Manchester United can go five points clear at the top of the table if they beat Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Saturday's late kick-off pits two of the Premier League's in-form sides against each other with United unbeaten since their 2-1 loss away at Arsenal in November.

In fact, the champions have not conceded a league goal since the two at Emirates Stadium and will fancy their chances of keeping another clean sheet against an Everton side running low on strikers.

The Toffees, however, haven't lost in seven league games and have held United's title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool to draws in recent weeks.

United team news

Sir Alex Ferguson could welcome back defender Patrice Evra. The Frenchman has been ruled out with an ankle injury since the 3-0 win over Chelsea.

Portuguese winger Nani could also return from a groin injury which he picked up in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Derby.

Defender Rio Ferdinand is likely to continue his comeback after his surprise inclusion in midweek against West Brom.

The England centre-back has struggled with a back injury in recent weeks but came through the clash at the Hawthorns unscathed.

Fellow defender Wes Brown made his first appearance since October, coincidentally in the 1-1 draw against Everton, after he replaced Ferdinand for the final 20 minutes.

Brown could be in line for a start if Ferguson decides to give captain Gary Neville a rest after playing in the club's last four games.

Despite the return of a number of their injured stars the treatment room remains busy at Old Trafford with Wayne Rooney (hamstring), Anderson (ankle), Rafael (hamstring), Fabio (calf), Jonny Evans (ankle) and Danny Wellbeck (ankle) all out.

Everton team news

Midfielder Tim Cahill remains a major doubt for the Toffees after he limped off in the final five minutes of the draw with Arsenal with a foot injury.

Good news for David Moyes' men is the fact that X-rays have revealed no damage but heavy bruising means the Australian may be forced to sit out.

The possible loss of the 29-year-old will pose more problems for Moyes in the striking department with Cahill scoring four goals in the eight games he has played while filling in up front.

Everton will continue to be without long-term casualties Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Achilles) and James Vaughan (knee) while Louis Saha will miss the opportunity to face his former club with a hamstring injury.

Better news is that defender Nuno Valente may make a return from a knee injury.

Possible starting XIs

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Park, Tevez, Berbatov.

Everton: Howard, Baines, Hibbert, Lescott, Jagielka, Osman, Arteta, Fellaini, Neville, Pienaar, Anichebe

Sir Alex was delighted to see his side beat Everton and keep yet another clean sheet, but the United boss insisted there is still room for improvement.

The Reds went five points clear at the top of the league but the 1-0 scoreline made for some nervy moments as the final whistle approached.

“You only need a second to lose a goal,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “And in a situation like today, where Everton kept going and kept playing balls up to the edge of the box, that can happen.

“The aim of football is to kill teams when you’ve got them by the throat and we had Everton by the throat several times and didn’t do that.

“Everton were very energetic and athletic and because we didn’t score a second goal – even though we created some terrific openings – they were always going to carry on and keep fighting. They took us right to the wire.”

In the end, Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty separated the sides.

“He’s taken his penalty well,” Sir Alex said. “He was under pressure, it was right before half-time… but he remained calm.”

Ronny perhaps should have been given another chance from the spot when Michael Carrick was brought down by Joleon Lescott after the interval. The Reds’ boss certainly thought so.

“That was a clear penalty,” he said. “There’s no question about that. But you’re never going to get two penalties…

“Michael Carrick did well today. His penetrative runs were very good. We’ve spoken about our midfielders making those sort of runs into the box and Michael did that well today.”

Cristiano Ronaldo declared himself satisfied after scoring the winner against Everton – but insists all that matters is that the team keep winning.

Following his brace at West Brom on Tuesday, the winger netted his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot on Saturday to send the Reds five points clear at the top.

"I am happy with my season, but the most important thing is the team," Ronaldo told MUTV."We are top, the lads are playing very well, I’ve scored a few important goals and want to carry on doing my job to help the team.

"It was very tough today. Everton had a good game at the weekend against Liverpool and we knew it was going to be difficult.

"But we played well, especially in the first half when we created a few chances and managed to score the goal. The second half was a little more difficult, with Everton just playing on the counter-attack."

Ronaldo was not too disappointed that United failed to add to his opener and credited Everton's resilience.

"If we win every game 1-0 it’s good!" he continued. "Sometimes it’s important to score goals but Everton are a difficult team to play against. We have to appreciate the attitude and character of the team."

Ronaldo also reserved praise for Edwin van der Sar, who kept his 12th consecutive league clean sheet to break a 30-year-old English league record.

Ronaldo said: "It’s unbelievable! Edwin deserves it because he is a great goalkeeper and a great man who works a lot for his age! I’m really happy not just for him but for all the lads, especially the defenders who support him a lot."

Third-placed Liverpool host second-placed Chelsea on Sunday when both sides will be fighting tooth and nail to claw the ground back on United.

"It’ll be a tough game," Ronaldo added. "Maybe a draw is the best result, but one or both of them will definitely drop points!"

Michael Carrick echoed his manager’s comments after United squeezed past Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Reds won 1-0 courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty – won by Carrick – but the former Spurs midfielder would have preferred the margin to have been greater.

“We played very well in the first half-hour but Everton made it difficult for us,” he told Setanta Sports. “Everton have proved how good a side they are in recent weeks so we’re happy to come away with the win.

“You’re not always going to get games where everything goes right and you play great football. We’re happy with 1-0 – it’s another clean sheet and we looked solid as a team.

“We had chances to score a few more... there’s still more to come from us.”

Carrick was at the centre of two penalty claims – one given, the other waved away by referee Mark Halsey.

“There was definitely contact for the first one,” he said. “The player [Mikel Arteta] clipped my ankles and my momentum carried me over. I don’t think Everton can have any arguments about that one. I thought the second one was a penalty as well. I’ve nicked the ball and he’s [Joleon Lescott] come across me as I’m running through. But you get some decisions and you don’t get others. I’m not worried complaining too much.”

The midfielder was delighted with the three points, and just as pleased to be part of the team’s 12th consecutive league clean sheet.

“It’s a huge achievement and shows how well we’ve been playing and also the character we have to stick together when it’s not going so well. We’re very satisfied with that.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was voted fifth greatest icon of the Inside United era (1992 -2009) by the magazine's editorial staff. Who better to sing the Norwegian's praises than the other man who put the ball in the Germans' net in '99, Teddy Sheringham...

When I first met Ole I remember thinking the 'Baby-faced assassin' nickname was perfect. He didn’t look old enough to be a professional footballer! But there he was, banging in the goals for United. You didn’t expect such talent from such a young looking lad.

When it comes to talent, Ole was definitely one of the best all-round finishers I’ve ever played with. That’s no mean feat either: I’m including strikers like Jurgen Klinsmann and Alan Shearer in that equation. Certainly, in terms of shooting with both feet, ability in the air and putting the ball exactly where he wanted it to go, Ole was up there with the very, very best.

I can’t stress enough just how good Ole’s finishing was - it was a joy to watch in training. He was real perfectionist, too, and spent hours practising. Even when he scored he wouldn’t celebrate a goal with quite as much passion if the ball hadn’t gone exactly where he’d planned. Most strikers don’t care how the ball goes in, but if Ole scuffed one instead of hitting it perfectly, he’d be slightly disappointed.

He also had a knack for shooting through defenders’ legs, which not a lot of football fans had seen before Ole came along. It was incredible and a deliberate tactic on his part. He’d change the angle of the ball just enough until he’d manoeuvred the defender into the position he required, and then he’d fire the ball through their legs. I’d sometimes make the odd pass through a defender’s legs, but I never quite mastered the art of shooting like that. It was really clever and Ole had it down to a fine art.

Of course, Ole scored one of the most important goals in the club’s history and he’ll always be remembered for that moment in the Nou Camp. But his legend status at Old Trafford is built on more than one match. He scored so many goals and was so unselfish in the way he approached the game. He’s also a fantastic man - a true gentleman - and I think United fans recognise that. You don’t even have to have met Ole to realise what a nice guy he is.

Yet he’ll be remembered most fondly for what he did on the pitch and the way he always seemed to dig United out of trouble. If the ball dropped to anybody for half a chance to wards the end of a game then you wanted that person to be Ole because you knew he’d at least hit the target. More often than not, he’d find the back of the net, too.

Inside United's icons countdown continues. In fourth place is Ryan Giggs; and Sir Bobby Charlton takes us from the first time he saw Giggsy in action to the day the Welshman equalled his appearance record...

What a player! I first saw Ryan when he was 15 when Alex Ferguson had asked me to come and watch some trials during the school holidays. When I arrived there were about 10 matches going on, and as I was making my way over to see the boss, I noticed this skinny kid zipping past defenders. He went right through the team and had a fantastic shot on goal. I thought: ‘Wow, that was sensational!’

When I reached Alex I asked him who the little lad was and he said: ‘That’s Ryan Wilson: he signed for us this morning.’ You could tell, even then, that there was something magical about the way he played the game.

Ever since that day Ryan’s been a fantastic ambassador for this club. We’ve never had an ounce of trouble from him. He’s brilliant to work with and you won’t hear anyone with a bad word about him. More importantly, he’s a fantastic footballer. In fact, he’s one of the most gifted footballers to ever play at Old Trafford.

In his prime, his pace was sensational – the only way defenders could stop him was to bring him down. These days he’s not quite so quick, but his awareness and footballing brain is second to none. He’s also good in the air, something not everyone realises.

He’s been terrific over the years – an absolute gem – and it’s no wonder United fans love him. The way he’s playing at the moment, we could easily see him for a few more years. The manager has been very smart in the way he’s used him this season, he knows exactly how and when to rest him. But when he’s on that pitch, he never lets you down.

Like most fans, my favourite Giggs memory is the goal he scored against Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1999. He went on this mazy run and people kept coming, but he kept evading them. Then, of course, he thumped the ball into the roof of the net. I jumped out of my seat, and I remember some fans went on the pitch. I don’t blame them: I’d have done the same if I’d have been in the stands! It was a cracking end to a wonderful football match.

As everyone knows, Ryan broke my club appearance record at the end of last season. To be honest, it didn’t bother me one bit. I never counted every game I played, I just know I played here for a long time and loved every minute. I think that’s why Ryan has played so many games here – he loves being at this club. It’s a great place to play… once you’ve been here you don’t want to play anywhere else.

Ji-sung Park says United’s strength in depth has been the key to the side’s record-breaking run of clean sheets.

The Reds have now gone 12 games without conceding a goal in the league, a feat made all the more impressive when you consider the injuries that have plagued Sir Alex’s regular back four.

“We’ve had a few injuries in the defence so it’s a great achievement,” Park told ManUtd.kr.

“Everybody played their part and the young players who were called on [Rafael, Richard Eckersley] showed great ability on the pitch.

“We started the season with a strong squad and that’s how we’ve been able to set this record. When someone is injured we have another player who can fill the gaps.”

Park also reserved special praise for goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who now holds the English league record for most minutes without conceding.

“Playing for one of the greatest teams in the world at his age [38] is really difficult. He’s a great player, one of the best on the pitch. It’s a great record for him to have. He deserves it.”

Robbo’s exit left a hole in midfield. But as Paddy Crerand explains, that commitment, energy and ferocity was quickly replaced…

What can you say about Roy Keane? What a captain and what a player for Manchester United. Not only did he have great technical ability, he also had an unbelievable will to win. His mental attitude to the game was incredible – he was completely fixated on winning matches, and that got through to everyone else and had a positive effect on the team.

I still remember when we signed him, in the summer of 1993. It was a record fee at the time and I know a lot of United supporters were excited by his arrival, but you couldn’t have imagined the impact he was going to have. Not long after he joined I was in Dublin at a Football Hall of Fame event with Sir Alex, and he introduced me to Roy’s family who were in our hotel. They were all huge United fans, particularly his father Maurice, and I got to know them very well after that.

Roy became a fans’ favourite almost immediately, after scoring twice on his home debut against Sheffield United, and even early on in his United career he looked like real captain material. He eventually took the armband after Eric Cantona’s retirement in 1997, and went on to become one of the club’s greatest ever leaders. He sweated blood for the club, never more so than in the Champions League semi-final second leg, away at Juventus, in April 1999.

Roy played so many magnificent games for the club, but that night will always stand out as his best – it’s an iconic moment in United’s history. Juve went 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes, but Roy dragged us back into it. Not only did he score our first goal with a fine header, he went on a one-man mission to get us to the final even though he knew he’d be suspended. It was an unbelievable performance.

As well as being an inspirational leader, Roy was also a brave and courageous captain who would stick up for his team-mates no matter what. His midfield battles with Patrick Vieira were fantastic to watch, and I’ll never forget his confrontation with the Arsenal skipper in the tunnel before a game at Highbury when Roy stuck up for Gary Neville. I think he frightened the life out of Vieira!

I would put Roy alongside Cantona and Bryan Robson as the most influential players during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign: he will definitely go down in the club’s history as one of its greatest ever servants.

Reds striker Danny Welbeck is making the step up to England's Under-21s squad for the forthcoming friendly with Ecuador in Malaga next Tuesday.

The 18-year-old has burst onto the first-team scene at Old Trafford this season after previously impressing in United's Reserves and Academy sides.

Since making his senior Reds bow against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup back in September, the Longsight-born forward has gone on to make five starts and two substitute appearances.

He's scored twice in that time - a spectacular strike against Stoke City on his Premier League debut in November, and another well-taken goal against Southampton in the FA Cup.

He's previously done well for England at schoolboy, U16 and U19 levels, and now England U21s boss Stuart Pearce wants to take a closer look at what Welbeck can do.

"We're having a look at Danny, who has done well in the U19s and broken into the team at Old Trafford, which is no mean feat."

In the 22-man squad, Pearce's entire forward line is of Old Trafford origin. Welbeck is joined by Fraizer Campbell, who's on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, now with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Another Red, Tom Heaton, on loan at Cardiff City, is likely to be first-choice goalkeeper.

The squad are now in preparation for this summer's UEFA European U21 Championships in Sweden, and Danny will hope to play a prominent part when England take on Finland, Spain and Germany in the group stage of the competition.

WAYNE ROONEY is closing in on a return to action after coming through a full training session yesterday.
The Manchester United and England hitman has not played since damaging a hamstring after hitting the early winner against Wigan on January 14.

United boss Alex Ferguson was reluctant to rush Rooney back, to ensure he is fully fit for the run-in.

But the striker has made such progress he went through the same routine as the rest of the first-team stars yesterday.

If there is no reaction, he could even find himself in the squad to face West Ham away on Sunday.

Yet with an England friendly in Spain next Wednesday, the likelier date for his comeback is the FA Cup clash at Derby or Nottingham Forest on February 15.

CRISTIANO RONALDO cannot play at his best unless he is being booed.

The Manchester United star has got so used to abuse from opposition fans that without it he gets paranoid.

Ronaldo, 24 tomorrow, said: It’s normal for me now. If it doesn’t happen, I’m thinking, ‘Why aren’t they booing?’

It’s part of football. Maybe they think if they boo I’ll lose my concentration — but it doesn’t happen because I like it.

Ronaldo first became football’s public enemy for his diving, which he has since eradicated from his game.

Then it was for his part in United team-mate Wayne Rooney’s World Cup sending-off for England in 2006.

Now it is because he is so good he can destroy teams on his own. And he aims to continue doing that.

His boss Alex Ferguson last week questioned whether the World and European Footballer of the Year could match his achievements of last season when he hit 42 goals as United won the Premier and Champions League titles.

Impossible

But Ronaldo, with 14 goals this season, is not giving up on the idea until it is mathematically impossible.


He said: I’ve improved every year and the last season was the best.

But I want more — this season I want to score the same amount of goals, or more. I know it’ll be hard but I think it’s possible.

The Portugal ace has sought advice from experienced players about how he can stay on top.

He said: I’ve spoken to players who have a great history in the game. They’ve told me it’s not what you do in one season, it’s staying at the top level that is the challenge.

If I don’t perform, people will start to criticize me and I don’t want that. I’m ambitious and plan to win many more things.

When I arrived at 18, I was a good player, but not in decision making, like whether I have to pass the ball or dribble.

Winning trophies and being at this club gives you maturity and I’ve learned a lot. When you’re playing around great players you learn.

Ronaldo wants to repeat last season’s Champions League triumph as United aim to become the first club to retain the trophy in its modern format.

Their next step in that mission comes with the two-legged last 16 tie against Inter Milan.

Ronaldo said: The next games against Inter will be massive.

I had always dreamed of winning that trophy. When I touched it, I felt like a baby touching a doll, or something like that. What a feeling.

What you really want is to win again, to feel this emotion, and I believe it can happen.

We have a great team, great players and the base is the same.

Of course, it could have been different had John Terry scored Chelsea’s final penalty after Ronaldo’s miss, the pain of which he can still recall.

In an interview with the club’s Inside United magazine, Ronaldo said: A shootout is a lottery. When you miss you think everyone will kill you. It’s a horrible feeling.

Petr Cech made a good save. It was disappointing as I know I can do better.

When I missed, I thought our chance had gone but the lads all said, ‘No Cristiano, we’re still going to win’.

We deserved the moment because we worked hard together.

I remember crying, thinking about what we had achieved, all the things we had done that season to get there and win that trophy, thinking about my family and team-mates.

Stuart Mathieson
February 04, 2009

NEMANJA Vidic can join an exclusive band of United defenders by picking up one of football's top personal awards this season.

Gary Pallister believes the big Serbian could become only the third member of a Reds rearguard in 50 years to lift an individual prize.

Vidic would join Pally himself and the late Johnny Carey on the honours board.

Pallister won the PFA Player of the Year award in the 1991-92 season.

Six other Old Trafford names are on that roll call, but it has been the A-listers and high- profile scorers who have dominated.

Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo have all claimed the trophy as United players.

The prestigious Football Writers' Footballer of the Year statuette, which has been presented for 51 years, has only ever been won by one United defender and that was Matt Busby's converted full-back Carey in 1949.

Since the 1948 FA Cup- winning captain Old Trafford's winners have all been the headline-hitters like Bobby Charlton, George Best and, like the PFA list, Cantona, Keane, Sheringham and Ronaldo.

But Pallister insists Vidic can buck the trend and join him and Carey in their elite club.

"Nemanja is in the form of his life and he should be a front runner for one of the player of the year awards," Pallister told M.E.N. Sport.

"There is a very good argument that, not only should he be among the candidates, but that he should actually win it.

"It isn't often defenders get the headlines and the glory and that seems to be an integral part of winning these individual prizes.

"But he certainly has a solid case and the one thing in his favour is that he's been doing the business in some of the highest-profile games.

"I think that is what swung it for me in 1992. Just before the voting for the PFA award United played Leeds in the league, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Interest

"We were both battling it out on all fronts and we met each other three times in just over a fortnight.

"There was a lot of interest in those matches and I played well in them all. I think that stuck in players' minds when it came round to the vote.

"Vidic has scored a late match-winner against Sunderland, scored in the big match against Chelsea and also at West Bromwich Albion, as well as being the only ever-present outfield defender in United's record run of clean sheets.

"So he is there performing consistently well while breaking that remarkable record and scoring vital goals as well. He is bound to be in the limelight and in people's minds. He deserves to be."

Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, John O'Shea, Rafael Da Silva and Gary Neville have all contributed to the Premier League and English League shut-out records.

But, while they've been dropping like nine pins around him, Vidic has been there every second of the 12 matches.

And Vidic's leadership and grim resolve during the spell has reminded Pallister of his old United defensive buddy Steve Bruce.

"You need fierce determination and aggression in a side and Nemanja provides it," said Pallister.

"Steve had that determination etched in his face whenever he played and you see it in Vidic now. While Rio Ferdinand cruises through matches and looks unflustered and calm, Nemanja stalks around looking as though he wants to rip somebody's head off! Brucie was exactly like that.

"We used to talk a lot in the 90s team about the fact we wouldn't be bullied in matches. It was always a case of winning the battle first and foremost. It was important to stand up and fight your corner.

"Vidic and Edwin Van der Sar have been the mainstays. Certainly, as far as the outfield defenders go, you wonder if this record would have been possible if Vidic had also been struck down by the injury curse.

Stuart Mathieson
February 04, 2009

GOLD Trafford continues to rake it in with United set to announce record-breaking profits for 2008.

The Reds' Premier League and Champions League success coupled with a massive increase in TV revenue, is expected to see the club shatter the 2007 pre-tax profit figure of £59.6m

The swelling of United's coffers is all pre-credit crunch and they are, of course, no longer the richest club in the world but they were the No 1 money-making machine in football last term.

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Sir Alex Ferguson's side's European triumph in Moscow over Chelsea brought in over £38m made up from five group match wins and a draw, plus appearance money in the last 16, semi-final and prize money for winning the trophy.

Television money was also included in that Euro bounty.

The jackpot for winning the Premier League was £14.5m but that was dwarfed by the income from TV and media rights, which doubled thanks to overseas rights.

Windfall

That cash windfall kicked in alongside the £1.7bn domestic deal with Sky and Setanta.

United's share of that pot amounted to around £35m.

The club's commercial revenue was £56m in 2007 and that is set to remain a similar figure.

The Reds increased season ticket prices this season by about six per cent which means that last financial year's match-day income of nearly £93m will be close to £100m for the year ending June `08.

It all adds up to a club turnover over of approximately £240m.

In 2007 the turnover was £210m which yielded a pre-tax profit of £59.6m. The Reds could be looking at profits this time of around £75m.

Edwin van der Sar’s form and recent clean-sheet record is tribute to his outstanding talent and what, Sir Alex Ferguson says, marks him out as a ‘special goalkeeper’.

The 38-year-old has not conceded in the league for 1,122 minutes, stretching back 12 games to Sami Nasri’s strike in Arsenal’s 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on 8 November, 2008.

“[The record] has left Edwin revelling in a personal achievement that seems to be giving him as much pleasure as all the many honours he has won with Ajax and Juventus, as well as winning 123 caps with Holland,” said the boss in his Everton match programme notes.

Sir Alex feels United’s Dutch goalkeeper really is a rare breed. “It’s his great experience, allied to youthful enthusiasm, that marks him out as a very special goalkeeper."

But United's recent run without conceding in the league isn't all down to Edwin's undoubted talents. “The defensive record is remarkable because this is the part of the team that has been most affected in recent weeks by injury," adds Sir Alex. "Everyone has rallied round.”

Twenty-four today, Cristiano Ronaldo has his work cut out if he's to equal or top everything he achieved at 23. But as he told MUTV's Stewart Gardner recently, for all his glories so far, his ambition still burns brightly...

You won everything in 2008… how do you follow that in 2009?
I’ve spoken to some experienced players who have a great history in the game and they’ve said, it’s not what you do in one season, it’s staying at the top level, that is the challenge. I have to carry on like that. If I don’t perform, I know people will start to criticise me and I don’t want that. I’m an ambitious player and I want to win many, many more things.

How did you go from scoring a few goals in your first few seasons, to 42?
When I arrived at 18 I was a good player, but not in decision-making, like whether I have to pass the ball or dribble. Winning trophies and being at this club, it gives you maturity, and I have learnt a lot. When you’re playing around great players you learn many things. So I’ve improved every season, and the last season was the best of them all. But I want more – this season I want to score the same amount of goals, or more if it’s possible. I know it will be hard, but I have it in my head that it’s possible.

What’s your favourite goal from last season?
It’s hard, but I have a few! The header in Rome, the free-kick against Portsmouth, and the flick against Aston Villa. I’ll choose those!

What's the secret of your free-kicks?
Many people have asked me, but there is no secret! That’s just my style of shooting, and everyone has their own style. I like to hit it strong, the ball starts to move in the air, and that’s it! To be honest, there’s no strategy, no secret. Practice helps as well, of course. If you want to be good at your job you have to work hard and practise a lot.

Then there was your first hat-trick for United, against Newcastle…
That was very special. I had scored two many times, but never got the third, and my mum had started to say, “Cristiano, why do you never score three goals?!” I had to explain, “Mum, sometimes it’s not possible,” but she just said, “Ah, but you have to score three one time!” So when I did I was immediately thinking about my mum. To get that first hat-trick was a special day, and to score it at Old Trafford was a great moment.

Were you nervous before taking a penalty in the final league game?
Well, there was a little bit of pressure because if we didn’t win, maybe Chelsea could take the title. I just said to myself, “Cristiano, you have to score this goal, because if you do, maybe we win the league.” And so I scored, we go 1-0 up, and then Giggsy comes on and scores the second goal, and the fans start to believe we can win the title.

How do you cope with the pressures of being a big star?
When people say that they like you because of how you play, or how you look – although I don’t believe too much of that – it’s always good. Like in the stadiums in Japan, when you touch the ball and people start screaming, I love all that and I appreciate it. I have an opportunity to say thank you to everyone who supports me, because it gives me motivation to win more now, and in the future.

Can you do normal things out and about in Manchester?
It can be difficult, but I feel at home in Manchester, I’ve been here since I was 18. I like living here and my family like to visit. The only bad thing is there are no direct planes from Madeira! But my mum and sister like to visit, it’s a nice place, nice people, they’re always good with me, no one gives me any problems. My life is brilliant!

Are you bothered by the booing at away grounds?
It’s normal for me now. If it doesn’t happen I’m thinking, “Why aren’t they booing me?!” Maybe they think if they boo, I’ll lose my concentration, but it doesn’t happen: I like it!

Some say you don’t get enough protection – has that changed?
The referees have a very hard job and I respect them, but sometimes I don’t agree with what happens. If you want to have a good league and quick football, you have to protect the skilful players, because they are the ones that put on a show and that’s what the fans want. But there are some very good referees in the Premier League.

How important is it to entertain?
I like it when people come to the games and see nice moments, nice tricks, but you have to do it for the team. You can’t do well in every game and people must understand that.

Who are your best friends at the club?
I speak more with the Portuguese-speaking players like Nani, Anderson, Rafael, Manucho, but I could say everyone. Carlos, Pat, Rio, Vida, Edwin... the team spirit at United is great and sometimes it's the most important thing. There is a togetherness, you can have a joke with everyone. I think that’s why the team works well, why we win things.

Twenty-five today, Carlos Tevez is arguably still approaching his peak. Ex-Reds defender David May has been impressed by what he's seen so far...

Carlos Tevez has been absolutely outstanding for United... and he would be an absolute nightmare to play against!

Defenders like to have a couple of touches on the ball, get their head up and have a look at what’s going on around them. With Tevez on the pitch, by the time you’ve done that the ball’s been nicked off you.

What I really like about him is that if he loses the ball he doesn’t just lie on the ground or throw his arms in the air. He gets straight up and goes right back at you. There’s not a moment’s peace.

Once you get to a certain area of the pitch defenders don’t like going those extra few yards because it starts leaving gaps behind you. If you’re playing as a back four then you want to stay in that formation as much as possible throughout the game.

Carlos likes to drop deep and that creates indecision in the defences. Do you go with him and risk being dragged out of position? Do you stay where you are and let him turn and run at you? It’s not a nice dilemma to have.

Speaking of dilemmas, Wayne Rooney could be fit for Sunday's game at West Ham. But I don't see why you can't play Rooney and Tevez in the same side, with Berbatov and Ronaldo too. It almost seems unfair on the opposition...

The views expressed in this blog are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

Everyone’s favourite Frenchman waltzed in from Leeds and transformed the club. Here to remind us of his impact, is songster Pete Boyle…

I had idols before Eric, but none were as cool. He was a real superstar – but you’d often see him out and about in Manchester. I remember seeing him in the pub when he’d injured his wrist and was ruled out of a game against QPR. He was playing table football with his mates, but he was always approachable.

We discussed art and music, and unlike many other players of that generation he seemed to embrace the music scene of Manchester, which really struck a chord with me – especially when you used to read that the likes of Lee Sharpe listened to TLC! And I’ve met a lot of players, but few made me buzz like Eric. It’s probably only Sir Alex that has that aura. I’d be feeling like broken biscuits around him, and it’s not often I’m speechless! The first ‘special moment’ on the pitch came before he’d even signed for United. He scored a belter for Leeds at Old Trafford and you knew then he had something about him that set him apart. When he signed I was buzzing.

He was popular with fans pretty quickly, but I remember thinking the moment that really started our relationship with Eric came against Sheffield Wednesday in December 1994. We’d been three down and he poked home the equaliser late on to make it 3-3. It wasn’t a great goal, but it meant a great deal to our title hopes and it was a great Cantona moment, the first of many. Remember him hitting the bar at Stamford Bridge from the halfway line in September 1994? After that game I penned the last few choruses to Eric the King. A select few were trying it out in a pub in Whitechapel after the match, but it was really born on the terraces in Honved in the game that followed.

So many of his goals stand out. The volley at Wimbledon, the chips against Sunderland and Sheffield United… But the one that really sticks in my mind is the goal against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final. He could have scored a toe-poke and it would be up there. It wasn’t about the goal (although he did shuffle his body well), it was about winning a Double Double against a side who could've won more Doubles themselves, but didn’t. It meant so much beating Liverpool in that game.

Eric came in for criticism in his last season. Some fans suggested he wasn’t up to his usual standards. But I think he’d had such a good campaign in 1995/96 that it would have been impossible to play that well again, something Ronaldo may find this year. I admire Eric for walking away when he did. People talk about him coming back, but if he doesn’t we’ll always have our memories.

Top Five United Icons

When the staff of Inside United magazine decided to select the five greatest icons in the magazine's era (1992 - 2009), it wasn't easy and some legendary names didn't make the cut.

So far the order is
5. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
4. Ryan Giggs
3. Roy Keane
2. Eric Cantona

Log on to ManUtd.com on Friday to find out who is our no.1 United icon.