Park Ji Sung Key Against Barcelona

With the chance to exorcise the demons from Rome looming on the horizon, Sir Alex is going to have a selection headache for the Champions League decider on May 28th.

It would be fair to say that due to his stellar season, Nani would find it difficult to find himself playing a substitute role for a third successive final, but the harsh reality of the situation is he will in all probability be warming the bench yet again.

Given that Valencia has returned to the squad, dare I say, in better form than he has ever expressed in a red shirt, it would be incomprehensible if he wasn't marauding the right wing come kick off. With the right berth tidily filled by the slick Ecuadorian, the role of left winger is up for grabs, Giggs, Nani and Park being the obvious candidates. Having been at the hub of a great team effort against Chelsea last weekend, Giggs has developed his game into playing a more central role for the benefit on the club, which suggests that the battle will be between Park and Nani.

Though in truth, and unfortunately for Nani, I can only see one possible outcome of the tussle. I believe Park will get the nod over the Portuguese flair man due to his ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and stop Barcelona playing their usual destructively delightful football, which in the likely absence of a match fit Darren Fletcher is a very useful commodity indeed.

United need to accept that they are going to have to surrender possession of the ball more often than they're accustomed to if they are to overcome the threat of Iniesta and Co in possession, and given his 'big-game' reputation Ji Sung Park is the man I believe can get under the Spaniards' feet and disrupt their style of play.

Park isn't renowned as a hard challenger which without doubt makes him even more suited to the role, because while the whole of the football world watched Barcelona's shameful antics turn 'el classico' into 'el travesty', Sir Alex will have been plotting their downfall by way of new tactics which don't allow the Barcelona players the chance to over simulate and dive.

Park's ability to nick the ball from players whilst staying on his feet, coupled with his ability to attack and feed the ball through to Hernandez and Rooney, stands him in the best possible stead to prove his credentials come final day.

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Schalke want Maarten Stekelenburg

Maarten Stekelenburg has emerged as a potential replacement for Manuel Neuer at Schalke.

Bayern Munich are set to land the Germany international and although they have failed to come to an agreement with Schalke so far, talkSPORT has been told that the clubs are still in negotiations and a move to the Allianz Arena will happen this summer.

It means Schalke will be in the market for a goalkeeper and Dutchman Stekelenburg is their preferred choice.

The Ajax goalkeeper, who starred for Holland at last summer's World Cup, is set to leave Amsterdam this summer.

And while Manchester United remain keen on Atletico Madrid's David De Gea - as talkSPORT revealed earlier in the season - Stekelenburg is the club's second choice if the deal for De Gea fails to materialise.

Spurs, mindful of Heurelho Gomes' propensity to drop a clanger or two, are also weighing up a move for the 28-year-old.

But Schalke hope to beat the Premier League pair to it by making an official bid for Stekelenburg once the Neuer deal has been sealed.

Chicharito: The Strory Of 36 Seconds

 

The Red Devils needed a win against Chelsea to secure their 19^th title and they duly delivered it. It took Sir Alex's men only 36 seconds to open the score against their rivals. Park passed a through ball to Chicharito and the Mexican kept his cool, giving United a 1-0 lead. You all know the rest: Vidic extended the lead, Lampard scored Chelsea's only goal and Sir Alex bowed to the fans present at Old Trafford.

I would like to talk to you about the boy from Guadalajara, Mexico.

Widely considered the cultural center of Mexico, home to the famous Mariachi music, Guadalajara witnessed Brazil's games during the 1970 Fifa World Cup (except the final played against Italy) and during the 1986 Fifa World Cup (including the famous quarter-final against Platini's France). This is the background where young Mexican starlet, Javier Hernández, grew up. Son of the former player Javier Hernández Gutiérrez, known asChicharo, as well as grandson of Tomás Balcázar (considered a legend in Mexico for being indispensable to that Chivas team which won 8 out 10 championships), the young prospect of Guadalajara joined Chivas at the age of 9 and signed his first professional contract at 15.

Initially scouted by United in October 2009, Javier agreed a deal with the Red Devils in April 2010. Chicharito made his debut for United in the 2010 MLS All-Star Game scoring his first goal for the club in only 18 minutes. He then played for Chivas against United (as part of the transfer deal) and scored for the Mexicans after only 8 minutes in a friendly which the Red Devils lost.

His competitive debut for the Red Devils came on 8 August 2010, when he scored United's second in their 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield.

Until Sunday, he managed to score against Valencia, WBA, Stoke (a brace), Wolves (his first ever League Cup goal), Blackpool, Southampton, Marseille, rivals Liverpool, Everton, etc. Chicarito scored 3 goals against Chelsea this season, including one in the quarter-final of the Uefa Champions League.

On Sunday, again against Chelsea, he managed to score his twentieth goal of the campaign, in just 36 seconds. This goal made him the first player since Ruud Van Nistelrooy to score 20 goals for the club in his debut season. 14 goals were scored in the Premier League.

It has been an impressive first season for the Mexican and the young wonderkid could end the season in further glory should Manchester win both the Double. Wouldn't be fantastic for the lad to win the Double in his first season at Old Trafford?

Don't get me wrong, Berbatov is good, he's the leading goalscorer of the Premier League, but Chicharito is awesome.  Look at the goal scored against Chelsea. He only needed 36 seconds to give United a major boost. 36 seconds! His movement was out of this world! He kept his cool and put the ball into the net. Simple as that!

As Javier raced through Chelsea's defence and scored United's first, I asked myself: would he score against Barcelona as well? I mean, the kid has it all: pace, technique, positioning, flair, finishing, you name it. He's already a goalscorer! Sir Alex must use Chicharito against Barcelona right from the start.

Barcelona are tough nut to crack, we all know that. That's why Chicharito should play. This is his chance to shine at the highest level. I honestly have faith he will if given the opportunity.

Javier Hernández, will you shine against Barcelona? The world wants to know!

P.S. Is it just me or Chicharito seems to be Rooney's perfect partner up front? Those two like they've been playing for years together.

Final Promise By @rioferdy5

Rio Ferdinand has promised Barcelona will face the 'real Manchester United' on 28 May at Wembley. 

The Reds defender is clearly still smarting from the 2-0 Champions League final defeat to the Catalan giants in Rome and is determined that things will be different this time around.

Although appreciating the world-class array of attacking talent in Pep Guardiola's side, Ferdinand is backing his team-mates to set the record straight.

"I have never watched 2009 again," he revealed. "But matches like that are hard to forget as it is clear in your head.

"If you want to sit and think about games like that they come up quite easily. It is like bringing something up on the internet. I have not watched it but I have re-run it in my head a few times. We never played. We never got on the ball. We weren't Manchester United that day. This time we will give a better account of ourselves.

"On the way back we were sitting there thinking if only we had gone out and played and been the real Manchester United, it would have been different.

"I wouldn't mind it being the best Manchester United against the worst Barcelona. We will try and do whatever it takes to win. They always say you don't want to come off the pitch with any regrets. There were regrets that night."

Ferdinand respects Barcelona but is not in awe of the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

"You watch the games and see them on TV and they have fantastic players," he continued.

"They have got three of the best in the world playing in their team if you look at the awards that were given out. But it is not just down to them. If you mark one player out of their team, you still have another 10 to contend with.

"I am sure they will be thinking the same about us. They are more experienced, they know how to win and have consistently won things over the last two or three years.

"You see that aura a little bit. We had that here. We felt in the tunnel we had the game won. But that won't happen with us. We have experienced players who have played against a lot of great teams. When we look around our own changing room, that instils you with confidence."

United Transfer Targets

Sir Alex Ferguson's comments about transfer targets have prompted journalists and fans alike to speculate as to which players will be signing for United this summer.

The boss said: "We have certain targets in mind and I think two or three will be fulfilled." (ManUtd.com, 29 March 2011).

The club has a policy of not commenting on press rumours and official statements are only issued - firstly on ManUtd.com of course - when deals are done and dusted.

In the meantime, it remains a guessing game for all of us. To while away the wait for official news, we're asking you to vote for the player you'd most like to see at United - just for fun.

We've compiled a list of some of the outfield stars who have been consistently linked with the club over the past weeks and months. Which of these eight would you go for?

Daniele De Rossi (Roma) 

Jordan Henderson (Sunderland) 

Luka Modric (Tottenham) 

Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos) 

Jack Rodwell (Everton) 

Alexis Sanchez (Udinese) 

Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan) 

Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Antonio Valencia: I thought I Will Loose My Speed Permanantly After Injury

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia relieved at full recovery: I thought my speed might decrease permanently after horror injury

UEFA Champions League Semi : Antonio Valencia, Manchester United v Schalke 04

The former Wigan Athletic star admits that he is nearly back to 100 per cent and is delighted to be involved in the Red Devils' big games following his broken leg against Rangers

Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia admits he feared his speed would decrease permanently following the horrific leg break he sustained during a Champions League meeting with Rangers in September.

The former Wigan Athletic man suffered a broken and dislocated left ankle after landing awkwardly following a challenge from Kirk Broadfoot but insists he is now nearly back to 100 per cent fitness after an impressive string of performances.

"At first I thought my speed might decrease permanently but I spoke to the physio and he assured me I was going to make a complete recovery, which gave me a lot of confidence," Valencia told The Sun.

"When I was injured I would sit at home watching the matches and think 'If I were in that position, I'd do this or that'. 

"Previously, the longest I'd been out was about three months and this was more than five months, so it was tough."

Since returning to the fold two months ago the Ecuador international has been in fantastic form for the Red Devils, helping them reach the final of the Champions League, and Valencia believes his spell on the sidelines has made him appreciate the game like never before.

"Now I'm back at nearly 100 per cent and I'm happy to be involved in these big games," he added.

"Training with the lads and playing at an exciting time of the season - it doesn't get any better than that.

"Football is my whole life and perhaps I didn't really appreciate that before the injury, or even while I was out. Now I enjoy every training session and every match."

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