Rooney Wants Real Madrid to Beat Barcelona

Wayne Rooney has backed Real Madrid to beat Barcelona in tonight's first-leg of their Champions League semi-final.

The Manchester United striker used the social networking site Twitter to state that he believes former team-mate Ronaldo will score one of the goals in the 2-1 for the Galacticos.

The Red Devils have one step in the final at Wembley after beating Schalke 2-1 in their semi-final at the Veltins-Arena.

Rooney commented: "Any predictions for tonights game I think 2 1 Madrid ronaldo and di Maria. Villa for barca." 

Schmeichel: Neuer may change his mind

Peter Schmeichel hopes Manuel Neuer will reassess his reported decision to choose Bayern Munich over Manchester United when he appears at Old Trafford next week

Neuer produced a superb performance despite Schalke's 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night and was given a warm handshake by Sir Alex Ferguson after the match.

However, Ferguson subsequently said that he suspected Neuer, a reported long-term target for United, would be signing for Bayern having already disclosed he would not be signing a new contract at Schalke. On Wednesday, Bayern also confirmed their interest in the player.

Though it is believed Neuer is destined for the Allianz Arena in the summer, former United hero Schmeichel is clinging to the hope that the grandiose surrounds of Old Trafford and a warm reception from the the club's faithful will change the Germany international's mind.

"Maybe he (Neuer) will have another think," Schmeichel told Sky Sports News. "He's seen what Manchester United are capable of first hand. He's going to Old Trafford on Tuesday and it's just such a special place to play.

"He will probably experience, if nothing happens within that week, an Old Trafford crowd that absolutely welcomes him and sees him as the next goalkeeper for United.

"If Alex Ferguson comes over to you and says, 'Listen, I want you to play for my team', it's very difficult not to say 'yes'. He (Neuer) is probably the best goalkeeper in the world.

"He is 25 years of age. He's been captain for that team for a number of years. He is very mature in the way he plays. He doesn't make mistakes - I haven't seen him make a single mistake - and the way he played yesterday, he wasn't lucky in the way that he saved the shots and one-on-ones, it was very calculated.

"I just thought his overall game was fantastic and absolutely well-suited for Manchester United."

Fergie Must Buy Manuel Neuer

United must now push the boat out to ensure they win the battle with Bayern Munich for Schalke's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The 25-year-old German international number one has been on keeper coach Eric Steele's watch list in the countdown to Edwin Van der Sar's retirement at the end of the season.

Others have been monitored like Maarten Stekelenburg of Ajax and Atletico Madrid's David de Gea.

But after Neuer's outstanding performance against the Reds in Germany on Tuesday night he must now surely be top priority.

Sir Alex Ferguson made a bee-line to Neuer to congratulate him after the match and described his display as “probably the finest display of goalkeeping against us in my time”.

Praise indeed, well deserved and a bit of buttering up doesn't go amiss.

The post-Peter Schmeichel calamitous days even over a decade on are too raw not to believe United must now pull out all the stops to capture Neuer. 

Video: FC Schalke 04 0-2 Man Utd - Highlights & All Goals

Evra Warns United

Source ManUtd.com:

 Patrice Evra has issued a warning to his Reds team-mates ahead of the semi-final second leg with Schalke.

The Frenchman has first-hand experience of overturning a two-goal deficit in the Champions League and believes it would be disastrous if United fail to reach Wembley after a superb show at the Veltins-Arena.

However, the flying full-back admits the display was one of the best he's been involved in at European level.

"We never know," he told MUTV. "In football, we never know. I think we played very well tonight but it was a little bit strange to get to half-time without scoring a goal. I think everyone was frustrated. We kept doing the same things we did in the first half. I think  there was one team on the pitch and it was a great performance. But, in football, you never know because I remember when I was playing with Monaco, we lost in the Bernabeu 4-2 and Madrid thought they were going to the semi-final. But in the second leg we won 3-1.

"So we have to be as professional in the second leg as we were tonight, we have to keep going and we have to win. We have to win at Old Trafford. If we don't get to the final, it would be disastrous. We have to do our job. We are very near to another final but let's do our job at Old Trafford."

Evra was asked if it was as complete an away performance as he could remember in his time in Manchester. 

"Yes, definitely," he replied. "The one we did against Barcelona in Camp Nou in the semi-final, when we drew 0-0, tactically the team was very strong. But tonight, I think it was one of the best performances United play away.

"I'm not surprised because I saw the desire in our team and the respect we had for Schalke. I think Manchester United respected Schalke a lot tonight. Before the game, we said we're playing in a semi-final, it doesn't matter whether it's Schalke or another team. We're playing to go to the final. It's important. That's why we played with respect and I think everyone did their job very well tonight."

The defender is just frustrated he couldn't convert a late chance after being played in by substitute Nani.

"I nearly scored," he added. "Nearly, nearly, again! They have to go in, not just nearly score. But maybe in the second leg or in the final?"