Tuesday 31 May 2016

Young Duo Sign New Deal

RASHFORD SIGNS NEW DEAL

Marcus Rashford has signed a new contract at
Manchester United which keeps him at the club
until at least June 2020 with an option to extend
for a further year.

Rashford,18, came through the ranks of our
academy and was handed a first-team debut for
the Europa League game against Midtjylland. He
grabbed his opportunity with both hands by scoring
twice, a feat he remarkably repeated three days
later on his first league appearance against
Arsenal. Marcus has made 17 appearances and
scored 8 goals.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said:
"Marcus is a naturally talented footballer with great
potential. He has taken his chances well and has
integrated into the first team very quickly. I am
delighted that Marcus has signed a new contract,
he is at the right club to continue his development.
He is still very young and we need to be patient
but he is developing in the right way and we
believe he has a great future ahead of him."

Marcus Rashford said:
"I am delighted to have signed a new contract. I
have always been a Manchester United fan, so to
be playing in the first team really is a dream come
true. I am grateful for having the chance to prove
myself. To be able to play football at the biggest
club in the world means everything to me and my
family."

BORTHWICK-JACKSON SIGNS NEW
DEAL

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson has signed a new
contract at Manchester United which keeps him at
the club until at least June 2020 with an option to
extend for a further year.

Borthwick-Jackson,19, came through the ranks of
our academy and was handed a first-team debut in
our Premier League game against West Bromwich
Albion in November. Cameron continued to make
progress and went on to make 14 appearances for
the first team. He also picked up the U21 Player of
the Year award at the Manchester United Player of
the Year awards, voted for by the Manchester
United fans.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said:
"Cameron is one of a number of young players to
come through our academy to make their first
team debut last season. This is something that our
club has always done and promoting the academy
and U21 players is something that makes
everybody associated with the club very proud. I’m
delighted that Cameron has signed his new
contract and look forward to seeing him in the
squad for many years to come."

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson said:
"I have grown up at United and have enjoyed every
minute of being here. Last season was an
incredible experience to make my first team debut
and a dream come true for myself and my family. I
feel it stands me in good stead for continuing my
development as a Manchester United player. I will
continue to work hard and take advice from the
manager and his coaching team to improve with
every training session."

Welcome Our New Manager


Welcome To United Jose

• Portuguese coach has won 22 trophies since 2003
José Mourinho will take over as manager of
Manchester United from the 2016/17 season,
signing a three-year contract with an option to stay
at the club until at least 2020.

José, 53, has managed at the top level of European
football for over a decade and in that time has won
league titles and cups in four countries (Portugal,
England, Italy and Spain), as well as winning the
UEFA Champions League twice – in 2004 with FC
Porto and in 2010 with Inter Milan.
Announcing the appointment, Ed Woodward said:
"José is quite simply the best manager in the
game today. He has won trophies and inspired
players in countries across Europe and, of course,
he knows the Premier League very well, having
won three titles here.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to
Manchester United. His track record of success is
ideal to take the club forward."

José Mourinho said: "To become Manchester
United manager is a special honour in the game. It
is a club known and admired throughout the world.
There is a mystique and a romance about it which
no other club can match.

"I have always felt an affinity with Old Trafford; it
has hosted some important memories for me in my
career and I have always enjoyed a rapport with
the United fans. I’m looking forward to being their
manager and enjoying their magnificent support in
the coming years."

Monday 23 May 2016

Van Gaal Leaves Man Utd

Van Gaal Leaves United

(NYSE: MANU) Louis van Gaal is to leave
Manchester United, with immediate effect.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: "I
would like to thank Louis and his staff for their
excellent work in the past two years culminating in
winning a record-equalling 12th FA Cup for the club
(and securing him a title in four different
countries). He has behaved with great
professionalism and dignity throughout his time
here. He leaves us with a legacy of having given
several young players the confidence to show their
ability on the highest stage. Everyone at the club
wishes him all the best in the future."

A decision on a successor as manager will be
announced soon.

LOUIS VAN GAAL STATEMENT

It has been an honour to manage such a
magnificent club as Manchester United FC, and in
doing so, I have fulfilled a long-held ambition.

I am immensely proud to have helped United win
the FA Cup for the 12th time in the club's history. I
have been privileged during my management career
to have won 20 trophies but winning the FA Cup,
which is steeped in so much history, will always be
one of the most special achievements of my
career.

I am very disappointed to be unable to complete
our intended three-year plan. I believe that the
foundations are firmly in place to enable the club
to move forward and achieve even greater
success.

I hope that winning the FA Cup will give the club a
platform to build upon next season to restore the
success that this passionate set of fans desire.

Having managed in Holland, Spain and Germany, I
had always hoped for the opportunity to manage in
English football and be part of English culture. Both
of these experiences have lived up to expectations
and been fantastic.

I thank my players and wish them well for next
season. It has been a pleasure to work with them
and it has been particularly rewarding to see so
many young players take their chance to break into
the first team and excel. I look forward to watching
the continued development of these young players
next season.

Thank you to the owners and board of Manchester
United for giving me the opportunity to manage this
great club.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the
amazing United supporters. They are truly the best
fans in the world.

I am indebted to my support and coaching staff,
who have given me their all during their time at the
club.

I am deeply grateful to each and every member of
the club’s staff - the sports science team, the
medical team, the kit and laundry department, club
administration, the press office, the manager's
team, the Academy team, ground staff and the
catering team, both at Old Trafford stadium and
Carrington training ground, all of whom have given
me their unwavering support in my time at United.
Never in my 25 years as a manager have I been so
well supported in my role.

Finally, my special thanks go to Sir Alex Ferguson
and Sir Bobby Charlton for always making me and
my family feel so welcome throughout my time as
Manchester United manager.

Friday 20 May 2016

C. Palace vs Man Utd FA Cup Final

CRYSTAL PALACE 1 MANCHESTER
UNITED 2

FA Cup final | Wembley Stadium | Attendance: 88,610
| Scorers: Puncheon 78', Mata 81', Lingard 110

Manchester United’s 12-year wait to win the FA
Cup is over after Louis van Gaal’s men came from
behind to secure a dramatic and exhilarating extra-
time victory over Crystal Palace.

Jason Puncheon opened the scoring late in the
second half, but the Reds mustered a display of
fighting spirit and drew level three minutes later
through Juan Mata. After Chris Smalling was sent
off in extra time, Academy graduate Jesse Lingard
hit a stunning winner that will be remembered for
years to come.

Although it has been a disappointing season in the
Barclays Premier League, after finishing fifth and
missing out on Champions League qualification,
success in the FA Cup has provided genuine cause
for celebration among everybody associated with
United. Particularly for the fans, who have craved
this trophy in the dozen years since the club’s last
success in 2004 when Millwall were beaten in
Cardiff.

United and Palace famously met in the 1990 FA
Cup final and the two managers from that time, Sir
Alex Ferguson and Steve Coppell, carried the
trophy onto the pitch ahead of what was eventually
a delayed kick-off at Wembley. That was due to a
lavish and eclectic pre-match ceremony in which
Tinie Tempah performed alongside a full brass
band and choir, with members of the British
military around them, while a huge firework display
sent clouds of smoke billowing around the stadium.

Many pundits had predicted United would dominate
the possession with Palace being happy to sit back,
and that was exactly how the match began as the
Reds controlled the opening exchanges, forging
shots at target through Marcus Rashford, the
recalled Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney.
Palace also displayed their counter-attacking threat
when Connor Wickham thought he had scored on
18 minutes, after rounding Chris Smalling and Daley
Blind to finish past David De Gea.

However, the
Eagles frontman was visibly angry upon his
realisation that referee Mark Clattenburg had
already whistled for a foul on the edge of the
penalty area, in what was a moment of fortune for
United.

Juan Mata forced a good save from Wayne
Hennessey and Fellaini went close with another
deflected header as the first half settled into an
even contest. Rashford, so effective in the semi-
final, also bamboozled Pape Souare with a series
of brilliant stepovers to find Anthony Martial at the
back post, but the Frenchman was thwarted when
his drilled effort was brilliantly cleared off the line
by Joel Ward.

STATS AT HALF-TIME
POSSESSION: Palace 32% United 68%
SHOTS AT TARGET: Palace 3 United 10
SHOTS ON TARGET: Palace 2 United 1
CORNERS: Palace 3 United 9

The deadlock was almost broken on 53 minutes,
when Fellaini wriggled past his marker to cannon a
powerful shot off the post, as the Belgian
continued to justify his recall following a three-
match ban. That near-miss prompted gasps of
frustration from United’s fans behind the goal and
they rued their luck again seconds later, when
Martial struck the other post with a well-timed
header.

Saturday’s final became increasingly physical as
the clock passed the hour mark and Marcos Rojo
was first to pay the price, after the left-back
suffered an injury from a collision with Damien
Delaney. The Argentinian was replaced by Matteo
Darmian and he was quickly joined on the bench by
Rashford, who was forced off after Johan Cabaye’s
studs landed awkwardly on the inside of the
striker’s knee.

Disaster struck on 78 minutes as Palace took a
shock lead when substitute Puncheon latched onto
Delaney’s punt to produce a back-post finish past
De Gea. The goal ironically bore some resemblance
to Lee Martin’s winner in the 1990 replay, but it
wasn't as important as United thankfully drew level
just three minutes later. The talismanic Rooney
provided the inspiration, surging through the area
to plant the ball on Fellaini's chest ahead of Mata
striking low through the legs of Ward.

Extra time was required and, after a brief team talk
on the pitch, Rooney continued his cross-country
performance by executing a superb sliding
challenge to deny Wilfried Zaha in defence before
quickly reappearing at the other end to curl a 25-
yard effort wide. Yannick Bolasie also went close
with a long-range effort and it was the Congolese
forward who was later brought down by Smalling,
which earned the centre-back his second yellow
card and an unwanted red card.

Palace ramped up the pressure in the second half
of extra time, going close through Dwight Gayle,
but it was United who found a breakthrough from
the right boot of substitute Jesse Lingard as the
Academy graduate thumped a bouncing ball into
the top corner. It was a goal that clinched the FA
Cup and secured the 23-year-old's place in Reds
history, wrapping up a mesmerising and enthralling
final at Wembley.

STATS AT FULL-TIME
POSSESSION: Palace 33% United 67%
SHOTS AT TARGET: Palace 14 United 24
SHOTS ON TARGET: Palace 6 United 3
CORNERS: Palace 8 United 12

THE TEAMS
United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo
(Darmian 66'), Carrick, Fellaini, Mata (Lingard 90'),
Rooney, Martial, Rashford (Young 72').
Subs not used: Romero, Jones, Schneiderlin,
Herrera.
Booked: Smalling (sent off), Rojo, Mata, Fellaini,
Lingard

Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Dann (Mariappa 90+3),
Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Cabaye (Puncheon 72'),
McArthur, Jedinak, Bolasie; Wickham (Gayle 86').
Subs not used: Speroni, Kelly, Sako, Adebayor.
Booked: Dann, Delaney, McArthur

Friday 13 May 2016

Man Utd Vs AFC Bournemouth

MANCHESTER UNITED 3
BOURNEMOUTH 1

Barclays Premier League | 17 May 2016 | Old Trafford
| Scorers: Rooney 43', Rashford 74', Young 87';
Smalling o.g 90'

Two days later than planned, Manchester United
signed off for the 2015/16 Barclays Premier
League season with a comfortable 3-1 victory over
Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

The Reds knew a point would guarantee entry into
the Europa League group stages and avoid a
qualifying tie in July, and goals from Wayne
Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young
ensured it was mission accomplished in that sense.
Of course, this match should have been played 48
hours earlier after Sunday’s security alert had
forced the initial fixture's abandonment and that
had an impact on the crowd inside Old Trafford
with not everyone who was here on Sunday able to
make the rearranged meeting. It was the same XI
for United that was due to start the original match
though, with Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian
missing out through injury and illness ruling out
Morgan Schneiderlin.

Before kick-off, David De Gea was presented with
the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award but
neither the Spaniard or his opposite number Adam
Federici had much to do in a quiet opening quarter
of the match.

The best attack of the first period came just after
the half-hour mark when a Rooney free-kick found
an unmarked Michael Carrick in the area, but the
midfielder was unable to make enough contact on
it to trouble Federici.

The Cherries had half a chance eight minutes
before the break when a low cross found Marc
Pugh in the box, but his goalbound effort was well
blocked by Antonio Valencia.

With two minutes left on the clock, the best move
of the first period led to the first goal and Rooney's
100th Old Trafford strike in the Premier League.
The captain started the fine move with a pass out
to the left wing. A neat one-two between Juan
Mata and Anthony Martial led to the latter crossing
for Rooney who, after a nice dummy from Rashford,
slotted home from close range.

HALF-TIME STATISTICS
Possession : United 65% Bournemouth 35%
Shots: United 2 Bournemouth 2
Shots on target: United 1 Bournemouth 0
Corners: United 3 Bournemouth 0

The Cherries were quick out of the blocks after the
restart with Callum Wilson seeing a shot blocked by
Smalling and Dan Gosling firing over, but United
should have had a penalty on 50 minutes when
Mata was clearly tripped by Steve Cook when put
through by Martial, but referee Jonathan Moss
surprisingly waved away the appeals.

The Reds went close to a second goal on 54
minutes when a belting Carrick drive deflected off
Tommy Elphick and onto the bar, with Martial
unable to pounce on the rebound.

After very little goalmouth action in the first 45,
United had upped the attacking threat and the
chances kept coming. Rashford's weaving run led
to a blocked effort from Mata and a deflected shot
just off target from Lingard. The resulting corner
eventually dropped to Valencia who saw a
blistering 35-yard piledriver superbly tipped over by
Federici. Smalling and Mata fashioned further
efforts but the score remained 1-0.

The advantage was finally doubled 16 minutes from
time, however, when that man Rashford fired his
eighth goal in 17 games. Rooney's pinged pass
found the head of Valencia who cushioned the ball
to Rashford to sweep home brilliantly in front of
the Stretford End.

Young came off the bench to take the place of
Martial up front and duly found the net with three
minutes left after being put through by the
excellent Rooney; it was Young's first goal since
United beat Manchester City 4-2 in April 2015.

Despite an unfortunate injury-time own goal by
Smalling, it proved to be a routine victory for the
Reds who took part in a lap of appreciation after
the final whistle to thank the Old Trafford faithful
for their support all season. Now for Wembley!

FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: United 67% Bournemouth 33%
Shots: United 12 Bournemouth 7
Shots on target: United 5 Bournemouth 0
Corners: United 7 Bournemouth 1

TEAMS
United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind,
Borthwick-Jackson; Carrick, Rooney, Lingard, Mata
(Herrera 75), Martial (Young 83), Rashford
(Memphis 78).
Subs not used: Romero, Varela, Jones, A.Pereira.
Booked: Mata

Bournemouth: Federici; Francis, Elphick, Cook,
Daniels; Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Pugh (Afobe 67);
King (Gradel 67), Wilson (Grabban 79).

Subs not used (only six in total) : Holmes, Jordan,
O'Kane.

MATCH REACTION
"In the first half we played slow. I said that at half-
time. In the second half we found pockets. The
wingers were more outside so the pitch was
bigger. It's difficult to guard that space then for
the opponent, and that we did very well. We have
scored brilliant goals." - Louis van Gaal

"It was a difficult game after what happened on
Sunday and with the cup final being on Saturday,
but we went out and did a professional job. We
played some nice stuff and deserved to win." -
Wayne Rooney

Thursday 5 May 2016

Norwich Vs Man Utd

NORWICH CITY 0 MANCHESTER
UNITED 1

Barclays Premier League | 7 May 2016 | Carrow Road
| Attendance: 27,132 | Scorer: Mata 72'

Manchester United applied pressure on neighbours
City ahead of the Blues' clash with Arsenal on
Sunday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win at Norwich
City.

Juan Mata scored the only goal of the match to
boost the Reds' hopes of qualifying for the
Champions League but compounded the Canaries'
relegation worries.

Despite the importance of the game for both
teams, it was the most low key of opening halves
with precious few moments of excitement. Perhaps
the loss of Anthony Martial in the warm-up, with
the injured Frenchman replaced by midfielder
Ander Herrera, blunted the Reds' attack and Louis
van Gaal's team was further depleted when Matteo
Darmian was forced off on a stretcher early on.
Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford were already
rested for the clash and not included the squad.

There was a clear opportunity as early as the
fourth minute as Cameron Jerome could only steer
a header against David De Gea's knees from point-
blank range following a cross by Nathan Redmond.

However, this failed to set the tone for a
disappointing period as United struggled to make
any headway towards John Ruddy's goal.
A first attempt on goal for the visitors arrived on 29
minutes, when Chris Smalling nodded over Mata's
corner after climbing above Jerome, and it was
followed with the only United shot on target of the
first half, a Jesse Lingard attempt bent tamely into
Ruddy's arms.
Memphis Depay's free-kick straight into the wall
summed up the frustration and the first 45 minutes
dwindled to a close despite three minutes of
stoppage time being played.

STATISTICS AT HALF-TIME
Possession: Norwich 38% United 62%
Shots at goal: Norwich 3 United 8
Shots on target: Norwich 1 United 1
Corners: Norwich 1 United 3

Herrera slipped as he volleyed a penetrative pass
from Mata wide as van Gaal's men started the
second period with more thrust, without testing
Ruddy. Norwich did manage sights of goal as Gary
O'Neil sliced a speculative shot wide and Jerome
mistimed a header before the breakthrough arrived
at the other end with 18 minutes left.

Antonio Valencia's ball over the top was misjudged
by Sebastien Bassong and Rooney advanced
towards goal. The captain had to check inside both
Russell Martin and Bassong but had the presence
of mind to lay the ball into the path of Mata, who
arrived on cue to steer home a side-footed finish.

Jerome sent another header wide but substitute
Morgan Schneiderlin should have made the points
safe on 85 minutes, instead firing wide after being
sent clear by Rooney's precise pass. Memphis
curled a free-kick just the wrong side of Ruddy's
right-hand post and Herrera fired over in stoppage
time as the visitors remained in control. The hard-
fought success may not have been pretty but it
means United will head to West Ham on Tuesday
will all still to play for in the race for a top-four
slot.

STATISTICS AT FULL-TIME
Possession: Norwich 33% United 67%
Shots at goal: Norwich 8 United 14
Shots on target: Norwich 2 United 2
Corners: Norwich 1 United 6

THE TEAMS
United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Darmian
(Borthwick-Jackson 12); Carrick (Fosu-Mensah
88), Herrera; Mata, Lingard (Schneiderlin 78),
Memphis; Rooney.
Subs not used: Romero, McNair, Januzaj.

Norwich: Ruddy; Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Olsson;
Redmond, Howson (Dorrans 78), O'Neil, Brady
(Mbokani 63); Hoolahan; Jerome (Bamford 78).
Subs not used: Rudd, Whittaker, Jarvis, Naismith.
Booked: O'Neil.

MATCH REACTION
"It's so important that we are still in business and
we keep in business by keeping the pressure on
our competitors. I'm very happy. I'm, more or less,
a Gunners fan tomorrow!" - Louis van Gaal

"The fans have had a difficult season - hopefully
we can get in the top four and win the FA Cup for
them." - Juan Mata

"We will recover on Sunday and hopefully City v
Arsenal will go in our favour. Then it's down to us."
- Chris Smalling