New home kit unveiled

The new Manchester United home kit for the 2010/11 season combines elements of the club’s history with new age technology – as every shirt will be made entirely from recycled polyester, each created from up to eight plastic water bottles as part of Nike’s ‘Considered Design’ programme.

Red, white and black is in the DNA of Manchester United and Nike has captured the spirit of the club through this season’s home kit. The new shirt leans towards a classic look, inspired by the 1970s, and features a collar for the first time since Nike became the team’s official kit supplier in 2002. And the chevron design that featured last season is evident in the engineered mesh pattern on the back of the shirt, with the V-shape echoed in the shoulder print detail and in the socks.

Kit-wise, there are three options for the home games: red jersey, white shorts and black socks; red jersey, black shorts and white socks; or red jersey, white shorts and white socks depending on the opponents.

Aon, the new shirt sponsor, features on the front of the shirt, while inside the shirt on the back of the club crest is the club's mantra, 'Believe'. The message sits right next to the heart, revealing every United fan's 'Inner Pride', while the symbolic Red Devil sits on the sleeve of the shirt and the shorts to add the finishing touches to the kit.

Nike’s 'Considered Design' programme aims to create performance products that minimise environmental impact by reducing waste during the design and development process, use environmentally preferred materials, and eliminate toxins.

To make the kits, Nike uses discarded water bottles destined for landfill sites in Japan and Taiwan, where they can take up to 500 years to decompose. This saves precious raw materials and reduces energy consumption by up to 30 per cent compared to conventional fabrics.

The bottles are placed in a large washing machine to clean them and get rid of labels, before they are chopped into tiny flakes and melted down into a yarn that is ultimately spun to make the fabric for the jerseys.

Use of recycled polyester across its new range of club kits means Nike has saved nearly 13 million plastic water bottles, a total of around 254,000 kg of polyester waste – enough to cover more than 29 football pitches, and to stretch over 3,000 kilometres if laid out end-to-end. The process is used for all shirts, whether worn by the players or available to fans.

"As we look at how we design and develop products and run our global business, it’s not enough to be solving the challenges of today," said Nike spokesman Charlie Brooks.

"We are designing for the sustainable economy of tomorrow, and for us that means using fewer resources, more sustainable materials and renewable energy to produce new products. We’re proud to be a partner of Manchester United and to help them achieve their environmental goals."

Considering the environment doesn’t mean sacrificing the renowned high performance of Nike’s kits, and the new Manchester United home kit has been engineered to give players a greater competitive advantage than ever before, keeping players drier and more

comfortable, allowing them to maintain their optimum body temperature and perform at their peak on the pitch.

The improved Nike 'Dri-Fit' fabric, now 13 per cent lighter than previous kits, helps to quickly evaporate moisture by drawing through the fabric to the surface and to keep players dry.

Innovative ventilation zones are placed along each side of the jersey to enhance breathability, by up to 7 per cent compared to previous kits, and allow air to pass across the whole torso. These zones have up to 200 tiny laser-cut holes, backed by Nike’s innovative halo application which prevents ripping without reducing air flow. An additional ventilation zone is placed below the waistband on the shorts at the base of the spine.

The jersey’s new double-knit structure gives it a sleeker appearance, while offering 10 per cent more stretch, and also boasts a new dynamic fit, cut to follow the natural contours of the body while allowing for maximum airflow and movement.

Reds winger Nani said: "I think it looks really good and it feels nice. It’s always a nice moment for the players and the fans when you first see the new kit and it’s like a new motivation for us at the start of the season."

The 2010/11 home shirt is available now at store.manutd.com.

If you are based in the USA, you can order your 2010/11 kit here.

Pair become United players

Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez and Chris Smalling are officially United players from today (1 July).
The two new boys initially agreed deals to join the club during the last season, and their contracts are now effective.

United fans have been excited by Chicharito’s promising displays at the 2010 World Cup. The talented striker hit two goals in four games for Mexico, including a superb late effort in his side’s last-16 defeat to Argentina at the weekend.

Chicharito is determined to succeed at Old Trafford. "My expectations are to do the best I can personally, to work, to learn, and to win many trophies," the 22-year-old said when the deal was first announced – to near-universal surprise – in April.

Defender Smalling, who played 18 times for Fulham last season, agreed terms on a four-year deal in January. The 20-year-old will link up with his new team-mates at Carrington next week as those players not involved in the World Cup return to training.

Chicharito will be given some time off after his exploits in South Africa and will meet his new team-mates for the first time during July's trip to the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Reds fans will likely get their first glimpse of the duo during the tour, and Sir Alex has confirmed Chicharito will play some part in the friendly against his former club Chivas.

For tour news, features and free videos, visit manutd.com/tour2010.

United 4 Stoke 0

A season of thrills and spills, up and downs, highs and lows, all built towards a final-day climax. Sadly, there were no dramatic scenes in Manchester, as Chelsea smashed eight past Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge to clinch the title by a solitary point, rendering the result at Old Trafford meaningless – even though United produced a wholly professional display to see off Stoke 4-0.

The time for reflection and the dissection of this most unpredictable of campaigns lies ahead, but United can be proud at least that, in a difficult season hampered by injuries, the Reds pushed Chelsea right until the very last.

Sir Alex was able to select arguably his strongest team for this season finale and his men did him, and the club, proud with the performance. Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher have easily been United’s most potent central midfield pair, while they were flanked by the in-form Nani and Ryan Giggs, with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in attack.

Rio Ferdinand was handed a start for the first time since the 0-0 draw with Blackburn, while Gary Neville, who missed the wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, joined him in a back four that also included Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, with Edwin van der Sar in goal.

United came out of the traps quickly, determined to keep our side of the bargain. Berbatov had the Reds’ early chances. The first came after Nani surged down the left and found Rooney, who cut the ball back for Berbatov, whose shot was blocked. Rooney again teed-up his strike-partner after ten minutes - this time a cute pass down the right channel,with Berbatov’s angled effort nudged wide by Robert Huth. Berbatov’s third opportunity was the best of the lot, a header four yards from goal from a Nani cross that the Bulgarian headed over.

Stoke come with brave defending as standard, so it was unsurprising that Huth threw his body selflessly in front of Evra’s shot midway through the half, after neat footwork inside the Stoke area had created space for the Frenchman to shoot.

It was all United, Stoke offering little ambition, instead settling for showcasing their physical presence in defence. The verve all came from the men in red. Berbatov was again denied, but appeared to be getting closer to the target. Nani, showed what an attacking force he has become this year, attacking from the right flank, cutting inside and crossing with the outside of his boot. Berbatov’s towering header was just fractionally over the crossbar.

United carved the visitors open with an ease and frequency that fully warranted the breakthrough on 31 minutes. From Giggs’ corner, Vidic headed the ball into a crowd of bodies; it pinballed around until Fletcher put his laces through the ball to find the roof of the net and give United the lead. However, news shortly filtered through that Chelsea had added a second goal, a Frank Lampard penalty, to Nicolas Anelka’s early strike against ten-man Wigan to dampen hopes of last-day success.

Nevertheless, United ploughed on. Berbatov orchestrated play from a deep-lying position, his flicks, vision and excellent execution of through-balls sparking almost all of United’s attacks. And the Bulgarian created the Reds' second goal. He beat Andy Wilkinson for pace and squared the ball initially towards Nani, who missed it, but Giggs had anticipated the situation and followed up to fire past Asmir Begovic to make it 2-0.

The Reds came out after the break with a similar pursuit for goals. Regardless of what was happening at Stamford Bridge, it was important to put on a show. And inside ten minutes United made it 3-0. Fletcher’s brilliantly disguised pass found Rooney in the box and he turned away from his marker before firing the ball low across goal. In trying to stop the cross reaching the lurking Nani, Danny Higgingbotham turned the ball into his own net.

However, just as United were strolling at Old Trafford, Chelsea were at a canter at Stamford Bridge and the Reds’ slim title hopes faded rapidly after the break. The Stoke fans gleefully sang ‘you’re not champions any more’. Painful though it was to accept, it would soon be true.

On the hour mark Sir Alex made two substitutions, taking off the excellent Berbatov and Scholes to be replaced by Federico Macheda and Darron Gibson. It was a nod to the future, and to next season. 2009/10 has not been United’s year, but there is enough to suggest that, with a little more luck with injuries next season and perhaps one or two additions in the transfer market, Sir Alex’s men will again be a force to be reckoned with.

United pressed on, and after 65 minutes Nani was denied by a good save from Begovic after Rooney had set him racing clear with an arrowed through-pass. But Chelsea’s unassailable lead over Wigan had sucked some of the impetus out of United’s play. How could it not?

A fourth Reds goal arrived in the 84th minute when substitute Ji-sung Park produced a diving header from Giggs’ corner to make it 4-0. But the scoreline was for pride alone. United can feel proud, this season Sir Alex's men were close, but not close enough. For the last three years Old Trafford has been home to the Premier League trophy. The Reds relinquish the title reluctantly. But Chelsea can count on this: next season we will come knocking, we will want our trophy back.

Sunderland 0 United 1

The win – achieved courtesy of a solitary goal from Nani's right boot – means Chelsea lead by just one point heading into the final day of the season. The Blues host Wigan, while United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford.

It can’t have been easy for Sir Alex’s men to step onto the pitch in Sunderland after seeing Chelsea beat Liverpool at Anfield in the day’s early kick-off. But the Reds, boosted by the inclusion of Wayne Rooney from the opening whistle, began brightly.

Rooney, who had started only two of United’s last five fixtures, took just four minutes to make an impact, chesting down a cross from Dimitar Berbatov and volleying towards the far post. Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was equal to the task and then grateful to his defenders for blocking Ryan Giggs’ follow-up.

At the other end, the home side threatened twice from set pieces: John Mensah headed wide from an early corner before captain Lorik Cana flicked a free-kick just over the bar. Mensah limped off after 18 minutes, though, as Black Cats boss and former United captain Steve Bruce was forced to reshuffle his defence.

The Reds almost reaped immediate rewards when Giggs clipped the corner of the crossbar after expertly making space for himself on the edge of the box. Gordon was well that occasion, just as he was on 28 minutes when Nani fired low and hard past the Scottish stopper to give United the lead.

The Portuguese, starting in his preferred position on the right wing, applied the finish with the outside of his boot, but he owed the goal to the invention of Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Darren Fletcher, who all played one-touch passes in the build-up to bamboozle the Black Cats’ back four. The goal was Nani’s fourth in his last four starts and reaffirmed the belief that the Reds’ no.17 is currently enjoying the form of his life.

United continued to dominate without ever really testing the Sunderland defence, although both Evra and Berbatov missed half chances to extend the lead before the break. Evra was at the heart of the action again in first-half stoppage time when he headed a tame effort off the line, but it would have been harsh on United had Sunderland pulled level at that stage.

The scoreline would have better reflected United's dominance had Nani’s effort early in the second half found the net. Instead, Gordon stood up well to block from close range. Then Berbatov twice missed the target from close range (the first from barely a yard out) after clever play from Rooney on both occasions. United had made enough chances to have put the game to bed by this stage and Reds fans must have been wondering if their team would be made to pay for such wasteful finishing.

Sunderland, despite a lack of penetration in the final third, kept fighting and constantly made life difficult for Sir Alex’s midfielders. Lee Cattermole, on for David Meyler,was particularly physical and relished his battle with Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher. Scholes, yet again, was United’s star performer. Tough in the tackle and always looking to take the ball in tight spaces, he set the tempo in midfield and passed the ball superbly all afternoon.

Sir Alex sent on Michael Carrick for Berbatov on 71 minutes to add stability in midfield but the change did little to take the sting out of United’s attacking intentions. Within a minute, Rooney sent a ferocious effort just wide of Gordon’s right-hand post after Fletcher’s initial shot had been blocked. Carrick then went close after Nani teed up the former Tottenham midfielder on the edge of the box. His low shot beat Gordon but not Michael Turner, who had stationed himself on the line after the goalkeeper had ventured out to attempt to win the ball.

Ex-Red Fraizer Campbell hooked the ball wide with eight minutes remaining to remind United of just how precarious a 1-0 lead can be, but it was the last time the home side even remotely threatened. In the end, Nani's goal was enough to clinch the points and keep Sir Alex's men in the hunt for a 19th league title. There was even time – barely – for Owen Hargreaves to return to first-team football after 19 months on the sidelines and give United fans another reason to smile on the way home to Manchester.

But will the Premier League trophy end up in M16 next weekend? Let's be honest: it would take a minor miracle – Wigan must earn at least a point at Stamford Bridge assuming United beat Stoke – but in this most unpredictable of seasons it would be foolish to give up hope just yet.

United can be champions

Quality, consistency and luck are all important if you want to win the league. But on Saturday at Old Trafford, United displayed two more title-winning attributes: bravery and know-how.

Patrice Evra showed bravery. It was clear he wasn’t feeling the best and it can’t be too pleasant emptying the contents of your stomach in front of 75,000 people. Lesser mortals would have gone off straight away. But the Frenchman found the determination to soldier on and set up United’s opening goal after he was fouled in the area by the hapless Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

There was bravery from Nani, too. If you're sent through on goal with nine minutes to play in a game where the stakes are so high, you've got to have some bottle to attempt a delicate dink of a finish. Just imagine what the reaction would have been had he made a mess of it. Now and then Nani drives us all mad but he's got that X factor and can produce the extraordinary as we saw against Bayern Munich.

On Saturday he also won the match-clinching penalty with a driving run into the box. To complete an eventful afternoon, the Portuguese winger "did an Evra" and threw up on the hallowed Old Trafford turf. I wonder what United groundsman Tony Sinclair makes of it all? I’m pretty sure stomach contents aren't the ideal fertiliser for his magnificently manicured surface.

So that’s bravery dealt with. United also exude know-how. Quite simply, they know how to win. When Ledley King headed home a Spurs equaliser, United didn't panic. In fact, the Reds remained remarkably calm. There was no lumping the ball forward in desperation, there was no headless-chicken-style football. United just continued to play, buoyed by the confidence that comes with winning countless games in the dying stages.

Ryan Giggs has done everything in football. But until Saturday, he’d never scored a league penalty. And yet you’d never have known that when the great man stepped up in front of the Stretford End. Did you think for a moment he was going to miss?

And so, against the odds, a fourth consecutive title is still very much a possibility. And what a delicious prospect: Liverpool could help us win a record breaking 19th title by beating Chelsea. That would surely be too good to be true!

Watch Denis Irwin’s verdict on the Spurs game when he joins Stewart for The Big Match on MUTV on Monday (17:30 BST).

The views expressed in this article are personal to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC.

United 3 Spurs 1

Ryan Giggs put United in front from the spot in the second half, but Tottenham equalised through Ledley King and arguably looked like being the team to win it. However, the victory was secured by some brilliance from Nani. The Portuguese winger scored with an audacious chipped finish with nine minutes left, before earning a second penalty for Giggs to convert to ensure a 3-1 win.

That there would be drama and frayed nerves should not have come as a surprise in a topsy-turvy season which took arguably its wildest twist last weekend.

United were seconds away from being out of the title race altogether at Eastlands when the derby was headed for a draw. In the third minute of injury time a Paul Scholes-of-old late dart into the box and header into the bottom corner clinched three points. That dramatic win was capped by Tottenham’s defeat of Chelsea later that day. Game on in the title race.

Tottenham posed a serious risk after their wins over the Blues and Arsenal. As difficult as this fixture already was, it was made more difficult when Wayne Rooney was ruled out with a groin problem. Sir Alex intimated on Friday that he had “one or two doubts”, but Rooney’s availability was only publicly brought to light when he was pictured watching the Under-18s at Carrington on Saturday morning.

His absence was confirmed when the teams were announced, so too was news that Rio Ferdinand was missing again. But Owen Hargreaves’ return on the bench, and the prospect of his first action in 19 months, came as a very welcome boost. The Reds lined up with Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher in central midfield, Antonio Valencia and Nani on the flanks and Ryan Giggs operating just behind Dimitar Berbatov up front.

However, it was an uncharacteristically quiet start, Tottenham making much of the early running and controlling play. That was perhaps down to Spurs’ confidence, maybe the importance of getting a result weighed on the United players’ minds, or perhaps it was because of Rooney’s absence – noticeable in the stands as much as on the pitch – but something was needed to bring United out of their shell. The truth of it was that, by the midway point in the first half, neither side had had a shot on target.

United's best opening came after 29 minutes. Nani slipped a pass to Evra who crossed for Giggs, but the ball never reached the Welshman. Berbatov was quickest to react, but his goal-bound strike was blocked by King. Seconds later, Valencia raced clear on goal, shrugged off the attentions of Gareth Bale and forced an excellent low save from Heurelho Gomes, although Berbatov was screaming for a squared pass. Two minutes later Evra volleyed over from 12 yards; United’s tails were up – the men in red just needed to make it count.

Spurs, despite their early possession, were far from potent in the final third. Their best chance of the first half was a Bale free-kick, after Nani’s foul on David Bentley earned him a booking, but it didn’t trouble Edwin van der Sar. It was United who threatened to score more than the Lilywhites. Berbatov saw a volley five minutes before half time rise over the bar. The half which had started so timidly from the home side, ended far more positively – albeit without the goal United craved to settle everyone’s nerves.

The Reds were first out after the break and urged on by the Stretford End. From a short corner seven minutes in, Berbatov headed agonisingly wide – with Fletcher narrowly missing out on turning the ball over the line. Then Nani hit the side-netting after a neat turn and shot inside the area. United were in the ascendancy and the breakthrough finally came after 58 minutes. Berbatov did well to escape the attentions of Benoit Assou-Ekotto. He brilliantly backheeled the ball to Evra but the Spurs defender fouled the Frenchman and a penalty was correctly awarded. Without Rooney, Giggs took spot-kick duties and coolly slotted the ball past Gomes. It wasn’t without cost – Berbatov injured his groin in the build-up, Evra had already been sick on the pitch, and Valencia was forced off - replaced by Michael Carrick – after clashing with King. Most importantly, United were in front.

The Reds were hardly settling on the lead, but Tottenham hadn’t given up hope either. And their attitude was rewared on 70 minutes. From Bale’s corner, King rose above Carrick and headed into the far corner beyond Rafael on the post. With 20 minutes remaining, the question now was: what did United have left in the locker?

Sir Alex brought on Federico Macheda with ten minutes to go, hoping the Italian teenager could reprise his heroics of last season against Aston Villa. And while he didn’t provide the finish, Macheda’s neat ball set up Nani for the crucial second goal. It was Nani's finish that really caught the eye. His dinked finish over Gomes was sublime and worthy of winning any football match. It was similar to that of Lionel Messi against Arsenal in the Champions League, but arguably a more high-pressure situation with nine minutes left and United's season on the line.

United, and Nani, were not finished there. The Portuguese picked up the ball on the halfway line and charged at the Tottenham defence. After twisting Michael Dawson’s inside-out, he drew a foul from Wilson Palacios to earn a second penalty of the game. Giggs went to Gomes’ left this time, but his spot-kick was equally as unstoppable. The Stretford End bounced, singing ‘we shall not be moved’. United are back on top of the league. Chelsea - who take on Stoke on Sunday - the ball is in your court...

City 0 United 1

After a tense, tight derby encounter, the midfielder popped up in the final minute of added time to nod home Patrice Evra's superb cross and move the Reds to within a point of Chelsea, ahead of the league leaders' late-afternoon trip to Tottenham.

Amid the Reds' ongoing chase for a fourth straight title, the subplot of City's challenge for local and, ultimately, national supremacy had seemed set to hog the headlines. But Scholes had other ideas and just a day after penning a one-year contract extension, the 35-year-old illustrated his enduring value not only with his winner, but by dictating play in a masterful midfield performance.

Of United's three pre-match injury doubts, two recovered sufficiently to join the starting XI. Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs were both available, but Rio Ferdinand's groin injury prompted a return for Jonny Evans alongside Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence.

Both sides started the game with evident intent to attack. Darren Fletcher fired a 25-yard effort inches wide of Shay Given's post, with the Irishman well beaten, before Carlos Tevez's top corner free-kick drew a fine full-length catch from Edwin van der Sar.

Despite coming out of their corners swinging, both sides quickly displayed an awareness of the potential cost of failure. United bossed possession by virtue of an extra man in midfield, but refused to overcommit in support of Rooney, while City sat deep, costing themselves the chance to offer quick, accurate service to Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Scholes scuffed a shot wide from 25 yards, before a slip from Vincent Kompany allowed Rooney to race into the Blues' area. The Belgian's blushes were spared, however, when Kolo Toure blocked two attempted pull-backs from the striker. That characterised a first half largely comprised of chances snuffed out in their infancy. Giggs' in-swinging free-kick and Craig Bellamy's low ball across the six yard box both begged for conversion, but were instead left unfulfilled.

United spurned the two clearest openings of the half in its final five minutes. Both chances were created by the industry of Antonio Valencia, who held off Wayne Bridge to head across for Rooney, only for the striker to fire uncharacteristically off-target, before the Ecuadorian's low cross was stabbed straight at Given by Giggs.

Level, but having been comfortably outplayed, City began the second half with greater purpose. Kompany and Adam Johnson both picked up yellow cards in quick succession, before a counter-attack from the home side was wasted by Bellamy, who blazed wide instead of squaring for Tevez.

Despite that scare United were still bossing matters, and the Reds' need for victory was layed bare when Nani replaced Gibson. Roberto Mancini responded conversely, sending on midfielder Patrick Vieira for winger Johnson. The two substitutes were soon involved. A patient United move culminated in Giggs sliding an enticing ball into the area, which Nani slid wide under heavy pressure from Vieira. As the game entered its final 20 minutes, both teams began to open up.

Gareth Barry, largely anonymous in the midfield battle, had a glorious chance after latching onto Adebayor's neat through-ball, but the England midfielder opted to cut inside and tumble under Neville's attentions rather than pull the trigger. No penalty met his half-hearted appeal, and as play continued he was indebted to Given's
close-range save from an attempted lob by Giggs.

Dimitar Berbatov replaced Rooney, who looked short of full fitness, while Valencia made way for Gabriel Obertan as United continued to press. The Bulgarian's first contribution was almost a telling one, as his glancing header from a Nani cross sneaked just past Given's post.

At the other end, Vidic produced two brilliant interceptions in quick succession to keep City at bay, first flicking a cross away from the lurking Nedum Onuoha, then toe-poking away the danger in an almighty goalmouth scramble.

United's menace continued to linger, though. Agony was etched across Giggs' face when he just failed to reach Nani's cross in the final minute of normal time, but those emotions flipped entirely just as time seemed to be up.

Evra led one final foray down the left flank, exchanged passes with Obertan and floated a superb cross into the centre of the City area. There, onrushing in trademark fashion, was Scholes to execute a perfect header which nestled just inside Given's post.

The goal prompted near-feral scenes of delight among players, staff and supporters of a Red persuasion. The saying goes that lightning never strikes twice. How about thrice? Just as the Blues had seemed set to curtail the Reds' hunt for history, United struck a winner in injury-time for the third of four meetings this season. For now at least, Manchester resounds to status quo, rather than new order.

The bigger picture for United is one of silverware. There must be favours from other clubs in order for history to be re-written, but if the champions are to be dethroned, it won't be without a fight.