Watch: Giggs Goal vs Benfica

Manchester United snatched a point in Portugal in a tough away game against Benfica in which a certain 37 year-old Welshman popped up with a wonderful strike to save United from travelling back to Manchester empty handed.

Benfica away from home will probably prove to be the toughest test for Manchester United in the group stages, with a win surely expected at Old Trafford in the return game, but a point will satisfy Sir Alex, who rested a number of players for the opening Champions League game of the season.

Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Giggs and Valencia started in a five man midfield very unfamiliar and uncharacteristically old this season what with the energetic injection of youth in the side in the Premier League. The United manager said before the game: the players in this midfield are in dire need of a start, and resting the players in top form for the big game against Chelsea on the week-end is just a bonus.

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Hargreaves United Career Over...But [Video]

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the news that no Manchester United supporter wanted to hear, despite expecting to hear: Owen Hargreaves' Manchester United career is over. It is supremely unfortunate for the England international, but hardly surprising, as he managed only 10 minutes of pitch time over the whole season.
Sir Alex said:

"This has been a difficult decision knowing how hard the lad has worked to win back his fitness. But we have made it in the hope he will be able to resurrect his career elsewhere."

You only have to look at the recent headlines on this blog which involve the player to understand how unfortunate he has been during his time at United. [Video Below]

Will Hargreaves Follow Neville & van der sar Into Retirement? [Article on Feb 3rd]

 Poor Owen Hargreaves. The Manchester United midfielder has constantly been plagued with terrible injuries to his knees, suffering from an extremely serious case of patellar tendinitis which was described by his surgeon, who has 35 years experience in his field as the worst case he had ever seen.

Hargreaves Injury Update - Not Good [Article on March 26th]

I am still awaiting the day when an injury update on Owen Hargreaves can be classified as 'good news'. As it is, the Canadian born midfielder is once again on the all to familiar treatment table at United. This time it is his shoulder.

Scholes & Hargreaves - Time to Say Goodbye? [Article on April 15th]

Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves. Six years and 631 Manchester United appearances separate the two midfield maestros, but to the extreme misfortune of the latter, that is not the only thing that is different. Aside from the obvious difference in appearance; Scholes's distinctive short ginger hair and scruffy appearance compared to the Canadian's sleek, curly locks and pulled up socks, Paul Scholes has not suffered persistent, possible career ending injuries to the extent that his midfield colleague Hargreaves has.

The latest article however, was interesting in light of today's news. It stated that Manchester United had offered Hargreaves a new pay-as-you-play deal for a year extension on his contract. This was apparently to warn off interest from other clubs, which included United's rivals Arsenal, and came from a national newspaper. However, this obviously has not turned out to be the case, and Hargreaves will be free to join any club of his choice, as long as he can get back to fitness - that could include Arsenal (although unlikely).

Hargreaves managed 39 appearances for United, scoring 2 goals, but when he was playing, he was fantastic - often described - accurately as the engine from midfield, with tenacity and desire, with the fight that all good, commanding central midfielder's need in their lockers. He is a player whom United would have been delighted to have had in their side this season, but one who was constantly unavailable due to those nagging injuries.



In the one season that he managed at United, he made a big impact, helping Sir Alex's side to one Premier League trophy and one Champions League trophy - a feet which can be achieved again in a few days time by the current squad. He will be missed at Old Trafford, and it is very sad to see a player have to leav because of injuries. Here is a refreshing reminder of one of his highlights as a United player - his free-kick against Arsenal - the very same Arsenal he was rumoured to be joining a couple of weeks ago, and will surely be linked to in the future:

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Owen Wants To be The New Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Michael Owen joined Manchester United in the knowledge that a starting place would be very rare. At 31, he has come to accept this, and the cameo role he plays in certain matches often prove absolutely vital in games, especially when you consider he was a free signing for United. But the main reason the former Liverpool fan favourite joined United was to do something that his previous teams rarely did in his time there - win trophies.

He came to no better place, and this season, he has the chance to help United to win both the Premier League trophy, and the Champions League trophy, both of which would be the first of his long, goal filled career. In a recent interview, Owen put his lack of pitch time down to the quality and depth of the squad at United. He said:

"Even if it is just one goal or one good performance, everyone is going to play their part."

"I was in the stand on Tuesday against Schalke. You are feeling sorry for yourself thinking I would like to be on the pitch or on the bench.

"Next to you is Wes Brown, who has dozens of England caps and John O'Shea, who has got even more for the Republic of Ireland. Darron Gibson is also an international.

"They are not even getting stripped. That tells you everything about the squad of player we have got.

The majority of Manchester Untied fans see Owen's best position as on the bench, and coming on late in the game when a goal is needed - a "super-sub" if you like, and it the interview, he said something quite interesting considering United's history:

"I suppose I am dreaming of coming off the bench and scoring the stoppage-time winner in the Champions League final.

"That is the motivation that drives me on. Every day I have to be ready and prepared to come in and do something."

Sound familiar? Cast your minds back to the 1999 Champions League final, and who came on in a Champions League final to score the winner? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of course, and what was he genreally known as? A "super-sub". Scoring a late winner in the Champions League final must be a dream come true for any player, and every time I watch Solskjaer's winner in that final, goosebumps run fiercely all over my skin, so what it must be like for a player only they will know.

Michael Owen has done it before in his time at United - not in a Champions League final - but in the Manchester derby last season, when a draw seemed certain late on. His 96th minute goal is typical of United's never say die attitude, and there is no doubt, that if United make this years European Cup final, and they need a goal, Michael Owen will surely be sent on to find one. Like Solskjaer, his finishing and eye for goal are deadly. Who knows, perhaps late in May, Owen's dream may become a reality. Lets hope so.

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