Fletch won't lose focus

Darren Fletcher has handled the disappointment of potentially missing out on a place in the Champions League final with consummate dignity and professionalism.



The 25-year-old Scot’s harsh red card in the 3-1 semi-final victory over Arsenal on Tuesday means that he’ll miss the final, unless a UEFA panel scheduled to meet on Monday decides to rescind the sending off.



Sir Alex admitted last week that he isn’t entirely hopeful, and Fletcher isn’t getting his hopes up. And after another commanding display in the heart of United’s midfield in the 2-0 win over City, Fletch says his mind is solely on helping the Reds win the title.



“I’ve just focused on this game,” he said. “I can’t let it affect me. We’ve still got a championship to win, and that is where all my focus and concentration is. Everything else is out of my hands just now. I can’t let that affect my performances, or affect anything.



“I’m always hoping [that the decision will be overturned], but we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t want to get my hopes up too much because I don’t want to be disappointed.



"We just have to wait and see what happens. Right now I’m focused on helping United win the league.”It's an admirable attitude, and the midfielder has emerged with great credit and appreciation from United's faithful - his name ringing out around Old Trafford all afternoon.



His performance against City has helped put United in a strong position in the title race. Four points from three remaining games would hand the Reds a third consecutive title, 11th Premier League and 18th championship success in total. But Fletcher says the United players want the title wrapped up as soon as possible, preferably at OT.



“We’re in a great position,” he admits. “But we want to win the league as soon as possible. We want to win it against Arsenal, so we need to get three points in the bag against Wigan. That will be a difficult match.”

Sir Alex defends Ronny reaction

Sir Alex Ferguson explained Cristiano Ronaldo’s frustrated response to being substituted in the second half against Manchester City as the winger’s determination to play.



Ronaldo was clearly disappointed at his early departure from the action, after setting United on the way to a comfortable 2-0 win in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, but Sir Alex believes it was a healthy reaction.



“He wanted to stay on, that’s the simple reason,” said the boss. “He’s in great form, but I have got to look at the bigger picture. He had an incredible performance at Arsenal in midweek, he ran his socks off. We have to think about how we get through our games and keeping him fresh.



“It’s great when players want to play. Take Jonny Evans, who was taken ill this morning. We put him on medication but he still said he wanted to play. He was feeling his hamstring at half time but again he wanted to play on. That’s the guts you want. I brought him off because I can’t take chances at this stage of the season.”



United’s other goalscorer, Carlos Tevez, was another player to make a gesture that will make the headlines. After scoring the Reds’ brilliant second, he held his hands behind his ears. The Argentinian’s future remains unclear, but Sir Alex was again unmoved over the issue.



“I didn’t read [what he was quoted as saying in] the papers. You hear things… but, look, he is a Manchester United player. The fans love him. Our fans love triers. When players try, the fans love that.” Asked when Tevez’s future would be sorted out, the boss responded curtly: “I’m not getting into that, OK?”

United 2 City 0

United now need just four points from three games to win a third successive league title after the Reds brushed aside Mark Hughes’ men in the Manchester derby on Sunday.




First-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez sealed the points on a day when United’s back four were rarely troubled. The Blues were no match for a United side determined to regain top spot after Liverpool’s win at West Ham on Saturday had sent the Scousers temporarily to the summit.




Now, however, three points clear and with a game in hand, the Reds are favourites to secure an 11th Premier League trophy and could do so at Old Trafford next Saturday should Sir Alex's men beat Wigan Athletic on Wednesday night.




For Sunday's derby battle, the United boss made five changes to the side that beat Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Jonny Evans and Rafael came into the back four for Rio Ferdinand and John O’Shea, while Ryan Giggs slotted into the centre of midfield. Up front, Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov started together for the 11th time in the league this season.




It was Ji-sung Park, however, who had the first chance of the game. The South Korean, who’s scored in United’s last two matches, collected Ronaldo’s knock-down inside the box on three minutes but dragged his shot wide of Shay Given’s post.




The Reds enjoyed a lot of early possession and both Tevez and Ronaldo forced Given into routine saves in the opening 10 minutes. City looked dangerous on occasion too, Robinho proving a handful for young Rafael at right back.




But it wasUnited who went in front and it was that man Ronaldo with yet another free-kick. Against Arsenal in midweek he’d scored from 41 yards; this time it was a mere 28. Slightly left of centre, Ronaldo struck the ball sweetly and it flew past the City wall, bouncing once before nestling in the back of Given’s net.




Carlos Tevez almost added a second just after the half-hour with a brilliant effort that cannoned off the frame of the goal from the corner of the penalty area. The Argentinean, subject to intense pre-match speculation surrounding his future at Old Trafford, worked hard all afternoon and was involved in many of the Reds’ best attacking forays.




Indeed, it was Tevez who provided the final flourish to round off a superb move on the stroke of half-time and send the Reds 2-0 up. Darren Fletcher pumped a long ball forward, which Dimitar Berbatov cushioned with the delicacy of a father cradling his newborn. The Bulgarian then rolled the ball across the edge of the box to Tevez, who took two touches before rifling into the net off the inside of Given’s left-hand post.




The second goal was thoroughly deserved after a half in which United had dominated possession and continually found space in the final third. At the back, too, the Reds had looked solid with Nemanja Vidic marshalling the defence in Rio Ferdinand’s absence. One full-bloodied yet perfectly-timed sliding challenge, in particular, exemplified why the Serbian centre-back is hotly tipped to win the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award next weekend.




Neither manager made substitutions at half-time – Sir Alex certainlyhad no reason to – although City emerged from the break determined to pull a goal back. Robinho was presented with a golden chance to do just that on 50 minutes, but fired over from 10 yards. At the other end, Rafael’s cross-come-shot had Given scrambling momentarily as the ball looped onto the roof of the net.




With an hour gone, Sir Alex withdrew Ji-sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo, who despite scoring the Reds’ opener had struggled to assert himself on the game. Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney entered the fray, with Rooney taking Park’s place on the right and Giggs shifting onto the opposite wing to make way for Scholes in the centre. There he joined Darren Fletcher, who was superb all day and won countless tackles and loose balls.



City’s search for a goal continued but substitute Martin Petrov’s late strike from distance, which drew a stunning finger-tip save from Edwin van der Sar, was as close as the visitors came.

Barça to face Reds in Rome

An incredible injury-time equaliser for 10-man Barcelona booked the Catalan giants a Champions League Final date with United in Rome on May 27.



Barça trailed Chelsea for almost the entire match by virtue of Michael Essien's stunning opener at Stamford Bridge, but Andres Iniesta hammered home from the edge of the area in the 93rd minute - with the visitors' first strike on target - to swing the tie towards the La Liga leaders.



Eric Abidal was sent off midway through the second period and Daniel Alves also picked up a third booking of the competition, meaning that they will both miss out on facing United in the Stadio Olimpico.



Chelsea's frustrations boiled over at full-time, with the last-gasp nature of the defeat particularly tough to take, especially when allied to a string of strong penalty claims being waved away.



It had seemed for so long that, for the first time ever, the same two teams would contest the Champions League Final in successive seasons, but instead it is Barça who will take on the holders in Rome.

Rooney warns City: United are "best in the world"

For all their grandiose ideas, Wayne Rooney has left Manchester City in no doubt who the current number ones are.

After helping Manchester United to secure a place in the Champions League final last night, Rooney's attentions now switch to Sunday's eagerly-anticipated derby encounter with Mark Hughes' men at Old Trafford.

No-one in the United camp needs any reminding that City chose the commemoration of 50 years since the Munich air tragedy to end their 34-year wait for a win at the Theatre of Dreams.

Since then, the Blue camp has received a massive injection of funds from their new Abu Dhabi-based owners, which effectively makes them top of the Rich List.

Lofty ambitions have been replaced by more realistic ambitions, with Rooney pointing to United's current status as world champions as evidence the old order still remains.

"It is down to them what they do with their money,'' said the England striker.

"But we know we are the best team in the world are at the minute. It is there for them to see.

"Sunday is just one game of football and you cannot read too much into it.

"But it still hurts that they did the double over us last season, so we will be looking to do the same to them, having won at Eastlands.''

Rooney scored the only goal that day, part of an overall contribution to United's season which is cementing his position amongst the most influential players in world football.

Maybe it is because the 23-year-old has been operating in Cristiano Ronaldo's slipstream the development almost seems to have been unnoticed.

Not by Fabio Capello of course, who was at the Emirates Stadium to witness Rooney's performance, along with David Beckham, who left no doubt that, at heart, he remains a United fan.

"I am enjoying my football,'' he admitted.

"It is that time of the season when you want to be at your best and I think I am.''

Yet, as ever, Rooney appears more relaxed talking about others.

That red card spat with Ronaldo during the 2006 World Cup has given way to mutual admiration between the pair, who both benefit from each other's brilliance.

It was Ronaldo who hogged the headlines last night, drilling home a spectacular 40-yard free-kick before starting and finishing a flowing three-man move to slide home his 25th goal of the season. Not bad for someone supposedly a shadow of the player who earned the Ballon D'Or last year.

"Cristiano is an unbelievable player,'' said Rooney.

"For the second goal the ground he made up to get into the box after he laid off the initial pass was amazing. He was so quick.

"He has been playing like he did last season for a while now.

"Despite what everyone says he has still scored 25 goals which is a great tally.''

The only setback for United last night was the red card handed out to Darren Fletcher which means the Scot will sit and watch in the Olympic Stadium, just as Roy Keane and Paul Scholes did at the Nou Camp in 1999.

Recompense, if there is such a thing, will come in the next fortnight as Fletcher helps inch United towards the championship.

With another encounter against what is now a shellshocked Arsenal who have nothing else to play for, sandwiched in between trips to Wigan and Hull, if United win on Sunday it is difficult to see them dropping enough points to give Liverpool even the remotest chance of preventing their old rivals joining them on 18 championship wins.

In addition, the Red Devils have the added incentive of getting the whole thing wrapped up quickly enough to ensure the last-day trip across the Pennines is meaningless, allowing Ferguson to rest his star men for Rome four days later.

"You would like to think we can finish off the league as quickly as possible,'' he said.

"We are in a great position and if we can win the next two matches I think we will be all right.

"Of course, if we won it early it would give us a break before the Champions League final.

"But I have to say, if we have to win the league on the last day of the season I would take that now.''

Cristiano Ronaldo-Pure Class

Many questioned whether Cristiano Ronaldo was worth the hassle he seemed determined to cause Manchester United last summer.



Apparently desperate to join Real Madrid at all costs, Ronaldo's days as a Premier League player seemed numbered for much of last summer as all the familiar tactics of press leaks and un-named sources suggested he would start this campaign as the new jewel in La Liga's crown.




Some portrayed United boss Alex Ferguson as a desperate old man, as he tried to hang onto his favoured son even though it was clear he was determined to fly the nest, but this memorable spring night in North London showed just why Ferguson's belligerence was worthwhile.





United will be in Rome to defend their Champions League crown later this month due primarily to the right boot of a player whose wonder-goal sealed their passage to this semi-final tie with the winner in Porto and a performance at the Emirates Stadium that left you wondering why anyone ever doubted his talents.






After setting up the seventh minute opening goal for Ji-Sung Park, thanks in no small part to a slip by Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs, his own moment of iconic Champions League glory confirmed his season of occasional slumber could yet end in the grandest manner. Most of us packed into the overflowing press seats at Emirates Stadium believed Ronaldo was showing arrogant ambition as he lined up a free-kick that was all of 40 yards from goal eleven minutes into this tie. With many of United's big guns up from the back, it seemed as if floating the ball into the box in a bid to expose Arsenal's age-old flaws in defending set plays was a better plan.





Ronaldo's had different ideas. While Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia should never have been beaten from such a lengthy and speculative shot, the pace, the power and movement Ronaldo managed to impart on his set-play was majestic. Arsenal fans groaned at the moment that ensured their fourth season in succession would end without a trophy, but as the ball crashed into the Arsenal net and Ronaldo ran half the length of the field to celebrate, his return to the pinnacle of the world game was complete.






Manchester United's No.7 must have felt a degree of wounded pride after a season that has seen Barcelona's Lionel Messi take over as the pound for pound world champ, yet longevity of brilliance is the mark of a true great and this single, venomous strike ensures Ronaldo's campaign will still be remembered with fondness. He may well end this season as the Premier League's leading goal scorer and with another domestic championship piece of gold in his back pocket.






Oh and he may even get his wish of having Champions League Final showdown with the very man who has stolen his thunder as Leo Messi and Barcelona may well lie in wait for United in Rome. You had to feel a degree of sympathy for the Arsenal fans after this comprehensive drubbing on a night when they banished the notion that the Emirates Stadium is the home of all that is ugly in the modern game. Corporate hospitality is required to fund the club's sparkling stadium, yet the men in suits whose interest is more in their free champagne than the football doesn't always create the sort of atmosphere you would hope for at a major club. However, this was a night when the Emirates came alive for one of the first times.




The rapturous welcome that greeted the two teams onto the pitch prior to a rendition of that always uplifting Champions League anthem suggested Arsenal could be swept on a wave of emotion all the way to the Final in Rome. Indeed, they started in a manner that suggested their silky passing football could unnerve a United side that looked a little rattled as they chased the ball in vain for the first five minutes. Arsenal only have one game plan, but it can beat the best of opponents when executed with precision. Early promise soon turned to a grizzly reality as their old defensive problems in dealing with set-plays surfaced again. In addition, once United's five-man midfield unit managed to snatch the ball from Arsenal's grasp, their powerful presence was a quality Wenger's kids could not overcome.




A little like their demise in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea last month, an experienced and weighty opponent had too much for Arsenal and United boss Ferguson should take credit for selecting what proved to be a perfectly balanced side for this occasion. Arsenal's misery was completed as United broke with pace and power with an hour gone and after Park and Rooney ripped through the broken Gunners, Ronaldo was on hand to apply the finishing touch. This one-sided Champions League semi-final was officially over. It was a cue for Arsenal fans to flow out of the Emirates Stadium in their masses, grumbling at Wenger's tactics and philosophies as they came to terms with the reality that another season of false promise was complete. The comprehensive nature of their trashing in this tie may have ramifications for the future of some key Arsenal players, but such debates are for another day. "It's too soon for me to think about whether this team are good enough to bring success to this club," admitted a visibly shaken Arsene Wenger.





"We have been on a good run in the league, but in the two big cup games we have played recently, we haven't been good enough. "This is the most disappointing night of my Arsenal career as it feels as if we let everyone down. The fans were up for it, but this game was over before it started for us. It hurts so much."Wenger's understandable despair was contrasted by Ferguson's glee and his praise of match winner Ronaldo was complete. "Arsenal started so aggressively, the ball was zipping around and the crowd were right behind them, but they couldn't handle Ronaldo once we got the ball to him," he said. "Ronaldo was the difference between the sides and when you see him performing like that, he is fantastic player.





"I have some sympathy for Arsene Wenger because I think you can still be a great manager even if you don't win the Champions L eague, but that is not the way it will be portrayed in the media." Ronaldo has been accused of being a cheat, a player who doesn't perform in the big games and an egomaniac who is in this game for himself rather than the good of his team. Even if all of those flaws are true, Cristiano Ronaldo is worth his weight in gold.




MAN OF THE MATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo Special players confirm their class on nights like this and Ronaldo stole the show as only he can.




SYMPATHY FOR GIBBS:
It was hard not to feel sorry for Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs as his slip gave Park the chance to open the scoring. Wenger took him off at half-time to protect him from a night that could have tarnished him for good.



FERGIE BANTER: When asked who he wanted to play in the Final, the United boss has a novel answer. "Barcelona or Chelsea will be tough so I'll say neither of them. I think we should have a bye and they should give us the trophy now."




ARSENAL VERDICT: On a night when Wenger's young team needed to show they had become men, they failed their exam in desperate fashion. Where they go from here is open to debate.




UNITED VERDICT: Their unexpected dip a few weeks ago is banished to the history books. Form is temporary, yet United's class has proved to be permanent.

Wenger: The best team won

Arsene Wenger was in downbeat, but magnanimous mood after his Arsenal side were dumped out of the Champions League by United.

The Gunners manager was in confident mood ahead of Tuesday's semi-final decider at the Emirates, but his young side were blown away as the Reds strode through to this month's final in Rome.

"Manchester United over the two games deserved to go through," Wenger told his post-match press conference. "It could have been over after the first game. We had a good opportunity to come back but overall they were the better side."

Wenger cited the loss of two early goals and the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo as the main reasons behind his side's exit, although he admitted United's European experience was also a telling factor.

"It's easy to say we maybe need a bit of experience," he said. "I'm convinced that we have the quality and we will continue to develop. If you look at the average age of the team it is still very young and to reach the level we have deserves a lot of credit.

"But we were caught by a team that has an art to kill and take advantage of every mistake you make. I believe Ronaldo gave us a tough time."