All roads to Old Trafford before Wembley for the second leg.

The two leg games have always produced some of the most unpredictable results and tonight is no different from the past. Of what is going to be an epic Wednesday night match for the road to Wembley, Manchester United will be meeting Manchester City in the second leg of the league cup/carling cup at Old Trafford later tonight.

The entertaining first leg won closely won by the Manchester City by two goals from former Manchester Unitedstriker Carlos Tevez. Manchester United took away the consolation prize with an away goal scored by skipper Ryan Giggs.
Sir Alex will be hoping for Wayne Rooney to fire some more goals after his epic four goals against Hull City in the previous match on Saturday. Plenty is going off the field at old Trafford with Ryan Giggs urging the fans with the following words “The fans are going to play a massive part. It was a great atmosphere at Eastlands and our fans were absolutely brilliant. We need them to get behind us again because it really does make a difference”. The red devils will be going with their squad that played Hull City on Saturday and Dimitar Berbatov is also expected to contribute in the game. A fit Rio Ferdinand is also a high five for the home side but may have to sit out as he is advised to start his three match ban imposed by FA for his absurd conduct at Hull City.
From the City camp Tevez is looking all fired up and ready for his hostile return at his former club. He can expect some harsh words from the front row. Roberto Mancini will be preparing his defence for the occasion and special replays will be show to halt Rooney and Co.
With everything at stake for both the teams a little margin of error might result in a heavy penalty. The kick off with take place at 2000 Hours GMT (0130 Hours IST).

Class apart: Ryan Giggs

Ryan Joseph Giggs, the Welsh footballer has been one man who has cemented his name when it comes to playing as winger and one can say the left wing is his very own area.

Loyal to his club, Manchester United was his first club and as the things are going this will be his club till he hung up his shoes.
Making his debut for Manchester United in the 1990-91 season he has been regular in the playing eleven from the next year onwards. When he his playing it is worth watching him for hours, being the playmaker of the team he hasn’t scored much but he has always been the architect in many goals that United has scored. And the best part is that he still managed to score 150 goals for the club. His record 815 apperances for the Old Trafford side says it all. His has been in the thick of the action for United every time he has been on the field. He has also captained United in many games.
Giggs holds a host of football records, including that of being the most decorated player in English football history. On 16 May 2009, he became the first footballer to collect 11 top division English league title medals. Giggs was the first player in history to win two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards (1992 and 1993) and is the only player to have played and scored in every single season of the Premier League since its inception. In 2007, he was elected in the PFA Team Of The Century. December 2007 brought two landmark feats, Ryan was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to football and he scored his 100th league career goal in the 4-0 home win over Derby County.
A player like Giggs is definately a role model for the young players, teaches them the loyalty, dedication to the club which is quite missing in some of the young players nowdays.
Truly, when it is Manchester United, It is Ryan Giggs.

Moscow jinx broken by Manchester United for English clubs.

In a thrilling match in Moscow, Manchester United won with a narrow margin of 1-0 against CSKA Moscow. And again and again as always for the Red Devils the goal was scored with just 4 minutes remaining in the stipulated 90 minutes.

The match started with not much of fireworks and it was not until the middle of the first half when the first scare came for the home side with Paul Scholes firing a long ranger gave some tough time for the CSKA Moscow’s keeper with the ball bouncing just in front of him followed by a left footed shot by Manchester United skipper Gary Neville. On the other side of the half there were no serious progressions as Manchester United’s strong defence was doing its bit on the field. Half time went goal less.
In the second half, Dimitar Berbatov was given a yellow card from diving in the CSKA’s penalty area and he has to be cautious as another yellow may make him miss a match in the champions league stage. Dzagoev for CSKA had put the ball in the United net in the 54th minute but was denied by an offside flag while his free-kick led to Sergei Ignashevich shooting just wide. At the other end CSKA Goalkeeper Akinfeev saved a brilliant diving header by Nani’s from Neville’s cross. Before scoring the winning goal Antonio Valencia had a great opportuinity to score when United players showed a geat one touch game just for the shot hitting the crossbar. Just when the game was going into the final 5 minutes or going into Manchester United’s time Nani chipped the ball to Berbatov in CSKA’s penalty area who headed it to Valencia who scored with a neat right kick from a very acute angle giving no chance to the keeper. The scored remained as it is the final whistle which makes United take a giant step into the next round. Without the services of Rooney, Giggs, Evra Manchester United had put up great show and not to forget Nani’s appreciating role on the left wing.
In the other match of the same group, VfL Wolfsburg and Besiktas JK shared a point each with a goal less draw in Germany making the group wide open for the rest of the 3 teams to qualify along with United who is certain to go into the next round.

Manchester United travels to Moscow with plenty to expect.

In what could be a tricky fixture, Manchester United will be travelling to Moscow to play against CSKA Moscow. It is seen that the premier league sides have not enjoyed much of success there and it will be hoping that Manchester United to go against the record. The Red Devils will be high on confidence after last weekend win against Bolton Wanderers and so far they are having a perfect start to this year’s champions league campaign with a win over Turkish side Besiktas and Germany’s Wolfsburg.

There is plenty of worry for Sir Alex as Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher will all be missing the trip to CSKA Moscow. While Dimitar Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic may have to sit on the bench considering their injury worries. Edwin Van der Sar will be starting of what could be a big relief for Sir Alex. Although he made his comeback in the Bolton match last weekend, this will be the first real test for the Dutchman. Other than that all other are expected to play and some good play will be expected from Valencia, Micheal Owen, Paul Scholes etc to make it easy for United. One good thing to cheer for the away side is that United are unbeaten in 13 away games in the UEFA Champions League but the worry is that they have suffered against Russian clubs in the past.
The other two teams in Manchester United’s group i.e. Besiktas and Wolfsburg will be locking horns in Germany with plenty to expect from the result as they both have lost to the leaders and the match could prove vital once the second leg starts after this match.
The Red Devils match will be starting at 1945 Hours GMT while the other match of the group will be starting at 2200 Hours GMT.
A test for United to score without the services of Rooney, Giggs, Berbatov, Evra, Fletcher.
A 1-0 score line in United’s favour in expected considering the present team.