CL ~ Manchester United vs Chelsea - Apr 12

• zocoss

  20 Mar 11, 14:46

  CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2011

   

   

    

   

          VS         

    

   

  Manchester United vs Chelsea 

  Tuesday, 12 April 2011

  Time: 2:45 am  -  (Live) (Wed) 

  Mio Channel 110 / 102 in HD

  Champions League 2nd Leg Q-Final

    

   

   

   

  Manchester United :  

   

  Van der Sar, Brown, Rafael, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Evra, Nani, O'Shea, Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, Berbatov, Giggs, Valencia, Park, Hernandez, Rooney, Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes, Owen, Obertan.

   

    

  Doubtful :  Out Injured :    Lindegaard

  Suspended :   

• Rooney9

  10 Apr 11, 14:32

  

  Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Rafael da Silva should be fit to face Chelsea on Tuesday.

  The Manchester United defender was stretchered off with a knee injury in the Reds’ Champions League first-leg victory at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday, immediately casting doubt on his involvement in the return leg at Old Trafford.

  The young Brazilian did manage to limp unassisted onto the United team bus that evening, but the Reds still sent the 20-year-old for a precautionary scan the following day.

  At his press conference on Friday morning, Sir Alex revealed there had been “no bruising or ligament damage to his knee” and was confident the right-back would be fit to line up against Chelsea on Tuesday.

  There was a similar diagnosis after the Reds’ 2-0 win against Fulham on Saturday.

  “Rafael should be okay for Tuesday,” he revealed, while also acknowledging the return of a number of other players.

  “Wes Brown’s back, Antonio Valencia’s back… John O’Shea’s been out with a hamstring injury and he’s come through [the Fulham game] well. Players are coming back and that gives us a heck of a boost.”

  The boss reserved special mention for winger Antonio Valencia, who again shone in Saturday’s 2-0 win.

  “The man’s a marvellous footballer,” Sir Alex said. “I think we chose the right time to take him off today, to keep him fresh for Chelsea. He’ll have an important role on Tuesday.”

• Rooney9

  11 Apr 11, 23:16

  

  Rafael da Silva injured his knee during Manchester United's 1-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

  The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has a major injury doubt over the Brazilian full-back Rafael ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

  The 20-year-old suffered a knee injury in last week's 1-0 first-leg win at Stamford Bridge. He was carried off on a stretcher but scans have shown there was no ligament damage and, after Rafael missed Saturday's Premier League win over Fulham, Ferguson does expect him to be fit for Tuesday's decider.

  "Rafael did a bit of jogging this morning," Ferguson said. "Hopefully he will be able to be ready but I am not sure about it. There is a little doubt and it is not something I want to be risking in a major game. He really has to do something special tomorrow morning to change my mind about it."

  If Rafael is not fit, it appears his place will go to John O'Shea. Meanwhile, Ferguson must decide whether to recall Nani. The Portugal winger only made the bench last week but two assists against Fulham have put him in contention, with Javier Hernández most likely to make way.

  Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Fábio, Valencia, Gibson, Anderson, Scholes, Park, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov, Hernández, Owen.

• gunner77

  12 Apr 11, 21:33

  nothing less than a semi final apperance.

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  12 Apr 11, 21:38

  Man Utd

  plz win tis match

  
  ty

• zocoss

  12 Apr 11, 22:42

   

  Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford for their Champions League quarter-final second leg as underdogs as they look to overturn a one-goal deficit - but there are plenty of reasons why they can do it.

   

   

   

   

  Away goals

  United fans may have left Stamford Bridge last Wednesday celebrating the grabbing of a 'precious' away goal, but they would have been better off winning 2-1 in the first leg than 1-0.

  That result means that it is not possible for United to prevail on away goals in this tie. If Chelsea manage to score more than once, United will have to match them over the 90 minutes to win the tie.

  United have not won back-to-back games against Chelsea since the 2002-03 season, when Diego Forlan grabbed the winner in League Cup and Premier League clashes at Old Trafford.

   

  One eye on Wembley

  While United's players will all have Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against local rivals Manchester City on their minds, Chelsea have a trip to West Brom this weekend, a comparatively cosier fixture.

  For evidence of just how the derby at Wembley could affect United, look no further than the 3-0 drubbing City had handed to them last night at Anfield.

  That result also means that Chelsea remained third in the table, easing the domestic pressure on their players greatly.

   

  A 'fair' referee?

  Ferguson is currently in the middle of a five-match touchline ban for suggesting referee Martin Atkinson, the official in charge when Chelsea beat United 2-1 last month, was not ‘a fair referee’.

  If he believes such things as fair and unfair officials exist at the top level of the game, then he may not find Olegario Manuel Bartolo Benquerenca's record good reading.

  The Portuguese official has taken charge of two Champions League matches at Old Trafford, against CSKA Moscow and Rangers, and United have won neither. Conversely, Benquerenca has taken charge of two European games involving Chelsea, blowing the final whistle on two wins for the Blues.

  And, just to add an extra layer of faux-significance, the same referee took charge of England's win over Wales last month, in which he awarded a penalty scored by Frank Lampard. 

  AND he comes from Portugal - just like Jose Mourinho. Spooky, eh?

  Eurosport

• Rock^Star

  12 Apr 11, 22:47

  as i watched last week's match, i also had an ominous feel about it. 1-0. That means if chelsea scores 1 at OT, then it's extra time. If chelsea draw on aggregate 2-2, they go thru. United can only afford limited options of 0-0 draw or win outright.

  I just think this all means that tonight will be a classic european night. On form utd vs a determined chelsea.

• Rooney9

  13 Apr 11, 03:30

  Hernandez scored after good work by Giggs again on the right side.

  united lead 2-0 on aggregate before half time.

• I-like-flings(m)

  13 Apr 11, 03:32

  jia you 45min more only...

• Rooney9

  13 Apr 11, 03:34

  united made a few mistakes, luckily chelsea did not capitalise on it.

• I-like-flings(m)

  13 Apr 11, 04:35

  gg ... sleep lo

• gunner77

  13 Apr 11, 04:39

  game done and dusted

   

• handbook

  13 Apr 11, 04:57

  wat a magnificent match... drogba face instant sian and no mood to carry on after park score an instant 30 sec reply when drogba score a equaliser... credits to Man Utd... Man Of The Match for me is Park JS!!

• CKeer

  13 Apr 11, 08:47

  The difference between the 2 Champions League Semi-Final Legs and the BPL match played earlier was the referee (standard).

  Ramires is pretty stupid to get himself sent off in this important match.

  Evra and Vidic were ball watching when Drogba strikes and Giggs, he is 38 years old and makes Bebe and Obertan look like some kids playing football under void deck. His 2 assists are vital in this win and hopefully it's a sign that United have hit top form at the right time.

• CKeer

  13 Apr 11, 08:51

  And to add on, Chicharito's goal poaching instincts are un-teachable and un-learnable, it's either you have it or you don't. He barely cost 8m and is playing more and more like how the 50m Torres should be playing and that 50m guy looked like the 30m Sheva in his Chelsea days.

• Rock^Star

  13 Apr 11, 10:22

  Chicharito scored a beautiful offside headed goal lol, timed to perfection.

  Didn't look like the match was a classic. Yes utd played some smooth passing football but there were times when chelsea had clear chances at goal but let down by poor finishing. Also, I observed that 7 out of 10 times that VDS kicks the ball high up, it ends with opposing players.

  Got to do better if they wanna face barca in the final.

• zocoss

  13 Apr 11, 10:29

   

  Firing squad: Hernandez and Park send United through and leave Ancelotti's future in the balance

   

  

  Kneesy does it: Manchester United's dreams of a Treble are still very much alive

   

   

  Manchester United took another big step towards the Treble on Tuesday night as they reached the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth time in five years.

  Javier Hernandez and Park Ji-sung gave United a 3-1 aggregate win after substitute Didier Drogba equalised on the night for 10-man Chelsea, who had Ramires sent off in the second half.

  Defeat means Carlo Ancelotti's side are likely to finish the season empty-handed and leaves the Italian with his job on the line.

  Ancelotti later admitted he may have blundered by starting with £50million striker Fernando Torres, who was substituted at half-time after failing to score for the 11th game.

  Ferguson, who was taking charge of his 100th European game at Old Trafford, paid tribute to Ryan Giggs who set up both of United’s goals, saying: ‘He’s incredible — a unique person and player. His contribution is big because of the goal he set up in the first game, and the part he played in the goals tonight. To play at 37 requires tremendous sacrifice.’

  Drogba, a half-time replacement for Torres, cancelled out Hernandez’s goal after 76 minutes but United were ahead again through Park 21 seconds later.

   

  

  Easy Pea-sy: Javier Hernandez kept up his habit of scoring important goals at important times

   

   

  Ferguson added: ‘That was the break we got in the game, to be honest. It was a stupid goal for us to lose and we had to respond quickly. Park’s record in big games is fantastic.

  ‘We played very well against a very good team. Even with 10 men they had a go and credit to them, but I thought we were the better team on the night.’

  Questioned about winning the Treble as United prepare for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City, Ferguson said: ‘I keep being asked about it but you need luck to do that. Saturday is a massive game.

  ‘Momentum is a great thing and everybody is desperate to play in every game. They’re desperate to play against City on Saturday.’

   

  

  In safe hands? Carlo Ancelotti seems unlikely to hold on to his job for much longer

   

   

  United are now set for a likely semi-final meeting with Schalke.

  Ancelotti insisted he does not fear for his future following Chelsea’s latest European failure. He said: ‘I’m not concerned. I have to work. I have to try to do my best. It’s not my decision whether I stay or not here. I haven’t spoken with him (Roman Abramovich).’

  Asked if it was a mistake to start with Torres rather than Drogba, he added: ‘Maybe. Could be. But I thought a long time to take this decision. I preferred to start with Fernando for this kind of game, with these kind of tactics. Didier played very well in the second half.’

   

• zocoss

  13 Apr 11, 10:53

   

  Manchester United v Chelsea - in pictures

  Our photographer Tom Jenkins brings you all the action from Old Trafford with a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League at stake

   

   

  

  Chelsea have made the journey up the M6 for the biggest match of their season

   

  

  That's a rare sign, Ferguson joking with the crowd behind the dug-out just before kick-off. He must be in a confident mood

   

  

   

  Which is more than can be said for his opposite number. A penny for them Carlo?

   

  

   

  United start brightly and have the lions share of possession. There's some nifty footwork from Park in the eighth minute to take the ball past Alex. As John Terry closes him down, the United midfielder hits a back-heel across the box but there's no United players on hand to get on the end of it and the danger passes

   

   

  

   

  Rooney shows England team-mate Ashley Cole a clean pair of heels

   

   

  

   

  After last week's John Terry baiting, some of the Old Trafford faithful dig out another banner. It's the joke which keeps on giving

   

   

   

   

  Twenty five minutes in and United have the ball in the net, but it's ruled out for offside. Rooney whips in a fantastic cross towards the far post where Javier Hernandez is running in before planting a bullet-header past Petr Cech. The Mexican striker is unlucky as whilst his body was level with the last defender his head was about a foot offside

   

   

  

   

  Just two minutes before half-time and United attack again. Rooney plays a delightful crossfield ball to Ryan Giggs over on the right and the veteran's first touch back to John O'Shea is sublime. The defender then plays the ball back to the winger who sprints past an ineffectual Nicolas Anelka before sliding an inch perfect pass across the face of the goal towards the far post ...

   

   

  

   

  ... where Hernandez is rushing towards and he has an easy job knocking the ball home from two yards out. 1-0 to United on the night, 2-0 on aggregate, Chelsea have a lot to do

   

   

   

   

  Creator and scorer celebrate

   

   

   

   

  That joy is contrasted by the forlorn look on Torres's face as he waits to restart

   

   

  

   

  The flying Dutchman Edwin van der Sar punches clear

   

   

  

   

  Vidic manages to block Drogba

   

   

  

   

  In the 70th minute Ramires clatters into the back of Nani, it's a stupid unnecessary challenge especially as he's already on a yellow card ...

   

   

   

   

  ... and now he has another one and a red one to go with it. If things weren't hard enough already for Chelsea, now they're two goals down on aggregate and also a man down for the rest of the match. You can bet Ancelotti will have something to say to his midfielder when he's finished in his early bath

   

   

  

   

  Just a minute later, the perfect reposte by United when Park slots home after another delightful United move, to give the home side a two-goal cushion again. Giggs was the architect yet again with another inch-perfect pass. His ball from the right found Park completely unmarked on the left-hand side of the box, and the South Korean wasted no time in chesting the ball down before passing the ball past Cech and into the bottom right hand corner

   

   

   

   

  The final whistle is approaching fast and Ancelotti knows that his team are out of the cup, and maybe he'll be out of a job

   

   

  

   

  Peep peep peep. The final whistle goes and the Chelsea players know that now their 2010-11 silverware quest is over
• sand king

  13 Apr 11, 10:58

  Giggs still has 2-3 years left in him! Awesome stuff.

• funniegal

  13 Apr 11, 15:52

  evra positioning is getting bad? nowadays pple seems easy to cut him at that area. and vidic has to take over..

  hehe maybe becos he wan go inter n real? hehe

   

  Yea. yesterday match nice. esp park goal. woot

  Torres talk so much after joining chelsea..now ...hehhe

• zocoss

  13 Apr 11, 17:08

  Those who missed the match or wish to watch the goals... Here you are... 1st, 2nd and the 3rd goal...

   

  http://www.youtube.com/user/EuropeanGoalsHQ#p/u/5/oPNGUD_N5nE

  http://www.youtube.com/user/EuropeanGoalsHQ#p/u/3/ITdfem9om3Y

  http://www.youtube.com/user/EuropeanGoalsHQ#p/u/2/rbyx5XJuWOk

• CKeer

  13 Apr 11, 21:38

  Originally posted by funniegal:

  evra positioning is getting bad? nowadays pple seems easy to cut him at that area. and vidic has to take over..

  hehe maybe becos he wan go inter n real? hehe

   

  Yea. yesterday match nice. esp park goal. woot

  Torres talk so much after joining chelsea..now ...hehhe

  I think Evra has been ball watching, committing rash acts like ball handling and mis-timing tackles. I wonder how long Fergie can stand his behaviour which kind of points to Old Trafford exit.

  Players like Lampard, Malouda and Benayoun should stop counting the chickens before they hatch. The more they boast, the more cui Chelsea plays.

• Rooney9

  13 Apr 11, 23:21

  seems like besides Yoga and Pilates, besides abstaining from alcohol and nightlife, prolonged giggs career at united. I hope fergie make it compulsory to include yoga and pilates in their training programme , then everyone can play till in their 30s and still going strong.

• Rooney9

  13 Apr 11, 23:23

  actually chelsea have a few chances to score early in the match, but they didnt took advantage. if one of those chances had gone in, maybe the complexion of the tie is finely balanced, esp when VDS came out but didnt get the ball, but Anelka, thank goodness his touch was a tad too heavy and VDS able to make a sliding tackle and cleared the ball.