A few more stories around today than yesterday.YOUNG star Federico Macheda is dreaming of Champions League success with Manchester United this season.And from The Sun, headline "Macheda: No place like Rome"
"One day I would love to return to Italy as it was where I was born and of course I always follow Italian football," he told Italian TV channel Sky Sports 24.
"Maybe one day I will return to Lazio but for now I am happy at Manchester United and it is my dream to play with them in the Champions League this season."
OLD TRAFFORD ace Federico Macheda dreams of being a star ... at Lazio.But the Rome-born Italian striker has his heart set on returning to his home city and former club.
He said: "I'd be happy to go back.
"I'm a Lazio fan and maybe one day I'll play for them. But I'm happy at United for the time being."
Doesn't even need comment.
On a similar subject, here's a perfectly reasonable article from The Guardian Blog on the subject of a nasty chant about Arsene Wenger. I won't quote from it (except this sentence, "Unless you suffer from a selective deafness that could rival the selective myopia that Wenger himself has long conquered, you will be aware that the chant reared its hideous head last Saturday at Old Trafford." Wasn't he in the paper the other week admitting he pretends not to see things in order to protect his players - doesn't sound like he's conquered it...), it's a fair enough argument. The question is, why now? Another in the week's attempts to distract attention from Arsenal not being good enough against us, or from the cheating/diving/simulation so beloved of Arsenal and their wonderful football? Or am I just paranoid...
The Guardian report that Arsene and Sir Alex are due to meet for the first time since the game:
Wenger and Ferguson will be in Nyon for the next two days as part of Uefa's elite club coaches' forum, when it could conceivably be stiff handshakes all around between the representatives of the English clubs. Rafael Benítez, of Liverpool, has confirmed he will travel to Switzerland at a time when his relationship with Ferguson appears to be irreparably damaged.
Ferguson and Benítez have barely had a good word to say about each other since their spectacular fall-out last season, whereas Ferguson is angry and disappointed about the way Wenger has attacked United since Arsenal's 2-1 defeat in Manchester last Saturday. Wenger's comments about United's perceived foul play surprised the management at Old Trafford where there is a sense that he has broken a gentleman's agreement between him and Ferguson to refrain from criticising each other's clubs.
Relations between the two old rivals have significantly improved over the last two seasons and Ferguson felt they parted at Old Trafford on good terms, having a cordial conversation and shaking hands before Wenger boarded the Arsenal team coach. ...
While Wenger's remarks were aimed primarily as criticism of Dean and in defence of his own players at a time when Eduardo and Emmanuel Eboué have been accused of diving, Ferguson was still taken aback at a time when he has made a conscious effort to get on better with his former adversary.
Owen Hargreaves comeback is looking optimistic as he's named in The Champions League squad:
Owen Hargreaves has been included in Manchester United's Champions League squad - offering fans of the champions hope that the midfielder could make a shock return from injury before Christmas.
Hargreaves is not due back at United's Carrington training complex until September 23 to step up his rehabilitation work after undergoing operations on both knees to cure a career-threatening tendinitis problem.
By that time, United will have already started their quest to reach a third successive Champions League final against Besiktas in Istanbul.
In theory, Hargreaves would be available for the home encounter with German champions Wolfsburg on September 30.
More likely though, the former Bayern Munich star will come into contention later in a group that also contains CSKA Moscow.
Some words from Berba on his second season in The Mirror:
"I think this year will be different for me," said Berbatov. "I've had a pre-season tour with the team, which I missed last year.
"And I really know how every player in the team plays now, so I can understand them better on the pitch.
"Plus, Sir Alex knows the best way he can use me. We have many games and I'm looking forward to each one so I can score goals and make my contribution to the team."
Gary Neville reckons Rooney could become our top goalscorer ever:
"There is a long time to go before he gets there but Wayne does have an opportunity to beat Bobby Charlton's scoring record," said Neville.
"He will have to play a lot more games and stay clear of injury because that record has stood for many years and will be very difficult to break.
"But a player of his ability should score goals. He plays centre-forward for Manchester United. That points you in the right direction."
A few quotes from Fletcher on various things, including getting a run in the team:
"I always go out on the pitch thinking I have to perform to stay in the team the next week. That is the attitude I had last season and it will be my attitude again this season," said Darren.
"If you start slipping up, or resting on your laurels, you will be straight out.
"Last year through injury and suspension, I began in the team and the manager stuck with me. I like to think my performances kept me in. In terms of consistency and level of performance it was my best and I gained that from playing regularly.
"In previous seasons I was in for a game and then out for a couple. Even though I felt I was playing well I wasn't getting that match sharpness and continuity.
"Every season is a new challenge. We have some great players. But I give 100 per cent every match and I am willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good of the team. I am looking to push on now, keep going and to win a lot more things.
There's a lot more, worth a read.
Our Carling Cup tie against Wolves causes police a problem, coming as it does on the same day as City play a home tie:
Manchester United and Manchester City were at the centre of security fears last night over the scheduling of their Carling Cup third-round matches.
United are due to play at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 23, the same night as City play host to Fulham in the competition.
But with the matches coming only three days after the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) want the games to be played on different days as a safety precaution given that emotions may still be running high.
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