live it to the fullest

Friday, April 20, 2007

Middlesbrough match preview

The game between Manchester United and Middlesbrough in the Premiership on Saturday 21st April 2007 at 17:15 takes centre stage for FootyMad's preview analysis.
History of the Manchester United v Middlesbrough fixture Man Utd. prepare to entertain Middlesbrough at Old Trafford at tea-time on Saturday, looking to continue an impressive record. The Red Devils are clearly on top, having won 37 and lost only 13 of the 61 games.The most recent encounter between these two sides at Old Trafford was earlier this season, the Red Devils carving out a narrow 1-0 victory in a F.A. Cup match
Recent respective form guides Manchester United could not have a more impressive recent home form, having won each of the last six games. In this time, Red Devils have rattled up an impressive 19 goals, and conceded 3.In complete contrast to Man Utd., Middlesbrough are having a torrid time on their travels, managing a paltry 2 draws from the last six matches. Boro have conceded 9 goals in these games, and only hit 1 in reply.Man Utd. are currently sitting proudly at the top of the entire league, having collected 81 points from the 33 games played. Middlesbrough find themselves struggling down in 14th position in the league having picked up 39 points from their 34 matches.

Its good news for Man Utd. fans, because, with them being in such great nick at home, I just cannot see any further than an emphatic home win for the Red Devils.

11:26 AM

Manchester United ready to swap style for silverware

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Ryan Giggs has warned Manchester United fans that their side's swashbuckling style might have to be curtailed as the season enters its final weeks with a potential treble still up for grabs.United edged nearer to their first Premiership title since 2003 with a 2-0 win over struggling Sheffield United on Tuesday but it was a subdued performance when set against the 7-1 thrashing of Roma last week or even the 4-1 rout of Watford in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.And Giggs expects more of the same in the coming weeks."It is not about performances now, it is about winning games," said the winger, who has featured in all eight previous Premier League triumphs under Sir Alex Ferguson."We can't score four and five every time. I would take 1-0 against Middlesbrough (on Saturday) right now."The key for us is to keep clean sheets, because we will always create a few chances. So, as long as the lads at the back do their job, I am sure we will be okay."United's stretched defensive resources will be replenished when Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea return to the fold on Saturday, three days before the Champions League semi-final first leg against AC Milan.Ferguson meanwhile has paid tribute to the burgeoning role of Alan Smith following the striker's comeback from career-threatening ankle and leg fractures that meant he was making his first Premiership start in 14 months on Tuesday."Alan has had a torrid time," observed Ferguson. "But not only did he work like a beast to recover from the extensive damage, he persevered when it became apparent that despite being declared fit, he still had some way to go to rediscover his previous sharpness and form."It must have been disheartening to find that everything was taking time to fall into place. But he has stuck at it and I am so pleased for him."Smith's form, together with the likelihood Ferguson will attempt to bolster his striking options in the summer, is bound to raise question marks over the future of Louis Saha.Lauded for his enormous impact at the start of the season, Saha has started just three games since New Year's Day and is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.After repeatedly being forced to revise an anticipated return date for the former Fulham man, Ferguson appears to be growing exasperated by his failure to appear."Louis is still bothered by his hamstring," admitted the Scot. "I don't see any quick return there."Although he has no major winners' medals to show off, Smith was involved in a Champions League semi-final during his time at Leeds, which should be handy against Milan next week.Giggs has played in three. And he believes his experience, plus that of Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will prove vital in the weeks ahead."The experience of the manager and the players who have done it before is always a help, especially to the players who have already won a league," he said."We are down to the business end of the season now and facing a lot of high pressure games in a very short space of time."Getting up for all these matches is a skill itself. Which is more important, Middlesbrough or Milan? One is just as important as the other, so we have to remain focused until the end of the season."

12:25 PM

Arsenal captain Henry: Man Utd's Scholes my Player of Year

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry believes Manchester United's Paul Scholes deserves this year's PFA Player of the Year award.

Manchester United midfielder Scholes, 32, is on the six-man shortlist along with Henry's team-mate Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and last year's winner Steven Gerrard.
United winger Ronaldo, 22, is the bookmakers favourite and, like Fabregas, is also nominated for the PFA's young player award.
For Henry, however, it is the contribution former England international Scholes has made following his return to fitness with the Barclays Premiership leaders after a long lay off because of blurred vision which stands him out this season.
"Good luck to Cesc, but obviously I am not allowed to vote for a team-mate, my vote went to Paul Scholes," said the Arsenal captain.
"You saw how much Manchester United missed him last season, and you have seen what a difference he has made when he has come back this year."
Henry - currently sidelined himself through injury - has, though, been impressed by the form of Ronaldo.
He added: "If Cristiano Ronaldo does not win the main award, I think he should take the young player award.
"All he was missing was goals and assists - but he has added that this year so I would be very surprised if he does not win it."

12:25 PM

Ferguson targets two signings

Sir Alex Ferguson plans to make two additions to his Manchester United squad in the summer.
Though United are chasing a second Treble this season, Ferguson already has designs on the 2007/08 campaign.
Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves remains a long-term target for the Premiership leaders, while Southampton full-back Gareth Bale has been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Outlining his summer transfer plans, Ferguson admits he is likely to follow last year's policy when Michael Carrick and Tomasz Kuszczak were brought to the club.
"I would hope to add a couple of players in the summer who will improve us," Ferguson told The Scotsman.
"We are talking about that now. There won't be sweeping changes, maybe just one or two coming in who would have the talent to make a difference."
Meanwhile, Ferguson also revealed that the Glazers have not interfered with his management since the family bought United.
The Glazers took over The Red Devils in 2005 and Ferguson insists he has received nothing but support from the club's owners.
He added: "The Glazers have been fine since they took over. They haven't interfered with anything we do.
"I have had a couple of meetings with them, although David Gill obviously deals with them more regularly.
"Any time I have been with them, they have simply said to let them know if there is anything I need."

11:16 AM

Rooney strikes as Man United go six points clear

LONDON, April 17 - Wayne Rooney steered Manchester United to a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United that sent them six points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday.
Rooney's side were looking to keep the pressure on second-placed Chelsea, who visit West Ham United on Wednesday, and took a fourth-minute lead through midfielder Michael Carrick.
England striker Rooney made sure of the points five minutes into the second half at Old Trafford, lashing the ball home after a fine move.
Arsenal climbed to third with a 3-1 home victory over Manchester City in the night's other game.
Manchester United are on 81 points from 33 games while champions Chelsea have 75 from 32. Arsenal have 62 from 34 matches, one point ahead of Liverpool who host Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
It was a lacklustre performance from Manchester United, who made an ideal start when Carrick latched on to an angled pass from winger Cristiano Ronaldo and sent the ball over keeper Paddy Kenny. Rooney made it 2-0 after controlling a ball over the top from winger Ryan Giggs and adding a superb finish for his 20th goal of the season.
Manchester United, already hit hard by injuries in defence, lost left back Patrice Evra to a rash 21st-minute challenge from Colin Kazim-Richards.
It left the hosts with two midfielders at full-back, Kieran Richardson on the left and Darren Fletcher on the right.
Manager Alex Ferguson said Evra would have a scan on Wednesday.
"It was a pleasing result and our performance was...maybe the word is economical. We didn't kill ourselves, which was important," Ferguson told Sky Sports.
With five league matches to go, he said: "I look on most games now as cup finals, they're all so important. The form of the team is good...and they've got the right temperament."
ARSENAL GRIND
Arsenal ground out victory in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium.
Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky gave them a 12th-minute lead but American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley levelled for City against the run of play before the break.
Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who got Arsenal's winner on Saturday against Bolton Wanderers, restored the advantage with a 73rd-minute volley before Brazilian Julio Baptista netted after good work by Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt Fabregas's strike was the turning point.
"That changed it because straight away City changed their shape and opened up more," he said. "Then we had many chances to score the third."

11:16 AM

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Sheffield Utd boss Warnock: Man Utd best team on planet

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock rates Manchester United as the best team in the world.
The Blades face United tomorrow night and Warnock said: "It's a bit sadistic putting this game on television, but that's producers for you.
"It's a game nobody will give us a chance of getting anything out of. I think the bookies' odds will be just on how many goals we concede.
"A win would be a miracle and the result of the decade, not just the season, with the way they are playing at the moment.
"How do you cope against a team who are, without a shadow of a doubt, the best in the world right now?
"There is no other team that has a forward line like Manchester United, and I would have thought they all want to play against us.
"They will all be thinking it's a great opportunity to score a hat-trick, and quite rightly so looking at the fixture.
"But we've our own pride. The fans will be crossing the Pennines, and we want to put on a show, as we always do.
"And then it's not just pride we're playing for because we don't want to end up being humiliated."
Warnock fervently believes his side can get something out of the game, in particular following the boost that came with Saturday's 3-0 victory over relegation rivals West Ham.
The win lifted the Blades back out of the bottom three and two points clear of the relegation zone.
"We have to start better than we did at Liverpool and Chelsea because after five minutes those games were over," added Warnock.
"We don't want that against Manchester United. We all saw what happened against Roma when they were 3-0 up inside 20 minutes.
"We have to try and be as strong as we can under pressure against a world-class team.
"I have to go into it believing we can get something out of the game.
"We have to try and cause them problems. We can't just defend. We have to try and find a weakness, if any, and capitalise on it."

11:27 AM

Foster to be given taste of Cup final

Ben Foster will still get the chance to wear an FA Cup final suit after being invited by Sir Alex Ferguson to join the Manchester United party ahead of next month's clash with Chelsea.
It looked as if Foster's chances of going to the new Wembley were ended when Watford, the club where he has spent the season on loan, fell at the semi-final hurdle against United, the club that owns him, on Saturday.
The England international admitted his loyalties were torn as he watched from the stands at Villa Park before being told after United's 4-1 victory he was going to the final anyway - albeit as a spectator.
Foster has never kicked a football in United colours and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Watford, although he is due to return to Old Trafford in the summer.
"It was not very nice to watch to be fair," admitted Foster. "But I spoke to Tony Coton [the goalkeeping coach] after the game and he said I would be going with them to Wembley as part of the squad, even though I won't be involved. He wants me to taste what it would be like to be involved in a Cup final, which will be good for me.
"He wants me to be suited and booted so I will get a Cup final suit. I will try to get involved in some of the pictures at the end. It will be good to be with the squad and with the players in the dressing room before the game."
Foster's task next season is to compete with Edwin van der Sar for the No 1 jersey and he admits he is not returning to be a No 2 as it may affect his England career.
Foster, who made his international debut in February in a friendly against Spain, added: "If I don't play it will be a case of grinding another season out, sitting on the bench and seeing what happens the season after.
"At the end of the day, I am going to be at United and it's not a bad situation to be in. But I want to be out there playing to big crowds. I did not get into football to be a bench-warmer."

11:27 AM

Alan Hansen on the Premiership title

From here on in, every Chelsea and Manchester United game will be like a cup final.

Let the mind games begin...
With both teams in the FA Cup final, the Champions League semi-finals and going for the Premiership title, it is set to be a dramatic end to the season.
Finally, after five or 10 years of the league being wrapped up early, this one is going right down to the wire.
Sure, you would rather be United than Chelsea because you are three points ahead with a better goal difference.
The Old Trafford club are in pole position, but then Chelsea have got the more experienced players as far as winning the Premiership is concerned, having got the last two.
Experience is going to count for an awful lot over the course of the next month or so, certainly as far as the two managers - Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho - are concerned.
Much of what happens will depend on them, on what they do and do not say in the dressing room, how they motivate their team and how they stop the players from getting too tired.
I am sure the mind games are about to start - if they have not already - but this time more than ever it is so important they do not say the wrong thing.
There are some people in the dressing room who will embrace this situation and love it, others who will be scared. You must have the ability to work out the characters in your team and then get the best out of them. The managers have to get that right.
Chelsea have been unbelievable this season. They have not got the fluency of Arsenal and they cannot counter-attack like United, but they just do not go away. They keep plugging away until they succeed.
It is like that famous Julius Caesar quote: "I came, I saw, I conquered." Chelsea just sort of weigh you up and then beat you.
The run they have had has been remarkable, when you think they have been fighting on four different fronts, but they are probably getting by on adrenaline now because every game is so massively important.
Against Blackburn on Sunday, they had the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium as their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - and that got them through.
I have said before that Chelsea have changed the face of English football forever and they have provided everyone in the game with a different challenge, not least of all Ferguson.
If you look at the 1980s and 1990s, you could win the title with not-so-great teams, but now if you are to beat Chelsea now you must have a great team and be having a great season.
If United win the Premiership, they will have done just that. They are doing remarkably well but Chelsea do not back off and they will both be there at the death.
I do not think either of them will win all three trophies they still fighting for. The treble has been done before and it will happen again, but it is possibly easier to achieve when the league is wrapped up early, like it was for Man Utd in 1999.
If you are playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday and every game is vitally important, it makes it extremely difficult for all concerned.
But it is very exciting because we are going to have a great FA Cup final at the brand new Wembley and a really close title run-in as well.

11:27 AM

Man Utd stand between Mourinho and quadruple

MANCHESTER, England: Jose Mourinho was relishing the looming prospect of Chelsea taking on Manchester United three times in 15 days after his side beat Blackburn Rovers to reach the FA Cup final on Sunday.
Chelsea's 2-1 extra-time victory means they will face United in the first FA Cup final to be staged at the re-built Wembley stadium on May 19, 10 days after the sides meet at Stamford Bridge in a potential Premier League decider.
England's top two teams are also just one step away from clashing in the Champions League final on May 23. Chelsea must get past Liverpool while United face AC Milan.
"It would be great to play them three times between now and the end of the season," Mourinho told reporters.
"The reality is what Chelsea and Manchester United are doing this season is unbelievable.
"They didn't progress in the League Cup but for the three major trophies, Manchester United and Chelsea are in all three.
"I think this is an amazing season for both of us. I hope the (league) game at Stamford Bridge is also a final.
"I hope we keep in the running and play that game with a chance to be champions."
Mourinho confirmed that he spoke to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich after the game, even though the pair are reportedly not on speaking terms.
"I chatted with Roman Abramovich here," he said. "I told him congratulations and he said congratulations to me as well."
Chelsea did not have an easy ride to the final with Blackburn having several chances to win in normal time, particularly a glaring headed miss by Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Mourinho said: "Once they scored the goal and I saw the way the game was going at the end I was afraid.
"If they scored a goal in the 81st minute or 85th minute the game would have been over, and they had a chance to do it with Pedersen. But in extra time Chelsea controlled the game."
Mourinho praised Michael Ballack, scorer of the winner 19 minutes into extra time, after a difficult first season for the German playmaker.
"His life was not very easy but he is a guy with a lot of experience and a real leader," Mourinho said. "He has a top mentality and he could resist the pressure. "Now he has scored a goal that is with the history of the club."
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes agreed that his side needed to win the match in normal time.
"People said it was a forgone conclusion and we have proved that was not the case," he said. "Extra time came at the wrong time for us as we had some momentum and if the match had gone on for five or 10 minutes more we would have won."

Source: China Daily/agencies

11:27 AM

Rio raves about Fletcher

Rio Ferdinand feels Darren Fletcher is starting to secure the credit many at Manchester United believe he deserves.
The Scotland international is one of United's unsung heroes, having been asked to operate in a number of different roles, but his recent performances have caught the eye.
The way he dominated the midfield during The Red Devils' win over Roma in the UEFA Champions League drew as much praise as the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo, while he produced an assured display at right-back in Saturday's win over Watford.
Ferdinand's departure due to a groin injury paved the way for Fletcher to move to right-back and the England international feels the Scot has a key role to play in the final weeks of the season.
"The fringe players are very important," said Ferdinand.
"Look at Darren Fletcher. He was magnificent against Roma in central midfield and then he has been asked to play at right-back and looked as though he has been there all his life.
"He is a fantastic all-round footballer, who is now starting to get the credit his footballing talent deserves.
"The manager has said all along the players who weren't necessarily playing at the start of the season are the ones who have to come to the fore. They have done that."

11:27 AM

Monday, April 16, 2007

12M Owen to Man Utd

MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to make a sensational summer move for Michael Owen.

Sir Alex Ferguson has focused his search for a striker on Newcastle’s 27-year-old England star, who has a £12million release clause in his contract.
Owen has been out with a serious knee injury since last summer’s World Cup finals but scored in a friendly game against Gretna last week.
He has been pleading with Toon boss Glenn Roeder for a chance in the first-team and could make his comeback against Chelsea next week.
Ferguson will only launch a bid if he is fully satisfied Owen has recovered from the knee operation.
A well-placed United source told us: “It is no secret that Sir Alex wants another striker and he is bound to be attracted by someone of Owen’s pedigree at such a competitive price. Naturally we would have to be certain he has recovered from his injury and that is why his return will be closely monitored.
“Ideally we want to see him in action for several games between now and the end of the season.”
United’s interest is certain to appeal to Owen, even though he still feels a debt to Newcastle after they paid £16m to sign him from Real Madrid nearly two years ago.
Owen still has his main home in the north-west, near Chester, even though he has a property in the north-east.
He is itching to get back into Premiership action and has also earmarked England’s Euro Championship qualifier against Estonia in June for his international return.

9:48 AM

Rooney raring to go as United enter final straight

Wayne Rooney admits Manchester United's breathtaking form has reinvigorated him for the decisive final weeks of the season. United have enjoyed a week to remember with Tuesday's 7-1 Champions League thrashing of Roma followed by a 4-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Watford on Saturday. Those magnificent displays underlined exactly why Rooney is desperate to play in every game despite the hectic schedule faced by Sir Alex Ferguson's treble chasers. The England striker, who scored twice against Watford, is convinced he can take the strain of putting his body on the line in so many high-stakes games. "I have never experienced an end of season like this one before but I don't need a rest," Rooney said. "I love to play. I feel fit and strong and a match every three or four days is fine by me. That is what you come to a big club for. "We have not played as well as this during my time at United. Some of our attacking football has been brilliant and I am delighted to be a part of it." United's win against Watford set up a showdown against Chelsea in the first FA Cup final to be played at the rebuilt Wembley. Rooney last visited Wembley in its' old guise to see Everton play against United in the 1995 FA Cup final when he was just nine. Everton won that day but Rooney also has painful memories of the FA Cup final as well after playing in United's penalty shoot-out defeat against Arsenal in 2005. "People were writing us off not that long ago but we knew we had a lot of young players coming through and the situation would change," said Rooney. "Now we have made a bit of history by reaching the first FA Cup final at Wembley and hopefully we can go on and win it. "We lost to Arsenal in 2005, which was very hard to take given the way we dominated the game. We are determined to put that right this year." Rooney is on course for the best goal-scoring season in his young career after his double on Saturday took his tally to 19. His previous best was 21 last season and he added: "I always try to match or do better than my previous goal tally and to equal now with so many games left to go is very pleasing," he said. "Hopefully I can get more. "I am doing quite well at the minute and long may that continue."

9:48 AM

Chelsea set up FA Cup final against Man Utd

Chelsea beat Blackburn 2-1 with anextra-time winner from Michael Ballack in the FA Cup semifinal on Sunday to book an Wembley showdown with Manchester United.
Frank Lampard raced on to a Ballack pass and angled in a shot after just 16 minutes of a first half.
Jason Roberts leveled after break only to succumb to Ballack's goal on 109 minutes.
And the victory allowed Chelsea manager Mourinho head to the rebuilt Wembley aiming for his first FA Cup.
"It's a big, big final, between first and second in Premier League, between two semi-finalists in the Champions League," the Portuguese told Sky Sports.
There was a greater sense of urgency from both teams at the start of the second half and Chelsea should have put the game to bed within two minutes of the restart.
Ballack's incisive pass exposed the Blackburn offside trap, Drogba unselfishly squared the ball for Shevchenko, but the misfiring Ukrainian struck his shot against his standing leg and the chance was gone.
Rovers' equalizer came in the 64th minute when Roberts got the drop on Terry and dangled out a foot to divert Pedersen's free-kick past Petr Cech.
Blackburn were looking the more likely to settle the tie in normal time and only a magnificent save from Cech prevented Terry from heading Pedersen's long throw into his own net with only one minute to go.
The decisive goal came four minutes into the second period of extra time. Salomon Kalou's shot was blocked but the rebound fell to Ballack who drilled past an unsighted Friedel.
The blues, with the Carling Cup already in hand, kept alive their quadruple challenge as they are still in the hunt for the FACup, Premiership and Champions League.

9:48 AM

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The Ron and Roon show: opposites with real attraction

For Sir Alex Ferguson there are two shooting stars in the firmament. "Rooney today, for me, was out of this world," the Manchester United manager cooed after the striker had blown away Watford with an "aggressive, determined" performance which probably ranked as his best for quite some time.
Given that the day before Ferguson had talked of Cristiano Ronaldo's "astronomical" improvement then he certainly has reason to believe that "they are something special, those two".
It has been Ronaldo's season and United have rewarded their talisman, the player who is garnering plaudits from every quarter with a five-year, £31 million contract - a cool £120,000-a-week - making him the club's highest-earner. Not so long ago, perhaps, it was on Rooney, not Ronaldo, that those honours would have been expected to cascade. Or at least English football would have hoped so. Yesterday there was a sharp reminder of just what a player the younger man, at 21 as opposed to Ronaldo's 22, is.
Two young tiros. Three goals. The Ron and Roon Show. But it was Rooney who was the match-winner. Speed, spikiness, skill. There is probably no one more thrilling in world football just now than Ronaldo but there remains something edgy and raw about Rooney. He probably even opens up the morning post with intent.
He certainly opened up Watford. Ferguson decided to go for the jugular with a bristling but risky 4-2-4 formation and there is nothing that Rooney likes more than hunting down the opposition. His starting point was the left flank, and Watford's right-back, Adrian Mariappa, got the chasing of his life, but like Ronaldo the striker was given licence to switch with Alan Smith through the centre and Ryan Giggs just off him.
It was fluid and slick and Rooney used the flanks as launchpads for both first-half goals. For the first he ran on to to Michael Carrick's pass, cut inside and slammed the ball unerringly beyond Richard Lee, who simply looked startled. So were the crowd. It was a breath-taking strike.
Then, moments after Watford had drawn level, he won a header against Jordan Stewart simply because he wanted to more than the defender and this time he set off down the right flank. Soon Rooney was inside the penalty area and although his shot grazed off Lee, the ball was diverted to Ronaldo.
Goals for United's two top-scorers. Indeed it should not be forgotten in Ronaldo's phenomenal season that although he has 21 goals, Rooney is not so far behind on 18. At the same time it is testimony to his durability that no one in the United squad, apart from Rio Ferdinand, has made more than Rooney's 47 appearances. Maybe at times he should have been rested as he is not the kind of player who can perform effectively at anything less than full tilt.
These were his fourth and fifth goals in this FA Cup campaign and the first rivalled the virtuoso chip against Portsmouth for its execution. For his second goal he was again the hunter, forcing Stewart to squander possession. The ball ran to Smith, he centred and Rooney swept it home. It could have been a hat-trick but opportunities were spurned.
There was, almost inevitably, a card also with Rooney booked for barrelling straight through Tommy Smith. It was a ninth caution of the season but that aggression is part of what Giggs termed the "fire within" as he likened Rooney to Roy Keane and Paul Ince. And although it needs to be controlled it must not be dimmed.
Ronaldo has so eclipsed the England striker at United this season that Rooney now clearly defers to Ronaldo but, on a bright spring evening, it was to be his day in the sun. And how Rooney shone.

1:16 PM

Watford 1-4 Man Utd: Treble still on

Wayne Rooney muscled his way back onto centre stage as Manchester United confirmed their FA Cup final place with a 4-1 rout of Watford- but their appearance at the new Wembley Stadium on May 19 may come with a hefty price tag.
In a week when Cristiano Ronaldo has been hailed by Sir Alex Ferguson as a possible equal to Pele and Maradona - and signed a new #31million contract - Rooney proved the Portugal winger is not the only brilliant youngster at Old Trafford.
• Fergie 'so proud' of players
The 21-year-old lashed United into an early lead against Watford, then teed up Ronaldo to put them back in front following Hameur Bouazza's leveller.
With a booking for a feisty challenge on Tommy Smith as well, it was vintage Rooney and his tap-in put United on easy street long before Kieran Richardson finished off the scoring with a neat effort.
Yet amid the celebrations of an eighth final appearance under Ferguson, and the prospect of a mouth-watering clash with Chelsea, the concerns in the United camp were obvious following the loss of Rio Ferdinand to a groin injury.
With John O'Shea missing, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre sidelined with long-term problems and Gary Neville at least a week away from a return to action from his ankle problem, Ferguson's defensive options have been ravaged to the extent Darren Fletcher was forced into the right-back role, with rookie Youth Cup star Craig Cathcart the only alternative.
At such a crucial stage of their treble bid and with so many opponents to face of far superior quality than Championship-bound Watford, United are facing the biggest test of their season.
Sheffield United, fresh from their hammering of West Ham, meet United on Tuesday, although Ferguson will at least allow his players the luxury of some celebration before addressing the Blades' visit.
For, while never hitting the heights of their seven-goal rout of Roma, the Red Devils still managed a thrill or two, and in Rooney had a stand-out star who looks set to be a major influence on United's bid for honours over the coming weeks.
Having witnessed United's awesome strength first hand on Tuesday, the last thing Aidy Boothroyd would have wanted was for his side to concede as early as the sixth minute.
The spellbinding movement of Rooney, Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs had already caused Watford a few headaches before they were opened up in startlingly simple fashion.
Gabriel Heinze started the move with an inside pass to Michael Carrick. The former Tottenham man quickly fed Rooney, who stepped inside Adrian Mariappa and promptly smashed the ball into the roof of Richard Lee's net.
Fists raised in triumph, Ferguson emerged from his dug-out to celebrate, the Red Devils fans roared and Villa Park awaited a slaughter.
The intense pressure duly came, but Watford gamely clung on and received an unexpected reward when Bouazza levelled.
United's defence appeared to lose concentration during a lengthy stoppage while Edwin van der Sar had treatment for a bang on his nose.
Jay DeMerit helped back a long Gavin Mahon throw back into the box and Bouazza got a firm strike on a volley which bounced in off the crossbar after flicking off Heinze.
Had Watford remained on terms for any length of time, particularly given Ferdinand's early departure, they would have scented a shock.
Instead, their equaliser merely ignited their opponents - and Rooney in particular - to greater effort.
The England striker has had his critics this season, but his determination to shove United in front again was immense.
Charging to the touchline, Rooney first won possession with a robust aerial challenge on Jordan Stewart. He then totally outpaced the Watford full-back as he strode onto Smith's return pass before delaying his cross long enough for Ronaldo to steal between two defenders and tap home one of the easier goals of the 21 he has scored this term.
Yet again, United were dominant, some of their play mesmerising.
But their enthusiasm was cut short by Ferdinand's glum trudge to the touchline, accepting the futility of carrying on in such pain.
His exit triggered a defensive reshuffle, which saw Fletcher fill in at right-back, with Heinze alongside Wes Brown in the centre.
The uncertainty within United's defence was obvious immediately after the re-start as Bouazza volleyed a good chance wide after another Mahon through created mayhem.
Van der Sar was then required to palm a Bouazza cross-shot away from his own bar and the sight of Ferguson exchanging angry words with Giggs was a sure sign of tension in the United camp.
Thankfully for Ferguson, his attack remains in tact and after providing Rooney with a tap-in, Smith fed Richardson, who completed a win which looked much more comfortable than it was.
Fergie 'so proud' of players
Sir Alex Ferguson faces an anxious 24-hour wait to discover the extent of Rio Ferdinand's groin injury after Manchester United secured an FA Cup final spot with a 4-1 demolition of Watford at Villa Park.
Their dream of a repeat of 1999 - when Sir Alex Ferguson's men won the Premiership, the FA Cup and the Champions League - is still alive.
Ferguson claimed the victory was as impressive as the midweek hammering of Roma in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.
'It was a fantastic performance; it was as good as Tuesday in terms of the endurance of the team, the courage, accepting the disappointment with Ferdinand being injured when we had to change the team,' the manager said.
'It was absolutely magnificent, I was so proud.'
On Ferdinand, who had to be replaced by Darren Fletcher in the first half, Ferguson said: 'Hopefully it's not too serious. He'll have a scan tomorrow. It's a groin injury. Hopefully he won't be out for too long.
'We'll know tomorrow evening. He'll have a scan in the morning and we'll get the results in the afternoon.'
The attacking trio of Ronaldo, Rooney and Alan Smith were particularly impressive.
Ferguson said of Ronaldo: 'It was his 21st goal today and he could go on to score 25, the form he is in.
'Wayne Rooney had his best game of the season today, he was absolutely fantastic. And Alan Smith has brought a breath of fresh life to the team. He is doing fantastically for us.'

1:16 PM

Keano's shirt fires me up

MICHAEL CARRICK revealed Alex Ferguson handed him the ultimate challenge when he gave him Roy Keane’s shirt.
Manchester United boss Ferguson presented it in pre-season, saying: “This will be good for you.”
Old Trafford legend Keane had left the previous season and nobody ever thought his place could be filled.
Carrick will never claim to have done so.
But he believes he has been inspired by the No 16 shirt and hopes he has filled part of the huge gap left by the Irishman.
Carrick said: “The manager came up to me and said ‘I’m giving you the 16’.
“He was aware people were asking if I was a replacement and he told me that was the challenge — to go and prove myself to people.
“He said the challenge would be good for me. I knew people were talking about me coming in when a legend had gone and left a gap.
“I was confident that the longer it went, the better I would get and the more I would prove myself.”
His role in Tuesday’s 7-1 win against Roma certainly went a long way to proving he is worthy of his place at the Theatre of Dreams.
There were raised eyebrows when United laid down £14million for the former Spurs midfielder, a fee that could rise to £18.6m.
Ferguson said back then he would prove his worth and rarely is the old master wrong.
Carrick said: “When a club pays a lot of money for you, people wonder whether you’re worth it.
“But I have improved as a player since I came here.
“I’m only 25 and believe my best years are still to come.”
Carrick is looking forward to his first FA Cup semi-final this afternoon against Watford at Villa Park.
But not before reminiscing once more about Tuesday night when he scored twice as United booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals.
He said: “It was quite surreal to be part of it and score twice, it is something I will never forget.
“The game was all set up, yet our squad seemed to be getting thinner and thinner by the minute due to injuries and suspensions.
“But we produced a great performance on the night.”
There is never any resting on laurels at Old Trafford, however, as Carrick quickly found out.

He said: “The biggest difference between Tottenham and here is the expectation from within the squad to win every game.
“There are born winners within this squad. There are lads who have achieved an awful lot throughout their careers and still have the determination to win every single game.
“It is a completely different environment to what you might have been used to.
“Straight after the game against Roma the thought was to move straight on to the next, another test when we will still have to be at our best in the FA Cup semi-final against Watford.
“There is another great incentive ahead of us — to play in the first FA Cup final back at the new Wembley Stadium.”
Carrick had always dreamed of being in the position he is now, with a Treble looming large.
He never thought it could become a reality — which is why he is determined to grab the opportunity that lies before him.
He said: “I have been excited all season, from one game to the next. This move to United and playing in the Champions League and challenging for the title is something you dream of as a kid.
“I have always wanted to see if I could cut it at the top level.
“No disrespect to Tottenham but we were not challenging for titles like we are here.
“I was thinking just the other day that this chance might not come along again. We have got into a position that does not happen very often.
“I have a feeling of wanting to make the most of it. You really do not want to let it slip away.
“You do not want to be sat there watching a final thinking ‘That could have been us’.
“We are in a great position and want to capitalise on what we have done and take the chance because we have not achieved anything yet.”
United have been in form virtually all season with only tiny slumps along the way.
Yet the performance against Roma suggested they have saved one last gear for the final push.
Carrick added: “As the season has gone on we have got stronger and stronger.
“Every time we have had setbacks we have come back even better. We lost to Portsmouth at the weekend and knew we had to bounce back against Roma.
“When you do that it gives you all the confidence in the world that you can win the big games.”
The performance on Tuesday night in the Champions League must have taken the sting out the Hornets.
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd was watching as United dismantled Italy’s second best team.
It should be a foregone conclusion therefore as top takes on bottom at Villa Park.
United, however, will not be lured into that trap.
Carrick said: “I can understand why people might think it is a walkover because of our respective places in the Premiership.
“But we are well aware that cup competitions throw up upsets. It is a one-off game of football and we need to perform. They are going to be up for it.
“I have been talking about a chance that might not come along again but the Watford side will be thinking exactly the same.”
Carrick perhaps relishes the situation more now because of disappointments he has had in the past.
Relegation with West Ham, a sense of knocking on the door with no answer at Tottenham — and the blow of being dropped temporarily from the England squad.
He said: “Throughout my career I have had my ups and downs and I have learned a great deal from the down side. With West Ham I went through relegation and getting into the England squad and then being left out of it.
“Looking back, the experiences were good for me.
“Having had some bad times drives you on and you appreciate the good times more.
“It was like getting back into the England squad meant more than getting into it in the first place.”
Carrick is a man who might be living a dream right now.
He is also very much in touch with the reality of the situation and determined to seize the chances on offer over the next six weeks.
After watching him play and listening to him talk, you sense that even hardman Keano himself might have nodded in approval at the man who became the new No 16.

2:16 PM

Wembley looms for United, Chelsea

LONDON: The gleaming arch of the new Wembley stadium will beckon for Manchester United and Chelsea this weekend when they start huge favourites in their respective FA Cup semi-final ties.United, fresh from their 7-1 Champions League demolition of Roma, face Premier League basement club Watford at Villa Park today while Chelsea, who overturned Valencia on Tuesday, are in action a day later at Old Trafford against Blackburn Rovers.Watford, bidding to reach the showpiece final for the first time since 1984 when then chairman Elton John famously cried and Everton won 2-0, are virtually doomed to relegation.However, a resounding 4-1 victory over Portsmouth on Monday, two days after Pompey had de-railed United's title charge with a 2-1 defeat of the Reds, at least sends Watford into the tie with high spirits."I would have been devastated if we had put up the white flag," Watford's manager Aidy Boothroyd said after the club's fourth league win of the season."It was important to win before an even bigger game on Saturday." Watford and Manchester United have only met three times in the FA Cup, with Watford winning the last meeting 1-0 in 1982.Should they pull off an improbable repeat of that result they could well join a band of clubs to reach the Cup final and suffer relegation in the same season, the last of which was Middlesbrough in 1997.United, winners of the FA Cup 11 times, have loftier ambitions.With a Champions League semi-final to look forward to and a three-point lead over Chelsea in the title race, Alex Ferguson's side are closing in on the same treble they achieved in 1999.Chelsea, who won the last FA Cup final to be played at the old Wembley in 2000 against Aston Villa, are hovering like a dark cloud on United's horizon.Their tenacious chase of United in the Premier League looks certain to come to a head on May 9 when United play the penultimate match of the season at Stamford Bridge.By that stage the two sides could also be booked in for a Champions League showdown in Athens on May 23 and, should results go to form this weekend, the FA Cup final on May 19.The three-match series to decide whether United can land a treble or Chelsea, already the League Cup winners, can pull off an amazing quadruple seemed an unlikely scenario but is suddenly looming large.Since reaching the FA Cup semi-final Blackburn Rovers have suffered a huge dip in form as their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Cup via the league have all but vanished. (Reuters)

2:15 PM

Ronaldo confirms stay by signing new deal with United

SIR ALEX FERGUSON believes Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to commit himself to Manchester United for the next five years will enable him to bring his top transfer targets to Old Trafford this summer.
Ronaldo ended speculation about his future yesterday and dashed the hopes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, who had planned to prise him away from United, by signing a new £31.2million deal worth a staggering £120,000 a week.
And Fergie believes the decision by the world's finest player to pledge the best years of his career to United is the best possible incentive for Owen Hargreaves, Fernando Torres and Ronaldo's Portugal team-mate Nani to move there this summer.

Those three remain Fergie's top transfer targets of the coming summer as he looks to build on a resurgent season, inspired by the individual brilliance of 20-goal Ronaldo, which could yet see United stage a repeat of their historic Treble triumph of 1999. Securing Ronaldo's immediate future, having done the same with Wayne Rooney earlier this season, sends out the message that United, despite their rebuilding and relative lack of success in recent seasons, remain the biggest pull for the world's best players.
Ronaldo has now doubled his wages and become the highest-paid player at United along with Rooney and Rio Ferdinand.
"I'm delighted everything is sorted," said Ronaldo. "I wanted to stay. I think I'm at the right club. That's why I signed. Everything is okay. The big reason is I want to win trophies.
"Of course, the club, the chief executive, the boss, the staff, everything is good. And I'm very happy at United. The supporters as well helped me so much.
"Everyone here has helped me so much in my short career, but I've improved so much because I arrived here so young and have learned so much. But I still have things to learn."
Fergie insisted he had no doubts Ronaldo would sign a new deal, the United manager revealing his only concern over the future of the 22-year-old came last summer in the wake of his infamous World Cup spat with Rooney.
For the first time, the United boss admitted he did fear the ensuing vilification Ronaldo suffered in the fall-out from the World Cup episode may have forced the Portuguese star to seek a new challenge in Spain with Real Madrid or Barcelona.
"There was just that one issue last summer," said Fergie. "We had dinner with Cristiano in Portugal, David Gill (chief executive) and I. And we stressed to him that the same thing happened to David Beckham after France '98. But there's nothing wrong with booing. We get booed most places. But Cristiano has got the nerve to handle that and before long it was dying out anyway. He still gets it a bit but it's nothing. It's only because he's a great player that he gets booed.
"But I had no doubts he would sign this deal. I was always confident about Cristiano because he's happy here, his family are happy here, he's at the right club and that's been underlined by his progress and development.
"And I think most people recognise that we're one of the biggest clubs in the world, anyway. There's a preconceived notion of Real Madrid as the Galacticos, and Barcelona are a fantastic football club. But you can't say either of them are miles in front of us."
And in the week when United defender Patrice Evra claimed Ronaldo can go on to emulate Pele and Maradona to achieve global legendary status, Fergie resisted the temptation to ease up on the praise lavished on his star player.
"He's 22 now, so of course he can go beyond being the best player in the world at this moment in time," said Fergie. "He's got the same skill factor as Pele and Maradona."

1:55 PM

Man Utd vs Watford Preview

Can the Hornets stop the Red Devils in their march towards a treble? – Why not! Man-U were beaten 1-2 by Portsmouth that threw the battle for EPL crown wide open and the Pompey had gone on to lose 2-4 to Watford. Though that is not the best yardstick of measurement, it nevertheless created some doubt in the winning margin. It is quite obvious that the Hornets do not have what it takes to beat Man-U especially on neutral ground, they have the best weapons in their hands – Man-U's complacency and the very tight match schedules that the Red Devils have to meet with.At the bottom at the 20-team table, the Hornets will have a very steep hill to climb to beat the table topper. But for that 1¾ handicap, that winning goal margin is of little concern to the Red Devils. A solitary goal win is enough to see them to the Cup final at the new Wembley. It raises the question of whether or not Man-U will hit more than 2 to win the bet because there is no denying that the winning margin is at the hands of the table topper as that 7-1 thumping of AS Roma suggests.With no reprieve for any slip-ups (the Hornets will be more than happy to get to the penalty kicks stage), the Red Devils will want to wrap this up at the earliest possible time of the match and as always a 2-goal is the least that they will go for with the danger of conceding a late goal in the closing stages (i.r.o. the handicap offered).Man-U will be boosted by the return of Scholes and the fact that Ronaldo has committed himself to the club for another 5 years. It is hard to envisage the Hornets creating any kind of panic in the Man-U side because it will be Man-U's speed and astute passing of the ball that will peg the Hornets to their backyard at all times of the match. An early 2-goal will break down the Hornets' resistance and we can expect the Red Devils to go on a rampage when Sir Alex sends in the fringe players who are undoubtedly far superior to that in the Hornets side but are the ones that will want to impress the Man-U bench and their supporters. That will make the 3 goal winning margin a great possibility – bet on it!

1:51 PM