Schalke 04 vice-captain Benedikt Höwedes has confessed that when he plays on the PlayStation with his team mates, it’s usually the person who has Manchester United that wins.
“United are a dream team,” he said. “I will really enjoy playing them, but I don’t think we have to hide. In the past, we used to play at Old Trafford on the PlayStation. Most of the time, those that had Manchester would win…”
Höwedes has made his way through the ranks at Schalke, joining the club when he was 13 after growing up 20 miles away. He will play at the real Old Trafford on May 4th.
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Love hearing us being called Manchester.
We can’t underestimate Schalke, and Raul especially. He just knows where the back of the net is, especially in the Champions League.
I can’t think of Schalke at the moment. Nervously awaiting the Toffee’s! C’mon big Phil do us a BIG favour!
We’ve come unstuck underestimating German teams before. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen were teams United should really have beaten. Still can’t figure out how United didn’t put 10 past Dortmund at home!
@ boogeyman
100% agree.
I’d like to approach these two games as if it was Inter. Or Real even.
They’re not in the semi by luck.
True. Let’s beat Everton, then SAF can chat to Moyes after the game over a glass of Merlot about how we’re gonna do the Germans.
I hope fergie doesnt fuck the line up up on saturday.He’ll have one eye on tuesday.
@ AphaRS. Spot on mate. This tie isn’t over by any means, thats why I was so disappointed with the result on Tuesday as a win there would have put less pressure on the remaining league geames. As it is in the blink of an eye we could lose 3 big through injury with so many big games coming up. Much like we did in 2002 when we lost Neville then Beckham.
i agree we’ve got to be keep our eyes on 19. we’ve got to get the balance between a team capable of beating a resurgent everton, and getting a result in germany, absolutely right.
i fancy smalling to play against everton, hopefully tim cahill doesn’t murder him. play berba and rooney upfront. save ferdinand, hernandez and park for schalke. and ryan giggs too, will start from the bench i guess.
shitting Saturdays game first i think win if we this we are in an excellent position i think we should play our strongest team against Everton first and foremost and then worry about the Germans later!
is Sir Alex gona b on d touchline for saturday?
I think Fergies priority this season is definitely the League, overhauling the ‘dippers record. He, like the rest of us really wants #19
Progression in the Champions League would be more of a bonus. I expect to see a stronger squad out against the toffees.
SqueakyRed – Hhmm. Not convinced mate. To Fergie I think the European Cup is the one he loves. Cannot beat being Champions of Europe. For me its number 19. It is obviously very important to Fergie but I think its Europe for him.
As per “Ferguson’s Priorities,” I believe deep down, Europe is right up there right now with the League. Fergie knows whether it’s this season, the next or the next, we’ll get 19 and the Dippers aren’t anywhere near winning a title anytime soon. Europe however, far more so than the League requires A LOT of luck. Team Draws, 2 Legged ties, long travels, etc. To be in the semis with a chance of progressing to a CL final is an icredible feat in it of itself. Schalke will be a top priority for Ferguson, guaranteed. I think losing to Barca still leaves a very poor taste in SAF’s mouth and he wants redemption.
Bottom Line: He knows he’ll win at least one more league title. He knows how difficult it is to even have a shot at Europe. With Wembeley in sight, Schalke will be his number one priority right now, whether he’s willing to admit it publically or not.
One game at a time but let’s not kid ourselves, SAF’s got one eye on ze Germans.
Fergie’s aim is to knock Liverpool off their perch. He knows that if we get to No. 19, then Liverpool fans and everybody associated with them will start showing 5 fingers to highlight their success in Europe compared to our 3. So, for Fergie, equalling or overhauling that 5 in his time as United manager would definitely rank up there with overhauling the 18 which is quite close.
There are no priorities in between those two aims for him – Ultimately he wants Manchester United to have all the records that are worth having in England (I assume he is still pissed off that we lost the record for most goals scored in a season to Chelsea.) That is ultimately what drives to great man onto further glory and I don’t think there is anything to stop him.
As for Schalke, I hope they lose when they play at the real Old Trafford. It is well and good losing on Playstation but United have to win for reals.
“Höwedes has made his way through the ranks at Schalke, joining the club when he was 13 after growing up 20 miles away. He will play at the real Old Trafford on May 4th.” – That sounded like an amazing piece of story to me. Imagine growing up like that, then getting to play for your hometown club and then getting to play on arguably one of the most fabled grounds in European football. It is so romantic.
either one of the league or euro cup would shut the scousers up, for a while at least.
schalke will be tough there very fast on the break with their midfielders, so 2 tight games probably we should beat em though, the other semi will be intresting with the facists beating barca last night
Fuck sake Notorious! Whats with the negative comments mate? The suns out man. Of course we shouldn’t take the Germans lightly. I don’t think Fergie will be fooled again. We’ve done better in Europe, than what I thought we would have done. Six clear in the league as well? We’re ready for our second wind, now. Keep It positive mate.
Just being realistic willierednut, look at our record against German teams. Its shite end of story. Not to say we can’t turn it around but history is against us. Same for goes for Newcastle, I do think we will win the league but anybody who isn’t concerned with our away record in the league this season clearly needs their head tested. If we had beaten Newcastle and then go on to beat Everton we could have had the league wrapped up before the 2nd leg vs Schalke as it is its going to come down to the Chelski game and perhaps beyond. I can assure you I won’t be negative this weekend at OT never negative onb matchday just think some are getting ahead of themselves when we’ve won nothing yet.
@NotoriousRedDevil
I think I mentioned on another thread that would a loss to Citeh mean our season imploding similar to that of Arsenal a few weeks ago. I think United are doing alright for injuries at the moment.
I think Newcastle played well on Tuesday and United seemed to be lacking ideas in the second half but perhaps now is a time in the season where we just need to grind out results to win back our trophy and make it Number 19.
I think Everton (H), Schalke (A), Arsenal (A), Schalke (H), Chelsea (H) could be the defining part of our season. As SAF said need to keep the momentum going but need to start with a good result against Everton.
I think some people are believing the media hype that United have the title in the bag.
NRD – Let me ask you a question then, when have you ever known United to do things the easy way? We don’t. The players take the fans and the manger to the limit, every season. The away has been patchy all season. The home form, on the other hand, has been near perfect. I’ll say again, 6 points clear, at this stage, is a brilliant lead. I’d hate to be chasing Arsenal and Chelsea, with a disadvantage like this. The media can talk all they like, but we don’t pay attention to them anyway. I’ll be happy with the 19th title, Europe has been a bonus for me.
@ willierednut. Fair point we don’t do it the easy way. Since I’ve stopped smoking can’t take the tension as much as I used to. Had we not got to the semi I wouldn’t have given a fuck about Europe but like others have said 5-4 sounds a lot better than 5-3, especially as the dippers won’t be in the champions league next season. I’m being greedy I know but a club of our stature should have done a lot better in Europe. We can put that right this season..6 points is a decent lead but l’arse away is going to be difficult despite how well we’ve done against them in recent years. Our home record has been exemplary but we all know that when we play chelski it will be 11 vs 14. Champions League was different no english officials. The positive aspect if it does go to the wire means we will have momentum if we do make the Champions League Final.
willie is spot on. United have NEVER made it easy for themselves under Fergie. Nobody knows why, its just the way it is .
Notorious – Hello mate. Yeah I stopped smoking for 5 weeks (cigs anyway) and was on those Champix. Felt fucking awful. Cannot take the pressure of United playing so have been smoking for last fortnight again. Pissed off as I did 5 weeks . Will have another go as I really cannot afford seven pound thirty for twenty Marlboro. God that was a boring post. Sorry lads.
Our players are really slow on FIFA 11…..I find myself shouting at the tele when other teams seemed rigged.
EA cunts!
@ Notorious & AlphaRS
To be fair lads the German league was far better when those teams where in europe than it is now, we would have done Bayern last year if it wasnt for the cheating little french shite Ribery!! That Dortmund team that beat us were actually one of the best teams in europe along with Bayern around the time we lost to them. We should have won 6 or 7-0 that night when Giggs absolutely tortured them, and the Leverkusen team had Berba, Lucio, Basturk, Ramelow and Neuville, so it wasnt like they had a shite team. And lets not forget that both teams made it to the final after beating us as did Bayern last year but Schalke like Wolfsburg last year are not in the same league, not that we should take it for granted but if we dont make the final then several players need to leave just for a lack of courage and determination!!
*were*
I understand that Höwedes is actually injured and a major doubt for Tuesday. I feel for any player who misses out due to injury. Know the feeling all to well. Fair play to him for taking a bit of banter and giving all a good smile. Don’t think Shalke should be underestimated. They have a cracking attack and one of the best defenses in europe. Neuer is a top top keeper.
@Devil Add Chicho to the mix. If he seems slow then you know it is rigged. Fasted player at the world cup.
NRD
Try Acid mate, fantastic invention and I am sure you will love it