Berbatov hits brace to end Danish dreams

Manchester United dashed hopes of a Danish fairy tale after Dimitar Berbatov scored his first two goals for the club in a 3-0 victory over Aalborg here on Tuesday.
Home manager Bruce Rioch had promised that an Aalborg win would trigger an “earthquake” in the 10,800-capacity Energi Nord Arena.
But a first-half strike from Wayne Rooney and Berbatov's second-half brace secured a comfortable away victory that kick-starts the holders' Champions League campaign after a disappointing goalless draw in their opener against Villarreal.
United's offensive strategy rattled Rioch's team as Sir Alex Ferguson's side took charge of the game immediately, nearly scoring twice within the first 10 minutes.
Rooney's back-heeled through-ball to Ronaldo forced home 'keeper Karim Zazinto into a hurried clearance which hit the Portuguese winger and ballooned into the air.
Former Tottenhem striker Berbatov was the first to react but sliced his volley wide.
Two minutes later Nani swung a dangerous corner into the penalty area which reached captain Rio Ferdinand unmarked at the far post.
The England defender caught his volley sweetly but found Zaza equal to the task once more, the linesman waving away suggestions that the ball had crossed the line.
The Reds received a blow in the 11th minute when experienced midfielder Paul Scholes was carried off with suspected knee ligament damage.
The home fans were anxious that the pattern of the match had been set, and were heartened by a dangerous incursion into the visitors' half.
AaB left-back Thomas Enevoldsen made an adventurous surge down the left wing before curling a wicked low ball across the six-yard area.
Polish striker Marek Saganowski failed narrowly to connect but the ball fell to winger Jeppe Curth, whose shot was blocked by an alert Patrice Evra.
The home fans' respite was brief as the English visitors continued to threaten.
Ex-Fluminense defender Rafael was the next United player to come close with a ferocious long-range drive which seemed to move markedly in the air, causing Zaza to fend off tentatively.
A goal for the Red Devils seemed inevitable so it proved in the 22nd minute when Rooney kept a cool head to register his 12th goal in the Champions League proper.
Veteran winger Ryan Giggs, Scholes's replacement, slipped a cute pass inside defender Michael Beauchamp which Rooney collected before finishing neatly under Zaza.
The Danes responded immediately and would have scored had Ferdinand not produced a last-ditch tackle to deny right-back Kasper Bogelund.
Ronaldo came close to doubling the lead on two occasions but his first attempt went over the crossbar and the second was palmed away by the overworked Zaza.
Any thoughts of a giant-killing act were dashed 10 minutes after half-time when Bulgarian forward Berbatov showed finally why Ferguson splashed out 30.75 million pounds on him on transfer deadline day.
The fomer Bayer Leverkusen striker had defender Steve Olfers to thank after a suicidal pass across his own 18-yard line presented him with the ball, but his thunderous drive into the bottom corner of the goal was all his own work.
Rioch's men seemed resigned to their fate as United continued to create chances, Ronadlo and substitute Tevez both coming close to scoring a third.
After waiting over three games to break his duck, Berbatov made it two with a fine volley.
Ronaldo jinked his way down the right-wing before delivering a floted cross which the Bulgarian guided expertly over his shouloder and into the goal.

Scolari issues a warning to players

Chelsea's manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has said that if any of his players are unhappy at the club they will be free to leave during January’s transfer window.
This statement comes in the wake of Nicolas Anelka's unhappiness at having been left out of the squad that played Stoke City on Saturday.
Scolari added that he wanted players to fight for their places and now with Drogba back, Anelka has to fight for his place back.
He also said that the team was important and if any player was there for himself and not the team was free to go elsewhere.

Manchester United count cost of Champions League win

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that his side's comfortable victory over Aalborg could carry a high price after two key players picked up injuries in the Champions League stroll.
Paul Scholes was carried off with knee ligament damage in the 11th minute while star-striker Wayne Rooney hobbled off in the second-half of the 3-0 win with an ankle problem.
“With Scholes it is definitely medial ligament damage, but we don't know how serious yet,” Ferguson said, before offering a prediction that the midfield dynamo would be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
“There's always a price to pay and it was a bad one for us today,” the United boss complained.
“Rooney felt his ankle weaken and will definitely be in doubt for the Blackburn game on Saturday.”
Ferguson will be keeping his fingers crossed that Rooney's problem is not serious and he can ill afford to lose Scholes with England midfielder Michael Carrick unavailable for the next month after breaking a bone in his foot against Liverpool on September 13.
The injuries took the shine off Tuesday's entertaining 3-0 win, which will be remembered for Dimitar Berbatov's first Manchester United goals since his 30.75-million-pound deadline day transfer from Totenhem.
After Rooney had given United a first-half lead, the Bulgarian's first arrived in the 55th minute when he capitalised on a terrible mix-up between Aalborg defenders Steve Olfers and Thomas Augustinussen to slam home a vicious drive from the edge of the penalty area.
His second goal was created by excellent skill on the right wing by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese winger clipped an inviting cross into the penalty area but there was still a lot to do for the former Bayer Leverkusen striker as he hooked the ball from behind his body and into the goal.
The Scottish manager praised the Bulgarian hitman's performance.
“You always want to score early after being transfered for such an amount of money and he missed a good chance in the first half, which he was frustrated with.
“But to be fair he's taken his second goal very well, it was a real striker's finish,” the Scot added.
Rooney's opener was a cool finish after a penetrating through ball from substitute Ryan Giggs.
The holders now have four points and top group E on goal difference from Villarreal, who beat Celtic 1-0 on Tuesday.
“It's a good foundation going into the double-header with Celtic and gets us nearer to that 10 points level that you feel is vital for the next stage,” Ferguson added.
The Old Trafford boss sprung a surprise prior to kick-off by picking 18-year-old Brazilian Rafael instead of Wes Brown at right-back in a bold attacking starting line-up.
“I feel the boy's something special,” Ferguson said. “He's got great belief in himself and he's got a great chance the kid. I am very pleased with him.”
The youngster repaid Ferguson's faith with a dynamic performance which nearly resulted in a stunning long-range goal.
Aalborg manager and fellow Scot, Bruce Rioch, remained philosophical in defeat, realising that the experience and revenue gained from the current campaign far outweighs individual results.
“We were confident we could do well and the players' attitude was good. I'm pleased for them, it's a good experience for them and for the club,” Rioch said.
The Red Devils boss had generous words for his Jutland hosts, and predicted that they could make life difficult for opponents in the future.
“There's been lots of progress and developments outside the team itself and I think that's terrific,” he said.
“They play nice football and gave us some problems. It's difficult to think they're going to beat Villarreal but I can see them being a difficult team to beat away from home.”

United target Chelsea home record on Sunday

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday that the prospect of ending Chelsea's record unbeaten home run would spur his side on when the two powerhouses of English football meet on Sunday.

"They have got a good home record and everyone knows that has been the foundation of their success for the last four years," Ferguson told reporters.

"I think it's 84 games they haven't lost at home so it's a great challenge for us. A lot of people don't expect us to win which is unusual for our club so there's the challenge."

United go to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are unbeaten in a league game since February 2004, on the back of a rare Premier League defeat by Liverpool last Saturday, which put the champions six points behind early season leaders Chelsea.

Ferguson said his side, which will be boosted by the return to fitness of recent signing Dimitar Berbatov in attack, can ill afford another below-par performance against one of their title rivals.

"When you play the big ones you want to get a good haul (of points) out of them. Last season we did very well against the top four. This season we have lost the first one already so we can't afford to lose another one," he said.

Ferguson said he believed Luiz Felipe Scolari's purchase of Portugal midfielder Deco had changed the way Chelsea have played since Scolari replaced Avram Grant as manager following United's Champions League final win over the London club.

He may be tempted to bring fit-again Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo into his starting lineup following an impressive Champions League performance in mid-week, in an effort to stop Chelsea opening up a big advantage at the top of the table.

Scolari says he would like to sign Ronaldo

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would "open the door" for Cristiano Ronaldo to join the London club if he decided to leave Manchester United.

Ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash between the teams, the former Portugal manager was quoted in British newspapers saying he has a father-son relationship with Ronaldo.

"When I was with Portugal, I had to choose three players every year for the World Player of the Year award," he was quoted as saying in Saturday's Daily Mail.

"One year I chose Didier Drogba, another year I wrote John Terry and another year I voted for Frank Lampard.

"Now these three players are with me, it's good for me -- maybe next season Cristiano is with me.

"Tell him, if he wants to change I'll open the door for him."

Scolari comes up against the 23-year-old winger for the first time since the Brazilian quit as coach of Portugal where he helped Ronaldo develop his skills in the national team.

Scolari, who left after Euro 2008 to join Chelsea, added: "When I arrived in Portugal, Ronaldo was a kid, a young boy of just 17. At that time he had a good character, but he was already thinking about his future.

"He has improved a lot since, more so in Manchester than with the national team. He spends 11 months of the year with United and only one with the national team, but I have watched him improve.

Scolari relishing first crack at Man United

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari gets his first crack at Manchester United on Sunday when his table-topping side host the Premier League champions.

The Brazilian has enjoyed an impressive start at Stamford Bridge since taking over from Avram Grant and will relish locking horns with one of Britain's greatest managers.

The rivalry between Chelsea and United has been intense in recent years and John Terry's tears after his side's Champions League final shootout heartache against the Manchester side in Moscow this year are still a bitter memory for the fans.

Skipper Terry will get a chance to gain revenge after the Football Association's decision on Tuesday to rescind the red card he received against Manchester City last week.

United manager Alex Ferguson, who had several run-ins with former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, was furious over the Terry decision. His frustration was probably heightened by the fact that his side have had a poor start to their title defence.

He was scathing about United's defending in their 2-1 defeat by Liverpool last weekend, a result that left the Old Trafford side in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

After Wednesday's goalless Champions League draw with Villarreal the Scot will expect a backlash from his players at Stamford Bridge where last season's prolific scorer Cristiano Ronaldo should return to league action after ankle surgery.

Chelsea, who coasted to a 4-0 win over Girondins Bordeaux in the Champions League on Tuesday, won the corresponding fixture near the end of last season to keep alive their hopes of catching United in a title race that went down to the final day.

Terry's Three Game Suspension Written Off

Referee Mark Halsey made no hesitation in ordering Chelsea and England captain to leave the field of play after John Terry pulled Manchester City striker Jo to the ground.

Terry would have faced a three game suspension, meaning that he would have to watch on while his Blues face Manchester United this weekend, but the FA have overturned the ban insisting Halsey was wrong in showing red.

Luiz Felipe Scolari and Stamford Bridge chiefs lodged an appeal with the FA after the match and the FA announced that the 27-year old's ban has officially been void.

An FA statement said: "At an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal from Chelsea's John Terry was upheld... Terry was shown a red card for serious foul play during Chelsea's match against Manchester City on 13 September."

"As a result of today's hearing, Terry's three match suspension has been withdrawn," it concluded.