Man Utd Blog

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Ronaldo Doesn�t Miss a Beat, Helps Reds Advance

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Cristiano Ronaldo was upbeat with their victory over Middlesbrough despite lingering controversies on their win. The Reds win came from the penalty kick awarded to Ronaldo after being tripped by Middlesbrough�s Jonathan Wingate. The call was controversial in a sense that Middlesbrough believed that not much contact merited the penalty kick which evidently decided the marginal point of the match at the FA Cup semi-finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Despite the protests, it was pretty clear that contact was the reason for Ronaldo�s trip. Ronaldo took the protest personally, stressing that every time he is involved in controversial calls, it is because of political issues concerning his tenure at United.

Nevertheless, it is the team that has benefited from Ronaldo�s efforts and they are upbeat in their next match against Wattford. Admitting that the game will surely be one hell of a match, at the rate Ronaldo is going, United may find itself playing at Wembley next.

[tags]manchester united, reds, cristiano ronaldo, FA cup[/tags]

Edwin Extends Contract

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Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has signed a new one-year contract at Manchester United to keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2008.

Van der Sar, 36 moved to United from Fulham 18 months ago.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said in the news:

“Edwin’s fit, lean and hungry and he can play for another two years, easy. It all depends on what what he wants. Our approach with players in their 30s is to give them one-year contracts and we’ve given him another one-year deal.”

Van der Sar has impressed Ferguson since his move from Fulham and is the undisputed first-choice at the club, who have loaned Tim Howard out to Everton this season.

“Edwin’s probably got a new lease of life coming to United,” Ferguson added.

“He did well at Fulham having previously been with Juventus and Ajax, but coming to us has given him an extra spur that a lot of goalkeepers get at that age. He is good in the dressing room, too. He’s not a terribly demonstrative person – he’s not like Peter Schmeichel for instance – but what he says has an authority about it because he has been there and that experience and personality is helping.”

Saha Secures Future

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Striker Louis Saha has signed a contract extension with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010.

France international Saha, 28, joined the Premiership leaders from Fulham in January 2004 for �12.8m.

Saha, who has scored 12 goals this season, told United’s website:

“I am really enjoying my time here. I want to show my commitment to Manchester United and repay the faith that they have shown in me.”

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney also committing themselves to long-term contracts recently, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has secured the services of his current strikeforce for the forseeable future.

Ferguson said:

“I’m delighted we have extended Louis’ contract. We’re happy to see Louis here until at least 2010 and to add him to the players who have recently signed new contracts. We address the situation of players’ contracts now and then in order to strengthen the club and it’s great to add Louis to the list. His form has been fantastic since he has come back from injury and he has scored 26 goals in that time.”

Saha’s first two years at Old Trafford were blighted by injury, raising initial questions as to the wisdom of United’s outlay on him.

Since then, Saha’s pace, power and aerial threat has made him a vital member of United’s squad.

Saha added: “Hopefully we will have an exciting end to the season and add some silverware to the trophy room.”

Freddy Must Wait

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Teenager Freddy Adu must wait until June to find out if Manchester United will try and sign him, after completing his two-week trial at the club.

The USA midfielder impressed boss Sir Alex Ferguson, but under UK employment law he cannot make an offer until Adu reaches his 18th birthday next year.

“Freddy has done all right,” said Ferguson. “He is a talented boy. He’ll go back to the US and we’ll keep a check on him. When he is 18, we will have to assess what we can do next.”

Adu, who was given the nod by his MLS club DC United to attend the trial, has been training with United’s academy players at their Carrington training ground.

“What we did was to bring him here to give him an idea of what United was like so he could see the place and see how comfortable he was with it,” said Ferguson.

“He is a very confident and good, young boy but there is nothing we can do about him.”

The Ghanain-born Adu already enjoys a high profile in the US, where he became the youngest player to represent the national side.

The teenager, who is keen to test his mettle outside the US, has also attracted interest from Chelsea and Reading.

RVN Blames Sir Alex

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Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said he felt betrayed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to drop him for the Carling Cup final.

The 30-year-old left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in July after scoring 150 goals in five seasons.

Van Nistelrooy said he had enjoyed a good relationship with Ferguson until he was dropped for February’s 4-0 win over Wigan at the Millennium Stadium.

“To me this felt like a stab in the back,” said Van Nistelrooy.

Louis Saha played instead of Van Nistelrooy in the Carling Cup final, with the Dutchman remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Ferguson said in August that Van Nistelrooy’s reaction to being dropped was one of the main reasons for his departure to Spain – and the Dutchman backed this view:

“The first three-quarters of last season went well for me, but the final part is best forgotten. My situation with Sir Alex started to change and it became difficult for me and him to work together.”

Van Nistelrooy said he had settled in well since moving to Spain.

“I feel like I have been here for 20 years and moving here is the best thing that has happened in my life. Being at Madrid is fantastic. The people are wonderful and that is a massive thing for me. I’ve had a great first impression of Real Madrid. The club has a fantastic set-up with marvellous people. The atmosphere at training is perfect – it’s just wonderful.”