Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo sees no reason why Sir Alex Ferguson's side cannot clinch a Premier League and Champions League double this season.
United have won their last eight games in the Premier League and are currently second in the table while they are well-placed to move into the group stages of the Champions League.
United won an unprecedented treble in 1999 and Ronaldo is confident the current team can come close to matching those achievements.
"I believe we'll win the Premier League and Champions League this season," the Portugal international told a national paper.
"We have the team, we have the players and we believe we can do it. There's a good chance we will. All the players feel good, feel sharp, feel quick and they are showing on the pitch their desire to play for Manchester United. In the last three or four games we have scored many goals and we are more confident now. Arsenal are very strong and are playing fantastic, attractive football. It will be a big game for us (on Saturday) but it's a good opportunity to see how good we are. Arsenal have started well but the season is a marathon - you have to be consistent."
28 10 2007
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes could be facing as many as three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Scholes has been experiencing problems in his knee, and has not responded to the treatement, prompting fears that the injury might be more serious than initially expected.
Recent scans have proved to be inconclusive, and the player will undergo another one today.
The midfielder was initially expected to be out for a few weeks, but if the scan confirms the worst, he will have to go under the knife and then begin a lengthy rehabilitation.
It is understood that the club doctors are resigned to the surgery, and a three month recovery period, which means that player may not return until February.
The objective now seems to be getting the player ready in time for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
It will come as a huge blow for Sir Alex Ferguson, but the Manchester United boss will be delighted by the form shown by Anderson, and Hargreaves upon his return.
27 10 2007
New Bolton boss Gary Megson admits he is "not Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho" - but insists he can be proud of his record in management.
Megson was officially unveiled at the Reebok Stadium on Friday afternoon and will take charge of the team for the first time against Aston Villa on Sunday.
And the former Leicester boss got a taste of what to expect from the Trotters fans before Thursday's UEFA Cup match with Braga, which ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw.
Megson went outside the stadium before the match to front up to some of those angered at his appointment.
He said: "I thought I would have a chat and see what's what. So I spoke to a few supporters. I am not Alex Ferguson, I am not Jose Mourinho. The red carpet is not going to be rolled out straight away. But I would like to think I have heart, desire and enthusiasm. I went out to tell them all of those things. I am honest, I work hard and give it everything I have got. I say what I think and that can upset people."
Megson is proud of his record as a manager even though former European Cup winners Nottingham Forest were relegated to the third tier for the first time under his stewardship.
"I want to prove myself everywhere I go," he said. "My record, although never in the upper echelons of the Premier League, has been at some very good clubs. All of them are better than when I joined and that includes Forest. As for this being my last chance, I was asked the same question at Leicester. But you never know what is around the corner."
Megson has confirmed that Archie Knox will remain on the coaching staff, adding: "I do not want to make massive changes, certainly not straight away."
27 10 2007
Sir Alex Ferguson feels Martin Jol is probably relieved his tortuous time as Tottenham manager has finally come to an end.
Ferguson interviewed Jol for a job as his assistant at Manchester United, having been impressed by the work he had done in his native Holland at RKC Waalwijk.
Ferguson was as saddened as anybody when Jol's exit was confirmed on Thursday.
However, having been subjected to the "drip, drip, drip effect" of speculation over his tenure, Ferguson feels his old rival might be glad it is all over.
"Martin has great qualities," said Ferguson.
"He is a decent man who has showed his integrity but he is probably relieved it is all over. I don't know the full ins and outs but we have all witnessed a drip, drip, drip effect right from the start of the season when there was talk of the people from Tottenham meeting the Seville coach (Juande Ramos). Whether it happened or not, it appeared in the press, so the press were continually on about the guy's future. The media were not doing that out of malice. I am sure they were getting information, tittle-tattle and bits of rumour. That is enough to exacerbate it. But it cannot be healthy that every day Martin turns the paper over, his future is being discussed."
27 10 2007
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has declared Owen Hargreaves fit and ready to start against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The England international has been restricted to just three appearances since his £18million move from Bayern Munich after failing to shrug off a knee problem.
However, an injection to cure swelling caused by tendonitis appears to have worked and the 26-year-old is now in line to face Boro.
"Owen is fit to start tomorrow (Saturday)," said Ferguson.
"It's been frustrating for him, missing games is not what he came here for. He's come here for a big fee and he must be a bit disappointed with the way things have gone. But it is a long season and he is back now which is terrific news for us because it gives us a better chance of doing well."
26 10 2007
Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United legacy could be extended yet further after Edwin van der Sar revealed that he expects to prolong his stay at Old Trafford, whilst hinting he may adopt more of a coaching role in the future.
Following his forced retirement from the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently took up an ambassadorial role with the club, while Ryan Giggs has also intimated he might too remain with The Red Devils after hanging up his boots, and now Van der Sar has suggested he could stay after his playing days are over.
He said: 'I am playing at a very high level every week and, with my experience, I can maybe help the younger players a lot in the future. Officially, my agent has not heard anything official from the club yet but I expect to hold talks with the relevant people in December. Last year we extended my contract in that month, so that could well happen again. I am very happy here at the club. You can guess what I will do if and when I get a new offer from the club.'
If the Dutchman does stay in the North West, he could prove to be an influential figure in the development of United and England hopeful Ben Foster, who is currently out with a long-term cruciate injury.
25 10 2007
Under-fire Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol would be "better off without" Dimitar Berbatov, according to Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp.
The Bulgarian striker made a big impact in his debut season at White Hart Lane last season, scoring 23 goals.
But Spurs' poor start to the new campaign has left Jol on the brink of unemployment and, Redknapp says, brought out the worst in Berbatov.
The former Bayer Leverkusen striker appeared reluctant to come on as a substitute in the Londoners' 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United on Monday, and Redknapp is clear on what he would do.
"The very last thing Martin Jol needs right now is Dimitar Berbatov spitting his dummy out because he's not in Tottenham's starting team every week," Redknapp said in his column in a newspaper.
"You only find out the true character of your players when the chips are down and the pressure is on. And we all saw what Berbatov is made of when he was sat sulking on the bench at Newcastle the other night with a face like a big baby. Everyone knows what a terrific player the Bulgarian can be. But he's not the striker he was a year ago and, from what I've seen, he looks to be disinterested and playing for himself rather than his team. His attitude is terrible and his behaviour at St James' Park sent out all the wrong signals."
The 26-year-old front man had been linked with a move to Old Trafford over the summer, but Redknapp believes Berbatov has blown any chance of that now.
"Maybe he's sulking because he didn't get a move to Manchester United in the summer," Redknapp added.
"But he's done himself absolutely no favours on that account because I know for a fact Alex Ferguson would never stand for any player who behaves the way Berbatov has done this week. When your team is in trouble you need the big characters to stand up. That's just what Robbie Keane has done for Spurs and Berbatov should show the same attitude. I have always believed that when you lose a player's support you get him out as quickly as possible."
Spurs play Getafe in the Uefa Cup on Thursday evening and it will be interesting to see if Jol heeds Redknapp's words.
"No matter how good, you're better off without him."
25 10 2007
Manchester United fear they could be without Paul Scholes for their Premier League clash with Arsenal in 10 days' time.
Scholes was forced to pull out of United's Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury in training.
Although Scholes had a hospital scan yesterday, Sir Alex Ferguson and his medical staff will meet this morning at United's training ground to decide on the best course of action.
It is feared Scholes, who underwent exploratory knee surgery after returning early from United's pre-season tour of the Far East, may need a cartilage operation to cure the latest problem.
25 10 2007
Sir Alex Ferguson believes his current crop of stars can go on to establish Manchester United as the world's undisputed top club.
Not content with breaking Chelsea's stranglehold on the Premier League title last season, United spent more than £50million over the summer to build on the success.
New signings Owen Hargreaves, Nani, Carlos Tevez and Anderson have already made telling contributions to the current campaign, taking the team second in the league.
Having clicked into gear in an attacking vein with 12 goals in the last three games, Ferguson now wants to see his side go on to achieve true greatness.
"The last time we had a youthful squad like this, back in 1999, we won the Treble," Ferguson told a national newspaper.
"Now it's time for a new Reds dynasty to step forward, to achieve even more. My mission, our mission, is to make United the undisputed number one club in England, Europe and the world. We want to be challenging, and winning, on all fronts. That's the United way. Never standing still, always striving for higher and higher standards."
It had looked as if The Red Devils were going to prioritise Europe this season, in this the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air disaster.
But Ferguson's latest statement of intent will now be a concern for boss Gareth Southgate, who takes his Middlesbrough side to Old Trafford in the league on Saturday.
24 10 2007
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has declared that his side have such great ability that they are now not bothered about the formations or selection of players for European battles.
The Red Devils, who were jolted by the injury blows to Paul Scholes and Patrice Evra ahead of the game, attacked right from the word go in Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League away win at Dynamo Kiev.
"(Last season) we made some changes which didn't work out for us in Copenhagen (when they lost 1-0), then lost to Celtic and we had to win the last game in Lille but this side are more mature now," said Ferguson.
"But our attacking play was excellent tonight. We could have scored a lot of goals. Yes, there have been some moments when they were a bigger threat in second half but all in all we're very happy with the result. They're all adapting and getting on with it and we're not worried about which formations we're playing or which players because they've all got great ability. We're happy at the moment."
