Posts Tagged ‘Wolfsburg’
Michael Owen refuses to talk up World Cup chances after hat-trick
December 10th, 2009 | 
Author: Michael Owen refuses to talk up World Cup chances after hat-trick
• Striker scored three goals in the game against Wolfsburg
• Owen praises makeshift United squad for creating chances
Michael Owen celebrates scoring against Wolfsburg in the Champions League. Photograph: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images
Michael Owen has refused to speculate on his chances of going to the World Cup in South Africa next summer. After the Manchester United striker's Champions League hat-trick last night there were suggestions he may have moved closer to securing a place in Fabio Capello's squad, but Owen himself was reluctant to discuss the matter.
"I have never liked talking about myself too much," he said. "I always prefer to talk about the team. It is nice to score a hat-trick and the last one was probably the best but you can't do something like that without the team playing really well and big credit must go out to the other lads, especially in defence given we had so many injuries."
Owen scored his first Champions League treble since 2003 in last night's 3-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany. The result confirmed United as Group B winners, which should ensure a more favourable knockout round draw, even if Milan and Porto are already among the potential opponents for Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
Although United were missing 14 senior players, Owen praised those on the pitch for providing him with the chances from which to score.
"I am enjoying playing for Manchester United," said the 29-year-old. "There are only a few teams that you can play in and expect to get chances. This is one of them.
"Scoring them is a different matter. As everyone knows, scoring goals is probably the hardest thing to do in the game. But given the quality you are playing alongside and the amount of chances you do get, it is easier here than at most clubs."
Manchester United news
Oliver Gill, 19, has been added to the squad for the Champions League game at German side Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
It follows the news that defenders John O'Shea and Jonny Evans have been ruled out of action until January.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said Gill would not be given special treatment, adding: "If he is good enough, he plays."
United are without 12 players for the game against Wolfsburg, although the Red Devils have already qualified for the last 16 of the tournament and only need a draw to take top spot in Group B.
O'Shea and Evans were both hoping to return to action in Saturday's home Premier League game against Aston Villa following thigh and calf injuries respectively.
But the club have confirmed they will not be fit until the new year, ruling them out of five Premier League matches and the Champions League game.
United have eight defenders out of action, with Nemanja Vidic (flu), Rio Ferdinand (calf), Wes Brown (hamstring), Gary Neville (groin), Rafael (shoulder) and Fabio da Silva (groin) are sidelined.
In addition, midfielder Owen Hargreaves and keeper Edwin van der Sar are undergoing treatment for knee injuries.
And with strikers Wayne Rooney (hamstring) and Dimitar Berbatov (knee) now also doubts for the match against Aston Villa, Ferguson's squad is stretched to near breaking point.
Patrice Evra is the only regular first-team defender in the squad for the trip to Wolfsburg. 
Ferguson could employ a makeshift centre-half pairing of midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher as he waits for his walking wounded to return to fitness, although he is reportedly trying to convince Evra to switch to centre-half.
The injury crisis could prompt a first appearance for reserve-team centre-back Gill.
Ferguson is taking advantage of a rule that allows youngsters who have spent two years at a club academy to be added to the original list of 25 players United had to supply to Uefa at the start of the competition.
Ferguson said nepotism would play no part in his decision over whether to play Gill, who turned professional in July.
"It doesn't concern me. If he is good enough, he plays," stated Ferguson.
"That is the name of the game at Manchester United. I had my own son [Darren Ferguson] in the squad for four or five years and he was treated exactly the same as any other member of the squad. It will be the same for Oliver."
Privately educated at Manchester Grammar School, Gill opted against going to university in order to pursue a full-time career in football.
"He's decided to take the big step forward and give it a go at professional full-time football," added Ferguson. "We admire him for that.
"Over the last year or so he's started to develop physically. He was very rakish and gangly when he was growing and lacked strength but now he's starting to come together in terms of his physique and has done well.
"It's also because of the injuries we have but he's doing very well."