Kung-fu Fergie lining up final battle with Rooney

 

Amid all of the title celebrations on Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson dropped one last bombshell after confirming Wayne Rooney's desire to leave Manchester United.

The 71-year-old, who has one final game left in charge of United, has put the ball firmly in Rooney's court regarding his future at Old Trafford.

"I don't think Wayne was keen to play simply because he's asked for a transfer," Sir Alex said.

"I think he wants to think things through in his mind, I think that's a good idea.

"We're not going to let him go. I think he's maybe a bit frustrated that he's been taken off once or twice in the last few weeks." 

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Ferguson overshadows FA Cup final

 

The news of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement has dominated the headlines this week but in case you had forgotten, there's an FA Cup final being played at Wembley on Saturday.

Manchester City are strong favourites as they take on Wigan Athletic, who are also fighting for their Premier League survival.

Several reports also suggest Roberto Mancini is battling to save his job with Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini being tipped to replace the Italian at the Etihad Stadium this summer. 
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Master Ferguson set to welcome Moyes the apprentice

 

David Moyes is set to take on the mountainous task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United following the 71-year-old's decision to retire at the end of the season.

The Everton boss has no Premier League titles or Champions League medals on his CV and will need to embark on a steep learning curve in order to replicate Sir Alex's trophy-laden era at Old Trafford.

May the force be with you, David. 

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Fergie time finally up at Old Trafford

 

The rumour mill was in overdrive on Monday evening as several UK sources claimed Sir Alex Ferguson was considering stepping down as Manchester United manager by the end of the week.

On Wednesday the 71-year-old confirmed the rumours, announcing he will retire at the end of the season and end a glorious 26-year reign at Old Trafford. The end of an era. 

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Ajax, Juventus & Galatasaray join title celebrations

 

Manchester United were joined in wrapping up their league title early by Ajax, Juventus and Galatasaray on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's side beat Palermo to put the race for Serie A beyond Napoli, while the Dutch outfit secured their 32nd Eredivisie crown.

Galatasaray picked up their 19th Turkish title with victory over Sivasspor to become the most successful team in the country's history.

With PSG closing in on the Ligue 1 championship, the likes of Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini are left to look on enviously. 
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Take that Tevez! Sir Alex & Man United celebrate sweet revenge

 

Manchester United got their own back on rivals City by clinching their 20th league title on Monday night.

Roberto Mancini's men broke United hearts on the final day of last season, and Carlos Tevez infamously celebrated by holding up an "RIP Fergie" banner on their open-top bus tour through Manchester.

But United have roared back this season to leave Tevez et al in their wake, and Sir Alex can once again celebrate in style. 
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City take the spoils but title still in United's reach

 

Sergio Aguero's fine solo strike may well have tipped the Manchester derby in City's favour on Monday evening, but United still boast a 12-point gap over Roberto Mancini's side at the top of the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side need 10 more points from their remaining seven games in order to secure the Premier League title, while Manchester City look set to settle for second spot. 
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Football is back!

 

The international break. It was good while it lasted, but we're all jumping for joy it's over. Why? Because it means the real action is back and we're now at the business end of the season.

In the Premier  League, Manchester United look to continue their march to the Premier League title against Sunderland, while Chelsea take on Southampton in the first of four games in a week for Rafa Benitez's men.

Across the continent, Bayern Munich can wrap up the Bundesliga title with seven games to go should results go their way, while Tito Vilanova returns to Barcelona, Real Madrid face Zaragoza and Inter take on Juventus in stellar clash in Serie A.

Football is back alright, and with a BANG! 
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No time for England in Rio's busy schedule

 

Rio Ferdinand turned down Roy Hodgson's call-up to the England squad because it interferes with his "intricate pre-planned programme" of fitness, put in place to prolong the 34-year-old's Old Trafford career.

The Manchester United defender himself was snubbed by the England manager in his squad selection for Euro 2012 because of "footballing reasons". His displays so far this season, though, have prompted the former West Brom boss to have a change of heart.

One minute he was in the squad, and the next he was out. The debacle once again highlights a lack of communication from Roy Hodgson with his players. The only winners out of this embarassing turn of events are Manchester United, and perhaps Rio's travel agent. 

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Man City sink without trace as United sail clear in title race

Everton's fine 2-0 win over the Premier League champions at Goodison Park yesterday has left Roberto Mancini & Co. up the proverbial creek without a paddle, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side now 15 points clear of their rivals with just nine games to go after a nervy 1-0 win over Reading at Old Trafford.

There's no doubting City have missed the calming presence of talismanic captain Vincent Kompany at the back of late, while the Red Devils have been able to call on Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie to deliver the goods as Mario Balotelli rocketed off to Milan and Mancini's other forwards decided they didn't really fancy playing football this season.

And all the while there's poor David Platt - if Mancini isn't wearing comedy masks of his face to press conferences, then he's stuck bailing out the sinking ship. Poor David. 
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Premier League stars miss the boat as Messi, Muller et al sail on

Following the exits of Manchester United and Arsenal at the last-16 stage, the Champions League will be without an English club in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996.

Chelsea and Manchester City both failed to navigate past the group stage, while Sir Alex Ferguson's men were dumped out of the competition in controversial circumstances by Real Madrid, and Arsenal failed to overturn their first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday evening.

Will the Premier League be able to bounce back next season? 
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Rooney headed for Old Trafford trapdoor

 

The writing appears to be on the wall for Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

Reports emerged on Thursday suggesting the striker will be shown the Old Trafford trapdoor by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, after the Scot dropped the 27-year-old for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Rooney is reportedly reluctant to leave, though his fashion-conscious wife Coleen may well be pleased with links to Paris Saint-Germain.

United, meanwhile, have reportedly turned their attention to Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski. 
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Fergie fumes as Mourinho campaigns for Man United job

 

Manchester United exited the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid on Tuesday night, with a controversial Nani red card proving decisive in the 2-1 loss, and leaving Sir Alex Ferguson furious.

The United boss was "too distraught" to speak to the press after the game, according to his assistant manager Mike Phelan.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho - who is considered a potential successor to Sir Alex - was lavishing plenty of praise on the opposition.

"I know they [United] are giants, not just physically, but mentally," he said. "11 vs 11, I doubt that we could win the match." 

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Ronaldo back on familiar ground for Man Utd - Madrid decider

 

Manchester United's decisive Champions League clash with Real Madrid sees a familiar face return to Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the club where he spent six years, won his first Champions League trophy and numerous other honours.

The Portuguese superstar will have to make sure he remembers to go to the away team dressing room upon arrival back at his old stomping ground. 

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Manchester United wrap Van Persie in cotton wool

 

Hearts were in mouths on the Manchester United bench at Loftus Road on Saturday as Robin van Persie suffered a hip injury after tumbling down camera bunker.

The Dutchman suffered the fall in the build-up to Rafael's opener against QPR and was subsequently replaced after 41 minutes with Danny Welbeck.

With Manchester United extending their lead at the top of the table to 15 points following their victory over Harry Redknapp's side, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping his leading striker will not pick up any other bumps during his side's season run-in. 

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Rooney mocks class dunce Van Persie

 

Robin van Persie might be razor-sharp on the football pitch, but his Manchester United colleagues seem to have concluded pretty quickly that the Dutchman is not quite as intimidating off it.

When asked who is the easiest to wind up in the Old Trafford dressing room, resident joker Wayne Rooney had no hesitation in identifying his new strike partner.

"I'd have to say Robin. He's not the brightest!" Rooney said in a Google hangout with DHL.

"As much of a good footballer he is, he's definitely not the brightest off the pitch and it’s just easy to get to him."

Don't worry Robin, as long as you keep banging in the goals, the banter will be kept within the confines of the United squad. Just don't go venturing into a classroom anytime soon... 

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Van Persie reveals extent of his Manchester United addiction

 

Robin van Persie has piped up with his latest tribute to Manchester United and the benefits of his exit from Arsenal last summer.

The striker has already taken a swipe at his former club this season by suggesting he is among players who all know how to be champions, and now, the 29-year-old believes he is getting more fulfilment out of his football due to the higher stakes at Old Trafford.

"I love the intensity of playing for United," the Dutchman said.

"It is great to be involved in huge games when you don't know what is going to happen. You get more out of it when there is a thin line between ­winning and losing.

"I love the buzz, the drama, the excitement. I live for that. I can't imagine the day when I have to stop playing. I know I will miss the buzz so much." 

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Ferguson is paying me a bribe to draw Wenger

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Bernabeu love-in gets Madrid in Valentine's mood

 

On a night which produced one of the most action-packed games of the Champions League this season, romance was in the air ahead of Valentine's Day as Manchester United escaped from the Bernabeu with a draw.

Sir Alex Ferguson would feel his side could have secured a first-leg victory after seeing a number of chances spurned but United are were also indebted to the heroic performance of David de Gea, whose saves, albeit sometimes unorthodox, prevented Real Madrid from adding to Cristiano Ronaldo's superb first-half header.

After the match, Ferguson and Ronaldo embraced, leaving Mourinho to insist United are not in the driving seat to progress to the Champions League quarter final, while De Gea rightly deserved the plaudits after coming under fire several times this term. 

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Manchester City run out of puff in title charge

 

What looked like being a two-horse race is apparently down to just one after a limp Manchester City were beaten 3-1 by Southampton on Saturday evening.

Roberto Mancini's men were outclassed at St Mary's Stadium and, if they beat Everton on Sunday, rivals Manchester United could go 12 points clear in the race for the Premier League trophy.

A miraculous repeat of last year's title success looks further and further away for City as their weakened team runs out of puff... 
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