Januzaj , The next Giggs

Januzaj is a beautifully-balanced player who's only 18 years old and which is growing into his frame but he has an excellent balance excellent acceleration and he is technically very good. He has Proved in some moments with his performances that he's gonna be one of manchester united's Stars . He has established himself as a starting 11 player in david moyes squad by his latest performances, scoring 4 goals and assisting 3 since coming from the youth academy this year.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Next year potential line up

With new Manchester united boss David moyes taking the job officially om the first of july 2013 , And after deals made with psv for strootman , benfica for garay and barcelonna for thiago alcantara , we all excpect the trios announcement verry soon . so we expect this verry attacking line up for next year's fixtures De Gea wich has prooven that he is one of the best goalkeepers ever at the age of 22 even thought hes gonna only get better , rafael wich had his best season (last season)and hes gonna get better, Ferdinand wich defending have been top Class,the highly rated center back wich will form an invincible duo with rio ferdinand and alex buttner whom needs time and matches to become top class than carrick ,the player who have won player of the year next to both young attacking and very promising under 21 aces kevin strootman and thiago alcantara .forward we will find whom form have improved so well and passing have been top class in the confederation cup , and then forward we will find robin van persie ,the perfect striker next to the number 10 wayne rooney. So i think david moyes is gonna use the 4-4-2 Diamond formation .Well here it comes: _____________________________________________________De Gea__________________________________________________________ Rafael_____________________________Ferdinand__________________________Garay___________________________________Buttner _____________________________________________________Carrick_________________________________________________________ __________________Thiago _____________________________________________________________Strootman______________________ ______________________________________________________Kagawa_________________________________________________________ _______________________________Van Persie_______________________________Rooney_______________________________________

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Shinji on Target


Shinji Kagawa scored a stunning goal in Japan's Confederations Cup Group A game against Italy on Wednesday but ultimately left the pitch disappointed at the end of a pulsating seven-goal thriller.
Kagawa swivelled and volleyed home a bouncing ball with his left foot to send Japan 2-0 up on 33 minutes after Keisuki Honda's earlier penalty.
But Japan then conceded three goals in the space of 11 minutes - straddling the half-time interval - to find themselves 3-2 down. First, Daniele De Rossi powered a bullet header into the net before the break. Then an Atsuto Uchida own goal and a Mario Balotelli penalty handed the Azzuri the advantage.
The see-sawing match took another twist when Shinji Okazaki headed home a wide free-kick on 69 minutes to level the scores before Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco netted the winner with four minutes remaining.
The result means Kagawa's Japan are now out of the competition, with Italy and hosts Brazil progressing to the semi-finals from Group A.
Afterwards, Shinji told reporters he felt Japan should have won the game.
"We were leading the match 2-0," he said. "We could have made it 3-0 or 4-0.
"What was worse, though, was that we let them score at the beginning of the second half. It was hard to take that we conceded goals due to silly mistakes.
"However, we came back and were able to tie the score from the set-piece. Italy scored in the last few minutes but we also had more chances to score. That was the big difference: Italy didn't miss any chances."
Elsewhere in the group on Tuesday, Brazil beat a Mexico team containing Reds strikerJavier Hernandez 2-0 in Fortaleza. New Barcelona signing Neymar opened the scoring with a brilliant volley on nine minutes. He was involved for Brazil's second, too, when he skipped into the box, past two defenders and squared for former Manchester City forward Jo to tap home in injury-time.
Mexico and Japan meet each other in Belo Horizonte on Saturday at 20:00 BST in what's effectively a Group A third-place decider.

Reds ready for U20 World Cup


Five young Manchester United players are currently in Turkey, all hoping to achieve success for their respected nations in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Sam JohnstoneTom Thorpe andLarnell Cole will all wear the white of England in Group E, in which the Three Lions will come up against a Chile squad featuring Angelo Henriquez, while new-signing Guillermo Varelarepresents Uruguay in Group F.
Intriguingly, reigning champions Brazil failed to qualify and so their trophy is up for grabs. Here, we profile our five globe-trotting young Reds and assess their chances in the competition...
Guillermo Varela: Signed from Club Atlético Peñarol earlier this month, the speedy right-back could catch the eye of fans throughout the tournament. A regular starter for Uruguay, he should build on his nine caps against Group F opponents New Zealand, Croatia and Uzbekistan before hopefully progressing to tournament.
Sam Johnstone: A tall, athletic goalkeeper who is equally skilled with his feet and cuts an experienced figure within the England camp, having earned 13 caps at Under-20 level. The Reds youngster is almost certain to start ahead of fellow stoppers Connor Ripley and George Long too, and although the road from Group E looks rocky, he believes the Three Lions will be “a good match” for everyone.
Tom Thorpe: As captain of United’s Under-21s, the central defender led his team-mates to the Barclays Premier League title during a successful 2012/13 campaign and earned a nomination for the Reserve Player of the Year award. With an Under-17s European title and nine Under-20 caps under his belt, he should feature for Peter Taylor’s men in Turkey, where his leadership and composure could be key.
Larnell Cole: The diminutive Manchester-born youngster is skilful, quick and capable of making an impact on the big stage. An attacking midfielder or winger, Cole has played justthe latter stages. 
four matches for the Under-20s so far due to injury. But he finished the 2012/13 season on a high with United, scoring six goals in his last four matches.
Angelo Henriquez: The Santiago-born striker is renowned for lethal finishing and was once hailed by FourFourTwomagazine as one of the five best young players in the world following his performances at the 2011 South American Under-17 championship. He will battle Nicolas Castillo for a starting berth as Chile prepare to face England, Iraq and Egypt in a tough Group E.

Rafael's preview


Rafael started the vast majority of matches as United regained the title in 2012/13. Here, in an interview first published in the Champions issue of Inside United, he reflects on the success and looks forward to recharging his batteries at home in Brazil ahead of another big campaign...
Firstly, well done on winning the title again…
It was an amazing season but maybe we could have won against Real Madrid in the Champions League, you know. However, being a champion means that it is a very, very good season.
Incredible, your first response is to cite a rare negative from the season…
Exactly - that’s the mentality. We couldn’t win against Madrid and we were disappointed about that. But it’s okay, we won the league title and I think we were very focused this season to get the trophy back to Old Trafford.
Surely there's no doubt United were the best team, given the final table...
If you see the points difference at the top, you can definitely see we have been the best team. As I’ve said, we have been so focused. We came back in some games to recover points when we were losing, and it has been very good overall.
How do you view the season personally?
I think I have just been consistent this season. I think I am getting more mature, like I’ve always said, and it has been a very good season for me.
You played 20 out of 21 games at one point. Did that kind of run help you?
I am pretty sure I’ve never played that many in a row before! That consistency is so good for a player and I am very happy to have enjoyed that.
How did it feel to be among Sir Alex's tips for the Player of the Year award?
That’s very nice to hear coming from him. There are such good players at United, and the fact that he picked me as one of the four [van Persie, Carrick and De Gea were the others] is so good. I’m very happy.
Was it important Sir Alex got his message across after the disappointing end in 2012?
Exactly. After the game at Sunderland, when we were on the bus, he said to us: "See what happened today. Don't forget that." I'll make sure I'll always remember.
Which of your goals was your favourite, Liverpool or QPR?
My favourite one is QPR because they played so hard in closing everyone down and working together, so maybe it was harder to score a goal, but I managed to get one. I think it’s the best one I’ve ever scored.
Which was your best performance?
That’s also QPR, I think, I played very well. I did play some good games - I was very good against Everton at home.
Which team-mate gave the best individual performance?

De Gea's Reds pride


David De Gea was interviewed for Old Trafford's 12th Man - the official newsletter for all season-ticket holders.. 
What do you like best about playing in the English Premier League?Playing for United, one of the greatest clubs in the world, is always a source of pride to me. Every time I pull the shirt on, I'm pulling on the history of this club.
How do you like to relax away from football?I spend time at home, with my family. I watch a lot of films and like to play video games with my friends. Normal stuff, really, but I'm not in my house all the time. I often go shopping, go for a walk and go into the city centre. I put the subtitles on for English films so I can distinguish better what they're saying, which helps improve my English.
How often do you get together with your family and friends?Well, I relax with my family a lot. I go out with friends, go bowling, have a meal. I relax and have a good time.
If you weren't a footballer what would you be?All I can remember is wanting to be a footballer. It's all I've ever wanted to do and it's hard for me to even consider doing anything else. I guess if football wasn't an option, I would have concentrated a bit harder at school and put my mind to my studies. I would probably have gone to university and tried to attain a degree related to sport. I also enjoyed history at school, learning about important dates and events.
As a young boy, how did you first get involved with football?I played with my father from a very young age. The first thing I remember is playing football in my home our outside. It was all I did! I joined AtletI was around five or six years old and just a small boy.
Goalkeepers sometimes score goals. Although you've never scored a goal professionally, have you ever scored in a match as a goalkeeper?
Not as a keeper but, as a youngster, I played as an outfield player. I was a forward and scored lots of goals but eventually settled on being a goalkeeper. I think I've always liked to pass the ball and dribble - in the Spain under-age teams, I used to practise with the ball at my feet. And, at a club like United, it's important to be able to support the team in every way.ico Madrid's Academy when I was young.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Sir Alex just wants title won


Sir Alex Ferguson is not concerned with talk of record points margins ahead of the trip to Sunderland as Manchester United look to extend the lead at the top.
The Barclays Premier League leaders can go 18 points clear of reigning champions Manchester City with success at the Stadium of Light, given Roberto Mancini's men are not in action until later in the day when Newcastle visit the Etihad Stadium.
A victory would also ensure the Reds become the first team in Premier League history to win 25 of the first 30 games of a season.
However, Sir Alex is only concerned about wresting the title back from neighbours City with the Blues coming to Old Trafford in the next league fixture after this weekend's action.
"Winning the league is important," stressed the manager. "I don't care what we win it by. 
"It could be a dodgy goal off someone's backside in the last minute of the last game of the season. It doesn't bother me one bit. 
"Winning the league is the issue. At this moment in time, we have a chance."

Vidic wants the trophy back


Nemanja Vidic says he won't be celebrating any title success until he has the trophy in his hands after last year's disappointment.
The Reds let an eight-point lead slip in the table in 2011/2012, crucially allowing Manchester City to move top with a 1-0 win the derby ahead of winning their final two fixtures with Newcastle and QPR.
It means United are not getting carried away with a 15-point advantage this time around, even if many pundits are already referring to Sir Alex's side as champions-elect ahead of the trip to Sunderland.
"We didn't expect this situation, at this stage of the season, with nine games left," said Vidic. "No-one expected that but we are happy with it. Especially the way it went in this league, even last year, we were eight points clear and we dropped the points. 
"That is why there are so many points this year and people are still saying 'are you sure you are going to win the title'. You are never sure until you have the trophy in your hands. We are 15 points clear but we still have big games to play. I keep saying that. I know people are saying we have the title already but we have to play Chelsea, West Brom, Swansea etc. They are teams who can hurt you. They are tough games. Teams who are fighting relegation. We just have to keep winning.
"We have reacted well this season. We trained hard and we got into the situation we are in now. We are in charge of the title. We are going to Sunderland, we are not bothered whether they celebrated or not last year. We are going to play our game and try to get the three points, which is important for us. We want to be 15 points clear before we play Manchester City. It is a big game for them but it is a big game for us as well so we will try to do our best."
Last May's uncharacteristic slip-up in the run-in remains in the minds of the United players but it is still being used to channel positive thoughts ahead of the latest stepping stone to what could ultimately be a record-breaking 20th title triumph.
"You always think about that," Vidic admitted. "It is fresh. It is last season. If we hadn't experienced that, people would be saying it is already done. That kind of thing keeps you sharp. It is good for the team and the players. We don't want that to happen again. It was bad last year but this year it is working for us."

Reds prepare for double header


Sir Alex Ferguson admits United have put a lot of thought into keeping the squad fresh for the taxing Easter holiday fixtures at Sunderland and Chelsea.

The Reds will fly back from the North-East before making the journey to London after laying on private jets to ferry some of the international stars home from various exotic locations in midweek.
"I think you have to do exactly what you have to do in terms of getting the energy back into their bodies," revealed the boss to MUTV.
"We're flying back from the game and that helps a good bit. Rather than sitting on a coach for two or three hours, we should be back within an hour from Newcastle Airport. We've put a lot of thought into it to make sure we're ready for the game against Chelsea. 
"I always believe winning is a good habit to have, to try and keep the momentum going, so obviously we'll play a strong side at Sunderland and Monday will have to look after itself.
"There will be changes for Monday but, at the moment, we're going to play a strong side against Sunderland and see where it takes us."

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Manchester United in talks with nike over 75m Cristiano Ronaldo Return

Nike’s current €350million deal with the Red Devils expires in 2015 after 13-years, and that figure could double during renegotiations. 

Manchester United have met with officials from sports manufacturer Nike to plot Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club from Real Madrid. 

However, discussions also took place over bringing Ronaldo back to Old Trafford in a deal that would benefit both parties.

The Sun claims representatives from the American company flew in to London yesterday (Friday) to discuss the renewal of their shirt sponsorship agreement.
The Portuguese winger has a boot deal with Nike, but wears the Adidas-sponsored Real Madrid kit week-in, week-out in Spain.
And, the report claims Nike believe their global brand would be even stronger if Ronaldo played for a team sponsored by the famous swoosh.
A deal wouldn’t be cheap though, with Manchester United needing to spend in the region of €75million to bring the player back to the Premier League, plus a player like Nani to sweeten the deal, the paper claims.
And, with the paper reporting that Ronaldo would snub big-money from PSG to play under Sir Alex Ferguson again, Nike want to help ‘in any way they can’ to make such a move happen.

Young:we'll Bounce Back


Ashley Young believes it is to United's benefit that the next fixture is another big one - with Chelsea coming to Old Trafford for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie.
The England winger will hope to start after coming off the bench during the Champions League exit to Real Madrid and confidence remains high despite the defeat with 10 men.
"Of course we were disappointed in midweek," explained Young. "But the club has bounced back many times and that is what we will be looking to do on Sunday. It is a big game but it is a chance to get further in the FA Cup. That is exactly what we are looking to do. We are looking to bounce back and I think you will see that on Sunday.
"Obviously, when you have a disappointment like we had the other night you want to get the next game straight away. We know it is another massive game and everybody will be fired up for the game on Sunday. That would have been the case whether it was league or cup. Everybody wants to get back to winning ways. That is what we are looking forward to doing."
Young appreciates that it will be another special occasion in front of the Manchester public with the aim to make the semi-finals at Wembley.
"When you are playing one of the top four, the intensity is going to be higher than normal," he opined. "The intensity will be even greater with it being the FA Cup. We have to go into the game full of confidence with the way we have been playing.
"In midweek, the boys were fantastic. It was a disappointing result but we have to move on from that. I am sure if everyone is concentrating and fully focused, we can get ourselves into the next round."
Chelsea will provide a formidable barrier considering their recent record in the competition and the fact that they are the current holders. However, the Blues also lost in Europe in midweek - to Steaua Bucharest.
"The travelling to Romania and back could play in our favour but we are not concentrating on them and how many miles they have been travelling," insisted Young. "We concentrate on ourselves and getting back to winning ways. We want to get through this round and get ourselves to Wembley in the FA Cup final."

Sir Alex: we were in shock


Sir Alex Ferguson has analysed Manchester United's Champions League exit to Real Madrid in an exclusive interview on MUTV - and explained why his players were undone by two goals in quick succession.
Nani's dismissal obviously had a bearing on the course of the tie but questions were still asked about how the Reds' 10 men were unable to hold out for longer against a side that went full throttle after the introduction of Luka Modric as a substitute.
The manager has his own theory on what went wrong, apart from referee Cuneyt Cakir's controversial decision, but he finds it difficult to blame his players, who finished the game strongly despite the numerical disadvantage.
Sir Alex said on Countdown to Kick-Off: "Let's be honest, it was hard to take, when you think about all the work that was done in terms of preparation for both legs. The players' performance level was fantastic. The support was unbelievable. We didn't deserve that and it's a fact.
"You just couldn't believe it [the red card]. Quite astonishing. I think, in general, we know it was the wrong decision. I think, after looking at the game again a few times, the players were shocked.
"They couldn't recover from it until we lost the second goal and then they galvanised themselves and were fantastic in the last 15 minutes of the match. They were absolutely brilliant and we could've scored five goals. It was a fantastic performance by the players with 10 men but, in that period after the sending off, they played in shock.
"Knowing we'd had a bad decision against us again, we couldn't get going for 10 minutes. Their legs went to water. That cost us. It really did. If it was a justified sending off, in our eyes, it'd have been okay because it was an absolutely brilliant performance tactically. They never made a chance so I think we'd have got through the game."
Much has been made of Sir Alex's team selection but there is no disputing the fact that his tactics were working perfectly - in both legs.
"Our analysis of Real was perfect with exactly all the qualities all the players have. We made sure we were going to be a problem for them.
"Playing Ryan Giggs in off the right-hand side gave the left-back a big problem, whether he should push in or stick and protect the area because Rafael was hunting that space all the time. And Nani's performance in wide left against the boy [Alvaro] Arbeloa was terrific."

Sir Alex rallies Reds


Sir Alex Ferguson says it is his job to “galvanise the troops” and reward the performances of Manchester United’s players and fans ahead of this Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea.
The Reds were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in controversial circumstances during the week, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Real Madrid after Nani was sent off at Old Trafford. But instead of wallowing in disappointment, the Reds boss is determined to bounce back.
Speaking during his weekly press conference at Carrington, Sir Alex also quashed speculation surrounding Wayne Rooney’s future and confirmed the striker will feature against Chelsea, while revealing his plans for Ryan Giggs and injured defender Phil Jones.
“My job now is to galvanise the troops and the fans, who were fantastic on Tuesday,” the boss told reporters. “We owe them a good performance on Sunday.
"There are a lot of things you can do when you lose a game. One thing we don't do is give in. We get up off our backsides and make sure we're ready for Sunday. Absolutely.
"A big game's probably best and we're at home, which is also good. It's a big game, the FA Cup. We have a hard game against good opponents. Chelsea have a terrific record in the FA Cup, probably the best of any team in the last decade. We haven't won it for almost 10 years, so there are a lot of incentives for us." "Phil Jones won't be ready for Sunday but he'll be ready for the following week. He's done some good bits of training now but he won't be ready for Sunday. Everybody else came through Tuesday, which is good.
"Ryan Giggs won't play on Sunday. Why? Because he was the best player we had on Tuesday and we know how to look after him. We know how to prepare him for certain games and now he won't play on Sunday. He's done his bit for us. Next week is a different game. He'll get more rest and then we can prepare him for that one.
"When you have the squad that we have... goodness me, I left out Shinji Kagawa who scored a hat-trick, and nobody mentioned that. I thought I might get more criticism for that."

Boss: Lopez was the difference


Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez “saved” the Spanish side from a Champions League exit.
Lopez, only playing due to an injury to regular no.1 Iker Casillas, made a string of superb stops to deny Manchester United in Tuesday night’s clash at Old Trafford.
Speaking to the media for the first time since that disappointing evening, Sir Alex revealed he’d have preferred Casillas to have been fit.
“He wouldn’t have saved the shots that the boy Lopez did,” the manager said. “Going out to Danny Welbeck in the first half, going down at Robin van Persie’s feet, coming out and whacking Nemanja Vidic in the head... Casillas isn’t that type of goalkeeper and I think Lopez saved them.”
Assistant manager Mick Phelan spoke of a “distraught” dressing room on Tuesday night, but Sir Alex is confident the Reds will bounce back to winning ways when Chelsea visit Old Trafford in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
“We have a job to do on Sunday and I think we’ll do that okay. We’ve gone through this procedure many times. When you’re at a club for a long time there are always damp moments and dark days. In general we recover very well and we’ll do that again.”

Monday, March 04, 2013

Sir Alex hopes tactics are right


Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to get his tactics right when he pits his wits against Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho on Tuesday night.
The Manchester United manager produced the right game-plan at the Bernabeu as a 1-1 draw was secured and, with better luck in front of goal, the result could have been even more positive.
With Real clearly a threat on the break, the way in which the hosts approach the second leg is certain to prove crucial as the Spanish side have been boosted by back-to-back victories against Barcelona.
When asked if the Reds will need to produce a defensive performance akin to the one that defeated Barcelona in the 2008 Champions League semi-final, Sir Alex replied: "That probably will be the key to the game, to be honest. As we know, Real Madrid are one of the best counter-attacking teams in Europe. 
"That showed itself last Tuesday at the Nou Camp – they were absolutely stunning on the counter-attack so we have to find a way of coping with that while also having our own threat in an attacking sense.
"If you’re preparing for a game of football at our level you have to respect the strengths of the other team, which we do. Every team we play against, we do work in terms of their shape, their tactics and who their best players are. You’re only doing your job. That applies itself tomorrow. We obviously know the sense of our team anyway – we know our strengths and how to go about these games, and hopefully that helps us tomorrow."
Sir Alex has complete faith in his squad for implementing his ideas and putting them into practice as he works out how to get his message across.
"We must trust the players," he stressed. "That's what we always do and they must trust each other. That’s why we’ve had continued success for a long period. The continuity of management helps – myself and the coaching staff are very acquainted with all the things that are needed to relate to footballers whether it be on the physical side, the nutritional side or the tactical side. 
"We have the equipment to deal with all things. I’ve made up my mind for tomorrow what the theme of my motivation will be and my tactics talk. Certainly part of it will be about trusting themselves."
Cristiano Ronaldo is Madrid's biggest threat and he will be out to upset his former club when returning to Old Trafford for the first time since his record-breaking switch to the Bernabeu.
"My biggest concern is that he turns up!" joked Sir Alex. "What do you expect when you play against a team with Ronaldo in it? You expect problems during the night. We have to try and curtail that as best we can. 
"It won’t be easy because he does it every week, it’s not an accident about the lad. The experience young Rafael had in the first half in Madrid hopefully helps him because he’ll be getting the same task again. I don’t think it’s one we should fear. If we go in worrying about the damage Cristiano can do then we’ll forget some of the things that we can do ourselves."

Sunday, March 03, 2013

Beware the Real Brake


Sir Alex Ferguson says his players have been working hard to ensure Real Madrid’s counter-attacking “doesn’t kill us” on Tuesday night at Old Trafford.
The Reds host Jose Mourinho’s men in the Champions League last 16 second-leg encounter with the tie finely poised at 1-1.
United hold the slightest of advantages following Danny Welbeck’s away goal at the Bernabeu last month, but after travelling to Spain to see Real destroy Barcelona at the Nou Camp earlier this week, Sir Alex is determined to ensure his squad are fully prepared for everything Ronaldo and co throw at the Reds.
“I was shocked [by Madrid’s performance against Barcelona],” the United manager told reporters on Friday. “I thought they were magnificent I really did. They were absolutely brilliant and won well with Ronaldo, Di Maria and Ozil on the counter-attack.
“But we know that Madrid are one of the best counter-attacking teams in Europe. That is what we will be up against on Tuesday and that is why our preparations are centred around making sure their counter-attack doesn't kill us "The Reds put in a highly impressive and disciplined shift in the first leg in Madrid, but the performance did not surprise Sir Alex who believes his current squad is stronger than the 1999 Treble-winning group.
“We are looking forward to all the big games knowing we have to be at our best as we were in 1999. The big difference is we have a stronger squad now than we did back then,” added Sir Alex.
“The squad is also stronger than last year, if you think about it. We have brought Robin and Kagawa in, plus the younger ones, like Welbeck and Cleverley, have got stronger and improved over the course of a season. Rafael is having an unbelievable season. De Gea is improving. I am able to make changes without them having any really bad impact now.

No Place Like Old Trafford


Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United fans are capable of producing an atmosphere to rival the very best in world football.
The Reds host Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 second leg on Tuesday night, having returned from Spain last month with a very credible 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. Now, the United boss is expecting the two sides to meet again at United’s home against a backdrop of colour and noise.
“It was a good result for us in Madrid,” Sir Alex said. “We scored the away goal and that means we flew back to Manchester feeling positive.
“What it does is ensure that Old Trafford will be absolutely fantastic for the return leg. There’s a guaranteed great atmosphere that night, and I always feel that on special occasions there’s no better place to be.”
Certainly, Old Trafford was rocking the last time Spanish opposition, Barcelona, arrived in Manchester for a Champions League knockout tie. That was in April 2008, a night many fans and players still recall fondly.
Rio Ferdinand remembers United  were “under a lot of pressure” that night, but insists “the noise the crowd made was incredible and they really drove us on”. The same sort of support may be required again on Tuesday evening for a match many are calling the Reds' biggest fixture for several years.