Courtesy of Manchester United Football Club...
UNITED'S AMSTERDAM ASSIGNMENT
The Europa League draw has pitted Sir Alex's side with Amsterdam aristocrats Ajax in a glamorous Round of 32 tie.
The first leg takes place on Thursday 16 February with a kick-off time of 18.00 GMT while the home match takes place at Old Trafford a week later at 20.05.
"Ajax are a good team and I've never faced them in competitive European football," the manager told ManUtd.com. "I'm looking forward to it."
Defender Chris Smalling added: "We've drawn Ajax and they have a lot of history. That will be a good test. A lot of the teams will be keen to do well. Whoever wins the competition will be a good team." If the Reds progress, Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao will lie in wait in the Round of 16.
United to meet Ajax
United will face Ajax in an attractive two-legged tie in the Round of 32 of the Europa League.The first leg will take at the Amsterdam ArenA on Thursday 16 February, KO 1900 CET, with the second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday 23 February, KO 20.05 GMT.
The Reds were paired with the Dutch giants in Friday's draw, a repeat of the UEFA Cup matches in 1976 when a 1-0 deficit from the away game was overturned 2-0 in the second leg in Manchester. United have also competed in the pre-season Amsterdam Tournament on four occasions, winning it in 2006, and Edwin van der Sar's testimonial took place at the Amsterdam ArenA in August, featuring several Reds in a side managed by Sir Alex.
"Ajax are a good team and I've never faced them in competitive European football," the manager told ManUtd.com. "I'm looking forward to it."
Frank De Boer's side have a great pedigree, having won the European Cup/Champions League four times and the European Cup-Winners Cup and UEFA Cup once. The dates for the fixtures in February will be confirmed soon. The victors will progress to meet either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao in the Round of 16.
Defender Chris Smalling told ManUtd.com he was looking forward to facing Ajax and said United would strive to win the Europa League. "It was a massive disappointment [going out of the Champions League]," he said. "But look at the calibre of teams that are in the Europa League...
"We've drawn Ajax and they have a lot of history. That will be a good test. A lot of the teams will be keen to do well. Whoever wins the competition will be a good team."
Elsewhere, Manchester City face holders Porto with Stoke City tackling Valencia.
QPR v United preview
United aim to go top of the table to increase the pressure on Manchester City...
Form guideThe Reds' 4-1 demolition of Wolves was the perfect response to the Champions League exit at the hands of Basel. The champions are now unbeaten in six Barclays Premier League outings since the derby-day defeat and can go top of the table ahead of Manchester City's home clash with Arsenal later on Sunday afternoon. Neil Warnock's QPR have won two of their last six fixtures since the hard-earned victory over London rivals Chelsea in October. A run of one point from the last three games may not sound too impressive but a narrow 1-0 defeat at Liverpool last time out was another illustration of how difficult Rangers can be to play against.
Ins and outsDarren Fletcher's absence through illness adds to the headaches for Sir Alex. Tom Cleverley, Anderson, the Da Silva twins, Michael Owen, Nemanja Vidic and Javier Hernandez are also expected to miss out. Dimitar Berbatov is also rated doubtful. Warnock has a dilemma in goal as to whether to recall first-choice Paddy Kenny, if he proves his fitness, or to continue with in-form Radek Cerny. Anton Ferdinand and DJ Campbell are hoping to be fit enough to push for a place but Adel Taarabt could still be unavailable. Top scorer Heidur Helguson should be fine after sitting out the Liverpool defeat with a groin problem.
Last meetingThe Reds won 1-0 in a Carling Cup tie against the West Londoners in November, 2008 thanks to a Carlos Tevez penalty. Cerny kept goal that day and will hope to feature again this weekend. The last league meeting came in 1996 when United drew 1-1 in the capital as Eric Cantona cancelled out an own goal by Denis Irwin.
The bossThe Reds were involved when Neil Warnock's beloved Sheffield United slid out of the top flight in May 2007 - the Blades' relegation rivals West Ham enjoying a shock win at Old Trafford. After leaving the Bramall Lane club that month, Warnock went on to manage Crystal Palace before moving across London to QPR in March 2010. In his first full season with Rangers, he steered them back into the top flight for the first time since 1995/96. Always a larger-than-life character, he'll be looking forward to locking horns with Sir Alex again on Sunday.
Star manShaun Wright-Phillips caused United problems during his Manchester City days and is a livewire winger. The tricky wide man will aim to see plenty of the ball and make life difficult for the visiting full-backs. Although yet to open his goal account for the club he joined in the summer, he has looked a threat and will need to be closely monitored on Sunday.
Quote/unquote"I just think it’s exciting, it’s what I’m in the game for and the fans are and the club. I’m just looking forward to the game so much. We will try and get a result because that's how we are." - Neil Warnock.
Any sub-plots?United know a victory will be enough to usurp City as league leaders, just over an hour before Roberto Mancini's team kick off against in-form Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Three points will be a psychological boost ahead of the festive period and Sir Alex will hope to overcome the mountain of injury problems in order to get the right result. Warnock will have his side fired up in order to put one over the big boys again after the rousing victory against nine-man Chelsea at a noisy Loftus Road.
Whistle blowerHoward Webb takes charge of a United game for the second time this season. The 2010 World Cup referee officiated the 8-2 annihilation of Arsenal at Old Trafford and was also in the middle for QPR's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham earlier this term.
Rivals watchFour games take place on Sunday including City's clash with Arsenal, as previously mentioned. Liverpool are at Aston Villa and Tottenham entertain Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. Chelsea's fixture is at Wigan with a teatime kick-off on Saturday as last season's runners-up look to show they are right back in the title frame after ending City's unbeaten start on Monday night.
Boss relishes QPR trip
Sir Alex hopes United’s trip to Queens Park Rangers this Sunday proves as memorable as those he experienced in his first 10 years as Reds boss.
Trips to Loftus Road used to be commonplace – and United have a formidable record there under Sir Alex, losing just once in 11 games against the Hoops – but the Reds haven’t played the West London outfit since March 1996. QPR’s return to the top flight has triggered plenty of memories for the United manager, however, who told Inside United he’s relishing this weekend’s visit.
“It was always a great atmosphere at Loftus Road,” he said. “I remember we used to get a big allocation. We’d get the entire end behind one goal and then some more space around the side.
“The United fans, as you can imagine, loved that and would generate terrific noise. Loftus Road is one of those places where the fans feel as though they’re right on top of the pitch. We had some great nights there.”
Travelling Reds will be housed only in the School End this Sunday, but will number almost 3000 and provide vocal support for a United side intent on picking up three points. And although Sir Alex’s men beat Wolves 4-1 last weekend, it’s likely the manager will shuffle his pack again for this weekend’s trip to London.
“December is a particularly busy month when we often play eight or nine games,” he said. “We’ve got a Boxing Day Game, a New Year’s Eve game... it’s going to be a hectic spell and that’s when the squad really kicks in.”
Andy Cole
Timing is the Key
Former United striker Andy Cole believes the ability to come on strong in the second half of the season is in the Reds' DNA.
The ex-England international agrees with Sir Alex's assessment that, if the champions are at least within touching distance of the top of the table come January, then United will be well positioned to retain the Barclays Premier League crown.
City's defeat at Chelsea means the Etihad Stadium outfit are now only two points clear at the summit with the fixtures coming thick and fast over the busy festive period. Cole feels history has a habit of repeating itself and is not worried that United currently sit in second place in the table.
Speaking in his Ambassador's Column for United Review, the shock 1995 signing from Newcastle admitted: "I always look at December and January as being key months in the season. Easter time is always a period I remember as being a huge part of the campaign as well but, if you can get the right results in December and January, it sets you up for the rest of the season.
"It is important to be in good form at the right time and the time to do that is always in the second half of the campaign. There's no point running away with it now. Just look at what happened to Newcastle in 1995/96 - they were 12 points ahead when we went there and, after our victory, we went on a great run, whereas they pretty much capitulated after that.
"I don't know why we've always done well in the second half of the season. I think it's just ingrained in the DNA of the players. They know they have to deliver and that when the New Year comes round, it is time to really focus, get your heads down and kick on."
POGBA'S FIRST-TEAM AIM
Paul Pogba is driven by one goal - to become a first-team regular at United.
The promising midfielder has had a taste of senior action in the Carling Cup and admits he is hungry for more chances to impress Sir Alex. After returning to top form in the Reserves' 4-0 win against Liverpool, the youngster has his eyes firmly fixed on stepping up a level again in 2012.
"It's very good," he told MUTV. "I'm getting in the first team and I enjoy it a lot. I have to carry on and try to play more games. "[My debut at] Leeds was a great feeling. I played away, in a derby as well, and came on for Ryan Giggs. I thought: 'Okay, now is a good chance to prove myself and to show them what I can do'. We won that game and it was a very good feeling.
"I told myself I've just tasted it, now I want to eat it - I want all the cake now! I want to play, work hard and do my best to get in the first-team squad."
Pogba aspires to making a real mark at Old Trafford, following in the footsteps of many of his fellow countrymen - such as Eric Cantona, Fabien Barthez and Patrice Evra.
"I think you grow up a lot at United," he admitted. "I came from France. I'm here and I know what I want to do. I just want to be a first-team player, a great player here and that's it. I want to play with the first team."
Boss' pledge to Darren
Sir Alex has pledged to give Darren Fletcher all the time and support he needs in order to regain full fitness.
The club announced this week that the Scotland international is taking an extended break from football as he has been suffering from ulcerative colitis. Whilst accepting the absence of one of his loyal servants is a blow, the boss has been quick to stress that the player's health is his paramount concern.
"The medical people have made the right decision," stated the manager. "They regarded Darren's health as the more important issue and we as a club agree completely with that. He's not been in training – he was in hospital for a few days, and he'll rest now.
"Darren is a loss - he's such a great professional and it's not easy to replace that, but we'll have to think about that. Hopefully he'll make a full recovery. It's obviously going to take a bit of time and rest is the most important thing at the moment. It’ll be the medical people who make all the decisions and we’re quite happy with that. I can't put a timescale on it."
The boss revealed there was no question of persuading Fletcher to take a rest - it was a simply a decision that needed to be made for his long-term benefit.
"I don’t think persuasion comes into it at all," he said. "It’s an accurate assessment by the medical people and also Darren knowing his own situation and how he was feeling. There was no persuasion needed at all. He’s disappointed but you have to deal with these things, but he can do that because he has a strong character.
"It's easier now it's out in the open. That was the big decision he had to make. We were trying to address the confidentiality part of it in a different way by talking about a virus but that was down to protecting Darren. He got to the position, particularly in Scotland, where there was more delving into why we kept talking about a virus, and I think he felt a bit uncomfortable about it. So he decided to make it public."
Sir Alex was asked if another midfield absentee means he will be forced into making a signing during the January transfer window.
"Not necessarily," he replied. "I don’t why people keep going on about that [buying in January]. It’s never been a route we’ve taken consistently unless a player that we’ve been interested in appears but there is no sign of that at the moment. So therefore it’s not always suitable to us.
"If you look at the options we have [in midfield] - [Phil] Jones has played a few games there, Ryan [Giggs] obviously can play there too and Ji [-sung Park] is capable of playing there too. There are maybe one or two other options - Darron Gibson is an option. He had an early season injury, but he has experience needed to play in central midfield. The options are not too bad.
"Young [Paul] Pogba is an option. He’s progressing very well. It’s one of these situations – unless there is a player we’ve been interested in for a while appears and you can get him, then there isn’t much point in bringing an individual in because it gives you another player.
"Pogba is a possibility. He’s a big strong lad, a good athlete. He's improving and developing well.
"Since he’s come to the club we’ve seen the progress he’s made and in terms of that youth team we had last year, six of them have all had a bit of experience of the first team this year. Of course, young [Ryan] Tunnicliffe is another member – he’s over at Peterborough – he’s playing Championship football at 18 years of age, so he’s doing very well.
"It’s a good group that – it’s turned out very well. Pogba physically is better than the rest of that group, maybe apart from Zeki Fryers who is a very good athlete."
Fans' favourite
I pāngia ia ki te kita whakamate..E hiahia inaianei ki tētahi wā kia whakamāui i tou mate...Kia Kaha e hoa
All the very best to Darren as he recuperates from his illness...Tender Loving Care is the best prescription in the world. Stay Strong and God Bless you.
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