Carrick: We always believed

Michael Carrick insists United's players always held an unwavering confidence that Porto could be overcome, despite the Portuguese champions' away-goals advantage and their proud home record.

With two Old Trafford strikes safely in the bank and their much-heralded unbeaten record against British opposition in the Stadio do Dragao, Porto were confident of dumping the reigning European champions out of the competition on Wednesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo's wonderful early goal, allied to a mature, disciplined team display sent the Reds through to a semi-final clash with Arsenal, and Carrick was delighted by United's timely return to form.

"Obviously it's a tough place to come and get a result, but we knew it was in our hands," the midfielder told MUTV. "We really fancied ourselves to come and score here, and defend right. It was a good team performance all round and we're delighted to go through.

"We started the game very well and looked good, and to get the goal was a big bonus. From then I thought we were in control. They came at us, which you'd expect, but we defended very well, even though it was still on a knife-edge.

"From going through, all of a sudden you can be going out. We were well aware of that and knew we had to defend right to the final whistle, and I thought we did that very well."

Does it on the big stage

After a tense night in Portugal, MUTV Commentator David Stowell marvels at the man from Madeira and yet another of his torpedo style wonderstrikes...

It must be an odd feeling being told you’re the best in the world. Not average. Not just good. Not just your team’s top man, but the planet’s stand-out performer. It’s a frightening thought and a whole world of pressure to land on the shoulders of someone who is in their early twenties.

But - and let’s face it, you knew a ‘but’ was coming - last night in the buzzing cauldron of noise and general hysteria aptly nicknamed “The Dragons’ Den”, we caught another glimpse of why Cristiano was last year voted the globe’s greatest.

Let’s not beat around the bush, last night was pivotal. Before the game United had 90 minutes to continue what could be the most glorious of seasons, but also potentially an hour and a half from seeing an emotionally and physically draining campaign begin to unravel at the worst possible time. If you believe those in the newspaper business, our seasons are always teetering on a knife edge. We needed industry as well as inspiration. A cool head mixed with red-hot accuracy.

With the press box full of headline writers sharpening their pencils and ready to toss United’s season onto the bonfire, our wing wizard stepped forward, reached into his box of tricks and pulled out a jet-propelled rocket. He held the defender at arms length, dropped his shoulder, lit the blue touch paper a full 40 yards from goal and it shot off into the night sky. Everything seemed to slow down as the stadium held its breath.

Helton in goal probably thought he was well prepared for the arrival of a firecracker from that distance, after all he was wearing gloves and it was raining. But his foamed

fingertips didn’t even get close. As the Brazilian keeper grasped at thin air, those in blue prayed for one thing, those in red, another. Ronny’s match-winning missile cut through the ‘Dragao’ drizzle, accelerating to break-neck speed before exploding into the net, sending Porto’s European dream up in smoke.

Hysterical voices of commentators around the ground, speaking in a multitude of languages, went into orbit just as the ball had. Maybe Porto’s absent coach knew what was going to happen, running for cover before the game had even started.

The shot was caught speeding through the night sky at no less than 65 miles per hour. It was a truly jaw-dropping strike, and not bad for someone who supposedly doesn’t do it on the big stage.

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Rooney salutes team ethic

Himself a bastion of selflessness, Wayne Rooney put Wednesday's impressive win over Porto down to the Reds' collective toil, rather than any individual effort.

The England international striker shone as a makeshift right winger, lending equal amounts of support in attack and defence, and while Cristiano Ronaldo's thunderbolt was the difference on paper, it was that hard-working mentality which faciliated United's passage to the Champions League semi-finals.

"It was a good performance by the team," Rooney told MUTV. "We looked solid and never looked like conceding, and it was a wonderful goal from Cristiano to win us the game.

"We knew that if we defended well we'd get opportunities to score and I think Rio coming back was a big plus for us tonight. We were really solid and they didn't give us that many problems in front of goal."

Arsenal now await United in the last four, and Rooney admits the all-English tie presents a mouth-watering prospect.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "The only other English team we've played against in this competition was Chelsea, so it should be an exciting couple of games and hopefully we can overcome them."

PORTO 0 - 1 MU

United will face Arsenal in an all-English Champions League semi-final, after the Reds became the first English team to beat Porto in the Estadio do Dragao.

It took something special: a quite breathtaking 40-yard strike from Cristiano Ronaldo which, allied to a first clean sheet in six games, took the holders into the final four. Indeed, it would have been the Reds' defensive resolve which would have pleased Sir Alex Ferguson most, as the return of Rio Ferdinand brought an assuredness to the champions and restricted the dangerous hosts to but a handful of opportunities.

Following last week's 2-2 first-leg draw, Porto went into the match with a crucial away-goal advantage. That was tellingly overturned inside six minutes of an imposing second encounter. Had Sir Alex been asked to draw a blueprint of his perfect start, it wouldn't have been too far removed from what actually transpired.

The Reds were already looking confident when Anderson slipped a pass to Ronaldo, but the winger's ambition beggared belief. Having received the ball just inside the hosts' half, Ronaldo took a touch to set himself and arrowed an unstoppable effort into Helton's top corner. The ball travelled 40 yards to the goal, but the Brazilian goalkeeper could get nowhere near it.

A Sporting Lisbon export, Ronaldo was predictably jeered from the first whistle by the blue and white clad hordes in the stands. Suddenly, he had provoked silence on every side of the Estadio do Dragao - bar, of course, the sizeable pocket of writhing, jubilant United fans behind the opposite goal.

The Reds' approach to the game mirrored that of Porto in the first leg: dominant, with the hosts completely on the back foot. Indeed, it took 20 minutes for the Portuguese champions to notch an effort of note, as Bruno Alves' free-kick drifted a couple of yards wide of Edwin van der Sar's goal.

Porto had shown their class at Old Trafford, so it was no surprise that they began to gradually exert themselves on the game. Lisandro's spectacular scissor-kick forced a routine save from van der Sar, but United's defence - reinforced by the pairing of Ferdinand with Vidic - stood firm.

In the latter stages of the half, the chances see-sawed. Ryan Giggs' volley was kept out by Helton, Alves powered a header wide and Vidic stabbed John O'Shea's flick over the bar from close range.

Half-time came and went with no changes of personnel, but with a definite shift in setting as teeming rain began to saturate the Portuguese turf. Dimitar Berbatov almost immediately tested Helton's handling of the new conditions, but the Brazilian was equal to his low, drilled effort.

With United ahead, the onus was always going to be on the home side to fashion chances, however, and the visitors' job was largely one of containment in the second half. After the recent spate of concessions, a clean sheet wouldn't just put United through; it would mark a return to the defensive solidity which had been the bedrock of the season to date.

Raul Meireles sliced a shot past the top corner, Hulk fired a free-kick straight at van der Sar and Rolando powered a free header over the bar when he should have done better, but United's demeanour was largely one of calm throughout, containing the storm rather than weathering it.

On occasion, the Reds could even embark on forays forward. Wayne Rooney, outstanding throughout for his defensive diligence as much as his attacking incision, drilled one effort fractionally over Helton's bar. Moments later, however, Lisandro went one better in hitting the target. Even if it was a wasted opportunity, fired straight at van der Sar, it was a timely reminder that one without reply would be enough.

Ronaldo did threaten again, drawing a fine low save from Helton, but he had already struck the telling blow. Now the Reds must shoehorn two more massive games into an already congested fixture list. But, having signalled a return to miserly ways in defence and with a calm befitting of champions, Sir Alex and his players will be relishing every minute that remains of this captivating season.

source : here

Spekta ... Ron

Ronny's rocket
United pulled off an historic victory - thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 40-yard rocket. The Portuguese star - dubbed ‘The Winker’ after his exploits at the 2006 World Cup - hit a sixth-minute stunner as United became the first English team to win at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao. Sir Alex Ferguson, celebrating his 150th Euro game in charge, said: “It was an unbelievable goal, a magnificent hit. It was a fantastic goal but that’s what Cristiano is capable of. His shot took them by surprise and the goalkeeper had no chance. The boys played well. We had good control at the back and that’s always key. When you have the stability of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the back it’s a big help.” United face Arsenal in the semi-finals and Fergie added: “There should be some good football played in that one!”
Neil Custis, The Sun

Ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, Sir Alex admitted he would settle for a single goal win in the first game.

Arsene Wenger has set his sights on United's European crown after the victory over Villarreal. He said: "It is a test but one we relish. Both teams like to go forward and we will be up for the challenge."

In other news, Real Madrid have once again insisted Ronaldo will be their player next season. Former president Ramon Calderon said: “The next president will have at his disposal one of the best players in the world, who is already committed to Real.”