Manchester United Blog

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Manchester United have a ‘big, big chance’ of glory this season if Louis Saha can stay fit.

Although he has added the varied attacking talents of Carlos Tevez, Anderson and Nani to a squad which already contains Wayne Rooney and was the most prolific in the Premier League last term, Ferguson knows Saha offers something different.

Quick, strong, excellent in the air and blessed with shooting power in both feet, Saha’s only major weakness is his appearance record.

Barely a month has gone by without the France international picking up one physical problem or another, hence the reason why Ferguson is showing such patience with the 29-year-old this season.

Saha has already scored an all-important winner against Sunderland and his introduction as a substitute at Goodison Park last weekend was a major factor in United sneaking a victory over Everton.

He then helped see the Red Devils home for a crucial Champions League triumph over Sporting Lisbon in midweek.

So, while the former Fulham man is likely to start on the bench tomorrow when United look to turn a difficult week into a disaster for Chelsea following the departure of Jose Mourinho, Ferguson confirmed Saha is a hugely influential figure at Old Trafford.

‘Louis is a different type of player to anyone else I have at the club,’ he said.

‘If you look at last season, he had already scored 12 goals up to the point where he got his injury in December. If he had stayed fit, he might have got us 30.

‘He has already come on against Sunderland and scored an important goal for us and changed it for us against Sporting on Wednesday at a point when Wayne was starting to tire.

‘If Louis stays fit, we have a big, big chance this year.’

With Gary Neville still over a week away from a return from calf and thigh trouble and Owen Hargreaves not quite close enough to be considered as he inches towards a recovery from a thigh injury picked up on England duty, Ferguson will rely on the squad which collected maximum points from their trip to Portugal.

The Scot’s major selection issue centres around a possible recall for Tevez, possibly in place of Nani.

Meanwhile, Avram Grant is confident of earning the respect of the dressing room and keeping Chelsea in the hunt for the Premier League title following the departure of Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho had total authority over his squad at Stamford Bridge during a trophy-laden three years and there have been reports of player unrest during a turbulent week.

Grant, despite a successful spell as Israel coach, does not have the same Champions League credentials as the `Special One’ but feels he has the squad to add to Chelsea’s silverware haul since Roman Abramovich took over.

Grant and Abramovich are friends but the club have insisted his arrival as director of football in the summer has had nothing to do with Mourinho’s departure.

‘If I thought I cannot make it I would not take the job,’ said 52-year-old Grant.

‘I took it because I think I can handle the situation, including in the dressing room.

‘I can make things better, I must say they were good already, but I want to make things better.

‘I am very satisfied with the squad we have. It is a good squad that can play good football and win titles.’

Grant explained that his arrival and swift appointment following Mourinho’s departure does not mean he had a hand in the Portuguese coach leaving.

‘I was director of football, my relationship with Jose was good,’ he added. ‘I did my job, he did his job.’

Grant could not ask for a tougher start, taking his team up to Manchester United tomorrow, the third Chelsea boss in a row to start his reign against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

He did not take training the day before the match either as it was Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday.

City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday, 5 May
Kick-off: 1245 BST

Manchester City academy graduate Michael Johnson is set to replace Joey Barton who is banned for the rest of the season after a fight in training.

City must score if they are to avoid registering the worst seasonal home tally in Premiership history.

Manchester United will make changes following the defeat to AC Milan, with Rio Ferdinand set to start along with forwards Louis Saha and Alan Smith.

Patrice Evra is back after suspension and could replace Gabriel Heinze.

Man City (from): Isaksson, Weaver, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin, Ball, Sun, Hamann, Ireland, Johnson, Sinclair, Trabelsi, Beasley, Mpenza, Samaras, Vassell, Corradi, Miller.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar,

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce:
“Once he is in his stride he is very difficult to stop because of the speed of movement in his feet.

“He has pace but he also has power and has adapted to the physical side of the game in England very quickly.

“I am delighted he is playing in the Premiership. One day he might even see the light and join me at City!”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
“I am sure everyone will want to play because it is a derby game.

“But I need to assess what is the right thing to do. The key thing is that at least I have some options for the first time in a few weeks.

“Also, we have seen an improvement in Gary Neville’s injury and he has a chance for the FA Cup final.”

BIG-MATCH FACTS

MANCHESTER CITY and Manchester United clash in the 136th League derby and for the 147th time in a competitive match. A victory for City would not only give the blue side of Manchester bragging rights for the next few months, but also deny United a chance of clinching the Premiership title this weekend.

Stuart Pearce’s side are currently experiencing the record longest home scoring drought in English top flight soccer. Their 0-2 loss to Aston Villa last Saturday was their seventh successive Premiership match at Eastlands without finding the back of the net. They’ve not scored in 648 minutes (10 hours 48 minutes) on home territory since Georgios Samaras netted the second of his pair in the 2-1 win over Everton on New Year’s Day. If City fail to find the net in this last home match of the season, they will set a new record low for home goals scored in an English top flight season. Their 10 goal haul would replace the 11 goals scored by Woolwich Arsenal in 1912-13 and Sunderland in the 2002-03 Premiership season. City are also in danger of setting a new mark for the lowest aggregate in home top flight football. Visitors to Eastlands have witnessed just 25 goals (10 for, 15 against), which is three fewer than Leeds’ fans witnessed at Elland Road in the 1996-97 Premiership season.

City are dreaming of a repeat of last season’s corresponding fixture when they recorded a sensational derby-day victory. Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell provided the Blues with maximum reward from a tepid first-half by Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, before Robbie Fowler’s injury-time effort ensured there was no way back for United. It was the Citizens’ second win in three home Premiership meetings.

MANCHESTER UNITED must put behind them the disappointment of Wednesday’s failure to beat AC Milan in Italy and thus miss out on a Champions League final with Liverpool, and concentrate on becoming champions of England for the 16th time in their history and the ninth in 15 Premier League seasons. They lead Chelsea by five points with three to play, and could arrest the trophy from the west Londoners before their visit to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday with victory here, coupled with defeat for Chelsea at Arsenal in the Sunday afternoon fixture.

The Red Devils wrap-up their League campaign, home to West Ham on Sunday, 13 May before meeting Chelsea again on the following Saturday in the FA Cup final at the new Wembley when they’re likely to be vying for the League and Cup double. United have won all six of their Saturday lunchtime kick-offs this season.

A goal a piece from forwards Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture in December and brought about a first derby-day defeat for Stuart Pearce. United are now chasing a fourth Premiership ‘double’ over their local rivals, and first since 1995-96.

REFEREE

Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Premiership referees’ table
Rob Styles’s 2006-07 Premiership card count

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

MANCHESTER CITY
13th 42 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 12th
Lowest could fall: 14th

1. Drawn two and lost two Premiership matches since beating Fulham 1-3 at Craven Cottage on 9 April - their only win in six League outings.

2. Stuart Pearce is looking for a 25th victory in his 76th top flight match in permanent charge.

3. Lost four times as many Premiership games as Manchester United (16 to four).

4. One of two clubs holding an unbeaten record from top League matches in which they’ve opened the scoring. Won 11 and drawn one of 12. Arsenal have won 14 and drawn one of 15.

5. One of two clubs not to have won a single top tier game from a losing position. Wigan is the other club.

6. Dropped two points from a winning position (1-1 draw, away to Watford on 21 April, last time out) - that’s fewer than any other club.

7. Scored 28 Premiership goals at one every 116 minutes (one hour 56 minutes) on average - only Watford have netted fewer (26, one every 125 minutes on average).

8. One of two clubs to have failed to score in as many as 18 Premiership matches this season. Watford is the other - no club has an inferior record. Failed to find the net in 12 home top flight matches - more occasions that any other club, and been involved in more goalless draws in the highest League than any other club this term - seven.

9. ‘Doubled’ by Blackburn, Reading, Wigan and Chelsea.

10. Will end the season away to Tottenham on Sunday, 13 May.

MANCHESTER UNITED
1st 85 points
Highest achievable after Saturday’s matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 1st

1. Lost one of the last 11 Premiership matches.

2. Won more Premiership matches this season than any other club (27), drawn fewer (four), dropped fewer points (20), scored more goals (82), at one every 38 minutes on average, and boast the highest aggregate of 108 goals (82 for, 26 against), at 3.09 per match.

3. Lost four top flight matches - only Chelsea have been defeated less often (three times).

5. Failed to score in just two Premiership matches this season, but on the longest current run since firing a blank of 17 matches. Missed the target in one of 30.

6. Not been involved in a goalless draw in the highest League this season, and currently on the longest run without a no score draw in the highest echelon (36 matches). Also, the only club to hold a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept - won 14 of 14.

7. Own the joint longest list of different scorers of Premiership goals this term of 17 players.

8. Second in the Premiership’s “Last Six Current Form” table with 13 points out of the 18, trailing Chelsea (14 points).

9. Scored more away top League goals than any other club (36), equal with Chelsea on total of away defeats (three) and trail the Blues on points gained away from home (38 to Chelsea’s 39). Each have won 12 on the road.

10. Already beaten 11 clubs home and away in this League season - Wigan, Aston Villa, Watford, Tottenham, Charlton, Fulham, Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn, Sheffield United and Everton.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

MANCHESTER CITY

Joey BARTON, who’s serving a club suspension for the rest of the season, is City’s top scorer with seven goals. He is also their top Premiership marksman with six goals.

City is the only club to have one remaining ever-present in all competitions. Richard DUNNE has been on the field for every minute of every one of the Citizens’ League and Cup games this season.

If he plays, Georgios SAMARAS will be making his 50th Premiership appearance - all for City.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Wayne ROONEY is Manchester United’s top scorer with 23 goals.

RONALDO is the club’s leading marksman in the Premiership with 16. The Portugal World Cup star is three behind Chelsea’s Didier Drogba at the head of the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

RONALDO needs one to total 50 goals for the Red Devils.

Paul SCHOLES is one goal short of holding the record outright as Manchester United’s highest scorer of Premier League goals. He has netted 95 and equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s total. Ryan GIGGS has scored 93 times in the Premiership.

GIGGS is a double short of 100 League goals.

When next selected in the 11, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premiership start - all for the Red Devils.

If he plays, Patrice EVRA will be making his 50th appearance in a United shirt.

If he takes part, Gabriel HEINZE will be making his 50th Premiership appearance - all for the Red Devils.

If selected in the 11, Alan SMITH will be making his 250th club career start (Leeds and Manchester United).

If he lines-up for the kick-off, Ole Gunnar SOLSKJAER will be making his 150th English League start - all for the Old Trafford club.

LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME

Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United
14 January 2006 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Man City scorers: Sinclair 32, Vassell 39, Fowler 90
Man United scorer: van Nistelrooy 76
Sent Off: Ronaldo (Man United) 66

THIS SEASON’S REVERSE FIXTURE

Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City
9 December 2006 - Ref: Graham Poll
Man United scorers: Rooney 6, Saha 45, Ronaldo 84
Man City scorer: Trabelsi 72
Sent Off: Corradi (Man City) 90

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and away
League: Man City 35 wins, Man United 52, Draws 48
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Man United 11, Draws 5

at Man City only
League: Man City 21 wins, Man United 23, Draws 23
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Man United 5, Draws 1

The “League” figures in these Head to Head totals include all Premiership matches

By: bbc.co.uk

Champions League semi-final, 2nd leg
Date: Wednesday, 2 May
Kick-off: 1945 BST
First leg: Man Utd 3-2 AC Milan
Venue: San Siro

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will be available but defender Paolo Maldini (knee) is definitely out.

Kakhabar Kaladze and Daniele Bonera are favourites to replace Maldini in defence alongside Alessandro Nesta.

Manchester United duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are fit after recovering from collarbone and groin injuries.

Patrice Evra is suspended but Sir Alex Ferguson says he is “nowhere near making a decision” on whether Vidic or Ferdinand, or both, should play.

Louis Saha could be on the bench, despite his recent hamstring problems, but Gary Neville misses out again.

Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes are all one booking away from a ban that would rule them out of the final, should United progress.

Milan beat United in the semi-final of the old European Cup in both 1958 and 1969.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O’Shea, Fletcher, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Eagles, Saha, Smith, Solskjaer, Rooney, Dong.

BIG MATCH STATS

Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Head-to-heads

Manchester United and AC Milan have met six times before in European competition, United winning two and AC Milan the other four. The Italians have always knocked the Red Devils out when the two clubs have met in Europe.

The Old Trafford club have hosted Italian clubs on 12 occasions, winning eight, drawing two and losing two. Their last home defeat in European competition was against AC Milan in February 2005. That was AC Milan’s sole victory in England in 10 visits. Four English clubs have knocked them out of Europe - Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. The last to do so over two legs was Manchester City in the 1978-79 Uefa Cup.

European history

Manchester United are playing in their 31st season of European competition and their 12th in the Champions League. They have won all three European finals they have reached, the 1968 Champions Cup final, 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup final and the 1999 Champions League final.

Milan are taking part in the Champions League main competition for the 11th time. They are two time winners of the Champions League and have added these to four Champions Cup triumphs.

Current European form

Manchester United have won their last five CL home matches and are undefeated in their last eight since losing to AC Milan in 2005. They have won all of their home matches in this year’s Champions League.

AC Milan are unbeaten in the last four Champions League games. They have not conceded a goal in their two away matches in the knockout phase of this season’s competition.

Player and disciplinary info

Patrice Evra, Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes (Man. Utd) and Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) will be suspended for the second leg if they receive another caution.

Edwin van der Sar, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney have played in all 10 of United’s Champions League matches this season. Only Van der Sar is yet to miss a minute. Kaka and Marek Jankulovski are the only AC Milan players who have played all 10 Champions League matches this season. Midfielder Kaka has scored seven of the 13 AC Milan goals in this year’s Champions League.

Other miscellaneous facts

AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti has reached the Champions League semis for a record fifth time. Sir Alex Ferguson has taken Manchester United to this stage for the fourth time.

The Old Trafford club need to score one more goal to record 350 in the Champions Cup/Champions League.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

By : bbc.co.uk