United fans will have to wait to see the team parading silverware through the streets of Manchester.Whatever the outcome of Wednesday's Champions League final in Moscow, celebrations for at least the league success are being planned by United and the local authorities.However, any such celebrations will take place in the near, rather than the immediate, future. A statement released by the Club on Friday evening read:"Manchester City Council, Trafford Council, GMP and Manchester United are working together to identify suitable opportunities to celebrate United's achievements this season. "Any event would take place during the summer."Given the necessary logistical demands to ensure security and safety, there will not be a parade immediately following the UEFA Champions League Final next week."
It's RonalgoCristiano Ronaldo has dropped a Champions League bombshell by revealing he will consider his United future after the final. The Red Devils, who face Chelsea in Moscow next Wednesday, believed Ronaldo was secure at Old Trafford for the long term. But, yesterday, the Portugal winger, 23, hinted at a summer move to Spain. Ronaldo said: “I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final. I am feeling calm here. I’m happy here but in the future I don’t know. I’ve said millions of times that I’d love to play in Spain but it’s one thing to dream and another thing for it to be a reality.” Ronaldo signed a new five-year contract last April and United boss Alex Ferguson will be determined to hang on to him. But Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon would break the bank to land the 41-goal ace. Neil Custis, The SunAhead of the final in Moscow next Wednesday, Nicolas Anelka has admitted that Ronaldo could wreck Chelsea's Champions League dream. "Ronaldo is brilliant," said the striker. "He shines when he has the whole team playing around him but he also shines when he is alone. He can often make the difference on his own, so it is hard."In The Sun, Michael Carrick pays tribute to team-mate Rio Ferdinand, hailing him "the best defender in the world."The Daily Mail claims Barcelona want to strike a £4million deal with United to buy back unsettled central defender Gerard Pique, 21. The tabloid also reckons United could also solve their search for a right-back with a cut-price move for transfer-listed Miguel, of cash-strapped Valencia.
Keane backs Fergie to beat L'pool recordsRoy Keane is convinced Sir Alex will clinch the double in Moscow, and won't rest until he's toppled Liverpool’s record haul of European Cups. The United legend reckons his former boss has achieved his big aim, to "knock Liverpool off their perch" at the top of the domestic game. But United's Premier League triumph took their title tally to 17, one behind Liverpool. And victory against Chelsea in Moscow next week will be their third time as champions of Europe, compared to the Scousers' five wins. Keane is backing Ferguson, 66, to drive his side on to even greater heights over the next few years. "I think the manager said it himself… his target was to knock Liverpool off their perch. He's done that in terms of winning Leagues but I think he'll be wanting to win European Cups as well. So the thing is to catch up with Liverpool next. They've won it five times."Simon Bird, Daily MirrorElsewhere, The Sun report Patrice Evra is still awaiting a new contract offer from United. Evra has played 97 times for the Reds since signing from Monaco in January 2006.The Daily Star report Portsmouth winger John Utaka is keen to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo next season. "I would like to think I can get somewhere close to him when it comes to scoring," the Nigerian said. "I need to be more like him. I watch Ronaldo a lot because he is quick, intelligent and technically very good."Meanwhile, Manchester City won’t see Jose Mourinho in charge at the City of Manchester Stadium next season. According to the Manchester Evening News, the former Chelsea boss has ruled out a move to the Blues.The Guardian report former United striker Alan Smith could be set for another move, this time from Newcastle United to North East rivals Middlesbrough.
We'll sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £100m, boast Real MadridCristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United future was cast into doubt again last night as Real Madrid insisted the Portuguese superstar could be ready to leave Old Trafford this summer. In a move guaranteed to infuriate Sir Alex Ferguson, sources at the Bernabeu were claiming Ronaldo's representatives are holding the door open for a move. "We are hearing there is still a possibility that Ronaldo will leave United," a spokesman at Real said. A Bernabeu source added: "The suggestion coming from Ronaldo's people is that he is not sure United will make good on the promises he has been made, and is starting to wonder of there is anything more he can do in England. "We are talking about the best player in the world, who has won consecutive Premier League titles and could have won the Champions League as well by next week. "If he is looking for the next challenge, then it can only come by leaving England and there could be no club better to go to after leaving Old Trafford than Real Madrid."Martin Lipton, Daily MirrorElsewhere, supposed Reds transfer target Jose Boswinga looks set to join Chelsea from FC Porto in a deal that will make him the most expensive right back in English football.
The Times claim United’s attention has now switched to Sevilla duo Luis Fabiano and Daniel Alves, although the article also mentions Dimitar Berbatov and Klass-Jan Huntelaar as possible additions to United's forward line.
I hope Cristiano stays at Manchester United
cheers tony:)
Thousands of reds are on the way to Moscow.
cheers tony
Finalists face pitch concernsChelsea and Manchester United have been warned that the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium is dangerous and not fit to stage the Champions League Final. It is the same ground where England played their Euro 2008 qualifier on an artificial pitch against Russia last year, but it has now been relaid with turf shipped in from Slovakia. The blocks of grass had been frozen for several days and they are now struggling to bed in to form an even surface. English head groundsman Matthew Frost said: “It's not like one of the better Premier League pitches, far from it. Unfortunately things didn't work out. The ball may not travel perfectly like on a pitch that has been in situ for some time. There might be a bit of a bobble.”Staff reporter, Daily Mail
Carlos Tevez insists United have the mental edge over Chelsea going into Wednesday's Champions League decider. "We are a better side than Chelsea and that is a psychological problem for them," says the Argentine striker.
Former Spartak Moscow defender Nemanja Vidic, a regular at the Luzhniki Stadium, has called on fans of his former side to support United on wednesday. "The Luzhniki was like home for me," said the Serb. "I hope Spartak fans support my side - in return I promise them beautiful football."
Rio Ferdinand, set to captain United in Moscow, says he is delighted to have won over the fans who booed him for his drawn out contract saga of three years ago. “When I signed my previous contract at United, in 2005, my aim was to change opinions towards me and I think I have done that,” he said.
Thanks for best night of my lifeOle Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed how a winning goal in a Champions League final can change your life. And if it does not change yours, it sure changes the lives of everyone who was there to witness it. Solskjaer will live forever in Manchester United legend for his injury-time strike against Bayner Munich in 1999. If he ever forgets about it for a minute, there are plenty of people around to remind him about the most famous toe-poke in history. Solskjaer said: “Most of the people I meet mention the night in Barcelona and give me the thumbs up, saying, ‘Thanks for giving me the best night of my life – but please don’t tell my wife!’. “I didn’t realise it at the time. I just played a game, won a game. You’re just so focused when you’re in the middle of it.”Neil Custis, The SunChelsea midfielder Joe Cole is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying United will be very worried about the Blues on Wednesday. Cole says the Reds are well aware of how strong the Chelsea squad is and insists the Londoners know how to win big matches.Meanwhile, The Mirror claim Darren Fletcher is fearful of Sir Alex’s team selection for Wednesday night, with the Scot quoted as saying: “You do dread it [being left out] because it means you’re not involved in the final of the biggest club competition in the world.”Like many United fans, The Metro can’t understand why Michael Carrick isn’t featuring in England manager Fabio Capello’s plans. The paper describes him as “one of the finest long passers in world football”, yet Carrick was not named in Capello’s latest England squad.
Could be wet wet in Moscow tonight.
2 main penalty takers for either team:-ronaldo and lampard.
Sir Alex Ferguson says he is determined to secure the Champions League after admitting Manchester United's continental record is a "weakness" for a club of their size.
The Red Devils take on Chelsea in Moscow on Wednesday night, looking to add the European Cup to the Premier League title they won earlier this month.
United have won the competition only twice before, a record dwarfed by Real Madrid's nine European Cups and Liverpool's five.
Ferguson said: "There is a weakness in the European trophies we've won and I hope we can go some way to making that better tomorrow night.
"We have had 10 days' good preparation, it has helped staff more than the players, it's a long season and we all feel the strains and stresses of it.
"It's given the players the opportunity to do some serious work on the training field and we're in our best shape for this game against Chelsea."
United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown insist the domestic meetings between the sides - one home win apiece - will have no bearing on the match on Wednesday.
Ferdinand said: "Form goes out the window, on the day it's who performs.
Brown added: "In the league we both won once, but this is a cup final. We know the players, it's a one-off match and we will definitely be prepared to beat them."
Ferguson, who felt there would be no problems with the relaid pitch, admitted selecting his side - particularly his substitutes - was proving no easy task.
He added: "I will tell the players tomorrow afternoon. It is not easy, but I have got a team in mind. I think it is the right team."
Ferguson believes he will have a stronger bench available than he did for last season's FA Cup final, when his side were beaten by Chelsea at Wembley.
"I think that is the main difference from the FA Cup final last year," he said. "I think with seven substitutes you hope at least three will have an impact.
"With three out of the seven, the ones you make have to have an impact. I have to give a lot of consideration to the players on the bench.
"I wish it was 11 substitutes, it would make my job easier."
Ferguson confirmed defender Nemanja Vidic was fit and would play in the match.
On his own feelings ahead of the match, Ferguson added: "It is not as though it is my first final, it is my fourth European final.
"The one person who should not be nervous is myself. I have got to use my experience and composure to hopefully help everyone else."
Ferguson also said he would place a "big bet" on the Champions League final not being Cristiano Ronaldo's last game for the club.
Ronaldo has been United's star performer this season and there are reports that Real Madrid remain interested in the Portuguese forward.
But Ferguson was adamant the player is going nowhere, and responded to a Spanish journalist's question by saying: "You get some idiots in this place don't you? If you want to have a bet on it, I'll put a big bet on with you."
MOSCOW (AFP) - Chelsea's hopes that uncertainty over the future of manager Avram Grant and key players could be put aside until after the Champions League final were dashed on the eve of the biggest match in the club's history.
As Grant was forced to side-step suggestions that Wednesday's clash with Manchester United could be his last in charge, Frank Lampard revealed that his own future at the club is still up in the air.
Speculation that Grant could return to the director of football role he occupied before Jose Mourinho left the club last September have been fuelled by the failure of the Chelsea hierarchy to give him a categorical assurance that he will not be replaced by a more high-profile figure before the start of next season.
The Israeli was adamant that his eve-of-final press conference should not be dominated by the issue of his future, but that did not stop him from reminding Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich that, by getting to the final, he had already taken Chelsea a step further than Mourinho had managed.
Asked if he might be tempted to walk away in the event of Chelsea beating Manchester United in the Luzhniki Stadium, Grant replied: "Walk away? Why?
"Look. You know we are here today, 11 days after the league finished. If it was a normal season for Chelsea, we would be on vacation now.
"We came here for what is maybe the most important game for teams in the world. I am not the most important man here. You have to respect everyone in Chelsea from the owner to the backroom staff and ask questions about the final."
Lampard reiterated that he was happy at Chelsea -- but the club's fans are only too aware that he has been saying that for nearly a year without any progress being made on a new contract for a player who turns 30 next month.
Asked if he would bet on himself being at Stamford Bridge next season, the England midfielder responded with a feint as deft as any he has produced on the pitch.
"I don't really bet too much, it would get me into trouble," he said. "I am very happy at Chelsea. They've been the best days of my career, I've said it time and time again.
"Hopefully it (his future) will be sorted out in the summer. Now obviously is not the time to have my mind on that."
Lampard, who has a Spanish partner, has been repeatedly linked with a move to Barcelona, who are expected to be active in the transfer market this summer, and newly-crowned Italian champions Inter Milan were reported on Wednesday to be preparing a bid.
Chelsea insisted there was no substance to the reports. "As far as Inter Milan goes, there has been no contact or offers and we are not interested in any contact or offers," said a spokesman, adding that: "Frank's representatives have said the same."
Inter's head coach Roberto Mancini, who has expressed interest in managing in the English Premier League, has been tipped as a possible replacement for Grant.
If that was to happen, Mourinho would be the favourite to take over at Inter and Chelsea could be left facing the loss of Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho, all of whom remain close to the former manager of the west London club.
Ashley Cole looks set to start for Chelsea against Manchester United in the Champions League final despite suffering an ankle injury in training on Tuesday evening.
Cole went down clutching his right ankle following a reckless challenge from team-mate Claude Makelele. The Frenchman lunged in on his team-mate, who appeared to turn his ankle as he fell.
The England left-back limped off aided by club doctor Bryan English and physios Dave Hancock and Thierry Laurent, who strapped the injury.
However, fears subsided when Cole returned to take part in a training match - albeit slightly gingerly - as Makelele offered profuse apologies.
The full-back left the training pitch for further treatment while his colleagues played an informal kickabout.
Cole has an excellent record against United's star man Cristiano Ronaldo, both for Chelsea and England, and his absence would be a major blow for Avram Grant, who has Wayne Bridge standing by.
The injury immediately set tongues wagging. Was it an ingenious piece of psychological warfare designed to unsettle United, or would the injury force Cole out of the game?
In reality, neither assessment is accurate. Cole's pain appeared genuine but it would be a huge surprise if he does not start this evening's game.
Follow all the build-up to Manchester United versus Chelsea throughout the day, plus LIVE minute-by-minute coverage from 7.45pm on eurosport.yahoo.co.uk!
United win European cup for 3rd time.
Is a pity Portsmouth beat them in the F.A.Cup at OldTrafford.Pompey totally outplayed .Only had 1 goal attempt and scored.
But for that United would have a treble.
So here goes the Honours roll-call.
Spurs the League cup.
Portsmouth the F.A.Cup.
Man.Utd. the Premiership and the European Cup.
So the top 4 clubs in the Premiership.
Man.Utd.2 Honours.
Chelsea 0 Honours.
Arsenal 0 Honours.
Liverpool 0 Honours
Hundreds of Chelsea fans have battled riot police in London after their team lost the Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out.