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?

Man Utd striker Rooney eyeing more goals after Rangers winner

Manchester United strikerWayne Rooney is eyeing more goals after netting the winner against Rangers.

Making his first start for the Reds since 26 September in the 1-0 win overRangers, the England striker was full of energy and enthusiasm, showing no sign of nerves or the ankle injury that has ruled him out for much of this campaign.

“There were not many nerves really," Rooney told MUTV. "I knew what I was doing and where I was going, I can only do that. If the keeper guesses the right way and saves it, so be it. Thankfully it went in. Obviously it is a bit of a relief for me to score. Hopefully I can build on this now, I hope I can go on a goalscoring run."

Rooney tells Man Utd fans: I apologise

Wayne Rooney has publicly apologised to Manchester United fans for threatening to leave last month.

Last night, following his match-winning penalty at Rangers, Rooney offered his apology, before revealing the intense speculation about a move to Manchester City was well wide of the mark.

"I feel like I have apologised to the fans but everyone keeps saying that I haven't," said Rooney.

"I feel like I have apologised to the fans but everyone keeps saying that I haven't," said Rooney.

"If that is the case, then I apologise for my side of things.

"I have made my point clear since I signed my contract that I am committed to this club for the long term. I want to be successful here.

"Everyone is saying that I was definitely going to Manchester City. Believe me if I had gone it wouldn't have been in England."

For two or three days, it appeared certain a move would have to be arranged as the ill-feeling towards Rooney grew.

Even since the dispute was resolved, Sir Alex Ferguson has been critical of Rooney's trusted advisor Paul Stretford.

Yet the 25-year-old now acknowledges that leaving Old Trafford could have been the biggest mistake of his career.

"Of course," he said. "You see so many players leave this club and not do so well so I am delighted to have stayed."

wayne rooney's photo! England Striker.

Wayne Rooney Thanks Manchester United Fans For 'Brilliant' Reception On Return To Action, But Avoids Apology For Contract Controversy

Striker insists long-term future is with United

By Joe Doyle

Nov 23, 2010 12:28:00 PM

Wayne Rooney has insisted that his long-term future is at Manchester United and that he is determined to repay the fans' faith in him - but has again declined to apologise for the furore caused by his contract saga.

The England striker, 24, signed a new five-year deal last month which may have raised his wages as high as £250,000 per week.

And Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed on Saturday that Rooney would be making his first start since September against Rangers on Wednesday, after his substitute appearance against Wigan at the weekend — where he was happy with the reception he received.

"It was a great feeling [to pull on the shirt again], obviously having been out for a long time and the issues that have gone on over the last few weeks," Rooney toldMUTV.

Ferdinand: True Red Rooney was never leaving Man Utd

Rio Ferdinand never had any doubts Wayne Rooney would sign his new contract withManchester United.

And the England captain branded Rooney's omission from the Ballon d'Or's list of candidates "a joke".

Ferdinand told united-latest.com: "It was really important (for Rooney to stay). Wayne is settled at this club, he is a world class player and a big part of the team.

"In my heart I always knew he would stay, he is a true Red."

Ferdinand branded Rooney's Ballon d'Or snub as a "joke".

"I just couldn't believe it!" he said. "It's a joke. He had an amazing season with United."

Manchester City (4th) v Manchester United (2nd)

The much anticipated Manchester derby takes place at Eastlands as City host neighbours United.

MAN CITY TEAM NEWS

City manager Roberto Mancini could be short of attacking options as Emmanuel Adebayor is doubtful and Mario Balotelli is suspended.

Adebayor has a calf injury and his fitness will be monitored in the hours leading up the to the match while Balotelli is banned after his red card at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Aleksandar Kolarov is pushing for a place in the starting line-up following his recovery from an ankle injury.

MAN UTD TEAM NEWS

Sir Alex Ferguson is crossing his fingers that the virus that has swept the Manchester United camp since their return from Turkey last week does not wreck their bid for a derby-day win over City.

After losing several key players for the weekend win over Wolves, Ferguson had to send more home from training on Monday and admits he has no idea what the make up of his side to face Roberto Mancini's men at Eastlands will be.

In addition, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves (both hamstring) are definitely out, while Nani (groin) is rated extremely doubtful to recover from the injury he suffered in Turkey last week.

SQUADS

Man City: Hart, Richards, Zabaleta, Bridge, Lescott, Boyata, De Jong, Vieira, Barry, Johnson, K Toure, Y Toure, Tevez, Silva, Adebayor, Kolarov, Given, Milner, Kompany, Boateng.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Obertan, Bebe, Carrick, Gibson, Scholes, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Park, Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda.