Sir Alex Ferguson ‘quite happy’ for Manchester United to be second best to Barcelona

As the two sides prepare to meet in a friendly, the Scot does not mind that his side are ‘in second place’, but says the aim is for the Red Devils to match the Catalan club

Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is happy if Manchester United are second best to Barcelona at the moment, but maintains that the goal is for his side to match the Catalan club. The Spanish giants have won the Champions League twice in the last three years, and on both occasions they beat the Red Devils in the final of the tournament.

"I think their performances and their feats over the last two or three years have elevated them," Sir Alex said at a press conference. "In everyone's mind they are the best team, currently, in the world. "I'm quite happy to be in second place at this moment in time because that's our challenge. Our challenge will be to get to that level."

The two sides meet in a friendly on their pre-season tour of the USA in Washington DC on Saturday.

Friendly Match Vs FC Barcelona [Preview & Live Stream]

United face another severe examination against Pep Guardiola's princes...

Form guide

United have a 100 percent record on tour and the goals have flowed. The 4-0 battering of MLS All-Stars now means all the forwards who have played out in the US have managed to find the net at least once. Barca have already enjoyed more success in pre-season, getting past Internacional on penalties before defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Audi Cup final with new sensation Thiago Alcantara scoring both goals.

Ins and outs

Sir Alex has promised he'll give lengthy run-outs to most of his stars ahead of the Community Shield on Sunday week. Javier Hernandez is ruled out after suffering concussion but wouldn't have played in any case. The boss has a tough choice in goal between David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard. Barca's Copa America stars are missing and that includes Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves amongst others as well as new signing Alexis Sanchez. Xavi is back in training after an injury lay-off and should be involved.

Last meeting

Wembley Stadium, 28 May 2011, the Champions League final. A masterful performance from the Catalans saw them to a comfortable 3-1 win thanks to goals from Pedro, Messi and David Villa. Wayne Rooney's superb response before half-time was, ultimately, in vain.

Top man

For all of Messi's magic, it's arguable that Xavi was man of the match at Wembley. The midfielder ran the show and orchestrated a superb team performance by dictating the tempo and pulling the strings. A wonderful footballer in the Paul Scholes mould, he is the man who makes Pep Guardiola's side tick - with able support from Andres Iniesta and, of course, Messi who won't feature.

Quote/unquote

"Players from both teams do not want to get hurt just before the start of the season so I do not think a feeling of revenge is a good idea" - Wayne Rooney.

Any sub-plots?

The question as to how to match Barcelona after two chastening Champions League final defeats will have been burning in Sir Alex's mind ever since the end of May. The three new signings - De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young - are all available but most fans will be wondering if the boss has a new tactical plan in mind to take on a team that always dominates possession. It may be a friendly but it'll set some pointers at least for the new season.

Did you know?

United's famous rousing comeback in the 1984 European Cup Winners Cup quarter-final against Barcelona is the only competitive match Diego Maradona played in England - although he did figure in a friendly international against England at Wembley and a Football League v Rest of the World exhibition fixture at the old stadium.

The Washington match is live and exclusive here on UnitedBelievers with full coverage starting at Midnight tomorrow.

MLS All-Stars 0-4 Manchester United: Anderson, Park, Berbatov and Welbeck on target as Red Devils secure fourth tour win

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men won their fourth consecutive match on their tour of America as they cruised to a comfortable victory against an All-Star side including David Beckham

Manchester United eased to a fourth consecutive win on their tour of America with a 4-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars. Anderson and Park Ji-Sung gave United a 2-0 lead at the break, before further goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck wrapped up the victory.

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was the first of the MLS All-Stars to make an impact, cutting inside past Rio Ferdinand from the left before setting up David Beckham, who could only drag his shot wide of the post. It did not take long for United to stamp their mark on the game, though, with Anderson putting the Red Devils ahead on 20 minutes after excellent work on the edge of the area between Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.

Beckham came close to equalising in the first half for the All-Stars, but his second 25-yard effort of the game was tipped over by Anders Lindegaard. Despite the best attempts of Beckham & Co. to grab an equaliser before the break, Park doubled United’s lead on the stroke of half-time by firing past the keeper from just inside the area

United soon began to dominate in the second half, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men went 3-0 up on 52 minutes. Berbatov received a pass from Rooney before seeing his chip over the goalkeeper strike the crossbar. But the striker was first to react, tapping home into an empty net. Just 16 minutes later, Welbeck sealed the win for United with a swerving strike from 20 yards out.

Beckham tried to find a consolation goal against his former club late on, but he could only curl a trademark free kick into the side-netting.

Manchester United's Chicharito spends night in hospital after suffering mild concussion

The 23-year-old Mexican suffered the head knock during training at the Red Bull Arena before Wednesday's friendly against the MLS All-Stars and it is unclear whether he will play

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez spent last night recovering in hospital after suffering mild concussion. The incident occurred during training in preparation for Wednesday’s friendly match against the MLS All-Stars at the Red Bull Arena

"Chicharito sustained a mild concussion during training last night,” a club spokeswoman told the official website. "We have taken all the necessary precautions, which included an overnight stay in hospital. "The manager will give further updates in due course."

The club did not specify whether this would mean that the Mexican would miss the glamour friendly which will include former Arsenal player Thierry Henry and David Beckham.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill: We are looking to sign one more player

Despite Ferguson claiming his spending was done, Gill reveals that United are interested in filling one more position in the squad, with two or three players on their wishlist

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has revealed that the club are looking to sign one more player this summer.

United have already strengthened heavily since winning the Premier League in May, spending around £50 million on David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, and speculation has been rife that the Old Trafford club are interested in Inter's Wesley Sneijder and Arsenal's Samir Nasri.

And despite manager Sir Alex Ferguson claiming yesterday his summer spending was done, Gill stated that United are still interested in signing one more player.

"Yeah, we knew that [it would be busy]," Gill told MUTV. "Edwin [van der Sar] made it known that last season would be his last so we had planned for a new goalkeeper well in advance. With the others [Jones and Young], the opportunities came along and we were comfortable with that. So we've made three signings.

"We're looking at one more player to bring in. Nothing's happening - nothing imminent - on that at the moment, but we'll see what happens when we get home [from the tour of America].There'll be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops. But I'm not working on anything at the moment, in that respect."

Gill added that while nothing is happening at the moment, the club could sign someone soon, but only if that player is a world-class acquisition. "We've been looking at a particular position and two or three players in that position, but nothing's imminent at the moment," he said. The important thing to understand, and Alex has made it clear, is that we need someone who's going to improve the quality of the squad.

"We've got a great squad and to get into that squad you need to be a world-class player. There's no point, if you can't get the players you want, in buying someone for the sake of buying someone. But you never know - there's often movement in August. I'm not sitting here saying I'm working on anything because I'm not, but that situation could change quickly when we get back to Carrington [the club's training ground]."

Friendly Match Vs MLS All-Stars [Preview and Live Stream]

United tackle the best the MLS have to offer in the star-studded fixture...

Form guide

MLS All-Stars had only lost on penalties to Everton in five exhibition matches against British teams before United rolled into town last year. Sir Alex's side inflicted a 5-2 defeat in Houston which will be extremely difficult to match this time around. Nonetheless, United have won all three of this year's tour games after coming from behind to sink Chicago Fire at the weekend.

Ins and outs

LA Galaxy ace Landon Donovan is set to miss out with a calf injury while Hans Backe has a choice between Kasey Keller and Faryd Mondragon in goal. Ex-Red David Beckham skippers the side. Javier Hernandez will not be thrown in by Sir Alex despite linking up with the rest of the squad but the manager has healthy competition for places ahead of selecting his XI. In attack alone, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf are all competing for a start.

Last meeting

United's 5-2 victory at the Reliant Stadium in 2010 came courtesy of goals from Federico Macheda (2), Tom Cleverley, Darron Gibson and Javier Hernandez. Italian hitman Macheda won the 'MVP' award for his two-goal display.

Top man

Beckham may still be the pass master and a United favourite but Thierry Henry could prove to be the biggest threat to the United defence. The Frenchman caused plenty of problems for the Reds in his Arsenal days and, even though he is 34 next month, but we've had a full squad here. We've trained well and, during the games, played some good stuff. Basically, it's all about getting the fitness work in to try and prepare for the upcoming season." - Wayne Rooney.

Any sub-plots?

Beckham is rightly adored by the United faithful and will enjoy playing against his former team again. Some romantics would dearly love him back at Old Trafford after he vowed never to represent another English club but he looks set for another couple of years in the MLS.

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The New Jersey match is live and exclusively on here at  UnitedBelievers with Countdown to Kick-off starting at 1.30am BST, with kick-off at 2am. So stay tuned and enjoy the red Devils performances on their pre-season tour!

Friendly Match : Manchester United Vs Chicago Fire

 Chicago Fire 1-3 Manchester United: Wayne Rooney, Rafael & Nani score to complete comeback in pre-season win. The MLS side had gone ahead in the first half through Gibbs, but substitute Rooney chipped his side level before Rafael and Nani slotted home for the win

Wayne Rooney came off the bench to help Manchester United to a 3-1 win at Chicago Fire as Sir Alex Ferguson's men continued their North American pre-season tour.Nani and Rafael grabbed the other goals as the Premier League champions turned around a first-half deficit.

Ferguson sent out a relatively strong side with a handful of first-teamers including Patrice Evra, David De Gea and Michael Carrick. New signings Phil Jones and Chris Smalling rekindled their England Under-21 partnership in the centre of defence.Dimitar Berbatov was given a chance to impress alongside youngsters Mame Biram Diouf and Danny Welbeck in attack. But it was the MLS side who make the first breakthrough after 13 minutes as Cory Gibbs out-jumped Jones and nodded past De Gea.

The Premier League champions responded quickly as Welbeck flashed a shot wide and was nearly played in by Gabriel Obertan a few minutes later - the Frenchman impressing in midfield in the opening period. Obertan then produced a moment of magic, flicking the ball over the defender, but firing wide.The home side grew in confidence as the first half petered out and Patrick Nyarko had a shot well saved by De Gea.

As expected Ferguson rung the changes during the break and those switches continued into the second half with Federico Macheda, Wayne Rooney, Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans among those introduced. The second half begun with Smalling finding the net, only to have his effort ruled out for offside. The former Fulham man was then on the back foot, and lost out to Nyarko who squared to Husidic but the Chichago forward made an utter mess of the chance to put his side 2-0 up.

Rooney and Macheda both drilled in efforts in an attempt to get United back into it, but failed to test Sean Johnson in the home side's goal. But the pressure soon paid off as Rooney calmly chipped Johnson to draw his side level with 20 minutes left. Six minutes later team-mate Rafael made it 2-1 to the visitors; slotting in from a tight angle. Chicago made a flurry of late substitutions to try and swing the game back in their favour but found themselves two goals down when Nani finished smartly.

United played out the rest of the game with relative ease as the gulf in class began to show, but the MLS side will be buoyed by their efforts against the Premier League champions.