Still Following the Trawler

October 2010 Rooney: “I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad.  I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract.” “For me its all about winning trophies – as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified. April 2011  ( United need only 7 points out of 12 to clinch title number 19, and are on the verge of playing in their 3rd Champions League final in 4 years) Rooney:  “When I look back at it now, how wrong was I?” “Obviously, I understand I made a mistake. I admitted that and I apologised for that. I’ve wanted to try to prove myself all over again to the United fans. I feel I’m doing that now. Hopefully, now I’m helping this team to be successful. It would be a great end to the season to be in a Champions League Final and to win the title. I’m very grateful to the fans for supporting me and I’m delighted with my form again. I h...

Prior to the game, all the talk was understandably about United's poor form against, and failure to overcome, German opposition in the Champions League. So as the tabloids so delighted in reminding us: first came Borrusia Dortmund in 1996/97 - our first memorable appearance in the competition - where our heroic 4-0 performance against Porto in the Quarter Final was reduced to mere memories (firmly securing it's status in the now classic genre of 'great European nights at Old Trafford'). Fast forward to 2001 and it was Bayern's turn to do us and in turn seek revenge for '99 and all that. It was then the unfancied and underestimated Leverkusen the season after that, going through on away goals, and finally we look back just over 12 months ago to Bayern's second pop at destroying us in the Quarter Finals, although this time round it was that bit more painful . It's fair to say therefore that the German's have a given us a good hiding over the years, del...

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG Venue:   Veltins-Arena Date:  Tuesday 26 April Kick-off:  1945 BST Schalke 04 Bundesliga: Games W D L GD Pts 9 TSG Hoffenheim 31 10 10 11 2 40 10 Schalke 04 31 11 7 13 0 40 11 Werder Bremen 31 9 11 11 -14 38 League form: L D W W L W Last game  (23 rd   Ap ril, 2011) : Schalke 04 0-1  Kaiserslautern  (12th) Top Scorer: Raul – 12 (18 in total) United Premier League: Games W D L GD Pts 1 Manchester United 34 21 10 3     39 73 2 Chelsea 34 20 7 7 37 67 3 Arsenal 34 18 10 6 31 64 League form: W D L W W W Last game  (24th   April, 2011) : United 1-0  Everton  (7th) Top Scorer: Berbatov – 21 (22 in total)

Good. Passion. From the proud British stalwarts in the side,  Rooney and Ferdinand, to the newer continental members, Fabio, Valencia and Hernandez, I was so unbelievably proud with the levels of commitment and passion we showed yesterday. There is no denying that as the minutes ticked away and yet another golden chance went begging, frustration and lethargy naturally began to kick in. But with this United side, unique to any other, the sense of desire and undying will to win is overpowering. Van der sar, at the spritely age of 40 made the sort of save you'd expect from a 'keeper 10 years younger - instead it was made by one of the greatest the game has ever seen, and one who knew that his side's title challenge was in the balance had he not stretched for his life and pushed Rodwell's deflected effort away. Rooney was dominating the game, wherever on the pitch he roamed, and gave his team-mates a bollocking when he felt the desire was lacking. Ferdinand, captain on the ...

84th minute... United    1* (Hernandez) Everton 0 * 7 points to win the title . A victory in each of our next two games (against Arsenal and Chelsea) and we'll be crowned champions.

I Heard 'Em Say... Henry Winter, the Telegraph Seven-up but no champagne. Manchester United stretched their lead to seven points over Arsenal, and still remain favourites for a record 19th title, but this was another case of more travails on their travels. So imperious at home, where they have dropped only two points from 48, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have now taken only 24 points from a possible 51 on the road. They will be pleased to get back to their Old Trafford fastness for Saturday’s game with Everton. Their mood will also be lifted if Tottenham Hotspur thwart Arsenal on Wednesday evening. Kevin McCarra, the Guardian The match never quite veered away from deadlock and even its sole controversy lacked substance. In stoppage time Javier Hernández moved across the Newcastle United right-back Danny Simpson but it was hard to tell if there was significant contact to leave the Mexican on the turf. The referee, Lee Probert, was confident of his own penalty area interpr...