Tuesday, 17 December 2013

League Cup Preview: Stoke v Man United

League Cup Preview: Stoke v Man United

League Cup Preview: Stoke v Man United

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 08:25 AM PST

The Premier League champions went four top-flight games without victory over the end of November and beginning of December, including back-to-back 1-0 defeats at Old Trafford to Everton and Newcastle United. United have improved in their last two fixtures, however, beating Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in their final UEFA Champions League group stage fixture before comfortably seeing off Aston Villa 3-0 in the league on Sunday. And manager Moyes has now targeted continued improvement, with United looking to make the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2010 in their visit to the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday. "It (our play) continually has to improve and it will improve," he told Sky Sportsin the aftermath of the Villa victory."I'll make sure it gets better in the coming month." United have seen off challenges from Liverpool and Norwich City to make it this far, and will be confident of claiming the scalp of Mark Hughes' side, with Stoke having never beaten Manchester United in the Premier League. Indeed, Stoke's last victory over United in any competition came in a 2-1 League Cup triumph in September 1993 thanks to a double from Mark Stein. However, at that time, ties in the competition were staged over two legs and United progressed courtesy of a 2-0 success at Old Trafford. Former United striker Hughes is looking to orchestrate Stoke's best performance in the competition since their 2-1 triumph over Chelsea in the 1972 final. Stoke have twice reached the quarter-final stage since then, most recently in the 2008-09 season when they lost 1-0 to Derby County. The Britannia Stadium outfit head into the fixture on the back of two draws and a win in the top flight, with 0-0 stalemates against Cardiff City and Hull City sandwiching a superb 3-2 success over Chelsea. Centre-back Robert Huth (knee) is ruled out for Stoke, while United will definitely be without Robin van Persie (thigh) and Michael Carrick (Achilles).

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Michel not daunted by Man United task

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST

The Greek champions finished second in Group C behind Paris Saint-Germain and will now face United for only the fifth time – and for the first time since 2002. Michel's side have never tasted success against the English champions and the Spaniard is determined to spring a surprise. "We are very pleased that we are in this draw, we could not ask for anything more," he told the club's official website. "We know what is happening right now. "It's a celebration of football for us, even more so to visit a mythical football ground such as Old Trafford. "Manchester United are a huge club, a powerful machine and we are in for two very tough matches. "We respect Manchester United but our aim is to become like them one day. Call me crazy, but I fear no opponents." Olympiacos will host United in Athens in the first leg on February 25, then travel to Old Trafford to try and seal a quarter-final place two weeks later.

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Winning group vital, says Man United secretary

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 06:55 AM PST

The Premier League champions were handed a favourable tie in the round of 16 in the form of Greek outfit Olympiacos, while Arsenal and Manchester City face testing encounters with Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively. United finished top of their pool, while City and Arsenal had to settle for runners-up berths, meaning the Premier League duo were not among the top seeds for the knockout phase. Alexander is now confident of reaching the quarter-finals, and is counting on a big United following in Greece to help their cause. "If you look at the ties Arsenal and City got, that shows why you have got to win the group," he said. "Whoever came out of the pot would have been a good one to draw. "United are a big club in Greece so we will have a good following over there." United are looking to do better than their effort last season when they were knocked out in the last-16 stage with a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.

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Last 16 draw: Holders Bayern draw Arsenal

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:39 AM PST

The two sides met at the same stage of last season's competition, Bayern triumphing on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate score. Bayern went on to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in May's final, part of an unprecedented treble in German football under the stewardship of JuppHeynckes, with the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles completing their impressive trophy haul. Arsenal have progressed from the initial group stage for the 14thstraight year, and - despite being ousted by Bayern at this stage last season - will take heart from a 2-0 victory at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of last season's tie. Manchester City's reward for a first appearance in the knockout stages is a difficult encounter against Spanish champions Barcelona. Gerardo Martino's men are looking to win the tournament for the first time since 2011 when they defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley. Last season's beaten finalists Dortmund face Zenit St Petersburg, while Real Madrid have been paired with Schalke. Didier Drogba will make an emotional return to Chelsea after Galatasaray were drawn against his former employers. The 35-year-old - who enjoyed an eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge - scored the winning spot-kick in Chelsea's 4-3 penalty shootout triumph over Bayern in the 2012 final. David Moyes' Manchester United face Greek opposition in the form of Olympiacos, and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain will meet Bayer Leverkusen in the first competitive meeting between the two sides. In the other last-16 tie, La Liga high-flyers Atletico Madrid square off against Serie A giants Milan, who last lifted the trophy in 2008. The first legs will be played in February, on the 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th, with the respective returns taking place three weeks later. Draw in full: Manchester City v Barcelona, Olympiacos v Manchester United, Milan v Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen v Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray v Chelsea, Schalke v Real Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg v Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal v Bayern Munich.

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Man United paired with Olympiacos in last 16

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 03:16 AM PST

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Fletcher confident health issues are gone

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 01:54 AM PST

The Scotland international has been blighted by a chronic bowel condition for the past two years and made his first appearance since Boxing Day 2012 on Sunday. Fletcher appeared for the last 20 minutes at Villa Park as a replacement for Ryan Giggs, as United recorded a comfortable 3-0 triumph. The 29-year-old is hopeful his problems, which forced him to take a prolonged break from the game, are now behind him. Speaking to MUTV, Fletchersaid:This is it - Im back for good. This is hopefully the game which means Im back now. I seem to have come through the setbacks and health issues and Im thankful for that. Its onwards and upwards now. I always believed I would come back; I kept that mindset. I think other people around me were trying to make me think otherwise, but I stayed strong and believed I would get back. Ever since I was a kid, Ive wanted to play football. Ive been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play for Manchester United and I wasnt going to give that up lightly. I battled through it, and Im only 29 years old. I think Ive got plenty more years of playing left in me. I could have a career all over again if I get my health right, and hopefully thats what Im going to do. Im still building up my fitness, but I dont want to take it easy. Ive done enough of that, and I want to be involved, to get us back to where I know we should be.

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