We hope that Rio is OK

Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Rio Ferdinand has not suffered a serious injury after the United defender was forced off in the second half at Middlesbrough.
With Nemanja Vidic already on the sidelines and crunch games coming thick and fast, it was worrying to see Ferdinand limping off with 20 minutes left at the Riverside Stadium.
The United manager told MUTV after the game: ”We got a few bumps and bruises, but we'll assess things on Monday.
“Hopefully Rio's injury is not serious. He was limping for quite a while and the danger with carrying on with him was we weren't going to get a full performance level from him.”
Gerard Pique replaced Ferdinand and five minutes later Wayne Rooney salvaged a 2-2 draw which leaves United three points clear of Chelsea at the top with five games left.
Ferguson added: “Pique came on and did brilliantly. He was marvellous. The lad's a terrific player and I think that actually helped us.”
have left the Riverside with a victory, Sir Alex remains upbeat over his side's chances.

"The nature of our football club is we never give in and that's a great quality to have at this time of year," he insisted.

Boss satisfied with point

We have left the Riverside with a victory, Sir Alex remains upbeat over his side's chances.

"The nature of our football club is we never give in and that's a great quality to have at this time of year. It could turn out to be an important point. But we can't take anything granted. I said some weeks ago that the most consistent team will win it and hopefully it turns out to be us."he insisted

"It could turn out to be an important point and our goal difference is very good as well. But we can't take anything granted.

"I said some weeks ago that the most consistent team will win it and hopefully it turns out to be us."

Vidic

During the recent match versus Roma, Nemanja Vidic landed awkwardly after an ariel challenge and immediately went to ground grabbing at his left knee. Vidic was replaced immediately by John O’Shea.

ManUtd.com is reporting that the Serbian international will only have to miss two or three weeks.

“There is no major damage to the left knee, and he will be out for two to three weeks.”, said a club spokesmen.

It was initially thought that Vidic would have to miss the remainder of the season, but a scan has revealed the damage was not as extensive as initially feared.

Roma 0 - Man U 2

Manchester United won 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to goals before and after the break by Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. The Red Devils take a vital 2-goal lead into the 2nd leg, to be played on Wednesday, 9th April 2008 at Old Trafford. The semi-final beckons, and with it another crack at history.

Cristiano Ronaldo scoring an away goal in a crucial game for Manchester United - showing a resolve that seemed missing in seasons gone past.

Wayne Rooney’s all-round performance, easily the man of the match for his work-rate, creativity and commitment. Ronaldo stole the show with his goal but the rest of the game was more about Rooney.

"I should have put Wayne Rooney through the middle quicker. We maybe had some lucky breaks in the second half, they could have scored a couple when they went through on the left hand side against us." Sir Alex Ferguson

"It was a very good team we were playing against," he said. "I think we had to defend really well at times. It was a good disciplined performance, we had good possession of the ball and that's not easy in that atmosphere.

Vidic’s injury - a knee strain as he landed awkwardly after jumping for a header - will be a cause of concern but hopefully it’s not a long-term injury like last season.

Roma’s wastefulness in front of goal - granted, by the end of the game both teams had their fair share of chances but there were periods of time before both goals that Roma had clear-cut chances to score, and they bottled it. For United to grab those crucial away goals in difficult games - at Lyon and now here at Rome - is a good sign of maturity from their players.

Munich

It is always hard to remember the tragedy that occurred 50 years ago. Richard Cavendish explains very well what happen that day. Flying back from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade, the team plane stopped in Germany to refuel. The first two attempts to take off from Munich airport were aborted; following a third attempt, the plane crashed.
Twenty-two of the people on board died instantly, while Duncan Edwards - one of the eight victims from the team - died 15 days later as a result of the injuries he sustained.

Roger Byrne (28), Eddie Colman (21), Mark Jones (24), David Pegg (22), Tommy Taylor (26), Geoff Bent (25), Liam Whelan (22) and Duncan Edwards (21) all died, along with club secretary Walter Crickmer, trainer Tom Curry and coach Bert Whalley.

Eight journalists died - Alf Clarke, Tom Jackson, Don Davies, George Fellows, Archie Ledbrook, Eric Thompson, Henry Rose, and Frank Swift who was a former Manchester City player. Plane captain Ken Rayment perished, as did Sir Matt's friend Willie Sanitof. Travel agent Bela Miklos and passenger Tom Cable also died.

We will never forget.

4-0

Ronaldo gave them an early lead as he controlled a ball with his back towards a goal, and back-heeled it in through his marker's legs and past a surprised Scott Carson.
He then set up Carlos Tevez with a spectacular cross, the Argentine heading in to make it 2-0. The third was also a piece of magic from the winger as he back-heeled a cross into Wayne Rooney's path, the striker calmly rounding Carson and slorring in.
Eventually, United’s play made a fourth inevitable. This side simply look threatening with every attack. Rooney beat Carson from 12 yards at the goalkeeper’s near post after fine link-up play from Giggs, Tevez and Ronaldo, inevitably.
Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney - players sure to feature in Rome and prime for a little rest - were not substituted, while Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra came off instead, the latter two in particular not being usual candidates for substitutions.
Sir Alex explained after the game that they had all picked up minor hamstring strains, caused most probably by the heaviness of the pitch due to the downpour in Manchester which was consistent throughout the game.
They, along with Ryan Giggs and first choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, will be doubts for the Red Devils' crucial quarterfinal first leg clash against Roma at Stadio Olimpico this week.
"I had to make the changes because of injuries," explained Sir Alex.
"Carrick, Rio and Patrice Evra all had injuries and then Giggs got injured towards the end. With the rain continually coming down, the pitch was starting to prove very heavy and that can be a problem with hamstrings. Hopefully they'll be all right (for Rome).
"Edwin van der Sar may be a doubt for Tuesday.
"He’s got a groin problem again, it’s happened two or three times in the last few weeks. We'll see how he is over the next few days. Not risking him today gives us a better chance."
United kick-off against Roma on Tuesday night at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET)

Gary Neville

United fans would be forgiven for getting increasingly frustrated with the Neville injury business. He hasn’t played for our first team in over a year now, but this recent rehabilitation period has proven to be his most successful since the initial injury. He has featured for the Reserves several times in quick succession, managing 90 minutes without any ill effects

"By next week I'd like to be involved with the first team, even if it's just travelling with the side and being part of it again," said the United skipper.

"Hopefully I've seen the back of it now. I just need to concentrate on training hard and playing well. It's been a frustrating period and a very long time - too long.

"No footballer likes to be sidelined but I'm not the first footballer to be out for 12 months. You just have to get on with it.

"Playing with the reserves is really exciting for me. Just being out on the pitch and on the training ground - I love doing that.

"It's great to be playing football again. Wednesday was my second game in a couple of weeks and I seem to have come through it OK.

Neville, however, will miss out on his eighth title medal if United triumph in the race for the crown unless he appears in all the remaining League fixtures.