Semifinal UEFA 2009 , Arsenal 1-3 Man United

Arsenal 1-3 Man United

Like the great Emperors of the past, Sir Alex Ferguson will attempt to rule Rome in three weeks' time.

This was after Manchester United produced an awesome attacking display to destroy Arsenal.

A fortuitous opener from Park Ji-sung was followed by a thunderous 40-yard free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo to effectively book a Champions League final date with Chelsea or Barcelona on May 27 after only 11 minutes.

Ronaldo capped a fine performance and drew howls of glee from David Beckham, who had made the trip from Milan to witness a victory that will go alongside that staggering win over Juventus in 1999 that the former England skipper was a part of, by sliding home a third goal, his 25th of the season.

It was not quite a perfect night for United. How could it be when Darren Fletcher ended it in disbelief at the red card for a tackle on Cesc Fabregas which will rule him out of the Italian job.

However, it was not far off, leaving United to await events at Stamford Bridge tomorrow with so many neutrals, if not a Chelsea side hell-bent on revenge, hoping Barcelona set up what would be a dream decider.

No amount of meticulous planning can legislate for bad luck.

It is the unknown factor that, in an instant, can screw any amount of hopes and dreams into the tightest ball and throw them out of the highest window, never to be seen again.

Kieran Gibbs has not been a first-team regular very long. Fitness permitting, he has almost a decade and a half in front of him in the Arsenal side.

It is a fair bet, at the end of his career, the 18-year-old still regards the horror that unfolded eight minutes into what was such an eagerly-awaited contest as the worst moment he had to endure.

In his head, Gibbs was about to control Ronaldo's cutback, then decide whether to play a short pass out of defence or present Manuel Almunia with a routine clearance. Fate had other plans.

Instead, poor Gibbs lost his footing and hit the ground with a thump. Like lightning, Park seized on the loose ball, delicately lifting it over Almunia, whose arrival came just too late.

The United contingent went delirious. Fans, coaches, manager, players, Beckham alike all knew what it meant. They knew the prospect of Arsenal getting three to go through was so remote to be beyond comprehension.

But if United's opener came courtesy of good fortune, their next was the result of audacity, mixed with high ability.

To even think of going for goal from the spot when Robin van Persie had clattered into Ronaldo would be dismissed by most professionals as foolhardy.

Yet, in Porto three weeks ago, the world player of the year drove home a shot measured at exactly 39.1 yards. As Ronaldo stepped back and waited from even further out, ready to unleash his missile, Almunia knew what to expect.

Indeed, it could be argued that from such distances, not goalkeeper should be beaten.

But as Ronaldo let fly, with venom, and watched his shot dip and flicker, Almunia was powerless to prevent it ripping into the net.

If three was unlikely, four was an impossibility, turning the remaining 79 minutes into an extended wake, leaving Arsene Wenger on the bench wondering what had hit him, knowing his Champions League obsession will not end in Roman triumph.

In fairness, Arsenal tried to rally. It was just that by pushing forward, they left wide open gaps that United are too experienced to ignore.

Almunia's fingertips denied Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo's header from the corner whistled wide, then two more free-kicks from the latter were saved.

When the Portuguese player cut inside Emmanuel Eboue, on as a half-time replacement to put Gibbs out of his misery, the shot would have found the bottom corner had Almunia not denied him.

There was nothing the Spaniard could do when United attacked again, Ronaldo supplying the finish to Rooney's cross.

As his players cavorted in glee, Ferguson ordered them to tone down their celebrations out of respect to the hosts.

It was the only mercy the Red Devils showed all night, although for Fletcher there was a nasty sting in the tail.

The Scot got studs on the ball before sending Fabregas flying in the penalty area, earning him a red card which will rule him out of the final. Van Persie impressively converted the spot-kick - but it was little consolation for Arsenal.

Manchester United 2 - 0 Portsmouth

Chelsea's failure to beat Everton at Stamford Bridge leaves Liverpool as United's only realistic title rivals. And goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick mean Sir Alex Ferguson's men are now three points clear of their north-west rivals, with a game in hand.

It would be Scholes' ninth title medal. He deserves it for the sublime defence-splitting pass that set up Carrick seven minutes from time after United had failed to capitalise on Rooney's early opener.

Unusually for Scholes, until his telling late intervention he was fairly subdued as he joined Bill Foulkes, Sir Bobby Charlton and long-time team-mate Giggs in United's exclusive 600 club.

In fact, it was midfield partner Anderson and evergreen Giggs - who has now turned out an incredible 799 times for his only professional club - who caught the eye.

The pair were at the heart of most United attacking moves, combining in brilliant fashion for Rooney's early opener.

As Sir Alex Ferguson is well aware, quick goals are vital at this stage of the season, when nerves can create so many problems at both ends of the table.

So the United boss must have been delighted to see Anderson sent Giggs flying down the left flank with a brilliant reverse pass that found the Welshman just onside.

With 10 championship medals to his name, Giggs is not in the habit of panicking in such situations. And he calmly rolled his cross along the six-yard box, where Rooney gleefully tapped him.

Had Rooney been allowed to dart onto another precise Giggs pass at the end of a one-sided opening period, United would have had the victory they craved wrapped up with half the game remaining.

Instead, a very marginal offside decision went against them, as did a failure to convert a series of excellent chances, the best of which fell to Giggs.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the provider with a low cross from the right. Giggs deft chip sailed over David James but bounced agonisingly wide of the post.

Substitute John O'Shea, who replaced Gary Neville shortly after Rooney's opener, had a header cleared off the line by Nadir Belhadj, with Giggs spurning another opportunity after Rooney had sent him through, United's stand-in skipper firing straight at James.

The half-time introduction of Jermaine Pennant brought some pace to Portsmouth's forward line. The problem for Pompey was they struggled to get into an area where it might be exploited.

On the one occasion they did, Glen Johnson was the provider. But Edwin van der Sar read his idea and pushed the England defender's low cross away from Peter Crouch.

Van der Sar was one of nine changes to Ferguson's controversial FA Cup semi-final line-up.

Yet still the United manager could afford to leave Rio Ferdinand out altogether and have both Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez on the bench.

Despite Tevez's declaration that he will almost certainly have to seek pastures new in the summer, he remains a major crowd favourite at Old Trafford.

Certainly once O'Shea had limped off, leaving Ferguson with a single remaining substitution, it was the Argentina star most United fans wanted to see introduced.

By then, anxiety appeared to have set in. In addition to Johnson's cross, Van der Sar had to keep out a mis-hit volley from Crouch and a far more dangerous header from the same man that seemed destined for the bottom corner.

Rooney would have restored a sense of calm if he had finished instead of firing straight at James after shrugging off the attentions of Johnson to reach Van der Sar's long punt forward.

Yet Portsmouth's urgency left Ferguson to conclude neither Tevez nor Berbatov would be needed, bringing on Michael Carrick instead to help steady the ship.

The tactic worked a dream, although probably not in the way Ferguson imagined as the England man collected Scholes' superb pass and finished smartly.

It left Pompey dangling precariously six points above the drop zone, facing a crucial trip to Newcastle on Monday.

By then, United will be getting ready to face Arsenal in a Champions League semi-final, with Scholes hoping another of those cherished title medals is within touching distance.

Fergie: Great result, poor display

Fergie: Great result, poor display

Sir Alex Ferguson was relieved after Manchester United overcame Italian champions Inter Milan despite a lackluster display.

The Red Devils booked their place in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League with two goals four minutes into either half.

Nemanja Vidic headed the holders into the lead before Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win when he nodded in Wayne Rooney's delightful cross shortly after the break.

Inter had their chances too with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano both hitting the woodwork.

"It was the type of match where we had to play a different type of football," Ferguson told Sky Sports 2.

"Inter showed fantastic experience at times and showed that South American mentality and were very difficult to break down.

"The end result was very good. Good result, not a great performance."

The close nature of the tie did not surprise the Scot as his side were made to work for the win.

"When I first heard the draw I thought it was the hardest," he added.

"We played a team at its maximum potential in terms of experience and they played to their maximum. To get through that is a big plus because we will be better in the next round. We can be better."

United join Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in the quarter-finals as Premier League teams once again showed their superiority in Europe.

Mourinho: Inter had no luck

Mourinho: Inter had no luck

Jose Mourinho tried to put a positive spin on Inter Milan's exit at the hands of holders Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Two goals - both four minutes from the start of each half - put paid to Inter's chances of an unlikely upset at Old Trafford.

Althought Mourinho accepted United won on merit, he also thought Inter did not get the rub of the green.

"You have to say that United deserved to win," Mourinho said.

"They scored two goals over the course of the two games and we have to accept that, in football, the team that wins always deserves it.
Great match

"But I don't think we should be negative about my team's display. We played a great match against a great team. We just lacked that little bit of luck you need to win, that little thing that makes difference between winning and not winning.

"We went one down after couple of minutes but we had three chances to score in the first half, more than our opponents, and we hit the bar from three metres out.

"In the second half we lost another goal but we continued to play and we showed great character.

"Always when you talk about luck it seems as if you are trying to forget about the quality of the opponent.

"That's not true United are a quality team and they showed exactly why they are European champions.

"But not all defeats are the same. The players came here with no psychological barriers, they played a great game and I hope they have the same feeling."

After seeing this current United team close up during the two legged last-16 tie the Portuguese boss believes that they are good enough to win all five trophies this season.

"They have basically the same team as when I was at Chelsea," he highlighted.

"There is only Berbatov who is new. But they have been together for four or five years. They are not young anymore, the age average is 26-27 if you forget Giggs and Scholes.

"They are in the right moment to be at the top of their careers. They reached the maximum level.

"They have experience, quality, great physical condition and intensity in their game. That is what the Champions League is about. So yes, I think they can do it."

Despite the defeat the former Chelsea boss believes he has seen his side turn a corner in Europe after a number of below-par performances in the knockout stages over the last few seasons.

"If Inter had a fear problem in the Champions League before, today we showed that we don't have it anymore."

The 'Special One' admitted that his side lacked a certain element when it came to competing at the top level but remained upbeat by vowing to retain their Serie A crown.

"We are missing something, but I'll say this to the club. In any case, now we will surely win the Scudetto"

Manchester United top 25 best goal

Man utd best goals ever. An amazing collection of the best goals ever scored by legends such as beckham, cantona, rooney etc...
Enjoy the amazing collection of goals scored through the years. Premiership, FA cup, Champions league and other competitions are the ones the goals have been scored in.

The Legend Of Number 7

Video The Legend of Number 7, Manchester United Club Football.

story of no.7
i aware that there isnt evry n.7 in my vid but try to enjoy anyway
Saturday 15th November
Barclays Premier League
12:45 Bolton vs Liverpool
15:00 Arsenal vs Aston Villa
15:00 Blackburn vs Sunderland
15:00 Fulham vs Tottenham
15:00 Man Utd vs Stoke
15:00 Newcastle vs Wigan
15:00 West Ham vs Portsmouth
17:30 West Brom vs Chelsea
Sunday 16th November
Barclays Premier League
13:30 Everton vs Middlesbrough
16:00 Hull vs Man City
Saturday 22nd November
Barclays Premier League
15:00 Chelsea vs Newcastle
15:00 Liverpool vs Fulham
15:00 Man City vs Arsenal
15:00 Middlesbrough vs Bolton
15:00 Portsmouth vs Hull
15:00 Stoke vs West Brom
17:30 Aston Villa vs Man Utd
Sunday 23rd November
Barclays Premier League
13:30 Tottenham vs Blackburn
16:00 Sunderland vs West Ham
Monday 24th November
Barclays Premier League
20:00 Wigan vs Everton
Thursday 13th November
Italy Serie A
19:30 Juventus vs Genoa
Saturday 15th November
Italy Serie A
19:30 Palermo vs Inter Milan
Sunday 16th November
Italy Serie A
14:00 AC Milan vs Chievo
14:00 Atalanta vs Napoli
14:00 Cagliari vs Fiorentina
14:00 Catania vs Torino
14:00 Sampdoria vs Lecce
14:00 Siena vs Bologna
14:00 Udinese vs Reggina
19:30 Roma vs Lazio
Sunday 23rd November
Italy Serie A
14:00 Bologna vs Palermo
14:00 Chievo vs Siena
14:00 Lazio vs Genoa
14:00 Lecce vs Roma
14:00 Napoli vs Cagliari
14:00 Reggina vs Atalanta
14:00 Sampdoria vs Catania 14:00 Torino vs AC Milan Sunday 30th November Italy Serie A 14:00 Atalanta vs Lazio 14:00 Cagliari vs Sampdoria Saturday 15th November
Spanish Primera Liga 19:00 Valladolid vs Real Madrid 21:00 Valencia vs Sporting Gijon
Sunday 16th November Spanish Primera Liga 16:00 Almeria vs Mallorca 16:00 Atletico Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna 16:00 Espanyol vs Numancia 16:00 Getafe vs Sevilla
16:00 Malaga vs Villarreal 16:00 Real Betis vs Racing Santander
18:00 Athletic Bilbao vs Osasuna
20:00 Recreativo Huelva vs Barcelona
Sunday 23rd November Spanish Primera Liga 16:00 Barcelona vs Getafe 16:00 Deportivo La Coruna vs Athletic Bilbao 16:00 Mallorca vs Malaga 16:00 Numancia vs Atletico Madrid 16:00 Osasuna vs Almeria 16:00 Racing Santander vs Espanyol 16:00 Real Madrid vs Recreativo Huelva 16:00 Sevilla vs Valencia
16:00 Sporting Gijon vs Real Betis
16:00 Villarreal vs Valladolid
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Man Alive! United Strike Five Past Helpless West Brom

Man Alive! United Strike Five Past Helpless West Brom

Bottom of the league West Bromwich Albion and top of the table Manchester United were poles apart in the Premier League prior to kick-off, and their contrasting fortunes in England's top division were reflecting on the field, as West Bromwich Albion were hit for five after ninety minutes.

Due to congestion problems on the motorways leading into the Midlands, the game - scheduled to kick off at 19:45 GMT - was postponed for 30 minutes. For visiting fans who had got to their seats early, it would have been well worth the wait.

Chances fell to both sides within the first ten minutes, as some good link up play between hard-working Ji 'three-lunged' Park, and Dimitar Berbatov led to an early effort, but the Bulgarian squirted a tame shot into the clutches of Scott Carson.

Marc-Antoine Fortune and Jay Simpson both then spurned two separate strikes that could have granted the Baggies an early lead. Fortune's shot though was deflected off-target, and Simpson - on loan from Arsenal - failed to get the ball past an adamant and rigid Gary Neville who was all too eager to block with his body.

United began their rout on the 22nd minute when a throw in led to a swift one-two between Michael Carrick and Berbatov, on the edge of the box, and the former Tottenham striker was not as limp with his strike this time round and beat Carson with a low drive.

It was clearly not going to be West Brom's day when key defender, Paul Robinson, was sent off the pitch for an early bath for a slide on Park. Then, one minute from the break, a clanger from Carson led to United's second.

The erratic England international failed to collect a cross, and stocky Argentine forward rushed in to give the Red Devils a two goal, and one man, cushion going into the dressing room for their half-time team talk.

It took just a quarter of an hour for United to extend their lead after the re-start. Veteran winger Ryan Giggs sent in a well-weighted box-bound cross that Nemanja Vidic sent into the net with the help of a nod. He was unmarked, and Tony Mowbray will be fuming with not only Rob Styles' decision to send off his captain and the flapping of Carson in the first half, but the sloppy defending on display in the second.

For the fourth, Giggs and Ronaldo skipped through a static Brom defence and the recently crowned World Player of the Year was in a central position to easily side-foot the ball home for his ninth league goal of the season.

The Portuguese international secured his tenth eight minutes later when Berbatov played the role of provider in a move that bore suspicions of offside, but the goal stood and Carson ended up on the wrong end of a booking for his heavy protests.

United were rampant, and moved three points clear of Liverpool, who travel to Wigan on Wednesday evening.

The clean sheet also meant that Edwin van der Sar had not conceded a Premier League goal for ten games, and has thus broken Petr Cech's (Chelsea) previous record of going 1,025 minutes unbeaten.

LINE UPS

West Bromwich Albion: Carson - Hoefkens; Pele; Donk; Robinson - Zuiverloon; Borja Valero; Koren; Brunt - Simpson; Fortune.

Manchester United: Van der Sar - Neville; Ferdinand; Vidic; O'Shea - Park; Carrick; Giggs; Ronaldo - Berbatov; Tevez.

PRANKSTER Man Utd stars have bought Cristiano Ronaldo a new little ron-about after he pranged his Ferrari

PRANKSTER Man Utd stars have bought Cristiano Ronaldo a new little ron-about after he pranged his Ferrari— a toy PEDAL CAR!

Grinning teammates had a whipround to replace his crashed £200,000 supercar with a red plastic kiddies’ model—a bargain at forty quid.

They even stuck a Ferrari badge on the front and gave it a CR7 reg plate.

Then they left it parked at the club’s training ground—right next to the £140,000 Bentley Continental GT Speed fleet-footed Ronaldo’s been running around in since the smash ten days ago.

And when the FIFA World Footballer of the Year came out of the gym, he went into fits of laughter over his new motor.

A club insider revealed: “He thought it was hilarious and said he was going to play on it as soon as he got home.

“It’s fair to say Ronny has had more than his fair share of stick since the accident. He couldn’t stop going on about his Ferrari and how beautiful it was. So a few of the United lads thought it would be funny to play a trick on him.

“So they all chipped in and bought a cheap plastic pedal car from the local toy shop.

“All the lads were laughing as he scooped it up and put it in the back of his car. It put a smile on his face—and he said he’ll give it to a local hospital or good cause.”

Now he plans to get his other bigger toy FIXED rather than have it written off after crashing it into a tunnel wall on the way to United’s Carrington training ground.
List

The £110,000-a-week winger waited 12 months to take delivery of the Ferrari 599 GTB and has told team-mates that having it mended will be a lot quicker than joining another waiting list for a new one to be built in Italy.

Our source added: “He just wants the car back on the road, and if money is no object then why not just get it fixed? I

“It’s better than waiting another year for one to be assembled.”

Manchester United to wear 1909 tribute kit next season

Manchester United will play in a historic strip next season - in honour of a player who helped them win their first major trophy.

Stars including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the shirts, which feature a large white V-shape sash down the front.

The kit is based upon a 100-year-old design supplied by one of the club's own players, Billy Meredith, before the 1909 FA Cup Final.

Meredith, nicknamed the "Welsh Wizard", is regarded as football's first superstar and guided United to victory in the Cup and the league title the next year.

A century on, United's kit makers Nike have been asked to rework Meredith's shirt - using high-tech materials rather than heavyweight cotton and with a white sash on a red shirt instead of 1909's red-on-white.

Meredith, a former Welsh coalminer, earned £4 a week at United - then three times a miner's wage but just £298 a week in today's money. As a sideline he ran a sports shop and became the club's kit supplier. For the Wembley final with Bristol City, both sides had to change from their usual red shirts.

Meredith quickly arranged for a set of white lace-up shirts with a red V to be made, and United went on to win 1-0.

Meredith, who also played for Man City, retired from football in 1924 to open a pub and died in 1958.

A Man Utd insider said: "The club felt bringing back this old kit was the perfect way for United to mark 100 years of success."

BILLY MEREDITH

Far left in pic)

Born: July 30, 1874, Chirk, near Wrexham
Nickname: The Welsh Wizard
Position: Winger
Wages: £4 a week
Career: 740 games, 176 goals (club); 48 games, 11 goals (Wales)
Trademark: Dazzlingly quick, he played with a toothpick in his mouth

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/fo ... ve-115875-21049688/

BOLTON WANDERERS VS MANCHESTER UNITED : PREVIEW

BOLTON WANDERERS VS MANCHESTER UNITED : PREVIEW

Centre-back Gary Cahill could return from a three-match absence for thevisit of Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

The 23-year-old is almost fully recovered from a hip injury and thatwill be a welcome boost for manager Gary Megson, whose side have lostfive of the last six league matches.

Right-back Gretar Steinsson returns from suspension but captain KevinNolan is still banned, while midfielder Gavin McCann (broken toe) andstriker Johan Elmander (hamstring) are missing after sustaininginjuries at Arsenal last week.

Zenit St Petersburg defender Sebastien Puygrenier, signed on loan lastweek, is included in the squad after his international clearance camethrough.

Megson is wary of the threat posed by a Manchester United side who will arrive at the Reebok Stadium with a score to settle.

A 29-year run without a home win against United was ended last seasonwith a 1-0 victory courtesy of Nicolas Anelka's goal on November 242007.

It was also Megson's first victory since taking over the previous month, with the club struggling at the bottom of the table.

The Bolton boss knows the defeat was a source of great frustration toSir Alex Ferguson - and that, combined with the fact the Red Devilshave the chance to go top of the Barclays Premier League with a win,means Bolton are likely to face a fired-up United.

"It was a good result for us last year,'' said Megson.

"Every player wants to play against them but, more importantly, wants to be in a team that beats them.

"We are no different, and that is what we are looking to do again. Butour result against them last year will make it harder for us.

"Someone told me Sir Alex said his two disappointments last year were losing at our place and somewhere else.''

Maradona Claims Tevez Is Fed Up At Manchester United

Maradona Claims Tevez Is Fed Up At Manchester United

In a recent interview, Argentine legend and current national team boss Diego Maradona touched on a number of issues, including Carlos Tevez's supposed disenchantment with life at Old Trafford.

"Carlitos was very angry as he is not playing, but I advised him to take things easy," claimed 'El Diego', who recently publicly encouraged his young compatriot to relocate to Inter Milan.

Although Tevez has become more familiar to the substitutes bench at Man United since the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov, the recent injury to Wayne Rooney should see him play a pivotal role in the next few games.

Whether the ex Boca Juniors prodigy has a future at Old Trafford beyond this season is less clear, however, as the Red Devils have had plenty of time to tie up a permanent deal before now, and with the likes of Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell emerging United could decide on the cheaper options.

Tevez is coming to the end of his two-year loan spell with the club, and is owned by Iranian businessman Kiavash Joorabchian.

United have reportedly baulked at the £32 million price tag being demanded by Tevez's representatives for a permanent deal and seem set to allow him to move on next summer.

Inter, Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all been credited with an interest in his services, and Tevez would likely fetch a fee in excess of £20 millio

Fitness test for Tevez, Evans

Fitness test for Tevez, Evans

Carlos Tevez and Jonny Evans will both have to prove theirfitness on Saturday morning as Sir Alex Ferguson faces up to aninjury-enforced selection dilemm ahead of the visit to Bolton Wanderers.

Thepair picked up knocks in the midweek victory over Wigan and are not yetready to be passed fit, hence the need for a 10am test.

¡°Welimped over the line on Wednesday night, when we picked up quite a fewinjuries. At this time I couldn¡¯t tell you what my side is going tobe," the boss told reporters at his pre-match press conference.

¡°We¡¯vegot fitness tests on two players, possibly three, on Saturdaymorning. [Carlos] Tevez and [Jonny] Evans are major doubts. They willhave a fitness test at 10am. There are one or two others that aredoubtful."

If Evans were to miss the trip to the Reebok, itwould hit United in a position that is already suffering from numerousabsentees. Gary Neville may step in alongside Nemanja Vidic atcentre-back, while Reserves captain James Chester is another possibility.

¡°I'vebrought James Chester into the squad," added Sir Alex. "Although hehasn't played in the first team, he is still a capable young player. Ifit has to be, then it has to be. That¡¯s why we have a big squad.

¡°Butwith Wes, Rio and Patrice all out, it would be a major blow if Evansisn't available, particularly because of the form he has been in.¡±

Tigers tie up loan deal for Manucho

Hull have recruited Manchester United striker Manucho on loan for the rest of the season - but are a 'long way off' signing Steve Finnan.

Angolan frontman Manucho has made one Premier League appearance for United, who let him spend part of last season on loan at Panathinaikos.

Hull have not yet secured a work permit for the 25-year-old but hope they will be able to achieve that before Saturday's match against Arsenal.

Brown is optimistic Manucho will be a useful addition to his squad.

He said: "The lad is a proven goalscorer at certain levels, though not yet at Premier League level.

"He is 6ft 3in, 6ft 4in, great stature, he has a good eye for goal, and is certainly good aerially."

The Tigers also remain hopeful of completing the signing of former Liverpool right-back Finnan from Espanyol, however that is unlikely to be finalised within 24 hours.

Hull boss Phil Brown said the club were still hoping to do a deal with the Republic of Ireland international, but insisted the club would have to be completely satisfied about the full-back's fitness.

"It is a long way from being complete," said Brown. "He has been injured and I think he has only played four games for Espanyol, which is a concern of ours, hence the reason he has undergone a medical to the extent he has.

"We are pulling out all the stops. We are making sure we are doing this one properly."

Accident : Ronaldo wrecks Ferrari in smash

Smash ... Ronaldo's wrecked Ferrari sportscar
Manchester Evening News

CRISTIANO Ronaldo obliterated his Ferrari after losing control of his £200,000 supercar. The lucky Manchester Utd winger escaped without a scratch after the Italian sportscar was smashed to smithereens in a crash early today.

Witnesses said his car was a "mangled wreck" – and police say it is a write-off.
Ronaldo was travelling through a two-lane tunnel at Manchester Airport when he hit the wall – sending parts of the barrier flying across the dual carriageway.

Ronaldo was able to get out of the vehicle himself and was spoken to by police at the scene after the smash at 10.20am.
A witness said: "The front of Ronaldo's car was completely mangled. There was metal all over the road and debris - and we had to dodge our way through it.

“Ronaldo was just standing at the side of the road looking forlorn and bewildered.
“My daughter said to me, 'Oh my God - that's Cristiano Ronaldo!' It's amazing he was okay because his car looked so bad.”

A club spokesman said: “Cristiano was involved in an incident this morning. No other cars were involved.
“He’s fine and is training as normal with the team this morning.”

The crash happened in the tunnel which takes traffic under the airport runways between Wilmslow and Hale.
The red Ferrari was badly damaged in the collision with the front edge of the vehicle completely demolished.
No other vehicle was understood to have been involved.
One of the wheels had come off in the incident and was about 200 yards behind where the vehicle had come to rest.

Wreck ... cops photograph Ferrari

His team-mate, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, was reported to have been travelling behind Ronaldo at the time of the crash.
The Ferrari was later loaded on to a recovery truck, covered in a black sheet, as the road was reopened.

The winger came on as a substitute in the final 30 minutes of his team’s 1-0 Carling Cup defeat to Derby County last night.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said no-one was injured in the incident.

The spokesman added: “At about 10.20am police were called to the A538 Wilmslow Road near to Manchester Airport following reports of a road traffic collision.

“Officers attended and discovered a Ferrari had collided with a barrier. No one is believed to have been injured. Inquiries are continuing.”

Wayne Rooney: I'm desperate to win the FA Cup with Manchester United

Wayne Rooney: I'm desperate to win the FA Cup with Manchester United

FA Cup 3rd Round: Southampton v Man United, 4pm

After winning the Champions League, two Premier League titles and the League Cup, the Manchester United striker is desperate to complete his medal collection.

Rooney has bittersweet memories of the oldest football competition in the world. He watched boyhood heroes Everton humble United in the 1995 final only to suffer cup heart breakas a player in Cardiff and Wembley finals.

The 23-year-old went home with the man-of-the-match award but a loser's medal when United lost to Arsenal on penalties at the Millennium Stadium in 2005.

And in the first final to be played at the new Wembley, Didier Drogba's extra-time winner for Chelsea brought more pain in 2007.

Rooney said: "The FA Cup is the only trophy I haven't won yet and I am absolutely desperate to get my hands on it.

"I've lost two finals with United and that is something that frustrates me and that I want to put right.

"What made those defeats even harder to take was that we could have won both times, but Arsenal and Chelsea got lucky on the day.

"I know a lot of people tend to regard the Premier League and the Champions League as the only trophies that matter, but to me the FA Cup is magical.

"One of my best memories as a kid was travelling to Wembley to see Everton beat United 1-0 in 1995.

"I was nine-years-old and I can still remember every single minute of it and the wonderful feeling when the final whistle went. Ever since I have wanted to lift the Cup.

"It has always been a major trophy and it always will be."

Rooney added: "Even when we won the Premier League and Champions League last season, there was massive disappointment around the club when we lost to Portsmouth in the Cup.

"We all wanted to win it - and it is the same this season.

"I was man-of-the-match when we lost the final to Arsenal on penalties and the award meant absolutely nothing to me.

"I've still got the trophy I received, but every time I look at it the bad memories come flooding back.

"It's a little reminder of how much it hurts when you lose."

Rooney's appetite for honours has not been sated by United's domination at home and abroad.

Last month he scored the goal that saw United crowned club world champions in Japan.

But he explained: "It took me a long time to win my first trophy with United and the experience just makes you want even more.

"The feeling of success doesn't last very long at this club. You get a night to enjoy it. You have the celebration and that's it, the next morning the manager demands that you concentrate on the next challenge.

"I remember Ryan Giggs telling me to make the most of every single success because the moment flashes past you.

"But it's a great feeling.

"The more you experience it the more you want to feel it again."

And as United enter 2009 with an historic quadruple still a possibility, headed: "As far as I'm concerned, we have got the ability and quality to win absolutely everything.

"We've got a big, strong squad with the experience of winning the biggest prizes.

"If we can get some good luck along them way then it is definitely a possibility.

"We will need that good fortune.

"If we are still involved in everything in the final weeks of the season,it becomes very difficult when the big games start to pile up.

"But when you become a Manchester United player you try to win every trophy that you compete for."

Neville set for new Man Utd deal

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says veteran defender Gary Neville and midfielder Ji-sung Park are both set for new contracts at the club.

Neville, 33, is back in action after almost 18 months out with a broken ankle and various muscle ailments.

"I have not spoken to (chief executive) David Gill about it but I'm sure there will be another contract because Gary's been back to his best," said Ferguson.

"He is looking really good now and the experience he has is important to us."

Although the emergence of exciting Brazilian teenager Rafael means Neville can no longer be regarded as an automatic first-choice right-back, Ferguson is keen to keep the lifelong United fan at the club.

Neville has made more than 370 appearances for the club since making his debut back in 1995, while he also won 95 England caps.

Park, 27, missed out on a place in the squad for last season's Champions League final win, but has forced his way into Ferguson's side on a regular basis this season.

However, the South Korean recently claimed nobody at the club had approached him about his contract that expires in 18 months.

Ferguson mistakenly thought Park had recently agreed an extension but, like Neville, insists the former PSV Eindhoven player will get a new deal when the time is right.

"It is not on the radar screen but he will be offered a contract," said Ferguson. "Ji has been fantastic for us and is one of our most consistent players."

However, talks over Carlos Tevez's permanent deal are set to continue. Tevez joined United on a two-year loan that is due to expire in the summer.

It is thought the contract stipulates the sum United must pay the Argentina forward's advisers to buy him outright, but so far there has been no agreement although Tevez has consistently declared his desire to remain at Old Trafford.

However, reports of talks re-opening between the 24-year-old's agent Kia Joorabchian and Gill are news to Ferguson.

The Scot confirmed United have attempted to instigate negotiations aimed at bringing forward a self-imposed deadline of next May, but so far it seems the Red Devils have met with little success.

"I have no idea about Tevez," said Ferguson. "The contract is due to be the end of the season anyway but obviously we tried to bring it forward and we will keep trying to do that.

"But it is difficult with agents sometimes. All the managers signing players this January will experience that."