Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[qbdp]

Totti poses biggest threat for Ferguson

Having been told for the umpteenth time that Brazilian forward Ronaldo would fail to overcome injury in order to make Inter Milan's starting line-up for a Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson replied dismissively: ''When an Italian says it's pasta, I check under the sauce to make sure.''

With almost 150 Champions League games behind him as United manager, Ferguson is too street-wise to fall foul of the golden rule which states that one should always prepare for the unexpected in Europe and his caution proved a wise move eight years ago with Ronaldo, unsurprisingly, making a Lazarus-like recovery to face United after all.

A similarly wary Ferguson flies out to Rome today with his United players preparing to tackle AS Roma in the first leg of their quarter-final tie in the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow night.

Luciano Spalletti's giallorossi may lack the pedigree of Juventus, AC Milan or Inter, but the club who reached the European Cup final in 1984 were good enough to eliminate Gerard Houllier's strongly fancied Lyon side in the last round and, in Francesco Totti, they possess a player with talismanic qualities to equal those of United's young pretenders, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 30-year-old, fresh from helping Italy to World Cup glory last summer, has scored 18 goals in 28 Serie A games this season and has a ratio of a goal every other game in the Champions League. Whatever Roma create, Totti is usually the instigator, and Ferguson does not need to ''check under the sauce'' to confirm his belief that the playmaker is the biggest threat to United's hopes of progression.

"Totti is the architect of everything they do and we have to decide how best to deal with him,'' Ferguson said, ''but we are not underestimating our task because it'll be a difficult one and it's probably the toughest of all the quarter-final ties. It's a game where we'll have to be right tactically because if we're not, we're in trouble. The issue is what we do with our centre-backs and whether we push one on to Totti. But we cannot let him control the game. It's a little bit of a tricky one and we have to resolve it as best we can.

"The tie requires two good performances, though. There is no question about that. We have a lot of respect for Roma. They beat Lyon, who I regarded as one of the favourites, in the last round and didn't lose a goal. So that kind of result and performance speaks volumes for their quality."

Although Roma lie second in Serie A, the gap of 20 points between themselves and leaders Inter suggests that their position, rather than highlight their strength, betrays the distorted state of Italian football in the wake of last summer's match-fixing scandal which resulted in relegation for Juventus and substantial points deductions for AC Milan and Fiorentina and a lesser three-point penalty for Lazio.

Roma consider themselves underdogs and United's emphatic home victory over Blackburn at the weekend certainly made its mark on Daniele Baldini, the Roma technical director who was dispatched to Old Trafford on a spying mission by Spalletti.

"We know that we have to win in Italy because it will be very difficult in the second game in Manchester,'' Baldini said. ''It is simple for us. We have to take a lead to Manchester. We also know that Cristiano Ronaldo is the one player we have to stop if we are to win. He is one of the best players in the world at the moment, if not the best.''

United travel to Rome hampered by defensive problems with injured captain Gary Neville joined on the sidelines by centre-back Nemanja Vidic, who broke his collarbone in the Blackburn game. But Wes Brown, who will now partner Rio Ferdinand in central defence, remains confident. "Roma will be difficult to beat, that's the nature of the Italian teams,'' Brown said, ''but given the form we're in, we feel we can win the match and the fact the first game is away gives us a slight advantage."

[qbdp]

BENNI GOAL IS UNITED MOVE

BENNI McCARTHY has made an amazing 'come-and-get-me' plea to Manchester United.

The Blackburn hitman has struck 18 goals for Mark Hughes' men this season since a bargain £2.5million switch from FC Porto in July on a four-year contract.

McCarthy, a former Ajax star, has admitted he owes a debt to boss Hughes for handing him the chance to realise his dream of playing in the Premiership.

But the 29-year-old South African claims he still harbours ambitions of playing for boyhood idols United.

McCarthy said: "I have always dreamed about playing for United.

"They are the most popular team in my country - and Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan are nothing in comparison.

"With the attackers that United have, I don't think I have much chance of moving to Old Trafford.

"But I want to see myself playing for the best and you must have ambition because without it, players are nothing.

"That's not being disrespectful to Blackburn because it is a very good club and the management, players and fans have all made me feel very welcome.

"At the moment, my ambition is to make Blackburn a big force in the Premiership and win the FA Cup - but I am a dreamer."

[machoman]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Totti poses biggest threat for Ferguson

Roma's captain Francesco Totti, seen here 11 March 2007, is determined to leave his mark on Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg here against Manchester United to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson never forgets his name. - AFP

[CibLover]

SAHA SURPRISE INCLUSION IN MAN UTD SQUAD

Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher were the surprise members of the Manchester United party that travelled to Italy for Wednesday's Champion League quarter-final first leg against Roma.


The duo, who have been missing for five weeks with hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, were expected to play for the reserves at Blackburn on Thursday.

Instead, Sir Alex Ferguson called them into a 19-man party as the Red Devils looked to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2002.

South Korea midfielder Park Ji-Sung was the only unexpected absentee, with no confirmation from United as to the precise nature of his injury. Gary Neville (ankle), Mikael Silvestre (shoulder), and Nemanja Vidic (collarbone) were all ruled out.

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I'm sure some anti-Saha and anti-Fletcher bros will not be happy with this news.
But quite surprised that Park is left-out. He played superbly in his last two matches. Hmmm..... injury??

[Mafan]

Originally Posted by CibLover

SAHA SURPRISE INCLUSION IN MAN UTD SQUAD

Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher were the surprise members of the Manchester United party that travelled to Italy for Wednesday's Champion League quarter-final first leg against Roma.
================================================== ==================

I'm sure some anti-Saha and anti-Fletcher bros will not be happy with this news.
But quite surprised that Park is left-out. He played superbly in his last two matches. Hmmm..... injury??

anyone can lend me a gun i go kill them now. they will be the downfall of devil

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by CibLover

I'm sure some anti-Saha and anti-Fletcher bros will not be happy with this news.
But quite surprised that Park is left-out. He played superbly in his last two matches. Hmmm..... injury??

Bro, it's confirmed Park is out with knee injury.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Eagles, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Saha, Solskjaer, Smith, Dong.

Hopefully Smith plays alongside Rooney and Giggs goes back to the left. But I have a funny feeling Sir Alex gonna go for 4-5-1 again.

Let's not 'risk' Saha. He's just return from injuries and we dont need anymore injuries for this last lap.

[qbdp]

Ferguson backs his prodigies to bloom in the Eternal City

Sir Alex Ferguson could not have hand-picked a more symbolic place for his latest eulogy to Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney than the Eternal City of Rome. After all, in terms of waiting for their impact on the Champions League, it seems the Manchester United manager has been waiting forever.

A first appearance in the Italian capital awaits United when they meet Roma in the quarter-finals tonight and if the in-form yet injury-hit Premiership leaders are truly to rehabilitate their European reputation, then their manager has no doubt as to the source of inspiration at Stadio Olimpico.

"Potentially we have a very, very good team but there are always tests and this is a big one," said Ferguson yesterday. "If the young players adapt to these tests, we have a great chance. We have to take this opportunity because tomorrow may never come."

Many tomorrows lie ahead of Ronaldo and Rooney, but Ferguson, Ryan Giggs and other senior Old Trafford figures are not blessed with time as they seek a repeat of 1999's success, and it will require a dramatic intervention from their lauded colleagues for them to do so. Whatever the excuses, the time for the prodigious talents of England and Portugal to translate their Premiership reputations on to the continent with United is long overdue.

In 43 games in the Champions League proper Rooney and Ronaldo have scored three goals - the hat-trick the £27m striker plundered on his United debut against Fenerbahce in 2004, when nothing appeared beyond him and the Portuguese international has found the target only in a qualifying tie against Debrecen. Alan Smith, with five European goals, and Louis Saha, with four, both overshadow their combined total.

Of course the pair's influence is not just measured in goals by United, yet even their performances in Europe have not matched the contributions Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent this season, Rooney have made in the club's pursuit of the Premiership and FA Cup. Their last appearance in Italy, when Ferguson's team fell at the last-16 stage against Milan in 2005, represents a telling case in point.

"When we played Milan two years ago Rooney and Ronaldo lacked the experience to handle it," their manager admitted. "It was a big game against experienced guys like Maldini, Cafu and Pirlo, great players, and it was tough for them, but experience of European football is so important. That is how you progress. Rooney and Ronaldo were young boys when we faced Milan but they are maturing all the time. I am pleased with Rooney's form at the moment and I am not concerned by his lack of goals. He got 19 goals last season and now he is on 15. Ronaldo is the best player in the world at the moment. As a team we haven't scored a lot of goals in the Champions League in the last two years, but we are a better team than we were in 2005. We have a much better shape, confidence is flowing throughout the team and they're better prepared.

"Maybe there is a bit of learning to do in Europe before they can get to the level of 1999. [Andy] Cole and [Dwight] Yorke had a phenomenal season in 1998-99 and scored 13 in Europe alone. We have not produced the goals in Europe that we have in the Premier League, but then there is different preparation for Europe. There is much more tactical awareness in Europe that makes it more difficult to score, even the likes of Copenhagen made it difficult."

While Ferguson retains optimism in attack, his options at the back are limited against a Roma side who, under their adventurous coach Luciano Spalletti, should provide a formidable challenge to United's aspirations of a first semi-final appearance since 2001-02.

Nemanja Vidic joined Gary Neville, Patrice Evra and Mikael Silvestre on the defensive casualty list at the weekend with a fractured collarbone that will keep him out until mid-May, while Park Ji-Sung suffered a knee injury against Blackburn and did not make the trip to Italy. The absence of the South Korean may convince the United manager to revert to the five-man midfield favoured in Europe, with Rooney and Ronaldo out wide, though he then faces a dilemma over his lone forward as Saha, Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are all short of match fitness.

United's efforts to warn their travelling supporters about possible crowd violence outside Stadio Olimpico - a procedure the club follows before every European away game - prompted an indignant response from the Italian authorities yesterday, although their sensitivities have been heightened by the anti-hooliganism legislation that is currently passing through the country's parliament in response to several recent incidents.

Of more concern to Ferguson is the choice of referee, Herbert Fandel, the German official who took charge of United's defeat in Milan and also the 2004 reverse in Porto when, riled by the failure to curb play-acting on the pitch, the Scot refused to shake hands with a chap by the name of Jose Mourinho. "We will need a strong referee," he said, more in hope than expectation.

[qbdp]

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

RYAN GIGGS has revealed he would consider it a failure if he did not manage to win the European Cup at least one more time with Manchester United.

Giggs may be the most decorated player in United's history, but on the eve of tonight's Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie with Roma, the 33-year-old revealed the one ambition that is driving him on in the twilight of his career.

"Having tasted victory in 1999, it's a burning desire of mine to win the European Cup again," said Giggs.

"I saw what it meant to the fans and what it did in terms of recognition for United, and I want to experience it again.

"If I retired having won just the one Champions League, I'd be really disappointed. To go for seven or eight years after that 1999 win and not match that night ever again would be a real let-down.

"I only say that because over that period United have had teams that have been capable. I've been lucky enough to have won almost every major trophy more than once.

"The European Cup is the exception to that, so I'm determined to do it. I've maybe only got a year or two left. That's driving me on.

"I can see the finishing line and I'm just trying to enjoy it. Sometimes when you see the finishing line you tend to enjoy it more and it brings out the best in you."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has talked about his team - inspired by the mercurial talents of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo - maturing and needing time to develop.

But both Fergie and Giggs agree that the time to deliver is now.

"The potential is there in this team, but we have to fulfil that potential by winning trophies," said Giggs.

"We've got ourselves in a great position this season, going for three trophies, so hopefully we can go all the way and win them.

"Each challenge that has been put in front of this team this season, we've overcome.

"We're getting results, even when we sometimes have to grind them out.

We've got results when we've not been playing well this season, which has been crucial.

"Wayne and Cristiano are getting better each week, and as individuals they want success themselves against the best in Europe, and we have a chance to do that against Roma."

With skipper Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre and Ji-Sung Park missing, United's personnel will be stretched to the limit for tonight's tie against a Roma side unbeaten in their last 16 matches.

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RON & ROO TOLD: START SCORING

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has told Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo (left) it's time they delivered in Europe - starting with tonight's Champions League quarter-final tie against Roma. Despite their heroics on the domestic scene, Ronaldo has yet to score in the Champions League and Rooney has not found the net in Europe since his stunning hat-trick on his Manchester United debut in September 2004.

United boss Fergie, who is expected to have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his starting line-up in Rome tonight, said: "When we played AC Milan a couple of years ago, Wayne and Cristiano lacked the experience to handle it.

"But now they have that experience - and I can't explain why they haven't scored in Europe.

"We haven't scored much in Europe in two years, so maybe it's a team thing."

[qbdp]

Ferguson sets sight on vital away goal

ROME: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said yesterday he will not regard a goalless draw as a positive result from their crunch Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Roma.

French side Lyon, who many tipped to win the competition, left the Olympic stadium with a 0-0 draw in the previous round, but a 2-0 victory for Roma at the Stade de Gerland saw the Italian side through to the last eight.

"0-0 is a dangerous scoreline," Ferguson said at a press conference here on the eve of the match, a 75,000 sell-out. "I watched the video of Roma's home leg against Lyon, and Lyon were the better team that night.

"But you all saw the result in the second leg. I think we have to score tomorrow." Winger Ryan Giggs echoed his manager's sentiments.

"It's important to score a goal away from home, and we always try to do that in Europe," he said. Ferguson moved to diffuse a row that began when he failed to mention Francesco Totti when listing the Roma players he most admires.

The United manager cited midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Mancini as their key men and completely overlooked their exalted captain, sparking an angry reaction among Romans who regard Totti as a modern-day symbol of the Eternal City.

"Totti is one of the most important players in their team," said the Scot. "Maybe something was lost in translation, and I honestly don't remember ignoring him.

"Of course we discussed him. It's unthinkable that we would prepare for this match without considering him." Ferguson expressed his admiration for Roma coach Luciano Spalletti for sticking with a strange playing formation very few teams use.

Totti, an unorthodox striker, plays as a lone forward but tends to drop deep, making it very difficult to mark him and effectively giving Roma a six-man midfield. "It's a big decision to keep the system he's using, very brave," Ferguson said. "Brave coaches are the best coaches."

Ferguson said Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo could be the one to open up the Roma defence and help them get that all-important away goal. "I think he is the best player in the world right now," he said.

Spalletti insisted he would not swap Totti for Cristiano Ronaldo. "I prefer Totti to Cristiano Ronaldo and would always choose Francesco," he said. "First of all because I know him well. He has many qualities and few defects.

"I don't know much about Cristiano Ronaldo, and, as the old saying goes, 'stick to what you know'." United, who already have a long injury list which includes defensive trio Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre and captain Gary Neville, were dealt another blow when Park Ji-Sung was ruled out before their plane left Manchester.

The South Korean midfielder injured his knee in Saturday's 4-1 home win against Blackburn.

This could mean Giggs playing wide on the left rather than as a second striker and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored United's winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, partnering Wayne Rooney up front. --AFP

[qbdp]

Roma 2 -1 Utd



Ferguson fumes at referee

Wayne Rooney's precious away goal may have seen Sir Alex Ferguson sprint on to the Olympic Stadium pitch with his arms raised above his head, but the dismissal of Paul Scholes left the Manchester United manager bitterly criticising the referee, Herbert Fandel.

Missing three first-choice defenders, United were depleted before kick-off and with Scholes suspended, their squad will be thinner still for the second leg at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

"Considering we played with 10 men and mostly against 12 men, it was a good result for us," Ferguson said. "We didn't get a decision all night. I can't complain about the sending-off. Paul likes to tackle, but in Europe it's not acceptable."

Fandel is not one of Ferguson's favourite referees. The German had presided over two of United's bleakest nights in Europe. There was the 2-1 defeat by Porto in 2004 when Roy Keane was dismissed. Fandel had also refereed AC Milan's 1-0 victory that finished their interest in the tournament a year later.

Last night the United manager claimed that Fandel had been unduly influenced by Roma defender Cristian Chivu when showing Scholes a second yellow card for his trip on Roma's talismanic Francesco Totti.

"Chivu got him sent off and the referee told us before kick-off that anyone trying to get a player sent off would be immediately dismissed. But that's what Chivu did and it left us in an extremely difficult position."

Nevertheless, despite this defeat, Ferguson said that he was reasonably satisfied with the result and a performance by Rooney that produced his first Champions League goal in almost three years and perhaps his finest display for United this season. Rooney himself called it "one of the hardest games I've ever played in".

Ferguson remarked that the goal might help Rooney's confidence as the campaign reaches its climax on three fronts, but it would help United more. "The great thing Rooney showed for a boy of 21 was fantastic composure in front of goal," he said. "On an evening like that it would be easy to miss.

"We're experienced enough to know that playing on your own ground has been an advantage and over the years we've had some great teams coming to Old Trafford and overcome them. If we score, we go through. That's my opinion."

Roma, almost impregnable in their own stadium, were not the soft touch some had imagined. Ferguson said: "What makes them dangerous is the system they have that doesn't have a central striker."

[qbdp]

Rio: Ref was game for a laugh

Rio Ferdinand has branded the performance of German referee Herbert Fandel during Manchester United's Champions League defeat to AS Roma last night as "laughable".

In a scathing and wide-ranging attack, Ferdinand condemned Fandel's handling of last night's quarter-final at the Stadio Olimpico, which United lost 2-1, leaving them needing to overturn a first-leg deficit at Old Trafford next Tuesday, something they have failed to achieve in five previous attempts in the competition.

Apart from his broadside at the quality of Fandel's performance, the £29million defender also hit out at the lack of communication between players and officials and the dismissive attitude of referees, who, Ferdinand suggests, look at players 'as though they were rubbish'.

"Some of the decisions the referee made last night were laughable," he said.

"If you saw me on the pitch, you would have seen me laughing a few times because the decisions were that bad.

"I don't want to make excuses or get myself in trouble, but I don't think the referee had a very good game at all.

"For some reason, especially in Europe it becomes apparent that the referees have got an ignorance problem. You can't speak to them, you try to speak to them in the best manner possible and they turn their nose up at you.

"It is not a language problem. The referee spoke good English. But attitudes have to change.

"If you want a better environment on the pitch the referees have to provide that by talking to the players and being able to have a conversation with him without him looking at you as though you were a piece of rubbish.

"The referee wasn't the reason we lost the game last night but it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Ferdinand was echoing the comments of his manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who condemned Fandel for dismissing Paul Scholes for two bookable offences during the first-half.

The United manager was particularly unimpressed at Cristian Chivu waving an imaginary yellow card towards Fandel after Scholes had tripped Francesco Totti.

"The thing is, English players don't brandish yellow cards," observed Ferdinand.

"I just do not understand some of the decisions the referee gave. He booked Paul Scholes but didn't do anything when Gaby (Heinze) got hit by the same type of tackle. Then he does book Gaby for rolling the ball back. It was a joke."

Scholes' red card rules him out of the second-leg next week. And, worryingly for a player who was banned for the 1999 Champions League Final, if United do progress to a semi-final meeting with either AC Milan or Bayern Munich, he will still be one booking away from another ban, as he was before last night's game.

At a time when United's resources are stretched, Scholes' playmaking skills will be badly missed.

The good news for Ferguson was the twin return of Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher after five week absences last night.

Saha in particular could be a crucial weapon as United search for the goal their manager is adamant will take them through to the last four for the first time since 2002.

History is not on the Red Devils side given their failure to overturn similar leads in the past, notably against Jose Mourinho's FC Porto in 2004 when United also lost the first leg 2-1 but were then held to a 1-1 draw in the decider at Old Trafford.

However, while they were only on level terms for six minutes after Wayne Rooney scored his first Champions League goal in 18 games, Ferdinand, who made an outstanding contribution to the visitors' defensive effort, believes United's 10 men did enough in the final hour last night to approach the challenge with confidence.

"There is a sense of confidence in the changing room," he said.

"Afterwards, it wasn't like a defeat, there was just a sense of disappointment that we couldn't hold on at 1-1.

"To come to Rome and show the kind of resolve we did was a step in the right direction.

"We showed great resilience and in the end, they scored through two quite lucky goals."

[qbdp]

United appeal to government

Manchester United have called on the British government to examine the incidents surrounding the crowd trouble at their Champions League match in Rome on Wednesday.

Eleven United fans were taken to hospital and supporters complained of Italian police over-reaction to the trouble at the Olympic Stadium where AS Roma won the first leg 2-1.

In a statement United said: "Distressing scenes witnessed in the Stadio Olimpico last night shocked everyone at Old Trafford.

"In what the club views as a severe over-reaction, local police handed out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters.

"In these circumstances, neither Manchester United nor AS Roma is able to call the police to account.

"As a result, the club warmly welcomes the government examination of the incident and will collect witness statements from fans to submit to the Home Office."

The club has also urged supporters who attended the game and wish to provide evidence to contact them."

[qbdp]

Giggs criticises Chivu

Manchester United ace Ryan Giggs has hit out at Roma's Cristian Chivu for his part in Paul Scholes' sending off on Wednesday night

Scholes was sent-off for two bookable offences in the first half of United's 2-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.

Chivu appeared to call for a yellow card for Scholes after he brought down Francesco Totti and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hit out at the Romanian for trying to influence referee Herbert Fankel.

Giggs has backed Ferguson's criticism of Chivu and says he does not like to see players trying to get opponents sent-off.

"You don't want to see another player getting someone sent off," said Giggs.

"It is one of the worst things you can do and that is what happened. I just hope it won't be repeated."

Giggs is confident United can overturn the first leg deficit at Old Trafford next week despite the absence of the suspended Scholes.

"Not having Scholes is a blow but we have been losing players all season, especially lately, but the squad has come into play," added Giggs.

"We have a lot of bonuses with players coming back and, if we defend right, we always create chances at Old Trafford so it is just a matter of taking one.

"European nights are always special at Old Trafford but we have to play like we can and have been playing all season.

"It's only half-time and we still have to finish the job off."

[qbdp]

Ferguson defends Scholes and slams Chivu

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Paul Scholes' and blamed Roma defender Cristian Chivu for his midweek dismissal. Scholes was sent off for two yellow cards in the Champions League quarter final first leg defeat in Rome last week - but wants Scholes to carry on tackling.

"I don't look upon what happened to Paul on Wednesday and feel he let us down," said Ferguson. "He won the game for us against Blackburn last weekend with a magnificent performance. If he had stayed on the pitch on Wednesday, we might have won that game too.

"But these things happen," Ferguson continued. "Paul is a very influential player for us and I am not going to turn round and tell him not to tackle."

Most fans and pundits would agree that Scholes - while not malicious - often mis-times challenges and can exhibit the clumsiness one would expect of a former forward. But Ferguson thinks the differences are merely cultural:

"Paul is not a bad tackler," claimed Ferguson. "He just does it in an English style... How you can tackle in England is not how you can tackle in Italy or Germany.

"There is a lack of understanding and knowledge of British players and Paul is suffering because of that."

Ferguson also blamed Romania international Chivu's encouragement of the referee for Scholes dismissal after he had fouled Roma captain Francesco Totti.

"It was Chivu who got Paul sent off on Wednesday, I have no doubt about that at all," said Ferguson. "It was a very minor foul but Chivu went charging up to the referee and then, after Paul had been sent off, he clapped the decision and patted the referee on the back. That is unacceptable.

"Roma as a club I have no problem with but Chivu is a different breed. It was poor stuff and very disappointing."

The second leg of the tie will be played at Old Trafford next Tuesday.