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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS Date: Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 GMT+00:00 1999 Mail: barry@www.red11.org This Issue: 1. United boss Ferguson relaxed over Ronaldo affair 2. FERGIE WANTS SCHMEICHEL TO STAY 3. GIGGS THIRSTING TO FACE BIG GUNS 4. Keane the beating heart of Manchester United 5. Europe, United and me - Interview with Ryan Giggs ++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++ Daily RED Trivia - will return tomorrow. *************** ALL Results & Fixture Index: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm *********** NEXT MATCH: Wed Mar 03 vs Inter Milan (H) ECLl "Quarter Final" 1st leg 19.45 *********** Coming Matches: March 3 Inter Milan (H) ECLl "Quarter Final" 1st leg 19.45 7 Chelsea (H) 14.00 FAC6 *SKY SPORTS* LIVE* + DkTV1 Scand. 10 Liverpool (A) 19.45 PL (moved due to FAC) 13 Newcastle (A) 15.00 PL 17 Inter Milan (A) ECL "Quarter Final" 2nd leg 19.45 21 Everton (H) 15.00 PL UNITED Stats v All teams: http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/ *** FULL LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 28/02/99 *** HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts GD --------------------------------------------------------------------- Manchester United 28 10 4 1 35 15 6 5 2 28 14 57 34 Chelsea 27 9 5 0 21 8 5 6 2 20 14 53 19 Arsenal 26 8 5 0 21 4 5 5 3 13 8 49 22 Aston Villa 27 8 2 4 25 21 4 6 3 13 10 44 7 Leeds United 26 8 3 2 21 6 3 6 4 18 19 42 14 West Ham United 27 8 3 3 20 19 3 4 6 11 19 40 -7 Liverpool 27 7 4 2 33 16 4 2 8 17 18 39 16 Derby County 27 5 5 3 13 12 4 6 4 13 13 38 1 Wimbledon 26 7 5 1 18 11 2 5 6 12 25 37 -6 Sheffield Wednesday 26 6 3 4 16 8 4 2 7 18 17 35 9 Newcastle United 26 7 2 4 20 16 2 5 6 14 19 34 -1 Tottenham Hotspur 26 5 6 2 20 17 2 6 5 10 15 33 -2 Middlesbrough 27 4 8 1 16 10 3 4 7 18 29 33 -5 Leicester City 25 5 3 4 17 18 2 6 5 8 16 30 -9 Everton 27 3 8 3 9 7 3 2 8 11 22 28 -9 Charlton Athletic 27 4 5 5 18 13 2 4 7 13 24 27 -6 Coventry City 27 5 4 4 17 14 2 2 10 11 24 27 -10 Blackburn Rovers 27 5 3 5 15 16 1 5 8 12 22 26 -11 Southampton 26 5 2 6 20 22 1 3 9 6 28 23 -24 Nottingham Forest 27 1 6 6 11 24 2 2 10 11 30 17 -32 *** FIXTURES ON 28/02/99 *** Newcastle United v Arsenal *** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 28/02/99 *** Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 15/08/98 Leicester City Home D 2-2 11 55,052 22/08/98 West Ham United Away D 0-0 11 26,039 09/09/98 Charlton Athletic Home W 4-1 9 55,147 12/09/98 Coventry City Home W 2-0 5 55,193 20/09/98 Arsenal Away L 0-3 10 38,142 24/09/98 Liverpool Home W 2-0 3 55,181 03/10/98 Southampton Away W 3-0 2 15,251 17/10/98 Wimbledon Home W 5-1 2 55,265 24/10/98 Derby County Away D 1-1 2 30,867 31/10/98 Everton Away W 4-1 2 40,079 08/11/98 Newcastle United Home D 0-0 3 55,174 14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198 21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475 29/11/98 Leeds United Home W 3-2 2 55,172 05/12/98 Aston Villa Away D 1-1 2 39,241 12/12/98 Tottenham Hotspur Away D 2-2 1 36,079 16/12/98 Chelsea Home D 1-1 2 55,159 19/12/98 Middlesbrough Home L 2-3 3 55,152 26/12/98 Nottingham Forest Home W 3-0 3 55,216 29/12/98 Chelsea Away D 0-0 3 34,741 10/01/99 West Ham United Home W 4-1 3 55,180 16/01/99 Leicester City Away W 6-2 2 22,091 31/01/99 Charlton Athletic Away W 1-0 1 20,043 03/02/99 Derby County Home W 1-0 1 55,174 06/02/99 Nottingham Forest Away W 8-1 1 30,025 17/02/99 Arsenal Home D 1-1 1 55,171 20/02/99 Coventry City Away W 1-0 1 22,596 27/02/99 Southampton Home W 2-1 1 55,316 ****** Champions League: Group D P W D L F A Pts Bayern Munich 6 3 2 1 9 6 11 Man United 6 2 4 0 20 11 10 Barcelona 6 2 2 2 11 9 8 Brondby 6 1 0 5 4 18 3 ****** CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL DRAW Manchester Utd v Inter Milan Real Madrid v Dynamo Kiev Juventus v Olympiakos Bayern Munich v Kaiserslautern Ties to be played on March 3 and 17 ****** FA CUP Quarter Finals Draw: (ties to be played Sat Mar 6) Newcastle United v Everton Barnsley v Spurs Arsenal v Derby Manchester United v Chelsea (Sun Mar 7 14:00 hrs UK) /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/ United boss Ferguson relaxed over Ronaldo affair LONDON, Feb 27 - Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said on Saturday he was unconcerned about the Ronaldo factor ahead of his side's European Cup quarter-final against Inter Milan next Wednesday and predicted a difficult game for the Brazilian even if he does play. Inter's president Massimo Moratti earlier this week cast doubt on Ronaldo's chances of playing in the first leg at Old Trafford and suggested he might not even make the San Siro return on March 17. But Ferguson insisted on Saturday he was relaxed about the mind games being played by the Italian club -- and doubtful that United would be coming up against the Brazilian at his best. 'All this doesn't concern me,' Ferguson said on BBC television. 'But the boy has obviously got an injury and you can't just all of a sudden turn the gas on whenever you want. 'His two knees have been giving him problems and he has had an operation on one of them. 'You can't just dismiss it. You can't expect to just walk on the pitch and immediately be at 100 percent. 'I think it's a case of half and half. He does have an injury but obviously Inter Milan want him to play. Whether he can or not, though, I don't know. 'But I'm not worrying too much about that. I'm just concentrating on making sure we play at the highest level possible.' Ronaldo, who has played only six full matches for the UEFA Cup holders this season, returned to training this week after missing Inter's last seven games. He was expected to be absent from Saturday's crunch Italian league clash with Juventus. **************************** FERGIE WANTS SCHMEICHEL TO STAY By Mirror Sport Alex Ferguson has asked Peter Schmeichel to think again and stay on at Manchester United. The Old Trafford boss made the surprise plea in a one-to-one conversation with his goalkeeper, who is on schedule to leave at the end of the season. Ferguson has been so impressed with Schmeichel's form that he felt the need to pop the question. The surprised Dane was taken aback after planning carefully to escape from the hurly-burly of English football at the end of the campaign. Schmeichel would like to try his luck in Italy, where Serie A clubs have been put on alert to watch him in the Champions League clashes with Inter Milan. However, the idea of extending his stay at United could yet give Schmeichel second thoughts - especially if the foreign suitors are not of top quality. The keeper's announcement to leave was made a couple of months ago when his form and morale was low. He claimed he could not put his body through the rigours of English football much longer. But Schmeichel has come back more like his old self after a sunshine break, prompting Fergie to realise he is still a force. United have run into massive problems finding a replacement - there are few out there who fit the bill, coming into the club's pay scale and price range. Top of the wanted list is £4million-rated Argentine Carlos Roa, who has been starring in Spain with Mallorca. Parma's young Italian international Pierluigi Bouffon is also under consideration. © PA Sporting Life ************************ GIGGS THIRSTING TO FACE BIG GUNS By David Anderson, PA Sport No Manchester United player is probably looking forward more to their Champions' League showdown with Inter Milan than Ryan Giggs. Giggs suffered the frustration of missing both legs of last season's quarter-final with Monaco because of a hamstring injury. He could only watch on from the sidelines as the French beat United on the away goals rule to end their dreams of European glory for yet another season. Before he had been injured, United had been well placed in the Premiership, Champions' League and FA Cup, but when he returned seven weeks later their season lay in tatters. Giggs regards that injury as the biggest disappointment of his career and 12 months on he is straining at the leash to face Inter at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. 'It's a tough test and the big games are coming thick and fast for us now,' he said. 'It's going to be a good time for us and all the players want to play in the big games. 'When you talk about big games they don't come any bigger than in the Champions' League against Inter Milan and I can't wait.' Three weeks ago it seemed Giggs could miss out on the Champions' League quarter-finals yet again after he limped off against Derby with another hamstring problem. Ironically it was in the corresponding fixture last season that he had sustained the injury which kept him out for seven weeks. But this time round the injury was not as serious and the Welsh international is fully fit and raring to go. 'I had only been out a couple of weeks so I was not going to lose my fitness, just a bit of sharpness maybe,' he said. 'That's coming back in training and I've had a couple of weeks' training under my belt now.' United's tussle with Inter is the first game of a formidable six-match sequence in 18 days, which includes Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals and Liverpool and Newcastle away in the Premiership. Giggs, though, claims United must not let anything distract them from Wednesday night. He knows against opposition of the quality of Inter there might be no second chances. 'There are plenty of big games ahead, but as the old cliche goes we must take it one game at a time,' he said. 'We've got to concentrate on the Champions' League for now because in situations like this you don't always get a second chance. 'With the league, if you lose a game you can always come back, but in cup competitions you have to concentrate on that particular game.' March could well make or break United's hopes of glory on three fronts in the Champions' League, Premiership and FA Cup. It will be the toughest test yet of their mighty squad and Giggs is confident they will cope. 'We're confident at this stage,' he said. 'We're top of the league, in the FA Cup and the Champions' League as well. 'If you had said to us at the start of the season that we would be in this position we would have been well pleased. 'It's going to be difficult with all these big games coming up, but that's how we like it and we're really looking forward to them all.' © PA Sporting Life ******************************* Keane the beating heart of Manchester United By Kevin Fylan LONDON, Feb 27 - Roy Keane, the man once described by Alex Ferguson as the heartbeat of Manchester United, will be charged this week with keeping his side coursing towards domestic and European success. Keane came off the bench on Saturday to will a jaded United to a 2-1 victory over Southampton, a win that maintained their four-point lead at the top of the premier league. But United hopes of returning to trophy-winning ways, after a season void of silverware last year, will face three far more severe tests over the coming 11 days. And manager Ferguson will look to his midfield general Keane to keep them pressing for success on three fronts. A midweek date with Inter Milan in the European Cup quarter-final will be followed on Sunday by an F.A. Cup last-eight clash with Chelsea. Ferguson's men then take on arch-rivals Liverpool in the premier league as they look to maintain their slim lead over Chelsea and Arsenal, their only realistic challengers. Much has been made this season of the extra attacking dimension brought to the team by Dwight Yorke, the 16-goal Trinidad and Tobago striker who scored United's second against Southampton. But more important to United's chances of European and domestic success is the return of Keane. The Irishman missed almost all of last season after a serious knee injury in October. Without him, United crashed out of Europe at the quarter-final stage to Monaco, lost to Barnsley in the F.A. Cup and let slip a commanding lead in the premier league, allowing Arsenal a clear run to the title. But, back at the heart of the midfield, United look in a much stronger position to challenge for success on three fronts. His value to United was put in sharp relief on Saturday as, with his side being held at halftime 0-0 by Southampton, he came off the bench to inspire victory. Keane scored the first goal himself and was instrumental as United, understandably distracted by their European date, were finally able to overcome a committed Southampton outfit. Keane himself recognised how hard it had been to concentrate on the premier league with Inter on the horizon. 'Of course people were looking forward to the Milan game,' Keane said after his vital 45-minute appearance. 'But the manager made changes and we've gone out and won, which was the only important thing. 'We knew Southampton would have been delighted with a point and we expected a hard game from them. 'But we didn't think of this as a run of the mill type of game -- we knew it was going to be hard.' The retirement of Eric Cantona before the start of last season left a gap at the heart of the United side -- a gap Ferguson was banking on Keane to fill. The Irishman's injury robbed United of some of their swagger but also a measure of self-belief. Without Keane and Cantona, United clearly lacked quality against their leading rivals and an ability to grind out results over lesser sides. Now, though, Ferguson believes he has found the long-term successor to Cantona -- and the man to lead his team to European Cup success this season. 'As a captain he sets down the benchmarks for the rest,' Ferguson said this week. 'He's done the job brilliantly. 'Eric Cantona was a hard act to follow as team captain. But in a different way, Roy is proving just as good. He is my new Cantona.' ********************* Europe, United and me -- Paul Wilson talks to Ryan Giggs in an exclusive interview -- Sunday February 28, 1999 He knows that the Champions League is his biggest stage. And the spotlight is back on him Big match man By Paul Wilson Ryan Giggs smiles, half pleased, half modest, at the suggestion that he reserves some of his best performances for big European games. 'I think we all do,' he said. 'Certainly we all try to. All footballers want to prove themselves at the highest level possible, and coming to terms with the Champions' League is the biggest challenge facing us at the moment. All the lads look forward to the games, especially when it gets to the knockout stage.' Yes, but it was Giggs who was described as 'a marvellous player' by Juventus coach Marcelo Lippi after a particularly influential performance last season. The irksome comparisons with George Best were never more apt than at that point, since Giggs too appeared to be playing in the knowledge that without access to a world stage, a European Cup final really would represent the highest level of football possible. Something about the determination with which he fought back from injury to be fit to face Inter Milan on Wednesday suggested the same imperative still applies. 'He's a big match player,' Alex Ferguson said. 'He enjoys these European occasions.' As does everyone else, but most of the rest of the United team have a World Cup or European championship to aim for every couple of years. Only Dwight Yorke also knows how it feels to be locked in a cycle of unsuccessful international qualifiers, and look how keen he was to leave Aston Villa and how frequently he cited Champions League football as the main attraction at Old Trafford. Giggs is disarmingly realistic about his situation. 'It is becoming increasingly difficult to qualify for major championships with Wales,' he said. 'So to that extent I'm happy to be playing against the best players in Europe for United, but I'm not sure that makes me any more determined than the others in the team. I think it's the same for all of us. The Champions League is a break from playing in the Premiership, and a big step up. It's an honour to be playing against the most famous clubs in Europe, and at the same time your own club's honour is at stake, so there's no way you can take it lightly. You are also aware that if you do well in Europe, either as a club or as an individual, people take notice. You can make a name for yourself, and that's what it's all about really. I want to be renowned as a good player, someone capable of playing with the best, and there's no better way of measuring your progress than by pitting yourself against teams like Juventus and Barcelona.' This is quite precisely put, for though Giggs is aware there is another way, and that he would not be short of offers should he ever indicate a willingness to play in Europe, he is convinced he has got the best of all possible worlds at United. 'I have four years still to run on my contract, and I'm very happy about that,' he said. 'As long as we are playing in the Champions League every year I have everything I want right here. I think there was an attraction in playing abroad about 10 years ago, when Italian clubs in particular seemed to offer a level of professionalism and sophistication which just wasn't available in England, but all that's changed. The top of the Premiership is as good a place to be as anywhere now, and that's probably why there aren't any British players going out to Italy any more.' Giggs feels, in any case, that if Champions' League success is to be the benchmark, he would be hard pushed to find a club with a better chance than his present one. 'We've made the last eight three years running, and there are some big clubs around Europe who can't match that,' he said. 'Obviously we would have liked to have done better. Two years ago we had a very good chance, but we're getting more experience all the time and we're still improving. I want us to dominate the Champions' League like we dominated the Premiership for a while, but these things don't happen overnight. It took us a while to get the right blend in the Premiership, then we won it, then we dominated it. I think we can do the same in Europe. We are big enough and we've got the ambition.' United now seem to have a squad large enough to tackle the task this time round too. Ferguson conceded a while ago that a shortage of quality players at a crucial phase of the competition had cost the club dear last season, and United appear mentally and physically livelier than 12 months ago. It is not just that Ferguson now has reserves of the calibre of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jesper Blomqvist to slot in should the need arise, but the £22m spent on Jaap Stam in defence and Yorke in attack has stiffened the side and provided a real cutting edge. The fees appeared excessive at the start of the season, but both players have quickly proved their value. As a fellow attacker, Giggs is particularly appreciative of the extra dimension Yorke has brought to the forward line. 'I think part of the reason people were critical of Dwight's signing was because he was seen as a maker of goals rather than a goalscorer,' he said. 'He was not thought to be what we needed, but he's ended up being top scorer, so fair play to him and to the boss. 'He has surprised me a little, to be honest. I didn't realise how good a player he is until I started playing with him. It was a bit like Eric Cantona all over again. I'd seen him playing for Leeds without being unduly impressed I don't mean I didn't rate him but he didn't strike me as exceptional yet as soon as we were in the same team it was obvious from the start the man was a genius. I suppose that shows I had better stick to playing, but it probably also demonstrates that the quality we have here brings out the best in players. I'm sure that is what Dwight is finding.' It is no secret that Giggs feels Cantona had a major influence on his development and felt a sense of loss when he retired, but the 25 year old lost an even closer guide and mentor this season when Brian Kidd departed to Blackburn. But for Kidd, Giggs might never even have signed for United, and in his various capacities as development officer, reserve team coach and Ferguson's assistant, the new manager at Ewood has supervised every stage of the Welshman's career. 'Brian was one of the main reasons why I joined this club, then he looked after me when I was coming through the A and B teams, and finally ended up coaching me in the first team,' he said. 'Of course you are going to miss someone like that, especially someone who had so many good ideas for the training pitch, but life has to go on. The new coach has plenty of new ideas, which is a good thing, but we've practically only just met, we are still getting used to each other. I think Blackburn have got a good man and I hope everything goes well for him, but I'm not the only player in the team who came through the ranks with Brian. I suppose we all knew he would go one day, if we were being sensible about it, but we all pushed the possibility to the back of our minds.' Kidd, Giggs can confirm, was a major component of the club's success. 'He worked hard at his job and he was good at his job, he was one of the best,' he said. Unsurprisingly, the admiration is mutual. 'Ryan was the best schoolboy I have ever seen, from day one he was exceptional,' Kidd said. 'The grapevine was buzzing about this kid when I first got back in at United and he was at Maine Road with the Blues, but he has worked hard. It is not just natural ability that has made him a superstar, he has done it through hard work. That, and the fact he hasn't changed at bit, speaks volumes.' The grapevine is still buzzing, according to Kidd, only now on a global scale. 'Ryan has already proved himself on the European stage, I know that from my friends in Italy,' he said. 'I know how highly he is thought of over there, and there is no bigger compliment in the world of football that when Italian clubs, coaches and managers rate you.' There were compliments this week from Roberto Baggio. 'You can embarass yourselves trying to pick out the best United players,' he said. 'But I like Giggs very much.' Kidd cuations though about setting too much store by Europe. 'He doesn't have to prove anything at home or abroad either as a person or a player, and he doesn't have to win a European Cup to prove his worth,' said Kidd. 'George Best was just the same. We both played in the same European Cup-winning team, but he didn't need the medal to prove his value. Whether we won the Cup or not players like George Best were always going to be considered world class. Ryan is in the same category. Truly world class players are truly world class players, irrespective of what they win.' But winning never does much harm in football, as Kidd is currently well-placed to observe. It seems hardly fair that he should be worrying about relegation while United step out to face Ronaldo, Baggio and the rest, but no one is complaining. In fact if United sparkle against Inter over the next two matches, the Blackburn boss will surely be permitted a smile. In those circumstances even Ferguson might manage one, though United now have enough experience of European disappointment to know it is never over until it is over. 'It won't really be over even then,' Giggs said. 'We all want to win the Champions League, everybody knows that, but it doesn't stop there. If we do win it, we'll want to defend it. Try and win it again and again. ***************
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