all about red devils http://highlight-football.adultforumhost.com/ Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:00:01 +0000 AdultForumHost http://highlight-football.adultforumhost.com/54987.html Inter maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the Serie A standings yesterday afternoon as they emerged victorious from Bologna s Stadio Dall'Ara after a 2-1 win. I believe that we showed our willingness to win the game from the off, Javier Zanetti told the Inter Channel. It was fundamental to win this game in order to better prepare for Tuesday s showdown with Manchester United. And we got a deserved victory against a great Bologna side. Jose Mourinho s men will entertain the Champions League holders at the Stadio San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie. We are very calm and serene ahead of this match, assured El Tractor . We know that we are going to face a great team, certainly one of the best in the world. But Inter have the qualities to do well. There will be no need to give a pep talk to my team-mates, because they all understand the importance of such a game. San Siro has been sold out for this game for weeks now and it will be very exciting. Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:43:51 +0000 http://highlight-football.adultforumhost.com/54985.html Sir Alex Ferguson has never shied away from giving his opinion since taking the Old Trafford hot seat over 20 years ago and here, Goal.com takes a look at some of his finest moments.10. I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind. Sir Alex, speaking to the media in 1997, gets all misty-eyed over a teenage Ryan Giggs.9. It's getting tickly now - squeaky-bum time, I call it. Speaking about the title race at the end of the 2002/2003 season, Fergie coins a phrase the British media still uses. The Red Devils ended the season as champions despite behind eight points behind Arsenal in March.8. If he was an inch taller he'd be the best centre half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in - I'd check the milkman. The United boss gives his thoughts on right back Gary Neville in 19967. On you go. I m no f****** talking to you. He s a f****** great player. Yous are f******* idiots. Ferguson blasts the media in 2002 for criticising his signing of Juan Sebastien Veron, despite the Argentinean making little impression after joining for the Red Devils for a then British record fee of 28.1 million.6. They say he s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I ve got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages! The Scot dismisses Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger s linguistic talents in 2003.5. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Football. Bloody hell. The Red Devil attempts to describe his feelings to the world after United score two late goals to claim the European Cup on May 26th, 1999.4. That lad [Filippo Inzaghi] must have been born offside. Sir Alex Ferguson response to the news that Filippo Inzaghi is the most offside player in the history of the game. 3. It was a freakish incident. If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn t happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing! The Scot explains to the BBC in 2003 how a flying football boot in the United dressing room managed to hit David Beckham in the face, leaving him in need of stitches.2. "My greatest challenge is not what's happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their fucking perch. And you can print that."Sir Alex, speaking to The Guardian in 2002, endears himself to Liverpool fans the world over after as he responds to Alan Hansen s suggestion that winning the title in 2002/03 would be his greatest feat.1. When an Italian tells me it's pasta on the plate I check under the sauce to make sure. They are the inventors of the smokescreen. Alex Ferguson, speaking before the last time Manchester United played Inter in the Champions League Quarter Final 1999.Sources: The Guardian, The Independent, BBC News, redrants.com, redcafe.net. Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:42:35 +0000 http://highlight-football.adultforumhost.com/54983.html MANCHESTER UNITED:Kuszczak: 7 - Replaced Van der Sar between the sticks, did not have much to do early on but looked confident when coming out to mop up. Mis-communication with Evra in the first half could have been problematic. Showed good blocking from Diouf in second half.Rafael: 6.5 - Bombed forward a bunch of times, accurate in his tackling. Had a little lean on Gamst that looked suspiciously like a penalty, but the indiscretion was waved on by referee Howard Webb.Ferdinand: 7 - Was fairly quiet as those around him drew the headlines.Evans: 7 - Nothing special early on. Got the ball in the net but was ruled out for what could only have been pushing.Evra: 7 - Got forward without neglecting his defensive duties. Made some crucial challenges, one especially on Tugay. He was strong, consistent, and able. Took the ball away from Diouf's stride on the 80th minute with a clever deflected touch.Ronaldo: 8 - Was roaming around early on, popping up here, there, and everywhere. Was told off for simulation. Moments later struck a sweet free-kick that had Robinson stretching, but to no avail. Ronaldo had scored well.Carrick: 7.5 - Played some great balls into the mixer. Fed Ronaldo especially well, but the Portuguese international was not as hungry from open play as he usually is.Scholes: 7.5 - Commanded the midfield in the first half. Started the game as he meant to go on, troubling the Blue and White halved defence from the 3rd minute. Understands the pass like former Red Devil Ruud van Nistelrooy understood the rebound. Some genius flicks late on.Nani: 7 - Rare starter of late, can often spend lengthy periods of games without much to note, but will then put himself about during the times he shines. It was his running and cross that led to Rooney's opener.Rooney: 7.5 - Has been out for four weeks, yet was always looming and involved in the play. Scored the first goal. Wonderful movement. Good turn of pace. Looked like he had been playing last week.Berbatov: 6 - Had an opportune moment to get the side's third goal that would have wrapped up the tie. Was particularly languid all game.BLACKBURN ROVERS:Robinson: 6 - Was perhaps a little flat-footed for Ronaldo's free-kick goal, and was consequently never going to reach with his stretching, extended arm.Ooijer: 7 - Acute interceptions and passing. Tried to stretch the opposition with his running, good positional awareness, and sending a nice assist Santa Cruz's way.Nelsen: 6 - Stretched but did not clear for United's goal.Givet: 7 - Another debutant. Got the better of Berbatov during the game's genesis. Had to receive treatment later on when the Bulgarian nipped him.Warnock: 6.5 - Was mugged on a few occassions by Ronaldo, but played in clever balls late on in the game when Rovers were looking for the second equaliser.Grella: 6.5 - Nasty tackle on Rafael, lucky not to be carded.Diouf: 7 - Provided some good forward thinking play, showed good hustle and wanted to irritate Kuszczak when in possession. Should have scored just before the half-hour mark.Andrews: 6 - Got his body across to put in some crucial interceptions while Ronaldo was running rampant and searching for the killer goal.Dunn: 7.5 - Was intent to grab an equaliser and make play after Rovers fell behind. Played the well-weighted pass that threaded in Gamst only for the wideman to fall foul to a slight tug by burgeoning Brazilian full-back Rafael. A stand-up performer for the Lancashire visitors.Pedersen: 7 - Pleased portions of the crowd when he accidentally ran into Sir Alex Ferguson. Teased a shot just wide of the mark late in the second half. Sound deliverer of the ball from wide areas and set pieces.Santa Cruz: 7.5 - Finished well from a fine angle to ensure United's net bulged for the first time in 14 league games. Had other oppotunities that were either wide, blocked or saved. Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:40:55 +0000