Premier League preview: Stoke City v Manchester United
So he’s staying now then, in case you hadn’t heard.
Less than 48 hours after failing to be given “any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad,” Wayne Rooney was “delighted to sign another deal at Manchester United,” and presumably especially delighted with the extra thousands a week it will bring. Well done for Sir Alex Ferguson for getting Rooney to stay, but he’s not even one of the best attackers in the United squad at the moment.
He’s out injured for three weeks now anyway, so enough about him.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Nani of the impressive strike that sealed three Champions League points against Bursaspor in midweek, his fourth goal of the campaign – which is three more than the Old Trafford One.
“I’ve scored a few goals this season and I want to score more. I am working hard every day to be strong and more consistent. But mostly I hope my performances are important to the team. The most important thing is that the team wins.”
Good advice for a certain Mr Rooney, but while United’s Portuguese winger has carried much of their attacking threat this season – along with the rejuvenated Dimitar Berbatov – he doesn’t have a set number of goals in mind, other than more and more.
“I wanted to score more goals this season,” he continued. “I don’t want to set myself any targets. I don’t want to say anything about that – I just want to work hard and see how well I do by the end of the season.”
Such words can also apply to United, who remain unbeaten in 12 matches in league and cup this season, but who are about to face one of their toughest tests of the campaign.
“People are saying that this is a good time to play Manchester United, but there is no such thing,” said Stoke defender Danny Collins. “I think they are forgetting that United haven't lost this season. They are the only team in the Premier League with that record.
“We know how difficult the task is on Sunday, but we can go out there and get the result we want. We have players who can cause them problems.
“It needs at least eight or nine of our players performing to their absolute maximum, and you have to hope that you get a little bit of luck as well which was obviously something we didn't get much of when we lost at Bolton Wanderers last weekend."
“They had a disappointing result against West Brom last Saturday, and maybe they haven't won as many games as they would have hoped for, but they are still Manchester United, and they still have a side full of world class players.”
That may be the case, but there should be real optimism in the Potteries that Stoke can score their first Premier League goal – and subsequently earn their first Premier League point – against United.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have drawn all four of their league away fixtures this season, and were fortunate to leave Sunderland with a point on their last foray away from Manchester.
The low-key victory over Bursaspor on Wednesday followed on from last weekend’s somewhat calamitous home draw with West Brom, and while Rooney’s suggestions that the squad lacked depth have now been forgotten about in the spirit of kissing and making up, it is hard to disagree that this Ferguson vintage isn’t as formidable as in previous years.
Going to Stoke is tough, and United are about to find that out. The hosts might not have enough to end Ferguson’s tumultuous week by inflicting a defeat upon him, but they look good value for a point.
In truth, the Scot will probably take that. He’s already achieved his biggest victory of the week anyway.
Prediction: Stoke 1 Man Utd 1
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