Manchester United V Schalke - Follow LIVE text commentary

Manchester United V Schalke

Follow every kick as Manchester United take on Schalke in the UEFA Champions League 
on 04-May-2011, kick off time 19:45

Manchester United v Schalke Live 

Manchester United v Schalke: match preview

Read a full match preview of the Champions League semi-final second leg between Manchester United and Schalke at Old Trafford on Wednesday May 4 2011, kick-off 19.45 BST.

Wednesday, May 4

Manchester United v Schalke
Old Trafford
TV: ITV1

Key battles

John O'Shea v Jose Manuel Jurado: Schalke's best hope of getting the two goals they need will come from spreading play to the flanks and using the pace of Jurado and Jefferson Farfan. O'Shea is not a marauding right-back like Fabio or Rafael, though, and will be content to sit back, forcing Jurado into a more central area, where Michael Carrick can come in and clear up.

Antonio Valencia v Hans Sarpei: Is Sarpei the worst full-back ever to grace a Champions League semi-final?

On the evidence of his first-leg performance, possibly. He couldn't help his lack of pace - he is 34 - but his positioning was poor throughout, playing Javier Hernandez onside for United's first goal. Unless he ups his game, Valencia will have a very enjoyable evening indeed.

Dimitar Berbatov v Michael Owen: Two strikers desperate to prove a point. Both Berbatov and Owen will look to attack the penalty area in search of chances, but if they take up similar positions they will end up getting in each other's way. One of them, probably Berbatov, will have to drift wider for the greater good.

Man in charge

Pedro Proenca (Portugal)

Stat

28 Schalke have received more yellow cards and committed more fouls (183) than any other team in the competition.

Is Rooney Injured?? Worried....

Source Manutd.com:

Wayne Rooney will be assessed by United just hours before the Schalke match, as the striker tries to overcome the injury that kept him out of Tuesday's training session.

Sir Alex Ferguson later revealed at his pre-match press conference that Wayne has a "tight hamstring". He wasn't asked about the other absentee Fabio.

It's not unprecedented for Rooney to miss the open session and still play in the subsequent match. In the wake of the Upton Park media storm, the United striker trained indoors and away from the spotlight prior to the quarter-final win at Chelsea, where he scored the only goal.

The full list of players involved in the open training session - as reported earlier in Today at Old Trafford - was as follows:

Goalkeepers - Edwin van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Anders Lindegaard
Defenders - Patrice Evra, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Rafael, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans
Midfielders - Antonio Valencia, Nani, Ji-sung Park, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Gabriel Obertan, Bebe
Strikers - Michael Owen, Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov

Hernandez is the Sharper Version Of Michael Owen .. Wuhuuu

Michael Owen has admitted Javier Hernandez's emergence at Manchester United has put him in the shade.

With his two-year contract due to expire in the summer, it is now anticipated Owen will be leaving Old Trafford, whether he helps the club to Premier League and Champions League glory or not.

And one of the reasons for that will be Hernandez's stellar form since his arrival at Old Trafford as a virtual unknown from Mexican club side Chivas.

Me and my shadow: Michael owen has hailed Javier Hernandez but say he is just a sharper version of his remodeled self

There are plenty who make a direct comparison between the 22-year-old's rapid movement and Owen.

The former England striker is not convinced it is true of his early days. But in more recent times, Owen accepts there are obvious similarities.

'I wouldn't say he is similar to how I was in the early stages of my career,' said Owen.

'But with injuries and the way I have adapted my game, he is probably quite similar to what I do now, apart from he is a bit sharper.

'He is 10 years younger of course, so maybe he is a better version of the current Michael Owen.

Fall guy: Hernandez's fine form has restricted Owen to substitute appearances but the striker should have been awarded a penalty against Arsenal

'Javier has been the surprise package this year without a doubt.

'He is certainly sharp and is a cracking lad as well. That probably isn't that important to the people who just want to see him scoring goals but it is important for those who are around him and at the club in general.'

Not that Owen has written off his own chances of making a contribution.

As a substitute at Arsenal on Sunday, he should have been awarded a penalty that could have brought United a precious point.

And, along with Dimitar Berbatov, the 31-year-old has already been promised a starting berth for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final by Sir Alex Ferguson, as United look to defend their two goal advantage.

Big opportunity: Sir Alex Ferguson is set to start Owen in the Champions league semi-final second leg against Schalke at Old Trafford on Wednesday

'Javier's partnership with Wayne Rooney has really clicked,' said Owen.

'But let's not forget that Dimitar is still our top scorer. He has only not been scoring lately because he has not been playing as much.

'Overall, the strikers have dovetailed quite well. Everyone has chipped in at certain parts of the season.

'Wayne almost carried us right the way through last season.

'This year other people have come in to fill the void. It has been a great effort all round.'

Real Madrid want £32m Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez. ??? United's Target .. Ohhh

Manchester rivals United and City have seen their hopes of signing 22-year-old Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez dented further after his representatives held talks with Real Madrid.

United have outlined an £18million offer to Udinese for Chilean winger Sanchez - just weeks after City underlined their desire to sign the player. 

In demand: Sanchez has attracted interest from Manchester United, City and Real

But the lure of playing in Madrid could threaten both Manchester clubs' chances. 

Udinese want close to £32m for Sanchez, who United have followed since he was a teenager at Chilean side Cobreloa.

His performances in Serie A have drawn admirers and he impressed for Chile in the World Cup last summer.

On the move? Real could scupper United and City's bid to sign Sanchez

Meanwhile, City striker Emmanuel Adebayor, currently on loan at Real, is wanted by Fenerbahce. 

The Turkish side were interested in the 27-year-old Togo player back in January.

STATS: League Positions of United, Arsenal and Chelsea So Far This Season

You'll notice that some of the league positions over-lap. This is because differing cup commitments meant they were out of sync and had games in hand at different points in the season, so this doesn't represent league positions week by week, but game by game.

Chelsea Boss: I Might Start Torres And Drogba Upfront

Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea

Italian boss suggests that he may favour pairing the Ivorian and the World Cup winner up front, but insists he will have to make a decision after the club's next training session

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has dropped a hint that he may choose to start with Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres up front in the upcoming game against Manchester United, but insists that he will make his final decision based on the next training session.

Torres broke his duck against West Ham United recently, but that goal was was the only one he has scored in his last 15 games for the club.

The Spaniard was also substituted during the second half of the game against Tottenham at the weekend, with his replacement Salomon Kalou scoring the winner.

According to The Mirror, Ancelotti said: "To make a decision about the line-up, I have to forget the past.

"I have to look at the next training session.

"For 60 minutes [against Tottenham], Drogba and Torres played with good combination. But he [Torres] got a little bit tired and I put Kalou on to try and find some more space to attack.

"It's not so important, the shape. It's more important that you put the players with the best ability together. It's important to have players in good form, in good condition. If we want to win there, we have to use intensity.

"We did our job [against Tottenham], to stay three points behind Manchester United. That's fantastic. Our job was to win, we won and now our next job is to prepare well for Manchester United."

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway: Fixtures against Manchester United and Tottenham are better than those of our relegation rivals

The Seasiders' manager has revealed he is happy with his side's remaining opponents, and says he would rather face teams at the top than those at the bottom in fight to avoid drop

Ian Holloway, Manager Blackpool

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway believes his side's upcoming fixtures against Tottenham, Bolton and Manchester United are favourable compared to other relegation-threatened clubs.
The newly promoted Seasiders were widely tipped to be relegated this year, however, they have defied the odds and remain lingering just above the relegation zone on goal difference.
With only three games to play to secure Premier League survival, Holloway has revealed he is happy with his side's final run-in, which include matches against domestic giants Manchester United and Tottenham.
Blackpool have fared fairly well against their forthcoming opponents in the reverse fixtures played earlier this season, defeating Tottenham 3-1, drawing with Bolton 2-2 and building a two-goal lead against United 2-0 before eventually succumbing to a 3-2 defeat.
"I think the run-in is vital, in terms of who we have got compared to who other people have got," he told us.
"If we had teams like Wolves or West Ham at home or away - I'd much rather take these ones.
"It might sound crazy, but our fans will be right up for Tottenham away and Manchester United away, and we have got Bolton here.
"When you look at those games - who knows? There are a lot of games you wouldn't have given us a chance in this year, but we've managed to produce things."
Holloway was full of praise for Blackpool's fans and is happy he has been able to give them a season in the Premier League they will never forget.
He added: "We've created a monster.
"That's what you do when you give somebody their dreams. It's all in our hands and we could shatter their dreams, but if we do stay up, how hard is next season going to be, to give it to them again?
"If we go down, we'll have to try and come up again, otherwise I'm not as good as I was the year before.
"But this is football, this is what it is all about. For the people of the area, I don't think they have ever had such a wonderful uplift and they thoroughly deserve it.
"They have stuck with us and they sing their hearts out everywhere they go."

Mascherano to United ... What??

Former Liverpool star Javier Mascherano is being linked with a shock move back to England with Manchester United.

According to The Mirror, Mascherano, who has started just 15 matches for Barcelona this season, will be the subject of an £8m bid from Manchester United this summer.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a move for Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder in recent weeks but may add two midfielders to his squad this summer following the disappointing form of Michael Carrick and Anderson along with the likely retirement of Paul Scholes.

Mascherano, the captain of Argentina, has been used as a makeshift central defender for Barcelona in recent weeks and may play there again in the second leg of Barcelona's 

Fergie to freshen team up

Sir Alex Ferguson has promised to ring the changes for Manchester United's UEFA Champions League clash with Schalke.

Although the Red Devils secured an impressive 2-0 win over the Bundesliga outfit in midweek they slumped to a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday.

That defeat opened up the title race once again and with another encounter with Schalke to come on Wednesday, Ferguson will look to utilise his squad against Ralf Ragnick's side.

United's boss looks set to rest the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez by recalling Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, while Paul Scholes returns following suspension.

With Chelsea now just three points behind the Red Devils in the title race and Carlo Ancelotti's men the visitors at Old Trafford on Sunday, Ferguson knows it is a massive week ahead for his side.

Changes

"I will make some changes on Wednesday without question," said Ferguson.

"I will bring Paul Scholes back in, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen.

"We'll need to do that but I will probably keep my experienced players at the back.

"We have a big week ahead. Wednesday is a European semi-final second leg and then the game on Sunday.

"Two massive games, so we will regroup and freshen it up."