No cup of cheer for Queiroz

CARLOS QUEIROZ has revealed Manchester United will not be able to claim it has been a good season even if they win the FA Cup.

A troubled week for United began with the stunning defeat at Norwich, continued with more lurid allegations about Wayne Rooney, saw skipper Roy Keane lambast his own team-mates and Rio Ferdinand spotted having dinner with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, and United must now firmly adjust their focus to Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Newcastle.

Just as they were 12 months ago, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are now in the uncomfortable position of knowing their only chance of landing any silverware this season rests with the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition.

Having won the trophy for a record 11th time by beating Millwall last term, United can create their own small slice of history by retaining it for the first time.

But Queiroz, who returned to Old Trafford as Ferguson’s assistant after an ill-fated season with Real Madrid, accepts in a season scarred by another early European exit and a second-successive Premiership fade-out, the FA Cup in itself is not a cause for major celebration.

“We cannot say it is a good season just because we win the FA Cup,” he said.

“The major expectation of Manchester United is to go as far as we can in Europe and our first priority is always the league.

In making his observation, Queiroz is at odds with Ferguson, who insists “in these intensely competitive days, to win a trophy a season adds up to a satisfactory return.”

A second-placed finish and an FA Cup triumph would probably be regarded as cause for quiet celebration, especially as any realistic hope of overhauling Chelsea probably disappeared with the draw at Crystal Palace on March 5 anyway.

With Louis Saha definitely out and Ryan Giggs almost certain to join him on the sidelines, the United boss must decide which of his remaining offensive players to trust with the task of breaking down Newcastle’s inconsistent defence.

As leading scorer and most in-form forward on United’s books, Rooney is certain to start, while Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to provide the attacking thrust down the touchline.

The position of Ruud van Nistelrooy is less certain. Badly out of touch since his return from his long-term Achilles injury, the Dutchman has now gone seven games without a goal, the longest barren spell of his entire United career. Yet any doubt in Ferguson’s mind about fielding the £18.5m forward will be balanced by the knowledge that Newcastle are one of the former PSV Eindhoven man’s most favoured opponents.

Van Nistelrooy has scored eight of his 122 United goals against the Magpies and has only failed to find the net against them once in seven outings, a record that will almost certainly see him start at the Millennium Stadium.

lRyan Giggs is hoping to thrash out a new Manchester United contract next week.

The Wales winger’s current deal expires at the end of next season, with the club so far refusing to meet his demand for a two-year extension.

Giggs has insisted he has no desire to leave Old Trafford, while United chief executive David Gill is equally convinced the 31-year-old will end up staying.

However, so far, no way has been found to get around established club policy of not giving anything more than one-year contracts to over 30s, leaving Giggs potentially just 12 months away from departing on a free transfer.