenger once led team of self-styled invincibles to a season without defeat, but the Frenchman has conceded that Sir Alex Ferguson's current Manchester United side could beat that.

United sit two points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand at the Barclays Premier League summit, with Arsenal a worrying 12 points off the pace in fifth.

Wenger, whose Gunners side went unbeaten in 2003/04, is refusing to give up on having a say in the title race but admits the Red Devils are currently some distance clear of the pack.

The two-goal return of Croatia striker Eduardo after a year out in last night's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round replay win over Cardiff gave Arsenal fans reason for cheer, but Wenger has warned that long-time rivals United will take some stopping.

"We are on a very strong run at the moment and we have promised to give everything until the last day of the season but at the moment Manchester United look untouchable," confessed the Arsenal boss.

"They are 12 points ahead of us and they have a game against Fulham which they will certainly win. If they win that they are 15 points in front and that means they need to lose five games.

"Let us say they lose one against us, that still leaves four. They still need to lose four other games, which they haven't done yet this season.

"But our basic target is to get into the Champions League and therefore the championship remains a priority."

Wenger, meanwhile, told Cardiff that the trouncing meted out to them at the Emirates could be a good thing for their promotion ambitions.

The Frenchman believes that talented Championship sides can often get sidetracked in the knockout competitions to the detriment of their league form.

"Look at the table. They are, I think, fourth with a few games in hand. For them it is better they go out of the FA Cup," he said.

"I saw it a few years ago when we battled with Sheffield United when they had (Phil) Jagielka and (Michael) Tonge in a very good team.

"There were seasons when they did very well in the FA Cup and the League Cup and in the end they always failed to come up because it was very demanding to do both.

"In the Championship there are 24 teams so there are a lot of games. This is better for them."

Bluebirds manager Dave Jones, who guided the club to last year's final, was disappointed at a performance he rated as one his side's poorest of the season.

"The fans paid good money to come and watch us and we didn't do them justice or ourselves justice," said Jones.

"Anyone who wore a yellow shirt out there can't stake a claim to anything. I'm not taking anything away from Arsenal because they sniffed that we weren't at it and went for the jugular.

"We have to learn from this and bounce back. Hopefully they will react to what has happened here."

Jones also joined in the unanimous praise for Eduardo, who earned several ovations from the crowd before leaving the field with a slight hamstring twinge.

"I'm pleased for any player that comes back from an horrendous injury like his," added Jones.

"We've all seen situations like that in football; I had an injury that finished my career as a player. "It's a long road back so it's fantastic to see a player come back like that."

United v Fulham

United will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table and Vander sar to break the records when Fulham visit United .Wayne Rooney will be on the bench for Manchester United after missing seven matches with a hamstring injury.Nemanja Vidic, Carlos Tevez, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov all return to the squad after missing the FA Cup win at Derby.

Fulham will give late fitness tests to Paul Konchesky and Andy Johnson, who both have muscle strains.Dickson Etuhu is still out with a knee injury so on-loan Olivier Dacourt should continue in midfield.


Manchester United continue their quest for unprecedented quintuple honours, by picking up a 10th successive victory in all competitions at the expense of mid table Fulham.

The World Club champions, Carling Cup finalists, FA Cup quarter-finals and defending Champions League and Premier League champions will go five points clear at the top of the table, if they maintain their unbeaten home league record with an 11th straight victory at Old Trafford.

The Cottagers travel in search of their first away victory in this Premier League campaign, having failed to pick up maximum points in 12 attempts away from Craven Cottage.

United 'keeper Edwin Van der Sar, who's set to face his former club, has not conceded a goal in 1,212 Premier League minutes for his club, which is a UK league record. He is still one game and 88 minutes shy of the European league record. This is held by Dany Verlinden, who kept the opposition at bay for 1,390 minutes for Club Bruges in the Belgium league between 3 March and 26 September 1990.

If Van der Sar can hold out for another 10 minutes, that will take his current achievement into the top 10 in world league football. If he manages another clean sheet, he will rise to sixth in the all-time list. The world record stands at 1,816 minutes by Mazaropi for Vasco de Gama from 18 May 1977 to 7 September 1978.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Gibson, Welbeck.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Hughes, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Johnson, Zamora, Nevland, Gera, Murphy, Kamara, Gray, Zuberbuhler, Stoor, Dempsey, Davies, Milsom, Brown, Kallio, Barnes, Dacourt.

Rooney to return for United

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will be on the substitutes' bench for Manchester United's clash with Fulham on Wednesday.

The striker suffered a hamstring strain during United's home victory over Wigan last month and has missed seven games.

It was thought that he could return for the FA Cup tie at Derby on Sunday but Ferguson opted not to rush him back.

The United manager has been pleased with Rooney's progress over the last couple of days and intends to select him in his squad to face the Cottagers.

"The plan is for Wayne Rooney to be involved tomorrow night and he will start on the bench," Ferguson told Key103.

"We have handled him in the right way.

"He is training now. His performances have been excellent and he is back to his best.

"The decision not to involve him on Sunday was a good one because he was able to train and that extra day has brought him on a lot."

Young guns impress Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for his young Manchester United side after their emphatic victory over Derby on Sunday.

The Red Devils eased to a 4-1 victory at Pride Park in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

United claimed the comfortable success courtesy of goals from Nani, Darron Gibson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Danny Welbeck.

Ferguson was delighted at the comprehensive nature of his side's performance and was particularly pleased with those who currently sit on the fringes of his first-team squad.

"We applied ourselves very well," the Scottish coach told MUTV.

"The players had a good attitude, they all wanted to play and that made the pace of the game really quick. I was very pleased.

"Nani's goal was marvellous and came at a good time for us, but he's capable of doing that.

"Danny is a natural finisher and his goals to games ratio is very good. He's only 18 but he's improving all the time."

The result could have been even more commanding were it not for a debateable first-half decision to rule out a Ronaldo effort.
Confusion

The Portuguese superstar saw a composed finish chalked off by a very late offside flag, with Ferguson left aghast by the reasons given by the match officials for the considerable delay.

"The linesman created his own confusion because he went so long, until after the goal had been scored, to say it was offside," said Ferguson.

"He said he was waiting to find out whether Ryan (Giggs) had touched it. Nevertheless, Ronaldo was still in an offside position.

"I have no complaints about the actual decision. It was the fact he waited so long. I did not understand the explanation."

Ferguson was, however, more complimentary towards 21-year-old Gibson, with the youngster having played his way into his manager's thoughts for the Carling Cup final against Tottenham on 1st March.

"Darron did really well," said Ferguson.

"He has got into the Carling Cup final team with that performance.

"He has played in every round, so he deserves it."

Derby 1-4 Man Utd

Nani celebrates in style



Darron Gibson's strike just before the half-time interval





United look to have sealed the win as Cristiano Ronaldo scores just after the break with a brilliant header from Ryan Giggs' corner




United score a fourth through Danny Wellbeck who finishes off a delightful move by slotting home in the 81st minute at Pride Park

United thrashes Derby

Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday with a comfortable 4-1 win away at Derby County. United's young guns scored another spectacular victory over Derby who made an unbelievable victory against United 1 month back .Goals from Nani, Darron Gibson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Danny Welbeck ensured that a Miles Addison header was nothing more than a consolation for the hosts.

Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park had early efforts saved before Nani rifled a right-foot shot in from 20 yards.Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal belatedly ruled out after a consultation between the match officials before Darron Gibson volleyed home from 18 yards.Ronaldo nodded in a third before Miles Addison headed in for Derby but Danny Wellbeck's late curler secured the win.

Derby refused to be beaten though and deservedly pulled one back when Robbie Savage's quick free-kick found Commons on the right and his centre was headed home by Addison just before the hour mark.

Real beat Man Utd in rich league

Manchester United have come second in the list of the world's richest clubs, while Real Madrid stay top for the fourth year in a row.

Deloitte's Football Money League, based on financial information for the 2007/08 season, features seven English clubs in the top 20 positions.

The authors said that United would have been top of the Money League if the pound was still at June 2007 levels.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Exchange rate factor

"If the exchange rate value of the pound had not depreciated, there would have been nine, rather than seven English clubs in the top 20 and Manchester United would have topped the Money League ahead of Real Madrid," said Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

United won the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 2008, posting a significant 21% pound-denominated revenue growth.

The list had been headed by Manchester United for eight years until Real Madrid deposed them.

"Whilst Real Madrid's 4% revenue growth in 2007/08 is more modest than recent years, the club has now doubled its revenues since 2002 and enjoys a lead of 41m euros [£32.5m] over Manchester United," said Mr Jones.

"With the club having announced that it is budgeting for revenues of 400m euros in 2008/09, it will be difficult for rivals to replace Real at the top of the Money League next year."

European clubs

The other English clubs in the top 20 are Tottenham Hotspur (14th), Newcastle United (17th) and Manchester City (20th).

All the top 20 clubs represent Europe. Germany and Italy have four clubs each in the top 20, Spain and France have two clubs each.

Fenerbahce became the first Turkish club to enter the top 20 since the creation of the list of the world's richest clubs in 1996/97.

Germany's Bayern Munich climbed three places to fourth, returning to the top five for the first time in five years.

"Despite not competing in the Champions League, revenues were boosted by the club acquiring 100% ownership of its home ground, the Allianz Arena," said Alan Switzer, director in the Sports Business Group.

Celtic, Valencia and Werder Bremen dropped out of the Money League, while Stuttgart and Manchester City climbed back.

The top 20 clubs' collective revenue rose by 6% to 3.9bn euros in 2007/08.

'Challenging environment'

The list's authors said that this year's Money League is based on figures available largely before the global economic downturn started.

"Whilst next year's Money League will show some early signs of how the changing economic environment is affecting the game's top clubs, it will not be until 2009/10 that there is a fuller picture of the impact," they said.

However, Paul Rawnsley, director in the Sports Business Group, said: "The unique nature of the football industry will enable major clubs to be relatively resistant to the economic downturn.

"Clubs' match attendances are holding up well and clubs in each of England, Germany, France and Spain have TV deals secured well into the future at enhanced levels.

"Despite the challenging economic environment, the Premier League has just secured a record value for live domestic broadcast rights for the seasons 2010/11 to 2012/13, up 4% to £1.782bn.

"Given the worldwide popularity of the Premier League there is likely to be further uplift in value from overseas rights when they are marketed later this year."

Fergie: My squad is the best

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes he possesses the best squad in the Barclays Premier League.
After a slow start to the season,The Red Devils have now hit their stride and a run of only one defeat in 23 matches in all competitions sees them topping the table.

In addition, United's defence has been impregnable of late after going a record-breaking 13 league matches without conceding a single goal.

After being questioned on Ferguson's best side, the vastly-experienced Scottish tactician said he does not have a favourite starting XI, insisting that it is now a squad game.

With United going strong in every competition this season, the Old Trafford chief believes he possesses the strongest squad in England's top flight.

"People sometimes ask me what I consider to be my best side, and the short answer is that I don't have one," said Ferguson.

"I select the team that I consider is the best for each particular match. I have got a great many factors in mind, ranging from the tactical to who needs a rest and who we play in the next game.

"I can give you my best 14 or 15, but better than that, all I can say is that is a squad game and that we have a damn fine squad. In fact it is the best.

"Everyone has done so well and rallied around when we have had injuries that I'm beginning to dread picking the team.

"I feel guilty when I am forced to leave someone out who has not only done nothing wrong but who has played exceptionally well. It puts the club in a strong position, of course, but it doesn't make the manager's job very easy."

The 2008/09 campaign is now at the business end of the season and Ferguson is pleased his troops are showing the grit and determination needed to retain their Premier League title.

"We're at the time of the season where you expect the players to kick on," he continued. "We've seen it over the years.

"The present group I've got seem to have a gear where they can find. For instance, when we went to Stoke it was lively pitch and we'd just got back from Japan but we scraped a result because we never gave in.

"It was an important marker to lay down and, having come back from the World Club Cup in Japan, we needed to win that game. Once we won that, we've gone on."

United takes on Derby

Derby v Man Utd


FA Cup fifth round
Venue: Pride Park Date: Sunday, 15 February Kick-off: 1630 GMT


Derby will be hoping to do their magic once again against United when both of them will be meeting on Sunday . On January Derby got a rare 1-0 win over United and they were defeated in the second round 4-2 . Sir Alex will be giving his fringe players and those recovering from injury. Wayne Rooney is unlikely to play for Manchester United as he recovers from a hamstring injury.But Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans are all set to return for the game at Pride Park.

Derby County will be without defender Jay McEveley who is serving a one-match ban after picking up five yellow cards.Midfielder Stephen Pearson is expected to be among the substitutes as he continues his return to fitness following a knee injury.

Edwin – 1,212 and still counting!

The Dutch keeper has not allowed a goal past him for 1,212 minutes, following Manchester United’s 1-0 win over West Ham at Upton Park.

And Van der Sar has now broken the British record set by former Rangers goalkeeper Chris Woods during the first half against the Hammers. The Holland international, who is nicknamed “Flappie” in his homeland because of his ears, expressed his delight with the clean sheet.

“I had to make a couple of saves but the defenders are incredible, how they defend, how they clear the balls,” he told Sky Sports.

“West Ham away has been a difficult match for us over the years so it’s a great result to come away from here with three points and another clean sheet.”

Prior to Van der Sar’s arrival from Fulham in 2005, United had been searching for Peter Schmeichel’s successor to no avail. From former France international Fabien Barthez to the clownish Italian Massimo Taibi, Sir Alex Ferguson certainly had seen many goalkeepers exit Old Trafford.

“I’m proud for Edwin,” Ferguson said.

“At his age he has achieved everything, but you can see the way he is motivated by the challenge of the clean sheets and it’s an extra edge.”

Apart from Van der Sar’s contribution in marshalling the United defence, he only cost the club a little more than £1.5m from the coffers.

For Ferguson, he is “right up there” in any list of the club’s best-value signings.

West Ham 0-1 Man Utd

Rio Ferdinand returns to Upton Park





Carlton Cole may be in this week's England squad but Nemanja Vidic's defence has yet to conceed to an Englishman this season




The first half has more industry than chances




Edwin van der Sar, recently setting an English record, is closing in on a variety of British league records for minutes without conceeding




Ryan Giggs beats two West Ham defenders before scoring the game's only goal

Ryan Giggs 17 scores the winner

In a match where chances were few and which could have been lost Giggs showed why he is considered an all time great of Manchester United . He dribbled like a 17 year old and scored in the all the premiere league seasons .Scholes swept a fine ball out to the left flank on 62 minutes and Giggs cut inside, jinking past two defenders before curling a right-footed shot beyond Green.

The Hammers gave United a stern test but their best chance was an ambitious Carlton Cole chip that was well saved.The visitors were not at their free-flowing best but Giggs cut in from the left and curled in a shot to provide the moment of magic needed for the winThe hosts pushed for a leveller but United stood firm to complete a 13th-straight clean sheet in the league.The result ended West Ham's run of six league games without a defeat and, despite their good play, they just could not find a way through United's defence.The Hammers showed plenty of the style and vision that boss Gianfranco Zola was famed for in his playing days as they tried to end United's run of seven league wins on the trot.

Cole had earlier managed to gain half a yard on Ferdinand to reach David Di Michele's through ball but he is not the first striker in recent times to find Van der Sar too big a wall to knock over.When the 34th minute ticked by, Van der Sar eclipsed the record of old Aberdeen stalwart Bobby Clark, who went 1,155 minutes of league action without conceding a goal during the 1970-71 campaign to claim that British recorThe veteran Dutchman's goal was still intact when Di Michele was crowded out on the edge of the visitors' penalty area and the loose ball fell to a marauding Lucas Neill, whose curling shot probably did not stretch Van der Sar enough.

United makes History

Records are falling in front of this United team as they once again produced a clean sheet to take the tally to 12 games without conceding . Ronaldo's spot-kick late in the first half, after Michael Carrick had been felled, enabled United to again make another 1 - 0 win . And in recording a 12th successive top-flight clean sheet, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar eclipsed the previous league record of 1,104 minutes without conceding a goal, set by Reading's Steve Death in 1979.

United deserved their victory and could have won by more, but they were made to work for the win by an Everton side displaying all their trademark defensive resilience.Former United keeper Tim Howard saved well from Ji-Sung Park and Carlos Tevez, while Ronaldo also hit the post from 20 yards in the first half.

United were denied what looked an even more clear-cut penalty than the one they were awarded when Carrick was once again brought down, this time by Joleon Lescott, two minutes after the break but Halsey waved away their justified appeals.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (Brown 56), Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher (Giggs 75), Park, Berbatov, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Gibson, Eckersley.

Goals: Ronaldo 44 pen.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Arteta, Neville, Pienaar, Fellaini (Anichebe 68), Cahill.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Jacobsen, Rodwell, Gosling.