Thanks to Vidic & Ronaldo that scored in 4th minutes of each half. 2-0 as I predicted before!

United reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the third successive season – but the holders were made to work by a spirited Inter side.

After Nemanja Vidic had headed the Reds into an early lead, the Italian champions provided several nervy moments until Cristiano Ronaldo netted the all-important second goal five minutes after the restart.

It was a cushion United never looked like relinquishing and most of the 75,000 fans in attendance went home satisfied after another thrilling European night at Old Trafford.

So, the defence of the trophy continues and we’ll wait with baited breath to see who the Reds face next when the draw for the last eight is made on March 20.

As so often on the big occasions, Sir Alex Ferguson had looked to his experienced men to guide his side through, naming Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in midfield – the latter starting in his old-fashioned left-wing role.

There was the boost, too, of Rio Ferdinand in the starting XI; the defender was declared fit on Tuesday after recovering from the ankle knock he picked up against Fulham.

A deafening roar greeted the players as they took to the field, while Jose Mourinho received a cacophony of boos from the Stretford End as he made his way down the touchline. Thankfully, there was to be no repeat of the Portuguese dancing down it later.

Celebration !

Ben foster saves penalty

Ferdinand, Anderson & Giggs celebration

11 January 2009 Old Trafford 75,455

Great result and nice play from Manutd. Chelsea really no match compared to Manutd. All the goals were well planned..especially the last goal!.. you can see how Vidic whisper something to Berbatov. Then he get hold of Chelsea defenders for Berbatov to make a precise run up-front to get the ball from Ronaldo’s freekick. What a masterpiece!!

If the referee allow United first goal from Ronaldo, it’s gonna be another Manutd masterpiece! Confusing corner kick and wonderful cross from man of the match, Ryan Giggs.

I just love watching this match over and over again…

Another 2 wins..and United will be at the top for the first time this season…GREAT!

Club World Cup Wallpaper – Gamba Osaka 3 Manutd 5

Wallpaper : Carling Cup Quarter Final – United 5 Rovers 3

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United forward, has won the Ballon d’Or, the prestigious trophy awarded by France Football magazine to the outstanding player in world football.

It is only the second time in the last 19 years that a player from the Premier League has won the trophy, the other being Michael Owen, the England international, in 2001 while he was with Liverpool. Ronaldo is also the first winner since George Best in 1968. Originally known as the European Footballer of the Year award, it carries even more kudos these days, having been expanded to include players from all over the globe.

Ronaldo, who finished second to Kaka, of AC Milan, last year was the overwhelming choice this time around, having enjoyed a stunning season in which he scored 42 goals for United in all competitions. The Portugal international did, however, endure a disappointing Euro 2008, which took place when speculation over a possible move to Spanish giants Real Madrid was at its height. It mattered not to Europe’s top journalists, as he collected 77 of the 96 first-place votes available and amassed 446 total points, two more than the Brazilian managed in winning 12 months ago. Ronaldo’s was the only name to appear on each of the 96 ballots, polling 446 points out of a maximum 480. Kaka did not feature in the top three this time around, with Lionel Messi of Barcelona coming second and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres third.

Ronaldo follows in some very famous footsteps, with previous winners including Brazil internationals Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, his Portugal compatriot Luis Figo and France midfielder Zinedine Zidane. Stanley Matthews was its first recipient, in 1956.

The winner is traditionally announced on the cover of France Football, the French magazine that awards the Ballon d’Or (or golden ball) when it hits newsstands on the first Tuesday in December, though the winner is generally known well in advance. This year, though, the organisers went out of their way to ensure that the final ranking was shrouded in secrecy.

They scrapped the traditional Sunday night television programme preceding the event, which gave away not just the winner, but the top places as well. And they did away with one of the Ballon d’Or’s longstanding traditions: a photo shoot with the winner holding the famous gold trophy, because the logistics of arranging time with the player and his club meant that news would leak out. Indeed, the winner was notified only at 11 o’clock last night, three hours before the winner was made public. – The Times

Previous winners of the Ballon d’Or

Kaká (2007; Brazil/AC Milan)

Won the Ballon d’Or and the Fifa World Player of the Year award last year and has been linked with a £50 million transfer to Chelsea or Manchester City. Scored 19 times last season as Milan finished fifth in Serie A.

Fabio Cannavaro (2006; Italy/Juventus then Real Madrid)

Italy’s World Cup-winning captain was the first defender to win the award since Matthias Sammer in 1996. Joined Real Madrid after Juventus were demoted to Serie B and won the league title in Spain in 2007 and 2008. Also named Fifa World Player of the Year in 2006.

Ronaldinho (2005; Brazil/Barcelona)

The Brazil forward lifted the European Cup and the Spanish league title with Barcelona soon after he won the award ahead of Frank Lampard. An injury-plagued season followed and in the summer he turned down a move to Manchester City and signed a three-year contract with AC Milan.

Andriy Shevchenko (2004; Ukraine/AC Milan)

The AC Milan forward became the third Ukrainian player to win the award but unfortunately for him — and Chelsea — he has struggled to recapture his form since he received the Ballon d’Or. Took a pay cut to return to Milan in the summer after £30 million move to Stamford Bridge.

Pavel Nedved (2003; Czech Rep/Juventus)

The Czech Republic midfield player joined Juventus in 2001 and was an integral part of their 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 title-winning sides. Those successes were tainted by the Italian match-fixing scandal but Nedved stayed when the club were demoted to Serie B and is still playing for them.

2002: Ronaldo (Brazil/Inter Milan then Real Madrid)

2001: Michael Owen (England/Liverpool)

2000: Luis Figo (Portugal/Real Madrid)

1999: Rivaldo (Brazil/Barcelona)

Since George Best…wow! I hope Ronaldo will perform better this season and help United for another TREBLE ?? He had received all the critics but no one can argue..he is the best in the world last season!

Wallpaper – Cristiano Ronaldo – European Footballer of The Year 2008

Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1 EPL Wallpaper