Sir Alex Ferguson Defends Gabriel Obertan After Home Manchester United Debut

French winger Gabriel Obertan has received the backing of his manager Sir Alex Ferguson following his long-awaited home debut in a Manchester United shirt.

The former Bordeaux youngster was signed from the French club during the summer although a back injury has limited the 20-year-old to just a handful of reserve appearances before last week.

Obertan made his first team bow in the League Cup victory over Barnsley in midweek and was introduced in the 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers yesterday as a replacement for Nani after 63 minutes.

Despite failing to find the net with two gilt-edged chances on his Premier League debut, Ferguson was quick to offer his support to the tricky midfielder suggesting that he was pleased with Obertan's overall performance.

"Gabriel was a bit nervous when he came on," said the Scot, as quoted by the Press Association.

"It was only his second game in seven months, so you have to put it in perspective. But then he settled down and did well. He is not happy with himself and that is a good thing."

Blackburn held United for large period of the game and it wasn't until the 55th minute that Dimitar Berbatov finally broke the deadlock for the champions.

Wayne Rooney added a second to seal the three points and Ferguson was pleased with his side's attacking edge in the second half.

"The players worked very hard as Blackburn set out their stall," he added.

"You always get a bit concerned when you haven't scored.

"But we don't panic. We have that experience. We can win games in the 93rd minute.

"You need that patience, though, and we improved our penetration in the second half. That is a strong virtue of this club."

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Beckham close to finalising return to AC Milan

David Beckham has revealed he is ready to sign a loan agreement with AC Milan to keep his dream of playing at a fourth World Cup finals alive.

The San Siro was always the likely destination for Beckham in January with Major League Soccer in close season hibernation, and while the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has a number of interested parties he remains committed to a Serie A return.

For the first time since moving to the United States in 2007, Beckham seems set for an extended season with the Galaxy primed for the end-of-season play-offs. On Thursday, they beat Chicago 1-0 to move to the top of the Western Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.

Beckham will have a couple of months to rest before moving back to Italy for a second spell.

England coach Fabio Capello has made it clear he must return to play in Europe to remain in his plans for South Africa.

"There are other options available but none that will stop me going to Milan," the LA Galaxy player told the Mail on Sunday. "It is close to being finalised.

"When I left (Milan), they said they wanted me to come straight back. I had such a marvellous time there. They're a great club."

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Wayne Rooney vs Cristiano Ronaldo vs Kaka vs Lionel Messi

Let's have some fun guys. Who do you think is the best among this awesome footballers: Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi.

Wayne Rooney
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Club: Manchester United

United's very own Roy of the Rovers, Rooney made his mark in Manchester with a stunning Champions League hat-trick in a 6-2 thrashing of Fenerbahce, which included a beautifully flighted free-kick.

Rooney, who is set to make his 50th Champions League appearance for United on Wednesday, already has a considerable medal collection having helped the Old Trafford club to three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup - to name but a few.

The former Everton player has the ability to terrorise defences with his speed, strength and vision, and he is equally adept at tackling and tracking back.

Arguably a genius in the making, an incendiary element to his character is the only flaw in his well-rounded game. His kicking of a corner flag at Craven Cottage following his sending off in a 2-0 defeat to Fulham in March merely illustrates this. If he can follow Kipling's advice and keep his head, Rooney will have the world at his feet.

Rating: 7/10.

Watch Rooney on YouTube

Kaká
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Club: Real Madrid.

The Fifa 2007 World Player of the Year had the Midas touch at Milan and helped the Rossoneri win the Champions League in the same season, scoring 10 goals during the tournament. He may not have the blistering pace of a Cristiano Ronaldo, but Kaká can see the game from a bird's eye perspective and is as much a creator of goals as a supreme finisher.

After completing his £68.5 million move to Real Madrid in the summer, the Brazilian will be keen to impress again in a World Cup season.

Rating: 8/10.

Watch Kaká on YouTube

Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Club: Real Madrid.

A player who is just as fast with or without the ball at his feet, Ronaldo can leave the best defenders with twisted blood.

The Portuguese, who scooped two Football Writer's Player of the Year awards and a brace of PFA accolades during his time in England, helped Manchester United win the Champions League in 2008 with the opening goal in their defeat of Chelsea.

Crowned Fifa World Player of the Year for 2008 with the Ballon d'Or already in his possession, the one remaining trophy that Ronaldo would dearly love to get his hands on is the World Cup.

Rating: 9/10.

Watch Ronaldo on YouTube

Lionel Messi
Age: 22
Position: Forward
Club: Barcelona.

The catalyst for Barcelona's Champions League triumph over Manchester United last season, this diminutive genius would appear to be the safest bet for this year's Fifa World Player of the Year.

One of a string of Argentine players to have been compared to the great Diego Maradona - and the first to deserve such comparisons - Messi seemingly sows his boot to the ball as he fillets opposition defences.

Proclaimed to be the best in the world by none other than England manager Fabio Capello, Messi may not be the greatest goal scorer, but he is a scorer of great goals.

Rating: 9/10.

Watch Messi on YouTube

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Kaka: Argentina Aren't Doing Too Well

Thinking ahead to the decisive World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina in early September, Kaka only had harsh words for Los Albicelestes.

"Argentina aren't too well, while Brazil, with a victory, will qualify for the World Cup," said Kaka.

In the weeks leading up to the highly anticipated clash between the South American rivals in Rosario, Argentina, several players have had their say on the form of their respective team and that of their rivals.

Kaka's national team teammates Robinho, of Manchester City, affirmed that if Brazil manage to play good football during the game they will moved closer towards another World Cup appearance.

"We need to play well against Argentina, we need to claim a victory and pick up the three points."

In recent weeks Diego Maradona, the coach of Argentina, explained that because his side will face Brazil it will definitely be a "complicated" match, but that his squad will play their "hearts out" in order to win the match.

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Sebastiano Rossi: Milan Are Taking Right Steps To A Winning Cycle

 

After selling Kaká and making no major new signings, things are not looking too bright for Milan ahead of the new season, and many fans have already voiced their disappointment.
However, former Rossoneri goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi, still the record holder in Serie A for the longest unbeaten run with 929 minutes, thinks that the club are taking the right steps to build another winning cycle.
"I've heard many complaints from fans, but I tell them: my friends, Milan are following the right road to build a new cycle within a few years," he said to Il Giornale.
"You have endure some suffering and use a fundamental virtue, patience, to find yourself a winning team again. After building the team's spine, you can insert world-class players one at a time.
"All the great teams have this characteristic to endure in time and not be a fluke team. I'm not just referring to Barcelona or Manchester United. I also remember how Fabio Capello's Invincible Milan team was born, and [Marcello] Lippi's Juventus."
On Ronaldinho, who will probably be given more responsibility now with Kaká's departure, Rossi said: "I want to make a prediction, I like taking risks: I think they will do well, I saw it from the first few tests of this pre-season, he has the right desire.
"I think Milan will start slowly, they will have some problems but in the end they'll be fine. You'll see that in the end they won't disappoint: I know the Milanello people well."
Rossi was at Milan between 1990 and 2002, winning three Scudetti, and one Champions League among other trophies, and establishing his unbeaten record in the 1993/1994 season.


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