Wayne Rooney is scoring goals through sheer instinct, according to former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Rooney netted his 28th goal of the season on Sunday to seal United's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

The Premier League title race countdown has begun and it's not going to be an easy ride for United fans. Here, M.E.N. United reporter Stuart Mathieson makes his prediction for the Reds, Chelsea and Arsenal's remaining fixtures.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has told the Red Knights the Glazer family won't sell the club. The United chief executive insists the American owners are running the Reds “in the right way”, defended the club's £709m debt and questioned the practicality of the Red Knights' plans for a takeover.

I HAVE gone from interviewing Socrates in sunny Brazil to Altrincham's manager Graham Heathcote at a murky Moss Lane. Debt-free Alty punch well above their weight in football's fifth tier. They are 11th in the Blue Square Premier, a fine achievement given they are one of just four part-time teams in a league which includes two previous League Cup winners...

SO the Red Knights may well one day ride into town and save United from the Glazers and all that nasty debt. But before they do, M.E.N. Sport makes this noble plea: Identify yourselves. One of the biggest problems the Glazers have had is convincing the United faithful of their intentions particularly during these days of global recession.

THE Red Knights will mount up and arm themselves ready for battle if United fans prove they are behind the consortium's plans to oust the Glazers. Reds supporters will have to sign up with the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) to declare their allegiance if they want the group of welathy businessman to proceed with their plans.

Manchester United’s owners have strengthened their financial position despite the protests against them after releasing figures showing increases in revenue and profits. With a group of financiers called the Red Knights confirming their interest in a possible takeover, the Glazer family can point to a rising turnover and profits at the club.

Gary Neville faces a career crossroads in the summer. The 35-year-old United captain has become a bit-part player in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad and has revealed he plans to review his Old Trafford future at the end of the season.

The ’Red Knights’ have confirmed their intention to try to oust the owners of Manchester United. Concerned by the huge amount of debt the Glazers’ took on to complete their controversial takeover in 2005, the Red Knights are intent on launching a takeover bid.

Manchester United are still monitoring Benfica star Angel di Maria, according to reports. The £20m-rated winger has been on the Reds' radar for a while and the Premier League champions may swoop in the summer.

Manchester United have dropped to third place behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in the 'rich list' of European clubs. The Deloitte Football Money League sees the two Spanish clubs secure the top spots but mainly due to the continuing decline of the pound against the euro.

The Glazers have slapped a Not for Sale sign on United after the so-called Red Knights stepped up their takeover bid. The group of wealthy Reds fans, who are disenchanted and angry at level of debt at Old Trafford heaped on the club by their American owners, are understood to have held a secret meeting in London.

Sir Alex Ferguson was the first to hail the stupendous goal-scoring form of Wayne Rooney this season after the Carling Cup had been locked away once more in the Manchester United trophy cabinet. But Ferguson did not forget another player who is becoming a vital component in United's quest for a glorious treble, even if he did not trouble the...

Michael Owen insists he is loving life at Manchester United. Owen will find out in the next 24 hours how long he will be sidelined for by the hamstring injury he suffered during Sunday's Carling Cup final.

Wayne Rooney hopes to be fit for England’s friendly against Egypt on Wednesday after scans showed no serious damage to his knee. The Manchester United striker suffered a knock in Sunday's Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa to spark fears over his availability for the international clash.

Michael Carrick is delighted to be a Manchester United history maker. Although they have won so much down the years, United had never successfully defended a cup competition prior to Sunday.

Red-hot Wayne Rooney fired United to Carling Cup glory - but the triumph came at a price. The Wembley hero, who scored the winner in the 2-1 victory against Aston Villa, is a doubt for England with the striker having a knee injury assessed by doctors.

Manchester United retained the Carling Cup by beating Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley. Check out a selection of snaps from the match by clicking on the gallery link on the right.

Nemanja Vidic claimed referee Phil Dowd was right not to send him off early on in the 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Aston Villa. The Reds defended their trophy thanks to goals from Michael Owen and substitute Wayne Rooney, but they fell behind early on when Vidic brought down Gabriel Agbonlahor to give away a penalty.

Find out how we rated the Manchester United players for their performance in the 2-1 Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa.

Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the Carling Cup final at Wembley - and we blogged it live. Check out a replay here.

Manchester United lifted the Carling Cup for the second successive season thanks to substitute Wayne Rooney's goal. Aston Villa took the lead through James Milner's early penalty before Michael Owen equalised. Owen then had to go off injured and his replacement Rooney headed the winner from Antonio Valencia's cross.

Check out all the action from this afternoon's Carling Cup final between Manchester United and Aston Villa with our live blog.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he is a big admirer of Martin O'Neill's 'Buy British' policy. The Aston Villa line-up which Manchester United face in Sunday's Carling Cup final could contain seven British players.

Wayne Rooney has deftly sidestepped the New Wembley goal curse. While United have generally struggled to find the net in open play in their Community Shield, FA Cup finals and semis plus Carling Cup finals at the stadium since it was re-opened in 2007, their striker hasn't had too many problems.

Manchester United will be without England defender Rio Ferdinand when they aim to create history by beating Aston Villa in the Carling Cup final on Sunday. Ferdinand is out after suffering a twinge in his back while Anderson (knee) is out for the season. Ryan Giggs (arm) is also out and Nani is suspended while Rafael is set to feature...

Manchester United and Aston Villa go head to head in the Carling Cup final on Sunday with the domestic season’s first major piece of silverware up for grabs at Wembley.

Michael Carrick has admitted he is a changed man thanks to life at Old Trafford. Carrick freely accepts that when he moved north from Tottenham in 2006 the thought of winning just one medal was enough.

Edwin Van der Sar has signed a new deal keeping him at Manchester United until June 2011.

Gary Pallister has made a habit of blacking out memories of his United defeats. But ask him to recall the 1994 League Cup final against Aston Villa and there's one moment that immediately comes back.