Manchester United FC

[.DJ]

From Sky Sports Football News:

Injury relief for Ferdinand

Centre-back has not broken a bone in his foot


Ferdinand: Fears allayed
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• Manchester United

Players

• Rio Ferdinand

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• United forum

Scans have confirmed that Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand did not break his metatarsal at Middlesbrough.
The 29-year-old centre-back, who captained England against France at the end of March, was forced off after 70 minutes of the weekend's 2-2 draw at the Riverside.
He was seen leaving the ground with a protective cast on his left foot, but fears over his fitness have since been allayed by medical tests carried out by the club on Monday.
"Rio went for a scan on Monday and we can confirm that he has not suffered any break," said a statement on manutd.com.
United are yet to reveal any further information regarding the extent of his injury, but young Spanish defender Gerard Pique filled in for Ferdinand on Sunday and could be called upon again for the club's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Roma on Wednesday.
United are already without Ferdinand's defensive partner Nemanja Vidic because of a knee injury sustained in the first leg against the Italians and looked shaky at the back against Boro.
John O'Shea deputised for Vidic initially, but was soon switched with Wes Brown at right-back and the fact Pique has already acquitted himself well at the Stadio Olimpico this season could earn him the nod.

From BBC SPORT FOOTBALL:

Man Utd boosted by Ferdinand scan


Ferdinand limped off after 69 minutes at The Riverside

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand did not break his foot in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.
The England defender left The Riverside with his foot in a protective plastic case as a precaution.
"Rio went for a scan on Monday and we can confirm that he has not suffered any break," said a United statement.
But with fellow central defender Nemanja Vidic already out for two to three weeks it remains unclear how long Ferdinand will be absent from the team.
With Vidic sidelined and crucial Premier League games against Arsenal, Blackburn and Chelsea following Wednesday's Champions League return match against Roma, Ferguson can ill afford to be without his other first-choice central defender.
Having not conceded a goal in 461 minutes of league football before Sunday, United looked far more vulnerable with Wes Brown alongside Ferdinand at centre-back and John O'Shea at right-back.

606: DEBATE
We are really missing Vidic, and I think it did compromise Rio's and generally the back four's performance


UnitedRooney10

But Ferguson took heart from the display of Gerard Pique, who replaced Ferdinand on 69 minutes.
"The danger was to keep him (Ferdinand) on when he was limping and not at his full level," said Ferguson.
"Pique came on and did absolutely terrific, he was absolutely marvellous and I think that helped us actually.
The draw with Boro leaves United only three points ahead of Chelsea, who they play at Stamford Bridge on 26 April, and six points ahead of Arsenal, who they play on Sunday.
But Ferguson believes the result could yet turn out to be a title-clincher.
"That point could be important, absolutely," he said. "Our goal difference is good obviously, but we cannot take anything for granted.
"I said some weeks ago consistency will win us it and I think the most consistent team will do that - and I hope that it's us.
"We could have lost the game, there's no question. They had some chances - and at times our defending was a bit haphazard, I thought.
"But at other moments we could have won the game, because some of the quality of our football was terrific.
"The nature of the club is that we never give in, and that's a great quality to have at this time of year.
"It sends out a signal to everyone that we will never give in. We will stretch ourselves in every game as long as we can."

[.DJ]

From BBC SPORT Football:

Man Utd v Roma (agg 2-0)


CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 9 April Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website & BBC Radio 5 Live



Manchester United are without Nemanja Vidic (knee) and have a doubt over Rio Ferdinand for the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Roma.
Vidic is out for two to three weeks, while Ferdinand suffered a foot injury on Sunday, so Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre could come into contention.
Roma captain Francesco Totti is still out because of a thigh muscle injury.
Simone Perotta is available after a suspension and if Alberto Aquilani is not fit David Pizarro may replace him.

BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads
Manchester United and AS Roma have met five times before in European competition with United winning three times and Roma once. One match ended undecided. All five have taken place since the beginning of April last year.
The last encounter at Old Trafford, 2 October 2007, ended in a 1-0 win for the home side. The meeting on 10 April 2007, ended in an emphatic 7-1 victory for United, who therefore progressed to the semi-finals. This was AS Roma's heaviest ever European defeat and it was also the biggest victory margin recorded in the CL knock-out stages.
European history
Manchester United have won three European trophies - the 1967-68 Champions Cup, 1990-91 Cup Winners' Cup and 1998-99 Champions League.
The Red Devils have been knocked out of European competition by Italian sides six times; four times by AC Milan and twice by Juventus. Last season United they were eliminated by AC Milan in the CL semi-finals, losing 5-3 on aggregate.
In the 1960-61 season, AS Roma won the Fairs Cup, their only piece of European silverware to date. Roma have reached two other European finals; the 1983-84 Champions Cup final which they lost on penalties to Liverpool, and the 1990-91 Uefa Cup final, which they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Internazionale. Roma have never reached the semi-final stage of the Champions League.
Current European form
Manchester United have won their last 10 Champions League home matches. Victory against AS Roma will break the Champions League record which United currently share with Juventus. United are unbeaten in 13 Champions League home matches since losing 1-0 to AC Milan in February 2005.
United are unbeaten in nine Champions League matches home and away, since losing 3-0 at AC Milan in last May's semi-final second leg. Sir Alex Ferguson's side are one of two unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League. Barcelona is the other.
AS Roma are unbeaten in three Champions League away matches.
Player and disciplinary info
Mirko Vucinic, Marco Cassetti, Cicinho, Daniele De Rossi, Max Tonetto and Philippe Mexes (AS Roma) are all one yellow card away from suspension, as are Nani and Patrice Evra (Manchester United).
If selected:-
Edwin van der Sar will be keeping goal in his 100th European match (if his two Uefa Super Cup matches are included). He made his European debut for Ajax in a 3-0 win against Vitoria Guimaraes.
Paul Scholes will be making his 100th Champions League appearance, and become the second person to play a century of Champions League matches for United. Ryan Giggs achieved this milestone in the 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyon in February. Scholes made his CL debut in a 2-2 draw against Barcelona on 19 October 1994.
John O'Shea will be featuring in his 50th Champions League match. He made his debut as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Lille on 31 October 2001.
Cristiano Ronaldo is this season's top scorer in the Champions League with seven goals. He is the top scorer in the Premier League with 27, and with 37 goals in all competitions for United this season, Ronaldo is endangering Denis Law's club record for most goals in a season (46).
Daniele De Rossi and David Pizarro have played in all nine of AS Roma's Champions League matches this season. No United player has played all nine for their club.
Mirko Vucinic leads Roma goalscorers in this season's Champions League campaign with four goals.
Other miscellaneous facts
This match will be AS Roma's 50th in the Champions League. They have won 16, drawn 17 and lost 16.
Manchester United drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo scored in his sixth consecutive game for the club, and Wayne Rooney got the other. The Red Devils lead the Premier League, but their advantage over second placed Chelsea has shrunk to three points.
AS Roma beat Genoa 3-2 in the Serie A on Saturday, following goals from Taddei, Vucinic and De Rossi. Roma are still second in the Serie A, four points behind leaders Internazionale.
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.

[Jason Holm88]

Rio might be fit to face Roma, depending on his result in the fitness test tomorrow morning.

NEWS AND FEATURES: Rio boost for Reds - Manchester United Official Web Site

[den525player]

i prefer a 100% pique to play instead of a 70-80% ferdinand...

[DannyB]

So do I. WOuld be good to see him play but we shouldn't risk him.

[den525player]

Pique played well last time he played against roma in the group stages. he scored as well. i always prefer 100% fit players than a 70% fit player. when you are not mobile you can be caught out easier. and just once could ruin your whole season's work

[Rgmonster]

Great to hear about Rio, though like others of you said, would rather Pique if Ferdy isn't fully fit, then hopefully we can score early to effective end the tie.

[fitz15]

i think for the next few games with rio a doubt and vidic out we need the back line to be
-------------van der sar
brown---pique------ferdinand------evra
with hargreaves holding midfielder from a very deep position just to provide the extra cover we need at the moment

[RevolutionMikE5]

Yes^^^ tell that to fergie please

[Rgmonster]

I think we need to play Parky more too.... he's been working his socks off and creating chances galore for us, with the little time he's had on the pitch!

[.DJ]

From Sky Sports Football News:

Ferguson - Ronaldo has no fear

Manchester United boss not worried about Roma revenge


Ronaldo: Fearless
Related links

Teams

• Manchester United
• Roma

Players

• Cristiano Ronaldo

Also see

• Man Utd fixtures
• Man Utd stats
• United forum

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo will not be intimidated if Roma attempt to gain revenge against him at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
The United winger angered Roma midfielder David Pizarro in the 2-0 victory in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final by showboating during the game, with the Chilean saying that Ronaldo needs to show more respect and that his team-mates 'will have something to say about it in the return leg'.
However, if Roma did attempt to kick Ronaldo out of the game, Ferguson knows they will not be the first team to try it and has no doubt the player will be able to rise above it.
"Ronaldo deals with it in the proper way - by getting up and asking for the ball again," he said.
"That's the correct way to handle to whole thing - just go and play. He'll do that every time.
"The referee in the first leg was excellent. He did everything correctly so we had no problems and we hope it's a similar situation again."
Outstanding

Although Ferguson admits it would be nice to be able to give Ronaldo a rest at some point as the season reaches its climax, he believes it would be naIve to risk dropping his top goalscorer against Roma.
"Even though we're 2-0 up, I've got to play a team that can win and get through.
"That's always the intention, so it's difficult to leave Ronaldo out of games with the form he's in.
"He's been outstanding for us all season. There will be one or two changes, but changes we hope are sensible and ones that enable us to get the result we want."

[DannyB]

Heard that on Sky Sports News. Roma fear him I reckon

[Matieo10]

This thread is being overrun by huge news posts from sky sports

[fitz15]

Originally Posted by Matieo10

This thread is being overrun by huge news posts from sky sports

ya i agree, i find them very annoying, looks like the liverpool thread now

[DannyB]

*cough*---dj---*cough*

I'm sure most United fans already know about that

[.DJ]

Originally Posted by irishking15

ya i agree, i find them very annoying, looks like the liverpool thread now

lol :P so what if it does?

[Matieo10]

No wonder Holm'es don't come here no mo

[.DJ]

Originally Posted by DannyBRonaldo

*cough*---dj---*cough*

I'm sure most United fans already know about that

know what?

[.DJ]

Originally Posted by Matieo10

No wonder Holm'es don't come here no mo

lol he does. so its my fault?

[fitz15]

no i just dont like all these long posts of stuff we already know, wasnt taking a shoot at u. anyway tonights team:
-----------van der sar--------
brown----rio-----pique-----silvestre
-------------hargreaves-----------
------carrick----------anderson
park--------------------------giggs
-------------tevez, just guessing the formation but thats what i imagine.
neville and welbeck both make bench aswell along with rooney, ronaldo

[.DJ]

u got a good imagination. saw the same formation on uefa.com

[DannyB]

Originally Posted by ---dj---

know what?

about Roma's comments etc.. about Ronaldo

Originally Posted by irishking15

no i just dont like all these long posts of stuff we already know, wasnt taking a shoot at u. anyway tonights team:
-----------van der sar--------
brown----rio-----pique-----silvestre
-------------hargreaves-----------
------carrick----------anderson
park--------------------------giggs
-------------tevez, just guessing the formation but thats what i imagine.
neville and welbeck both make bench aswell along with rooney, ronaldo

Decent loking team. Not surprised to see Rio there. Hopefully Neville comes on.
Rested wayne and cristiano, sunday in mind no doubt

[fitz15]

well i saw the starting line up on sky sports and how else could they possibly line out

[DannyB]

Minutes silence before kick off in memory of an Uefa offical who died last week

Roma fans interupted it, and it was cut short

Kick Off!

[DannyB]

United Bench: Kuszczak
O'Shea
Neville
Scholes
Ronaldo
Rooney
Wellbeck

Ji sung Park hits shot wide