Barcelona boss Guardiola would love to work with Sir Alex at Man Utd

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola wants to work withSir Alex Ferguson atManchester United.

Guardiola is considered by Ferguson as his natural heir at United - and the feeling is mutual.

Despite interest from Chelsea, Guardiola is said to have entertained the concept of taking over the United hotseat, although he would want Fergie to stay around the club as a mentor.

A Barcelona source told the Mirror: "It seems that Pep really would be keen on working with Sir Alex, if that was possible. It would allow him to come to terms with England under the guidance of the best."

Man Utd, Chelsea linked as Annan favours Premier League move

Rosenborg midfielder Anthony Annan admits he is keen to pursue a career in England.

The Ghana international's representatives have claimed interest from Chelsea and Manchester Unitedin the past week.

And Annan told Ghanaweb: "I'd rather play in the Premier League, but I do not exclude the other leagues."

The midfielder is available from RBK for £5 million.

Ferguson targets hat-trick of Carling Cup wins

30.11.10 | Ian Ferris

READ MORE NEWS ON: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Wolves

Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to win the Carling Cup for a third successive year.

Manchester United have successfully used the League Cup to blood some of their younger players in recent years, and that will continue as they prepare to face West Ham in the quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

Ferguson will draft in the likes of Darron Gibson, Chris Smalling, Bebe and Federico Macheda at Upton Park.

"It would be great to win it three times in a row. I think we were the first to win it twice in a row and that was a feat in itself," said Ferguson.

"But the League Cup is an interesting trophy now. We come into it a bit later and it gives me a chance to play the young players.

"Over the last three years the Da Silvas, Danny Welbeck and Macheda are among the players to have won a League Cup winners' medal.

"It's a healthy position for them to be in because they get to play in cup finals and judge how to handle it.

"The players who played against Wolves are hopefully the club's future. By the time they're 24 or 25, we hope they'll be the next Manchester United stars."

Manchester United 7 - Blackburn 1

27/11/2010 16:50, Report by Nick Coppack


A cakewalk, a canter, call it what you will: United, inspired by a sublime Dimitar Berbatov performance, tore Blackburn apart at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Bulgarian netted an incredible five times as the Reds smashed seven goals past Sam Allardyce’s men to surge to the top of the Barclays Premier League.

It was the sort of one-sided performance fans had expected last weekend when Wigan Athletic were reduced to nine men. Instead, it was a full complement of Blackburn players that were on the receiving end of the Reds’ best performance of the season, and United's biggest win since AS Roma were beaten by the same scoreline in April 2007.

Sir Alex made six changes, including his entire back four, to the side that won in Glasgow on Wednesday night, with Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra all returning and Anderson and Ji-sung Park handed starts in midfield. 

Wayne Rooney and Berbatov kept their spots up front and the pair took little more than a minute to combine for the Reds’ first goal. Rooney outjumped his marker at the near post to meet Nani's cross and his glancing header fell to Berbatov, who volleyed home a simple finish from six yards.

It was the perfect start for Sir Alex's men and, in particular, Berbatov, who'd previously not found the net since scoring a sensational hat-trick against Liverpool in September. Four days earlier, Sir Alex had predicted the Bulgarian would benefit more than most from Rooney's return; the early evidence at Old Trafford reinforced that belief. 

Manchester United vs Blackburn-final result

The Reds run riot as Berbatov's 5 goals help United thrash Blackburn 7-1 to go back to the top of the Premier League. What did you think of the game?