Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[qbdp]

Wes Brown indebted to mean Roy Keane

Asked to recall any nuggets of advice offered by Roy Keane, Wes Brown doesn't blink in volunteering the main thrust. "Pass the ball. Don't give it away. If you did, he'd slaughter you."

Brown utters this last bit with something approaching relish, as if eternally grateful for an experience that built character and mental strength in a youngster nervously feeling his way in a Manchester United dressing room dominated by the intimidating Irishman.

Back then, towards the end of the 1990s, it must have felt like a rite of passage. Sooner or later, the midfield enforcer's wrath was bound to come your way. Survive the storm and feel better for the encounter. The only alternative was to crumble and perish.

Brown took the first option. Not only that, he managed, more generally, to meet the high standards demanded at this monster of a club.

Now 27, the local lad from Longsight has hung in doggedly, his obvious talent as a natural defender surviving two serious knee injuries and a broken ankle to leave him as one of the more seasoned heads in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.

As such, he can talk about Keane's return to Old Trafford today, this time as Sunderland's ambitious manager, with the perspective of one who knew the player at his peak. And seeing his old captain now, suited and booted dictating from the sidelines, hasn't exactly come as a huge shock.

"With the aura he had around this club, he was definitely the sort you'd think would go on to become a manager," Brown says. "In the short period of time he's been involved he's done great, getting Sunderland up. It's a harder task now, of course, but he's capable of doing it.

"Yeah, he used to dish out some stick but for me that was good. If I'm doing something wrong I like someone to tell me. It makes me play better. Some people are different, it makes them go into their own little bubble, but I was always fine with it. It made me concentrate more.

"Roy was someone who always got you focused on the game. He gave me plenty of b*********s in training and in games but, as I say, to me that's only right. If you're not playing up to the standards you can, and he knows you can, it's only right."

Brown is talking at the Cliff, United's old training ground, after visiting one of the many soccer schools the club runs in the school holidays. His appearance forms part of a new Premier League initiative entitled Creating Chances, which intends to showcase the huge amount of positive work top-flight clubs undertake in the community.

Settling down in an upstairs office after meeting the kids, Brown, a father of two, chuckles at the questions he's just had to answer. How much money do you earn? What car do you drive? How far can you kick the ball? And my particular favourite: Have you ever cried after losing a match?

Brown says he hasn't. But on the subject of creating chances, United's failure to take theirs in the opening stages of this season already sees the champions five points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Keane or no Keane, returning hero or not, another home victory this afternoon, after last week's narrow win over Tottenham, would appear to be a must.

"We needed that win and we've got to build on it now," Brown says. "We've been playing well, keeping the ball, just not been very positive with our finishing.

"When Ronaldo got sent off and received his three-match ban and Wayne did his foot, we didn't have an out-and-out striker. That made it difficult for us. But we have definitely got the players to fill in."

So it's been a tough start. And given the huge sums of money spent by several competitors, Brown doesn't envisage things getting any easier.

"Lots of clubs have brought good players in so it's a bit more difficult to say now exactly what the top four or five clubs will be. In certain games there'll definitely be upsets. The standard's got higher. Premiership managers are working out how to play against the big teams as well. Without a shadow of a doubt, I think it will be harder this season."

It was certainly tricky against Spurs, whose discipline in numbers frustrated United for long spells. The visitors might even have taken the lead from the penalty spot if the referee had decided that Brown's goal-saving block had involved an arm. Not surprisingly, the player in question has been quizzed on the subject all week. Was it or wasn't it? We needed to know.

"Nah, it hit me on my chest," he says smiling, pointing to the spot. "I understand what people are saying because my arm comes around naturally, but it definitely hit my chest."

Brown's intervention that day came as a right-back, a position he has filled, in Gary Neville's absence, for every game so far. It's not his natural position - he was brought up as a centre-half - but over the years he has grown to accept the value of versatility.

"I always want to play," he says. "That's the main thing. If I was here and didn't play a game then that would be completely different. But I can honestly say that when I have been fit I've played maybe 25-plus games a season. That's a good amount. I mean, when everyone is fit, I don't get on the pitch. But it's a squad game. Throughout my time here - this is my ninth full season - I've always played the same role."

And if it's been good enough for United, it seems to be for England as well. Selected again yesterday in Steve McClaren's squad, Brown will meet up next week for the crucial double-header with Israel and Russia confident his country can qualify for the European Championship.

"We've got such a good squad who we know we can win every game. I know there's a lot of pressure but that's football. The lads will all come together and I'm sure we'll do enough. I'm sure we will. The team's too good not to."

Thank goodness someone's got confidence. Maybe it comes from his upbringing when winning became a habit. Then again, maybe it comes from people like Keane demanding the best.

[qbdp]

Ronaldo Orgy With 5 Hookers

Stars' Pool Party After Beating Spurs

MANCHESTER United are to quiz star striker Cristiano Ronaldo after he invited hookers back to his home for a poolside orgy.

The five girls travelled 60 miles by taxi from Leeds to Ronaldo’s home on the outskirts of Manchester to party with the players, who were celebrating United’s first victory of the season against Spurs this week.

The girls spent around six hours romping with Ronaldo, his team-mate Anderson and several other men in the pool, Jacuzzi and changing rooms.

The girls took a series of photos inside the house on mobile phones — one even videoed and snapped Brazilian midfielder Anderson naked apart from a pair of boxer shorts.

The stars laid on booze for the party as they cavorted with the girls — leaping in and out of the pool in the early hours. Some of the girls went skinny-dipping.

The girls all work through McKenzies Escort agency based in Leeds.

Their web site brags: “McKenzies is the freshest and fastest-growing agency in the North, covering West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. We pride ourself on running an honest and efficient escort service. Whether you want companionship in the privacy of your own home or hotel, or a business or pleasure trip away, McKenzies have the right companion for you. You will find all of our escorts to be beautiful, seductive, fun and accommodating.

“At McKenzies we realise that privacy is of the utmost importance. When making a booking with us, any details you provide are kept in the strictest confidence and are only stored until the end of the booking.”

During the party hi-jinks on Sunday night and early Monday morningsome of the five girls dived in the pool naked, as they had no swimming gear.

During the evening the girls wandered freely through various parts of the house and had drinks in the garden.

The evening finally ended around 5am when one of the men told the girls to be quiet as Ronaldo was tired and he had gone to bed.

Manchester United paid an amazing £17million for Anderson this summer. Anderson said at the time: “I could not imagine I would ever get to work with a manager like Alex Ferguson but it has happened. Ever since I was a boy, I always wanted to play for Manchester United and now that dream has come true. I am very happy.”

Portuguese star Ronaldo, who is now worth at least £40million, won two awards last year as the Premiership’s Player of the Year.

He was falsely accused of rape by a prostitute after he had sex with her in his suite at London's luxury Sanderson Hotel in 2005.

And he became a hate figure during last year’s World Cup when he was caught winking to his team-mates after helping get England striker Wayne Rooney sent off.

[dream888]

Man Utd go all the way tonight. Of course Ronaldo is entitled for romping, especially paid ones, it is a rubbish thought that footballers are role model. Boys are boys. U must play hard and enjoy harder. Can't wait for tonight game to end so that our beloved Ronaldo can get on the field.

[dream888]

Originally Posted by chickenzip

United Tell 'Fit' Rooney To Hold Fire

Manchester United are having to rein in Wayne Rooney's enthusiasm to make a first team return ahead of schedule.

What a bull!!!

The Sun claims that, after announcing the end of his playing days, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was afforded a guard of honour by his United team-mates before Tuesday's squad photograph at Old Trafford.

He deserved it.

Of course, our beloved Solskjaer deserve it, anyone still can remember how shocked everyone was when we sign him in 1995 from Moldo for 1.5 million pounds together with Ronny Johnson. Wow, 12 long years of service and also the person who delivered the European Cup to us.

How came we rein in Rooney, hopefully that will not be the case. He is a young man and of course he recovered from his injuries faster than the rest.

[alex18122003]

Louis Saha came off the bench to give Manchester United a hard earned 1-0 victory over battling Sunderland at Old Trafford on Sunday.

All eyes had been on Roy Keane's return to his former stomping ground, but it was ultimately a disappointing homecoming for one of Old Trafford's favourite sons as his side fell to the 71st minute goal.

The Irishman's spoiling tactics worked for well over an hour of the contest, only for Saha's header from Nani's near post corner to spoil the day both for Keane and for over 3,000 travelling Black Cats fans.

The Frenchman was brought on at half-time to give the hosts a cutting edge up front after they were frustrated during the opening period by a Sunderland performance that bore many of the hallmarks of Keane's own career as a player.

Gone was the team that capitulated in the Carling Cup midweek; here was a side that was aggressive in the tackle, that bit ankles every time a United player touched the ball, that refused to give up and was difficult to break down.

Despite United's injury and disciplinary problems - Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Park Ji-Sung all missed out through injury and Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended - a wealth of talent was nevertheless on display.

Anderson made his long-awaited debut, joining Paul Scholes, Chris Eagles and Nani is an attack-minded midfield trio in front of Owen Hargreaves and behind Carlos Tevez.

But Sunderland, who played with just new signing Kenwyne Jones up front, were a difficult unit to break down and despite all the potential invention of United's line-up, the teams headed in at the half goalless.

Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon looked particularly solid, saving without fuss from Tevez, Eagles and Scholes in the opening period.

It took a deflection from another Scholes shot to make Gordon look uneasy in between the sticks, although the effort just before half time flew the other side of his right upright.

Alex Ferguson felt his side needed a little bit extra up front during the second half and introduced Saha off the bench at the restart for the ultimately ineffectual Anderson.

And the Frenchman nearly made an immediate impact, controlling a long ball on his chest before shooting goalwards, only to be flagged offside.

Gordon was then brought back into action by a first time Tevez shot before pulling off the best save of the day to deny Saha an equally brilliant volley. Nemanja Vidic came close from the resulting corner, but his own near post volley flashed inches over the bar.

Saha's goal effectively ended the game as a contest, such was Sunderland's impotency going forward, and United could even have notched a second had Hargreaves 79th minute strike flown a few inches the other side of the bar.

Wesley Brown had a strong penalty shout turned down near full time, but referee Martin Atkinson opted to wave play on even though replays later showed the ball to have clearly struck Danny Collins' hand.

But 2-0 would have been unfair on Sunderland and rather too flattering a scoreline for United, who continue to struggle in the attacking third of the pitch.

Saha's return to fitness and the imminent return of Ronaldo from suspension are sure to give United fans some hope, but the bare facts speak volumes - Alex Ferguson's team have failed to score more than once in all five of their Premier League games so far this season.

[machoman]

Louis can be United goal king, says Ferguson
Sunday, September 02, 2007, 08:17:45 HRS

Sir Alex Ferguson will look to Louis Saha to kick-start Manchester United's season after the French striker made a goal-scoring return following his long-term injury problems.

Saha has struggled with ankle and knee injuries since the turn of the year and made his first appearance since early may in the single-goal defeat of Sunderland.

The forward's match-winner was his first Premiership goal since last December and with Wayne Rooney missing for at least another month with a broken foot, United manager Ferguson admitted he was relieved to have Saha back.

The champions have struggled so far with Rooney and the suspended Ronaldo, managing just three goals in five Premiership games.

And Ferguson believes the return of Saha with give United a major boost as he attempts to blend new arrivals Carlos Tevez, Nani and Anderson into his side.

"We needed someone like Louis against Sunderland," the manager said.

"He showed his penetration, his strength, his speed. He's a great asset to have and of course we have been missing him for the last eight months now.

"He has come through fine and we are delighted at that also because after being out for such a long time we are aware that kind of injury can come back again but thankfully he is okay.

"Our front four haven't played together before. It was Anderson's first game, Tevez playing through on his own when I think he is far better playing behind someone, Chris Eagles is a young lad, Nani, it's new to them."

Ferguson believes the two-week international break will ensure Saha is fresh to resume when United travel to Everton on September 15.

"The break will give them a chance to recover and get ready for the next game at Goodison," he added

"It's a big game because we will be in Europe immediately after so it's an exciting time but by then we will have Ronaldo back for certain."

Roy Keane admitted Sunderland's narrow defeat at Old Trafford meant much more than the rousing reception he received at Old Trafford on his first visit to his former club as a manager.

Keane's side have now suffered four straight defeats but the manager is convinced his promoted team have enough to survive their first season back in the top flight.

"The result overshadowed the occasion but I did enjoy the reception, it was very, very nice, but straight after the game it's all about getting the right result," he said.

"We didn't quite make it but overall there were good signs for us.

"I didn't really get sucked into it and get bogged down with it, I just got on with the match. Of course I appreciated it but United fans have always been good to me even the time when I let the club down as a player.

"I am comfortable in where we are and where we are trying to go. We are obviously on the back of playing Liverpool and United and that was always going to be a testing time for us.

"But we have a two-week break coming up, we had a couple of lads making their debuts, and I more than confident we will be alright come the end of the season.

"There will be disappointments along the way but we will just lick our wounds and get on with it."

- AFP

[CibLover]

Now here's something related to this forum - - SEX!!

A Brazilian call girl has revealed how she scored a Premiership hat-trick during a four-hour sex orgy with Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo and two of the team's hottest new signings.

Blonde Juliana Baltrusch, 24, was one of FIVE GIRLS booked by 22-year-old Ronaldo for the wild party at his £3million Cheshire mansion with boy wonders Nani and Anderson and two of his friends. Last night she told how she dirty danced with £100,000-a-week Ronaldo, then performed a sex act on winger Nani, 20, before finally joining 19-year-old Anderson in bed for a noholds-barred spanking session.

Nani and Anderson were manager Sir Alex Ferguson's big summer signings, costing £12million and £18million respectively. Brazilian Anderson made his Old Trafford debut alongside Portuguese star Nani against Sunderland yesterday. They won 1-0.

Ronaldo - valued at £40million - organised the sex party after United's 1-0 victory over Tottenham last Saturday. It was the team's first win after their worst start to the Premiership season for 15 years. But their side's performances on the pitch was the last thing on the players' minds as they waited for the girls from Leedsbased McKenzies escort agency to arrive at Ronaldo's country pile just before midnight.

Juliana said: "I had a phone call about the job at 6pm and they told me it was a very high-profile client, but I had no idea who had booked me until I got there. We were driven from Leeds to Manchester where we were picked up in another car."

The other girls were a blonde known as Hollie, an 20-year-old brunette who calls herself Yasmina, a 26-year-old named Taylor and Hannah, a 25-year-old brunette. We were all really excited and giggling because it was top secret," said Juliana. "But nothing prepared us for the shock when we got there.

"We were driven up a path and it looked like it was in the middle of a farm or something. We were shown into a huge mansion like nothing I've ever seen before. I knew this was going to be a good job as soon as we walked inside - there was a huge lobby with two staircases at either end winding up to two different sets of bedrooms. A man showed us into the living room and I couldn't believe who was sat there lounging on a huge white sofa.

"It was Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson - just sat around in jeans listening to R&B music. They were dressed casually in jeans a Tshirts, but they still had their diamond earrings and gold chains and watches on. I recognised Ronaldo straight away from watching the World Cup last year. He's my idol. I've always fancied him and I nearly said, 'I'll do it for free'.

"One of the men said, 'Come through ladies, make yourself at home - we have lots of drink. We want some fun'. I heard Ronaldo say in Portuguese to one of his pals, 'Wow, look at those breasts', as we walked over.

"Nani had his top off - he looked so fit, just leaning back with his arms stretched over the back of the sofa. From the looks on their faces you could tell they had been looking forward to us arriving but first they sat us down and said, 'Make sure you keep your mouths shut about all this. You must never tell anyone what we are about to do'.

Then they added with a laugh, 'Yeah, secrecy's really important - if the boss (Sir Alex) finds out he'll hit the roof'.

"After that they loosened up a bit. They offered us some whisky from a bottle of Jack Daniels on the coffee table. But none of them were drinking - just downing loads of cans of Red Bull to keep their energy up."

Juliana told how before the sex games began she pulled a hand-held swipe machine out of her handbag to take a credit card. The bill for four hours with the girls came to nearly £3,000.

"They turned the music up and started dirty dancing with us in the middle of the living room," she said. "The room was pretty impressive - there was a massive 6ft-wide plasma TV on the wall and a big stereo, plus trendy, modern furniture."

Juliana said Ronaldo was pretty impressive too. "He has an amazing body. All the girls wanted to dance with him and he said to his mates, 'Look, they all love me'. But he gave me a cheeky wink and I started dancing with him immediately. Before I knew it I was kissing Ronaldo and my hands were wandering all over his body. I was in heaven and you could tell he was turned on.

"Yasmina and Hollie were bumping and grinding with each other and rubbing themselves against the men." It wasn't long before the group moved to another part of the house - Ronaldo's indoor pool and sauna. The pool room was beautiful," said Juliana. "It was all lit up and must have cost a fortune. Everyone just stripped to their underwear and jumped into the water. Everyone was getting it on and couples were disappearing into the sauna next to it for one-on-one sessions."

Juliana told how she paired off with one of Ronaldo's friends. "We were in the pool kissing and before long we were getting really hot," she said. "He led me back inside the main house, pulling off my soaking wet bra and pants on the way. By this time everyone had paired off into different rooms but it wasn't exactly a private thing - people kept walking into rooms to watch what the others were doing.

"Me and Ronaldo's friend had sex in one of the bedrooms. When we finished 20 minutes later, we walked next door to find Hollie and Yasmina having a foursome with Nani and Anderson. Everyone seemed to be watching."

Juliana said she went back to the pool with Ronaldo's friend where they had sex again.

"Afterwards we went back upstairs and accidentally walked in on Ronaldo. He was lying there completely naked next to Hannah. They had finished and I thought, 'Oh my God, what an incredibly well-built man...in every sense!'"

By now the party had started to get really noisy, according to Juliana. "Girls were screaming and moaning," she said. "And there was lots of laughter. At one point Ronaldo told everyone to keep the noise down otherwise the neighbours would complain."

Juliana went on: "Unlike the others, who were swapping partners, Hannah wouldn't leave Ronaldo - she was obsessed with him - and I don't blame her. She said she was hoping to see Ronaldo again. Juliana told how she went into the kitchen to have a drink and bumped into Anderson and Nani, both standing there naked. After a while I'd seen all of the men naked," she said. "They were just walking around with nothing on. They didn't care. Because I speak their language we were having a joke and laughing around. They kept asking if I was tired and I said, 'No'. Then Anderson said, 'Let's go - I'll show you I'm not tired'."

But before jumping into bed with Anderson, Juliana performed a sex act on Nani. She said: "They were looking at each other and I just swapped like that. With Nani it wasn't full sex - just kissing and touching. Anderson told me, 'Brazilian footballers are the best players in the world and Brazilian girls are the best at f***ing - let me see what you can do!' I thought, 'How arrogant', but as we got going, I could tell he wasn't disappointed.

Anderson was in control. He was very manly, throwing me around the bed, spanking me and talking dirty. He told me he wanted to make sure I was having fun too. He was a really good kisser and he was very well endowed so I was very happy."

Juliana added: "Sleeping with Brazilian men is very different from being with an Englishman. Englishmen touch a lot but Brazilian men are more wild and that was how Anderson was."

Around 4am - at the end of their four-hour booking - the exhausted girls left in a taxi.

Juliana moved to London last September after falling out with her husband at home in Brazil. She started work as a £170-an-hour escort girl at Leeds-based McKenzies a month ago and now divides her time between the two cities. She said: "Men come to my flat, sometimes I go to them. But it's not always as good as it was last Sunday. That night didn't feel like work because I was really enjoying myself."

Last night a source at McKenzies said: "We are a highly-respected escort agency, so it's no surprise that top Premiership players decided to use our services. We hear that Ronaldo was very happy with our girls. In fact that's probably an understatement."

And Juliana revealed that she has left Ronaldo another trophy to go with his Player of the Year and Premiership winner's medals from last season.

She giggled: "I left behind my bra and knickers as a little souvenir. By now he's probably found them." Excerpts from the Daily Mirror.

================================================== =====

KNN!!! On the pitch no stamina, but f***king Brazilian strong horr??

I'll bet SAF sure hit the roof and by now, their didi sure must've shrunk when the Gaffer aimed a boot at their crotch!!

[chickenzip]

Saha optimistic

Saha aims to prove he's fit for Fergie test.

"I know what I can do for this team and it's just great to get an important goal again," said Saha, who had to look back as far as February for his previous scoring contribution. "The reason I'm often injured is because I'm totally committed and give everything - the same as every other United player."

Daily Mail

[asiancigar]

My joy at Alex thank-you letter

ALEX FERGUSON has sent Alan Smith a thank-you letter for his role in Manchester United’s success.

Smith won the Premier League title with the Red Devils last season but then joined Newcastle for £7million because he wanted regular first-team action.

However, Old Trafford boss Fergie admitted in his letter he was a reluctant seller.

Smith told SunSport: “I must have done something right when I was there for the manager to take the time to send me a message like that.

"I was really pleased to get the letter. He thanked me for my contribution to Manchester United and told me what a difficult decision it was to sell me.

“I understand that. There are no hard feelings.

“The only disappointment for me was that I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to the United fans who were great to me all the time I was there.

“When you consider I came from Leeds and the clubs’ supporters are not exactly the best of friends, it was a big thing for them to accept me the way they did.

“They knew Leeds were the team I’d always supported but they never held it against me.

“I still have a lot of friends at Old Trafford and will be looking out for their results.

“But I’ve been lucky to move from one big club to another and, hopefully, I can help bring some silverware to Newcastle after so many years without a trophy.

“Newcastle is a fantastic place to play football.”

[asiancigar]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Ronaldo Orgy With 5 Hookers

Stars' Pool Party After Beating Spurs

MANCHESTER United are to quiz star striker Cristiano Ronaldo after he invited hookers back to his home for a poolside orgy.

The five girls travelled 60 miles by taxi from Leeds to Ronaldo’s home

Wow... what a cheongster...... maybe he could honor us by signing up for SBF... hehehe

Cheerz
AC

[asiancigar]

Glazers plan on keeping Manchester United
England - 04 September, 2007

With foreign money pouring in to the English Premier League, one foreign investor refuted rumours he would sell out to another group of overseas interests.

Malcolm Glazer and his family said they will remain at Manchester United, which they took over for GBP 790 million two years ago. Investment groups from China and Dubai were said to be preparing bids as high as GBP 1 billion for a shot at taking over the club.

The China consortium went to the club to see if the Glazers would be interested in selling, but were rebuffed.

"Manchester United is not for sale. The Glazer family are not engaged in any discussion with any prospective bidder and it is not courting bidders for Manchester United," a spokesman for the family told the BBC.

ps.... can't imagine prawn sandwich being substituted with Tim Sum or Kebabs...... hahaha

[imom]

Originally Posted by asiancigar

Wow... what a cheongster...... maybe he could honor us by signing up for SBF...

Rumour has it that Becks was spotted at GL sampling the cat150 ladies when he was here early in his career.... hehe

Originally Posted by imom

Rumour has it that Becks was spotted at GL sampling the cat150 ladies when he was here early in his career.... hehe

Wow, no wonder I tot I saw him there ...

[mokermania]

Originally Posted by qbdp

FERGIE MADE ME A WINNER... NOW I'M LOSING

he lost bcos he did not learn the "Hairdryer" treatment from Fergie...

he could have use that during half time to motivate his players too bad he never learn it....

soon Fergie will be telling Keane " u don fit to wear this suit" (to be a manager)..haha

good luck keane

[qbdp]

Louis in heaven after winner

LOUIS Saha's prayers were answered with his match-winning comeback goal against Sunderland at Old Trafford.

The Frenchman's first Premiership goal since last December was heaven-sent for the Reds.

"I have to thank God. He helped me through a very difficult period," said Louis.

"I have had a lot of criticism, which was fair. I am just happy to be back in the team once more. It is brilliant. It has been a long time. I was just happy to be back on the pitch but to score that goal is immense."

Saha, who allegedly consulted a sports psychologist to help him overcome the mental side of injury, admits he has a formula that would ensure his injury-prone reputation ended.

But the 29-year-old refuses to implement the scheme.

"I know exactly how not to get injured, it is to play without full commitment," he says.

"But I won't do that. I can't do it. If things like this happen, it is because of the game. United players always play at 100% so I am just happy to be playing.

"It was my first 45 minutes. I had a couple of small games in training but nothing compared to that. I feel great. Now I just need more games to give me more confidence.

"I am looking to try and get fitter over the next two weeks. It is an amazing chance for me. It is a good opportunity.

"The keeper made a great save just before I scored. The main thing is to score. It was a great corner from Nani. I just closed my eyes!"

Sir Alex Ferguson appreciated Saha's contribution.

"We didn't want to start Louis but at half-time I thought he was needed," he said.

"He brings that speed and penetration to the front line, different from the other players."

Ferguson admitted the attack struggled at times.

"We do lack penetration because Carlos Tevez is not playing in his best position," added Sir Alex.

"You have to look at the front four. They have never played with each other. We have Nani at 20, Tevez 23, Anderson 19 and Eagles 20. There is a lot of immaturity there."