Owen eyes 'must win' tie

January 25, 2008

Owen Hargreaves

MIDFIELDER Owen Hargreaves is intent on helping Manchester United go one step better this season and win the FA Cup.

The England international was wearing Bayern Munich's colours last May when Sir Alex Ferguson's side lost to Chelsea.

Hargreaves made the move to the Barclays Premier League champions in the summer for £17million and got a taste of the FA Cup for the first time two weeks ago.

He helped United defeat Aston Villa and now Carling Cup finalists Tottenham arrive at Old Trafford in the fourth round on Sunday.

Hargreaves told MUTV: "To play at Wembley against one of the top teams would be brilliant.

"But we will take step by step, focus on Tottenham and take it from there.

"They have some fabulous players and I think it is just a case of them trying to find the right balance.

"I look forward to every game and the atmosphere against Tottenham will be exceptional.

Unkind

"As it is a home game for us, it becomes a must-win situation."

Assistant manager Carlos Queiroz believes the draw has been unkind to United.

"Playing Aston Villa then Tottenham, we deserve to be in the final," he said.

"It is not common to play so many good teams so early in the competition. We deserve an easier task.

"However, to be at home is a great advantage, if only because we do not have to travel."

While the squad were away in Saudi Arabia this week, Paul Scholes was stepping up his recovery from a knee operation.

The former England midfielder has an outside chance of making his comeback in the Cup match.

Hargreaves said: "He is looking good in training. Everyone knows the quality Scholesy brings to the team.

"If we can get him back, it would be a massive boost for us."

Louis Saha remains doubtful with a knee problem while Gary Neville is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from a long-standing ankle injury.

Where does the FA Cup stand in United's priorities this season? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (15) |

Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All

Powerhouse, Norway (25/01/2008 at 09:30)

Hargreaves should concentrate his energy on staying fit, instead of doing all this talking to the press.

He will be very, very vital for the remaining games of the season.

I cross my fingers and hope he`s stays fully fit cause he`s one hell of a player.

I really like his "huffin and puffin-style of play" in midfield..

Best we`ve had since Keane and Ince.

OohAah (25/01/2008 at 10:46)

I'm not convinced Hargreaves really bears comparison with Incey and Keano, both of whom were proper box to box CMs with decent scoring records. I think he's pretty limited in comparison to either of those guys in their pomp.

That said, we've nowhere near seen the best of Owen yet and I'm looking forward to him anchoring the team in some of the big games to come, preferably giving the Ginger Prince more confidence to get up toward the opponent's box a little more than he has in recent seasons. I feel that since Keane's departure he's had to take on a little more defensive responsibility than he's comfortable with. Understandable if you tackle like he does!

I hope - don't jump on me, BD cause I agree with your frustration at us buying a guy with his injury record - but I hope to see him have a good run in the first team to see what he can bring to the table. He's looked our best player in a couple of games in my opinion already this season, so I'm confident come the end of the season we'll be a little happier about that pricetag.

bobbydazzler (25/01/2008 at 11:39)

ooh aa let me state quite clearly i like hargreaves and for that matter carrick. but whatever their merits we have paid 2 or 3 times their true worth. 2 summers ago T&C told us we were buying 2 world class midfielders and we got these 2. the truth of the matter these 2 guys are not even the best two at old trafford or england. hargreaves is a decent player and needs to get himself fit. i maintain we bought a player with a very iffy injury record .

TMUF, Manchester (25/01/2008 at 11:41)

OoHah I think its also got to do with his age that Scholes no longer darts in to the box like before.

I think the only way we could get that from Scholes again would be playing 4-3-3 in a role Lampard has at Chelsea.

tooth&claw, manchester (25/01/2008 at 12:16)

bobbydazzler. There you go. Tooth&Claw = promises delivered. You can't really use 'the truth of the matter ' and then just rehash your opinions. Some of us are disinclined to agree with some of your opinions.

Powerhouse, Norway (25/01/2008 at 12:41)

OohAah- Don`t get me wrong. I said Hargreaves is the best we`ve had since Keane and Ince….NOT as good as Keane.

But Hargreaves is way better than Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, O`Shea, P. Neville, Fletcher.

bobbydazzler (25/01/2008 at 12:50)

T&c did you or did you not spend the whole of the summer of 2006 assuring us that 2 world class stars where on the way to old trafford? we ended up signing carrick and then had to wait a further year for hargreaves. you cetrainly gave the impression at the time that you had some insight as to what was going on at united.

in your opinion do you consider both carrick and hargreaves to be world class stars?

SukhothaiRed, Sukhothai Thailand (25/01/2008 at 13:22)

BobbyD - does it really matter that we've paid over the odds for players? Denis Law for example. SAF has gone on record saying he's never been denied the funds he needs for players, and let's face it, as soon as United, Chavski, Barce, Real, Milan et al get involved in the transfer market, the price is going to rocket. Market economics at it's worst, I'm afraid.

Moog (25/01/2008 at 13:47)

Carlos reckons we deserve an easier draw. I for one am glad we got Premier opposition as every time we get an "easier draw" we go to sleep and get complacent, make heavy wether of it and have to replay.

OohAah (25/01/2008 at 15:15)

Sorry for the jetlagged responses - rather busy with work at the mo, which btw is the only place I post from, you guys help me through the mundanity of office life!

Powerhouse, I agree that when it comes to not letting them breathe, I'm glad we've got someone like Hargreaves again. But obviously Keano and Ince were far more rounded players.

BD - I was merely preempting what I saw coming because I also think we should NEVER have entertained the notion of paying so much for a player with OH's injury record, it was ludicrous. I know you rate him and that your issues are with injury/cost - it's just no secret the bugbears that you have when it comes to this issue!

KingPig, Hyde (25/01/2008 at 15:15)

Sukhotthai red... agree 100%. I've always liked how Fergie tends to choose targets for their specific abilities, abilities that compliment the existing team, rather than just buying "great players" and bending the team to fit around them. It makes it a bit pricer, but it obviously works.

Besides, we only spend £15 m a year (net and on average), which I consider to be our "winnings," so it is a difficult system to criticise.

OohAah (25/01/2008 at 15:19)

oh, and TMUF - obviously age is a factor, but I think he's been babysitting a little without someone as reliable as Keane to play with. Last year he and Carrick dovetailed very nicely and acted as two CMs rather than the AM/DM model that Scholes is best in.

I'm sure I'll come under fire for that too, but meh - that's what we're here for I guess.

tooth&claw, manchester (25/01/2008 at 15:45)

Bobbydazzler. Yes, I do. It is dependent upon OH being fit, of course, but we pay a huge amount to a private hospital to do medical checks on signings, so, for the moment, I trust that they are right.

bobbydazzler (25/01/2008 at 17:06)

sukothai remind me which one of those major clubs we were competing with for the services of oh?. i think you already know that none of them. and denis law even though it was arecord in its time was cheap at even 1/2 the price.

TMUF, Manchester (25/01/2008 at 20:56)

BD how many world class teams were after Rooney...erm Newcastle.

What a ridiculous statement to try to support your argument! How about Robben or Henry!

Its completely irrelevant. We needed a player like OH and his commitment to join us was great.

Ooaah I agree they were playing more a CMs with Carrick the slightly more defensive.

I agree it probably played apart too,but I think I remeber Scholes saying he hasnt got the legs to be as attacking anymore.

()

Report

Manchester United