Tickets For Wembley UEFA Champions League Final

Source Manutd.com:

Applications for the UEFA Champions League Final have now closed and the ballot is underway.

Ballot results will be available from Friday 13 May and supporters can check the status of their applications by calling 0161 868 8000 or logging in to manutd.com

Unsuccessful applications will automatically be entered into a second ballot on Fri 20 May

- to remove your application please call 0161 868 8000 before 8pm on Thu 19 May as allocated tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded.

Successful applicants will be required to complete an online Travel Report and tickets must be collected in person.

The Travel Report is required for UEFA and the Police and must be completed online at manutd.com/travelreport for each supporter in the booking before 8am on Mon 16 May.

The Travel Report will be checked when you collect your booking and tickets will not be issued unless ALL members from the application have completed their travel details in full. If there are any missing or invalid details when you collect your tickets you will be asked to leave the collection point to complete the information before returning to re-join the queue.

To ensure that supporters receive their tickets safely ALL bookings will need to be collected in person from Old Trafford by one member of the booking with a valid original passport as proof of identity.
In the case of joint applications, tickets for other supporters in the booking may be collected on production of personal ID (passport, driving licence, credit / debit card or birth certificate) as proof you have the authority to collect their tickets.

For example a booking of four made by Smith on behalf of Jones, Brown and Green can be collected by any of the four with a valid original passport and some form of ID listed above for the other three supporters. Please note the booking would be filed under Smith as the lead name i.e. the supporter whose details were entered first on the application.
Photocopies of ID will not be accepted and exceptions will not be made under any circumstances.

Bookings can be collected from the collection points adjacent to the Ticketing & Membership Services building behind the North Stand on the following dates:

Wed 18 May        8am – 8pm
Thu 19 May          8am – 8pm
Fri 20 May            8am – 8pm
Sat 21 May           8am – 8pm
Sun 22 May          8am – 8pm        Blackpool match* 
Mon 23 May        8am – 8pm 
Tue 24 May          8am – 8pm
Wed 25 May        8am – 8pm
Thu 26 May          8am – 6pm

* Although we appreciate some supporters will only be able to collect their ticket(s) on the day of the Blackpool game the Ticket Office will be extremely busy and we strongly advise you to collect on other days or to arrive as soon after 8am on Sunday 22 May as possible.

Executive Club Members will receive any supplementary information by email. 

United Will Not Be Presented With Trophy At Blackburn, We Have To Wait For Blackpool

Celebrations put on ice

Manchester United will not be presented with the Premier League trophy this weekend even if they earn the point they need to win a record 19th title against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday lunchtime. Following their 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday, United will overtake Liverpool's record of 18 league championships — a record set by the Anfield team in 1990 – as long as they avoid defeat against Steve Kean's side. But United captain Nemanja Vidic will have to wait until the visit of Blackpool to Old Trafford on May 22 to lift the trophy after the League confirmed its intention to stand by its policy of holding the official presentation at the champions' final home game of the campaign. Sources at the Premier League have confirmed that the trophy will not be on standby at Ewood Park to cap United's celebrations should they win the league less than half-an-hour before Manchester City take to the field in the FA Cup final.
Rory Smith, Daily Telegraph

Elsewhere, The Independent claim Sky Sports "are hopeful their new signing Gary Neville can start his job early to be at Wembley as co-commentator on 28 May for the [Champions League] final against Barcelona".

The Sun also turn their attention to the Champions League final, claiming United aim to go on the offensive against Barcelona. "We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother," Sir Alex says. "Hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona the problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us."

Have A Look On Chicharito First Season At Old Trafford

Striking stats

First 21 appearances
Starts: 42%
Subs: 58%
Goals: 9

Last 22 appearances
Starts: 68%
Subs: 32%
Goals: 12

How Hernandez scores
Head: 6
Right foot: 11
Left foot: 3

Results when Javier scores
Won 15
Drawn 1
Lost 1

Javier Hernandez has exceeded everybody's expectations this season, including those of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The United boss admitted recently that he thought it would take the Mexican striker at least a year to settle in at the club, develop physically and adapt to the English game.

And yet, nine months after Hernandez made his debut at Wembley in the Community Shield, he's netted 20 goals and staked a solid claim for a regular place in the manager's starting line-up.

Sir Alex has certainly found it difficult to leave him out. Since the beginning of March, Hernandez has started 11 of United's 16 games (and scored in two of his three substitute appearances during the same period).

If we split the striker's United career in two we get a better picture of the shift in how Hernandez's fortunes have changed. In his first 21 United games (nine starts) he netted eight goals, with five coming from the bench. His subsequent 22 run-outs (15 starts) have yielded a further 11 strikes, with only three as a substitute.

Of course, one of Hernandez's greatest qualities is the variety of goals he scores.

At heart, he's a supreme goal poacher who's lethal in and around the six-yard box; his finishing has often been likened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's. But it's also interesting to note that almost a third (six) of the Mexican's goals have been scored with his head. That's not bad for a man who stands just 5ft 9in tall.

He's also netted five winners and opened the scoring on nine occasions (including his most recent goal, scored after just 37 seconds against Chelsea).

His most recent strike, after just 37 seconds against Chelsea, took his tally to the season to 20. It's the first time a United player has reached that figure in his first season since Ruud van Nistelrooy arrived back in 2001.

Little wonder, then, that everybody - from Sir Alex Ferguson to Pele - has been signing Hernandez's praises of late.

Video: wayne Rooney All 34 Goals OF Season 2009-2010 Amazing .. Relive The moment

Picture: B E L 1 9 V E .. The Champions Are Here ..

Manchester United Fanzone

Please Leave Rooney Alone For God Sake

Complaints about Wayne Rooney swearing into a camera during Manchester United's title decider with Chelsea have not been upheld by the TV watchdog.

Viewers contacted Ofcom after the United striker was seen to say 'f***' while celebrating a goal in the game, broadcast on Sky.

But the watchdog said that what Rooney said was 'not clearly audible, and the camera cut away from the scene as soon as it became clear that (his) behaviour was inappropriate'.

Smile for the cameras: Rooney was caught swearing during the clash with Chelsea

The commentator on Sky Sports apologised after the incident.

Ofcom added in a letter to viewers: 'While we acknowledge that the broadcast of this behaviour during this match was unfortunate as well as unexpected, we consider that, given the circumstances, Sky acted responsibly and do not find grounds to uphold your complaint.'

Rooney accepted the Football Association charge for using offensive language during the outburst as he celebrated his third goal in his side's 4-2 victory over West Ham - but not the automatic two-match ban. 

Outburst: Rooney landed himself in hot water after screaming a volley of abuse direct in the camera after scoring against West Ham

We are going to cause Problems To Barcelona :Sir Alex

Lionel Messi is aiming to score in two successive Champions League finals against Manchester United. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

A bullish Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed Manchester United have the armoury to hurt Barcelona at Wembley on 28 May and will not be cowed by memories of their last Champions League final encounter with the Catalans.

The United manager has rarely spoken about his side's 2-0 defeat by Pep Guardiola's team in 2009, when Barcelona comfortably prevented the defending European champions from retaining the trophy en route to securing a historic treble of the Spanish title, Copa del Rey and Champions League. The two clubs meet again in European football's showpiece event this month when, unlike in Rome, United will be firm underdogs against the reigning club world champions and Spanish champions-elect.

Ferguson, however, believes United's performance in 2009 was far better than it is perceived and that Barcelona must be wary of the threat posed by the attacking options at Old Trafford. "Obviously Barcelona is the big one now," said the United manager who, following Sunday's 2-1 win over Chelsea, requires one point from two league games to clinch an English record 19th domestic championship. "Everyone has acknowledged how great a team Barcelona are but Manchester United are in this final with some players who can cause any team a lot of bother. We've got attacking players who can hopefully cause Barcelona the problems everyone thinks they are going to give us. Hopefully it is going to be a fantastic final."

Ferguson accepts United face a major task to quell the mesmerising talents of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi, scorer of Barcelona's second goal in Rome, but insists his beaten finalists of two years ago were not comprehensively outplayed.

"In the final last time we started off really well and then gave away a bad goal. After that Barcelona kept the ball very well, as they always do," Ferguson told the US-based satellite radio station Sirius XM. "But people forget we missed a lot of chances in that match. Even before they scored their second goal we missed three chances. What we have to do is find a solution to the Xavi-Messi-Iniesta problem. Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers, but we have our share too."

While praise has been lavished on Barcelona – with their exception of their antics in the Champions League semi-final meeting with Real Madrid – United have not attracted the same adulation despite both clubs reaching Wembley and being on the brink of winning domestic titles.

Ferguson added: "Everyone has said this is not a good Manchester United team, that we are not this or that. But we have scored more goals than anyone else. Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and we will win the league by getting one more point. You have to put all the criticism to one side because I have to be realistic when I look at my team and ask, 'Am I satisfied?' I think the players have given me everything. They have given the club everything."

The United manager again expressed his dismay over the possibility of Carlo Ancelotti losing his job at Chelsea, having thwarted the Italian in both the Champions League and Premier League this season. "It would shock me, not surprise me," he said.

"This is an industry that baffles me at times. Here is a man who has won the European Cup twice, he has won Scudettos. He did the double in England last year. Why is that being questioned? Why is it becoming an issue? I don't understand it. But the rumour mill is out there that he is going to be leaving. That is sad because he is an outstanding character. He is a great man, full of absolute dignity."

Ferguson also revealed he was compelled to bow to the Stretford End following Sunday's defining win over Chelsea in tribute to the support United had received in the closing stages of victory. The United manager said: "The reason I did that was because in the last 15 minutes our fans were absolutely fantastic. They helped us over the line. When we lost that goal and missed so many chances we can get over-nervous. There was a nervous aura about the place in the last 10 minutes but the fans were fantastic and that's why I bowed to them."

Man UTd's Dream XI

Sir Alex Ferguson has been the king of Manchester United for 24 years; their longest-serving manager and who can argue that he is not the best of his generation? 

Fergie keeps winning. Year after year - the titles, the cups, regenerating the side - he achieves success by discovering new blood and demanding they play with Manchester United flair and ambition. 

I argued on Sky on Sunday that this current Manchester United team do compare with Fergie's best of the past and so Sportsmail set me a challenge: name your all-star composite XI from Sir Alex's two-and-a-half decades at Old Trafford. So here it is. 

Take a bow, son: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson just keeps on winning

There were a few wobbles along the way and a handful of high profile absentees. David Beckham, Mark Hughes and Ruud van Nistelrooy don't get into my team, nor do any of the four Treble-winning strikers of 1999.

I've also gone for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic ahead of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister. Jaap Stam doesn't get in, nor Paul McGrath or Bryan Robson, whose best years came before Fergie turned up. 

So take a look at my team and let me know if you agree. 

Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel

Right back: Gary Neville

Centre half: Rio Ferdinand

Centre half: Nemanja Vidic

Left back: Denis Irwin

Holding midfield: Roy Keane

Midfield: Paul Scholes

Midfield: Ryan Giggs

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo

Forward: Wayne Rooney

Striker: Eric Cantona

No Stars For United Just Talent

A prime example of the unsung heroes we've seen this season

In Robert Altman's biting Hollywood satire The Player, a movie producer makes a pitch to a studio executive where he says for his latest film he wants "no stars, just talent" to appear in it.

"What the hell is that?!" The incredulous exec asks, the idea subsequently goes out of the window and Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis are cast as the leads.

The idea of 'no stars just talent ' is one that could be applied to the current United team, as despite having some of the best footballers in the world in his squad, Sir Alex Ferguson seems to have assembled a group of true team players.

In the past United have always had at least one or two 'superstars' who've received all the plaudits and been plastered all over any magazine- both football and otherwise- you'd care to mention.

In the early 90's it was a certain Ryan Giggs who seemed to be the team's real super star, although of course Eric Cantona was arguably just as lauded by the media.

Giggs and Cantona seemed to transcend normal football fame, with the Welsh wizard becoming the first pop star footballer of the Premier League era while Eric, was such an enigma- a philosophical, fan kicking genius, that the press couldn't help but lap him up.

As we entered the mid nineties it was the turn of David Beckham to become the team's real star. Although Paul Scholes was arguably the more gifted player and Nicky Butt had the better chant it was the Posh Spice marrying sarong wearing free kick maestro who rose to the forefront of the class of '92.

Beckham's star power was such that he was easily the biggest name at the club –at least in terms of the media- until he departed on the Battleship Galactico for the Bernabeu.

This more or less ushered in the era of a certain Portuguese winger with a penchant for stunning free kicks, shed loads of goals and the odd bit of 'performance art.'

Although Ronaldo wasn't a star as soon as he arrived, by the time United were reclaiming the title in 2007 he was far and away the most talked about player in the Premier League, although his infamy had started earlier at the 2006 world cup.

Since Ronaldo left for a far less galactic time at Real Madrid, the main player in terms of media attention and expectations has been Wayne Rooney. He's been United's biggest 'star' gaining more column inches for both on and off the field activities.

When it comes to being a 'star player' then Rooney would obviously be the first name everyone mentions of the current team, yet is he really a 'star'  in the strictest sense of the word?

Yes he's a global name, who's one of the most talked about players in the game but he's not quite the same sort of animal Cristiano Ronaldo was.

Rooney's happy to be moved around the pitch, he doesn't moan when being subbed- Blackpool away- and unlike other stars is happy to play a supporting role to a new striker who's currently the talk of the town.

The point I'm making is that in the past United have always had one or two major stars that seemed to be the focus of not just the media's attention but also the opposition.

Whether it be Eric, Giggs, Beckham, RVN or Ronaldo there's been one player who's perhaps more talked about or even more feared than the rest of the squad.

Now however United seem to have a team made up of unsung heroes. Take Sunday's must win clash, over Chelsea  the top United performers were by and large not the types who always get the credit they deserve.

Obviously Chicharito has been rightly lauded over by the media and fans alike and that shows no signs of abating, as his phenomenal talent just makes everyone sit up in awe.

Other top performers though, Antonio Valencia, Ji Sung Park, Michael Carrick are ones that are often overlooked when it comes to the players we praise the most.

Ryan Giggs of course received a well earned man of the match award and he will always be respected as a true legend, but at his age he's now more of an elder statesman than a superstar. The sort of player where the words 'respect' and 'admired' are not out of place on rival fan's forums when it comes to discussing him. Can you imagine any rival fan saying that about David Beckham when he was at United?

Even Dimitar Berbatov, a £30 million signing who's now our leading scorer is not a star in the true sense of the word. He's happy to sit on the bench –despite all his goals- and unlike some rival strikers doesn't spit his dummy out about it.

Yes United have some of the most gifted players in the world, Nani, Evra, VDS, Vidic, Rooney, I could go on, are all players that would walk into practically any team. But unlike past years we now seem to have a team made up of talent rather than 'stars.'