player of the month march

Michael Carrick (born 28 July 1981) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United. He has made 369 Premier League appearances and played in 59 UEFA Champions League games as of January 2013. Carrick primarily plays as a centre midfielder and at the time of his move to Manchester United distinctive features of his play included his inventive distribution of the ball along with his passing and crossing abilities.^[3]
Carrick began his career at West Ham United, joining the youth team in 1997 and winning the FA Youth Cup two years later. He was sent on loan twice during his debut season, to Swindon Town and Birmingham City, before securing a place in the first team by the 2000–01 season. He experienced relegation in the 2002–03 season and was voted into the PFA First Division Team of the Year in the following campaign. He made more than 150 appearances for the Hammers, however, in 2004, he moved to rival London club Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be £3.5 million. He was ever-present during his Spurs career, scoring twice in 75 appearances, before moving to Manchester United in 2006 for £18 million.
From his debut onwards he was ever-present in the Manchester United first team, making more than 50 appearances in his first season with them. He established himself as a key member of the team that won the Premier League in 2006–07, their first title success in four years. The following season he was part of the side that won the 2008 Champions League final, playing the full 120 minutes as they enjoyed a 6–5 penalty shootout win, with Carrick converting his spotkick, to help achieve the European Double. He enjoyed a third consecutive title triumph in the 2008–09 campaign, but couldn't prevent a Champions League final defeat to FC Barcelona. He won his first League Cup medal in 2009, however, for the first time during his Manchester United career, he missed out on another title success as they finished runners-up to Chelsea.

Carrick has represented England at under-18, under-21, B and senior levels. He made his England debut in 2001 and has since gained 23 caps but has yet to score an international goal. Carrick has often been overlooked during his England career, with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, and, recently, Scott Parker often preferred in his position. He has been a member of the England squads for two major tournaments; the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. In the first competition, he appeared in a Round of 16 match but didn't manage to play a single minute of the latter tournament.

Real Madrid versus Manchester united

Real Madrid CF and Manchester United FC will square off in a much-anticipated last-16 showdown lent extra spice by the presence of Old Trafford old boy Cristiano Ronaldo in the home ranks.

• The sight of Ronaldo facing United for the first time since his departure adds another layer of intrigue to a contest pairing clubs who have met four times previously in the European Cup – with the winners going on to lift the trophy on three occasions.

• It is also an opportunity for José Mourinho to renew his rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson. Although United reached the round of 16 as Group H winners, Group D runners-up Madrid have won eight of their last nine UEFA Champions League home fixtures and can draw further encouragement from the fact United have conceded first in their last five European outings.

Previous meetings
• Madrid came out on top in three of the clubs' four previous encounters – in the semi-finals in 1956/57 and quarter-finals in 1999/2000 and 2002/03 – with United prevailing in the 1967/68 semi-finals.

• Madrid triumphed 6-5 on aggregate in their most recent encounter. Vicente del Bosque's side emerged 3-1 winners from the first leg at the Bernabéu, Luís Figo and Raúl González (2) scoring before Ruud van Nistelrooy pulled a goal back.

• The Brazilian Ronaldo struck a hat-trick in the Old Trafford return where United fought back to win 4-3 through two goals from substitute David Beckham on a night where Van Nistelrooy and Iván Helguera (own goal) also found the net.

• The lineups from that last meeting on 23 April 2003 were:
Man Utd: Barthez, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre (P Neville 79), Verón (Beckham 63), Butt, Keane (Fortune 82), Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjær.
Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Zidane, McManaman (Portillo 69), Figo (Pavón 88), Makelele, Ronaldo (Solari 67), Guti.

• In the 1999/2000 quarter-finals, eventual champions Madrid advanced 3-2 on aggregate as they followed up a goalless home draw by taking a 3-0 lead in Manchester through Roy Keane's own goal and a Raúl double, before Beckham and Paul Scholes replied for the then holders. Ryan Giggs and Iker Casillas also featured.

• United have a history of comebacks in this fixture. After George Best had scored the only goal of their 1967/68 semi-final first leg at Old Trafford, they trailed Madrid 3-1 at half-time in the return but goals by David Sadler and Bill Foulkes earned a 4-3 aggregate victory and United went on to lift the trophy for the first time.

• Madrid won the first-ever meeting 5-3 on aggregate to reach the 1956/57 final. The Merengues overcame Matt Busby's men 3-1 at home and then led 2-0 away before United battled back to 2-2.

Match background
• Madrid have already got the better of United's neighbours in this season's group stage. Mourinho's side earned a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Manchester City FC at home on matchday one, Ronaldo delivering the 90th-minute winner, then drew 1-1 away.

• The Spanish champions' home record against England clubs is W6 D4 L2. The last English visitors to beat them were Liverpool FC, 1-0 victors at this stage in 2008/09.

• United exited last term's UEFA Europa League after home and away defeats by Athletic Club, and also lost their most recent UEFA Champions League encounter with Liga opposition – 3-1 against FC Barcelona in the 2011 final at Wembley.

• United's record away to Liga clubs is W2 D8 L10. Their last success came at Valencia CF in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage, Javier Hernández scoring the only goal.

• Madrid lost the 1981 European Champion Clubs' Cup final to Liverpool and the 1971 European Cup Winners' Cup final to Chelsea FC.

• United lost UEFA Champions League finals against Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 having beaten the same opponents in the 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup final. Sir Alex oversaw Aberdeen FC's 2-1 defeat of Madrid in the 1983 Cup Winners' Cup final – his first European trophy.

Team ties
• Mourinho has faced United twice before at this stage of the UEFA Champions League, starting with Porto's success in the 2003/04 round of 16 en route to winning the trophy. A side including Ricardo Carvalho earned a 2-1 advantage at home before securing a 3-2 aggregate win as Costinha cancelled out a Scholes goal with a 90th-minute equaliser in Manchester.

• Mourinho's FC Internazionale Milano lost to United in the 2008/09 last 16. After a goalless first leg, Inter succumbed 2-0 at Old Trafford, Nemanja Vidić and Ronaldo scoring.

• In between Mourinho enjoyed a good run of results against United as Chelsea manager, his Stamford Bridge reign starting with a 1-0 home victory over Sir Alex's United on 15 August 2004. During three years in London, Mourinho's record against United was W5 D4 L1, with the FA Community Shield in August 2007 counting as a draw having finished 1-1 before United prevailed on penalties.

• Mourinho's Chelsea team, including Michael Essien, were 1-0 extra-time winners against United in the 2007 FA Cup final. Rio Ferdinand, Vidić, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Scholes, Giggs and Wayne Rooney all played for United.

• Ronaldo spent six seasons with United between 2003 and 2009. He scored 118 goals in 292 games, winning one UEFA Champions League and three Premier League titles, as well as one FA Cup and two League Cups.

• Ronaldo played in two UEFA Champions League finals with United. He scored in the 1-1 draw against Carvalho and Essien's Chelsea in Moscow in 2008, where United triumphed on penalties although Ronaldo failed from the spot. Twelve months later, his final United appearance ended in defeat by Barcelona in Rome.

• Essien was in the Olympique Lyonnais side that met United in the 2003/04 group stage, earning a 2-2 home draw before a 2-1 away loss.

• Xabi Alonso had to wait until his fifth and final season with Liverpool, 2008/09, before tasting victory over United – his solitary success in seven attempts. Álvaro Arbeloa lost all three games against United as a Liverpool player.

• Luka Modrić won none of his eight meetings with United while at Tottenham Hotspur FC between 2008 and 2012. In his first campaign he lost the League Cup final on penalties and scored to put Spurs 2-0 up at Old Trafford in a league match they eventually lost 5-2.

• Kaká was in the Milan side that overcame United in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League round of 16 and, two seasons later, scored three goals as Milan defeated United 5-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

• As a Club Atlético de Madrid player, David de Gea conceded 11 goals in five straight derby losses to the Merengues.

• Spain's Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Alonso won the 2010 FIFA World Cup final at the expense of Robin van Persie's Netherlands. The following season Van Persie faced Barcelona with Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, scoring in a 2-1 first-leg victory but receiving a red card in a 3-1 second-leg defeat.

• Wayne Rooney was in the England side beaten 4-1 by Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil's Germany in the round of 16 of the 2010 World Cup. Khedira and Özil had previously helped Germany win the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with a 4-1 final triumph over England in which Özil scored.

• Jonny Evans's Northern Ireland frustrated Ronaldo and Pepe's Portugal in a 1-1 2014 World Cup qualifying draw in Porto in October.

• Brazil's Rafael made his senior international debut in a May 2012 friendly against Denmark alongside Marcelo.

#TeamMUFC #MUFC_UCL_4

CASILLAS BLOW FOR MADRID AHEAD UCL CLASH WITH MAN UTD.

The keeper was forced to leave the pitch after 17 minutes of play at Mestalla, and the club have now announced that he has sustained the injury, meaning he will miss the Champions League tie with Manchester United next month.

"After carrying out initial X-rays at the La Moraleja Sanitas Hospital, it has been confirmed that the footballer Iker Casillas has suffered a fracture at the base of the first metacarpal on his left hand," a statement on the Madrid website reads.

"It will be assessed again by a specialist later today to decide what treatment will be followed."

The knock will keep Casillas out of action for an estimated six weeks, meaning he will certainly miss the clash with Untied in the Spanish capital.

Additionally, the 31-year-old is doubtful for the return against the Red Devils, while he could also be forced out of the Clasico versus Barcelona on March 2. 

The Real Madrid goalkeeper will be out of action for around six weeks after he broke his thumb during los Blancos' Copa del Rey draw with Valencia on Wednesday

ZAHA TRANSFER

 

Wilfried Zaha

Zaha playing in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha[1]
Date of birth	10 November 1992 (age 20)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Winger / Striker
Club information
Current club	Crystal Palace
Number	16
Youth career
2002–2010	Crystal Palace

Manchester United have clinched a deal for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.

The Daily Mail says United have clinched a £15million deal for Crystal Palace winger Zaha.

United will pay £10million up front - the biggest down payment for a Championship player, exceeding the £6m Arsenal initially paid Southampton for 17-year-old Theo Walcott on in 2006.

The remaining £5m will be made up of various add-ons, £3m based on appearances, and the remaining £2m based on trophies and England appearances.

Palace have also agreed a 10 per cent sell-on fee. Zaha will sign a five-and-a-half year contract at Old Trafford which will start at £35,000 a week, rising as he develops at the club.

The England international will have a medical for United within the next 48 hours and will be loaned back to Palace for the remainder of the season - a key boost to Palace boss Ian Holloway as he strives to win promotion to the Premier League.

STAR OF THE WEEK DANIEL CHUKWU

On Sunday as  a halftime substitute, Daniel Chukwu inspired the Molde side led by manager Ole gunnar Solskjaer to a 1-0 victory. Chukwu repaid his coach's faith by heading a corner in the far post at the hour mark to put Solskjaer's side on course for their second title in his two seasons at the helm. 

FULL NAME: DANIEL CHUKWU CHIMA

CURRENT CLUB: MOLDE

BIRTHDATE: 04 APRIL 1991

BIRTHPLACE: NIGERIA

NATIONALITY:

SHIRT NO: #27 

PLAYING POSITION: WINGER/STRIKER

Daniel Chima Chukwu born 4 April 1991, is a Nigerian  currently playing for Molde in the Norwegian Premier league. he started his playing career at Festac sport, before he went on loan to Bussdor United. 

He joined Lyn in the 2010 season and scored his first goal in his in his debut game against Bodo Glimt on 5 April 2010, following the bankruptcy of Lyn he joined Molde on 28th July 2010. On 25 April 2011, he secured a 3-1 win against Brann with a stoppage-time goal, which was also his first goal for Molde. 

007 MAN DANIEL CRAIG REJECTS FERGUSON'S TICKET OFFER

007 Rejects Ferguson's ticket offer.Manchester United's manager SAF tried to impress 007(James Bond) actor Daniel Craig with the offer of free tickets to watch Manchester united play, only to discover the Hollywood superstar is actually a Liverpool fan.

Sir Ferguson was on the same flight with the Hollywood star's mom on his way to New york in September and made the offer, and she politely declined pointing that the 007 man will never think of coming to see Man Utd play as he is a die hard Liverpool fan, Daniel Craig was spotted with the Liverpool manager Rogers in US during the pre season.

Regardless of Craig's loyalty to Liverpool, Ferguson will be making a trip to the cinema to watch sky-fall partly because he does share one thing in common with the actor, they are both from Scotland.

SOLSKJAER EDGING CLOSER TO UNITED HOT SEAT AFTER SECURING BACK-TO-BACK NORWEGIAN LEAGUE TITLE.

Last week i gave out a story about former Manchester united striker Solskjaer nursing an ambition to one day manage the team he tasted cup glories with as a player,Solskjaer won the club's first ever league title at his first attempt and  last night the Molde manager added to his rising CV by winning Norwegian league title
for the second consecutive time.

The 39-year-old, who took charge at the Aker Stadion in 2011, secured back-to-back Norwegian league titles with the help of little known Nigerian super sub-Daniel Chukwu scoring the winner against Honefoss.

Only time will tell if the man that won the premier league six times wearing the United jersey can come in and replicate his Molde magic wearing suits and standing at the touchline in Old Trafford.

#TeamManUtd