Michael Carrick
Courtesy of Manchester United FC.
REVENGE NOT ON CARRICK'S MIND
Michael Carrick insists revenge is not his main motivation ahead of the Champions League final at Wembley. Barcelona defeated United in Rome two years ago with criticism, much of it rather unfair, fired in the Reds' direction in the wake of the 2-0 loss.
"We've watched bits of it," he explained. "I've watched it again myself. I find when you watch games back they're never as bad as you think and they're never as good as you think. That was the case with 2009. It really wasn't as bad as everyone made out.
"In a big game like that, little things change games. There were times when we were right in it. Obviously the result is what shines through, but it wasn't a total disaster. Saying that, there's things we want to put right and there's things we will put right."
Carrick has been in excellent form, particularly in Europe, and will be a key figure on Saturday in the midfield battle against Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
"They're top players," he admitted. "I enjoy watching them as much as anyone else when I see them on the TV, but when you're playing against them you have a job to do. You respect them for who they are and how good they are, but at the same time they're the opposition and when Saturday comes, you have to do your job.
"I feel good. The boss always says he wants the team to start hitting top form when it counts and we've managed to do that. When you're playing in a team that's playing well, it makes it easier as individuals to be on top of your game and thankfully a lot of us have been in the last few weeks. We need to make sure we are on Saturday."
YOUR TEAM FOR WEMBLEY
We asked for YOUR preferred starting XI for Wembley this Saturday on ManUtd.com and can reveal the results.
Edwin van der Sar is the choice to keep goal in the last game of his career with skipper Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand selected to continue their rock-solid partnership at the heart of the defence.
Regular left-back Patrice Evra gets the nod but there was plenty of competition for the other flank with the da Silva twins, John O'Shea, Wes Brown and Chris Smalling all options. The fans have opted for Rafael ahead of his brother Fabio.
In midfield, Antonio Valencia pips Nani to the right-wing slot with big-game player Ji-sung Park selected on the left. Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick are backed to carry on their good work against Chelsea and Schalke despite the claims of the likes of Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher.
Most supporters would like to see a 4-4-2 formation employed with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez in tandem up front, even though Dimitar Berbatov picked up the Barclays Golden Boot this week. 82 percent of votes cast opted for the England striker and Mexican to start, with Rooney and Berbatov the next best suggestion.
Fans' team: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez.
25/05/2011 12:50, Report by Steve Bartram
Da Silvas stick together
Rafael da Silva says he will be happy for his twin brother, Fabio, if he is selected for this weekend's Champions League final clash with Barcelona.One of the most intriguing selection dilemmas for Sir Alex Ferguson centres around his starting right-back at Wembley, with the twins and John O'Shea all in contention.
After nailing down the position for the bulk of this season, Rafael has been usurped by Fabio and O'Shea in recent weeks, but the more experienced da Silva twin says everyone is benefiting from the increased competition.
"I think it's always important to have rivalry," he says. "That makes us better football players. I think it's me, my brother Fabio and John O'Shea fighting for the same place.
"I'll be very happy for Fabio if he gets picked. I'll be sad for myself if I'm not playing but I'll be feeling happy for him. It's difficult for us to be competing for the same position but at the same time it's good. It helps us grow as players.
"I think I'm much more aggressive than him. He's much calmer than me. I get much more nervous when he's playing. I'm not sure why this happens but it does!"
The twins' potential involvement at Wembley is, according to Rafael, further validation of their decision to move to England in order to further their careers.
"Moments like this are the ones when we realise it was well worth it to leave everything behind in Brazil," he says. "This is a big challenge.
"It's very important for us to prepare properly, while taking into account that this is a Champions League final. We've done that so far and I'm confident we'll be ready."
QUOTE..UNQUOTE IN THE BUILD-UP TO WEMBLEY
Who has been saying what ahead of Saturday's Champions League final.
"We'll find a solution to the game. It's about what's best for us; what's the best way for us to win the match. It will be down to how we operate in the attacking part." - Sir Alex Ferguson.
"In 2009, we never played. We never got on the ball. We weren't Manchester United that day. This time we will give a better account of ourselves." - Rio Ferdinand.
"Obviously Barcelona are a great team and they'll have a lot of possession in the game, but we'll also try to exploit their weaknesses. All teams have weaknesses." - Nemanja Vidic.
"It is in England so Barcelona are the away team. We have played many times at Wembley so that makes us feel at home and hopefully we can continue our good home record." - Ji-sung Park.
"2009 was a big, big frustration and I don't want to experience a feeling like that again." - Patrice Evra.
"I'll be very happy for Fabio if he gets picked. I'll be sad for myself if I'm not playing but I'll be feeling happy for him." - Rafael da Silva.
"If you look at European football then you'd say it's the ideal final. I think the purists and the neutrals would probably say Barcelona and United are the best two teams in Europe right now." - Michael Owen.
"If anyone can beat Barcelona with the talent they've got in their side, it's Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United." - David Beckham.
"If Barcelona turn up, they win. Barca have got to have a bad day for United to realistically have a chance. Either that or United get lucky." - Gary Lineker.
"United will play against Barca as they did against Arsenal, with three men in midfield. Ferguson is aware of the physical superiority of his team and knows that United's best chances may be from mistakes and corners. This strategy is key in the finals." - Cesc Fabregas
GOLDEN GLOVES
GOLDEN BOOT
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Manchester United all the very Best for the UEFA Champions League Final...Kia kaha (Stay Strong).
Siena...and friend XX
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