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LATEST UNITED GAME
MANUTDVAS ROMAClub seeks Rome fan reportsUnited are asking supporters to submit evidence following the events at Roma's Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening.

An official statement issued from Old Trafford on Thursday read as follows:

"The distressing scenes witnessed in the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night shocked everyone at Old Trafford. In what the Club views as a severe over-reaction, local police handed out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters.

"In these circumstances, neither Manchester United nor AS Roma is able to call the police to account. As a result, the Club warmly welcomes the Government examination of the incident and will collect witness statements from fans to submit to the Home Office.

"Supporters who attended the game and wish to provide evidence should either write to Roma Inquiry, Manchester United FC, Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA or e-mail: roma@manutd.co.uk."

ManUtd.com will continue to monitor this story closely.
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Roma tie the perfect tonic



John O'Shea feels Tuesday's Champions League crunch clash with Roma is the ideal way for United to bounce back from losing at Portsmouth.

The Reds were decidedly off-colour in Saturday's slip-up at Fratton Park, and the Irish utility man wants the buzz of European competition to get Sir Alex Ferguson's side back on track.

"What a game to look forward to now on Tuesday, the Roma game," he told MUTV." Everyone’s going to be buzzing for it. With the crowd and everything, it’ll be a really special night and we want to give a special performance."

The Italians' visit will be followed by Saturday's FA Cup semi final against Watford at Villa Park, and O'Shea insists such huge games are no more than United have earned this term.

"That’s what the club is all about and why the season has been so successful so far, because we’ve been playing so well," he said.

"It’s a European Cup quarter final, second leg and an FA Cup semi final to look forward to, and we deserve to be in these big games."

Giggs chases Wembley dream


Ryan Giggs says the chance to play in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley is the added incentive driving United towards victory over Watford on Saturday.

The two sides come face-to-face at Villa Park on Saturday tea-time in the first of this weekend's last four meetings - the second takes place on Sunday at Old Trafford where Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers will battle it out.

Giggs is a four-time winner of the trophy and he is desperate for a shot at medal number five, particularly given the final's new location.

"To be able to play in the first final at the new Wembley is an added incentive for everyone," he told ManUtd.com. "It looks unbelievable and a few of the England lads who have already played and trained there say it's magnificent.

"We've got to approach the game in the right way. It's the FA Cup and anything can happen. We're not going to take things for granted because we want to be in that final.

"We know that if we produce the kind of football we played against Roma then we'll have a great chance. The FA Cup is a great trophy to be involved in and it's one we want to win."

As an FA Cup semi-final venue, Villa Park has been like a second home to United in years gone by. The Reds' most famous victory came courtesy of 'that' goal from Giggs in the dramatic win over Arsenal in 1999 on the way to scooping the Treble.

"It was a great night for me and a great night for the club in a great season," says the 33-year-old Welshman. "Villa Park is a ground that holds good memories for us and we hope that carries on.

"I couldn't tell you why it's been such a good ground for. Sometimes you get situations where players enjoy playing against certain sides or teams have a good record at particular away grounds more than others and that's the case with us at Villa Park."
on three fronts, talk has inevitably turned to the possibility of another Treble. Giggs was part of the side that sealed a triple triumph in '99, but he is experienced enough to know that being able to emulate such a feat involves a lot more than just good form.

"It's one of those situations that if you're going to do it you need everything to go for you," he reasons. "That happened in 1999 and hopefully it'll happen again this year.

"Every game from now on will be like a cup final which won't be easy. But if we can keep our form going then we've got a great chance."