By Football Talk.
Match Preview
Manchester United take on Portsmouth at Old Trafford knowing victory would send them back to the top of the league, with Chelsea playing Arsenal on Sunday. The three points at stake at equally vital for Pompey with them six points adrift at the foot of the Premier League table.
United are in great form following their 3-1 win against Arsenal last week, while Portsmouth will be hoping to avoid a third straight league defeat. Manchester United are the clear favourites for this match, im sure they will be the first pick on people’s accumulators this weekend.
Nemanja Vidic is back in contention for United and with Rio Ferdinand serving his 4-game ban his return has come at a good time for Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devil’s have no new injury worries, although Owen Hargreaves is still sidelined.
Avram Grant will have new signings Ricardo Rocha and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie available for selection as well as Kanu who had returned from the African Cup of Nations.
Rooney scoops award
Wayne Rooney has won the player of the month award for January. The United striker was in hot form scoring six goals during the month to reach 20 league goals this term.
Vidic move denied
Nemaja Vidic’s agent has denied that the Manchester United defender is set to join AC Milan this summer. Recent reports had suggested that his family have struggled to settle in England and he was keen on a move, and there was even talks of a rift with manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Which were later denied by both parties.
Real Madrid as well as AC Milan have been named as potential destinations if he was to leave, but this has been denied by Vidic’s agent Silvina Martina.
Martina told calciomercato.com: “When a player is with a big club it is difficult to change, and then these rumours come out just a few days after the close of the transfer market. A contradiction, don’t you think?
“There was nothing and I think that there won’t be even in the future.
“It is a useless thing that, just because a player is injured or maybe doesn’t play well, we are talking of a possible sale.”
