VDS special

Similarly to the UEFA Champions League, the prize money received by the clubs is divided into fixed payments based on participation and results, and variable amounts that depend of the value of their TV market.[15]

A group stage participation in the Europa League nets €640,000, with a €60,000 bonus per group match played. A victory in the group pays €140,000 and a draw €70,000. Reaching the knock-out matches triggers additional bonuses: €200,000 for the round of 32, €300,000 for the round of 16, €400,000 for the quarterfinals and €700,000 for the semifinals. The losing finalists receive €2 million and the champions get €3 million.[16] In comparison, any team that reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage will be paid €3.9 million.[17]

According to Marko Vjetrovic, spokesman of Partizan Belgrade and a member of the European Club Association (ECA), the fixed payments for the 2009/2010 UEFA Europa League season were as follows:[18][19]

    * 1st qualifying round: €90,000
    * 2nd qualifying round: €90,000
    * 3rd qualifying round: €90,000
    * Playoffs: €90,000
    * Group stage: €1,000,000
    * Group match victory: €120,000
    * Group match draw: €60,000
    * 1st knock out round: €180,000
    * 2nd knock out round: €270,000
    * Quarter-finals: €360,000
    * Semi-finals: €630,000
    * Qualifying for Final: €2,000,000
    * Winning the Final: €2,000,000 + €1,000,000

As of 2010–11, UEFA awards €2.1 million to each team in the play-offs round. For reaching the group stage, UEFA awards €3.9 million, plus €550,000 per group match played. A win in the group is awarded €800,000 and a draw is worth €400,000. In addition, UEFA pays teams reaching the first knockout round €3 million, each quarter finalist €3.3 million, €4.2 million for each semi-finalist, €5.6 million for the runners-up and €9 million for the winners.[10]

A large part of the distributed revenue from the UEFA Champions League is linked to the "market pool", the distribution of which is determined by the value of the television market in each country. For the 2008-09 season, both Manchester United and Bayern Munich, who reached the final and quarter-final respectively, earned more than Barcelona, who won the tournament.[11]

lol ur signature nshady

anyone got any celebratory videos after the blackburn game?

Ryan Giggs is certain the current crop of Manchester United players are destined for greater success.

At 37, the veteran Welshman knows he will not be around for too much longer.

However, with a 12th Premier League title safely tucked away, Giggs has already committed himself to the Old Trafford cause for one more season, and Sir Alex Ferguson has not given up on the idea his longest-serving player may be around the season after that as well.

No matter how long he lasts, Giggs is sure United have a trophy-ladened future ahead of them, regardless of the challenge presented by the emergence of Manchester City.

"This side can go on to more things," he said.

"You look around the changing room at Fabio, Rafael, Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez. They will be at the club a long time.

"You can see they love the club purely through the way they play and their manner around the training ground. It is obvious.

"It is all part of the manager's strategy for keeping things going.

"He has those three tiers. Now it is me, Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville. Then you have those in their late 20s and early 30s and then the younger players.

"We motivate each other. And for the young players to win their first medals and produce the football they are capable of is fantastic."

Indeed, more than any other season, Giggs is certain United's record 19th championship was a collective effort, with selfless contributions from the likes of Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher and the most consistent performer their skipper, Nemanja Vidic.

"You would find it hard to find a stand-out player this season," said Giggs. "It has been a real group effort.

"The team spirit has always been good and that has shown in some of the results we have clawed back.

"If you asked 10 United fans for their player of the season, the chances are you would get a different answer off the majority. Who do you pick?

"That has been key to our success."

This success means more to United because it takes them past Liverpool's long-standing mark of 18 titles.

For a lifelong United fan like Giggs, it brings an added spring to the step.

"It was tough as a United fan growing up in the 1970s and 1980s and seeing Liverpool winning everything," he said.

"They are our biggest rivals and 20 years ago, when we were 11 behind, this was never on the cards.

"But credit to the manager and the club. We have gradually clawed the lead back and overtaken them.

"I am no different to any other fan watching Liverpool. Getting into this position is a very special moment."

will be exciting to see if SAF decides to give a chance to the likes of Norwood, Pogba, Petrucci and even problematic Morrison...all of them are midfielders, are they ready to step up? hard to say...but unlikely SAF will do that though

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_767...for-de-gea.html

An article on De Gea

£183,000 a week – followed by a 25 per cent pay rise in each of the following five years of his contract. This would amount to £556,000 a week in the final year of his contract.

i big name
kaka to chelsea then saf hijack it to man utd? 
nah, kaka old oledi.

3 signings, 1 keeper 2 midfields?

keeper - buffon/Stekelenburg

midfield - parker/ sneijder/ modric / adams

any of these players come then nice already.. haha

but u see sneidjer is investment
modric is more like a gamble epl proven
in terms of champions league experience sneijder could offer his assistance
btw modric is only 1 yr younger than sneijder

why is Obertan there?

obertan *facepalm* i had so much hope in him when we signed him...now... aduh

Manchester United star Nani has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson as the most important influence on his career and believes his manager will remain in charge at Old Trafford for as long as he stays healthy.

Nani's United future was in doubt 18 months ago but he has finally emerged from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo to become instrumental in helping the team to the Premier League title and the Champions League final.

The Portuguese winger is in no doubt that Ferguson's management has been the driving force in enabling him to fulfil his natural talent at Old Trafford.

"He has been very important for me," Nani said at the launch of the new adiPower Predator boot. "Everybody knows, since I have arrived at United, the opportunities he has given me. He is the most important person in my career.

"If I am doing well at the moment it is because of him and the opportunities he had given me. And if I am showing a better side to my game it is because he has shown me how to improve and what I have to do."

In the past it has been suggested that Ferguson may retire when he wins a third Champions League as United boss – but Nani is certain the Scot will remain in charge even if United beat Barcelona at Wembley on May 28.

"He is still doing his job very well. At this moment he feels very confident and fit," added the 24-year-old. "He believes that he can go to the training ground and give everything ― and as long as he does that, he will stay. He loves football and winning trophies. And that’s what he’s doing now."

Nani is delighted that United became the most successful side in English football by winning a record-breaking 19th top flight title and now all his attention is focused on how to triumph over Barcelona in the Champions League final.



He continued: "It’s been a great season. I am very happy at United to win the 19th title, that’s three I have been part of and I want to keep going and contribute even more.

"Now we are thinking about the Champions League final. I don’t want the same thing to happen as in 2009 when we lost to Barcelona.

"I’m not thinking about Lionel Messi; I don’t think there is anything specific to worry about with Barcelona. But we will try our best."