Fletcher wants regular place

Fletcher wants regular place

Darren Fletcher is confident he can find a way into Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-team plans due to the current injury crisis at Manchester United.

United's absentees currently include Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Giggs and, with so many midfielders unavailable, Fletcher believes he may be given an extended run in the starting XI.

"It might work to my advantage that so many players are out of the team," he said.

"We have a lot of players out just now – and when we are short of numbers, you need to take your opportunities.

"There is so much quality in the squad, we all know if you do not perform the manager will have you straight out of the team.

"But, as we have seen plenty of times before, the manager will stick by you if you do the job he needs."

Fletcher scored the equaliser in United’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle last Sunday and, while it has never been a major part of his game, he believes he can contribute plenty more in the future.

"I feel as if I am in decent form.

"I have got into a lot more goalscoring opportunities during pre-season but didn't manage to score, but the mere fact I was getting into the right positions was a good sign."

Fergie: We don't need Berbatov

Fergie: We don't need Berbatov

Sir Alex Ferguson has told his title rivals that Manchester United are good enough to win The Premier League – without signing any new players.

Ferguson is expected to tie up the signing of the brilliant Bulgarian as soon as Tottenham sew up the striker’s replacement – now believed to be Roman Pavlyuchenko, although Andrei Arshavin remains an option.

United’s lack of firepower was highlighted in their opening match of the season, a 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle.

The Red Devils were without attackers Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford, and Ferguson insists his team can retain the title with or without new signings.

“If a new signing happens it happens,” Ferguson told Key 103.

“The squad we had last season is good enough. Carlos Tevez will be back for the Portsmouth game next week. Anderson is due back from the Olympics by the time we play Liverpool and Chelsea and Wayne Rooney will be more effective for playing 90 minutes against Newcastle.

“If we have to go with what we have, we will do.”

Ronaldo back in light training

Ronaldo back in light training

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to light training with Manchester United, even though he is some way off a first-team return.

The Portugal forward has recovered from ankle surgery and is on the road back to full fitness ahead of schedule.

Sir Alex Ferguson also saw Park Ji-sung and Owen Hargreaves train on Friday, although both look set to miss Monday's clash with Portsmouth.

"Ronaldo's maybe a little bit ahead [of schedule]," said Ferguson. "Surprisingly good.

"He's been doing jogging all week. Only jogging, nothing serious, we're quite pleased with that."

The champions have a light schedule domestically but their next three Premier League fixtures are all difficult away assignments - at Pompey, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Paul Scholes admits he is not looking too far into the future regarding his Old Trafford career.

"I am 34 in November and hope to still be playing when I am 35," he told The Manchester Evening News.

"Anything after that will be a bonus. As long as I still feel I am contributing to United, I will carry on."

Scholes also reiterated that he has not been close to coming out of international retirement because he was "not enjoying it one bit".

Fergie: Ronaldo's recovery boost

Fergie: Ronaldo's recovery boost

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo could return ahead of schedule.

The United boss managed to keep the Portugal star away from the clutches of Real Madrid following a summer of speculation but last season's top Premier League scorer is unavailable as he recovers from an ankle operation.

The surgery took place on July 7 and, although he is still some way off a return to training, the news is good on the former Sporting winger.

"Cristiano is doing very well," said Ferguson. "Excellent.

"He's well ahead of schedule - the specialist was surprised actually with the condition he was in.

"So, for the next three weeks he'll go on that rehabilitation and then the final parts of it and into endurance work and serious running before he gets into the football side with us."

Meanwhile, United have handed the number 20 and 21 shirts to twin full backs Fabio and Rafael ahead of the new campaign.

Both are expected to compete for first-team places all season after making an instant impression at Old Trafford.

Chelsea hopeful of Robinho deal

Chelsea hopeful of Robinho deal

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon believes the club can still land Real Madrid forward Robinho - despite the Spanish club insisting he will stay.

The Blues bid £19.7m bid for the Brazilian last week but Real president Ramon Calderon told BBC Sport that Robinho, 26, would "definitely" stay.

But, speaking on Wednesday, Kenyon said negotiations over a potential deal were still alive: "It is continuing.

"We've still got a few days left of the window. Hopefully we'll get a result."

Robinho, who can play in a wide attacking position or through the middle, is keen to move to Chelsea to join fellow Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge.

Although Real have turned down an offer from Chelsea for the player, Kenyon remains confident they can still sign him before the end of the transfer window on 31 August.

Could Robinho set Stamford Bridge alight?


Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster has claimed that Robinho will not be sold at any price, while Calderon told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Definitely, he is going to stay with us. The coach (Schuster) has said he wants him in our team.

"We don't see any possibility of Robinho leaving Real Madrid."

Robinho has previously stated: "It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world.

Meanwhile, his agent, Wagner Ribeiro, was recently reported as saying that Madrid have "failed to value him as he deserves" and that he was unhappy at being included by Madrid as a potential makeweight in any deal to take Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United to Real.

Kenyon believes Madrid's eagerness to secure a replacement is the only factor preventing him from moving to Stamford Bridge.

"A key issue over buying Robinho has always been that Real are looking for a replacement," he has told his club's website.

"It is fair to say that is what has been holding up discussions."

Fergie in no mood to play ball with Real

Fergie in no mood to play ball with Real

Any hopes Cristiano Ronaldo might harbour that his move to Real Madrid has been merely delayed for another season could be dashed with his Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s assertion that there has been no attempt to soothe ailing relations with the Spanish champions.

Madrid have incurred the wrath of Ferguson with their summer-long and non-too-secret pursuit of Ronaldo, but it is at Old Trafford where the Portuguese winger will be plying his trade next season.

Ferguson has remained steadfast throughout and, even having secured the immediate future of his prized asset, is not about to take any backward steps.

“We haven’t had any recent contact with Real Madrid,” said the Scot in the News of the World. “Has there been any attempt to heal the rift? Yeah, that will be right!

“They put a bid in. I don’t know if it was a fax or a letter or whatever. Just one. It was sometime in the summer.

“But the final decision was taken when the first nonsense appeared and Cristiano referred to his future being decided in the next few days. It was decided there and then he was staying. There was never any change in our stance.”

When announcing his intention to remain at United last week, Ronaldo was markedly quoted as saying he would stay with the club for ‘at least another year.’

The player’s head has clearly been turned by attention from the Spanish capital but his current manager does not think his departure has simply been delayed for 12 months.

“I think we will just let the thing settle down now, it will take its course,” said Ferguson.

“The whole business will settle down, he will realise he is at a great club. It will sort itself out, his future will sort itself out.”


Ferguson has also talked out about potential competitors for this season's Premier League crown, insisting Arsenal cannot be ruled out despite losing the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb.

"If Arsenal get off to the start they had last year, I believe they will sustain it better," he added. "They got injuries at a bad time.

"They lost a few players at the end of February and beginning of March, which was a crucial time for them.

"If they get off to the same start they did last year they will be able to sustain it better this season."

Madrid still pursuing Ronaldo

Madrid still pursuing Ronaldo

Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster insists the club are still doing their best to prise Cristiano Ronaldo away from Manchester United.

The Ronaldo transfer saga has been on-going throughout the summer, despite United’s repeated insistence the player is not for sale.

Madrid had appeared to turn their attentions elsewhere when they looked to have sealed a deal for Hamburg’s Rafael van der Vaart, but Schuster claims Ronaldo is still very much in their sights.

"I'm not the person who can say anything about that," he said. “But I do believe the club are working hard to get a solution. But we have to see.

"We knew it was going to be a very complicated matter, that it was not easy. It's not going to be easy for Ronaldo to come to Real Madrid.

"Do I still want to sign Ronaldo? What a question. Of course if you ask any football coach that question every single one of them would want Ronaldo.

"He is a great player. One of the best. Every coach has a lot of objectives and he is a player who would help you achieve those objectives."

Fergie: Loyalty hard to find

Fergie: Loyalty hard to find

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that he is fighting a difficult battle in attempting to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to remain at Old Trafford.

The 42-goal forward is apparently still determined to move to Real Madrid, even if United are insistent it cannot happen this year.

Ferguson, speaking ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial against Espanyol, conceded that finding players with the Norwegian's loyalty was going to become ever more problematic.

"Anyone who serves more than 10 years for a football club these days is something exceptional happening," said Ferguson at a press conference.

"Especially with freedom of contract, the Bosman Rule and agents, it's very difficult to get players to stay for that length of time, particularly when they're not from your country, which I think is even more difficult.

"So the respect that the fans show Ole is not just about scoring the winning goal in Barcelona but the whole long period."

Solskjaer will manage the United reserve team next season, and Ferguson believes the Scandinavian can make it in the perilous world of club management.

"It is very difficult to say where people are going to be in two weeks' time, let alone two years," added Ferguson.

"And I certainly would not want to talk about what is likely to happen at this club. It is not my domain.

"But I know Ole is doing exactly the right things if he wants to stay in the game."

Blatter claims slave misquote

Blatter claims slave misquote

Sepp Blatter has denied saying that Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation at Manchester United is akin to slavery, instead claiming that he was misquoted.

The president of Fifa was quoted as stating that United’s refusal to allow the Portuguese a move to Real Madrid was holding the player against his will, and drew a comparison to slavery.

However, now Blatter has claimed he never referred to Ronaldo as a slave, but still maintains modern-day players need protection.

"I have never said that Ronaldo is a slave," Blatter told reporters on Wednesday during a visit to Vietnam.

"But I said slavery with young people, youngsters that European clubs are trying to get 13, 14 and 15 years old boys and bring them to the big clubs. This is in my expression, this is modern slavery.

"I have never mentioned that for Ronaldo.

"But the press, they have distorted it.

"Ronaldo is not a slave."