Anders Iniest: Rooney Is One Of The Best Player In The World

Next week sees Manchester United take on Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley.

This will be the second meeting between the two sides in a Champions League final in 3 years following Barca's 2-0 victory in Rome back in 2009.

Despite the victory, Barcelona realise that they face a different proposition in this United side and Andres Iniesta, who was integral to Barcelona's win last time round, has heaped praise on his opposition.

Speaking to The Independent, the world cup winning midfielder said:

"Rooney is one of the best players in the world and I love watching him play.

"They have Nani as well and a very good defence.

But if you had to pick out only one, then for their history and for all that they have achieved it would have to be Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs. They are two shining examples for any player."

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Ferguson (Manager Of The Season) and Vidic (Player of the Season) :Barclays

Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson and Nemanja Vidic have won the Barclays Premier League manager and player of the season awards

 

United boss Ferguson, 69, has been rewarded for guiding a team many thought would struggle this season to the Premier League title and a Champions League final against Barcelona.

It is United's - and Ferguson's - 12th Premier League triumph, and a record 19th overall top-flight title for the club. It is Ferguson's ninth such award.

Serbia centre-half Vidic, 29, has been a key player for the club, making more league appearances than any other team-mate this season (35) and scoring five goals in the process.

It is the second time Vidic has won the award, which is voted for by representatives of football's governing bodies, the media and supporters.

United sealed the title with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers last weekend, although their 2-1 win over closest rivals Chelsea the previous weekend effectively won them the league.

They face Barcelona in a Wembley final on May 28 as they bid to win their fourth European Cup.

Anders Iniesta Calls Sir Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes "Living Legends"

Iniesta hails 'legends' Giggs and Scholes

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are "living legends", Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta

The Spanish international, who scored the winner in last year's World Cup final, was speaking to his club's TV channel about his rivals ahead of the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28.

"(Scholes and Giggs) are living legends," Iniesta said. "They have played a great number of games, have broken records, have won titles and furthermore they prove they in every game they are great professionals."

Giggs, 37, and Scholes, 36, helped United win Europe's elite club competition in 1999 and 2008.

"They are examples for us and for youngsters who dream of triumphing some day. They are references you can learn a lot from," Iniesta said.

Reuters

Man Utd And Barcelona Running Behind Mario Goetze

Barcelona are ready to challenge Manchester Unitedfor the signature of Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Mario Goetze.

The 18-year-old has been a long-term target for Sir Alex Ferguson, who is keen to strengthen his midfield this summer.

But United will now face a battle with their Champions League final opponents Barcelona for Goetze, according to reports in Spain.

The attacking midfielder was an integral member of the Dortmund side who clinched the Bundesliga title this month, scoring six goals in 33 appearances.

But he now looks set to follow Nuri Sahin, another of Dortmund's key players, out of the door this summer.

Sahin was a transfer target for Liverpool, but the Turkey international chose La Liga over the Premier League by signing for Real Madrid earlier this month.

Now Barca hope his former team-mate Goetze will make a similar decision by snubbing Old Trafford for the Nou Camp.
 

Boss Confirms Paul Scholes Will Extent Contract at Man Utd and Strong Team Vs Blackpool

The Red Devils boss says he has encouraged the midfielder to stay and has confirmed that changes will be made against the Seasiders with the Champions League final in mind

FA Cup Semi Final- Manchester City v Manchester United, Paul Scholes

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Paul Scholes will extend his stay at the club.

The midfielder, whose contract runs out in the summer, is yet to sign a new deal at Old Trafford and had looked set to retire at the end of the season.

But Sir Alex told reporters: "I don't think it will be his last game. We have discussed it and I have encouraged him to stay on for another year. We'll talk at the end of the season."

The Red Devils boss has also dismissed suggestions that goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will be rested for the final Premier League fixture of the season against Blackpool, but has confirmed that he will make changes for the match.

The game will be Van der Sar's final league appearance of his career and Ferguson has said that the Dutchman will be one of several experienced players to feature on Sunday.

But with the Red Devils facing Barcelona in the Champions League final just six days later, Sir Alex has confirmed that he will need to "keep the right energies" ahead of the match at Wembley.

"Obviously people expect me to leave players out and that will be the case. I have to think about next week [the Champions League final]," Sir Alex told reporters.

"I have to juggle the balls and make sure I get the right mix and keep the right energies for Barcelona.

"There are players who need a game anyway. Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Anderson will all play. So will [Dimitar] Berbatov, [Patrice] Evra and Van der Sar."

He added: "We'll do our fairest to make sure there's no criticism of the club.

"The only thing you could be criticised for is if you lose a game and it affects other teams. That's when you should be put under scrutiny for the team you picked.

"Against Hull [in 2009] we played all the young players and we won 1-0, so there was no reason to criticise the selection on that occasion. This time it will be the same again. We have to make sure we win.

"For some reason the previous year, Neil Warnock found it easy to criticise us for losing to West Ham. But if he had seen the game we battered them, so it was a bit unfair."

The veteran boss also admitted that he was not looking forward to the game given what is at stake for United's opponents.

"This game on Sunday is not the kind of game you actually enjoy," he said.

"You are talking about one point separating five teams.

"It is very tight down there and you could sense what was coming with the way the league was shaping.

"Losing a couple of games can put you right back in the mire and Sunday is going to be a very important day for the futures of these clubs, which means it is not the easiest game for me to pick a team in."