Manchester United Squad Surprise School Kids At Foundation Event

School children invited to Manchester United's Aon Training Complex in Carrington had a day to remember when the entire first-team squad joined them for an afternoon of activities.

It was always going to be a memorable experience as they were told they were going to meet the club's Foundation coaches for the afternoon.

What they did not know, however, was that the United players would also be on hand at the event straight after training ahead of the weekend game with Leicester City, live on Super Sunday.

The club's Foundation has been in operation for almost a decade and has established a programme called '#Schoolsunited' involving 13 partner schools around Greater Manchester.

"We work in some of the most disadvantaged areas and, for some of them, Old Trafford is a dream, to even get to see a game, but to actually come and mix and engage with the first-team players is something they dream about," said hub manager Dave Chapman.

"Every child within this room now, every student, every participant has earned the right to be here. We've got some children here who wouldn't speak to anybody, their confidence was shot, they were so low.

"And then a year or two into our partnership they're here mixing with people from the other side of Manchester."

The children from each of the schools were partnered with a member of Louis Van Gaal's squad for the afternoon.

And while the likes of captain Wayne Rooney and birthday boy Juan Mata have made their name on Old Trafford's hallowed turf, this was an opportunity to see them doing something different, from playing table tennis to answering tricky questions from potential young journalists in a specially designed interview booth.

One of the victims up for interview was midfielder Ander Herrera.

"Of course, of course because sometimes they are so sincere," he said. "That's why sometimes they make us feel a little bit in a problem but it's very nice to answer questions because they are all fans, they are the future of Manchester United."

The Foundation's work is not just limited to working with schools, however, as the players soon discovered.

While Manchester United's focus on the pitch is a top four finish in the Premier League and a first FA Cup final win since 2004, what about what the players do and eat when they are not playing or training?

'Something to chew on' is a 10-week programme designed to educate youngsters about being healthy in a bid to tackle rising obesity rates.

They are taught how to choose, cook and eat safe and healthy food, the sort of thing Manchester United's superstars take for granted at Carrington, unless they have to make their sandwiches themselves, as Herrera discovered.

"I am the one who has to cook for the children today," he said. "I am not so good at cooking so I will try to do my best but I think we have to teach them to eat in a good way. I think it's very important for their health, for their lives and I will try to do my best!"

It is not just about diet and nutrition as the Foundation is also looking at how to bolster the confidence of primary school children in the north west between the ages of four and eight.

'Move with Manchester United' has been devised to help improve their agility, balance and co-ordination in a bid to counter a growing trend that sees less youngsters playing outdoors.

Herrera and his team-mates got involved in a session of jumping, balance and throwing, but how hard is it getting to grips with new training regimes for Manchester United players themselves and who are the worst trainers?

"I cannot say names about that but the only thing I can say is that it's very important to do sport," the Spaniard said.

"Nowadays we are living in a generation of computers and video games but I think that it's more healthy when you play football and you train, you make friends and that's what we try to do, to convince them that sport is very important."

After a tricky season that still has the potential to be a successful one for Manchester United, this was an afternoon where the players were able to put the scrutiny to one side.

While it is the young players who have captured the eye on many occasions, plenty of their more experienced team-mates are parents themselves and literally jumped, ran and threw themselves into the activities.

But it is their status as footballers that made it such a special occasion for the children invited to Carrington, and a big game beckons at the weekend, with Leicester, not Manchester United, in with a chance of being crowned Premier League champions at Old Trafford - something that only happened three times under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"First of all I have to say that we think about Manchester United, we are still in the race, we have to be in the top four it's very important for us," Herrera said.

"After that it is true that we are playing against Leicester, a very good side who are playing fantastic. But we don't want them to win the title at Old Trafford - I think they deserve to win the league but I hope they can do it at home.

"We are Manchester United and we have to win because we have to be in the Champions League next season. Leicester can win the league at Old Trafford but it is not our business. Our business is Manchester United, we have to fight until the end for the top four and that's what we are going to do.

"After that if Leicester wants to win the league at home they will have to play very good because I think we are in a good moment."

The Manchester United Foundation is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. In the past year it has reached almost 10,000 school children and has seen 587 of them gain qualifications.

As the United players bade farewell to the youngsters at the Academy's indoor training centre, there is another landmark that beckons next month.

It is almost 12 years since Manchester United last won the FA Cup and from the current squad only Juan Mata has lifted the trophy, and that was with Chelsea. So, like the children who enjoyed a big surprise at Carrington, they are hoping it will be a day to remember at Wembley on Saturday, May 21.

Credit: Skysports.com

Herrera Determined To Spoil Leicester's Title Party

Ander Herrera says Manchester United are determined to delay Leicester's Premier League title party to keep their own top four dreams alive.

Claudio Ranieri's side can secure their first ever Premier League crown with a victory at Old Trafford as part of Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.

After a remarkable season the Foxes now require just one win from their final three fixtures to make that dream become a reality after opening up a seven-point lead over closest challengers Tottenham, who could only muster a draw against West Brom on Monday Night Football.

However, Manchester United still harbour hopes of joining Leicester in playing Champions League football next season and currently sit five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with a game in hand.

And, speaking at a Manchester United Foundation event, Herrera said he and his team-mates were in no mood to watch Leicester celebrate a title win on their home patch.

"First of all I have to say that we think about Manchester United, we are still in the race, we have to be in the top four it's very important for us," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"After that it is true that we are playing against Leicester, a very good side who are playing fantastic. But we don't want them to win the title at Old Trafford - I think they deserve to win the league but I hope they can do it at home.

"We are Manchester United and we have to win because we have to be in the Champions League next season.

"Leicester can win the league at Old Trafford but it is not our business. Our business is Manchester United, we have to fight until the end for the top four and that's what we are going to do.

"After that if Leicester wants to win the league at home they will have to play very good because I think we are in a good moment."

Credit: Skysports.com

Martial - Rasford Vs Huth - Morgan

Leicester face Manchester United on Super Sunday needing just three points to secure a remarkable Premier League title at Old Trafford.

Wes Morgan and Robert Huth will anchor the Foxes' defence, as they have for the vast majority of the season, and will encounter the youthful forward threat of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

This clash pits speed and attacking flair against defensive nous, strength and experience. Rashford and Martial will be the fastest attacking combination the Leicester defenders have faced this season and both players will look to their pace to gain an advantage on Sunday.

Martial's top sprint speed of 35.4km/h is the second-fastest recorded in the Premier League this season behind Leicester's Jamie Vardy, while Rashford isn't too far behind. And with Morgan clocking in as one of the Premier League's fastest defenders, Huth may well find himself targeted by United's forwards.

Huth and Morgan are not required to sprint or cover as much ground as most players due to Leicester's deep defensive line. Of the 486 outfield players to play in the Premier League this season, only two average less distance run per 90 minutes than Morgan and nine than Huth, while both players also rank in the bottom 25 for sprints.

If United can their lure them up the pitch a little more often, they can create extra holes for their speedy attackers to exploit.

Of course, Martial and Rashford bring far more than sheer pace. Generally cutting in from the left, Martial has quickly forged a reputation as one of the Premier League's keenest dribblers, eager to take on an opponent at every turn. Only two players average more dribbles per 90 minutes and, as he develops, his success rate will continue to rise.

Ahead of him, Rashford has already shown a ruthless streak in front of goal, scoring seven times in 14 appearances. Impressively, only one player with seven or more goals (Man City's Kelechi Iheanacho) boasts a better conversion rate than the 18-year-old's 35 per cent this season.

Such clinical finishing, aggressive dribbling and speed is a combination to worry any defence, though Huth and Morgan have been imperious for Leicester, frustrating all varieties of attacks this season.

While Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante regularly grab the headlines, much of Leicester's success has been due to the defensive foundation laid by their centre-backs.

Of the 532 players to play in the Premier League season, Huth and Morgan have been two of the busiest defenders, ranking among the top 10 in most defensive categories.

Leicester often deliberately draw opponents onto them before springing counter-attacks, placing paramount importance on their defenders' resilience, and both centre-backs have led the way all season.

Huth and Morgan have also needed to hold their nerve far more than their rivals this season. In total, 14 of Leicester's 22 wins (64 per cent) have been by one-goal margins, putting sustained pressure on their defenders to help secure the win.

No title rival comes close in this department, with Tottenham and Man City winning six of 19 (32 per cent) games by a one-goal margin, and Arsenal six of 18 (33 per cent).

High defensive stats can often just showcase a busy defence as opposed to exemplary defenders, but when the numbers are tied in with such regular clean sheets, as they are with Leicester, it's a clearer indication of effective play.

No centre-back combination has recorded more clean sheets than the Leicester pair this season and Manchester United's Chris Smalling (16), is the only defender to tally more individually.

Huth and Morgan will look to nullify their opponent's speed and may well hold an even deeper line than usual, forcing United to challenge their strengths.

By making their opponents compete in the air or in a condensed final third, Leicester can slow United's attack and potentially grab a title-winning goal on the break.

Credit: Skysports.com

Top-4 Race: Fixtures

As the race for a top-four place in the Barclays Premier League continues this week, we look at the fixtures facing Manchester United and the Reds' chief rivals for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Leicester City have already confirmed their place among Europe's elite in 2016/17 while second-placed Tottenham Hotspur also look pretty assured of finishing among the leading quartet.

Manchester City and Arsenal both have 64 points with the pair set to do battle at the Etihad Stadium on 8 May.

West Ham United are only three points behind the Reds with Southampton and Liverpool also still contenders, even if the Merseysiders dropped points in their game in hand at home to relegation-threatened Newcastle United.

Cast your eye over the remaining fixtures for all clubs...

Saturday 30 April
West Brom v WEST HAM (15:00)
ARSENAL v Norwich (17:30)

Sunday 1 May
Swansea v LIVERPOOL (12:00)
UNITED v Leicester (14:05)
SOUTHAMPTON v MAN CITY (16:30)

Saturday 7 May
Norwich v UNITED (12:45)
WEST HAM v Swansea (15:00)

Sunday 8 May
Tottenham v SOUTHAMPTON (13:30)
LIVERPOOL v Watford (16:00)
MAN CITY v ARSENAL (16:00)

Tuesday 10 May
WEST HAM v UNITED (19:45)

Wednesday 11 May
LIVERPOOL v Chelsea (20:00)

Sunday 15 May
ARSENAL v Aston Villa (15:00)
UNITED v Bournemouth (15:00)
SOUTHAMPTON v Crystal Palace (15:00)
Stoke v WEST HAM (15:00)
Swansea v MAN CITY (15:00)
West Brom v LIVERPOOL (15:00)

All times are BST and fixtures are still subject to change.

Credit: Mnautd.com

FA Confirms Referee For Cup Final

Mark Clattenburg will referee next month’s highly-anticipated Emirates FA Cup final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium.

The 41-year-old is among the most experienced officials in England after beginning his career in the 2000/01 season, starting in the Football League before graduating to the Premier League in 2004/05. Since then, the Durham-born whistle-blower has consistently taken charge of top-flight matches.

Followers of the UEFA Champions League will have spotted Clattenburg refereeing Wednesday’s semi-final first leg between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon stadium. He will also be seen at this summer’s Euro 2016 tournament as one of two English officials, the other being Martin Atkinson.

Clattenburg has officiated 42 matches in all competitions so far this season, distributing 137 yellow cards and six red cards. United fans may remember him from the Reds' 3-2 win at Southampton, the 0-0 draws with Manchester City and West Ham United at Old Trafford and most recently the 1-0 win at Liverpool.

His assistant referees at Wembley will be John Brooks and Andrew Halliday, while Neil Swarbrick will serve as the fourth official.

REDS TO WEAR WHITE
Meanwhile, on the subject of the FA Cup final, it has also been confirmed that United will wear white shirts, black shorts and white socks at Wembley and Crystal Palace will wear their traditional home colours. The fixture will of course be a repeat of the 1990 final when Alex Ferguson's men also wore white in the initial 3-3 draw, before switching back to red for the 1-0 replay victory secured by Lee Martin's goal.

Who Is Renato Sanches?

Are Manchester United looking to improve their options in midfield by signing an 18-year-old from Benfica?

Renato Sanches has risen through the youth ranks at Benfica to become a regular starter for the Portuguese champions, and aged just 18, was called up by Portugal for the first time for friendlies against Bulgaria and Belgium back in March.

And according to national newspaper reports, United have made a bid of €60m (£46m) for the central midfielder.

He also put in eye-catching displays over two legs in Benfica's 3-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final tie.

But who exactly is Sanches? We take a closer look...

Factfile

Name: Renato Sanches

Age: 18

Place of birth: Lisbon, Portugal

Position: Central midfielder

Background

Sanches is of Cape Verdean origin, but was born and raised in Lisbon. He joined Benfica's prestigious academy aged nine and was able to work his way up to start for Benfica's B team in October 2014 after turning 17.

Justt one year later with the club in the Portuguese second division, Sanches was called up to the senior squad in 2016, initially just for training purposes. However, on October 30 last year, he made his senior debut as a late substitute against Tondela.

Sanches' rapid progress encouraged the club's board to give the midfielder a new contract, which he signed after the international break in November. The deal keeps him at the club until 2021 with a release clause of €80m (£60m) apparently in place.

Ever since his contract extension, Sanches' stock has continued to rise. On November 25, he earned his first start in a 2-2 draw with Astana in the Champions League group stages, playing the full 90 minutes. Then just a week later, he made his first league start in an away win against Braga.

In his 28 appearances so far this season, Sanches has scored twice. One a long-range strike against Academica and the other was a sole 74th-minute winner against Vitoria Guimaraes.

Sanches may also see his debut campaign finish with a Portuguese league title. Benfica currently have a two point lead at the top of the table with three games of the season to go.

Style of play

Sanches is predominantly a box-to-box midfielder known for his strength, passing ability and composure on the ball. He's a player who likes to try and help dictate the tempo in the Benfica midfield, with his influence earning him a regular starting role.

The 18-year-old has been a standout on the pitch, with his braided hair also drawing comparisons to legendary Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids. His profile may suit Manchester United if they wish to add a greater layer of physicality to their midfield.

What he says

"I know I still have to develop. I'm 18. Over time, and with the help of my colleagues, I will improve."

"Scoring (his first senior goal) was an unforgettable moment. It is like a dream. I didn't know what to do. I never thought I would be playing here at 18. It's a childhood dream to play at Estadio da Luz."

What they say

Former Portugal international Rui Costa after Sanches' international debut against Bulgaria: "I congratulate Renato Sanches on his debut. I am very happy for him, and he's a good option for (Portugal manager) Fernando Santos. It's a good problem to have."

Benfica coach Rui Vitoria after Sanches' first home start and first Benfica goal: "Renato was wonderful. A first start at Estadio da Luz for a young man is every player's dream. It was a great (full home) debut. Surely he will not forget this performance."

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone before their match against Benfica in December: "He has a strong shot and good vision for someone in his position. It's always nice to see good young players."

Credit: Skysports.com

Mourinho The Man For United

Jose Mourinho would be the perfect fit at Old Trafford and Manchester United should move to appoint him in the summer, according to Monday Night Football pundits Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness.

Despite this, Souness believes that if United wanted to appoint the currently available Mourinho, they would have already swooped for his signature.

Speaking after Tottenham's draw with West Brom on Monday Night Football, Souness said: "[Mourinho] is in the elite group of managers that could do that job, where the crowd would be happy with him being there.

"I just think that they've had such a miserable time during the season, that if they were wanting Jose I think they would have gone for him before now.

"He's got the qualifications. He's the man if you are looking for someone to come in, stir the pot, get everyone at it and win trophies. He's your man. But I just feel if it was going to happen, it would have happened before now."

Carragher, though, believes that Mourinho's decision to remain without a job after leaving Chelsea shows that he is still available and feels United should pounce in the summer.

According to the former Liverpool centre-back, fans at Old Trafford have made their mind up on Louis van Gaal too.

"I don't think the Manchester United fans would want him to stay even if they make the top four and win the FA Cup," Carragher said of Van Gaal.

"It's a major decision. I think if they can get Jose Mourinho I would still do it because he's an upgrade on Louis van Gaal. It wouldn't be a case of Van Gaal's won the FA Cup and got Champions League, who can we get?

"It would have to be an upgrade on Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho is that. The fact he's available, I'd still do it."

Credit: Skysports.com

Herrera: United Future Is Bright

Ander Herrera believes Manchester United are 'cooking a fantastic team' as their young players continue to shine.

After facing an injury crisis earlier in the season Louis Van Gaal has relied heavily on the youth in his squad and they have stepped up, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial standing out.

Herrera has praised the young players in the squad and thinks United have a great blend of youth and experience.

The Spain international remains optimistic ahead of their final four games in the league as they look to push for a place in the top four - United are currently five points off Man City and Arsenal with a game in hand.

"I think in the last two or three months we have had the feeling that we are cooking a fantastic team. Young players - a fantastic mix between them and the experienced players," Herrera told British media.

"They have the pace. They have the imagination, not only Anthony and Marcus, but also Jesse (Lingard) and Memphis (Depay).

"They have the imagination to make a fantastic team but I don't want to look so far ahead. Now we have a fantastic team, a fantastic chance to win a title and we have the chance to beat Leicester at home because we are in a good moment and we are fighting for the top four."

Man United need to win their remaining four games if they are to have a chance of finishing in the top four and they face their toughest remaining challenge on Sunday when they host Leicester City.

Credit: Skysports.com

Are Reds Cooking The Right Recipe?

Ander Herrera has a wonderful turn of phrase and the Spaniard might just be onto something with his post-match thoughts over the weekend.

The man who made a key contribution off the bench at Wembley, setting up Anthony Martial's dramatic injury-time winner, feels the ingredients are in place for a successful side being built at Manchester United.

"I think, in the last two or three months, we have had the feeling that we are cooking a fantastic team," he said. "Young players, a fantastic mix between them and the experienced players. I can consider myself half and half! [Laughs] I can help also. The young players have the pace. They have the imagination, not only Anthony and Marcus [Rashford], but also Jesse [Lingard] and Memphis [Depay], they have the imagination to make a fantastic team."

The youngsters inevitably garner much of the attention, and why not when they can play like they did on Saturday? Matchwinner Martial is enjoying a sensational first season in England and was already a fans' favourite before setting up the date on 21 May with Crystal Palace. Even though he is only 20, he was only the third-youngest member of the Reds side due to Tim Fosu-Mensah and Rashford's involvement.

Sprinkling a senior side with kids or players barely out of their teens is one thing but there must be old heads around to steady the ship too. The right blend of youth and experience is universally acknowledged as the recipe for success and it has been interesting to hear Fosu-Mensah consistently reference the assistance he receives from his elder colleagues on the pitch.

Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini provided the know-how in the middle of the park and enabled the attackers to express themselves on the big stage. Jesse Lingard may be 23 but this is still his first season in the top flight so he lacks experience while, on the other hand, Daley Blind may be 26 but plays with a maturity far beyond his years.

The average age of the United side against Everton was under 25 (24.90) despite containing a 34-year-old Carrick. This rose to 25.38 when including substitutes Herrera (26) and Antonio Valencia (30) and some will argue this is an optimum age when building a team with one eye on the future.

When Palace provided the opposition in the 1990 final, there were no teenagers on show for Alex Ferguson's side. Mark Robins, at 20, was the youngest Red involved when coming off the bench in the 3-3 draw but replay hero Lee Martin was the most youthful starter as he'd turned 22 in the previous February.

Better comparisons could be drawn with the finals of 1995 and 1996, when Sir Alex was starting to introduce some of his exciting homegrown products into the line-up. Gary Neville and Nicky Butt started in the 1-0 defeat to Everton in '95, while Paul Scholes and an already-established Ryan Giggs (who was 21) came off the bench. A year later, when Liverpool were beaten by the same scoreline, Phil Neville, David Beckham and Butt were in the XI with Gary Neville and Scholes named as substitutes.

When Alan Hansen decreed that you win nothing with kids at the start of that season, he probably did have a point, despite underestimating the vast potential of United's youth-team talent. Eric Cantona was the leader of the team and there was great experience and character in the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce, although the latter missed the '96 final.

If United are to lift the famous trophy for a 12th time next month, the youngsters and established stars will, once again, be working harmoniously to handle the big stage and another test of nerve. Enjoying such highs must only whet the appetite for further success, as it always did during Sir Alex's glorious reign. None of United's squad has won the trophy with the Reds (Mata did with Chelsea) so there will be great elation among those who have lost finals - the aforementioned midfield trio of Carrick, Fellaini and Rooney. But it could also prove a spark for others to grow in stature and form part of an exciting team being built by Louis van Gaal.

Credit: Manutd.com

Pardew: FA Cup Final As Crucial For Louis van Gaal As 1990

This season's FA Cup is as significant for Louis van Gaal's future as Manchester United manager as it was for Sir Alex Ferguson in 1990, says Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew.

Palace meet United at Wembley next month in a repeat of the 1990 final. Winning that trophy reportedly helped keep Ferguson in his job 26 years ago.

"I remember Sir Alex's career hinged on that game and maybe LVG's career will hinge on this," said Pardew, who played for Palace in the 1990 final, which United won after a replay.

Ferguson went on to achieve unprecedented success with United, winning 13 Premier League titles and four more FA Cups during a trophy-laden career before retiring in 2013.

This season's FA Cup represents the last chance for United to win any silverware during an inconsistent campaign in which Van Gaal's position has come under increasing scrutiny.

United are fifth in the Premier League table, five points off the Champions League qualification places - albeit with a game in hand - and it has been assumed by many that Van Gaal will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season to be replaced by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Following United's 2-1 semi-final win over Everton on Saturday, Van Gaal said he would leave it up to the club's board to decide whether he should remain at the club.

"I like the guy [Van Gaal]," said Pardew. "He's had some terrible, terrible press and I look forward to seeing him in the final."

Credit: BBC Sport

Mata: Football Is Too Commercial

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata empathises with those who believe football has become too commercialised and claims he would take a pay cut if the game was less business-orientated.

The Spain international concedes he is not comfortable with the corporate side of the game and he believes some young players become arrogant after turning professional.

"The business side of football makes it seem as though the owners are now more important than the fans," Mata said in a Spanish television interview.

"Every player thinks he's Diego Maradona when he joins a big club. That happens to all of us but then you notice it in the younger players.

"You see kids who think they're rock stars; wearing extravagant clothes and driving flash cars... sometimes you have to take them aside and have a word.

"I don't enjoy the business side of football. I love the game. I love training and competing.

"I'd take a pay cut if there was less business involvement in the sport."

The 27-year-old also believes football players have become detached from the fans because of their astonishing earnings.

Mata moved to Old Trafford from Chelsea for around £37m in 2014 and is believed to earn around £150,000 per week.

And he has drawn comparisons between the wages of top footballers and others in society who have to deal with harsh economic reality throughout the world.

"Football is very well remunerated at this level. It's like we live in a bubble. Compared to the rest of society, we earn a ridiculous amount. It's unfathomable," Mata said.

"With respect to the world of football, I earn a normal wage. But compared to 99.9 per cent of Spain and the rest of the world, I earn a silly amount."

Credit: Skysports.com

Fosu-Mensah Learning From Experience

Tim Fosu-Mensah says it was a "special" experience to play his part in Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final win over Everton at Wembley.

Of course, the day could have ended differently for the defender and the Reds when Fosu-Mensah was adjudged to have fouled Ross Barkley in the area which led to a Toffees penalty. David De Gea's spot-kick save delighted everyone in a red shirt, none more so than Fosu-Mensah who once again showed his quality.

The man himself was still buzzing when he spoke to ManUtd.com after the match and says he hopes he can build on what has been a very pleasing couple of months for him since breaking into the first team.

"It was special. It's a great stadium and great atmosphere. It was very special to play in this stadium," he beamed when asked to sum up the semi-final.

"It's been an exciting few weeks but I still have to learn a lot of things and that's what I'm trying to do. Keep learning, keep improving and try to develop as a player and train hard every day."

Fosu-Mensah has recently contributed to helping the Reds go top of the clean sheets table in the league and he saluted the impressive defensive pairing of Chris Smalling and Daley Blind, plus the consistently fantastic form of De Gea as being key to the achievement.

"Chris and Daley communicate so well with me. Everyone in the defence is great, of course David as well. He's a top goalkeeper and he saved us again on Saturday," he added. "You can see the partnership between Daley and Chris and how they express themselves, they're a great pair.

"I'm enjoying playing full-back but I'm happy to play anywhere the manager wants to put me. I just do my best and try my hardest."

Jesse Lingard spoke before the semi-final about the fearlessness he, Fosu-Mensah, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have all played with this term. His team-mate concurs, but adds that the support from the experienced members of the squad has been invaluable.

"It's about confidence but I think we all try to do what we always do and just play our football," he continues. "We work hard, I work hard and I want to learn a lot. I'm open to learning a lot. I do my best and listen to the coaches and the senior players like Wayne, Carras, Chris and Daley. I listen to them all and try to do something with it.

"The senior players just help me with what I have to do on the pitch, where I have to stand sometimes and other things. It helps me a lot."

The Dutch defender's all-action displays have thrilled the United fans and, while he says it's a great feeling to see the supporters' reaction, he insists there is plenty more to come.

"I'm very delighted [to see the fans' reaction] but, as I said, I have to keep working hard," he insisted. "I just try to keep my head cool and try to do what I always do when I play and focus on playing my game."

Mata: We Must Credit De Gea & Martial

Each Monday, Manchester United forward Juan Mata reflects on his experiences on and off the pitch in his personal blog. His latest effort is dominated by his thoughts about the Reds' FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton and next month’s final at Wembley…

Hi everyone,

As you can imagine, it's been a good week! These last few days have been very positive for the club and you can see that in people's faces and in our day-to-day activity at the training complex.

On Saturday at Wembley we made it to the final of the FA Cup, it's been the icing of the cake in a good month of April in which we have won five out of the six games that were scheduled. In particular, I feel that the last two games have made a very good impression on our fans. They deserve the best.

At Wembley, we sealed our passport to the big FA Cup final on 21 May in a very special atmosphere, as always in that stadium. It was a very typical, box-to-box cup game, absolutely thrilling until the final whistle. We have to give credit to David and Anthony, the former because he saved a decisive penalty, and the latter because his goal in stoppage time brought a burst of joy to all of us. And I think that the team deserves credit too, because we have gone through several adversities this season. We have won five rounds (including a replay against West Ham) and now we can enjoy such a special moment as the FA Cup final, one of the most beautiful games in a footballer's career. Being at Wembley is always special.

However, the FA Cup final is in a month's time. Now we know that we have five games remaining. Five finals that we want to win and I feel we are ready for, starting next Sunday against Leicester. They are fighting for the title and are full of confidence after the win against Swansea, showing how competitive they have been this season; having said that, we must get those three points. The previous game against them left us with a bitter taste and it's time to show that we can defeat them, and to make our fans happy.

Have a nice week.

Hugs,

Juan

PS: This week we've had the sad news of the passing of Prince. Another great artist leaves us too soon. He was a nonconformist, someone who certainly left his mark and who will always be remembered thanks to his music.

Read Juan's blog in full at kicca.com/juanmata8.

Credit: Manutd.com

Rooney Wants To Follow Scholes

Wayne Rooney says he wants to emulate Paul Scholes in a new midfield role at Manchester United.

The 30-year-old England captain, who has previously insisted he prefers to play as a central striker, appears to have admitted for the first-time that wants to play as a number eight.

Rooney starred in the position in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton on Saturday and admits he has always known that he will one-day drop deeper into midfield.

He said: "I've known for a few years. I have played there a few times throughout my career and I can play that position.

"I have played and watched Paul Scholes play that role for years and I always knew that one day that is where I would play, so I have tried to learn and watch what he did.

"It is still early days, but hopefully, if I keep playing there, I can develop and get better.

"We have got a lot of pace in the team now and I think I can read the game quite well - whether to go forward or stay deeper and leave the space for the other lads.

"Obviously it is down to the manager, and for the team more importantly it is the right thing to do at this moment in time."

Rooney is known for his keenness to advise and help develop young players coming through the academy and, reaching the final years of his career, he insists he will continue to be their role model.

"When I joined the club at 18, Giggsy was about 30 and I listened to the help and advice he gave me at that age, so if I can help those young players in any way now I'm happy to do that," he said.

"I have been doing that, but they can help me as well. You're always learning and especially in the last few games learning about a new position and playing deeper than I've played. I've been enjoying it.

"Obviously it's early days, especially for Marcus Rashford. He's a young lad and hasn't played many games, but the impact he has had has been huge for us in the last couple of months.

"Anthony Martial has settled in quickly. Obviously with the start he had he wasn't going to go on like that for the whole season, but he's settled down, is coming up with some big goals for us, and you can see the enjoyment in his game."

Credit: Skysports.com

Giggs Collects PFA Merit Award

Ryan Giggs has joined a list of Manchester United greats including Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson by winning the prestigious PFA Merit Award on Sunday night.

The Reds legend famously made 963 appearances for the club – more than anyone else - and lifted 20 major honours during his illustrious playing career at Old Trafford. Aged 40, he finally retired in May 2013 to begin a coaching career and is of course now assistant manager to Louis van Gaal.

The Merit Award is given for “meritorious service to football” and Giggs picked up his special honour at a glittering ceremony in London, completing a unique hat-trick of PFA prizes for the Welshman following his previous Young Player of the Year [1992] and Player of the Year [2009] wins.

“I’m chuffed to have won all three awards,” Giggs explained on Sunday evening. “The young player was a long time ago and the player award was a big surprise. This is the culmination of around 25 years since my debut, so it’s a credit to myself, my team-mates, staff, family and friends.

“When you win each award you look down the trophy and you see the players who have won it before and you realise what a great accolade it is. This is the same. I’ve been here on the nights when people have won it and it is legends of the game. I’m fortunate to win it and I’ll enjoy it.”

When asked for the key to his successful playing career with United, Giggs highlighted a single piece of advice from his former manager: “What Sir Alex always used to say was ‘enjoy it’. It was the last thing he said when you went out and played. Everything came with that obviously – improve every day, practice, listen, dedicate yourself – but most of all enjoy your football. That went for playing when I was 17 until when I was 40. It was a privilege to play at Old Trafford and I tried to enjoy it.”

Of course, Giggs attended the PFA Awards on the back of Saturday’s dramatic Emirates FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton and the assistant manager spoke about his determination to lift the trophy when United face Crystal Palace in the final on 21 May. “It’s obviously big,” he said of the upcoming game.

“The club have got great history in the FA Cup and it is 12 years since we’ve won it. It was great to get to the final. It’s a showcase. It’s one of my first memories of football, the FA Cup, so it’s special to me. I was fortunate to win it four times so to win it as a coach would be equally as special.”

Herrera: De Gea Is Superhuman

Ander Herrera believes his Manchester United team-mate David De Gea is the world's best goalkeeper, insisting he has a "special talent" following his superb display in the dramatic FA Cup triumph over Everton.

Herrera came off the bench to provide the assist for Anthony Martial's late match-winning strike, after De Gea had saved Romelu Lukaku's penalty just before the hour-mark.

The keeper's latest standout display saw him voted Man of the Match by fans after the game - a performance which will strengthen his claim to become the first player to win the club's Player of the Year award three years in a row - and Herrera is in no doubt about De Gea's standing among football's elite shot-stoppers.

"What can I say? I am not objective - he is the number one in the world," he told ManUtd.com and fellow reporters. "In England you know that, but in the rest of the world they think they have better goalkeepers, but I don’t think so. When we win titles or trophies I think he will be more recognised.

"He has a special talent. When you are born with that quality and ability, you are so lucky. The rest of us humans, we have to work more. But what I like about him is that he is very calm, he has his feet on the ground. He doesn’t change when it comes to these kind of games so I think he is number one of Spain and in the world - he is my friend so I am very happy for him."

Despite singling out his fellow countryman for praise, Herrera was quick to point out that the team's cup run has come as the result of a team effort, and insists there are still challenges to come.

"If you see the whole season we have defended quite well as a team," he added. "Daley [Blind] and Chris Smalling have made a fantastic duo, but the other players help. We have a fantastic team spirit when we defend and now we are creating a lot of chances. Anthony [Martial], Marcus [Rashford], Jesse [Lingard] and Juan [Mata] have the quality to change the games so it’s a good mix when you defend well and create a lot of chances.

"I want to keep my feet on the ground. We are making a fantastic team but we have to show that in big games like the ones coming up against Leicester [at home] and Norwich away because that will be a very difficult match considering they are fighting against relegation," he added. "I think we can be optimistic with this team, because of the mix of younger players and the more experienced ones, as well as ones like me who are in between."

Custis: Mourinho Will Replace LVG

An FA Cup win will not save Louis van Gaal's Manchester United job, says Neil Custis, who is also sure Jose Mourinho will take over at Old Trafford in the summer.

United's 2-1 victory over Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday means they have a chance of winning their first silverware since 2013.

Van Gaal, who has come under heavy criticism this season with his United side struggling to squeeze into the top four places, sees his contract run out in the summer of 2017, but The Sun's Custis believes the decision to replace him with former Chelsea manager Mourinho has already been made.

Speaking on the Sunday Supplement, Custis said: "I'm sure the decision has been made and that Mourinho will come in next season.

"Everywhere he has gone he has achieved success. That suggests to me that he's the golden ticket.

"I don't think [the FA Cup semi-final win] should mask what we have witnessed over the last 18 months under LVG, which has been pretty poor.

"If we'd seen more of those performances over the last 18 months there would be no question over the last year of his contract."

Van Gaal has been commended for bringing youth into the first team at Old Trafford, but Custis says those decisions were forced because of injuries to the squad.

"This business about bringing the youth, it was a necessity given the injuries. You would not have seen Marcus Rashford to the extent we have if they didn't have injuries.

"Once a month there is a moment where we say: 'Maybe something is coming, there's signs of development'.

"Whatever happens from now until the end of the season, it won't change what has happened in the last two years, or suggest it is going to be different next season, because he is so rigid in his ways and methods."

The Daily Telegraph's Paul Hayward echoed Custis' words, and pointed to Van Gaal's failures over his two-year stint in charge.

United finished fourth last season, but were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage this season, and then the Europa League against Liverpool at the last 16 stage.

"It's an interesting problem for Manchester United if they won the FA Cup. Does it mean LVG is suddenly a successful manager for Manchester United?

"Is it enough to wipe away all the doubts from his reign? I don't think it is, and even if they did win the FA Cup I think there would still be a strong case for moving him on.

"I think it's always a good idea in these situations to look at the span of his time there. Going out at the Champions League group stage, going out of the Europa League, struggling to get fourth place, those are the real criteria, not a good semi-final win against Everton in the FA Cup."

Credit: Skysports.com

Fellaini Up For Wembley Return Trip

Marouane Fellaini is looking forward to another Emirates FA Cup final and erasing the memory of the 2009 defeat to Chelsea during his Everton days.

The midfielder opened the scoring in the semi-final win against his former club and also made a goal-saving block on Romelu Lukaku during the wide-open second half. After celebrating Anthony Martial's sensational injury-time winner, the Belgian spoke to MUTV about the prospect of returning to Wembley on 21 May to face Crystal Palace or Watford.

"In my first season in England, I played against Chelsea in the final and lost," he said. "I hope to win this season. Of course, everyone is looking forward to it but now we have to focus on the league as well. We want to finish in the top four and look forward to the final.

"It was very tough for us but the spirit of the team was great and we deserved to win this game. When you play in big games, there is a lot of motivation and we have to be motivated in the final too. Everton had nothing to lose so they pushed it for 25 minutes and it was tough for us. But we created a lot of chances in the second half as well, so we deserved to win."

Martial not only scored the winner but also provided an inviting cross for Fellaini's strike past Joel Robles.

"It was a great assist," added Fellaini. "He did well. It was a brilliant finish in the last minute of the game and he can do that so congratulations to him."

Fellaini was denied a second goal by Phil Jagielka's handball as he tried to force the ball home from close range after the break but he refused to blame referee Anthony Taylor for failing to award a spot-kick.

"They said that and I heard in the dressing room that we should have had a penalty," he added. "Maybe the referee didn't see it and that's football."

Rooney Hungry For FA Cup Glory

Wayne Rooney is keen to add a first Emirates FA Cup triumph to his long list of accolades, after playing a pivotal role in Manchester United's 2-1 semi-final victory over Everton on Saturday.

The Reds skipper took up a deeper midfield role against his former club and put in an assured performance, as Marouane Fellaini's strike and a last-gasp winner from Anthony Martial ensured United's place in a 19th final in the competition.

The tournament is the one trophy Rooney has yet to win, but the 30-year-old says May's showpiece final - which will see Louis van Gaal's side take on either Watford or Crystal Palace - represents a fantastic opportunity to change that.

"I’ve played in two FA Cup finals and both have ended up in defeat," he said. "It’s a cup I haven’t been lucky enough to win yet, so it’s a good chance for us. Whoever we play in the final, I’m sure it’ll be a tough game for us. I think the fans deserve it - they’ve got to come to Wembley for a cup final, and we have to give them a good performance.

"I think it’s a great opportunity for us. There are a lot of young and new players in the dressing room for us so it could be a big day for us in the final and the start of something special for us, I hope."

The dramatic win at Wembley was a frenetic affair with chances galore at either end, but Rooney says playing in a midfield role helped the team cope with a Toffees side that piled on the pressure in the second half.

"I think you’re obviously more involved in the game, you have a bigger influence from that position," he continued. "I’ve tried to play what I’ve seen and I think it worked, with me and Michael [Carrick] having a bit more experience in there. We helped calm the game down when we needed to, especially after the equaliser, so I enjoyed it.

"I think the amount of games I’ve played - I know I’m still 30 - I try to help them and try and enjoy my football, which I’m doing."

Rooney & Carrick Praise De Gea Display

It was a close contest but David De Gea has beaten off competition from Anthony Martial to win Manchester United’s Man of the Match award for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final.

The Spanish goalkeeper was truly exceptional in the 2-1 victory over Everton and made a plethora of saves to deny the Toffees, though it was his dramatic penalty stop to thwart Romelu Lukaku in the second half that prompted the loudest cheers of his name among the Reds supporters at Wembley.

Martial scored a game-changing winner in the 93rd minute that means United will contest the FA Cup final against Watford or Crystal Palace next month, and the Frenchman earned 42 per cent of votes cast by followers of @ManUtd. But that was not enough to beat De Gea’s 49 per cent and he has been rightly praised by his team-mates, including fellow Man of the Match nominee Wayne Rooney.

"It was a great penalty save," the captain told MUTV after the final whistle at the national stadium. "The pace with which the ball was hit shows he has a strong arm on him, and Everton had momentum behind them at that time. He’s the main reason why we’ve got to this final."

Michael Carrick also paid tribute to De Gea following his heroics against the Toffees and praised the keeper's incredible consistency in recent seasons.

"I don’t think it was a bad penalty, but David was sensational today – how many times have we said that over the last few years?" the midfielder said.

"He’s kept us in the game again; it’s almost what we’ve come to expect from him. Hopefully he can have quieter games between now and the end of the season!"

Carrick: Reaching The Final Is Phenomenal

Michael Carrick was left almost speechless after helping Manchester United to a pulsating late victory over Everton in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Anthony Martial's 93rd-minute winner – slotted home superbly after Marouane Fellaini's first-half opener and a Chris Smalling own goal – means the Reds will face either Watford or Crystal Palace in next month's final.

Asked to sum up his emotions after the game, Carrick was naturally delighted to play his part in the dramatic win, but is determined not to get carried away by the result.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a feeling like that – it’s a phenomenal feeling" he told MUTV. "It was a bit of a crazy game; we were very good in the first half and probably should have been [further] in front really. I know they had a couple of chances, but I think we dominated.

"They came out [fighting] in the second half; obviously they had to throw everything at us, it was backs against the wall at times. It was a bit of a crazy cup tie, but for the players, backroom staff and fans, to win like that is an unbelievable feeling. I’m glad that we could give them something like that."

The midfielder continued: "We were so dominant in the first half and expected them to come out fighting in the second half. That’s the FA Cup: in the semi-final, anything can happen. We knew we just had to be patient and stay in the game, but after they did score we settled down a bit and played a little bit better again.

"It doesn’t matter, though: we’ve come here and won and probably in the best way with a last-minute goal. We can go home absolutely delighted, but we’re not getting carried away – we’ve still got a massive game to play in the final. We’ll go home and concentrate on that.

"It would be amazing [to win the FA Cup], but I don’t want to get carried away. We’ve been to a final before and haven’t won it, so the next game is even more important than this one. We’ll enjoy tonight; it’s a massive result and a great feeling but we’ll start afresh in a few weeks’ time."

Martial was calmness personified as he placed home the dramatic late winner and Carrick was full of praise for the 20-year-old.

"I fancied Anthony to score as soon as he went through – it just looked right for him," the vice-captain said. "You forget how young he is; I thought he was brilliant today and caused them so many problems. We deserved to get that goal and I’m sure there are a lot more in him for many years to come!"

Van Gaal: The Wembley Verdict

Louis van Gaal spoke to MUTV, BBC and in his press conference after Manchester United's thrilling Emirates FA Cup semi-final win over Everton. Here are the key points from those interviews...

Reflections on the match
It’s fantastic when you see the joy in the eyes of the players. But also for the fans, because I think we deserved to reach the final. We were the better team in the first half and had so many chances - we could have finished it much earlier. It was an exciting game for the neutral fans and we are lucky that we scored in the last minute, but we deserved to win. I told [Chris] Smalling he was a lucky guy because now we can smile! He played a very good match. Both teams showed a lot of passion and will to win, so I’m very happy that we were the winners.

Pressure of a semi-final
I think the pressure was also for Everton. I think tomorrow when you see the other semi-final, the pressure is very high for every player because every player wants to play in the final, so it is always in my eyes the same. It is not different.

On matchwinner Anthony Martial
He could have scored in the first half when he was in the same situation, so I told him at half-time to shoot low into the corner – and he did that! It was a fantastic finish. I think he can do much better [in the future] because I see a lot of things that he can still improve and he shall improve. Only by training and by playing can you improve. Also, when you are playing at a higher level then you improve. When you are older you know all the things shall happen again. Then you have experience and you can decide much better in the same situation as before.

Can Martial become like Cole or van Nistelrooy?
I don't think that he is a striker; he is more of a wing player, but maybe in the future. But I don't think so - he is a different type of player to van Nistelrooy and the other examples of United strikers.

On goalscorer Marouane Fellaini
Fellaini is a player who wants to perform what we have agreed and I like that. He is also good with his head at set-plays – both for and against us – because we have a small team and he can help us.

On David De Gea
Yesterday we had an exercise with penalties. 20 penalties we have taken - Sergio Romero saved one and David De Gea zero. But today was the most important!

Will Wayne Rooney stay in midfield?
It is dependable on where my players continue. I have explained it also last week. At this moment I think that [Marcus] Rashford does a very good job in the striker's positon and now Wayne can contribute to the team more in midfield. I have seen today a great Wayne in midfield. It is not the first time he has played in midfield. Last year he also played in midfield, then your colleagues said he should play in the strikers' position. Maybe you remember that?

Prospect of an FA Cup final
I like it very much because as a player, manager and staff member, you do everything to win a title and we are very close now.

FA Cup Semi-final: Everton 1 Man. United 2

Manchester United will have the chance to win a first FA Cup in 12 years after booking a return trip to Wembley in next month's final in the most dramatic fashion with an injury-time winner from Anthony Martial, following yet more heroics from David De Gea.

Former Toffees man Marouane Fellaini, one of four changes to the side with Tim Fosu-Mensah, Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick, put the Reds in front on 34 minutes before De Gea saved a Romelu Lukaku penalty and Chris Smalling put through his own net. Then followed the classic United late drama as substitute Ander Herrera put Martial through and the Frenchman coolly slotted home in front of the jubilant United fans.

The Reds had already enjoyed two wins out of two from the season's league meetings with Everton and the opening quarter of the match brought hope a third would follow, with United dominating possession and looking sharp in attack. But in Lukaku, Everton had a pacy, skilful outlet and, while the Reds created the majority of the early openings, United still needed De Gea to make some customary solid stops and Wayne Rooney, playing in a midfield role once more, to run the length of the field to head off the line as Lukaku threatened.

In Rooney, Martial and Marcus Rashford, the Reds had three attackers who looked well in the mood. Martial was off and running at the Everton defenders from the start and should have scored on 21 minutes when Jesse Lingard put him through, but the Frenchman blasted over.

Before that, Rojo had headed wide, Lingard had seen a shot saved by Joel Robles in the Everton goal after being found brilliantly by Rooney. Rashford was next to be denied by Joel after taking aim from Fellaini's knock-down as the frenetic pace continued.

United's deserved breakthrough duly arrived 11 minutes before the break when Martial burst towards the touchline for the umpteenth time and pulled the ball back for former Everton man Fellaini to steer home from close range.

HALF-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: Everton 42% United 58%
Shots: Everton 5 United 11
Shots on target: Everton 4 United 5
Corners: Everton 0 United 4

The second half began as the first had ended, with United on top and creating more chances, the best of which fell to Lingard after a move involving fellow youngsters Fosu-Mensah, Rashford and Martial, whose backheel set Lingard up for a shot, but he dragged it wide.

Everton sparked into life 11 minutes after the restart when Aaron Lennon broke forward and found Ross Barkley. Fosu-Mensah went in for the tackle with referee Anthony Taylor adjudging it to be a foul. Lukaku stood over the penalty but De Gea, the man who thwarted Leighton Baines from the spot last season, dived brilliantly to his right to push the spot-kick away.

Despite the setback for Roberto Martinez's men, they well and truly had their tails up and continued their onslaught on the United goal. Tom Cleverley fired wide as he flew in at the back post, while Barkley shot wide when given an opening.

United were struggling to get a foothold in the game, although Fellaini went close to bundling the ball home on 65 minutes. But Everton continued to threaten and drew level 15 minutes from time in the cruelest of fashions from a United perspective, as substitute Gerard Deulofeu's cross was deflected into his own goal by Smalling.

The Everton sub drew a top save from De Gea soon after, while Fellaini made what looked to be a goal-saving tackle as Lukaku took aim after Everton broke forward from a United corner.

It looked like extra-time would be needed, but the Reds' never-say-die spirit made sure that would not be the case as, in injury time, Martial latched onto Herrera's poked through-ball to send United fans into raptures and his team into next month's FA Cup final. See you in May, Wembley!

FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: Everton 45% United 55%
Shots: Everton 16 United 22
Shots on target: Everton 8 United 7
Corners: Everton 2 United 7

THE TEAMS

Everton: Joel, Baines, Gibson, Stones, Jagielka (c), Lukaku, Lennon (Deulofeu 70), Cleverley, McCarthy, Besic, Barkley.
Subs not used: Howard, Hibbert, Oviedo, Mirallas, Osman, Pennington.
Booked: Barkley

United: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah (Valencia 61), Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Fellaini (Herrera 87), Lingard, Rooney (c), Martial, Rashford.
Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis.
Booked: Rooney, Herrera

Rooney Heads Sunday Times Rich List For Young Sportsmen

England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney tops the 2016 Sunday Times Rich List for young sportsmen in Britain.

Rooney has amassed an £82m fortune which makes him the richest sportsman aged 30 or under, a rise of £10m from last year.

The 30-year-old's wealth comes from a reported £300,000-a-week contract at United, which makes him the highest-paid player in the Premier League, as well as endorsements with global brands Nike and Samsung.

Tennis brothers Andy and Jamie Murray are in second place with a joint worth of £58m, though £57m of it is contributed by world No 2 Andy.

Rory McIlroy has enjoyed the biggest increase in wealth, earning an extra £18m to take him up to £56m in total and to third place in the list.

The Northern Irishman earned almost £7m in prize money, but it is off the course where he has made his real cash, with a long-standing deal with Nike and other endorsements with Omega, Bose, Upper Deck sports memorabilia and Electronic Arts being especially lucrative.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is up to fourth on the list after a year in which he became the second-richest footballer.

The Welshman earns around £15.6m a year at the Bernabeu in addition to contracts with Adidas, Sony and Electronic Arts. He is worth £34m - a £13m increase from last year.

A host of foreign Premier League stars make up the majority of the rest of the top 10. Sergio Aguero (£33m), David Silva (£31m), Radamel Falcao (£29m), Samir Nasri (£22m) and Eden Hazard (£18) all feature in the list.

Chelsea playmaker Hazard is joint 10th in the standings with boxer Amir Khan, though Khan is likely to add to his wealth when he fights Canelo Alvarez next month.

Van Gaal Puts Wembley Pride On Hold

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal will lead the Reds out at Wembley for the first time on Saturday afternoon, for the Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Everton.

But, as he said in his MUTV interview and press conference on Thursday, his full pride in doing so is on hold – pending what he sees as the tough prospect of facing the Toffees.

"When I am a manager in the final, I will be proud," he said. "First we have to beat Everton – and that is always difficult in England.

"Their players shall also be very motivated to play the semi-final, because to play a final is always exceptional."

The form of the two teams going into the tie contrasts starkly, with Everton having failed to win any of their last six matches, and the Reds securing victories in five of theirs.

Most recently, on Wednesday night, the difference in current fortunes was illustrated by United’s 2-0 defeat of Crystal Palace and the Toffees’ four-goal Merseyside derby capitulation at Anfield. But van Gaal sets little store by such trends ahead of the semi-final meeting.

"We have also lost a lot of times before a big match, and then we survive again and we're alive again," he said. "I think a cup game is always a game in itself with special circumstances.

"We have shown that already this season when we lost against Arsenal – and the next match [coincidentally, at Everton] we won. And it was the same after Liverpool: we lost 2-0 [in the Europa League], then we drew with West Ham in the quarter-finals – and that was very important."

Van Gaal was also quick to praise the calibre of young players being brought on at Goodison Park by his opposite number Roberto Martinez.

"What he is doing is the sign of a good manager because I believe in young players too," the United boss said. "They are always a stimulus in the group and that is very important. I think also that you have to make a mix of older and younger players in your team."

The United boss boasts an excellent pedigree when it comes to winning knockout competitions in other European countries, having guided Ajax to the Dutch Cup in 1993, as well as securing Spain’s Copa del Rey with Barcelona (1998) and Germany’s DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich (2010).

"As a manager you always have a fantastic memory when you win the cup," he said. "And I am a fortunate manager. I have won a cup in every country so far, and that is also my aim here. But it is not so easy, of course.

"I think the most special event was in Germany because they make a big event of it, but I think in England it shall be bigger than in Germany."

Referring further to the magic of the FA Cup, van Gaal recalled watching English finals on Dutch television as a boy, saying: "The only game that was on was the cup final, one Saturday in the year. And then, of course, because I was football-minded, I looked forward to the cup final, so it has a big memory for me.

"And now, in England, when I see the people on the streets, they are so excited, so you can feel that for the fans it is a fantastic competition."

No Fear For Lingard & Co

Jesse Lingard says he and his fellow young Reds have a fearlessness which he believes has helped make an important impact this season and this will continue at Wembley on Saturday.

The 23-year-old has played over 30 games and found the net five times this term, while Marcus Rashford, Tim Fosu-Mensah and others have also excelled when given their chance. Rashford, in particular, has taken most of the headlines with seven goals in 13 games, including vital strikes against Arsenal and Manchester City in the league and West Ham United in the last round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Lingard says the younger players go into matches with no pressure or fear which he reckons has been key to the progress all have made in 2015/16. The opportunity to reach the FA Cup final is at stake in the semi-final against Everton at Saturday teatime and Lingard insists the Reds are determined to make it a memorable day for United fans everywhere.

"It’s a big one," he told MUTV. "We’ve been waiting all week for it and we’re full of confidence.

"Us young lads play football with pretty much no pressure, it’s like playing football with our friends. There’s that fearlessness but it’s also good to have the older, experienced lads like Wazza [Wayne Rooney] and Carras [Michael Carrick] to help us through stages of the game if things aren’t going quite right for you. For me, Marcus and Tim, it’s like you’re playing in the park having a kickaround but you’ve still got that motivation to win.

"It’ll be my first time to properly play at Wembley, which is going to be massive for me. We’ve got over 30,000 fans with us and all our family and friends will be there too so it’s going to be a big occasion and hopefully we can come out with the win."

Lingard is delighted with the steps he has made in the first team this season, having grown up a United fan and progressed through the youth ranks. Having the chance to play at Wembley is, as Lingard declares, "the icing on the cake."

"It’s kind of crazy when you think about it," he beams. "Growing up in the Academy and hoping and dreaming you can, one day, play for the first team week in, week out which I’m doing now; no-one can take that away from me. You start off small and then work your way up to the big things. I’ve just got to carry on and keep working hard.

"Wembley is the icing on the cake. If we get a win there, we know we’ll be in the final and that’s our aim."

Rooney & Rashford Could Be Key

As Manchester United pursue a first Emirates FA Cup final place since 2007 at the weekend, two of the key men in an attacking sense will clearly have very different experience of the world-famous competition.

While Wayne Rooney is a Wembley veteran, Marcus Rashford appears likely to make his maiden outing at the stadium, depending on Louis van Gaal's final team selection for the Everton clash. After playing together for the first time against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, the duo may prove crucial in ensuring the Reds set up a return date in the capital on 21 May.

By my reckoning, Rooney has played 32 times for England at Wembley and scored 19 goals, an excellent record. He had to wait until 2007, when he was 21, to appear there as the venue was previously being renovated and his first outing, for United, ended in disappointment as Chelsea won the cup after extra time thanks to Didier Drogba's effort.

A few months later, he converted his penalty against the same opponents to help earn victory in the Community Shield and the Reds' no.10 also has a last-minute equaliser in the season opener against the Blues in 2009, a headed winner in the League Cup final triumph over Aston Villa (2010) and a goal in the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona (2011) to his name.

All in all, the 30-year-old has appeared seven times at Wembley in United colours so the game against his former club should mark his 40th outing beneath the arch. He is clearly a man on a mission. If you had told him, or indeed anybody, after his Man-of-the-Match display against Arsenal 11 years ago, that he would still be waiting to get his hands on the trophy, it would have been something of a surprise.

In contrast, Rashford has yet to appear at Wembley and, at 18, his memories of the competition obviously pale into comparison. Rooney attended the 1995 final, when Everton beat United 1-0, but Rashford was probably still in nappies when United overcame Newcastle United in the second leg of the Treble four years later.

The Mancunian striker was only six years old when the Reds last won the FA Cup and so it is feasible he has nothing but even the sketchiest of memories of the club lifting the trophy. And yet, as a raw teenager, he may get the chance to become a hero and write his name into United's storied history. The sublime strike at West Ham United helped set up the last-four encounter with Everton and the wide open spaces at Wembley could provide numerous opportunities to exploit his explosive pace.

Whether Rooney or Rashford end up being influential on the big stage this weekend remains to be seen, but both will be extremely motivated to ensure the team lines up another day to remember at Wembley. Wednesday's win over Palace hinted at the prospect of the pair combining to good effect, and the chance to upset a depleted Toffees backline should be approached with relish.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered as representative of Manchester United Football Club.

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Who Needs Vistory Most?

Charlie Nicholas believes Roberto Martinez's need for victory in the FA Cup semi-final is greater than Louis van Gaal's - but fears for both managers' futures.

The Everton boss is under increasing pressure after seeing his side thumped 4-0 by local rivals Liverpool, a result which leaves them without a win in seven Premier League games and on course for a second successive bottom-half finish.

"If he loses this semi-final, then the calls for him to go are only going to get louder," Nicholas told Sky Sports.

"Martinez is a very good coach but he's not admitted that this team is underachieving and it pains me to say it I think the owners will be actively seeking change."

The Goodison Park faithful were looking forward to a summer of investment following Farhad Moshiri's 49.9 per cent purchase of the club's shares, but Nicholas feels that is unlikely with Martinez at the helm.

He added: "I think that the concern will be why should they invest money in the club when the manager isn't getting the best out of his current squad?

"Bill Kenwright has done a fantastic job as chairman and would love to keep Martinez, but the investors will be asking whether they'll be giving their money to the right man to spend. They've already got a strong squad and it's not working."

Meanwhile, the Soccer Saturday pundit believes Van Gaal's future will be decided by his ability to get United into the top four rather than winning the FA Cup.

With just four league games to go, United are two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and hold a vastly inferior goal difference.

"Is the FA Cup enough? I would say no," said Nicholas. "United have to be in the Champions League. It's not even about the prize money, it's the prestige of being there.

"If I asked United fans if they want FA Cup or top four I think most would say top four. They want to be back in the Champions League.

"If David Moyes can get sacked after nine months for not managing it, then you've got to think they will be looking at Jose Mourinho or even the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Slaven Bilic and Ronald Koeman.

"The timing of PSG's reported move for Mourinho is interesting because United can't afford to be seen to make an announcement as they need to put their focus into securing a top-four finish."

Nicholas expects Van Gaal to prevail on Saturday, backing a 1-0 victory for United in his Sky Bet tips.

He added: "I think it will be tense and I think Everton will be too worried about making mistakes to play well.

"I've done a heck of a lot of United games this season and, while I've rarely been impressed by them, they've built some momentum with three successive wins, which started by a good display against West Ham."

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Van Gaal Ready To 'Disappoint' Man. United Squad Members

Louis van Gaal is delighted to have a largely fit and healthy Manchester United squad ahead of this Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Everton, but admits he will have to tell a number of his players that they are surplus to requirements for the tea-time fixture at Wembley.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss the remainder of the season, while Luke Shaw is yet to reach full fitness following his recovery from a broken leg.

Otherwise, the United manager will have a sizeable first team squad to choose from, as the Red Devils prepare to face the Toffees in the capital.

The Dutchman said: "Everyone wants to play in a semi-final. I must select 18 players and I have 24 who are fit, so I have to disappoint six of them."

And Van Gaal refuses to differentiate between United's dual ambitions in the FA Cup and Premier League, in which they are still chasing a Champions League berth next season.

Asked about his preference, Van Gaal added: "It is not for me to judge. I have said this already. I do my utmost best. We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and are in the race for the fourth position and that was our aim."

He also believes a good squad should combine experience with youth: "[The younger players] are always a stimulus in the group and that is very important.

"I think also that you have to have a mix of older and younger players in your team.

"When I was at Bayern, it was [Thomas] Muller, at Barcelona it was Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta. I have lots of examples."

He also defended his decision to experiment by playing younger players in different positions. One such example is Dutch teenager Timothy Fosu-Mensah whose favourite spot is central defence but against West Ham last week started at right-back.

Van Gaal went on: "It is dependable on vacancies in your squad. Players in my squad are playing in different positions than what they are used to in their former careers.

"When there is a vacancy and you think a young player has the quality to play there, you give him the chance and he takes it.

"You can ask Bastian Schweinsteiger who, at Bayern Munich, played on the right side. I made him a centre midfielder because I looked at his profile and I thought he can better play in the middle and he enjoys it more."

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Progress Since Moyes?

Two years on from David Moyes' sacking, Manchester United supporters are still waiting to see significant progress, writes Adam Bate.

The announcement that Manchester United had sacked David Moyes was greeted with relief by many of the club's supporters at the time. Even the share price rose to its highest level since Sir Alex Ferguson's final month at the helm. The blip was over.

There was logic in believing that the blame lay entirely with Moyes. After all, United had been Premier League champions the previous season. And it was impossible to regard his haul of 57 points from 34 games as anything but failure. But two years and more than £200m in transfer spending later, United have 59 points from 34 games. Some blip.

It's a damning indictment of a club that appears to have spent much of the intervening period stuttering from one mistake to the next. At least Moyes could point to the challenges of being Ferguson's immediate replacement. There was a Champions League quarter-final, too. That remains their best effort in the competition since reaching the final in 2011.

The accepted wisdom at the time was that it would be easier for the man after the man after Ferguson. But there's been precious little evidence of that, with Louis van Gaal on the receiving end of much criticism. Indeed, while it might have seemed as though Moyes had broken every unwanted record going, Van Gaal has found plenty more to add to the list.

For Moyes, there was a first league defeat against Stoke in 30 years. Van Gaal duly delivered the second. A first home defeat by Swansea came under Moyes. Van Gaal matched it in his very first game. Oh for the heady heights of a Capital One Cup semi-final defeat now - Van Gaal's team have been eliminated by lower-league opposition in consecutive seasons.

Sometimes new records have been set rather than merely repeated. Moyes might have lost three games in a row in 2014, the club's worst run of results in well over a decade, but Van Gaal was able to chalk up four consecutive defeats when beaten at Stoke on Boxing Day the following year. United hadn't managed that in a single season since 1961.

When Norwich triumphed at Old Trafford in December, it was the first time a newly-promoted side had won at Old Trafford in more than a decade. And yet, the warning signs were there given that United had lost at fellow new boys Bournemouth only one week earlier. What United fans once saw as formalities, they've learned to now see as potential problems.

All of which puts a different spin on Moyes' truncated season in charge. The apparent folly of replacing the country's most successful-ever manager with a man who - then as now - was waiting for his first major trophy was supposed to be the low point. But despite Van Gaal's more impressive CV, United's issues have not simply gone away.

How culpable can Moyes be in that? For all the feeling that Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic might have been retained, it's now clear that both had reached the end of their journey. Nor can the Scot be blamed for Robin van Persie's sharp decline. Time has shown that the squad was in a state of flux with senior men at the end of their usefulness.

But if the squad was in need of an overhaul, Moyes was not the man who botched that particular job. His only major signings were Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata, and while the former in particular has failed to find favour among the fans, both did start in last week's win over Aston Villa. By way of comparison, subsequent signings have been and gone.

All of which should slightly shift the perspective on Moyes' time at the club. Rather than a blip caused by a man over-promoted in line with the Peter principle, it now feels as if his struggles foreshadowed a deeper malaise. One tied not only to Ferguson but the departure of David Gill and the club's very management structure itself.

A sequence of six wins in eight Premier League games offers the opportunity to quell such concerns. United are still scrapping for Champions League qualification and Van Gaal would be entitled to regard an FA Cup win - the club's first in 12 years - as redemption of sorts.

But for Moyes, the ongoing battle to restore Manchester United's erstwhile status as the strongest team in the land has certainly taken the edge off his own struggles in the role. The waste and the worry continues. And so, while the comparison with Ferguson remains as unfavourable as ever, those comparisons with successor Van Gaal aren't nearly so damning.

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Man. United Top Latest Agents' Fees List

Manchester United spent more than £10m on agents' fees between 1 October 2015 and 1 February 2016 to lead the latest Premier League list.

United boss Louis van Gaal did not make any signings in January yet the club's fees are more than £3m Liverpool's amount, who are second on the list.

Premier League leaders Leicester City, who need three more wins to secure the title, spent just £936,004.

Everton are bottom of the list on £471,400.

A Manchester United spokesman said the £10m figure reflected a high number of contact renegotiations during the period, including with goalkeeper David de Gea, and staged payments on previous transfers.

In the Championship, QPR are the only team to pay more than £1m in the four-month period.

Credit: BBC Sport

Ramos Considered United Bid

Sergio Ramos has revealed that he received a firm offer from Manchester United last summer, but says he wants to retire at Real Madrid.

Ramos' future was subject to heavy speculation last year and Manchester United were strongly linked with a move to bring him to Old Trafford.

In the end, the Spain defender remained at the Bernabeu and signed a new long-term deal.

Ramos has lifted the lid on the events of last summer and says United made a concrete bid for his services.

He told Spanish radio programme El Partido de las 12: "There was a firm offer, on paper. For a moment I thought about a change of scene, but Real Madrid was always my priority. I felt disappointed, but not due to economic problems like people said.

"I have not heard about (interest from Chelsea). Many things have always been said.

"Flattery from big clubs is always good as this is because you are doing well, but if the fans and my club want me."

The 30-year-old former Sevilla man also says he plans to retire at Real Madrid. He added: "While my fans and my club want me, my first thought is to retire here."

De Gea named In PFA Team Of The Year

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has been named in the PFA Team of the Year for the third time in his career, capping yet another excellent campaign for the Spaniard.

Every player from the 20 Premier League clubs voted to decide the 2015/16 starting XI and this is the third time De Gea has been involved, having previously made the cut in 2012/13 and 2014/15.

United’s influential no.1 is the only member of Louis van Gaal’s squad to be involved in the team that is dominated by four players each from title rivals Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, with the two remaining places going to Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet.

PFA Team of the Year: David De Gea (Manchester United), Hector Bellerin (Arsenal), Wes Morgan (Leicester City), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), N’Golo Kante (Leicester City), Dimitri Payet (West Ham United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).

As is tradition, the PFA had planned to reveal their many Teams of the Year on Sunday night at its annual awards dinner, but they were forced to release them all on Thursday after the Premier League side was leaked in a photograph on social media. A statement on the organisation's website read:

“The PFA is disappointed that a member of the public has chosen to deliberately leak our representative teams from the official brochure of the Awards Evening.

“As a matter of urgency, we are seeking a detailed explanation from the brochure printers as to how they were able to secure a copy of the publication.

“The unveiling of the PFA representative teams is eagerly awaited by our members and football fans throughout the country and we hope that the unfortunate leak does not affect the wide-ranging debate and discussion which accompanies their normal release on the day of the event.”

Tim May Follow Bastian

Louis van Gaal has yet to determine the best position for Tim Fosu-Mensah and admits the Manchester United youngster could emulate Bastian Schweinsteiger's switch at Bayern Munich.

United fans who have followed the Dutch defender's rise through the ranks will have seen him excel in the centre-back, full-back and central midfield positions during spells for the Under-18s, Under-21s and most recently the first team.

When asked during Thursday's press conference whether Fosu-Mensah's future could be in midfield, the manager said the options are still open for the 18-year-old and recalled how he nurtured and converted a young Schweinsteiger when he was Bayern boss.

"It is dependable on vacancies in your squad," declared van Gaal. "You have seen that players in my squad are playing in different positions than what they are used to in their former careers. It is also a little bit of luck. When there is a vacancy and you think a young player has the quality to play there, you give him the chance. If he takes the chance then that makes him already mentally a good player.

"You cannot say that a player is [just] a full-back. You can see qualities and you make a profile of positions and then you look at the qualities of a player and see if he can fit that. Can he do that, can he perform that? Maybe he shall perform it and then he sticks to that position and then he is the best of all.

"You can ask Bastian Schweinsteiger who, at Bayern Munich, played on the right side, the right wing. I made him a centre midfielder because I looked at his profile and I thought that he can better play in the middle and he enjoys it more than on the right side. I have changed a lot of positions of players."

Fosu-Mensah is just one of a number of young Reds who have impressed for the senior side this term, with Marcus Rashford being the one who has grabbed the headlines with seven goals in 13 games. Van Gaal reminded us of his track record of giving chances to budding players throughout his career.

"I have had that in all my clubs because I give youngsters the chance to do that," he insisted. "My first club was AZ Alkmaar and I was trainer-coach of the second team, I then played with five players from my second team when I was first-team coach.

"At Ajax I had Patrick Kluivert, at 18, who made the same performance as Marcus Rashford. So, I can give a lot of examples of that, it is not new! At Bayern Munich it was Thomas Muller and in Barcelona Xavi was 18 and Iniesta 17. Motta was also 17 and he is now at Paris Saint Germain. It is not strange.

"The big issue is not age. It is quality."

Blind All Set For Semi-final

Daley Blind has been one of Manchester United's most consistent performers this season and he will once again need to be on top form when he faces Everton's Romelu Lukaku on Saturday at Wembley. The Dutchman captained the Netherlands to victory over England at the famous stadium last month and, as he told MUTV, he'd love another winning experience there this weekend...

Playing at Wembley
"I have played there once against England and won so I’ve never lost at Wembley [laughs]. It was a big night for us [the Netherlands]. The pitch is really big and the stadium is massive and it was a great experience. As a player you want to play there and show what you’ve got. We have to show we want to win and get to the FA Cup final."

Keeping Lukaku quiet
"I was happy with my performance of course [in the recent Everton match at Old Trafford]. Romelu Lukaku is one of the best strikers in the Premier League at the moment, he’s a great talent who scores a lot of goals. I was very happy with my performance and the result but I didn’t do it alone, it was a great team performance and an important win."

United's FA Cup history
"It’s been mentioned a lot to me that this is what you go out to achieve if you want to play for United – you want to play for trophies and winning things. I’m very proud we’re close but we’re not in the final yet so we have still have work to do."

Personal form
"I am pleased with my season. I have played consistently and that’s what I want, I always want to reach a certain level for myself. I have learned a lot this season as a centre-back and I think that has helped make me a better player overall. I’m happy it’s going well this season. The manager has put his trust in me and I also feel that from my team-mates so I can be happy."

United's youngsters
"There was a point where we had a lot of injuries and they had to come in. As youngsters you always give everything and doing your utmost best maybe that gave us something extra in some games. If you look at them now they’re doing a great job for the team and they are great guys. It’s great to see them doing well and helping us."

The rise of Tim Fosu-Mensah
"Tim is a big talent and also from Holland so I talk a lot to him. We were at the same youth academy [Ajax] and that will help him even more. I’m very happy that he’s doing so well. He gives everything in every game and there is a lot to come from him. He needs to keep going now and stay strong and we will help. I’m really pleased for him."

Darmian Thrilled For First Wenbley Trip

Matteo Darmian admits it will be a proud day when he experiences his first taste of Wembley on Saturday and he insists he and his Manchester United team-mates are well aware of the match's importance.

The defender was the Reds' star man on Wednesday night in the 2-0 league win over Crystal Palace after setting up the opener and blasting home a sublime volley for United's second strike to open his goalscoring account for the club.

Darmian would relish the opportunity to start the Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Everton this weekend and play his part in making it a day to remember for Louis van Gaal's men.

"It’s the first time to play there for me so I’m really proud and it’s a big game," the 26-year-old told reporters. "Every player wants to play in this kind of game but the manager chooses the line-up so I have to be ready.

"We know the importance of the game, it’s a big chance to win a trophy. We want to be ready for the fight, because I think it will be a difficult game, but like always we want to win."

Darmian is pleased to be back in the fold after struggling with injuries earlier in the campaign following a hugely impressive start to life at the club which led to him winning ManUtd.com's Player of the Month for August.

The Italian international has worked hard to settle as quickly as possible to life in Manchester and is constantly looking to improve.

"I think for a player it’s always difficult to change the culture and also to change the football because the Premier League is different from Serie A," he explains. "It’s more physical and less tactical, all of the teams play stronger, but I try to adapt to this type of game and this type of football.

"Yes, at the beginning my football was very good but sometimes it can happen, a period when we aren’t so good physically. Now, I’m focused on the end of the season and I look forward to doing better."

LVG: We Need 4 More Wins

Louis van Gaal thinks Manchester United will have to win their last four league games to have a chance of a top four finish.

Man Utd increased the pressure on Arsenal and Man City in the race for the top four with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

An early Damien Delaney own goal and a cracking effort from Matteo Darmian meant that United closed the gap on Arsenal in fourth to just one point while City are two points ahead of them in third.

United remaining fixtures are against Leicester (h), Norwich (a), West Ham (a) and Bournemouth (h).

When asked whether his team have put pressure on Arsenal and Man City, Van Gaal said: "We are putting pressure on them throughout the season. At the end of the season it counts much more. I'm very happy. We have four matches to go and we must win them all. Then we have a chance."

United enjoyed 66 per cent possession in the victory and registered 10 shots on target, forcing Julian Speroni into making a number of top saves.

Van Gaal's team have been widely criticised this season for playing too conservative at a pedestrian tempo but the manager insists United have attacked in "every game."

He said: "I want to always play attacking football. In this season we have attacked in every game but maybe in a slow tempo sometimes. Our opponents have received playing a compact defence - it's not so simple to disorganise our opponents, but today we did it."

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