Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased with his players after their first run-out in the 2-2 draw with Urawa Red Diamonds at the Saitama Stadium in Tokyo.

United came from a goal down to lead 2-1 with second-half strikes from Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Urawa Reds staged a comeback to level at 2-2. But, Reds boss Sir Alex considered a good first run-out.

"We tired a little in the second half," he told MUTV. "That's understandable after a long journey. It's 14 or 15 hours' travel so that's difficult. The players applied themselves well and played some good football at times. We managed to get quite a few of them a good run out, so we're happy with that.

"We came back well," he added. "We started the second half with a bit of speed and we did all right. Towards the end of the game the legs went a bit. But some of the players played very well.

"[Rooney and Ronaldo] were both excellent. You can see the development in their game and the decision-making is getting better. We're very happy with them."

Sir Alex was also praised young defenders Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson, who came on at half time for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

"Jonny and Danny did okay," he said. "I think Jonny could have maybe done better on the second goal but it was a good start for him. We know his potential, he's a fantastic young player and young Simpson did really well – his energy up and down the line was good."

source：manutd.com

Despite scoring twice in a frantic five-minute period at the start of the second half, United ended the first Asia Tour match on level terms with Urawa Red Diamonds in Tokyo's Saitama Stadium.

Inspired by goals from Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Reds overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit to take the lead on 52 minutes. But drizzly conditions and a late equaliser from home crowd favourite Shinji Ono put a dampener on proceedings.

Despite the rain, both sides were determined to keep the ball on the ground and Paul Scholes was particularly effective early on, orchestrating United's attacks from the centre of midfield. Cristiano Ronaldo didn't disappoint his admirers either, pulling out his party tricks as early as the second minute.

The Portuguese winger, who drew cheers with every touch, forced Urawa Reds goalkeeper Tsukuki into his first save on 25 minutes when he shot fiercely towards the near post.

But a minute later, the Premier League champions were behind. Urawa's Hideki Uchidate found space in the United half and let fly from 30 yards with a shot that swerved wickedly past Edwin van der Sar. In fact, the deviation was so severe, van der Sar was left diving in the wrong direction.

Urawa threatened again four minutes later but then seemed content to settle on the ball. So it was left to Wayne Rooney to inject a little sparkle into the match. With 43 minutes on the clock, Rooney provided an inch-perfect cross for Paul Scholes, but the midfielder could only steer his header into the arms of a grateful Tsukuki.

A minute later, the England striker had everyone at the Saitama Stadium on their feet after coming within a whisker of a spectacular equaliser. Rooney picked up the ball inside the United half before turning on the speed to brush aside what seemed like most of the Urawa defence. But, when left with only Tsukuki to beat, the Reds' no.8 scuffed his shot and the goalkeeper stretched out a right boot to divert it around the post.

Sir Alex made three changes at the interval, bringing on defenders Danny Simpson, Johnny Evans and Mikael Silvestre for Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra. Perhaps it should have been the home side shoring up the defence. It wasn't, and within seven minutes of the restart, United were 2-1 up.

Darren Fletcher scored the equaliser from 12 yards after substitute goalkeeper Yamagishi failed to hold a Michael Carrick shot moments earlier. Then, in the 52nd minute, the crowd got what they came for when Cristiano Ronaldo cut inside from the left wing to unleash a rasping drive past Yamagishi at the near post. It was typical of so many of Ronaldo's goals last season and a reminder of how dangerous the Portuguese winger can be when given space.

United looked comfortable thereafter but failed to capitalise on a number of half chances. Shinji Ono, however, was lethal when presented an opportunity in the 78th minute. The midfielder showed enormous composure to turn Johnny Evans and roll the ball coolly past Edwin van der Sar and into the far corner.

It was the last significant piece of action in an entertaining and free-flowing affair. The Reds now travel to South Korea for Friday's match against FC Seoul (kick-off 12:00 BST).

Team Line-ups:

United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (Evans, 45), Vidic (Simpson, 45), Evra (Silvestre, 45), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick (O'Shea, 69), Giggs (Smith, 69), Scholes, Rooney
Subs: Kuszczak, Heaton, Bardsley

Urawa Red Diamonds: Tsukuki (Yamagishi, 45), Hosogai, Horinouchi, Nene, Yamada, Uchidate (Hiriwaka, 45), Hasebe, Soma (Okano, 91), Ono, Ponte (Koike, 83), Tanaka (Nagai, 75)
Subs: Tsutsumi, Sakai, Nishizawa

source：manutd.com

  

Northern Ireland and Man Utd defender Jonny Evans has said he is "very proud" of his younger brother Corry, who is to join him as a professional footballer at United at the end of next month.

Corry, a member of the United academy side, has been told he will be given a professional contract when he turns 17 on 30 July.

His 19-year-old brother Jonny is back at the club after a successful loan spell with Roy Keane's Sunderland.

The Glengormley man said it would be fantastic if the brothers could play in the same United first team in the future.

"It would be nice for the family if that ever happened," Jonny said.

"But you don't know how things will work out obviously, football's really hard, even making it at United.

"But it's nice even when we get to train together - I've been training with his team this week, sometimes we're in opposite teams and we always try and get one over on each other."

The highly-rated brothers have been compared in some quarters to Gary and Phil Neville, the last pair of siblings to appear in the Utd first team together.

However, Jonny warned those comparisons were premature.

"I don't think we're at that level yet, Phil and Gary Neville have gone on to make great careers for themselves.

"It would be nice to compare to them but we've got a lot of work to do," he said.

The Evans family has moved to the Manchester area from Glengormley, with the two brothers living with their parents and sister.

Jonny said while he tries to impart the occasional piece of advice to his brother, he's conscious thast Corry, a midfielder, has his own decisions to make.

"I wouldn't want him to try and follow my footsteps, he's his own man he's a totally different player from me - a different position - I'd just tell him to go and give his all," he said.

"If I tried to give him too much advice he might think 'what's he telling me for, I'm only his brother'."

Jonny, who has been playing left back for Northern Ireland but is a central defender for his club, said a successful season for him would be being a part of a Man Utd team which wins more trophies.

"My aim obviously is to try and play as many games as I can. I don't know how many games (manager Alex Ferguson) has in mind for me," he said.

"You just never know, through injuries and stuff, I might get a chance and it's up to me to take it."

And what of the prospect of the two Evans boys playing together in the green shirt of Northern Ireland in the future?

"That would be really nice. I definitely think Corry's got the ability to play for Northern Ireland," Jonny said.

"I think that would be one of the best achievements, both playing for your country - it would be a really nice feeling."

source：BBC Sport

Jonny Evans is aiming to break up Manchester United's Premiership-winning central defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

After splitting last season between United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp and Championship side Sunderland, Evans will be brought into the Old Trafford first-team squad by Sir Alex Ferguson when pre-season training starts next month.

The teenage Northern Ireland international was involved in United's pre-season programme last season as Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Gabriel Heinze were given extended leave after the World Cup.

Ferguson wanted the Newtownabbey man to gain more experience, but he has now told Evans that he wants him to make a challenge at Old Trafford.

"The manager has made it clear that I won't be going out on loan again," said Evans.

"I'll be back at United and we'll see what happens.

"I'll be involved in pre-season and he has more or less said that I will get games."

Although only 19-years-old, Evans has impressed in his five international appearances so far and he played a big part for Sunderland as they secured promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking.

Manager Roy Keane hasn't given up hope of a return to the Stadium of Light for Evans, but with Ferguson indicating that first-team opportunities will arise, the player himself is ready to fight for his chance.

"I want to play for Manchester United," said Evans.

"I am a Manchester United fan and it has been my aim since I signed for the club to get into the first team.

"The incentive is there for me now and I want to be good enough to be playing for Manchester United."

Evans has yet to make his competitive debut for United. He will be expected to make his bow in the not too distant future, with Ferguson continuing to use the Carling Cup to blood some of his talented youngsters, a practice that has been in place for many years, with the likes of Paul Scholes, David Beckham and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, all making the breakthrough to the first team that way.

source：Belfast Telegraph

Jonny Evans believes that new Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has shown the type of character that the team will need to display in the fight to qualify for the final of Euro 2008.

Sixty-six times capped Worthington was appointed as successor to Lawrie Sanchez last Friday on an initial six-month contract.

He took over a team top of their group, but with Spain and Sweden both in action tomorrow night - plus the outcome of Saturday night's abandoned game between Denmark and Sweden to come on Friday - by the time his first game comes around Northern Ireland are expected to be third in the table.

Top spot is likely to be out of reach even if three points are collected against Liechtenstein in August.

Sanchez guided the team through a five-match unbeaten record - six if you include the 0-0 friendly draw against Wales - after losing 3-0 to Iceland in the opening game and with Northern Ireland sitting on 13 points at the halfway stage qualification is still a real possibility.

That means the pressure is on Worthington from the start and Evans points to that as a measure of the quality the new manager possesses.

"There is a lot of expectation for the new manager to live up to," said Evans.

"Whoever accepted the job after Lawrie Sanchez was going to get that and other managers may have stayed away from that and waited until things were at a low point before wanting to come into the job.

"I think Nigel Worthington has shown that he doesn't have any fear of coming into this situation and want to take over at this time and try to push things on takes character.

"Hopefully he can channel that into the squad when we get together for the next game and bring us on even further."

Evans has a remarkable record as an international footballer.

He made his debut as an 18-year-old against Spain last September and didn't look out of place in a fantastic team performance as David Healy's first international hat-trick gave Northern Ireland a 3-2 win.

The Manchester United youngster has played four times since then and as yet hasn't finished on a losing side.

All those games have been played at left-back and with the new manager occupying that position for many years, Evans may benefit from Worthington's experience.

"When you get together for international games it's all about preparing and getting organised," said Evans.

"It isn't really an environment for the manager to do a lot of coaching, so I don't think the fact that Nigel Worthington was a defender will have that much of an impact on me as a player.

"It may have more of an impact on the team as a whole, but I will take on-board any advice that he has for me.

"He's an experienced manager, he took Norwich City into the Premiership so that says a lot for him and hopefully he can have some success with Northern Ireland."

source：Belfast Telegraph