Manchester United Pre-Season 08/09

[kyan]

Man Utd to play Pompey in Nigeria

Manchester United will travel to Nigeria to play fellow Premier League side Portsmouth in a friendly in July.

The match between the Premier League and European champions and the FA Cup holders will give Nigerian fans the chance to see their heroes in person.

The precise date and venue have yet to be determined, although the game will take place in Abuja.

United will fly in after the completion of their pre-season tour to South Africa, which ends on 26 July.

"Sir Alex (Ferguson) and the team are always keen to visit new places," United's chief executive David Gill told a news conference.

"This match will give an opportunity for our many fans in Nigeria to see the team in the flesh and will provide a climax to our summer tour.

"Our own research has shown Nigeria is home to our fourth largest fan base - some 13.6 million supporters - so this is an opportunity for us to say thank you to those fans."

One player who will not be on show though is Cristiano Ronaldo.

The player, who has been the subject of constant speculation about a move to Real Madrid, is in action with Portugal at the European Championship.

But even if he stays at Old Trafford, as United have stressed that he will, Ronaldo will not go to Abuja.

David Gill said the player would be allowed to rest after his exertions in Austria and Switzerland.

Portsmouth have several African players, notably Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka.

United may have the Angola star Manucho with them by the time of the game.

He has been on loan to Panathinaikos, but is hopeful of moving to Old Trafford, once he has a work permit for the UK.

The match will be a preview of the Community Shield, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season, which is played between the League champions and FA Cup holders.

BBC SPORT | Football | African | Man Utd to play Pompey in Nigeria

Old news but still.

[kyan]

Juventus set up Manchester United friendly

Juventus will play European and English champions Manchester United in a friendly at Old Trafford on August 6, the Serie A club said on their website.

The match will serve as an important Champions League warm-up for the Turin side, a week ahead of the first leg of the qualifying round.

Juve will also take part in the Emirates Cup along with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Hamburg in London on August 2-3.

United and Juve have crossed swords several times over the last decade, notably in 1999 when Roy Keane inspired a comeback from two down to win in the Stadio Delle Alpi en route to Champions League glory.

Juventus set up Manchester United friendly - Italian Football News from Serie A - FourFourTwo

[kyan]

Fixtures:

July 2008
12 Jul Aberdeen A 15:00
19 Jul Kaizer Chiefs N 14:15
22 Jul Orlando Pirates N 19:35
26 Jul Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates N 14:15
27 Jul Portsmouth kick-off TBC N 00:00

August 2008
02 Aug RCD Espanyol* H 15:00
04 Aug Peterborough A 19:45
06 Aug Juventus H 20:00

*Solskjaer's testimonial match.

[Sven]

Looking forward to Peterborough game, went last time, was good game to watch United youth + DONG

[dukeofdavinci]

a good sum of games.rather then the usual suspects playing this time i would like to see the likes of campbell, foster, and the other young upcoming lads whom we might have more glimpse in the league the the carling cup matches.

[Mr Brightside]

Is the Community Shield on 27th July !!??

[unitedfan]

No, that one's in Nigeria, just part of the pre-season. Kinda funny that though.

[dukeofdavinci]

guess the epl is following serie a' in palying the season opener matches abroad.

[unitedfan]

No no no no no

The Community shield is on August the 23rd. The July 27th match is just a preseason game, as both teams are in Africa round about that time, they're meeting up, nothing to do with the shield.

[dukeofdavinci]

No no no no no

The Community shield is on August the 23rd. The July 27th match is just a preseason game, as both teams are in Africa round about that time, they're meeting up, nothing to do with the shield.

lol...my bad got it mixed up wth the shield date.

[kyan]

Sir Alex makes 'emotional' return

A first-half Michael Carrick penalty and a Wayne Rooney header gave Manchester United a comfortable win over Aberdeen on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson - who managed Aberdeen from 1978 to 1986 - had returned to the city with his Champions League winners.

The game marked the 25th anniversary of the Dons winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983.

Sir Alex said it had been an "emotional" trip to Pittodrie.

Tickets for the glamour game were quickly sold out.

It was the highlight of a series of testimonial events to honour the European victory.


It was a good day for me, it was emotional driving up to the stadium and seeing people you haven't seen for years
Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex led Aberdeen to three Scottish championships, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup.

It was the Dons' first pre-season friendly, but manager Jimmy Calderwood was delighted to have such illustrious visitors.

Sir Alex was pleased with the run-out and especially the contribution of Rooney.

He said: "It was a good day for me, it was emotional driving up to the stadium and seeing people you haven't seen for years.

"It was our first game and it was quite an open match and easy for both teams.

"They had a couple of chances and we had to defend well at times so it was good."

BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Sir Alex makes 'emotional' return

[kyan]

Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Man Utd

Midfielder Chris Eagles made the most of a rare first-team start by earning Manchester United a draw in their Cape Town friendly against Kaizer Chiefs.

Gary Neville also turned out for a side that included six players who started last season's Champions League final.

Wayne Rooney had already been booked before Jonathan Quartey's penalty put the home side in front following Neville's foul on Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Carlos Tevez went close before setting up Eagles to head United back on terms.

Rio Ferdinand withdrew from the game just before kick-off with a minor back spasm, and the Chiefs began positively, with David Mathebula and Tshabalala both testing Tomasz Kuszczak early on.

Rooney almost gave United the lead on 10 minutes when he flashed a free-kick just over the bar after a foul on Paul Scholes.

Nemanja Vidic and Tevez both wasted good headed chances before Quartey made the breakthrough from the spot.

Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune did well to keep out Scholes and also deny Rooney a one-on-one chance as United were sparked into life.

They upped the tempo in the second half and finally grabbed an equaliser on 59 minutes, with the header from 22-year-old Eagles being deflected in off Jimmy Tau.

After that, United's superior fitness meant they were never in danger but they found the home side difficult to break down.

Afterwards, Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson defended Rooney over his booking, saying: "Wayne is a born fighter, and he gets frustrated in some games.

"He is learning how to control himself and it (the challenge) was next to nothing. I do not think he was out of order in this instance."

The next game of United's tour is on Tuesday, against Orlando Pirates, by which time Ferdinand is expected to be fit.

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Bhasera, Nahayo, Quartey, Nengomasha, Mathebula, Sibeko, Torrealba, Schalkwyk, Tshabalala. Subs: Baron, Zwane, Mooki, Letsholonyane, Nkambule, Masango, Motaung Jnr, Promise Mthembu, Lebese.

Manchester United: Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Vidic, O'Shea, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs, Eagles, Tevez, Rooney. Subs: Amos, Ferdinand, Evans, Simpson, Silvestre, Gibson, Martin, Campbell.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Man Utd | Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Man Utd

[kyan]

United won 1-0 v Orlando Pirates.

It was a really boring match, as expected, but not a lot of chances were created. It was quite a young team though:

---------------Foster-------------
Brown---Rio---Evans---Silvestre
Eagles--Carrick--Gibson--Martin
--------Campbell--Tevez---------

Everyone was pretty solid, Martin got the goal after a flick-on from Campbell, who looked quite dangerous but struggled to get his shots away. Tevez worked his arse off as usual. Eagles didn't really do much, took most of the setpieces and floated a lot of them out of play...

[kyan]

Kaizer Chiefs Set Up Man Utd Date

While The Pirates enjoyed more of the possession, they rarely forced The Chiefs’ goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune into action in Port Elizabeth.

It was The Chiefs who seized the initiative and they broke the deadlock after just 14 minutes, with Jose Torealba connecting forcefully with Siphiwe Tshabalala’s free-kick.

The lead was then extended courtesy of another pinpoint Tshabalala cross, this time converted by Kaizer Motaung Jr. eight minutes after the interval.

The win sets up a Kaizer Chief-Manchester United final, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the tournament’s opening fixture last weekend.

Goal.com - Manchester United - Kaizer Chiefs Set Up Man Utd Date

[kyan]

Highlights: United v Espanyol

Ole's testimonial ends in a 1-0 victory courtesy of an 82nd minute Fraizer Campbell goal.

Ole only played 25mins but looked really dangerous and had 2 shots really well saved by the keeper.

Espanyol didn't really create anything from what I saw, but another good run-out nonetheless.

Thanks 20LEGEND