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Gerrard and Torres Shred Real
Madrid |
 Liverpool
produced a magnificent performance to reach the Champions League
quarter-finals in style.
In a remarkable first half, Real Madrid were torn to shreds by a
breathtaking attacking display led by Fernando Torres, their arch-enemy from
his Atletico Madrid days.
Torres scored early on, before Steven Gerrard fired home from the spot.
And had it not been for an outstanding display from Spanish goalkeeper Iker
Casillas, Liverpool would have had a hatful in that first 45 minutes alone.
Gerrard scored a spectacular third seconds after the break to deflate Madrid
further and substitute Andrea Dossena added a fourth with three minutes to
go.
Sometimes Liverpool can defy logic.
So unpredictable in the Premier League of late, their fans were singing
about another Rome final long before the end. And who would ever bet against
the Anfield men in Europe.
Gerrard struck twice on his 100th European appearance for Liverpool to
secure a quite breathtaking victory, Real were humbled for the second time
in a fortnight by their old boy Rafael Benitez.
If manager Benitez feels he does not get enough respect for his Champions
League achievements at Anfield, this fourth appearance in the last eight in
five years will go a long way to gaining him the credit he craves.
England coach Fabio Capello was here for another Benitez masterclass, and
Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan - Liverpool go to Old
Trafford on Saturday - was a more than interested observer.
Anfield was at its European best, a cauldron of pounding sound cascading
down from the Kop.
And it inspired a stunning start from Liverpool, with Casillas making two
world-class saves in the opening minutes.
Torres, back after an ankle injury, had already embarked on one surging run
into the box, before he dumbfounded Fabio Cannavaro with a brilliant turn to
control a Gerrard pass, only for Casillas to save with his right foot.
Ryan Babel and Javier Mascherano both had shots deflected wide before
Casillas rescued Madrid again, stretching to his left to touch a Mascherano
20-yard effort onto the bar and over.
After 16 minutes Liverpool were ahead. Jamie Carragher's long ball had Real
on the turn with Torres and Kirk Kuyt baring down on Pepe.
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Torres looked to nudge Pepe from behind, and the Portuguese defender fell,
leaving Kuyt to square the ball for Torres to beat Casillas from six yards,
only his second goal against Real having managed just one against them for
Atletico.
Real were furious with referee Frank De Bleeckere, the official who sent off
Marco Materazzi when Inter Milan were beaten at Anfield at this same stage
last season. But the Belgian was unmoved.
Pepe was soon booked for dissent before Casillas needed to be at his best to
stop a towering Martin Skrtel header, before he somehow beat away a Gerrard
shot following more brilliance from Torres on the left.
Gerrard was booked for a foul on Sergio Ramos before more misfortune befell
Madrid. A linesman's flag signalled to De Bleeckere after 27 minutes that
Gabriel Heinze had handled in the box.
Replays showed the ball hit the former Manchester United man on the
shoulder, and he was booked for making his point. But Gerrard was nerveless,
driving home the spot-kick.
Real were fuming. Heinze hurled himself feet first into Torres and it needed
De Bleeckere and Gerrard to calm the situation, before Jose Reina produced
his first saves of the night to turn away a Wesley Sneijder free-kick and
hold Raul's header.
Another instinctive save from Reina stopped Sneijder from close range before
Mascherano found himself booked after Xabi Alonso had tripped Pepe.
That will rule him out of the next European match, but it was unclear
whether the yellow card was mistaken identity or because the ball was kicked
away from the free-kick.
Real needed to do something, and they sent on Brazilian forward Marcelo for
the anonymous Arjen Robben at the break.
But any plans for a fightback were destroyed just 65 seconds into the second
period. Babel got away on the left and laid the ball back for Gerrard to
volley superbly high into the net with Casillas helpless.
Real were in pieces, and had it not again been for Casillas - punching the
ball away to his right - Gerrard would have had another after 54 minutes.
On the hour Lucas was sent on to replace Alonso, with Saturday's likely epic
no doubt in Benitez's mind.
Belatedly Real took off a defender, Cannavaro, and sent on an extra forward
in Rafael van der Vaart. But Madrid had been bereft of attacking ideas, and
it was far too late by now.
Liverpool were able to indulge themselves by bringing on local teenager Jay
Spearing in midfield for Gerrard, an Anfield debut for the former FA Youth
Cup-winning captain.
Raul and Fernando Gago both had chances, but Liverpool were cruising at this
stage and next to be given a rest was Torres with eight minutes to go,
Dossena taking over, only to be booked within seconds.
With three minutes to go, the Italian defender appeared in the box to fire
home the fourth goal of the night after a fine build-up involving Babel and
Mascherano.
CULLED FROM: The Mirror
| |
Essien, Drogba Knock out Juve |
 Chelsea
fought back twice to overcome Juventus and reach the quarter-finals of the
Champions League.
The Blues went into the last-16 return leg with a one-goal advantage but
that was soon wiped out by Vincenzo Iaquinta's 19th-minute strike.
But the visitors levelled moments after referee Alberto Undiano had ruled
that a free-kick by Didier Drogba had not crossed the goal line in the 44th
minute.
The debate became academic in first-half stoppage time as Frank Lampard's
shot came down off the underside of the bar for Michael Essien to bundle
home.
Essien slots in Chelsea’s first goal, in his first game from long lay-off.
But Juventus restored their lead on the night when Undiano awarded the
Italian side a 74th-minute penalty for handball by Juliano Belletti.
However, Chelsea battled back for a second time when Drogba prodded home a
cross from Belletti in the 83rd minute to give the Blues a 3-2 aggregate
win.
The Serie A giants knew an early goal was a requirement if they were to get
themselves back into a tie that kicked-off in Chelsea's favour thanks to
Drogba's match-winner at Stamford Bridge.
Pavel Nedved was twice down injured in the opening eight minutes. The first
time after a collision with Essien and the second when he came off worst in
a clash with Nicolas Anelka.
He was replaced in the 12th minute by Hasan Salihamidzic after failing to
respond to lengthy treatment on the sidelines.
Nedved's loss as a bitter blow to the Juve cause as he had been the
architect of their fine start.
But Chelsea's worst fears were realised in the 19th minute when Iaquinta put
the Italians level on aggregate.
The Juve forward was put clear by David Trezeguet and lashed an angled dive
beyond Petr Cech.
Guus Hiddink's side were guilty of far too many misplaced passes as they
tried to get themselves back on level terms on the night.
Instead it was Juve who continued to set the pace of the game and John Terry
had to be alert to keep Trezeguet from getting on the end of a Del Piero
pass in the 39th minute.
However, in the 41st minute, Anelka found himself with the perfect chance to
test Buffon when the ball fell at his feet on the edge of the penalty area.
But despite having the luxury of time and space, the Frenchman's effort
almost hit the corner flag.
It had been a dreadful display by the English side who had shown a complete
lack of ideas and invention in the opening half. But it was all to change
inside two crazy minutes.
Chelsea were at the centre of controversy in the 44th minute when a
free-kick from Drogba was clearly over the goal line but not given by
Undiano or his assistants.
But seconds later it was immaterial as Frank Lampard's shot hit the
underside of the bar and Essien, playing his first game since being injured
last September, bundled the ball home for the equaliser.
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Essien's goal had capped a fine comeback for the midfielder who ruptured his
knee ligaments on international duty with Ghana last September.
His goal left Juventus needing to score twice to progress to the
quarter-finals at Chelsea's expense.
Chelsea were understandably put under pressure by the Italians when the
second half began.
Former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri stood inside the technical area as his
side toiled away without success.
The Stadio Olimpico had lost its first-half fervour and Chelsea took
advantage of the change in atmosphere to put more pressure on the home side.
In the 54th minute, Giorgio Chiellini was shown a yellow card for upending
Ballack but this time Drogba's free-kick fell kindly into the waiting arms
of Buffon.
The home crowd then voiced their disapproval when Ranieri replaced
goal-scorer Iaquinta with Sebastian Giovinco in the 61st minute.
Cech was then shown a yellow card after a shot from Giovinco deflected off
Jose Bosingwa.
The Chelsea 'keeper handled the ball outside the penalty area as he tried to
prevent it going for a corner.
In the 65th minute Cech atoned for his error with a flying save to keep out
a header from Trezeguet.
Del Piero's cross had eluded the Chelsea defence and although Trezeguet
found power with his header, Cech was equal to the task.
Moments later Chelsea replaced hero Essien with Juliano Belletti. The
Ghanaian midfielder was clearly not fit enough to finish the game.
Juventus hopes were hampered further when Chiellini was sent off for a
second bookable offence after fouling Drogba.
But referee Undiano was then at the centre of more controversy for awarding
a penalty to Juventus in the 74th minute after Belletti was adjudged to have
handled a free-kick by Del Piero.
The Juve striker sent Cech the wrong way from the spot to give the Serie A
side renewed hope.
But it was soon crushed by Drogba who side-footed a low cross from Belletti
into the net in the 83rd minute to cap a fine night for Chelsea.
CULLED FROM: The Mirror | |
Italy gain pain from Spain |  Spain moved the ball around freely in midfield early on but Fernando Torres and David Villa were continually left isolated by a typically stubborn Italian defence.
It was no surprise when the first clear-cut opportunity for the Spanish came from a set piece in the 25th minute. Villa stepped up to the mark from 30 yards, but Buffon was quick to dive low to his left and deny the coveted forward's effort.
David Silva aimed for the same spot six minutes later but - having already read the script - Buffon confidently dealt with the strike.
At the other end, Luca Toni nearly nodded the Italians ahead when Antonio Cassano found him in the area. The misfiring Italian
Spain saw a strong penalty appeal waved away before the break when Giorgio Chiellini's clumsy challenge upended Villa - leaving boss Luis Aragones seething on the touchline.
Silva and Villa began to terrorise the Italians in the second half but a combination of poor finishing and resolute defending by the Azzurri maintained the deadlock.
The Italians almost took the lead against the run of play when midfielder Mauro Camoranesi's close-range volley was spectacularly saved by Iker Casillas on the hour mark.
But Spain reasserted their dominance when Marcos Senna's 25-yard free-kick brought a solid punch from Buffon.
The Italian keeper produced a heart-stopping moment when he spilled Senna's long-range but the stopper was saved by his post and quickly recovered.
With the prospect of penalties looming, Spain charged into extra time desperate to put the game to bed - and they nearly got their wish when Silva fired inches wide wide of the left post.
The Italians responded in kind when Antonio Di Natale forced a brilliant diving save from Casillas.
Gonzalez Santi Cazorla could have wrapped up the win with the last kick of normal time but the substitute could not work out whether to shoot or cross and in the end did neither.
How Spain won shootout
FABREGAS SCORES Spain 4-2 Italy
DI NATALE MISSES Spain 3-2 Italy
GUIZA MISSES Spain 3-2 Italy
CAMORANESI SCORES Spain 3-2 Italy
SENNA SCORES Spain 3-1 Italy
DE ROSSI MISSES Spain 2-1 Italy
CAZORLA SCORES Spain 2-1 Italy
GROSSO SCORES Spain 1-1 Italy
VILLA SCORES Spain 1-0 Italy
SOURCE: The Sun
| | City snatch 'dinho from A C Milan |  MANCHESTER CITY have wrecked AC Milan’s bid to sign Ronaldinho by offering him £30MILLION in wages.
The Italians admitted defeat in the chase for the Barcelona star after the £180,000-a-week proposal.
AC vice president Adriano Galliani said: “We simply cannot compete with certain figures anymore.
"I cannot ignore the fact Italian football is now in fourth position in Europe behind England, Spain and Germany.
“Manchester City have offered Ronaldinho £9.5m a year.
“We can only compete with that if Barcelona give him away for free.”
On top of the massive three-year wage deal for Ronaldinho, City owner Thaksin Shinawatra will also have to stump up £20m to buy the Brazilian playmaker from Barca.
But the former Thai prime minister hopes much of his outlay will be recouped in commercial deals.
In a year at the Eastlands helm, Shinawatra has spent £50m on players and sacked Sven Goran Eriksson — despite him getting the club into Europe.
New boss Mark Hughes has been told there is a lot of cash to spend this summer.
City’s offer for Ronaldinho dwarfs the Premier League’s current biggest pay deals.
England centre-backs Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United and Chelsea’s John Terry both pocket £130,000 a week.
SOURCE: The Sun
| | Podolski ponders his Bayern Munich exit |  Podolski will consider his future at the German champions if he is not in new coach Jurgen Klinsmann's first-team plans.
Tottenham and Manchester City, former club Cologne and Italian giants Juventus are all reportedly interested in signing the 23-year-old.
Up for grabs: Germany's Lukas Podolski.
Podolski told the Bild newspaper: 'For me what matters at the moment is the Euros.
'Afterwards I will think about everything else.
'But if I can't see the possibility of playing under Jurgen Klinsmann, you have to ponder (the future).
'I am not a footballer to sit on the bench."
Podolski is under contract at the Allianz Arena until 2010, but has struggled to find his feet at Bayern since his big-money move from Cologne in 2006.
He had to settle for a place on the bench for large parts of last season after falling behind international team-mate Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Wenger gives go-ahead to £25m Adebayor sale |  Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will authorise the £25million transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor this month and begin a transfer merry-go-round among Europe's leading clubs.
Adebayor's eventual destination - AC Milan and Barcelona lead the chase - is also likely to have an impact on where Chelsea striker Didier Drogba finds himself next season as the summer transfer window gets going in earnest after the climax of Euro 2008.
Arsenal will be making changes off the pitch, too, with chairman Peter Hill-Wood poised to announce that American tycoon Stan Kroenke has joined the board.
Along with the appointment of a new managing director and finance director in the next few months, the restructuring of both team and management at Arsenal is expected to be in place by the start of the season.
Paraguay striker Santa Cruz is ready to move to the Emirates Stadium, but a fee will have to be agreed with Blackburn, who signed him last summer from Bayern Munich for just £3.7million but is now expected to fetch £12m.
Santa Cruz was seen as an inspired purchase by manager Mark Hughes, who last month left Ewood to take over as boss at Manchester City.
But the striker, who has recently been on goalscoring World Cup qualification duty for his country, may also be in no hurry to decide his future given the options which could be open to him.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Roma will take Louis Saha off his hands and is known to rate Santa Cruz highly.
The tall striker, 26, who made an instant impression on the Premier League with 19 goals last season, has the presence and experience which would go some way to reinforcing Wenger's young side, whose youthful vigour has already been increased by the signing of Aaron Ramsey, 17, from Cardiff and the impending arrival of 20-year-old Samir Nasri from Marseille.
But it is the departure of Adebayor, 24, which is likely to be the catalyst for change at the Emirates and across Europe.
Barcelona and AC Milan will now compete for his signature and although the Catalan club are confident they will secure the Togo centre forward, Arsenal will resist being rushed into a quick deal as AC Milan also want to sign the striker.
Barca director Marc Ingla was in London on Friday and wants to conclude the deal before July 6, because the club president Joan Laporta faces a vote of no-confidence that could end his reign. But a major signing would increase his likelihood of survival.
Although Barca are willing to pay £22m, Arsenal are likely to prolong the negotiations hoping that Milan come up with a rival offer as Wenger would hope to get at least £25m for the player he signed for £7m from Monaco two years ago.
The Arsenal manager and board of directors are prepared to sanction Adebayor's exit having been infuriated by the player's wage demands, which are understood to be £80,000 a week.
He was given a wage rise just a year ago and, although the board were prepared to give him another increase to £60,000 a week in light of the 24 goals he scored last season, his demands have proved too great to reconcile. Arsenal, who have already seen France utility player Mathieu Flamini tempted away by Milan's riches, would also like to add an extra midfielder before the start of the season.
CULLED FROM: Daily Mail
| | RONALDO GIVES FERGUSON MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS |  CRISTIANO RONALDO will give the cold shoulder to Sir Alex Ferguson when the Manchester United manager arrives at Portugal’s Euro 2008 HQ in a last-ditch bid to persuade the winger to stay at Old Trafford.
Concerned Ferguson is preparing to fly from his holiday base in France to Switzerland in the next few days after Ronaldo said THURSDAY, “Yes, I would like to play for Real Madrid.”
Under normal circumstances no international manager would allow club business to interfere with preparations for such a major tournament, least of all one which Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Portuguese team are among the favourites.
But Scolari wants Ronaldo’s mental state, described by friends as “turmoil”, settled once and for all to allow him to play properly.
So he will let Ferguson into the camp – if the player wants it. However that seems unlikely, with Ronaldo fuming over comments made by Ferguson last week that he and United would rather let the brilliant young forward rot in the stands than sell him to Real.
The prospect of the Footballer of the Year’s world-record £50million switch to the Bernabeu is closer than ever, especially after Real’s latest offer – of £300,000 a week – was revealed by the Daily Express, THURSDAY.
Portugal’s opening Euro 2008 game against Turkey in Geneva is looming SATURDAY, but a source within their camp told the Daily Express FRIDAY: “We understand that Ferguson will be coming out to talk to Cristiano.
“Scolari is a sensitive man. He wants Ronaldo’s mind to be settled so he can play his best football for Portugal. Normally he would not allow a club manager into the camp. But he cares about his players.
“If Ronaldo wants to see Ferguson he will let him, just to put an end to this.”
Ronaldo is non-committal about his future even though Real’s very public overtures have provoked furious reactions from United.
But WEDNESDAY, there were reports in Spain that Ronaldo has told his family he wants to go to the Bernabeu.
Then, THURSDAY night, speaking to a Brazilian website, he said: “Yes, I would like to play for Real Marid, but only if it is true that they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask.
“It does not depend on me. It is important for me to send this message out. From now on I will say no more about it.”
Ferguson will fight tooth and nail to keep a player who scored 42 goals last season as United won the Champions League and the Premier League. Ronaldo still has four years of his contract left to run.
THURSDAY night, United affirmed the position taken up by Ferguson and the Glazer family hierarchy.
“There is no change,” they said. “It is just the same as yesterday, the day before and the day before that. Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale.”
Portuguese FA president Gilberto Madaiol THURSDAY night indicated they wanted the weight of the dilemma removed from the player: “What happens to Cristiano is not our problem. He is a strong boy physically and mentally. He knows what he wants.
“Our problem is to have the best Ronaldo on the field for these next three weeks. That is our problem.”
Ronaldo’s mother, two sisters and grandfather arrived in Switzerland THURSDAY night to
support him at Euro 2008. And showing how confident he is of Portugal’s progress, he booked their house for three full weeks. It is not just Ferguson, though, who believes Ronaldo should not go to Madrid.
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is also worried about the potential move, according to friends, because he fears the nightlife-loving player will be distracted by the bright lights of Madrid. Weighed against that is a wish to cash in on a player at the peak of his powers.
SOURCE: Daily Express | | KANU WINS IT FOR POMPEY |  HARRY REDKNAPP won his first major silverware thanks to one of the game's most decorated players.
Nwankwo Kanu is the only footballer to have won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and Olympic gold.
And the Nigerian striker added another medal to his impressive CV by scoring Portsmouth's winner in the 127th FA Cup final.
The former Arsenal star had squandered a glorious chance midway through the first half when he struck a post from close range.
But he made amends by poking home eight minutes before half-time to break Cardiff's hearts.
For Redknapp, it was a moment to savour as he finally claimed his first major honours after 25 years as a manager — and Pompey's first FA Cup since 1939.
Redknapp's side was bolstered by the return of David James, Sol Campbell and Sulley Muntari.
For Cardiff, Robbie Fowler promised boss Dave Jones he would tell him if he did not feel fit enough to play.
And the 2001 FA Cup final winner was true to his word and did not appear among the final 16, with Jones naming an unchanged side.
Both teams made a lively start but Cardiff carved out the first real chance of the game on 13 minutes.
Joe Ledley slipped in Paul Parry behind Campbell. He got a quick shot away but James was out like a flash to make a block save.
A minute later, Peter Whittingham sized up a volley from 20 yards. He pulled his effort but the ball took a wicked deflection and a wrong-footed James was relieved to see the ball bobble the wrong side of his opposite post.
It was pulsating stuff and a Muntari free-kick for Portsmouth caught Peter Enckelman in a flap and his palmed stop almost gifted Redknapp's men the opener.
Lassana Diarra drove wide before Kanu passed up a glorious chance on 22 minutes.
Hermann Hreidarsson stormed down the left wing and fed Muntari. The Ghanaian squared for Kanu and he lost Glen Loovens with a lovely drop of the shoulder.
He easily sidestepped Enckelman but with the goal gaping from three yards, albeit at a narow angle, he slammed his effort against the post.
Roger Johnson glanced a header over from Whittingham's free-kick before Kanu tried his luck from further out but again his radar was switched off.
On 34 minutes, Glen Johnson should have done better with his cross after he found space down the right.
Enckelman punched it clear and then held a 25-yard rasper from Pedro Mendes.
Portsmouth started to press forward and on 37 minutes Kanu made up for his earlier miss by opening the scoring.
John Utaka beat his man down the right wing and managed to whip in a low cross.
Enckelman once again showed poor handling and only managed to palm the ball straight into the gangly Kanu's range and he prodded the ball over the line.
Cardiff responded and Parry got clear again down the left. He had the option of shooting but, spotting Kevin McNaughton flying in at the far post, he crossed.
But the ball skidded off the greasy Wembley turf and McNaughton could not get enough on the ball.
First-half injury-time arrived and more drama followed as Muntari gave away a silly free-kick.
Whittingham bent in another superb delivery and Glen Johnson just managed to clear for a corner under pressure.
Ledley whipped the ball in and Loovens hooked the loose ball home only to be pulled up for a handball in the build-up.
Roger Johnson got on the end of another free-kick at the start of the second half but Campbell got in the way.
Portsmouth broke with pace on 53 minutes through Diarra. He received a return ball down the left wing and picked out Kanu in the middle.
The Nigerian managed to get in a shot as the ball fell behind him but the ball deflected off Loovens for a corner.
Niko Kranjcar went into the book for a foul on Whittingham before Muntari whistled one over from 30 yards.
On 71 minutes, David Nugent cracked in a volley which Enckelman did well to turn around his near post. And Glen Johnson headed the corner past the same upright.
Sylvain Distin threatened to score one of the great FA Cup goals with a run from halfway with five minutes left. But his final effort was well blocked and ricocheted off him for a goal-kick.
Still Cardiff pushed for the equaliser but Distin then blocked Aaron Ramsey's right-footer.
And Glen Johnson made an even better block to keep out Roger Johnson's last-gasp effort.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Nugent 69), Pedro Mendes (Diop 78), Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu (Baros 87). Subs not used: Ashdown, Pamarot. Booked: Hreidarsson, Kranjcar, Diarra. Goals: Kanu 37.
Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae (Sinclair 86), McPhail, Whittingham (Ramsey 61), Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 70). Subs not used: Oakes, Purse.
Att: 89,874
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
SOURCE: The Sun | | Pompey's FA Cup journey | 
JUST GR-EIGHT ... Sulley Muntari scored
Pompey's winner against Man Utd in last 8.
THIRD ROUND
IPSWICH (0) 0 PORTSMOUTH (0) 1
Nugent 51
FOURTH ROUND
PORTSMOUTH (1) 2 PLYMOUTH (1) 1
Diarra 34, Kranjcar 45
FIFTH ROUND
PRESTON (0) 0 PORTSMOUTH (0) 1
Carter (og) 90
SIXTH ROUND
MAN UNITED (0) 0 PORTSMOUTH (0) 1
Muntari 78 (pen)
SEMI-FINAL
PORTSMOUTH (0) 1 WEST BROM (0) 0
Kanu 54
FINAL
PORTSMOUTH (1) 1 CARDIFF (0) 0
Kanu 37
SOURCE: The Sun | | It's Cristiano Ronal-go |  CRISTIANO RONALDO has dropped a Champions League bombshell by revealing he will consider his Manchester United future after the final.
The Red Devils, who face Chelsea in Moscow next Wednesday, believed Ronaldo was secure at Old Trafford for the long term.
But, the Portugal winger, 23, has hinted at a summer move to Spain.
Ronaldo said: “I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final.
“I am feeling calm here. I’m happy here but in the future I don’t know.
“I’ve said millions of times that I’d love to play in Spain but it’s one thing to dream and another thing for it to be a reality.”
Ronaldo signed a new five-year contract last April and United boss Alex Ferguson will be determined to hang on to him. But Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon would break the bank to land the 41-goal ace.
Ronaldo, who has already helped his side win the title, is fully aware of the interest.
He said: “I know Real like how I play and I know other teams in Spain like my game as well — so that’s good.
“Of course it is good to know that other clubs are interested in you.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Utd reach the homestretch |  MANCHESTER UNITED took one giant leap towards the title by crushing West Ham.
Cristiano Ronaldo's double and strikes from Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick pushed the Red Devils clear at the Premier League summit.
Dean Ashton's goal and Nani's sending off briefly threatened United's hopes but they proved too strong for the Hammers at Old Trafford.
They now lead challengers Chelsea by three points, with the Blues away at Newcastle on Monday.
Boss Alex Ferguson said: “It’s been a great day for us and we’ve got a big chance.
“Our players have been absolutely fantastic this season. We were down to 10 men today and I said to try to run the clock down, keep possession and be patient in the second half.
"I’m very pleased because there was a bit of tiredness.”
United were ahead after just three minutes when Ronaldo cut inside Lucas Neill before unleashing a shot that flicked off George McCartney and flew into the net.
Patrice Evra was required to make a goal-line clearance to keep United in front after Edwin van der Sar failed to collect James Tomkins’ looping header.
But United soon doubled their advantage when the visitors failed to deal with Owen Hargreaves' cross and Ronaldo turned the ball in with his right thigh for his 40th goal of an incredible season.
And it was three on 26 minutes when ex-Hammer Tevez picked up Ronaldo's pass and fired a superb 30-yard shot over Robert Green and into the roof of the net.
West Ham pulled a goal back two minutes later through a brilliant Dean Ashton effort.
Wes Brown sent Bobby Zamora’s cross looping into the air and Ashton held off Rio Ferdinand before leaping to execute a fine overhead kick.
The non-stop first-half action did not finish there as Nani was sent off for a red card after aiming a headbutt at Lucas Neill, who had appeared to push the winger in the back.
West Ham's hopes of a fightback were ended on 59 minutes when Carrick was allowed to amble 20 yards before firing home a shot via Neill.
United eased up for the remainder of the match, although Darren Fletcher almost added a fifth when he struck the inside of the post.
SOURCE: The Sun | | McBride's Fulham Escape the drop |  Fulham struck twice after the break to edge towards Premier League safety and leave Birmingham facing the drop.
Brian McBride headed home Jimmy Bullard's free-kick after 52 minutes to set Fulham on the way to victory.
Radhi Jaidi headed wide from Birmingham's best chance with five minutes left before Erik Nevland broke clear to add Fulham's second.
Fulham move out of the bottom three and Birmingham are under huge pressure in their last home game against Blackburn.
The Craven Cottage crowd celebrated wildly at the final whistle, with Roy Hodgson's side recording their third win in four matches to spark an unlikely revival after they looked relegation certainties.
Birmingham never posed a serious threat and may live to regret losing a two-goal lead against Liverpool at St Andrews last Saturday.
Fulham conquered the inevitable early nerves to open with greater fluency, and McBride rattled the Birmingham bar with a powerful header - although he had already been ruled offside.
And Taylor came to Birmingham's rescue against his former club after eight minutes when Bullard worked a neat free-kick to Simon Davies, who held his head in anguish as the keeper pulled off a stunning reflex stop from 10 yards.
Birmingham edged their way into the game and should have gone ahead after 29 minutes, only for Mikael Forssell to miscontrol right in front of goal from Sebastian Larsson's cross.
And it took a timely stop from Aaron Hughes to deny the Finn as he threatened to take advantage of good work from James McFadden.
Bullard was at the heart of most of Fulham's best work - and he was instrumental when they went ahead five minutes after the interval.
He whipped in a free-kick from the left flank and McBride applied the finishing touch with a fine diving header.
Diomansy Kamara almost added a second with a mazy dribble that took him past a succession of Birmingham defenders, but his final shot was way off target.
Fulham were refusing to sit back on the lead, and Clint Dempsey should have scored with 17 minutes left, only to head over from Simon Davies's cross when well positioned.
Birmingham finally created a clear opening with five minutes left, but Jaidi headed wide from only eight yards - and within seconds Fulham had swept down the field for Nevland to score the crucial second.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Trophy-less Wnger Stirs up Blues fracas |  ARSENE WENGER has blasted Chelsea’s money methods under Roman Abramovich as ‘morally not right’.
The Arsenal boss insists he will never take Arsenal to the brink of bankruptcy and is refusing to break the club’s strict pay structure to keep star midfielder Mathieu Flamini.
He feels Chelsea and the other top clubs who rely on the personal fortunes of billionaire foreign owners are wrecking the game.
Wenger declared: “We are not Chelsea and have no Abramovich.
"We work with the resources we have. It is not workable and not right when somebody suddenly parachutes into your court and brings a huge amount of money with them.
“I mean morally not right, because if this guy dies what do you do? You still have to pay the players’ wages.
“At Arsenal we have a debt of £360million so we have to respect the wage structure or we will go bust. You cannot ignore the numbers.”
While Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all pay their top stars in excess of £6m a year, Cesc Fabregas is on less than half the salary of Chelsea’s superstars.
Arsenal have made Flamini a final offer of £50,000 a week and want his decision by Monday.
But Wenger knows AC Milan and Juventus have offered him more.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Some chairman picks team for the manager – Ferguson |  Avram Grant might be trying his best, but he should realise that Sir Alex Ferguson has been here before. He is the master of mind games.
With Chelsea manager Grant criticising West Ham's Alan Curbishley for complimentary comments about United ahead of today's Barclays Premier League meeting at Old Trafford, his rival Ferguson was quick to insist that his team have the edge on the field.
Ferguson even made the mischievous claim that he knows of a manager who is being told who to pick for matches by his chairman.
The United boss would not expand on his comment, but it was a tantalising glimpse into this new age of ownermanager turmoil at certain clubs.
Ferguson said: "Some other clubs, the owner wants to pick the team. I know of a chairman who faxes his team to his manager every Saturday morning.
"Can you believe that? He has to pick it. Nothing amazes me but I'm surprised at that. But you've got all different types of owners who come into football nowadays and you get some owners who want to be handson and things like that.
"That's where I'm very fortunate. The Glazers have been tremendous. They let me get on with the job."
Victory over West Ham today and then at Wigan next Sunday would give United the title as they have a vastly superior goal difference to Chelsea, and Ferguson clearly believes Grant is just trying to rattle him.
The United manager added: "I think they are prepared to say and try anything, Chelsea. So let them get on with it.
"I have got a team that can answer all the questions. I am getting too old for all the other stuff. I don't know why he is suggesting there will be anything untoward (against West Ham).
"They should know about that better than anybody, Chelsea. They know about these situations."
If United win today, Chelsea go to Newcastle on Monday knowing they must do the same to remain level on points. Grant had been left unimpressed by comments from West Ham boss Curbishley which suggested he would "raise a glass" if United won the League.
The Chelsea manager said yesterday: "I've never seen a comment like this. He was wrong to do that. It's not a good message for your players.
"I'm not doubting the integrity of West Ham. I don't have a reason to doubt the integrity of Alan Curbishley. But I think it's wrong to say things like this because he's involved in the games against United.
"I cannot be angry. I will not be angry. I do not know what to say about these things, but I think it's wrong.
"I've heard so many rumours in the last few weeks. I heard that the referees would be with United, that teams would play for United, that this manager is a friend of Ferguson.
"I don't know what to believe. But I hope ...
"And I'm happy. Do you want me to dance to show you I'm happy? I didn't even dance with my wife at our wedding!"
With Chelsea and United set to meet in the Champions League Final in Moscow on May 21 and still embroiled over the fall-out from last Saturday's League meeting at Stamford Bridge, it is clearly going to be a tasty climax to the season.
Ferguson suggests United will carry their anger from the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea with them through to the season's end.
He added: "They were all gutted after the Chelsea game. It was an angry dressing-room and the players will remember that."
Grant, meanwhile, continues to hope United crack under the pressure.
He said: "I don't care how it happens, as long as they drop points. I'm not convinced. I cannot be convinced. I can just hope that it will happen. He (Ferguson) was so angry after the game I couldn't speak with him."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | GRANT RELAXED ABOUT FUTURE |  Chelsea boss Avram Grant insists he is not worried by speculation over his future after guiding the club into the final of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Grant has exceeded all expectations at Stamford Bridge since succeeding Jose Mourinho in September last year with the club currently level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League table.
When asked whether he had spoken with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich since Wednesday's dramatic victory over Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final, Grant replied: "Yes, but it was a private matter. I have a feeling that you know that he's happy, very happy. We are in contact, and he's happy."
He's added: "The relationship is good. Everything will be OK. Do I look worried? I need to do my job all the time, to look at the present and the future in this club.
"About my personal life, I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. Professionally, I know what Chelsea need to do tomorrow, a week from now or two years from now."
Meanwhile Grant insists that winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is not unhappy despite being left out of the side in recent games.
And the Israeli, who spoke movingly at a Holocaust remembrance at Auschwitz on Thursday, also expects striker Didier Drogba to remain at Stamford Bridge next season.
"There are a lot of rumours about everybody," said Grant. "Didier can only play for one club, but he's been linked to six or seven.
"He's at the club. Sometimes he has good days, sometimes he has bad days, you have to give answers to questions like this on the pitch. In the semi-finals, he was good.
"If Shaun is not happy, given my relationship with the player, he can come and tell me. I don't think there's a problem. We are in historic moments in Chelsea, so this is a moment to say 'thank you' to all the players at Chelsea."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Cruyff tips Barca |  JOHAN CRUYFF reckons the pain of seeing arch-rivals Real Madrid win the Spanish title will inspire Barcelona against Manchester United.
The Dutch legend backs Barca to end United boss Alex Ferguson’s Champions League dream.
Real need one win from their final four games to retain the Spanish title.
And former Nou Camp favourite Cruyff believes Barcelona and boss Frank Rijkaard will use their La Liga failure as motivation to reach Moscow.
He said: “I am convinced it will be a great day for Barcelona.
“If they lose, they have nothing left to play for this season but I don’t think that will be the case.
“They can’t afford to let their season drift away and this should motivate them. At Old Trafford there is no favourite for the game.
“As long as Barcelona impose their style on United early on and create space then I’m convinced they will win.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | United are no chokers - Ferguson |  ALEX FERGUSON has hit back at his critics, claiming: “We are not cracking up.”
Manchester United have drawn three and lost one of their last four games.
They also lost their heads after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge following a 2-1 defeat that left them neck and neck with Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title.
A poor performance in the Nou Camp has left them goalless going into the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Barcelona at Old Trafford tonight.
But when asked on the eve of the game if his team was beginning to run out of steam, the fiery Scot visibly bristled.
Ferguson said: “We should actually be sitting here right now as champions of the Premier League but bad decisions have gone against us.
“Having said that, back in August, with 38 games to go, it was our aim to win the league.
“Now we have two games to go and the title is still in our own hands.
“It does not matter what went before, whether we should have been given 50 penalties or had 50 penalties given against us.
“The point is we have two games left to win the title and are in a semi-final of the Champions League. Disaster!”
A number of United fans have also questioned Fergie’s tactics and team selections of late, particularly on Saturday when he left top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for an hour.
The Red Devils boss defended himself, saying he picked his side at Stamford Bridge with the clear intention of risking Premier League points to give the club a better chance of Champions League glory.
He said: “Given the number of games we have had recently I had to decide to get a bit of freshness in the team. I had to give my team the best chance possible of getting to a European final.
“We have a fantastic history in the competition but this football club should have had more success in Europe. I had to give it the best possible chance of that.
“We have got big-game players, ones who can win the match.
“If we look back at our other semi-finals, in some we have been unlucky, in others we should have done better.
“Now we are faced with a big game with a place in the final at stake and we have got a marvellous chance.”
Ferguson admits they will have to up their performance from the first leg if the club wants to reach only its third-ever European Cup final.
He said: “I thought our performance in the first leg last week was probably our poorest in Europe this season — and naturally that’s a worry as you look for reasons to explain why our attacking skills deserted us.
“However, I remain confident that we can come out on top.
“I say this because I know we can play a lot better and will do so. We won’t make the same mistakes.
“The players are well aware that they underperformed in certain areas and I know they are determined to put things right.
“They won’t let anyone down, I’m sure of that.”
History is not with United when it comes to this stage.
Out of nine European Cup semi-finals dating back to 1957, they have come through to reach the final only twice. On the four previous occasions they have played the second leg of their semi-final at home, they have never got through.
On the seven occasions they have failed to score away from home in the first leg of a knockout stage, they have progressed only once.
United have drawn 0-0 away in the first leg of Champions League ties twice before — and been eliminated on both occasions.
In 1998, Alex Ferguson’s side fought out a stalemate in Monaco before drawing the second leg of the quarter-final 1-1 and losing on away goals.
Two years later United held the upper hand in their last-eight showdown with Real Madrid after a goalless draw at the Bernabeu — but they lost the return 3-2.
But Ferguson is convinced all that is about to change. He said: “I remain optimistic because I believe we have come a long way since falling at this last-four hurdle in the past.”
Having said all that, United do boast a Champions League record of 11 straight home wins.
Ferguson said: “It is a marvellous record that surpasses any other team.
“But that will not change the aspect of this game.
“It will be very balanced, very open and fascinating tactically at times.”
Fergie has called upon a capacity crowd to turn Old Trafford into a cauldron — just as the Nou Camp was.
A special appeal has gone out to “wear your colours” with flags and banners encouraged to be brought on the night.
Ferguson said: “We must match their support, hopefully even better it.
“So show your colours, wave your scarves, hoist your flags high and make your presence felt.
“With your help we can do it. The players are ready to do their bit too.”
CULLED FROM: The Sun
| | Utd are prawn losers - Henry |  THIERRY HENRY has delivered the ultimate insult to Manchester United fans by saying they do not compare to Liverpool’s.
The former Arsenal striker taunted Old Trafford’s prawn sandwich brigade by claiming the atmosphere at Anfield — the ground Red Devils fans hate the most — is much hotter than at United.
Ahead of Tueday’s Champions League showdown, Barcelona star Henry also claimed United will be feeling under enormous pressure after the weekend loss to Chelsea which threatens to ruin a season that promised so much.
He said: “Old Trafford is not like Anfield, that has an incredible atmosphere. It will be a crucial game for them after playing at Chelsea, especially knowing they won’t find it easy to play against us.”
United boss Alex Ferguson has blasted the club’s supporters in the past for not making enough noise on European nights.
And former skipper Roy Keane famously accused United fans of being more interested in scoffing prawn sandwiches than supporting the team.
United were criticised for being too defensive in the goalless first leg but Henry insisted they had simply been outclassed by Barca.
He added: “It was not a surprise to see United play like that.
“There were times when they wanted to play but they couldn’t. It’s not easy to come to the Camp Nou and play better than us. They wanted to but they couldn’t.”
Henry taunted Fergie by reminding him of United’s quarter-final loss to Monaco 10 years ago.
The French striker said: “I remember we drew 0-0 at home and people were saying we were out.
“But we showed you can score a goal at old Trafford and we finished 1-1 and we went through.
“Monaco are not one of Europe’s big clubs and to go to the semi-final and also score at Old Trafford was incredible.
“They were a different team but still Manchester United — they won the League that season.
“Now they have more players who are famous. But then they had Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Teddy Sheringham.
“This time I am confident we will go through if we play at our level.
“It’s true that in the second leg at Old Trafford we will see a different United. We will have more open spaces to exploit but they can also pose a threat.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Utd divided into two By 2 Ballack Attacks |  MICHAEL BALLACK landed a stunning blow on Manchester United's title dream.
The Chelsea star grabbed both goals to fire his side right back into the championship race.
The Blues are now level pegging with United, ensuring the title tussle will go down to the very last day of the season.
Chelsea started well with Michael Essien forcing a diving save from Edwin van der Sar.
United were then rocked with the early removal of Nemanja Vidic, who was taken off on a stretcher with a nasty facial injury sustained by an accidental clash with Didier Drogba’s knee.
Chelsea should have taken the lead in the 20th minute when Joe Cole got clear of the United defence.
After initially losing the ball, the forward lashed the ball against the bar when it rebounded to him inside the area.
Soon afterwards, Cole shot just wide from the angle of the six-yard box when fed the ball by Essien.
Chelsea thought they should have been awarded a spot-kick in the 34th minute when Drogba went down under a robust challenge from Mikael Silvestre.
But referee Alan Wiley waved away Chelsea’s appeals, while United’s bench accused the striker of diving.
The opening half looked set to end goalless when Ballack grabbed the opener by heading home from Didier Drogba’s cross.
Chelsea needed to stay strong after the interval but a monumental blunder by Ricardo Carvalho in the 57th minute gifted United an equaliser.
The Portuguese defender passed the ball straight to the on running Rooney, who burst forward to emphatically slot past Petr Cech.
Chelsea piled forward in a desperate search for a winner and Drogba went close with a free-kick.
United held firm until Michael Carrick was adjudged to have handled in the box on 86 minutes and Ballack confidently stroked home the penalty.
Stamford Bridge endured a nerve-wracking final few minutes with United pressing for an equaliser.
Chelsea were twice forced to clear off their own line with Ashley Cole kicking away Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot and Andriy Shevchenko hooking away Rio Ferdinand’s volley.
They held on to ensure the title race will go right down to the wire.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Two Beckham fans In shirt tug-of-war |  TWO DAVID BECKHAM fans aged nine and ten are suing each other — over who owns a SHIRT the star tore off and handed to the crowd after an LA Galaxy game.
The nine-year-old grabbed it first — sparking a furious tussle with his best friend who insisted it was meant for him.
The boys’ angry PARENTS then got involved in the fight.
Last night both families were poised to go to court — after hiring lawyers following the match in Hawaii against the Honolulu Bulls.
Forged
The nine-year-old’s dad Wilfred Ho insisted: “My son got it first from Mr Beckham, directly.
“Our main argument for the jersey is that my son got possession.”
But the older lad’s mum Yoshika Kerr, who had made placards for the youngsters to wave during the game, insisted the ex-England captain, 32, TOLD her son he wanted him to have the shirt.
She and husband Eric said the gift was because their lad held his sign up during the entire game — while his pal could not be bothered.
The couple accused the Hos of reneging on a deal to let the boys each keep the shirt for a week at a time — by trying to fob them off with a replica bearing a forged signature.
Eric, whose wife had made signs declaring “Go Beckham” and “Aloha Beckham”, insisted: “Mr Beckham pointed out he wanted our son to have it and it’s been really hard on him.
“He’s such a big star and it’s one heck of an experience for the boys.
“We just want the Hos to keep their end of the bargain.”
LA Galaxy president Alexi Lalas branded the row “ridiculous”.
He scoffed: “My suggestion is that the judge get a pair of scissors, cut the thing in half and give half to each.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | United stars in Blues row |  MANCHESTER UNITED stars were involved in a post-match bust-up with Chelsea groundstaff at Stamford Bridge.
Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes, John O'Shea, Gerard Pique and Gary Neville were taking part in a warm-down session on the pitch when they were asked to move.
The row erupted when the players refused to come off the pitch and an altercation broke out between Chelsea stewards, groundstaff and the United players.
Chelsea had earlier beaten Manchester United 2-1 to go level on points at the top of the Premier League.
SOURCE: The Sun | We'll cross the
Stamford Bridge |  STEVEN GERRARD has warned Chelsea: We’re coming to pull it out of the fire again.
The Liverpool skipper and his team-mates must KO their Stamford Bridge curse under Rafa Benitez next Wednesday.
The Reds have not scored on the Londoners’ patch in EIGHT previous attempts since Benitez took over in June 2004.
Now they face a daunting task in the Champions League semi-final return after the Anfield first leg finished 1-1.
But Gerrard is convinced that is about to change for two reasons: Liverpool’s record of coming back from the brink — and Fernando Torres.
Three years ago the Kop kings made a habit of dragging themselves back from oblivion and Chelsea have never faced goal-machine Torres on their own manor.
Gerrard confident
And Gerro, 27, insisted: “We are a very good side in Europe away from home and that is the key point — not what people are saying about how we never seem to score at Stamford Bridge.
“We’ve got the players and belief to go there and win.
“The advantage is in their hands but we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and put in a magnificent performance.
“That is what it’ll need to turn it round but we have done it before often enough.
“People may think Chelsea are almost there but we’ve pulled it out of the fire many times in the Champions League. Time after time we came back to win in 2005.
“Back then we pulled it off when the odds seemed stacked against us in so many rounds, not to mention the final, so there is no reason why we can’t do it again.
“We can take encouragement from that and from the way we played in the first leg overall. This team never knows when it is beaten — and particularly in Europe.
“We haven’t been to the Bridge yet with Fernando in the team and that could make a difference.
“I could see on his face on Tuesday how disappointed he was at not scoring.
“He expects to score every game and, to be fair, he usually does.
“It was apparent how he causes real problems for defences and it’ll be the same at Chelsea.
“You wouldn’t put it past Fernando to get that all-important away goal that could take us through.”
John Arne Riise’s heartbreaking 95th-minute own-goal clanger stunned the Kop into silence. But Gerrard knows his side are made of sterner stuff — and senses Chelsea are well aware of it, too.
He added: “Of course we can still do it. Some teams might have come away from something like this with their chins on the floor but not us.
“We will be ready for the return. This season we have been to places like Inter Milan and Arsenal and scored, so I don’t see why we can’t do the same at Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea have a slight advantage but there’s another 90 minutes to go.
“We have to have the belief and confidence we can go through or it would be pointless going there.
“There wasn’t any sense of the Chelsea lads feeling they’d got one foot in the final.
“They seemed to realise there was another tough game heading their way next week.
“I don’t think any of their players left our place thinking they were home and dry.”
Liverpool’s belief stems from the fact they are the competition’s top scorers with 27 goals — plus another five in the qualifier — and have found the net in EVERY Euro away game this term.
Keeper Pepe Reina knows they face an awesome task but shares his captain’s optimism.
He said: “We’ve scored in every away game so far so why not repeat it?
“Stamford Bridge is a difficult stadium and they have great players, that’s clear.
“But we are Liverpool. We have been the underdogs before and will be again but we can still get to the final.
“And they have a big game on Saturday against Manchester United and can’t rest as many players as maybe we can. Hopefully, that game will take something out of them.”
Liverpool's record at Stamford Bridge
We look back at four years of tense clashes between the two Champions League semi-finalists.
OCT 3, 2004 CHELSEA 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Benitez’s first clash with Mourinho is settled by Joe Cole’s strike.
APR 27, 2005 CHELSEA 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (CL semi 1st leg)
Cech makes super save from Baros in a tedious game.
DEC 6, 2005 CHELSEA 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (CL group stages)
Shocking as Essien’s X-rated tackle on Hamann goes unpunished.
FEB 5, 2006 CHELSEA 2 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Gallas and Crespo goals KO Reds. Reina sent off for Robben push.
SEP 17, 06 CHELSEA 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Drogba wins it but Ballack is dismissed for stamp on Sissoko.
APR 25, 07 CHELSEA 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (CL semi 1st leg)
Joe Cole gives Chelsea deserved lead to take into second leg.
DEC 19, 07 CHELSEA 2 LIVERPOOL 0 (Carling Cup qf)
Crouch (right) off for lunge at Mikel. Lamps and Shevchenko score.
FEB 10, 08 CHELSEA 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (Prem)
Ballack almost wins it late on in this frustrating clash.
CULLED FROM: The Sun | | Ref. Styles demoted to Shrewsbury v Chester | Controversial referee Rob Styles has been dropped to League Two this weekend after failing to award two penalties in favour of Manchester United against Blackburn.
Styles will run the derby between Shrewsbury and Chester - the first time this season he has refereed outside the top flight.
The Hampshire official ignored United's pleas for spot-kicks in their 1-1 draw at Blackburn when Wayne Rooney was brought down by Steven Reid, and when Michael Carrick's shot was handled by Brett Emerton.
Last month Styles, 44, stunned Man City fans at Birmingham by awarding a penalty against Sun Jihai when TV replays showed Gary McSheffrey had instigated a shoulder to shoulder collision outside the area.
Styles was also forced into an apology to Liverpool in August after wrongly awarding Chelsea a penalty at Anfield.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Barca let off by Ronaldo-miss |  The drama might have arrived after more than 90 minutes the last time Manchester United appeared here at the Nou Camp but on this occasion it was events after little more than 90 seconds that could live long in the memory of Sir Alex Ferguson.
It was then that Cristiano Ronaldo was guilty of a rare moment of misjudgment when the opportunity to seize a potentially decisive advantage in this Champions League semi-final was squandered by a player who normally proves so reliable.
When Ronaldo stands like a gunfighter and visualises what is about to happen before he takes his penalties, there are not many who doubt that in the next few seconds the ball will hit the back of the net.
Not so here last night, however. A penalty was presented to the Portuguese superstar and the Portuguese superstar missed. Not by millimetres but what looked like miles.
It would have made the 1,000 mile journey back to Manchester last night all the more painful because there, in that one precious moment, was the chance to move a significant step closer to what these players clearly consider their date with destiny.
Now, though, Moscow looks a long way from Old Trafford. They have no lead. No away goal and, after this at times worryingly one-sided encounter, no right to think they should be able to finish the job next Tuesday.
Rant: Barcelona's players protest the penalty decision
Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o were brilliant at times, even if Messi was short of fitness and eventually had to come off.
Contrary to popular opinion, this Barcelona team are far from past their best. They were terrific last night, so much so that they, too, will have regrets.
They really should have scored, not least when striker Eto'o shot into the side-netting early in the second half.
That United did not concede a goal will please Ferguson, however. Rio Ferdinand was terrific and Wes Brown also did well as his emergency partner at centre-half.
But Fergie has been in this situation before. Most memorably when Monaco and then Real Madrid landed in Manchester and proved how precarious a position it can be to return home from a goalless first leg.
Great escape 1: Ronaldo's spot-kick goes wide of the mark
Remember David Trezeguet? Remember how magnificent Steve McManaman and Fernando Redondo were in the white of Madrid?
The absence of Nemanja Vidic had forced Ferguson to make changes but they were changes that only increased the sense of excitement. With Owen Hargreaves forced to move to right back, Ferguson needed someone else to offer support to Ronaldo and Rooney. So step forward Carlos Tevez, a far more aggressive option.
His deployment as support striker to Ronaldo nevertheless came as something of a surprise when Ferguson opted, in turn, to push Rooney on to the right flank.
It did not seem to matter after a minute and 34 seconds. Gabriel Milito quite deliberately blocked Ronaldo's header with his hand and the United man was presented with the opportunity to bury the ball in the same net as Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 1999 Champions League Final.
Great escape 2: Barca’s Rafael Marquez brings down Ronaldo but it’s no penalty
Goal No 39 of an already extraordinary season coming up, on this occasion from the penalty spot.
Trouble was, Ronaldo tried to be far too clever. Normally he drills them low and hard. This time he went for the top right-hand corner and missed by some distance. Agony for United. Ecstasy for a Nou Camp crowd that suddenly burst into life.
Lifted by such an unlikely reprieve, Barcelona suddenly burst into life, too.
Messi, Deco and Eto'o began to play the kind of football that was wonderful to watch but worrying for United. Who said this team was finished? Who said that without Ronaldinho they posed nothing like as great a threat?
Last night Rijkaard left Thierry Henry on the bench and it soon became apparent why. You have to be at your very best to secure a place in this attack.
Barca were attacking with so much fluency and finesse, and dominating possession in a manner that must have alarmed Ferguson. Possession for United was proving hard to come by, but when Ronaldo burst into the box in the 29th minute and was knocked to the ground by Rafael Marquez he might have thought his side deserved a second chance from the penalty spot.
Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee, thought not. Television evidence suggested Ronaldo was a little unfortunate, even if his fall was a touch dramatic.
That aside, it was Barcelona who continued to threaten. Barcelona who looked to expose weaknesses in United's reshuffled back four and secure that lead they were so keen to take to Old Trafford next week. They seemed to have so many options, with Andres Iniesta and Yaya Toure also proving something of a handful for a United side struggling to gain any real momentum.
Only in the last 10 minutes of a difficult opening half did United even begin to perform with any real composure. Even then, though, it was a 45 minutes Ronaldo will want to forget.
His only contribution of any note beyond the penalty incidents was the run that forced Marquez to commit the foul that rules him out of Tuesday's second leg. Beyond that, it all seemed depressingly familiar.
A possible repeat, it seemed, of that performance in Milan 12 months ago. United would have to be better after the break. Much better.
If United were better in the second half, Barca still enjoyed the best of the chances. Gianluca Zambrotta threatened, as did Messi and Eto'o before Xavi Hernandez tested an excellent Edwin van der Sar with a stinging shot.
It meant the score remained even but advantage United at Old Trafford? Not necessarily.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | | | | | Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea |  John Arne Riise's injury-time own goal gave Chelsea the advantage in their Champions League semi-final. Dirk Kuyt's close-range finish three minutes before the interval looked to have secured Liverpool a slender lead.
And it took fine saves from Petr Cech to deny Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres as Liverpool threatened to put the tie out of Chelsea's reach.
But Riise headed in Salomon Kalou's cross five minutes into injury time to give Chelsea a priceless away goal.
It was an incredible finish to an absorbing match which leaves Chelsea as slight favourites to progress in next Wednesday's second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea boss Avram Grant surprisingly gave Florent Malouda the nod on the left flank, while Liverpool dropped Sami Hyypia and drafted in Alvaro Arbeloa.
In a typically cagey start, Chelsea had more of the possession but Liverpool carved out the clearer opportunities.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shot straight at Cech after seven minutes, then Kuyt's poor control let him down after he was sent clear by Xabi Alonso, allowing the Chelsea keeper to make the clearance.
Joe Cole wasted Chelsea's best opportunity when he was sent clear in the area, but he failed to realise the amount of time he had and the chance was gone.
Chelsea had penalty appeals waved away when Didier Drogba tumbled under Jamie Carragher's challenge before Torres was denied by a brilliant save from Cech.
The Spanish marksman was cleverly played in by Gerrard, but Cech was alert and came out to make a crucial block.
But he was powerless when Liverpool took advantage of a catalogue of defensive errors to take the lead two minutes before half-time.
Chelsea were caught out by Alonso's quick free-kick and when Lampard failed to clear, Kuyt stole in on the end of Javier Mascherano's mis-kick to steer the finish past Cech.
The goal gave Liverpool a further injection of confidence and they dominated the early stages of the second half, with Ryan Babel fizzing a 25-yard shot just wide after 58 minutes.
Chelsea needed to regain a foothold in the game, and boss Grant made a change to send on Kalou for the subdued Joe Cole.
Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina had been virtually unemployed, but he was in action after 66 minutes when Michael Ballack headed on Lampard's free-kick.
And it then took a vital interception from Mascherano to block Malouda after Lampard carved open the Liverpool defence.
Chelsea had shown greater purpose in the latter stages, but once again Liverpool's trademark defensive resilience had kept them at bay.
And with six minutes left they broke the shackles and Cech needed to produce a stunning stop to turn Gerrard's rising volley over the bar.
Cech made another fine block from Torres in injury-time - and its value was emphasised by dramatic events seconds later.
Kalou's cross sparked uncertainty in the six-yard area and Riise, in two minds, sent a spectacular flying header into the top corner at the Kop end.
________________________________________
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Riise 61), Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel (Benayoun 75), Gerrard, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia, Crouch, Pennant, Lucas.
Goals: Kuyt 43.
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack (Anelka 86), Joe Cole (Kalou 63), Drogba, Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Obi, Alex, Belletti.
Booked: Terry.
Goals: Riise 90 og.
Att: 42,180
Ref: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt 7.56 (on 90 minutes). | | WE’RE HERE TO WIN - TERRY |  JOHN TERRY is as close to the European Cup as he has ever been, vowing to hold the trophy in his grasp in Moscow on May 21.
If the Chelsea captain needed any reminder of the glittering prize that awaits one of the four teams left in the competition, it was there in a glass cabinet outside Anfield’s trophy room.
He gave it a glance as he breezed into the pre-match media conference then talked of his burning desire to erase the memories of two previous semi-final heartbreaks at the hands of Liverpool.
With manager Avram Grant under pressure and star players being linked with summer moves, Terry made a Freudian slip when he talked of the “chance to make history for the club in a hole.” He meant, of course, as a whole, but that aside Terry articulated Chelsea’s determination perfectly.
“That burning feeling is still there from the two previous occasions when we lost to Liverpool in this competition,” he said. “That will never go away. But one thing that will certainly ease that is to progress to the final this time and to go on and lift that trophy I have just walked past outside the doors here.
“That’s something I want to get my hands on as Chelsea captain and to make history for the club. It would be fantastic.”
Terry says it is a testimony to Chelsea’s resilience, character and strength in depth that they are still in the hunt for two trophies despite a traumatic season when they parted company with manager Jose Mourinho, suffered a spate of injuries to star players and have been undermined by internal bickering.
He did not deny the spats, but said they were quickly resolved and the players remain supportive of the troubled Grant. “We are totally behind the manager,” he added.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but one thing we have done since Avram has been in charge is that if anyone has had a problem or a grievance we have all got together, as you need to do, and spoken our minds and got it sorted in the space of 10 minutes.
“No one has walked out the door and talked behind anyone else’s back. We’re getting in a room and sorting [problems] out.”
Terry himself came off the pitch after the second-leg win over Fenerbahce in the last round with a face like thunder. “Of course I wasn’t happy,” he said. “One reason was that Michael Essien had got booked and will miss the first leg of the semi-final. And the second reason was that we hadn’t shut the game down as I would have liked.
“I was very frustrated but we spoke about it and it was sorted 10 minutes after the game. And the next day everything was fine.
“All season long we have shown great character, great togetherness and great strength in depth. We’ve had key players out injured but the players who have come in kept us alive in both the Premier and Champions Leagues.
“It proves that whatever team we have on the pitch we will have enough strength, enough character and enough big players to go on and win the game.” While Chelsea were installed as favourites when the teams met in 2005 and 2007, this time their own stumbling form and Liverpool’s renowned prowess in Europe would appear to give Rafa Benitez’s side the edge.
Terry disagrees. “It’s about what we do, not about what Liverpool do,” he said. “We’ve got the players to not only win this tie but hopefully progress to the final and lift the trophy.
“We’re coming here to win the game, we’re not coming to set up shop. We’re coming here to score goals and hopefully put the pressure on Liverpool.”
That’s some claim considering the previous six European ties between the clubs have yielded just three goals. “I think it will be tight again. Defensively they are very good. And going forward they are very good also.
It’s going to be tough for us in both directions. But we’re hoping to get an away goal or goals to help us.
“We’ve got to use to our advantage that the first leg is at Anfield this time – like Liverpool did on the two previous occasions when the first leg was at Stamford Bridge.
“Liverpool have always had the backbone of Stevie Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. They have added to that with Fernando Torres and his goals. The manager has bought very well over the last two or three years.
“They might not have the best team on paper, but one thing is for sure when they go on the pitch they are together. And that is what we have to show.”
Then Terry strode off – casting another eye over that trophy.
CULLED FROM: Daily Express | | George Gillett stirs the pot … invites predators to clash |  Rafael Benitez's Champions League quest is in danger of being overshadowed by Liverpool's bitter boardroom wrangling after it emerged the rival factions will meet head on at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Co-owner George Gillett has invited senior officials from Dubai International Capital to be his guests for the Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea.
Gillett will not be able to attend because of illness but his party — including son Foster, a fellow director — will be there to welcome DIC's representatives.
The move came as Benitez urged fans not to be distracted by the boardroom battle and instead 'make more noise' to unsettle Chelsea, who Liverpool have twice beaten at this stage of the tournament.
Gillett has wanted to sell his 50 per cent stake in the club to DIC for several months and his bold move comes five days after his estranged partner Tom Hicks staged an extravagant PR exercise defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the club.
Colorado-based Gillett has since announced he had no intention of selling his stake to Hicks. It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with DIC chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.
Hicks made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield but he will surely not want to be in the same directors' box as the DIC representatives.
Liverpool manager Benitez has urged supporters to expose what he believes to be a mental block among Chelsea's players in this intense atmosphere. Although captain John Terry promises that his players 'mean business' and will go for goals, not shut up shop, Benitez hopes the past losses will weigh heavily on Chelsea.
He said: "If it was me trying to make up for those defeats, I would view it as an incentive, for sure. But for them, it could prove a psychological problem after what happened.
"They have experienced players who shouldn't have any problem coming to Anfield and dealing with the atmosphere but we must create even more noise, if possible, to put them to the test.
"Our supporters know we need everyone behind us from the start. I am sure they will be focused on the team, rather than anything else."
Steven Gerrard is fit after missing the win at Fulham because of a neck injury. Along with Jamie Carragher and Fabio Aurelio, he will miss the second leg if booked. Chelsea have no players in a similar position but are without the suspended Michael Essien.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Parreira resigns |  Carlos Alberto Parreira has resigned from his post as South Africa manager, citing family imperatives.
His resignation has left the South African team in disarray, just two years before the country hosts the 2010 World Cup.
Parreira is believed to have left to be with his wife who has just undergone major surgery and is reported to be fighting cancer,
Brazilian Parreira, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup and was hired 16 months ago after resigning as Brazil coach, said: "It is heartbreaking to not have this job until the end. My family needs me, especially my wife needs me to be near her. After 36 years of marriage, I can't say No."
President Molefi Oliphant said: "The coach has a dilemma, a family dilemma. The health of his wife has deteriorated."
Parreira's resignation takes effect from May 2 and he will help officials find a new coach tasked with building South Africa into a credible force for the 2010 World Cup.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Benitez focused on Conquering Europe |  After smothering Fulham's feeble escape plan, Rafa Benitez turned his attentions to the task of tightening his grip on the emotions of the other club from this desirable London postcode.
Benitez sat menacingly at the pleasure-pain controls of those who watch their football in SW6 as Liverpool's team bus untangled itself from the tight residential streets around Craven Cottage.
Fulham had been cheered fleetingly by the absence of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, only to be plunged deep into gloom by the realisation that Liverpool stand-ins are better and their own team worse than at this time last year.
Chelsea are next on the agenda for Benitez and he is seeking to pour semi-final misery on the Blues for a fourth time.
Since arriving at Anfield in 2004, the Spaniard has won only five of 18 games against Chelsea. He has lost eight, but has emerged victorious from two Champions League semifinals and an FA Cup semi against them. Jose Mourinho was the manager to suffer in those three.
Tuesday is Avram Grant's chance to succeed where his predecessor failed.
But Benitez believes managerial changes at Stamford Bridge are irrelevant.
He said: "The key to them is Roman Abramovich. In the past they have built a fantastic team. 'They play more or less the same. They've played well this season, like they did last season. The have been in the Carling Cup Final, they are going for the title and they are in the Champions League semi-final.
"The only difference is in the press conferences," he added with a grin — an impish reference to Mourinho's fondness for stirring rivalries through the media.
"In some games the managers are important," said Benitez. "But the best thing for a manager to do is not create any mess, so the players can just play."
Asked whether he missed the verbal jousting with Mourinho, he shook his head and said: "Maybe you do, but not me. I have enough things to do in Liverpool now."
Benitez gave up on the title long ago, was humbled in the FA Cup by Barnsley and almost failed to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League. But his season has blossomed late.
A top-four finish is virtually safe after the win at Craven Cottage, the prospect of another European final looms and his smart tactics of detached dignity throughout the boardroom squabbles appear to have boosted his popularity.
Everyone at Liverpool may have started the season claiming the only thing that mattered was the Barclays Premier League, but the European Cup is a seductive trophy.
"When you talk about the Champions League it comes down to one game," said Benitez. "Sometimes the manager can do something with tactics or the style of football and that can be the difference.
"In the League, you're talking about nine months. Mentally it's not easy. In the cup it is very different. We want this game against Chelsea to be a Champions League game. In our minds we want to be playing in a Champions League style."
Liverpool trail Chelsea by nine points in the Premier League but Benitez will also use this as a sign of progress. Last season, Chelsea ended the campaign 15 ahead of his side. Benitez claims this is his strongest squad and decent displays from the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant and Lucas Leiva supported that at Fulham.
Pennant and Crouch scored the goals but Javier Mascherano controlled the game from midfield before leaving early to ice a couple of kicks.
After victory at Reading, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had hoped to see his team beat a weakened Liverpool, as they did last May to avoid the drop. But on this occasion Fulham gave the visitors time, leaked soft goals and fluffed their chances.
"I won't have any regrets about coming here whatever happens," said Hodgson. "I knew I was taking on a difficult job and that it would be difficult to turn things round.
"I've enjoyed the Premier League matches and I shall be very, very sad if it's not to be Premier League next year, but I'm not prepared to concede that it won't be."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | United thank Tev-ens |  THE faces may change but the indomitable spirit remains the same. With two minutes left here, it was Chelsea’s title to win. Now it is United’s to lose once more. Did anybody really think United were going to lose this game, even with 88 minutes on the clock?
Was anybody really surprised when Carlos Tevez rose and nodded the ball into the net to spark wild celebrations?
It is the drama that follows the side everywhere. It is the never-say-die attitude instilled in the club since boss Alex Ferguson awoke the sleeping giant and got it moving again.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes knows, because he was there when the trophies started flowing.
His boot has done for many a team in the closing minutes — just ask Oldham fans about the 1994 FA Cup semi-final.
Special talents
So what sets this club apart when it comes to last-gasp heroics?
Hughes said: “When you get the opportunity to play for Manchester United, you have special talents anyway.
“One of those you have to have is to be a winner and not to accept defeat.
“Another of those demands is to keep on going right to the end, because the consequences of not getting results is that you have people lining up to criticise.
“Certainly, in my time at the club, one of the big things was the fear of failure.
"It was not a case of being so rigid with fear that you couldn’t perform, it was more a case of if you put in a poor performance or did not deliver there were plenty of people who would line up and criticise you.
“That is what drives these top players on. They want to win things. They don’t accept they are ever beaten. And when they are, they don’t say they have lost. They say they have run out of time.
“There is always the fear of the manager, too. They always have to go back into the dressing room and that certainly keeps them on their toes!”
Tevez is getting a habit of popping up with crucial late goals. Having gone behind to Roque Santa Cruz’s first-half strike, United were on the ropes. They were not playing well.
But in the final 15 minutes, they piled everything forward towards the two tiers of their travelling faithful.
Brad Friedel was producing heroics to keep them out and valid penalty claims were being refused by referee Rob Styles.
Still they came, though, and then Nani swung in that vital 88th-minute corner. Paul Scholes leapt to head on and Tevez provided the final touch.
Ferguson said: “It was a big, big point for us. Tevez again late on.
“I don’t know how much more you have to do to win a game of football. But we put everything into it in the second half, the players really did.
“The lads were fantastic in the second half. They showed their mettle. Fantastic. That’s five from Tevez that you can put down to late or equalising goals which have got us points.”
While Hughes was disappointed, he was hardly surprised and he even feared that United would then manage to get an injury-time winner.
He added: “Once Manchester United got back on level terms, they fancied their chances. That’s what they work in. They work in dreams and miracles and, on occasions, are able to produce them. They are never beaten.”
While much attention has been placed on Cristiano Ronaldo and his mountain of goals this season, Hughes claims it is a rock at the back who has been the foundation of their success.
He declared: “The key this year has been their back four. When you see goals scored, Rio Ferdinand is always there celebrating. He wants to show that he is excited by what is happening.
“He drags people along with him and I have been really impressed by him. He is a lot more focused than he used to be when he first burst on to the scene. He is an exceptional football player.”
Tevez’s header was the goal that has surely won Ferdinand and his United team-mates the title now.
Even if they are beaten at Chelsea next Saturday, wins over West Ham at home and Wigan away will do it thanks to their superior goal difference.
They deserve it, too, for the way they have once again injected breathtaking football and drama into a season.
Manchester United’s true desire to win things is a model for every other club.
It is why they should be Premier League champions this season.
It is why they go to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona on Wednesday with a sense of destiny 50 years after the Munich air disaster.
It is why Manchester United is the club it is.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Benitez shrugs off Anfield civil war |  Rafael Benitez has re-affirmed his commitment to Liverpool at the end of another week of turmoil at Anfield.
The Liverpool chief made his position clear ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to struggling Fulham and with the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea on the horizon.
Benitez had cast grave doubts about his long-term future at the club last weekend in the row over exactly who attended meetings before Christmas with Jurgen Klinsmann when the manager's job was discussed.
But Benitez now seems much happier with his position, saying: "At this moment I have two years of my contract still to go, I am really pleased and really happy here. And I want to stay. And I want to stay for a long time."
Asked if he had spoken to Liverpool's warring American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett - or under-fire chief executive Rick Parry - Benitez said: "I do not need to talk to them, I need to talk with my staff and my players.
"We have been training and all I want to talk about is the games against Fulham, and then Chelsea. We will be preparing for the games properly."
He also seemed relaxed about potential summer transfer funds, despite the club being unsure of who will be at the helm by then.
"As far as transfer money is concerned, I cannot be sure. But we will try to do our best, the scouting staff and I know what to do and we are progressing and working on things. The scouts are doing a fantastic job and we are trying to progress with the targets we have."
On the ongoing crisis, all Benitez would say was: "I want to win against Fulham, I know everyone is asking and talking about other things, but I am a professional and I want to concentrate on football.
"Things (around the club) have not been a distraction for the players. We have confidence in ourselves and we are playing well. That shows the strength of our squad, the quality and the character of the players."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Parry is a total disaster- Hicks keeps shooting |  SIX-shooting Texan Tom Hicks has come out with another all-guns-blazing onslaught that will stun Liverpool.
The controversial co-owner insisted the boardroom wars splitting the club will continue unless he takes sole control.
Hicks is the Kop’s Public Enemy No1 after a season overshadowed by storm clouds off the pitch, rather than glories on it.
Now he has revealed his plans and launched his fiercest attack on chief executive Rick Parry.
If he can persuade co-owner George Gillett to sell he would like to extend boss Rafa Benitez’s contract to 2011.
He communicates regularly with Benitez, who he insists is “comfortable with how things are going.”
He will take all the debt off the club and ensure funds for the 70,000-seater stadium on Stanley Park.
He had no idea who Jurgen Klinsmann was when Gillett sounded out the German about taking over as boss.
Although Gillett is adamant he will not sell, Hicks is still clinging to the belief he will persuade his Yank partner to have a change of heart.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Hicks said: “I’m planning to make George an attractive offer and I’m working on getting that all lined up.
“It’s not just the money to buy George out — I want to fix the club’s entire financial structure.
“If I’m the majority owner I could put more capital in and I’ve got a 25-year track record of being a very successful investor around the world.
“My goal is take all the debt off the club except the working capital needed and get the permanent financing in place for the stadium.”
Hicks arrived with Gillett last February, hailed as Liverpool’s saviours, before the fans turned on him.
But Hicks thinks the men in the firing line should be Gillett and Parry. He added: “What’s happened under Rick’s leadership has been a disaster.
“We’ve fallen so far behind the other top clubs — and the new stadium should have been built three or four years ago.
“We’re still the top brand in the football world, we just don’t know how to commercialise it and get the money to buy great players.
“It all goes together and Rick needs to resign. He’s put his heart into it but it’s time for a change.”
Yet an end to the warring which exploded again last week — when Hicks sent a letter to Anfield demanding Parry’s head — could rumble on with Gillett refusing to sell.
Hicks admitted: “George and I started this as friends but, at this point, it’s unworkable. If George doesn’t sell then we stay in this position like we’re in.
“When it’s 50-50 it is a difficult proposition as you can’t do anything without their agreement.
“I can’t force George to accept and it’s complicated but I still hope it’s going to happen. I will make him an attractive offer soon.”
Hicks clearly feels throwing his support behind the manager will help bring fans to his way of thinking.
He said: “Rafa and the players have their heads down, they’re playing great football and I’m confident they’ll continue to do so.
“Myself and Rafa communicate regularly and I know he feels comfortable with the way things are going.
“I think Rafa has unique skills and the ability to motivate the team. If I were to buy George out the first thing I would do is give Rafa a one-year extension. It would make sure he is here up until the time get the new stadium and hopefully beyond.”
But his admission he had no idea who Klinsmann was puts into question his standing as a football man.
Hicks confessed: “I called Jurgen up on the internet to find out.
“George had talked to him several times, talked to Parry and set up a meeting in New York.
“I did go to the meeting but Rick had already been talking to Jurgen for three hours alone.
“Everybody thought Tom Hicks tried to sign Jurgen Klinsmann which is not the case. George initiated it but we all participated.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Fergie fires Utd warning |  ALEX FERGUSON has reminded his players that despite their recent run of sparkling form, they haven't won anything yet.
Their weekend 2-1 win against Arsenal has put Manchester United in a commanding position at the top of the table with just four matches to play, but Fergie has been in the game long enough to know you can taken nothing for granted - especially after seeing Arsenal squander a five-point lead to now sit nine points adrift of his side.
The United boss said: “I am not getting carried away as I know what football can do to you.
“My team is keen to do well and the players are showing great consistency.
“We never give up, which, of course, is a priceless quality to have.
“That’s the kind of spirit we’ll need in our remaining games.
"Hopefully that will continue and we will win the league.”
Next up are Blackburn, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, at Ewood Park on Saturday.
Hargreaves ready for Blackburn
Traditionally they are feisty encounters but it is a game Owen Hargreaves is well prepared for.
The England midfielder scored the winner against Arsenal with a superb free-kick.
Hargreaves said: “It was a big result but every game is big now. We go to Blackburn in good spirits.
“We do not have a midweek game, so we can have a bit of a rest.”
Ronaldo took his tally for the season to an astonishing 38 goals despite having to retake his penalty.
But in front of the Stretford End he kept a cool head to place his effort in the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Hargreaves said: “It is as big a pressure as it gets and he wasn’t fazed by it at all.
“That’s why he is the best at the moment. In the second half he made some great runs, which helped us get some momentum.
“I am very pleased with the way the game finished. It was a tough match.”
Ferguson could have defender Nemanja Vidic back for the Blackburn match. The Serbia international has missed the last three games after suffering a knee injury against Roma in the Champions League.
SOURCE: The Sun | | We can do Chelsea a favour - Melchiot |  Mario Melchiot has pledged to help former club Chelsea if they have any chance of winning the Premier League title when Wigan play Manchester United on the final day of the season.
The Latics captain, who spent five years at Stamford Bridge, was delighted that Emile Heskey's late equaliser in last night's 1-1 draw increased his side's survival hopes, but admitted he still wants Chelsea to be champions.
Avram Grant's are now five points behind Manchester United and need to win their last four games, including one against Sir Alex Ferguson's side, and hope one other club beats the champions as well.
Melchiot believes Wigan can step up to the mark providing the title race goes that far.
He said: "We can still do Chelsea a big favour and beat Manchester United on the final day of the season. We need the points ourselves and may have to win to stay up. We want to get our future secured by then, but it might all come down to the last game.
"I don't think Chelsea's title hopes are over. It is out of their hands now, but the two clubs still have to play each other and United could lose again. At this stage it is possible — no-one thought they would drop points at Middlesbrough.
"Part of me is sad I may have cost my old club in the title race. I always get a lot of love and respect from the fans at Chelsea and I want nothing more than for them to win the title. But I had to do my job for Wigan first.
"We knew they might be slow to begin with and come out strong in the second half. But, after they scored, they sat back and we felt we were back in the game.
"I told the players to go for it and in the last few minutes we started attacking and got our reward."
Even if the league title proves beyond them, Melchiot still believes Chelsea can end the season with a trophy by triumphing in Europe.
The 31-year-old was in the first Chelsea side to reach a Champions League semi-final when they lost to Monaco in 2004 and was surprised that the club lost to Liverpool at the same stage on two other occasions.
Chelsea will take on Liverpool over two legs for a third time with the first match at Anfield next week and Melchiot believes it will be third time lucky.
He said: "I think they can go all the way. They have better individual players in the team now than the one I played in that lost to Monaco. It's time they got to the final.
"The first leg will be difficult — Chelsea have struggled for years at Anfield — but they can finish them off in the second leg at Stamford Bridge."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Hargreaves upends Arsenal |  Owen Hargreaves left Manchester United daring to dream of retaining their Barclays Premier League title as they saw off Arsenal at Old Trafford to leave the Gunners' own championship hopes in tatters.
The England midfielder struck a glorious free-kick winner in the 72nd minute after Cristiano Ronaldo had brought the Red Devils back into the game from the penalty spot.
Topping the lot: Owen Hargreaves gives United a boost
But this was the stuff of nightmares for Arsenal who had taken the lead through Emmanuel Adebayor.
They are now nine points behind United with only four games to go and it will need a miracle for them to overcome the deficit.
However, despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool in midweek, they showed little signs of a hangover in the first half.
Arsenal enjoyed a lot of possession, stretched United and will feel they could have made the breakthrough.
Adebayor rattled in a shot that Rio Ferdinand did well to deflect to safety before Park Ji-Sung glanced a header wide of the post following a cross from Hargreaves.
It was end-to-end stuff at this stage of the game and Adebayor sent his shot into Edwin van der Sar's arms following a one-two with Cesc Fabregas.
Then Wayne Rooney went close in a swift counter-attack in what was developing into an open game.
Rooney almost made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute only to see his effort scrambled away at the near post after Ronaldo had created the opening.
Alexander Hleb then released Adebayor 13 minutes later. He had a clear sight of goal but only succeeded in sending his effort into Van der Sar's arms.
United hit back and Rooney got away from Kolo Toure a minute later and fired in a shot. However, Jens Lehmann stuck out his leg and steered the ball away for a corner to Arsenal's relief.
Fabregas then got away down the left for Arsenal and tried to pick out Adebayor at the back post but Van der Sar was alert and made the interception.
Arsenal made the breakthrough in the 48th minute thanks to good work from Robin van Persie.
He got clear down the left and delivered a quick cross into the area.
While Ferdinand and Michael Carrick hesitated, Adebayor got beyond them to direct the ball into the net, though there was a suspicion that he used his hand rather than his head.
Either way, it was his 26th goal of the season and just the boost Arsenal were looking for.
They almost added a second a minute later when Van der Sar was forced to make a smart save and prevent an own goal from Ferdinand after he got his bearings wrong following a cross from Adebayor.
United drew level, however, thanks to Ronaldo's 38th goal of a remarkable season from the penalty spot in the 54th minute.
William Gallas was adjudged to have handled Carrick's shot and referee Howard Webb had no hesitation in the pointing to the spot.
Ronaldo lashed his penalty into the top corner only for Webb to order him to retake it after spotting an infringement.
Such is Ronaldo's confidence, however, he again made no mistake to bring United level at 1-1.
Carlos Tevez then went close to giving United the lead after stepping off the bench, his 30-yard shot go narrowly wide in the 65th minute.
Arsenal swept forward again though in the 68th minute and Wes Brown's attempted clearance from Gael Clichy's cross came back off the post.
Hargreaves then gave United the lead with a superb free-kick.
With the Arsenal defence perhaps expecting a Ronaldo thunderbolt, the former Bayern Munich man curled his effort up and over the wall and beyond Lehmann.
It was only Hargreaves' second goal since his £17million move from the Bundesliga in the summer and it was one to savour.
Arsenal were stung after seeing United suddenly regain the ascendancy, knowing their title hopes were fading fast.
They kept driving forward in the hope of securing a point at least but it was all to no avail.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Parry parries Hicks |  RICK PARRY hit back with a stinging volley as the in-fighting tearing Liverpool apart took a new twist.
The Anfield chief executive was stunned to learn co-owner Tom Hicks had demanded his resignation in a letter sent to the club on Thursday.
Parry immediately dug in for a scrap, knowing Hicks’ 50 per cent control does not give him the power to remove him.
And he took a swipe at the Texan billionaire, who shattered the Reds’ feelgood factor just 48 hours after a stirring Champions League win over Arsenal sealed a semi-final with Chelsea.
Parry: There is no unity
Parry, who plans to take legal advice, said: “This week I shouldn’t be the story — the story should be the team. It’s offensive to the manager, the players and the fans.
“In a week when we’ve had another great European triumph there’s more dirty linen being washed. No individual is bigger than the club — certainly not me — and the club will be fine.
“But once again it shows there is a lack of unity at the top. I stick by what I said a couple of weeks ago, when I called for the ownership difficulties to be resolved.
“I was surely only echoing what any Liverpool supporter would want. It is essential for the club’s well-being.
“We should be concentrating on winning games and making sure the season ends on a high note.
“We’ve just had an outstanding Champions League win over Arsenal and now there’s a semi-final against Chelsea to look forward to.
“It saddens me that internal matters like this are being aired in public. It was never the Liverpool way.”
Hicks’ estranged business partner George Gillett was quick to back Parry — further proof of the depths to which the relationship with his fellow owner has sunk.
Gillett, who could now launch his own bid to take sole control, admitted he had no idea Hicks was planning to make such a shock move.
But he insisted: “Rick retains our full support. Any decision to remove him would need the approval of the full Liverpool board.
“It should be remembered that consists of six people — myself, my son Foster, David Moores, Rick himself, Tom Hicks and Tom junior.”
Hicks wants Parry out after claiming boss Rafa Benitez was unhappy and the chief executive allowed big-name buys to slip through the net.
He also accused Parry of failing to maximise the commercial potential in the same way as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
SOURCE: The Sun | | HICKS RENEWS PARRY ATTACK |  Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has explained his decision to ask the club's chief executive Rick Parry to resign, describing him as arrogant and decrying his "inability to manage an organisation".
Hicks wrote to Parry, who was instrumental in bringing Hicks and George Gillett to the club, asking him to tender his resignation in yet another tumultuous week at Anfield - overshadowing the team's stunning Champions League defeat of Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Hicks told the Mail on Sunday: "Rick Parry has been Liverpool's CEO for 10 years and we haven't won a league championship under his leadership. Our commercial revenues have not kept up with other top clubs during that time, which has made it very difficult to compete for the Premier League."
Parry has vowed to continue his work at the club, but Hicks insists his position is untenable, characterising his tenure as a decade of underachievement.
Hicks added: "After watching him operate, I came to the conclusion it was time to ask him to resign, due to his inability to manage an organisation, his seemingly arrogant attitude to our supporters and his lack of communication with Rafa (Benitez).
"I reached my decision a few weeks ago but waited until after the games against Everton and Arsenal.
"It is important to try to have a new CEO in place by May so we can begin working with Rafa on player transfers."
Parry has fiercely defended his work on Merseyside, saying: "I stand by my track record in English football and as chief executive of Liverpool Football Club.
"It would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on these allegations -- that should be a matter for the Liverpool board.
"In fact, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss these matters with our co-owners and board colleagues. This continuous airing of issues in the media is clearly not helpful at this crucial stage of our season."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Barca, last stop for United - Eto'o |  Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o believes the likely return of Argentine striker Lionel Messi and Portugal midfielder Deco will improve his side's chances of reaching the Champions League final.
The Catalans should be celebrating the prospect of a last four clash with Manchester United but their performance against Schalke in their quarter-final did little to lift the atmosphere of gloom at the club.
Barca will be missing their inspirational captain Carles Puyol for the first leg against United at the Nou Camp, but the returns of Messi and Deco is giving Eto'o some cause for optimism.
Confident: Samuel Eto'o reckons Messi and Deco will make the difference
"We will improve when we've got Messi and Deco back," said Eto'o. "Why can't we dream about winning?
"We are just as important a club as Manchester and our players are just as good."
Off the field tension has done little to help the side's cause, with incessant speculation surrounding the future of high-profile players and the names of possible new coaches filling the pages of the local media.
Given the circumstances it was understandable that Barca struggled and appropriate that Wednesday's 1-0 win was decided by a bizarre goal coming from the unlikely figure of Yaya Toure.
The Germans had Barca on the ropes in the first half but their victory hopes ended when the Ivory Coast midfielder scuffed the ball in from close range after a Bojan Krkic cross had ballooned off a defender and been headed off the line.
Krkic's performances provided one of the few highlights of the two games and Frank Rijkaard's decision to take off the 17-year-old instead of the anonymous Thierry Henry midway through the second half was greeted with jeers by the Nou Camp faithful.
That reaction reflected the growing opinion amongst Barca fans that many of the club's more experienced players are past their best and that their only hope of defeating United lies in relying on hungry youngsters like Krkic and Lionel Messi.
Under fire club president Joan Laporta did his best to dispel the gloom with an upbeat assessment of his team's prospects.
"We are proud of the team because they are fighting all the way," he said. "We have to escape from this climate of fear because it undermines the team.
"Enthusiasm and support are what is needed because we are still in the Champions League.
"It isn't easy to get into the semi-finals and we should be united as a club and try to enjoy it.
"After all it is only the 10th time in our history that we have reached this stage of the competition."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Ready to take out Arsenal – Ferguson |  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted his players are in the ideal frame of mind to tackle Arsenal in Sunday's crucial Premier League clash.
United, three points clear of Chelsea and six ahead of Arsenal, can take a big step towards the title if they win at Old Trafford.
Confident mood: Sir Alex Ferguson says his Manchester United players are in the ideal frame of mind ahead of their crucial clash with Arsenal
The teams have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the European Cup this week, with Arsenal dramatically knocked out by Liverpool and United progressing to the semi-finals at the expense of Roma.
And Ferguson believes his team are in good shape ahead of the match against the Gunners.
"I always viewed the Middlesbrough match as our most difficult game and I wasn't surprised with the performance of Middlesbrough," he said.
"They could have beaten us but we rescued a point out of it.
"The games against Arsenal and Chelsea are the two big ones. They are fantastic occasions which all the players look forward to. It's best if you go into the games in decent form and I think our form is decent.
"It will be a great game on Sunday. As we know Arsenal have been our main competitor for 13 years or whatever and it's not going to change on Sunday.
"It will be a hard-fought match and hopefully we will take the spoils."
United have been further boosted by the return to action of experienced defenders Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre following long-term injuries.
Neville appeared as a late substitute against Roma after almost 13 months out with an ankle injury, and was given a noisy reception by the Old Trafford faithful.
"What he learned is how much he's appreciated by the fans. It was a great reception he got," said Ferguson.
"It's good to have the boy back. He's been through a hard time of it with persistent small injuries that were always de-railing him."
United face a hugely tough and important run of matches through to the end of April.
As well as Premier League games against Arsenal, Blackburn and Chelsea, United face a European Cup semi-final against Spanish giants Barcelona.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Stand down, Parry - Hicks | Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has called for the resignation of the club's chief executive Rick Parry.
Hicks has written to Parry to ask him to stand down although he has no power to sanction that without the say of co-owner George Gillett.
The American is thought to be unhappy with Parry, who he feels is siding with Gillett in the club's power struggle.
The news comes on a day when Dubai International Capital reportedly ended their interest in buying the club.
DIC are said to be unwilling to do business while there is so much turmoil at the club.
"You have two partners who do not see eye to eye. And we decided that we pull out completely. Let them sort out their problems," DIC chief executive Sameer Al Ansari told the Liverpool Echo.
He added: "We will continue to be interested and would love to own the club but we are not going to put ourselves in a difficult situation where we make the investment but we have no control over the destiny of the club and we cannot influence the success of the club.
"Unfortunately, the terms that have been put on the table do not allow us to do that."
Only last month Parry asked for the Liverpool co-owners to resolve their differences.
"If they're not able to co-exist then there needs to be a solution where one buys and one sells, or both sell," Parry told 5 Live's Sportsweek.
"There aren't too many other possibilities but it's pretty clear that to carry on with the status quo is going to be extremely difficult."
Hicks is said to be unhappy with those comments and was not at Anfield on Tuesday night to watch Liverpool defeat Arsenal in the quarter-final of the Champions League.
Gillett was shown on TV world-wide sitting next to Parry in the Liverpool directors' box.
BBC Sport understands Hicks is aiming to take sole control of the club with his relationship with Gillett described as "unworkable".
However, with the club ownership split 50-50 between the two Americans, Hicks would not have been able to have got sanction for Parry's dismissal, hence the letter to Parry.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Kop factor will decide - Benítez |  Rafael Benítez claims that the Kop factor will prove overwhelming when Liverpool host Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
Benítez, whose side have the advantage of Dirk Kuyt's away goal following their 1-1 draw in the opening leg at the Emirates Stadium last week, claims that it was the intimidating Anfield atmosphere that proved too much for Chelsea in the famous 2005 Champions League semi-final and suggested that Arsenal would also succumb in similar circumstances on Merseyside.
"You could feel the atmosphere against Chelsea in the semi-final, and I expect that to be the same this time," said Benítez. "Our fans can also hold the key. I saw Chelsea affected by the Kop, it was clear. Hopefully it will be the same again.
"It is easy to say that you do not have any problems with big crowds in away games of this importance. But when you have to face our fans for 90 minutes, then it is not easy for the majority of players. They have been here before. But the difference is the Champions League, it's knock-out now and that is the difference."
The 1-1 Premier League draw at the Emirates at the weekend has left Liverpool eight points behind the Gunners in the title race and Benítez freely admitted that the Champions League, which he won in his first season at the club, is Liverpool's only chance of silverware this term. However, he also believes that Arsenal are in the same boat and that this will also be playing on their minds when they take to the field at Anfield.
"If they want to win a trophy then it must be this game because it will be very difficult to win the Premier League," said Benítez. "Before the game on Saturday they knew they had to win to stay in the title race. He [Wenger] changed five players, but had to bring back his big players trying to win the game. Maybe afterwards he felt that the race for the title is over.
"But then United drew at Middlesbrough, so he will maybe think that their chance has returned. But I still believe this game at Anfield will be the most important match they have if they want to win a trophy."
Liverpool defended in numbers in the first leg, as Arsenal dominated possession, but were ultimately frustrated by Benítez's smothering tactics. However, the Liverpool coach claimed his side will adopt a more attacking approach tomorrow. "This will be different from the first leg, because playing at Anfield is a massive difference," he added. "It could well be an attacking game. It is important for the club and for me to progress. We have been working hard to get to this point all season, so it is important for all of us.
"The Champions League is massive for them, that is what they will be thinking about. But we are in good form, our players are doing well and we have fresh legs. And for us, we need to score. Arsenal can always score away so we cannot think of a 0-0."
Benítez will be without Jermaine Pennant as the former Arsenal man picked up a hamstring injury at the Emirates on Saturday. Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell are long-term absentees, while Benítez will recall those rested at the weekend. Javier Mascherano, suspended for the league game at Arsenal, will definitely return.
For Arsenal, Robin van Persie looks set to make an unexpected return after being included in the squad. It had been feared that the Holland international would not recover in time from the recurrent thigh problem that forced his substitution at half-time during the first leg.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Stamford Bridge will be different - Grant |  Chelsea FC coach Avram Grant promises that their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Fenerbahçe SK will be different from last week's game in Istanbul, where the London side lost a 1-0 lead as they were hit by two second-half goals.Čech blow
The return of goalkeeper Petr Čech from an ankle problem may have been postponed by two weeks following facial surgery, but Grant has cause for confidence nonetheless. His team welcome the Turkish champions to Stamford Bridge knowing they have got through on the three previous occasions they have contested a quarter-final of Europe's greatest club competition in the last five seasons. 'Big opportunity'
"Of course I have thought about the game in Istanbul," said Grant. "I don't think any game is the same as the last one and [Tuesday] will be a different game. In Istanbul it was a good performance but the worst result, so obviously we don't want it to be the same. These things happen in football, especially when you dominate the game and your concentration is affected. The only thing I would say is that we have learned from our mistakes. We want to dominate this game, which won't be easy, and then we want to stay concentrated for the whole game. Our target is to reach the semi-finals and we will do everything to reach it. It's a big opportunity for us." Title chance
The Čech injury, resulting from a training-ground collision with a team-mate, is not as critical for the hosts as it might have been given the calibre of the man who stands in for him – Carlo Cudicini. Otherwise, Grant should pick from a fully-fit squad with Ricardo Carvalho expected to come through Tuesday's final training session without mishap. Despite the deficit, Chelsea's supporters will be anticipating a successful conclusion to the tie for a side who remain strong challengers for the Premier League crown – with Manchester United FC being held at Middlesbrough FC, the Blues are within three points of the summit after Saturday's 2-0 win at Manchester City FC . Pressure
Yet, according to the English media, Grant remains a coach under pressure. "How many times have you asked me this question?" was his retort to an inquiry about whether his job is on the line in this contest. "So many times I have been asked this and the answer is always the same – I need to do my job and all that matters is getting through to the next round." Zico confident
Fenerbahçe coach Zico can include defender Gökhan Gönül again after suspension but is likely to stick with Gökçek Vederson at left-back as Roberto Carlos is still not 100 per cent fit following a thigh injury. Claudio Maldonado complained of flu symptoms on Monday and was excused training but it is hoped he will be available. Zico says the fact his team, 2-1 weekend victors over Kayserispor, hold the lead will not affect the way they approach the match. "We will play the way we always play," he said, "and that's to attack. It's the reason we are here. Every single minute, every second, will be important. We have to be careful and take our advantages in the good spells we will have." CULLED from: UEFA.com | | MADRID TO HIJACK RONALDO |  REAL MADRID are locked in a battle to hijack Cristiano Ronaldo on the cheap.
The European giants will take advantage of the FIFA ruling enabling them to sign the Manchester United star in 2010 for the remaining two years of his salary — around £10million.
And that puts pressure on United to complete new contract talks to keep Ronaldo at the club until 2014 and increase his wage to £140,000 a week.
Reports in Spain and Italy are indicating that both Real and Milan will try to trigger the FIFA regulation to snap up the Portuguese winger, who has emerged as the hottest property in the world after his record-breaking season.
Real coach Bernd Schuster said this week that Ronaldo was in their sights, though he admitted that he did not think United would sell him at the moment.
Desire
But Schuster added: "In the short term I can not see it being feasible, but I say that in a couple of years I think he may wear the white shirt at the Bernabeu."
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson dismissed the Real coach's remarks and added: "We get used to it. It's their way of tapping up a player. Of course UEFA don't do anything. There is no point. We just get on with it.
"Ronaldo loves it here. This is his place."
Ronaldo has often expressed his desire to one day play in Spanish football and recently revealed he was worried that defenders in the Premier League could cause him a career-threatening injury with their brutal tactics.
Even Fergie admitted at the time that he would have his work cut out to convince the player to stay at Old Trafford rather than move to Europe where he would receive better protection from referees.
SOURCE: NOTW | | I'm no reffin' cheat |  THE ref at the centre of the Champions League row between Arsenal and Liverpool has hit back at suggestions he was doing a favour to a countryman.
Dutch official Pieter Vink denied the Gunners a clear penalty after Holland striker Dirk Kuyt felled Alex Hleb.
But Vink insisted: “It’s ridiculous to say I made the decision because I’m Dutch.
“There are many nationalities playing in every team nowadays — Spanish, French, Italians, Brazilians — and it’s not an issue. It’s a completely ludicrous suggestion.”
Arsenal were even more suspicious when it emerged that Vink and Kuyt come from the same neighbourhood and have known each other for years.
Yet Kuyt said: “I know the ref. When I played for Feyenoord, he was ref for a lot of our games.
Van Persie knows ref too
“But you could say the same thing about Robin van Persie.
"He also used to play for Feyenoord before joining Arsenal and he’ll know Pieter Vink just as well.
“So it is wrong to say the ref did me a favour on Wednesday night just because he knows me.
“I think the penalty decision was right.
“It was a close call because I did touch Hleb. But I never pulled his shirt and I don’t think he deserved a penalty.”
Kuyt’s goal — his sixth of this Champions League campaign — cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor’s opener for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw.
It leaves Liverpool in pole position going into Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg.
Vink, 41, is regarded as Holland’s top official and will represent his country at Euro 2008.
Under UEFA rules he is not allowed to comment on the penalty incident but he did admit: “I haven’t seen it again but I will look at it on DVD.
“If it was a game in Holland then I would admit it if I made a mistake.
“All I will say is that it was a great atmosphere with two good teams and I didn’t have any problem handling this match.”
FIFA refereeing advisor Mario van der Ende reckons Vink got it badly wrong.
He said: “When you are an official at this level you know you have to get it right — and he didn’t.
“My colleagues, journalists and Guus Hiddink, who saw it numerous times, all said that it was a 100 per cent penalty.
“Being a referee is the same as someone walking the high wire without a safety net — and in that environment only the best will survive.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Roma boss wants vengeance |  ROMA boss Luciano Spalletti wants Champions League revenge on Manchester United to wipe out the most painful memory of his life.
The Italians were crushed 7-1 in an historic night at Old Trafford last season as United steamrollered their way into the semi-finals.
Alex Ferguson’s side face Roma again at the same stage of this year’s competition tomorrow and Spalletti admitted his ENTIRE team had prayed to be drawn against the Red Devils.
He said: “When I heard we would face Manchester I put my arms in the air and shouted ‘Hell, yes, at last!’
“Finally we have the chance to put things right.
“This is the perfect opportunity for us to wipe out the memory of last year.
“We’ve taken this draw as a matter of pride. There is a moral here and that is in life you always get the chance to make up for what happened in the past. This is our chance to find peace.
“We can reverse the pain we have had in our hearts and now we can free ourselves from it. We’ve carried this inside for a year now and we can get rid of it.”
Ironically, United faced Roma in the group stage this season, drawing 1-1 in Rome and winning 1-0 at Old Trafford.
And Spalletti risked the wrath of United’s fans by describing their triumph last season as a “freak” result.
He added: “The result made it the worst night of my career — even though in terms of the team’s performance I’ve seen worse.
“I felt so much sadness for my players because they didn’t deserve to lose so badly.
“United were able to get the maximum benefit from their efforts. They had 10 shots on target and scored seven goals and that’s not normal. It was an anomaly.
“United played a magnificent game but it was such a bitter experience for my players and the ambience around our club.”
Spalletti insists he is ready to face United with a loaded gun.
He added: “United can win everything and beat anyone but we also have some bullets in our gun.”
Roma fired well as they dumped Real Madrid to reach the last eight. And Spalletti added: “I always rely on a collective performance. It’s not about the best 11 players but the best team of 11.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | One of you has gotta go – Parry calls Kop shots |  LIVERPOOL’S chief executive Rick Parry has told the club’s owners one of them must sell-up — and quick.
George Gillett re-vealed on Friday his relationship with fellow American Tom Hicks has broken down.
Parry said: “Someone has to sell, that is clear if they are not able to co-exist.
“My plea is that something happens this week.
“There is a need for a degree of urgency but it is urgent to get it right — not urgent to come up with the wrong solution.
“To move onwards and upwards we need a resolution.”
Dubai International Capital are believed to be still ready to launch a full takeover for Liverpool.
But Hicks is refusing to sell because he wants to keep a controlling interest in the club.
Parry added: “To succeed you need unity at the top, unity at the club and everyone pulling in the same direction.
“It is clear from what George said the unity is not there.
“It is certainly not conducive to long-term planning and managing the club.
“But I don’t think this is going to have a direct bearing on the players.
“Over time, if we fail to deliver and fail to perform, that is when star players become dissatisfied. But that is not an immediate fear from where I sit.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | INCE PERFECT |  MK DONS boss Paul Ince celebrated his first trophy as a manager last night after watching his side lift the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley.
His side, second in League Two, left it late to claim the glory against Grimsby with two second-half goals but that didn't bother Ince.
He said: "It's been a long, hard road - we've played some hard teams to get here, but we feel we can be a handful for anybody.
"We created a lot of chances, and it was just a case of waiting for one to go in, but we seem to be good at scoring penalties in this competition."
Flagged
Grimsby missed a penalty in the first half, when Danny Boshell's effort was saved by Willy Gueret.
Keith Andrews put the Dons ahead with a controversial penalty given by referee Phil Joslin seconds after his assistant had flagged one of their players offside.
And just minutes later, a powerful Sean O'Hanlon header from Colin Cameron's corner made sure of the victory.
Boshell had been brought down by Gueret for the Grimsby penalty, but the French goalkeeper redeemed himself with a smart stop.
Mariners keeper Phil Barnes then made a fantastic save to keep out Dean Lewington's header when the full-back was left unmarked six yards out.
Both sides had other penalty claims turned down as the first half remained goalless - notably when Grimsby defender Nick Fenton appeared to handle a cross.
Decision
But in a crucial few seconds of action, Cameron's curling shot hit the post, and with at least one Dons player appearing to stand in an offside position, the assistant referee's flag was raised - but Joslin pointed to the spot after adjudging that Nick Hegarty's subsequent challenge on Danny Swailes deserved a penalty.
If Grimsby's hearts were broken by that decision, they were well and truly shattered when O'Hanlon's header, which went in off Rob Atkinson, made it certain Ince's side - with captain Andrews leading from the front - would be collecting their first trophy.
Mariners boss Alan Buckley said: "It was a game of two penalties - ours looked more of a penalty than theirs did, and our players are up in arms as we felt a decision [the offside flag] had been given in our favour - but the referee didn't see it that way.
"But we've got no complaints after 90 minutes. They're a decent team and pass it well, but goals change games - we had a golden opportunity with our penalty but didn't take it."
SOURCE: SOTW | | Hate Me All You Like - Capello |  FABIO CAPELLO has sent out a chilling message to grumpy England stars by telling them to either like his tough regime ... or get on their bikes.
After just two games of the Italian's reign, there are already signs of unhappiness among key members of the squad.
Even though they expected a hardline attitude, even some seasoned stars have been SHOCKED at Capello's cold, clinical approach.
But the new England coach is unperturbed by the whispers of discontent. And a source close to Capello told Sport of the World: "He really doesn't care if the players hate him.
"As far as he is concerned, they have to get on with it, abide by the rules or leave. He is not here to be popular with the players.
Mutterings
"He is aware that some of his methods might not have gone down too well with some players but it does not bother him. He will do whatever he thinks it takes to get a successful England team."
The mutterings about Capello's style and regime are beginning to grow. If anything, the second get-together and match only strengthened the notion that the Italian will be the toughest boss most of these players have ever worked under.
Anyone expecting a slightly warmer Capello on the trip to Paris was badly mistaken.
Among his new introductions were compulsory 'quiet times in rooms'. Under Steve McClaren and Sven Goran Eriksson, players were generally free to come and go as they pleased. That is no longer the case.
While his methods and impersonal style have not yet provoked any outright dissent, some players have been taken aback by the extent of his icy approach.
And some were certainly taken aback by Capello's brusque appointment of Rio Ferdinand as skipper, wandering over to the Manchester United defender as he ate lunch and telling him: "You're captain."
Impressed
The Italian then walked off without another word. One England player said: "Capello is brutal, there's no other word for it. He's the coldest, hardest manager most of the lads have ever known.
"Nobody is close to him and nobody is ever likely to get close to him. He doesn't really talk with the lads apart from on the training pitch or in the dressing room, the whole atmosphere has changed.
"It's been a shock but it's also the change that was probably needed. People had got a bit too comfortable, now everybody is on edge wondering if they've impressed the manager."
One man who will have to contend with Capello's regime is Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United star is growing increasingly frustrated with his role as sole striker but Capello is determined to groom him for that position...and will not be scared to tell Rooney where he needs to improve.
The Italian believes Rooney is the single most talented individual in the England squad but must work on his finishing if he is to make a success of the single striker's position.
Capello has studied Rooney intently for three months and feels he's a scorer of great goals, not a great goal-scorer.
There have been too many instances when Rooney has seemingly panicked in the penalty area, allowed defenders to get back at him or snatched at his shot for the England manager's liking.
He wants Rooney to develop Michael Owen's clinical streak in front of goal and not to allow so many one-on-one chances to slip away.
Capello will certainly persevere with the only man who he thinks capable of playing the lone role, as he admitted: "I think Rooney is just as happy to play in this role for England as Manchester United.
"The main difference, if any, is that at Manchester United he is in a team that has been playing together for the the last three years.
"He has only played two games for me. Whatever happened before is not for me to say, but I'm happy with the way he has in those games.
"And it is much harder to score for your country than your club anyway.
"This is why - and I'm NOT talking about Wayne Rooney - many players who play really well for their own clubs are still not good enough to play for their national team."
And while Wednesday night's performance has been widely ridiculed, Capello has outlined his grand masterplan to restore English pride.
He explained: "My main objective is that we are competitive not only in Europe but in the world. And I'm sure we will be.
"I have clear ideas about what to do in the future. I'm preparing a team, I'm creating a team and I'm happy that we took steps forward (against France). We made progress.
Encouraged
"We started to play football NOT just long punts forward.
"So we carry on like that and I'm hoping that we will be ready by August 20 when we play our last friendly game (against the Czech Republic.)
"But we need to be ready, we MUST be ready for the first qualifying games."
Capello kicks off that quest for qualification for World Cup 2010 with trips to Andorra on September 6 and Croatia four days later.
By then he's aiming to have eradicated the long-ball game that continentals claim typifies English football.
And Capello has been encouraged by the changing style of a growing number of Premier League teams.
He explained: "Arsenal have done it for a long time, Tottenham play the ball on the park too and at Portsmouth (Harry) Redknapp has said 'enough of the long ball.'
"Everton and Aston Villa as well - they try to play too."
Capello has three friendlies before the serious business starts. And he says he will continue to put experimentation before results.
He said: "It is a free country so you can judge me as you like. But I still think I should try and test things because I'm drawing conclusions and I'm getting ideas from what I see."
SOURCE: NOTW | | Rooney Hates Lone-Ranger Role |  The Manchester United striker, who scored twice for Manchester United last night, does not like the role handed to him by Capello.
And he is becoming increasingly frustrated at his inability to make a mark on the international stage. He has told team-mates about his discontent but is yet to make his feelings known to the manager.
Support
His frustration with England will only have increased after scoring TWICE in Manchester United's 4-0 win over Aston Villa, over the weekend.
Sport of the World understands Rooney had to be calmed by his fellow players at half-time in Capello's opening game against Switzerland.
And his mood was hardly any better in Paris on Wednesday when England lost 1-0 to France and Rooney was taken off at half-time.
A pal of Rooney's said: "At United it's totally different. Wayne has support from all angles — Ronaldo, Tevez, Nani and more.
"He feels isolated upfront with England and gets frustrated. He feels he is not contributing as much as he could."
SOURCE: NOTW | | AMERICAN CIVIL WAR BREWING AT ANFIELD |  GEORGE GILLETT has confirmed the disintegration of his relationship with Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks. He claims he will not sell a single share to his partner for fear of death threats being carried out against his family.
The US tycoon went public on his acrimonious split with Hicks as the Anfield club’s takeover saga took a new twist, with Gillett suggesting he would now try and buy out the Texas businessman.
Hicks remains intent on securing a majority 51 per cent holding in Liverpool, however, and the civil war between the pair is now set to turn nasty.
“We get 2,000 emails a week,” said Gillett. “I’d say 95 per cent have been directed at comments made by my partner and five per cent have frankly been aimed at both of us saying, ‘Go home Americans’.
“The thing that angers them the most is the prospect I might sell even one share of stock to my partner. They do not want him to have a controlling interest in this club, they don’t want him to have any ownership in the club based on what they’re saying to me.
“We’ve received phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives, death threats. I’m not shy if I make a mistake. I’m prepared to take the hit for it.
“What is interesting is the calls are not against my wife, my son or daughter-in-law as much as they are against us selling to my partner.
“So we’re rethinking that. I don’t think it is fair for me to put my family in that kind of danger, so instead of selling maybe we’ll think about buying.”
The stand-off highlights a need for a swift conclusion to the saga for the club’s sake and Gillett, who does not have the finance to buy out Hicks alone, appears to now have two options.
He could use mystery backers to tempt Hicks into a deal, or belatedly reach an agreement to sell to Dubai International Capital – he rejected the chance to make a £40million profit last month – who would then approach Hicks in the hope of finally gaining 100 per cent control of Liverpool.
Hicks does have power of veto over Gillett selling, but DIC believe the credit crunch in America has left him in trouble financially.
Gillett said in an interview on Canadian radio that DIC would be “responsible” owners and he had given Hicks the chance to buy him out previously.
He said: “The relationship has been unworkable for some time. We gave our partner a long period of time to make the arrangements to try and buy us out. He, ultimately, did not get to the finish line.”
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Why Rooney never sings the England anthem |  England footballer Wayne Rooney never sings the national anthem at football games - because he never learned the words.
Now the star has been criticised for being unpatriotic. Despite winning 42 international caps, the Manchester United player has yet to sing a single word of 'God Save The Queen' when lining up for his country.
And now the 22-year-old has been panned by the Royal Society of St George for failing to show respect for the Queen or patriotism.
But with the next England game five months away, the St George Society has offered to teach him the national anthem - and the striker has accepted.
Bob Peedle, Vice Chairman for Royal Society of St George, said: "It's upsetting when someone in the public eye shows no respect for either Queen or country.
"The England footballer does not show the patriotism that I see from other players.
"I can only assume that he does not know the words to the anthem and is just not prepared to learn them.
"He just stands there stern faced. He sticks-out like a saw thumb and he is setting a bad example to the young people who idolise him.
"In America, every morning in school assembly they stand with the hand on their hearts and sing their anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.
"It is about time we started doing that in this country and then people like Wayne Rooney would know the anthem as second nature.
"I imagine Rooney has never been taught the words and does not know their significance.
"He can't be embarrassed about his singing voice. He could take a leaf out of the book of the England Rugby team who really sing the anthem with a passion.
"He should learn the anthem and not just because he represents English football but because it is the duty of every Englishman to sing the anthem.
"I'd like to see him know the word of God Save The Queen by St George's day and I would be very happy to teach him."
John Mason, Chairman of the Manchester United supporters club, believes singing the anthem is not as important as Wayne's performance on the pitch.
"Its unfair to single out Wayne for not singing," he said.
"Personally I would like him to sing but it doesn't mean he's not patriotic if he doesn't.
"He tries just as hard for England as he does for United, its certainly not a question of whether he cares or not.
"What he does on the pitch is surely the most important thing."
An FA spokesperson said: "Whether a player wishes to sing the national anthem or not is purely a personal choice.
"The reasons behind Wayne Rooney's decision not to sing is down to him.
"We know that every player certainly does care passionately and has enormous pride playing for England."
A spokesperson for Wayne Rooney accepted the offer for Wayne to learn the anthem.
He said: "If the Royal Society of St George would like to give us a call we may sort something out."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | |  CRISTIANO RONALDO stole the show as Manchester United stormed towards the title.
The Portuguese star showed his full array of tricks as he scored one and set up the other three goals in this romp.
But Ronaldo's 17th-minute opener left the Old Trafford crowd open-mouthed as he back-heeled a flick through Martin Laursen's legs and into the net from 10 yards.
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson was so bamboozled he needed to see it again to realise what Ronaldo had pulled off.
He said: “It was only when I saw the replay I realised what Ronaldo had done.
“The execution was absolutely brilliant, so full marks to him.
“We displayed some great attacking movements and you have to admire the players’ enthusiasm in difficult conditions.
“It has to be one of our best performances of the season and just what was needed after Arsenal’s victory.
Rooney kept his cool
“We have six games to go, four of them away, and it will be nip and tuck. But we are playing well and have improved our goal difference.”
Ronaldo set up Carlos Tevez's flying header for No2 on 33 minutes.
And Wayne Rooney benefited from Ronaldo's class as a faint touch put the England man through on 53 minutes.
Rooney kept his cool to round Scott Carson and slot home before the same combination saw the fourth goal arrive with 20 minutes remaining.
It could have been much more but Ronaldo and Rooney both saw efforts come back off the wordwork, while the latter also had a goal ruled out for offside.
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Fergie added: “The players reached a peak last week and we continued that today. They realise now it’s a race to the line.
"We need consistency and real focus and we showed fantastic energy, which is a very pleasing aspect considering some of them have been away for internationals.
“The title doesn’t feel that close for us but there is great confidence in the way the team is playing and that’s always great at this time of the year.”
Villa boss Martin O'Neill admitted his men failed to cope with United.
He said: “I thought United were really brilliant. They have been in these situations many times, in the Champions League quarter-finals and going for the title.
“Their enthusiasm, determination and ability are there for all to see. They are a class side, no question of that.
“Many teams would have struggled like we did."
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Brown, Ferdinand (Hargreaves 62), Vidic, Evra (O’Shea 62), Ronaldo, Carrick (Anderson 61), Scholes, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney. Subs not used: Foster, Park. Booked: Vidic. Goals: Ronaldo 17, Tevez 33, Rooney 53, 70.
Aston Villa: Carson, Reo-Coker, Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma (Osbourne 80), Agbonlahor, Petrov, Barry, Young, Harewood (Salifou 69), Carew (Maloney 41). Subs not used: Taylor, Knight. Booked: Bouma.
Att: 75,932
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
SOURCE: The Sun | | DECISION WAS MINE - CAPELLO |  Fabio Capello insisted he was under no pressure by the Football Association not to pick John Terry as England captain and maintained the Chelsea defender could lead his country again.
Capello was in the stands at Tottenham last week to witness the infamous confrontation between Chelsea's Ashley Cole and referee Mike Riley, an incident which also saw Terry lead a pack of players surrounding the official.
Capello named Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand as his captain for Wednesday's match against France and said: "I wasn't put under any pressure and all the decisions I've made, technical or otherwise, have been my decisions. My choices. I've got my own eyes, I can see things and I can understand things for myself."
He added: "I said I would rotate the captains. I will have a permanent captain from August. Until then, John Terry has a chance to become England captain."
The Italian also revealed what he believes makes a good captain.
He said: "A captain must be an example to follow in training and a leader during the game. And, of course, I would hope he could be an example, a role model outside the game - in life - as well.
"That's very important, always. Not just for the England captain, but for everything that we, as sportsmen, show youngsters. That is very important. He has to be an example."
Terry had been expected to retake the armband after missing the friendly against Switzerland in January through injury.
Capello also revealed he had not explained his choice to Terry, saying: "I'm not expected to explain my choices to anyone. I made my own choices based on reasoning and on facts."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | ENGLAND FA TO EASE REFFIN' HELL |  England FA has assigned itself the task to recruit — and keep — 8,000 new officials.
The sight of ref Mike Riley surrounded by angry Chelsea stars after Ashley Cole's horrific lunge at Tottenham's Alan Hutton could not have come at a worse time.
For on Tuesday, the FA launched a new a £200million campaign to boost the game at grassroots level.
The hostility Riley faced at White Hart Lane is mirrored outside the professional game.
And it contributes to the staggering statistic that while 7,000 new officials are recruited every year, the same number quit — mostly because of threatening behaviour from players and spectators.
Abuse
So every weekend 6,000 of 38,000 local league and junior games kick off without a qualified referee.
FA chief Brian Barwick (below) is determined to put that right but knows the FA face an uphill struggle to convince would-be officials they will not suffer a torrent of abuse and intimidation.
Of the £200m the FA plan to invest in grassroots football, more than £4m is going on the campaign to recruit more refs. Pilot schemes are being set up which involve:
Only team captains being able to question the ref;
The roping off of pitches to help prevent interference from pushy parents;
A new, harsher code of conduct to deter players from abusing refs.
The FA refused to comment on what effect Cole's White Hart Lane antics will have on their campaign.
But Ian Blanchard, head of the FA's National Referee Development, explained: "We are desperately trying to do something about the situation. The money is to help 49 county associations recruit, support, train, educate and retain local referees.
Shortfall
"We have 25,000 registered refs at the start of each season and, for the last five years, that figure has risen to 32,000 by May.
"But for all sorts of reasons, as fast we train up an extra 7,000 during the season, we lose another 7,000 — many because they are fed up with all the abuse.
"With 38,000 matches at local level every weekend, you can see the shortfall in qualified refs. All too often a volunteer has to stand in. We want to recruit and keep another 8,000 refs with 2012 as the target date.
"To help do that we are sending full-time referee development officers into the counties and spending more than £4m over the next four years.
"They will be the driving forces, promoting refereeing. And we've made entry courses more practical — it's all about being on the field applying the rules in practical situations rather than learning theory.
"For the refs themselves there will be incentive schemes to stay on.
"For every game in charge they get a number of points to transfer into kit like England tracksuits.
"Not to forget, of course, that you can go higher and higher and ultimately be a professional referee."
SOURCE: News Of The World | | Players have a role in teaching respect - James |  England goalkeeper David James admitted players have a responsibility to act as proper role models to try to help shape the next generation.
The Football Association recently launched a new RESPECT initiative aimed at improving the conduct towards match officials, which is being piloted at the grassroots level.
Taking responsibility: James says players must play their part
New FA chairman Lord Triesman is set to push forward with the concept, which he hopes will eventually be adopted by the professional game.
However, no sooner, though, had the scheme been launched, then there were two high-profile examples of questionable behaviour from Premier League stars.
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole showed disdain to the referee when being cautioned by Mike Riley against Tottenham, and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano was sent off after arguing with match official Steve Bennett at Old Trafford.
Portsmouth keeper James, 37, in line to add to his 36 caps during the friendly against France in Paris, accepts players have to do what they can to ensure youngsters get the right message from their sporting idols.
"It is very important, but it is also very complex," James said.
"We have situations where we as internationals, in the Premier League or any professional footballer in the game who appears on TV - we are all role models.
"But at the same time you are dealing with the influence that has on kids who should also be using their parents as role models.
"Everything I do cannot be right for everyone else. The FA have looked to challenges, which they are now with the Respect campaign.
"It starts with the players initially because they are on TV, and then you have to go grassroots.
"I found that going through a well structured youth team with an apprenticeship, if you have a strong coach or manager there who will demand respect among your peers and to officials, then that soul hold you in good stead for when you become a professional.
"But really for kids at home, the parents should be the role model."
New England boss Fabio Capello has yet to name who will captain the side against France.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard lead the team for the Italian's first game against Switzerland at Wembley in February, although fit-again Chelsea defender John Terry is also a candidate for the armband.
James believes the whole team must take a sense of collective leadership.
"There is always the role of leading by example," James said.
"Mr Capello has already said he is going to rotate the captains to whom he feels he is going to be the best.
"My view has always been that you are playing for your country and all the captain has to do really is the toss at the beginning. The rest of it is the team working together.
"Whoever gets the role, I am sure they will be the right person."
Former England captain David Beckham, now playing in the United States with Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy, could be in line to earn his 100th cap on Wednesday night.
James paid tribute to the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, who he feels should already have reached the landmark.
"If things had been right he should have made his 100th cap before now," he said.
"Becks is a world-class player, today in training he demonstrated he has not lost anything. I consider it an opportunity for me to stake a claim for participation for the 2010 World Cup.
"I think David Beckham is the same - he is not just here for his 100th cap. He deserves to be part of the England set up. It's a pleasure to play with him."
The Portsmouth keeper also insists the late call-ups to the squad of West Ham's Robert Green and Paul Robinson, of Tottenham, due to injury demonstrates strength in depth of the goalkeeping position.
"I have said all along - it is a personal triumph to still be involved," James added.
"With so many decent English goalkeepers about - the strength in depth is definitely there.
"It is a good squad. I am a big fan of our talent in this country - a good blend of youngsters and experience.
"In the past players have joined up later on, but for everyone to be here yesterday was great for team bonding.
"I feel part of the squad, part of the team, I don't know what will happen because the team hasn't been announced.
"If it is anything like last time it (the team) will not be given to us until 10 minutes before we get on the bus."
CULLED FROM: Daily Mail | | Rafa wants summit |  RAFA BENITEZ wants urgent talks with refs’ boss Keith Hackett to avoid a repeat of Liverpool’s Old Trafford shame.
Kop tough-guy Javier Mascherano faces a lengthy ban and fine for the astonishing fracas following his dismissal.
Mascherano had to be restrained by players, coaches AND manager Benitez as he refused to head for the tunnel after referee Steve Bennett brandished the red card.
Benitez admitted his player ‘made a mistake’ but insisted the official was wrong to send off his player for ‘asking what was happening’.
Now the Kop boss wants a showdown meeting with Hackett. Benitez said: “I’d like to speak to him because it’s important we find a solution.
“At Liverpool, we respect the game, we respect the rules and we respect the referee.
“It’s important to remember that Mascherano was the first Liverpool player to be sent off in the league this season.”
Mascherano, booked for an early foul on Paul Scholes, saw red when he marched 20 yards to question Bennett about a decision — the sixth time he did so.
His automatic one-game ban means he definitely misses Sunday’s Merseyside derby but the FA are set to hit him with another two matches for failing to leave the field of play promptly.
Team-mate John Arne Riise believes Mascherano let the emotion of the high-intensity clash get to him.
The Norwegian claimed: “Mascherano boiled over but he will learn from this. He is an intense player who loves the club and loves to win and probably got a little too hot in that situation.”
Meanwhile, Anfield legend Ian Rush is backing his former club to bounce back against Everton — and take a massive step towards clinching a fourth-placed finish.
Striker Rush insisted: “This is the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to get themselves back on track.
“What greater incentive can you have than a derby, the outcome of which will go a long way towards deciding who will play in next season’s Champions League?
“The key will be forgetting about United and getting back to basics.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Platini to honour Healy heroics |  UEFA president Michel Platini has hailed the efforts of David Healy in scoring a record 13 goals during the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Platini will present Northern Ireland striker Healy with a special award before the friendly against Georgia at Windsor Park on Wednesday.
"His goal tally of 13 goals is a new record and deserves to be recognised," Platini said.
"I am sure that this record will last for some time to come."
French legend Platini added that Healy's new mark "will be hard to beat".
"This is why I will be presenting him with a special award to celebrate his fantastic achievement."
Healy, whose side narrowly missed out on qualification, described the award as a "great award".
"It's a great honour. First and foremost I'm looking forward to meeting one of the greats of European and world football," said the Fulham forward.
"For him to take the time out to come to Belfast to present the award is a great honour.
"I'm looking forward to meeting the great man.
"It's a great honour to hold the record."
The record was previously held by Davor Suker, who hit 12 goals for Croatia in Euro 96 qualification campaign.
"Maybe someone will break it sometime - but hopefully it will stand for another few years," added Healy.
"The hat-trick against Spain was the highlight. To score one against Spain was good but to score a hat-trick was great.
"It was a hugely entertaining campaign for the players and fans alike."
CULLED from: BBC Sport | | EDUARDO ITCHING TO RETURN |  "Impatient" Arsenal striker Eduardo accepts he will have to take all the time needed to ensure he returns "100% fit" from his broken leg.
The Croatia international, 25, is set to miss the rest of the season and also this summer's European Championships after suffering an horrific injury following a tackle from Birmingham's Martin Taylor last month.
While the forward is expected to make a full recovery from surgery, that process could take anything from nine months to a year.
Some of the Brazilian-born player's rehabilitation is likely to be in his adopted homeland, but Eduardo is determined to take things one step at a time.
"I don't think my injury was as bad as it looked on TV and it is now really up to me, in my head, how the recovery will go," Eduardo said, speaking in an exclusive interview with Arsenal TV, to be broadcast on Monday evening.
"I feel excellent at the moment. I am a lot better, but it is not easy being at home all the time and being impatient through the way of my recovery.
"I will get the plaster removed and then I would like to go back to Croatia to continue my rehabilitation.
"The most important thing for me is to recover and to feel better, but I will not rush with that.
"I will wait for a professional to give me the okay because I want to make sure I am 100% fit."
Eduardo revealed he can recall little about the actual incident itself.
"I looked at my foot and it was not straight. It was on the right. After that I couldn't look at it anymore," he said.
"I don't remember if there was any pain or was it maybe panic or fear.
"But I knew in my mind everything would be okay and I will recover definitely."
Arsenal physio Gary Lewin treated Eduardo on the pitch at St Andrews, before he was rushed to Selly Oak Hospital for an emergency operation.
Eduardo said: "I can only thank Gary for the reassurance, care and knowledge he gave to me at that moment.
"He offered me everything emotionally that I needed at that time."
Despite all of the furore which followed - which included Gunners manager Arsene Wenger initially calling for Taylor to be banned for life - Eduardo admits his isolation helped keep him clear of the controversy.
"I was in hospital six days and I didn't follow anything. I don't know what happened on the television or in the newspaper," he said.
"I was told Taylor came to visit, but I was prepared for my operation. I was asleep getting ready for theatre.
"The only thing I remember is my wife being there and she asked me, 'did I want food?' I said yes and she went to get some, but when she came back I was fast asleep. I was so exhausted.
"I do not have a memory of anything else because I was in shock."
Eduardo has since visited the Arsenal training ground and also made an appearance at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the recent Barclays Premier League game with Middlesbrough.
The Croatian admitted it was a moving experience.
He said: "When everyone started clapping I felt like crying.
"I actually cried inside, but didn't allow the tears to go down my face.
"It gave me the confidence and strength to come back even stronger."
Eduardo is one of the key men for Croatia - who qualified for Euro 2008 ahead of England.
He said: "I am very sorry I will not be involved and that Croatia is without me.
"They will have a good chance as they have a good team.
"I know they have quality players and we will see that by the games that they are going to play."
Eduardo added: "I will feel very strange thinking I could have been there. That is one side, but the other side is that I will need to think about my recovery.
"I will be one more extra supporter of the Croatian team."
SOURCE: football365.com | | Prolific pair give Reds reason to believe |  Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard insists his side can get the goal they need against FC Internazionale Milano to "kill the tie" as they look to press home a 2-0 advantage and book their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Great form
Late goals from Dirk Kuyt and Gerrard at Anfield three weeks ago have put Liverpool in control and Gerrard believes they can add to that tally as they travel to Milan in a rich vein of form. Since beating Inter, Liverpool have recorded four succesive Premier League matches, thanks largely to the impressive partnership Gerrard has formed with striker Fernando Torres which has helped dispel the gloom following last month's FA Cup loss to Barnsley FC. Liverpool have scored 13 goals in their past four games, with Torres, who has contributed two hat-tricks in that time, and Gerrard accounting for nine between them. Gerrard sees no reason for that run to end in Italy.
'Positive'
"With players like Fernando, Ryan Babbel, Dirk Kuyt and I'm happy with the way I'm playing myself at the moment we've got a great chance going forward and causing Inter some problems," Gerrard told uefa.com. "We're enjoying the way we're playing of late. We're on the back of three or four really good results so confidence is high and we're really looking forward to the next game. We've got to be positive there. A goal virtually kills the tie. We need to obviously be very strong defensively, but with a game plan of going forward to try and cause them some problems like we did at home."
Torres partnership
Gerrard is thriving playing just off Torres and the pair combined to devastating effect again in the 3-0 defeat of Newcastle United FC on Saturday, with both providing a scoring pass for the other. "I'm enjoying it," Gerrard said. "Playing behind Fernando Torres is always a pleasure. Fernando's on fire. He just gives me so many options when I turn and have space. His direct running and good movement in that role helps me an awful lot and with [Xabi] Alonso and Javier Mascherano tidying up behind me, this team is looking really strong." Torres has already scored 19 Premier League goals and with three more in the UEFA Champions League his superb form ensures Liverpool travel with confidence high. "It's great to have him here," Gerrard said. "He has settled in really well, he's performed really consistently, scoring goals but also working very hard for the team."
Ibrahimović threat
Gerrard, though, will not let Liverpool get over-confident, especially with Zlatan Ibrahimović in the Inter ranks. The Swedish international returned to the side on Saturday following a knee problem to score a penalty - the ninth out of his 15 Serie A goals this season - in the 2-0 win against Reggina Calcio. "He's a world star, a fantastic talent and a player who can win a game single-handed so we'll have to be aware of him and pay him an awful lot of respect," Gerrard said. "Hopefully he'll have a quiet game at the San Siro but I'm sure he'll be wanting to drive Inter back into the tie and be their hero on the night. We'll be aware of that. We can't go there thinking we've got this tie won. We've got a really difficult 90 minutes ahead of us."
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | Has this Drog had his day? |  THE Didier Drogba conundrum at Chelsea could finally be sorting itself out.
With Jose Mourinho edging closer to the manager’s chair at Barcelona — they were thumped 4-2 by Atletico Madrid on Saturday night — so Drogba’s stint at Stamford Bridge could be ending.
The Ivory Coast striker has spent much of the season saying he wants to leave in the summer (the remainder of the pantomime has been taken up with him refuting the claims).
But few doubt he would jump at the chance of following Mourinho to Spain.
This, in turn, would open up all sorts of player-exchange possibilities with Barca top-heavy with forwards. Drogba for Samuel Eto’o, perhaps. Don’t mention it at Arsenal but, maybe, even a move for Thierry Henry, for whom Roman Abramovich once bid £50million. Then there’s the old Ronaldinho chestnut.
Whatever transpires, Drogba is a magnificent bargaining tool in Chelsea’s attempt to get the club producing the sort of football Abramovich craves.
Drogba has played an enormous part in Chelsea’s success but, in many ways, he has held back their development.
With the spectacular failure of Andriy Shevchencko, it became more and more important for Drogba to score goals.
This he did to such an extent he became not only the focal point of attack but, for long spells, the ONLY point. This led to a stereotype, route one-ish style of play that, though highly productive, was not easy on the eye.
It came to a head in the Carling Cup final where, having secured a 1-0 lead through Drogba, Chelsea chose to close down the game in a craven attempt to coast through to the final whistle.
A far braver and adventurous Spurs side knocked that plan on the head.
Avram Grant, seeing his claim that his Chelsea side always played more attacking football than Mourinho’s exposed as myth, reacted by leaving Drogba on the bench at West Ham on Saturday. The result was not only a thumping 4-0 win full of fine teamwork and individual flair but further evidence Nicolas Anelka is far better equipped to provide the sort of style Abramovich wants.
An unselfish player with huge natural talent allied to a sharp footballing brain, Anelka runs into space as well as making it for his team-mates. He also operates quite happily in the middle of a front three. Whereas Drogba was the main cog to which the other component parts adapted, Anelka is just part of the whole mechanism.
And so the load is shared. Much, as we saw at Upton Park, to the mutual benefit of Frank Lampard (for 34 minutes), Joe Cole and Michael Ballack.
Nor does Anelka spend a lot of time rolling around on the deck, clutching various near-dismembered limbs and, generally, stoking up opposition fans who don’t like Chelsea much in the first place.
Sure, there is no denying the huge contribution Drogba has made to the club. Yet moving on at the end of the season could be the best thing for both parties.
SOURCE: The Sun
| | Atletico too much for Barcelona |  Barcelona's recent revival that has silenced talk of a managerial change at the end of the season came to a crashing halt with this embarassment at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
To make Frank Rijkaard's weekend even worse, a Robinho-inspired Real Madrid came from a goal down to beat Recreativo Huelva 3-2 and extend their lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
The usually unflustered Rijkaard pulled no punches after his side, who took the lead through a spectacular overhead kick from Ronaldinho, fell apart. "We lost because at the start of the game everything seemed very easy but when you are ahead you have to take advantage of that," said the Dutchman. "It's not just about controlling the game, you have to play to hurt the opposition."
"We had no aggression and were without penetration. We created very few chances on goal despite the fact that we completely controlled the game. Then when they scored their first two goals we became very disorganised. The strikers were in midfield and I don't know what they were doing there because that was not the plan, that is not what we want at Barcelona."
Ronaldinho's stunning scissor-kick from a Xavi Hernandez cross gave Barcelona the lead but then Atletico's Sergio Aguero made them pay by scoring two goals and creating two.
The 19-year-old Argentine netted the first with a deflected shot and then made the second with a pass for Maxi Rodriguez. He won a second-half penalty which Diego Forlan converted and then rounded off with a fine individual goal before Samuel Eto'o scored a late consolation.
Eidur Gudjohnsen said the result would not affect Barcelona in the Champions League second leg at home to Celtic, whom they lead 3-2, and that speculation linking Rijkaard with Chelsea was not on the players' minds.
He said: "We are used to the fact that people are always talking about the future of our coach. But he has made it very clear that he wants to continue at Barcelona and that is good enough for us. We accept that."
Gudjohnsen added: "At Camp Nou I think it is going to be very very difficult for Celtic. It's a very big pitch and we are playing very well at home."
Real Madrid's victory came courtesy of a double from Robinho, a substitute. He scored with his first shot and then lobbed Stefano Sorretino for a second goal. Raul had earlier cancelled out Recreativo's opener, looking offside when he headed home.
The game was marred by three red cards, including one for the Real defender Sergio Ramos. Real's coach, Bernd Schuster, left a post-match press conference after refusing to answer questions about the referee.
CULLED FROM: The Independent | | Adebayor, Bendtner can co-exist – Wenger |  Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sees no reason why Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner cannot put their differences aside to forge a formidable strike partnership.
Adebayor and Bendtner had a high-profile bust-up during the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final at Tottenham in January, and the Togo frontman did not celebrate with his strike partner after his dramatic late equaliser against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Wenger, though, maintains there is no bad blood between the pair and expects them both to remain professional, saying: "I believe they have a normal relationship - but what is the most important thing in football is that you respect the game. You do what the game demands."
The Gunners leave for Italy on Monday ahead of their Champions League clash with AC Milan having preserved the slenderest of advantages over Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League title race.
But Wenger knows his men will have to play as a team if they are to enjoy success this season.
"I don't know if they (Bendtner and Adebayor) like each other or not - but basically I don't see there is a problem," he continued. "You don't have to be friends to play well together.
"You have it in every team, but I think they get on quite well. But once the suspicion is in people's heads they look at every single movement to see if there is a problem or not, but I don't think there is a problem.
"The great players always do what the game wants," he continued.
"If I want to win and to win I have to give you the ball then, if I'm a great player, I still give you the ball.
"For me, the emotional sympathy is not a big importance for the big players. They are winners and they respect the game so much it goes above liking or disliking."
SOURCE: Daily Express | Supporters to boycott
Premiership sponsors | Supporters groups are considering targeting the Premier League's sponsors as part of a campaign to resist plans for a 39th round of fixtures played overseas. The Football Supporters Federation will write to Barclays, title-sponsors of the Premier League, asking the bank to clarify its position on Richard Scudamore's proposal to take 10 matches to foreign cities from the 2010-11 season.
The FSF is campaigning against the proposals and will consider a boycott of sponsors if it is not satisfied that Barclays shares its concerns. It is also planning to contact other sponsors including Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Budweiser, Nike, Lucozade's parent Glaxo-Smithkline and Wrigleys. If it does not receive a satisfactory response from the sponsors then fans may be asked to withdraw their custom from the brands.
"All of the commercial sponsors who associate themselves with the Premier League and bask in the glory in the good times must also expect their role to come under scrutiny when outrageous proposals such as these are made," said a spokesman.
The FSF has launched a petition on its website www.fsf.org.uk and is planning a day of action at forthcoming Premier League fixtures. It will meet with supporters across the country this week.
The Premier League will meet Fifa officials in the coming weeks to try to establish the legal viability of the proposal to play an additional round of fixtures overseas from 2010.
The League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, confirmed yesterday that he will seek a meeting with the Fifa general secretary Jérome Valcke to discuss the plans. Scudamore and his advisors believe that the proposed 39th game would not be in breach of Fifa's statutes.
Their interpretation is based on the precedent of international friendly matches which can be held in third-party nations if the host national association approves the game. The relevant regulation, article 76, is open to broad interpretation, however. It states: "The [Fifa] executive committee shall be responsible for issuing provisions for organising international matches and competitions between association teams and between league and/or club teams. No such match or competition shall take place without the prior permission of Fifa."
The FA's interpretation of the move will play a part in Fifa's deliberations, and Scudamore said yesterday that the chief executive, Brian Barwick, had told him it was "a fantastic idea".
Scudamore fears that if he does not move first on the issue the leading clubs will act on their own to the detriment of smaller clubs. "This is a solidarity move where all 20 clubs want to do it," he said. The chief executive did not rule out the experiment one day extending beyond a single additional game, but said the current proposal was a "strategic play" that would satisfy clubs for a decade.
SOURCE: Guardian | | Texas Stadium collapse Embarrasses Liverpool |  Liverpool are facing potential embarrassment after the American architectural firm who will build the club's new £300million stadium learned that a university stadium in Texas which the company is renovating has suffered a partial collapse.
The stadium seating at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth collapsed in a huge heap of steel and concrete on Friday, causing £7m worth of damage.
Engineers and planners from HKS, the Dallas firm which recently unveiled plans for Liverpool's new 71,000-seat stadium, launched an immediate investigation into the cause of the collapse. There were no injuries since the stadium was empty at the time.
HKS produced the original designs for Liverpool's arena which were rejected by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett late last year when they ran £50m over budget. There was no immediate reaction from Liverpool FC to the news.
But after revising those plans, and beating off Manchester-based AFL's rival bid, the American company secured the £300m contract for the new ground in Stanley Park.
In addition to HKS's own investigation of the Fort Worth stadium collapse, Texas Christian University will hire independent structural and design engineers to review the collapse and examine all the findings.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | US reluctant to host Premier ties |  The Premier League would only be allowed to take their games to America if Fifa permits them, according to the chief of the US Soccer Federation.
The comments follow the announcement that the football body is considering hosting games in other countries.
"We've been reluctant to have official games played in the US," US Soccer chief Sunil Gulati told BBC Sport.
"We'll be guided by Fifa on this matter. But if it's not in line with its rules then we won't sanction it."
The Premier League's proposal to have a 39th round of games has aroused widespread criticism, but chief executive Richard Scudamore remained defiant, insisting that the extension would have a positive rather than negative effect of the sport.
"Clearly, there are a lot of hurdles to overcome," he told the BBC.
"We've seen how sport is globalising, we compete in the entertainment industry.
"This is a solidarity move where all 20 clubs want to do it. It benefits all of them and it's far better we all do it rather than allow single clubs to."
Gulati said that he has read about the proposals but his federation have yet to be approached by the Premier League.
The US Soccer chief added that he was unsure whether acting as hosts would help the growth of football in his own country.
"We had a similar proposal 10 years ago when a team playing in Los Angeles wanted to play in the Mexican league. We didn't let that happen and Concacaf (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) said no.
"We understand it's a global sport but it's about nurturing the home game.
"If Fifa said 'OK, it's up to the relevant FA's, then we would look at it (the Premier League proposal).
"We have got a great relationship with the English FA and there's a lot of good reasons to look at it. But there are also some issues that we have got which would cause us to be very hesitant."
CULLED from: BBC Sport | | Asian Opposition to 39th step growing |  Global opposition to the Premier League's 'international round' is growing so fast that North America now looks to be the only region that will embrace the beleaguered project.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, by demanding immediate discussion at the world governing body's next executive committee meeting, and UEFA chief Michael Platini, with his withering criticism, have already demonstrated fierce resistance.
Now Mohammed Bin Hammam, the Asian confederation president and the third most powerful administrator in world football, has told advisers he is also massively opposed to the playing of a 39th Premier League match in five different countries over a weekend.
Hammam's AFC football empire stretches to 46 member countries, including many of the destinations being pencilled in by the Premier League such as Australia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
And, together with his powerful ally, Japan's Junji Ogura, the AFC high command could be a formidable bridge too far for the Premier League's plans.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore can also discount Africa where there is not the money available to make matches worthwhile.
The South American CONMEBOL have strong domestic leagues, while Oceania does not have the necessary infrastructure.
That leaves North America for Project Scudamore and they are not ready for the Premier League to arrive lock, stock and barrel.
Also, the U.S. Federation, who are expected to decide in June whether to make a rival bid to England for the 2018 World Cup, will not want to alienate FIFA by being too accommodating to the Premier League.
Likewise Australia, who are also interested in hosting 2018.
Scudamore argues that his widely criticised blueprint could even assist England's World Cup campaign.
But no one was taking that spin seriously, especially an FA insider who said: "If that helps the bid, I'm the Pope's illegitimate sister."
The FA, despite public diplomacy, are understood to be furious with the PL's ambition to rule the world.
Scudamore must hope that his great friendship with FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke will help him soften FIFA's stance.
Scudamore, talking to BBC's Sportsweek, said of the plan: "It allows us to grasp the globalisation nettle, which we cannot ignore. It is my duty not to ignore it.
"I would be criticised wholly if we let the League stray into the slow lane while others passed us. It is a strategic play. And there is no perfect hierarchy where FIFA can tell UEFA, who tell the Premier League what to do."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Fit Beckham will be in my next squad - Capello |  Fabio Capello insists that David Beckham may be fit enough to be picked for England's next match - even though the midfielder will still not have played a competitive fixture.
Beckham was left out of Capello's first England squad last week on the grounds that he was not match fit, having not been involved in a competitive game since November.
The 32-year-old has returned to pre-season training with the Los Angeles Galaxy but the Major League Soccer season does not kick off until March 29, three days after England's friendly against France in Paris.
However, Capello insists the five pre-season friendlies that the Galaxy have lined up beforehand may be enough for the 32-year-old to reclaim his place in the squad.
Capello said: "Surely he will have played friendly matches and those will be important. If he is fit and ready to play then he will be part of my team."
The Italian, though, is clearly getting frustrated by the constant attention given to Beckham and if and when he will win his 100th cap.
Capello added: "It seems that the most important thing is whether I choose David Beckham. I think we should focus on England."
David Bentley played in Beckham's usual position on the right of midfield for the first half of England's 2-1 win over Switzerland on Wednesday, but Capello was more impressed when the Blackburn player moved inside when Shaun Wright-Phillips came on as a substitute.
That could make it easier for Capello to accommodate Beckham in his next squad. The England manager added: "I had seen Bentley play on the right and I wanted to see him in the middle. I want to be clear where players perform best.
"I believe Bentley did very well but in the second half he was particularly good."
Meanwhile, Capello said he wanted the England team to develop the same sort of "fighting" attitude as Wayne Rooney.
Capello said: "I have watched three or four of Manchester United's matches recently and he was always like that.
"This is the spirit I want the team to pick up from him - always fighting and having this sort of spirit is something I want him to transmit to the rest of the team. This attitude is very important."
Capello's No 2 Franco Baldini said after the Switzerland match that some England players lacked the necessary technical expertise but Capello insisted it is more a case of translating their club form to the international stage.
He added: "I have been surprised about the skills some English players have and the qualities they sometimes show. But they show them more when they play for their club and have less pressure on them and that is something we need to look at.
"We have very good quality players in our team."
In relation to Michael Owen, who did not feature at all against Switzerland, Capello reiterated that no-one should expect a guaranteed place.
He said: "Some players are particularly valuable for the team but I will try to field the best team we have to do the job. There are no guaranteed places.
"I know Owen very well. I have seen him play many times and there is always room for important players.
"I have five friendlies before the qualifying campaign starts and by then I need to know who I want to play."
Asked about the possibility that some fans might think his decision to leave out Owen was harsh, Capello replied: "It's a free country and everyone can think what they like, all I think about is the team."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Selection was like 'Deal Or No Deal' – David James | DAVID JAMES has compared Fabio Capello’s team announcement to an episode of TV game show ‘Deal or No Deal’.
And, after just a week under the charge of the new England boss, James admits no-one can bank on their place in the squad.
The Portsmouth keeper highlighted the psychological tricks the Italian used in the build-up to his first match and admits there was tension when the team was announced.
“The most impressive thing was the fact that no-one knew what the side was – other than the captain Stevie Gerrard – until 10 minutes before we left on the bus,” said James, who helped England to a 2-1 win over Switzerland.
“In some respects, that causes a little apprehension, but, at the same time, it keeps everyone focused.
“It was like ‘Deal or No Deal’ when we found out the team. He [Capello] had a flipchart and lifted a sheet up to reveal the one with the team written on it. I was waiting for the crowd to cheer.” And James insists the comfort zone that existed for some star players under previous managers has now vanished.
“The three days have been very, very different,” added James, who’s now playing under his fifth England boss. “It has been good, it has been concentrated.” Capello immediately cracked the whip with his squad, laying down new rules to govern the time they spend together.
Out went room service, mobile phones, golf and even nicknames.
“The rules are strict,” said James. “We all have to eat together, get to the table together on time and we leave when everyone is finished.
“At first you are looking at people and thinking ‘Hurry up’ – and it gets frustrating when people have second helpings of pudding!
“The difference, though, is that in the past people would go in, have two minutes of food and then run off.
“It might be a mundane conversation, but it’s nice to actually have a conversation and build a relationship with the guy, rather than think ‘He’s off again, that lad who plays for so-and-so’.”
But even though the new regime has outlawed some of the squad’s creature comforts, James insists there is no room for boredom.
“We were focused on what we had to do,” he said. “We had meetings, although not at traditional times.
“In the past, on match days with an evening kick-off, you would wake up at some silly hour in the afternoon, have a stroll, have a bit of food and then go to the game.
“That means the whole day was basically dead. This time, we all knew what we had to do, which was the key thing.”
SOURCE: Daily Star | | Mourinho tips African success at WC |  Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says an African team could reach the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup.
"Both Nations Cup semis were played at a high level, but now Africa can take it to the next stage," said Mourinho.
"By next stage I don't mean win the World Cup, that would be too drastic, but an African team could get to the quarter-finals or even the semis."
Cameroon and Senegal are the only two African teams to reach the last eight of the World Cup.
The Indomitable Lions lost to England in the quarter-finals at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, while Senegal were stopped by Turkey at the 2002 tournament.
"So many of the footballers here play in top-level leagues in Europe," added the Portuguese coach who is in Ghana to watch the final between Egypt and Cameroon.
"There has been colour, enthusiastic crowds, positive atmosphere. I'm sorry that Ghana and Ivory Coast are not in the final but that's the beauty of the game."
Mourinho also dismissed talk that he would be interested in working with a national team, whether in Europe or Africa.
"I'm not interested at this moment with a national team job because I prefer to work every day, be involved in two, three matches a week", he said.
CULLED FROM: BBC Sport | | Keegan to break bank for Henry |  Kevin Keegan wants to bring Thierry Henry to Newcastle - even if he has to break the world transfer record fee for a second time to do it.
The Toon boss is prepared to raid the bottomless pit of money on offer to him at St James' Park to lure the unhappy striker away from Barcelona in the summer.
Keegan, speaking on Radio Newcastle, revealed that Henry is top of his wish-list. The French international has struggled to establish himself at the Nou Camp since last June's £16million move from Arsenal.
"I would like to fetch Thierry Henry back to England," Keegan said. "He's the best player I've seen in the Premiership. When you're pitch-side, what I've seen him do to good players has been incredible.
"Sometimes you can take advantage of a situation and get what I call lucky."
Newcastle broke the world transfer record in 1996 under Keegan when Alan Shearer joined from Blackburn for £15m and is refusing to rule out another ground-breaking deal under the auspices of the club's billionaire owner Mike Ashley.
"I'd like to do what we did last time and surprise people," Keegan added. "It would be nice to break a world record. Why rule it out? I'd like to bring players here that amaze people and we stop just talking about being a big club - but, with our actions, we show that we are.
"Sometimes people limit themselves by saying, 'We can't do that'. You say, 'Why not?' and they don't give you an answer. If we can get this club going in the right direction we have the owner who will find us the money for these players.
"You start by building up trust with the people who provide the finance that you can find these players at the right price. It's easy to get players to a club once it's flying in the right direction.
"It's who you can get. Last time, apart from probably Alan Shearer, most of the people - like David Ginola - it was because something had happened. He had the chance to play at Barcelona but came here."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Richards agrees new City deal |  Micah Richards has signed a new long-term contract at Manchester City, according to a Skysports publication.
Richards has been discussing an extension to his present deal at the City of Manchester Stadium, which was due to expire in 2010.
He revealed last week that he was not worried by any delay in agreeing a new deal after pledging to stay with the club.
It is now understood that the England international has signed a contract to stay with the Premier League side until 2013.
Since making his debut for City against Arsenal in October 2005, Richards has featured 77 times for the first team.
The 19-year-old has also established himself as a regular member of the England squad, although he did not feature in Fabio Capello's first game against Switzerland on Wednesday.
He has previously been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, and City had made securing Richards' future at the club a top priority.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Defence keeps Barcelona ticking – Valdés |  There have been suggestions in recent months that FC Barcelona are not the force they were when champions of Spain and Europe in 2006 – yet all of a sudden a treble of trophies is a possibility.
Happy new year
Having ended the year with a home loss to Real Madrid CF, they are now unbeaten in 2008, reaching a Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia CF and closing the gap on the Primera División leaders to six points. Victory at Sevilla FC on Saturday could halve that deficit, further raising morale before the UEFA Champions League first knockout round meeting with Celtic FC.
Watertight
According to goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, the secret of the Blaugrana's treble assault is the defence. "I think the team in general defend very well," the 26-year-old told uefa.com. "Not just the defence and the keeper, but also the forwards. We pile on the pressure. It's one of the keys that make everything else fall into place. As a result we're competing for three trophies." Barcelona have conceded only 14 league goals in 22 games.
Sevilla threat
The hard work continues against seventh-placed Sevilla this weekend. Barcelona drew 1-1 there last month in the Copa del Rey before progressing on away goals. However, with Carles Puyol and Gianluca Zambrotta injured, and Frédéric Kanouté and Luis Fabiano up front for the hosts, it will not be easy. "Sevilla are a team that like to attack, especially at home, and they create lots of chances," said Valdés, who broke in the Barça side in 2002/03 and has made 177 top-flight appearances. "In the Copa del Rey we were lucky enough to play well. We hope that will happen again and that victory comes our way."
Away days
That would help silence talk of Frank Rijkaard's team as a spent force. "Criticism is always there and all we can do is accept it. We just have to keep a distance and concentrate on our work," Valdés said. "In the end it's results that count." So the focus remains the away matches against Sevilla, Real Zaragoza next week, and then Celtic in the UEFA Champions League on 20 February. The Catalan keeper is taking nothing for granted in any of them, least of all the Celtic tie. "They might say we're favourites to beat Celtic on paper but I don't agree. The fact we play the second leg at home is in our favour but it's going to be tough in Glasgow."
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | Germany show Austria no mercy |  Manchester City's Martin Petrov has hailed Benjani's signing as a masterstroke and claimed the former Portsmouth striker could prove the missing link in City's push for a European place.
The Bulgaria winger said: 'Benjani looks a very positive player. We have had some problems with goal-scoring but hopefully we won't have too many more problems in that area for the rest of the season. He can make a big difference to us.'
Meanwhile Sven Goran Eriksson will lay a wreath ahead of the Manchester derby in tribute to those who died in the Munich air disaster.
Eriksson has called on Manchester City's fans to respect the minute's silence that will be held at Old Trafford on Sunday amid fears certain sections of City's support will ruin the emotional occasion.
SOURCE: Daily Mail
| | Capello Gets It Wright |  The Three Lions made a lacklustre start to the match and sections of the packed Wembley crowd even booed and chanted 'There's only one David Beckham!' at the new England boss.
Wayne Rooney missed a number of chances before a touch of genius from Joe Cole set England on their way.
Chelsea star Cole waltzed past the Swiss right-back to find Jermaine Jenas six yards out.
The Tottenham midfielder, making his first England start, coolly slotted home to record the first goal of Capello's era.
England again started the second half poorly and Switzerland capitalised.
Eren Derdiyok latched on to a smart through ball and fired first time past helpless keeper David James.
But almost instantly England replied when skipper Steven Gerrard broke down the left and into the Swiss area.
His scuffed cross found sub Wright-Phillips, who blasted home from close range.
After the goal, Capello's men looked comfortable and the Italian took the chance to look at other squad members.
With Switzerland also making a number of changes the game petered out, although the Euro 2008 hosts almost embarrassed England in the last minute when James flapped at a cross and Matthew Upson was forced to scramble the ball away from danger.
CULLED FROM: The Sun | | Capello demands winning mentality |  ENGLAND boss Fabio Capello has demanded a winning mentality from his players.
The Italian took his first training session today since taking charge.
And Steven Gerrard revealed that Capello has let his squad know what is expected of them.
The Liverpool star said: “Everyone’s nervous because it is a new manager and we don’t know much about him and he doesn’t know much about us.
“We had a quick meeting last night and he told us it is a fresh start for everyone.
“He wants a winning mentality around the place and he wants to build a winning team and wants players pulling in the same direction.
“He thinks we can improve defensively and going forward and we were straight into it this morning.
“He is a very good manager and you want to work with the best and the FA have certainly employed one of the best managers in the world.”
Gerrard was also impressed by Capello's use of English when addressing the players.
He added: “It was all English. It surprised me, he was really good.
“All the session was put across to the players in English. He got some help from a translator but it was better than I thought.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Ferdinand wants racism crackdown | \ England defender Rio Ferdinand has called for action against racist abuse from fans after Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was barracked in Spain.
The McLaren driver was subjected to abuse and chants during testing in Barcelona at the weekend.
"I'm intrigued to see the reaction of the governing bodies. Fingers crossed they get it right," said Ferdinand.
"If punishments are imposed I hope they're enough to stop people entering grounds or going out in public."
Hamilton is unpopular in Spain after a controversial season with Spanish former team-mate Fernando Alonso in 2007, and some spectators blackened their faces and subjected him to taunting at an F1 practice session on Sunday.
Ferdinand played for England against Spain in Madrid in 2004, when England's black players were subjected to taunts throughout the game.
"There should be no room for that kind of stupidity and ignorance in sport and society," said Ferdinand.
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said he took the incidents very seriously and would be contacting both the FIA and the Spanish sports minister to express his concerns.
Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has warned Spanish circuits could face action if they fail to deal with any further incidents of racist behaviour.
Although no specific measures were spelt out, Spain could potentially lose one of its two Grands Prix, at Circuit de Catalunya or on the streets of Valencia.
Jerez and Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit are also used for pre-season testing.
CULLED from: BBC Sport | | Chelsea still in the hunt for Ronaldinho |  Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit of Ronaldinho, according to reports in Spain.
Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's billionaire owner, allegedly paid a visit to Barcelona over the weekend with the aim of pushing ahead transfer talks for the 27-year-old Brazil striker.
Abramovich is a huge admirer of Barcelona's superstar and has already held several meetings with Ronaldinho's agent and brother Roberto de Assis, as revealed exclusively by Sportsmail last August.
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The Russian tycoon was reported in Barcelona's Sport newspaper to have been seen entering and leaving a house in the Catalan capital's upmarket suburb Pedralbes, together with his entourage on Sunday.
However reports in the UK have emerged placing Abramovich in London over the weekend. Although it is believed he did not travel to Fratton Park on Saturday to watch Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.
Barca have previously placed prohibitive price tags of up to £85million on their star player's head. But, sensing their mutual love affair with Ronaldinho is over, they are willing to lower their demands.
And money will be no object for Abramovich as he seeks to turn Chelsea into Champions League winners - and make them once again capable of running away with the Barclays Premier League title.
Ronaldinho's future at the Nou Camp has been plunged into major doubt this season, with a dip in his form being greeted by jeers from club fans.
And it is an open secret in Catalonia that Barca's one-time favourite will be on his way during the close season.
He has been with the club since 2003, and is under contract for three more years. A two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, he has inspired Barca to the Champions League and two La Liga title.
But the playmaker would now relish the chance of a fresh challenge at Stamford Bridge, where he would be welcomed by Brazilian compatriot Alex and fellow Portuguese speakers Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.
Barca currently lie six points behind La Liga leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | John Terry to remain England captain | John Terry will retain the England captaincy under Fabio Capello.
There had been suggestions that Capello might turn to Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard as his on-field leader.
But FA insiders have told Sunday Mirror Sport that Capello has decided to stick with Terry.
Capello has refused to be drawn publicly on the issue since taking charge this month. The Italian boss intends to break the news to the Chelsea centre-back in a private meeting prior to naming his first squad to face Switzerland in a friendly at Wembley on February 6.
Terry, who succeeded David Beckham as skipper after the 2006 World Cup, may not be fit for that game after suffering a fractured foot.
And with Beckham on course to win his 100th cap that night it is likely that Capello will hand him the honour of leading England one final time.
A source close to Capello said: "I can assure you that John Terry will retain the captain's armband.
"Fabio has evaluated the situation and feels Terry has immense presence, respect and should continue in the role.
"He wants to inform the player before going public about his decision."
CULLED FROM: Sunday Mirror | | Capello monitors Beckham's fitness fight | Fabio Capello has dropped his first hint that David Beckham will be in his first England squad by asking his staff to contact Arsenal to find out about the midfielder's fitness levels. Beckham has been training with Arsène Wenger's squad this month, to get in shape during Los Angeles Galaxy's close season.
The contact was made by Capello's fitness coach Massimo Neri who also worked under Capello and with Beckham in the 32-year-old's final season at Real Madrid last year. Neri has spoken to the Arsenal fitness coach Tony Colbert to get an idea of the state of Beckham's fitness ahead of Capello's first England squad announcement which is expected to come next Friday.
The new England manager has given away little about what he plans to do for the first friendly against Switzerland on 6 February and has not spoken to any players on an individual basis – not even captain John Terry. While he has been able to watch most of them in action for their clubs, Beckham's LA Galaxy team's Major League Soccer season does not start until March. He has not played competitively since October.
For that reason, the player's representatives asked Wenger, with whom Beckham has a good relationship, if the midfielder could train at Arsenal where he has now been working for more than three weeks on his own and with the squad. Beckham's fitness programme has been tailored to his needs by Colbert who has been at Arsenal for almost 10 years.
Neri has been monitoring the fitness of all the potential players in Capello's first squad and building connections with fitness coaches at all Premier League clubs. Fitness levels, and the monitoring of players, will play a significant part in the new Capello regime. So often a factor that is regarded beyond the control of international managers, it was attention to players' individual fitness – on and off international duty – that was so integral to Jurgen Klinsmann's Germany team reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2006.
SOURCE: The Independent | | Keegan, Ferguson, in Berbatov tug-of-war | Kevin Keegan wants to fight Sir Alex Ferguson for Spurs hot-shot Dimitar Berbatov.
The Geordies' football Messiah saw his first game back in charge at Newcastle end in a lowkey 0-0 draw against Bolton.
But Keegan is plotting another transfer coup over the Manchester United manager Ferguson - and he has an ace up his sleeve.
The £26million-rated Berbatov is a lifelong Toon fan. The 26-year-old Bulgarian striker is at the top of Keegan's wanted list.
The widespread belief is that Berbatov will join Manchester United in the summer.
But, just as he persuaded Alan Shearer to snub Old Trafford and join the Geordies in 1996, Keegan wants to snatch Berbatov out of Fergie's clutches.
And Berbatov's mother Margarita revealed: "As a boy, Dimitar used to sleep in his Newcastle shirt. It was that special to him.
"He told me it was his dream to play for Newcastle one day and wear the same shirt as Alan Shearer, who is my son's hero." The other signings Keegan has nominated include Rangers rightback Alan Hutton. He recently turned down a £7million move to Spurs and is also on Ferguson's wanted list.
Keegan would also like to bolster his team's rocky defence with the recruitment of Spurs defender Ledley King. The England centreback's injury problems may make that deal hard to clinch.
SOURCE: Sunday Mirror | | Germany to test England in Berlin |  Fabio Capello's England side will face Germany in a friendly in Berlin later this year, it was announced today. The match will be played on November 19 in the Olympic Stadium, the venue for the 2006 World Cup final. Capello said: "This should be a great match. I'm delighted this fixture has been arranged, it should be a real challenge and something the players will look forward to."
Hat-trick hero: Michael Owen scored three times the last time England played away against Germany in 2001
The last time England played away against Germany was the famous 5-1 victory in Munich in 2001 when Michael Owen scored a hat-trick.
The last meeting between the two sides was at Wembley last August when Germany outplayed Steve McClaren's England team to record a 2-1 victory.
Capello's first match in charge is the sell-out home game against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.
England then travel to Paris to play another friendly against France on March 26.
Talks are still taking place on England's summer fixtures, including a likely match against Scotland at Wembley.
England have not played in Berlin since they met West Germany for their 1972 European Championship quarter-final, second-leg, which ended in a goalless draw.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | I'm behind captain JT - Gerrard | \ Steven Gerrard admits he would love to be England captain as new manager Fabio Capello prepares to announce his first squad for next month's game against Switzerland.
Former boss Steve McClaren installed John Terry as skipper after axing David Beckham but the Chelsea defender is by no means assured of retaining the captaincy under the Italian.
Much to ponder: Steven Gerrard (left) wants to be skipper but John Terry is the man in possession
Gerrard would be a popular choice to lead the national team but while he admits he would be honoured to take the role, the 27-year-old insisted he was fully behind Terry.
Gerrard said: "If the manager comes and asks you 'do you want to be captain?' then you say 'yes of course'.
"But I don't want to put my name forward because we have our leader in John Terry and we have to show some respect.
"Every England player wants to captain his country.
"But John is our captain at the moment and that hasn't changed as yet.
"So, we have to wait and see what the new manager decides."
Gerrard believes England have underachieved in recent years, illustrated by their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
McClaren lost his job as a result and Gerrard is now looking forward to starting afresh under Capello, despite the Italian's fearsome reputation for discipline.
"I'm just looking forward to the new regime and looking forward to getting back to winning in an England shirt because it has been a difficult time of late and we have certainly underachieved.
"There is an excitement there and obviously I'm hoping to be involved.
"I'm desperate to be part of the England team going forward because I do believe there are big things we can achieve with this team and with this manager.
"Us players have got to adapt to that (his reputation for discipline).
"He's the boss now so we have to do what he says.
"If he wants to change things we've got to do it."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | England FA query Capello over taxes |  FABIO CAPELLO has been welcomed back to England by his new bosses with a series of pointed questions about his tax affairs in Italy at the Football Association’s Board meeting.
A senior member of the FA Board – and a major name in the game – was not content with explanations from FA chief executive Brian Barwick and his chief of staff Simon Johnson, following the recent revelations that the new England manager’s finances were being probed by the Italian Inland Revenue.
Barwick gave the 12-man Board “assurances” based on conversations with Capello and his advisers that there is no problem and nothing more to discuss.
Neither Capello nor his advisers attended yesterday’s Board meeting.
But that did not satisfy one senior member who questioned whether the financial probe could come back to haunt England. Could Capello be subpoenaed? Will he have to commit time to probes in Italy?
Now the FA are furious that the disquiet has been leaked. The FA do not want Capello’s reputation tarnished – and they were not amused that it had been disclosed that Barwick and Johnson raised the subject of Capello’s tax affairs out of “courtesy” to the FA Board.
The assurances did not wash with one senior Board member, who said: “I don’t think the FA realise the full implications – if say Capello is subpoenaed to appear in court, and that case takes three months.
“Then that will impact on his ability to do his job as England coach and yes he would then be in breach of his FA contract. We have been given assurances but the question is, ‘Is it really right?’
We need to find out much more.
“There have been others in Italy who have been jailed over events at clubs such as Juventus and you have to ask yourself why has Capello’s house been raided by the authorities?”
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Derby set for American takeover |  Derby County are set to become the latest Premier League club to be taken over by an American consortium.
The Rams, who are bottom of the table, will make an announcement on Monday.
BBC Sport understands the new owners will put a significant amount of money into the club, which is seen as a long-term deal.
"This will establish Derby's brand worldwide through alliances with sports teams in USA, the far east and Africa," said Derby chairman Adam Pearson.
Pearson has been working on the multi-million pound deal since he took charge of the Rams at the end of October.
In a statement to be published in Saturday's matchday programme notes for the FA Cup fourth-round clash with Preston, he added: "The key aim is to continue to build the infrastructure of the club at Pride Park and obviously develop a squad which is renowned as a Premier League force.
"This will add new financial firepower to the squad."
It is believed the successful consortium is drawn from investors with wide and varied experience of American football, baseball and basketball.
But BBC Sport's Pat Murphy says it is not Shamrock Holdings, the American company run by Roy Disney, nephew of Walt, as was rumoured recently.
The group will not take on the club's £25m debt, but there will be a "reassuring" amount available for boss Paul Jewell to spend on players in the summer.
Jewell was aware of the likely takeover when he joined the club in December and he is believed to have met with the consortium.
Derby are now the fourth Premier League club in American hands, along with Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa.
"I understand the new owners are definitely looking to model themselves on the way Randy Lerner has transformed Aston Villa," Murphy told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"They're not going to align themselves with the way the Glazer family runs Manchester United and messrs Hick and Gillett run Liverpool.
"The hope is this will end years of uncertainty at Derby County."
Derby have endured a torrid ride since returning to the top flight as they have won just one of their 23 league games this season.
CULLED from: BBC Sport | | I am solidly behind Rafa - Hicks |  Liverpool's owners have announced they have completed a £350million refinancing package - and stated that they are fully behind manager Rafa Benitez.
The announcement of the package had been widely expected and Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett are now looking to build bridges with Benitez following Hicks recently confirming he had sounded out Jurgen Klinsmann as a possible replacement if the Spaniard were to leave.
Hicks said in a statement: "Since the meeting with Rafa on December 16th, at which some widely reported communications issues were discussed, Rafa has been assured that he has continuing and enthusiastic support as the club's manager."
He added: "Reflecting that support, Kop {Holdings] recently approved his transfer payment request to sign Martin Skrtel for £6.5million and is in discussions with Rafa and club management regarding additional player signings this summer.
"Rafa is under contract for two more seasons following this season. I am solidly behind Rafa and am confident of the team's competitive prospects under his continuing leadership."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Carragher's the best defender in the world – John Terry |  Jamie Carragher's international retirement has been put into context by John Terry describing the Liverpool centre back as the finest defender in the world.
Terry, England's captain under former boss Steve McClaren, has paid tribute to Carragher, who made his 500th appearance for his club earlier this month.
"I personally think that over the last four or five years he has been the best defender in the world," said Terry, in a documentary for LFC TV.
Top man: Terry was full of praise for the achievements of Jamie Carragher
"He's been consistent in the Premier League, he's never injured, he always gives 100 per cent, he's a good reader of the game, he's quick and is good in the air.
"He has everything you need to be a world-class defender and you also have to look at what he's achieved in the Champions League with Liverpool."
Carragher was instrumental in Liverpool's Champions League success of 2005 and reaching the final last season, although he called time on his England career in the summer after a frustrating time under McClaren.
Fabio Capello, McClaren's successor, was impressed by Carragher's performances while at Juventus but the 29-year-old recently suggested he was "happy with the way things are now".
Terry's partnership with Rio Ferdinand made it difficult for Carragher to establish himself for England but the Chelsea skipper has no doubts over the Liverpool defender's quality.
"For a centre-half he's also great on the ground as well," Terry said. "He knows when to get the ball away, when to clear his lines.
"He also never stops talking to his team-mates and that's a great thing to have. Even when you watch games on the television it's always his voice you can hear."
He added: "To reach 500 games is a huge achievement.
"I've been at Chelsea a long time and am still nowhere near that total. He is a credit to himself."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Keegan dares to prise Richards |  Micah Richards is one of three players Kevin Keegan hopes to sign for Newcastle United before the transfer window closes at the end of this month. Although Keegan is already understood to have made contact with the Manchester City defender's representatives, Sven-Goran Eriksson is unlikely to accept the loss of one of his team's brightest talents.
Keegan's only hope of a deal is that City are unwilling to pay the versatile Richards, still only 19 but already a full England international, the £70,000 a week he is demanding and might sell him if offered enough money.
Keegan is also keen on another of his former City players, Daniel van Buyten. Now out of favour at Bayern Munich, the 29-year-old Belgian central defender impressed during a loan spell in Manchester in 2004 and his agent, Christophe Henrotay, said yesterday: "Daniel would like to carry on doing his job at Bayern but I have said to Kevin: 'Anything can happen; the truth today is not the truth tomorrow.' And Daniel appreciated Kevin's management at Manchester City."
Newcastle's new manager is also interested in Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge, Tottenham's Jermain Defoe, Blackburn's David Bentley, Manchester United's Wes Brown and Dundee United's Barry Robson, but admitted: "I might not get any. To bring three players in - and I know which three I'd like - during the next two weeks would be fantastic.
"Last time [in his first stint as Newcastle's manager] we fetched in players who some people didn't think were right. We weren't going to get the very best and we sometimes got ones with warts on that had had a problem somewhere. I'm not saying we want difficult or awkward players but that's what we did last time."
Any signings are likely to boast Premier League experience, "players who don't need much settling in," said Keegan, who has recruited his former mentor Arthur Cox to his staff. Cox, 68, is unlikely to have met anyone in football as eccentric as Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner. "Mike asked me to sign his [replica] shirt," said Keegan. "I refused. Only kidding - we've got a fantastic owner, he's given us a lot of responsibility and we've got to make sure we encourage him to stay in this for the real long haul. We don't want to do anything that's going to make him despondent and that's the challenge for us. If we get this place going we will have the best owner in the country."
SOURCE: The Guardian | | Adebayor reveals his secret |  Science and technology may drive the world of modern sport but Emmanuel Adebayor struck a blow for simplicity when he revealed how his aerial skills were perfected using a ball and string.
Two giant leaps and two wonderful first-half headers from Adebayor wrecked Fulham's feeble resistance at Craven Cottage and propelled Arsenal to a routine win, keeping them locked at the top of the Barclays Premier League with Manchester United.
Tomas Rosicky added the third and those expecting the Gunners to stumble must wait a little longer.
High jinks: Adebayor outjumps the Fulham defence for the first of his two headed goals
Those who think they have no alternative to their pretty passing patterns must consider the increasing influence of their 6ft 4in striker from Togo.
"When I was young I would suspend a ball from the ceiling of my mum's house and see if I could jump high enough to head it," said Adebayor.
"Every time I managed to head it, I would shorten the rope and try to leap even higher.
"The first thing I worked out for myself was that I should win a lot of headers because I was tall but ever since I played for Metz in France, I've always come first in every jumping test. It's not just because I am tall."
Fulham's Jimmy Bullard, who came on to a standing ovation at half-time for his first appearance at Craven Cottage in 16 months, claimed it was impossible to defend against Adebayor in such a mood.
"I'm sure he jumped as high as the bar on that first goal," said Bullard.
"It's a standing jump as well. Frightening. He's a monster isn't he? I don't think anyone in the Premier League can mark that."
Arsene Wenger admitted he was "not devastated" when Togo failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, which started yesterday.
He may have lost key defender Kolo Toure to the competition but Adebayor's presence is vital, especially with Robin van Persie out injured.
Adebayor said: "Last year a lot of people thought I wasn't a good player or a good finisher but this season I'm happy to be one of the leading scorers around.
"Arsene trusts me and the most important thing is that I feel free. I am starting most games now and the first question I ask myself is not whether I am playing, or whether I am going to start on the bench, but whether I'm going to score."
Here was another subtle hint that Arsenal players are thriving without Thierry Henry. Adebayor has 15 goals in the Premier League, two behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot.
"I'll just keep chasing the goals," said Adebayor. "Of course I'll be pleased if I finish top scorer but my ambition is to win the title and everyone at Arsenal believes we can do that. I don't care whether people rate me as a finisher because I have a buzz about my game now. At the end of my career, we'll see what I have won."
Adebayor has already collected one award. He was voted the BBC's African Player of the Year for 2007.
CULLED FROM: Daily Mail | | Saudi break will not disrupt us - Ferguson |  NEWCASTLE will offer Harry Redknapp £20million to be their new boss.
Redknapp or his adviser will meet Magpies officials in London today.
Billionaire Toon owner Mike Ashley is determined to land the Portsmouth chief and will hand him a whopping four-year deal worth £5m a year.
That’s a staggering FIVE TIMES what he is earning now at Fratton Park.
Ashley will also:
• Allow Redknapp to commute to work by plane from his beloved South Coast.
• Hand him a transfer war chest to go for men like Spurs’ Pascal Chimbonda.
• Pay Pompey £3m compensation.
Redknapp, 60, has told pals he has taken Portsmouth as far as he can and would welcome the challenge at St James’.
But the deal is far from done. Brother-in-law Frank Lampard Snr said: “He’s a top, top manager but I don’t know if he would leave the South Coast, to be fair.
“He’s settled down there. He likes taking his dogs for a walk along the coast. But time will tell, I suppose.”
Immerse himself
There are six flights a day from Southampton to Newcastle with only one on a Saturday but Redknapp would want Ashley to organise a private jet.
Yet Redknapp’s reluctance to move to Tyneside would not go down well with the Toon Army, who would want the new man to immerse himself in the North East.
Redknapp signed a new four-year deal at Pompey in October and Fratton owner Alexandre Gaydamak would want the contract paid in full before any talks can begin.
That will be no problem for Ashley, who stumped up an estimated £6m to get rid of Sam.
But Pompey last night issued a statement, insisting no formal approach has been made for Redknapp.
The statement read: “We take it as a compliment that our personnel are often linked with some of the top clubs in this country and, indeed, abroad. It is a testimony to the quality of their work.
“The club has received no approaches for the services of our valued manager. He remains as committed as ever.”
On Friday morning, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes distanced himself from the job.
He said: "I seem to be talked about in good terms and I’m appreciative of that but it’s just recognition of the work myself and my staff do here.
“I have not spoken to anyone from Newcastle, I spoke to my chairman last night and he has had no contact and I don’t think there will be any contact."
SOURCE: The Sun | | Klinsmann goes Bayern |  Jurgen Klinsmann will take over as coach of Bayern Munich from next season, the club announced on Friday.
The former Germany boss will take over from Ottmar Hitzfeld, who is set to step down from the post at the end of the current campaign.
A statement on Bayern's official website read: "Former Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann will succeed Ottmar Hitzfeld as Bayern head coach on July 1, 2008."
The appointment marks former Spurs striker Klinsmann's first foray into club coaching after he guided host nation Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup.
The 43-year-old won 108 caps for his country and was captain for the successful Euro 96 campaign.
Klinsmann enjoyed a successful stint with Bayern between 1995 and 1997, winning UEFA Cup and Bundesliga honours.
The club have announced a press conference for 4pm local time on Friday.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Beckham wants 2018 World Cup bid role |  Following Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit to Beckham's football academy in Greenwich, the former Manchester United midfielder spoke of his desire to play a leading role in bringing the tournament to England for the first time since 1966. But Football Association officials are understood to be concerned that appointing Beckham as an ambassador before a company has been set up to manage the bid or even the recruitment of a chairman to front the £15 million campaign would send out the wrong message.
Sources last night also questioned how effective the former England captain's presence would be in delivering 13 of the 24 votes needed from Fifa's executive committee to land the World Cup.
Despite the FA's caution on Beckham, the Prime Minister is keen to use him as a general ambassador to help front the drive to turn the next decade into a golden period for sport in Britain. He visited the academy yesterday to see what the Government could learn to boost sports participation and tackle obesity.
Beckham said: "I was proud to be involved in 2012 and being involved in 2018 is something I would be very interested in too.
The FA have been holding meetings with Brown's World Cup envoy, former sports minister Richard Caborn, this week and are making progress on how the bid will be run. A report is expected to be put in front of the FA board in March or April.
SOURCE: Telegraph
| | Eriksson calls for Munich respect |  Sven-Goran Eriksson has called on Manchester City's fans to be respectful of commemorations planned for the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
City play at Manchester United on 10 February and Eriksson has written to fans asking them to pay tribute to those killed in the Munich plane crash.
Eight United stars and former City keeper Frank Swift were among 23 who lost their lives on 6 February, 1958.
Eriksson has urged fans not to disrupt a minute's silence before the match.
Former Manchester United club secretary Ken Ramsden, who has helped organise the commemorations for the day said: "What happened at Munich was not just a disaster for United but for the whole of the city of Manchester.
"We are sure that City fans will unite with us and share in the occasion with us."
United will wear a special replica of their 1958 kit on the day, devoid of the players' names or shirt numbers on the back, while City's kit will incorporate a black ribbon with their sponsor's branding removed.
CULLED from: BBC Sport | | Obi escapes to serve ban in Africa |  MIKEL JOHN OBI will serve his four-game ban while playing in the African Nations Cup.
The Chelsea midfielder was hit with the suspension after his second straight red card of the season for a studs-up challenge on Everton’s Phil Neville on Tuesday.
But because of a loophole in the FA disciplinary code, Nigerian Mikel, 20, will return with a clean slate.
FA rules state that a player who recieves a straight red is automatically banned from that moment — unless the club lodges an appeal.
Chelsea were considering an appeal yesterday, until it was confirmed that Mikel would serve the ban while on international duty if they kept quiet.
Neville criticised the player but claimed it was a habit among some foreign players.
He said: “Mikel went in with his studs up but foreign players tend to tackle like that.
“I don’t think they do it in a malicious way, yet you just cannot do it nowadays.
“That’s the tackle we want out of our game. It should be punished.”
SOURCE: The Sun\ | | Koki is OK for Celtic |  The 22-year-old pitched up just hours after a three-man panel decided to grant the midfielder a work permit.
Set to undergo a medical examination at a Glasgow hospital this morning, the new Bhoy's signature should be signed and sealed by the weekend.
Out of contract at the end of this month, the former youth international is rated in the £1.5million bracket after earning the first of his four caps in March - but is expected to cost nothing by way of a transfer fee.
Regarded as Japanese football's next big thing, Mizuno has the endorsement of countryman and double Player of the Year Shunsuke Nakamura, who belongs to the same management company.
Agent Roberto Takuda travelled to Glasgow before Christmas when the nuts and bolts of an agreement were thrashed out.
As one player comes in, Gordon Strachan faces a decision over a potential exit.
Bolton have asked Celtic to name their price for Bobo Balde. The giant defender is currently on African Cup of Nations duty, but is a target for Gary Megson, who said last night: "We've spoken to Celtic about Bobo, but we're not quite there with a fee."
Balde is now a wanted man after ending a 12-month spell on the Parkhead sidelines. After turning down Newcastle, Sunderland and Birmingham in the past, it remains to be seen whether the Guinean international will bite on the latest move to secure his services.
Away from the Mizuno deal, Borussia Dortmund have reopened fire on Andreas Hinkel after the German defender turned his back on a return to his homeland in favour of Celtic.
Adamant that he performed a U-turn on a promise to join them after Celtic offered more money, the Bundesliga giants remain furious over the turn of events.
Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc called Hinkel a 'rat' last week and general manager Hans Joachim Watzke has joined the fray, describing the SPL as a 'second-rate league'.
The Turkish giants have shortlisted the midfielder, who is currently on loan at Everton, as a potential transfer-window signing, although they are also pondering moves for Swiss international Johann Vogel and Swede Christian Wilhelmsson.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Drogba casts doubt over Blues future |  Chelsea striker Didier Drogba admits he still wants talks over his Stamford Bridge future at the end of the season.
The Ivory Coast international first revealed he wanted to end his association with the Blues following the departure of former boss Jose Mourinho back in September.
But he later regretted making his remarks public and re-affirmed his commitment to the club.
Now Drogba's stance does not appear to have changed and he admits that his future is something he intends to discuss after the end of the current campaign.
Drogba told Eurosport: "It comes from me, I said what I am thinking, that I wanted to leave. The problem is that I've said that I've wanted to leave for two or three years now.
"Mourinho's departure didn't help; on the contrary it made me want to leave even more."
Drogba has been linked with some of the continent's biggest clubs, including Spanish giants Real Madrid and European champions AC Milan - clubs also reported to be interested in Mourinho.
But the 30-year-old wants to concentrate on helping both club and country before sorting his own future out.
Drogba added: "I haven't talked about that yet - that's for later on. "For the moment, my main objective is the African Nations Cup and then when I get back to Chelsea, it will be winning everything we still have an interest in.
"The Champions League is the most important. But if we won the Premier League I wouldn't complain."
Drogba made his first appearance since the beginning of December in Chelea's 1-0 FA Cup third round win over Queens Park Rangers, following recovery from knee surgery. The striker has since left to join his Ivory Coast team-mates for the three-week African Nations Cup tournament in Ghana.
He insists the decision to have the operation was the right one even though it meant missing important games for Chelsea during December. "It's been four weeks since the operation and my recovery is going well. I think the club and I made the right decision to intervene.
"The club told me it was best to have the operation when I did. They said if you really want to go to the African Nations Cup, you need to do it now. We agreed on that."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Low thanks Chelsea for Ballack heights | Germany coach Joachim Low believes Michael Ballack's resurgence as a world-class midfielder is down to him toughening up. The player has never been a pushover but has only adapted to the demands of the Premier League in his second season with Chelsea.
His form is remarkable given he spent eight months out with an ankle problem and the six appearances he has made since returning last month have helped the team through a difficult period with injuries and absences.
Manager Avram Grant even gave him the captaincy after John Terry and Frank Lampard were sidelined, but the England midfielder is set to reclaim it next week at Birmingham after making a rapid return from a thigh injury.
Low said: " Ballack has improved a lot and his performances are better than just before the last World Cup.
"He has this incredible determination to impose himself. He learned that at Chelsea, to involve himself in the battle and to play at such a high tempo."
Ballack's comeback and form has coincided with the absence of Lampard through injury but he will have to adjust to sharing the midfield limelight with the Englishman from next week if his recovery continues on schedule.
When Lampard tore a muscle on Boxing Day there were fears that he could be out for five or six weeks after complications on a similar injury had led to a lengthy lay-off.
But he is already back running and looking to step up his rehabilitation. His father, Frank Lampard senior, thinks he may have been ready to play in the next game against Tottenham if it had not been brought forward two days to Saturday. When Ballack and Lampard are both fit they will be under pressure to develop a better partnership than they managed last season. There are doubts they can fulfil their potential together in the same side but the former West Ham player rejected them.
He said: "I don't agree with it, but once it gets inside people's heads they make that the issue. I watched Ballack closely in the World Cup after we had just signed him and he played deep for them [Germany]. His instinct is to play deep and arrive late on crosses. When I come back we can play together."
Likely to return before Lampard is goalkeeper Petr Cech, who was back training with the team again today and hoping to play against Spurs.
Cech was injured at Blackburn before Christmas and admitted today that risking the hip problem three days later in the Boxing Day game against Aston Villa backfired.
Chelsea conceded four times in the draw and Cech has been out since. He said: "We took a bit of a risk and I tried to play this game. Unfortunately at the end the injury was worse and they didn't allow me to play again.
"Recently I have been training hard, returning to fitness and the injury reacted very well."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | KAKA IS THE BEST, AGAIN |  AC Milan's Brazilian superstar Kaka has been crowned as FIFA's world player of the year, beating off competition from Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Barcelona.
Kaka has had a glittering year for AC Milan during which they won the Champions League, while personally he has won the Ballon d'Or award for the European footballer of the year and FIFPro's world player of the year voted by fellow professionals and World Soccer's player of the year.
Barcelona's Argentina forward Messi came second, and Manchester United's Portuguese winger Ronaldo was in third place.
Kaka said at the awards ceremony at Zurich's Opera House: "Tonight is a really special night for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil. But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for."
Ronaldo, 22, said he was hugely honoured to be short-listed for the award - which has never been won by a Premier League player, saying: "I was so pleased when I got nominated. The first thing I did was tell the people closest to me. It's a real honour for me to be considered one of the three best players in the world."
The award is voted on by all national team managers and captains, and this year's shortlist contains three young players nominated for the first time.
Kaka, 25, said: "It shows that this is a new era in football, a new cycle is starting. They were great players before, but now the new players are starting to make history."
Messi, aged just 20, added: "To be chosen among the top three when I am so young is a great honour, and I just want to keep improving and working hard on the pitch."
Pele was given the FIFA presidential award, causing the great Brazilian to break down in tears.
In the women's player of the year, Brazil's Marta won the award for the second year running - beating Germany's World Cup-winning captain Birgit Prinz, three times a former award winner, and another Brazilian Cristiane.
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Capello, managers on collision course |  Fabio Capello will start his reign as England manager by setting a collision course with the Premier League's top clubs.
The Italian is ready to spark a major club-versus-country row by demanding more time with England players outside the usual window for international get-togethers.
FIFA rules state that players have to be in place only 48 hours before kick-off for an international friendly, although the permitted period is longer for qualification games and tournaments.
As England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 means they have no competitive matches until September, Capello has already told the Football Association of his fears about not being given sufficient time with his new squad.
The 61-year-old wants to learn why the England team have underperformed in recent times and believes it is essential to develop a close bond with the squad as quickly as possible.
But any demand for a longer release for international friendlies or other get-togethers during the climax to the Premier League season is sure to meet with fierce resistance from the clubs anxious to protect their star players.
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson repeatedly clashed with managers over the use of players for non-competitive reasons.
In 2002, for example, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson caused a storm by withdrawing Paul Scholes from England's midweek friendly with Portugal due to an ankle injury and then picking him for his club the following Saturday.
Last year, Arsene Wenger became embroiled in a row with France's Raymond Domenech over his use of Thierry Henry and William Gallas.
The Arsenal boss said: "What the national coaches are doing is like taking the car from his [club manager's] garage without even asking his permission. They'll then use his car and abandon it in a field without any petrol left in the tank. We then have to recover it, but it is broken down. Then, a month later, they'll come to take your car again, and you're expected to be nice about it."
Despite the risk of more acrimony, Capello is understood to be determined to investigate with the idea and wants the FA to back him. His first match in charge is the friendly against Switzerland on 6 February.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | Kaka dazzles for Milan in World Club trophy
… Milan 4 Boca Juniors 2 | Kaka inspired Milan to a 4-2 thrashing of Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup final here yesterday. The Brazilian capped a virtuoso performance by scoring his side's third goal and setting up two for Filippo Inzaghi as the Italians became the first European side to win the revamped tournament.
"This was the one trophy I hadn't won," Kaka said. "It's magical to finally get my hands on it. I can't describe how happy I am. I've won everything now – it's amazing." A slide-rule pass from the European Player of the Year gave Inzaghi the simple task of firing Milan into the lead in the 21st minute. Boca equalised two minutes later through Rodrigo Palacio's header but the defender, Alessandro Nesta, volleyed Milan back into the lead just after the break.
Kaka added the third by firing past Mauricio Caranta after a dazzling run before squaring to Inzaghi for Milan's fourth. Both sides finished with 10 men – Milan's Kakha Kaladze was sent off in the 77th minute and the Boca substitute, Pablo Ledesma, saw red for a wild lunge at Kaka.
Milan's captain Paolo Maldini announced afterwards that he will retire at the end of the season.
Goals: Inzaghi (21) 1-0, Palacio (23) 1-1; Nesta (50) 2-1, Kaka (62) 3-1, Inzaghi (71) 4-1, Ambrosini og (85) 4-2.
Milan (4-4-2): Dida; Bonera, Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze; Gattuso (Emerson, 65), Seedorf (Brocchi, 87), Pirlo, Kaka; Ambrosini, Inzaghi (Cafu, 76). Substitutes not used: Kalac, Gilardino, Simic, Jankulovski, Favalli, Gourcuff, Serginho, Oddo, Fiori.
Boca Juniors (4-4-2): Caranta; Maidana, Paletta, M Rodriguez, Ibarra; Battaglia, G Luengo (Ledesma, 67), Cardozo (Gracian, 68), Banega; Palermo, Palacio. Substitutes not used: Garcia, Silvestre, Cahais, Krupoviesa, Boselli, Bueno, Datolo, Bertolo, Vargas Rivera, Migliore.
Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico).
Booked: Milan Ambrosini; Boca Ibarra, Battaglia, Paletta.
Sent off: Milan Kaladze (78); Boca Ledesma (88).
Man of the match: Kaka
Attendance: 53,600.
SOURCE: Independent | | NO POSITION GUARANTEED - CAPELLO |  FABIO CAPELLO has wasted little time in exerting his authority as England coach, warning he will not be seduced by lofty reputations and claiming no one can be guaranteed a team place.
The Italian aimed a Brandoesque blow to the egos that have been rampant for too long in English football by outlining the criteria he expects his squad to adhere to.
“A place in the national squad needs to be deserved through behaviour, play and attitude,” said Capello, who sounded as though he was making an offer the England stars would refuse at their peril. “It is up to the players to be part of such a group.”
Capello spoke in Italian after being unveiled at a London press conference. He admitted he was mulling over whether to persist with John Terry as his skipper, while he failed to offer David Beckham any assurances that he would win a landmark 100th cap in the friendly with Switzerland at Wembley on February 6. On the issue of a captain, Capello, who could promote Steven Gerrard to the role, said: “I have just arrived and there are many things I have to think about. I have a month to think about it and I will tell you then.”
Beckham, who fell out of favour with Capello at Real Madrid last season, only to win his coach round again, has also been left sweating on what role he will have in England’s future.
“He was a great player at Madrid and a great asset,” said Capello. “He is a very important player for England.
“We had a contrasting relationship at Real but he showed he is a great man and great player. When David Beckham sets his mind to something he will usually achieve it.
“But David’s behaviour and fitness are also important and there is still a month for such important decisions to be made.”
Capello officially starts in his new job on January 7 but has quickly immersed himself into the role and as he spoke yesterday it did not seem like the FA had made a mistake in the way that the appointment of Steve McClaren had alarm bells ringing.
“I believe English footballers are born with the will to win as well as the ability to win and I hope to be the man to get that out of them and I am confident that I will,” he said. Perhaps significantly, he used the word “behaviour” in relation to his new players on more than one occasion.
“I am very lucky to play until next Autumn without the pressure of qualification. We have four games until June in which we can experiment, form a group before then and see how it develops,” he said.
“I believe above all the pride of wearing this shirt should be a motivation for every player. We want to see all players playing for England like they do for their clubs.” Capello, who already harbours one dream for England, added: “I have never wanted to manage Italy. Those close to me know that very well. I have great respect for the Italian national team I played for and which I greatly admire. Instead, I will enjoy playing the World Cup final in South Africa against Italy.”
He declined to reveal who would win, but that he is already planning on being there suggests an upturn in the nation’s fortunes.
Capello has signed a four-and-a-half year deal worth around £4.8million a year initially, but FA chief executive Brian Barwick defended the salary and said it would be money well spent. “The gross income for the FA in the next four and a half years could be in excess of £1billion,” said Barwick, who led the pursuit of Capello.
“Whatever figures have been mentioned regarding Fabio, it is only a very small percentage of what we could earn. If Fabio turns England around it will be money well spent. He is a winner with a capital ‘W’.
“We know we owe the fans and we need to give them a team to be proud of. Fabio can do that.”
SOURCE: Daily Express | | England now have fear factor – Van Nistelroy |  RUUD VAN NISTELROOY reckons Fabio Capello’s appointment as England boss sent a shudder of fear through football’s big guns.
The Holland striker insists the reaction to Capello taking the Three Lions hot-seat is one of dismay among England’s rivals — because the Italian is so good.
Ex-Manchester United ace Van Nistelrooy — who played under Capello at Real Madrid — said: “He is a great, great manager and he will bring success to England.
Strong personality
“Maybe it’s a shame for me as a Dutchman but you can’t rule England out any more now that he’s there.
“He will bring a winner’s mentality to the team, he will bring a lot of discipline to the team.
"He is a strong personality and that’s what England are looking for.”
Van Nistelrooy also rubbished rumours of a feud between Capello and David Beckham at Real last term.
He said: “It’s a myth — if you look at the most important games, David played in them.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | The Italian job costs England £30m |  The FA sealed the biggest managerial deal in the game's history last night when they signed Fabio Capello and his four Italian assistants on contracts worth more than £30million.
Both sides agreed to a break clause in the four-and-a-half-year deal that enables the FA and Capello to part company after the 2010 World Cup.
But the contracts still add up to a staggering amount, with the former Real Madrid and AC Milan manager receiving in the region of £6million a year, inclusive of bonuses, and his backroom staff coming at a further cost of more than £1million a season.
Capello, who will be unveiled in London on Monday, signed his contract yesterday along with Franco Baldini, Italo Galbiati, Franco Tancredi and Massimo Neri.
The FA referred them yesterday as 'assistants' but Baldini will operate as director of football, Galbiati will be assistant coach, Tancredi will replace Ray Clemence as goalkeeping coach and Neri will be fitness coach.
The contracts for all four Italians were finally agreed yesterday afternoon and a delighted Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, made a point of referring to Capello as "England manager". Steve McClaren was, of course, always called England coach.
Barwick said: "I am delighted that Fabio Capello has agreed to become England manager. When we set out to recruit the new manager, we said we were committed to appointing a world-class candidate. In Fabio Capello we have that man.
"Fabio is a winner. His record over the last two decades speaks for itself. At every club he has managed, Fabio has won the league title and Sir Trevor Brooking and I were left in no doubt of his passion and commitment to bring that success to the England team."
Brooking, the FA's director of football development who worked in tandem with Barwick in recruiting Capello, said: "Fabio Capello is widely recognised as one of the world's finest coaches. He has achieved huge success wherever he has worked and has the respect of everyone in football.
"Fabio will have the full support of the FA and its coaching set-up. We are excited about working with him over the coming years as we focus on qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."
The FA said Capello, who will officially start work for the FA on January 7, had agreed to sit down with Brooking and "discuss how to integrate an English presence into the coaching set-up".
Stuart Pearce will have some involvement but last night FA insiders said his main responsibility would remain with the England Under 21 side he has guided with such success.
Alan Shearer has been mentioned as a possible addition to Capello's coaching staff and he was only other English name raised during talks between Barwick and the FA board on Thursday.
But at this stage Shearer has not been approached.
Indeed, the FA insisted last night that no one had been approached for a role that could leave them open to accusations of tokenism.
FA director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "Fabio is very, very open and happy to include an English coach — or English coaches — within his staff. The key point is that that is something we don't have to rush into. People should not get too hung up on the fact there is no English coach on the staff at the moment."
As well as preparing for the friendlies against Switzerland and France in February and March one of Capello's first jobs will be to decide what he wants to do with two international dates in May as well as one in August.
The FA would favour a commercially lucrative game against Scotland at Wembley in the spring but the final decision rests with the 61-year-old.
Not everyone has welcomed the arrival of Capello and yesterday Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, who was interviewed for the England job before McClaren was given the job in May 2006, added his voice to the argument.
Allardyce has warned the FA that they still need to pump millions into the game at grassroots level if they are to produce the England managers and players of the future.
He said: "If this needs to be the short-term fix, then fine, if it gets us what we want at the top end. But we should, as the FA, be self-promoting and self-building.
"They are responsible for all football in this country at every level and once they have made this appointment at the top end, the main focus should go down to the development of footballers, coaches and managers, British or English, for us to still have a dream that we can ultimately achieve.
"I am very fortunate as an Englishman to be with one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, and it has taken me probably 16 years to get to this level.
"We cannot allow the young managers below not to have the dream of being able to either manage a top club in the Premier League or manage the national team.
"I think that would be very, very dangerous. If we carry on like that we will end up losing our own identity.
"Hopefully, the focus will go into grassroots and development after this and they will pump the millions that is needed into that area immediately so we can see the benefits over the next four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | What coaches, others say about Capello |  Italian coaching giant Fabio Capello has been appointed as the next England manager.
The appointment fulfils the Football Association's brief to appoint a "world-class manager".
But what can England expect from the former AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus coach?
Here are the views of players, managers and the man himself on his style, attitude and what he will bring to English football.
WHAT THEY SAY
"There's a bit of work to do with the England team to get them to the level that you all expect. There's tremendous pressure on the England coach which Fabio will understand when he's two minutes into the job. But you need the experience that he's got."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
"I spoke to Ruud van Nistelrooy during the summer and Ruud swore by (Capello), said he was absolutely brilliant. I think that's just what England need at the moment, a no-nonsense manager. Look at his CV, it's absolutely fantastic, and I wish him well."
Sunderland manager and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane
"Capello is a big-time manager with a wealth of experience. He's a winner and he'll command respect in the England dressing room. The negative would be that he's not English but you show me a long line of great English coaches - there aren't that many about. English football, the national side, is at a crossroads and Capello can only take them one way."
Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen
"He's a very tough person and a very good trainer, a good coach. He has a great feeling for tactics and also he prepares the match in a perfect way. Sometimes he wants to create conflict inside a dressing room because that way he can get better from the players. He's a very special person."
Former Croatia international Zvonimir Boban (won the European Cup while playing under Capello at AC Milan)
"I think the England players do believe in their own publicity. We have great expectations that far exceed the actual quality of the team. I'm all for people grabbing these superstars and saying 'you're playing for the three lions, get out there and do the business'. I hope someone's got the bottle to do that and I think Capello has."
Former England captain Terry Butcher
"It's a shame to go looking for a Swede or an Italian. It is as if you are saying to the English coaches: 'You are in England, you are all rubbish and we are going to look elsewhere'."
France coach Raymond Domenech
"With Capello you can start dreaming of winning something again. He'll give you the best chance you have had for ages, a better chance than Sven-Goran Eriksson did."
Former Italy coach Dino Zoff
"He has always been a winner wherever he has gone. Fabio thinks about England as the mother of the game and the teacher of football."
Capello's former assistant at AC Milan Franco Baldini
"I have known Fabio Capello for many years. I was his opponent in Serie A for 10 years. He is a very good man and manager. Capello is one of the best managers you can find."
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is now at Manchester City
"This man will not suffer fools. He will drop people. Not only is he a good tactician, he is a good psychologist."
Former AC Milan and England striker Mark Hateley
"He's a person I know very well. He's a great professional with unquestionable credentials to do the job. He has a very distinct style of play. As far as the language barrier, I remember a manager's meeting in Switzerland and he was speaking in English. I actually think he speaks it quite well."
Tottenham boss Juande Ramos
"Capello is ideal for this job. If England are capable of winning something, I truly believe Capello is the man who will bring it out in them."
Arrigo Sacchi, who Capello succeeded at AC Milan in 1991
"He is a great manager. He is a good worker and has clear ideas what to do. He is a winner. If you want to express something it is not easy as I found out. But he has experience and I am sure he will handle it."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez
"Capello certainly fits the bill with all the titles he has won at all levels of football. He has proved himself to be a winner with success everywhere he has been."
England midfielder Frank Lampard
"You do not see him laughing much - he is moody. But he knows what he wants. You have to go his way or you will get in trouble."
LA Galaxy manager Ruud Gullit (won the European Cup while playing under Capello at AC Milan)
"Even when Jose Mourinho was in the running I believed that Capello had even more charisma, talent and experience for a challenging job like this one.
Former Chelsea and Italy striker Gianfranco Zola
"I think he can win the World Cup with England and make them into a team feared and respected throughout the world. He is one of the best."
Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri
"He is a difficult guy. He is a professional and is very demanding but I believe that this is the thing that England need."
Former France international Marcel Desailly (played for Capello at AC Milan)
"He just oozes class and he has got the gravitas to take any job in the world. He has a fantastic lot of talent to choose from and I'm sure Capello will have England as one of the top nations in the world again."
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish
"I'm sad to be honest. I'm a proud English manager and I would have loved an Englishman to have been in charge."
Reading boss Steve Coppell
"I think the players will know their roles. I don't think it will be sexy football but we want to win and qualify for competitions and I think this is the best man for the job."
Former England international Martin Keown
CULLED fromn: BBC Sport | | We won't quit chase for Jose – England FA |  THE England FA are not giving up on Jose Mourinho.
Despite indications over the weekend that Mourinho had ruled himself out of the England running, the FA want to hear that for themselves.
They are inviting Mourinho to fly back to London this week for formal discussions about replacing Steve McClaren. The FA have already had talks with his agent Jorge Mendes about a £24million four-year deal.
And Mourinho has provided Soho Square with a detailed dossier about how he would transform the England team and the structure which feeds the senior side.
The FA have been impressed by Mourinho’s meticulous attention to detail and have not been dissuaded from pursuing the former Chelsea boss.
Nobody ruled out
Mourinho has had an offer to manage a top European club next season — believed to be Real Madrid or AC Milan — but FA chief executive Brian Barwick still believes England intrigues the Portuguese chief.
His communications director Adrian Bevington said yesterday: “Nobody is ruled out.”
While Mourinho keeps all options open, Marcello Lippi says he wants the England job — if Jose steps aside.
Fabio Capello also fancies it and has been approached by the FA about an interview.
Lippi, who won the World Cup with Italy last year, has the best CV of all.
A close friend said: “Marcello is interested and is ready to have discussions with the FA.
“He would not do it through intermediaries or agents. He does not even have an agent. He believes England have the players and the potential to be a big force again in international football.”
Both Lippi and Capello are out of work but their track records in the game fit Barwick’s plan.
Lippi, 59, boasts an honours list which includes five Italian titles and a European Cup with Juventus and the World Cup with Italy.
Capello, 61, and his PR team are pressing hard for the job. The ex-Real Madrid boss can match Lippi on the silverware front, apart from a World Cup, and has made no secret of his desire to take over.
The bonus for the FA is that his demands are not excessive at around £4m-a-year, £2m-a-year cheaper than Mourinho.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Ronaldinho To Stay Put at Barcelona |  Ronaldinho will not be leaving the Nou Camp during the January transfer window, Barcelona supremo Joan Laporta has insisted.
The Brazil forward has been linked with Chelsea and AC Milan, but club president Laporta said after the 2-1 triumph over Deportivo La Coruna that Ronaldinho is staying put.
Ronaldinho has struggled to retain his place at Barcelona
"We are not going to sell Ronaldinho," he said. "We are not in contact with any other team (about him)."
The 27-year-old Ronaldinho, who is in his fifth campaign with Barcelona, is under contract until the end of June 2010.
His penalty equaliser five minutes before half-time against Depor was his sixth goal of the season.
The victory leaves Barca in second place, four points behind Real Madrid.
CULLED FROM: Daily Mail | | MOURINHO SNUB SPARKS FRENZY |  Martin O’Neill is leading a list of candidates queueing up for the England job after Jose Mourinho snubbed the FA.
The Aston Villa boss is ready to throw his hat into the ring despite saying only a week ago that he was not interested in the post.
But he will apply only if the FA do not indulge in the same convoluted interviews that saw his last candidature fail. Marcello Lippi, who took Italy to their 2006 World Cup triumph, has already told the FA: “I want the England job.”
"I’ve a great offer on the table, so I’ll say ‘no’ to England"
Jose Mourinho
So, too, has his fellow countryman, former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello.
The FA are in the unique position of having three of the world’s most recognisable candidates all saying “yes”.
To complete a more optimistic day for the FA, Jurgen Klinsmann, perhaps an outside bet now, would also accept the job if it were offered.
Official contact between Mourinho and Soho Square will still take place before he is officially discounted but the FA believe they will soon have a man who can lead England to the next World Cup finals – and make a huge impact when they get there.
Lippi has the World Cup-winning T-shirt. In Ulsterman O’Neill, they have the closest they can get to an English pick.
Despite pledging himself to Aston Villa twice in recent weeks, it is now apparent that if the FA make the same single-minded pursuit of O’Neill as they did initially for Mourinho, he would take up chief executive Brian Barwick’s offer.
Mourinho’s mind games apparently ended where many observers predicted with an England approach tempting the former Chelsea coach on Friday only for the teasing to attract a counter club offer – believed to be AC Milan.
The Special One then decided on Saturday morning that he rather fancied the club’s approach more than Soho Square.
Mourinho played the role of pantomime jester as he told a Sunday newspaper at 7.30pm on Friday that he wanted the England job, saying: “The fans want me, everybody wants me, so I’ll say ‘yes’.
“This is the kind of job where everybody needs to be together in their opinion so I’ve decided to go to England if they want me.”
Then, by 11am on Saturday, he was telling the same paper: “I’ve a great offer on the table, so I’ll say ‘no’ to England.”
The FA are ignoring the ‘will he, won’t he’ saga and they still described Mourinho yesterday as a “live candidate”. But as the Daily Express first revealed, Mourinho has already signed a pre-contract to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Milan coach at the end of the season, while Barcelona might yet sack Frank Rijkaard and make an offer for his services.
So if not Mourinho, then who? Capello let it be known from the moment Steve McClaren was sacked he wanted the job, but Lippi said yesterday: “If the FA call me I
will listen.”
Lippi is available and – like former Germany coach Klinsmann – would satisfy the lobby who want an Englishman involved. Both would be happy to have a young English coach in their staff to be groomed to succeed the senior man.
In Lippi’s favour, too, is approval from Sir Alex Ferguson. Barwick pledged to consult the game’s elite and Ferguson has indicated his first choice would be the Italian.
But O’Neill’s potential availability is significant considering Barwick’s personal support for him after the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson.
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Barcelona feel short-changed over Henry | Barcelona president Joan Laporta showed the persistence of a Canadian mountie in his pursuit of Thierry Henry before finally getting his man in the summer. Now Laporte has become the bad guy because Henry has been ruled out "indefinitely" with a back problem. He will be out for at least four weeks, which is about as indefinite as it gets in football, though you would have thought Barca might have noted that Henry made only 15 starts for Arsenal last season because of injury.
Former Barca vice-president Sandro Rossell is spitting blood, saying: " Somebody must have their ears clipped for this signing. We all know his fitness problems. It should have been done [the transfer] for less than £16 million and for a shorter contract than four years." He has got a cheek. Barca have yet to pay a penny to Arsenal for Henry, 30, having agreed to pay the first half of the fee next year and the remainder 12 months later.
SOURCE: Telegraph | | Klinsmann waits for Rafa sack |  Jurgen Klinsmann has been lined up to take over as Liverpool boss — if Rafa Benitez gets the sack.
The Sun reports that Klinsmann is keen on returning to Europe from California, where he now lives.
And, though he turned down Chelsea, the chance to boss the Reds holds huge appeal for the former Tottenham striker and ex-Germany coach.
The Sun understands Kop owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks like the profile Klinsmann has.
The Spaniard's relations with the American pair remain fragile — the manager wants to establish transfer targets in the January window but feels Gillett and Hicks have been dragging their heels.
But Liverpool are feeling the squeeze and it is more likely Benitez will lose players rather than gain any.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Giggs joins Old Trafford legends | Compared to Manchester United's current A-list of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs is gracefully occupying a place among Old Trafford's supporting cast.
But whatever the club's modern-day superstars go on to achieve at the Barclays Premier League's biggest club, they will never earn a tribute on a par with that afforded Giggs by his manager last week.
Looking back on his 21 years at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'One of the most important things I have ever done at this club was getting Ryan Giggs signed up.
"If I hadn't come to the club when I did he'd have ended up playing for Manchester City, without question.
"My first real challenge was to get Ryan signed up to us on schoolboy forms at 14 and we worked hard at that — myself and staff like (former assistant manager) Archie Knox and Jim Brown, our then chief scout. We were up at Ryan's door every night until we got him signed.
"We put a lot of work in, Archie and myself, that can't be disputed. But it was fantastic for us because it was a great challenge. This was Manchester United and we managed to get him when he appeared set to sign for City. It paid off, of course. Just look at him now."
Captain in the prolonged absence of Gary Neville, Giggs is enjoying — at 34 — a glorious Indian summer.
Who would have thought that a player who traditionally relied so heavily on pace and athleticism would have been able to reinvent himself so spectacularly in order to extend his career at the very highest level? But Giggs' intelligence has always formed a fundamental part of his make-up and the first-half goal he contributed to break Derby's stubborn resistance on Saturday was his 100th in the League for his one and only club.
As he closes in on Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record at United, it would appear there will be a few more yet.
United and England defender Rio Ferdinand said: "Ryan does not get the credit he deserves for what he has achieved in the game.
"I am not just talking about winning medals and trophies, but also about the quality he has provided up and down the left wing for so many years.
"There are not too many accolades that you can give that will adequately sum up somebody of Ryan's quality. He is terrific and just so important for us."
If Ferguson had all his attacking players available to him this season, it would be interesting to see if Giggs would find a way in to his team.
Chances are he may not. But his value remains undiminished to a club that will need a deep squad if it is to meet its targets this season.
Against Derby, Giggs followed up when Stephen Bywater parried Ronaldo's 40th-minute shot and scored from close range to puncture Derby's resilience and effectively seal the game.
A second goal — this time from the improving Tevez — quickly followed and the stage was set for United's latest four-goal haul of this goal-laden season.
Giggs was not United's best player on this occasion — that was Rooney, with Tevez not far behind. The Argentina striker provided an exquisite finish to edge his team three ahead on the hour and, after Steve Howard scored out of the blue, Ronaldo earned a late penalty. The Portuguese converted the spotkick himself to complete the scoreline.
Ronaldo had to disappoint willing penalty takers such as substitute Louis Saha and a Tevez, who was after a hat-trick, to score his 14th goal of the season but there were no lasting complaints.
Ferdinand added: "Had it been 1-1 then Cristiano would have taken it. So it's the same at 3-1. He was just being professional."
For new Derby manager Paul Jewell it was an afternoon that will have taught him much about the team who currently sit bottom of the table.
Derby were terrific — well organised, disciplined and energetic — until they fell behind, but lacked the ability to lift themselves once United were galvanised by their first goal. If the club from the East Midlands are to escape, and it is unlikely, then they have the right man in charge. But Jewell feels his players have some lessons to learn.
"Wayne Rooney epitomises United in terms of his effort and his hard work,' said the former Wigan boss. 'United don't just have brilliant players, but team players who have great football brains.
"If I was not manager of Derby County then it would have been a joy to watch them today. Players like Ryan Giggs have the same hunger and desire that he had when he first came to this club.
"It's great to have ability but these players have desire as well and it's this quality that I want to instil into my players."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | England need Mourinho - Ferguson |  Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has urged the FA to appoint Jose Mourinho as England manager.
Ferguson, who enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Mourinho while the latter was at Chelsea, believes the self-proclaimed Special One is the outstanding candidate to succeed Steve McClaren.
As reported in today's Telegraph, Mourinho has not ruled out the possibility of taking the job, urging the FA to get in touch, and Ferguson said: "Jose Mourinho should be the next England manager. It is the job of club managers to get the most from their players technically.
"It is the job of the England manager to motivate the players, and there is no one better at that than Mourinho.
"If the FA consult me about it I'll give them a shortlist of one, and tell them to get Mourinho."
Determined to get the right man, the FA will reportedly consult each Premier League manager to get their views on the way forward and the best man to lead the national side.
Several names have already been thrown into the hat, including Harry Redknapp, Guus Hiddink, Fabio Capello and Arsene Wenger, but Mourinho seems to be the popular choice.
Former England head coach Sir Bobby Robson is another backing the Portuguese, saying: "I think Mourinho is a great candidate for England.
"I'd prefer an English manager. But everything depends on the solutions available and, if there are no interesting names from within, Mourinho would be a very good choice."
SOURCE: Telegraph | | Blatter downplays SA crime fears |  Sepp Blatter has defended the decision to bring the football World Cup to Africa for the first time.
The president of football's world governing body Fifa said any organisational problems would be overcome and also downplayed fears over crime.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's qualifying draw for the 2010 tournament, Blatter said the World Cup could help solve the social ills of the hosts South Africa by acting as a catalyst for development.
"After having meetings with the organising committee and local organising committee, we are very confident that we are still going strong towards the realisation of a wonderful event," Blatter told reporters in Durban.
Strikes have dogged the programme to build or revamp the 10 stadia which will host the tournament.
But Blatter said he had spoken with some of the workers and was sure that any industrial disputes could be resolved.
"The World Cup is the biggest event in the world of sport and that's normal there are problems ... but all problems have a solution."
Some have questioned whether the tournament was diverting funds needed to develop South Africa in the post-apartheid era.
While the Fifa president acknowledged some people would prefer the money to be spent differently, he stressed that was not the view of the majority.
"Football can help solve these problems," said Blatter.
"The Republic of South Africa has made a big, big effort twice to organise this competition.
"If a country is asking to organise a World Cup they know exactly what it means when they want to go in this big, big competition."
The killing of an Austrian tourist over the weekend in Durban has again underlined fears over safety for visitors in a country where around 50 people are murdered every day.
But Blatter said such a tragedy could occur anywhere in the world.
"In a city of 3.5 million some crimes are possible like in all other countries.
"On Friday evening in a bus station or tram station in Zurich a young girl of 16 years old was shot ... crime is everywhere," added the Swiss.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | RIJKAARD DEFENDS CONFRONTATION |  Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard admits he lost his cool during Tuesday night's Champions League clash against Lyon as he feared for the safety of his players.
The Dutchman was sent to the stands after confronting referee Stefano Farina at half-time of the 2-2 draw which confirmed Barca's place in the knockout stages.
Rijkaard had to be restrained as he complained to Farina about Lyon tactics he perceived to be "dangerous".
"I only wanted to tell the referee about a red card that wasn't given," he said.
"I knew it could lead to consequences. When nobody has noticed that somebody is playing dangerously and could cause injury, somebody has to say something."
Barca went ahead in the third minute when Andres Iniesta brought an end to a sweeping, length-of-the-field move with a precise finish from 12 yards.
Juninho, arguably the man of the match, equalised when his free-kick into the area evaded everyone and found its way into the corner of the net.
Lionel Messi thought he had won it for Barca when he converted a penalty he earned himself after he enticed Sebastien Squillaci into a sprawling tackle in the box, but Juninho was Lyon's saviour late on with another spot-kick.
The stalemate means the Catalan giants are guaranteed to come top of Group E.
"Our aim was to come top of the group, and we did that. That was important and we are very pleased," added Rijkaard.
"In general we played fairly well, better than our opponents, but in the end the result was a draw. With a bit more luck we could have won, because we played a good game."
Rijkaard's team sheet raised a few eyebrows with Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho named on the bench with 17-year-old Bojan Krkic starting in attack.
"We can only choose 11 players," argued Rijkaard.
"We have a big squad. It means nothing, everybody takes it well and wants to do what they can for the team.
"In Ronaldinho's case, he is highly motivated and keen to play."
SOURCE: sportinglife.com | | Essien to finish career at Chelsea |  Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has said he would be happy to finish his playing career at Stamford Bridge.
The Ghana international, who joined Chelsea for £24.4 million two seasons ago, has recently signed a new four-year contract but would be prepared to pledge his long-term future to the club.
"I'd be very happy if I could play for Chelsea until I stop," Essien said in the Sun. "It is a great club and I've really settled here.
"It was always a dream of mine since I was a young boy to play in England. Chelsea have helped me with that dream and I am glad that I can give something back to the club. It would be good to stay a long time."
Essien, 24, who remains in contact with former coach Jose Mourinho has said Chelsea will be able to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal over the busy December schedule.
The former champions are five points off Arsenal and are set to face Arsene Wenger's side on Dec 16 - the same day that champions Manchester United face Liverpool at Anfield.
Essien believes all four teams will be in with a shout of winning the title come May.
"It was a slow start to the season but now we're in the title race it is so far so good," Essien said.
"I think it will be among the usual four for the title, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. But Manchester City could make a breakthrough as they are going well now under Sven Goran Eriksson."
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Mourinho's the man - Keane | Roy Keane has blamed overblown egos rather than any lack of technique or innate talent for England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 and believes Jose Mourinho would be the ideal successor to Steve McClaren.
"Technically England are as good as Germany and France and people shouldn't panic because they are nearly a good team but there are too many egos (in the England squad), way too many," insisted Sunderland's manager yesterday. "I mean big heads who are side-tracked by stuff away from football. We all know which players we're talking about, we all know their lifestyles.
"I could name eight (England) players like that, we all could, I could write down 20. Any new England manager will face that," he explained, before, rather cheekily, adding: "That's why I won't take the job."
Although Mourinho's head is hardly small, the former Chelsea manager would be Keane's preferred choice. "He'd do well," he stressed. "Mourinho is a bloody good manager who could handle the media and the egos. He would stroke the egos, he had to do that at Chelsea - and he would take attention away from the players. He's a clever man, a cute man, you could see that even from the way he dressed."
Sunderland's manager - fast proving almost as snappy a dresser as the Portuguese - proved significantly less enthusiastic when Alan Shearer's potential candidacy was mentioned. "I don't think he's done all his coaching badges and the England job is massive," he said, his facial expression speaking volumes. "Experience is important for managing England, it's one of the biggest jobs in the world."
Whoever eventually secures it must be able to cope with the 'dependency culture' rife among England's stars. "As a top player you get people doing everything for you - and I was the same at Manchester United - you lose touch with reality, it's sad but there is that dependency," explained Keane who suspects certain England players may have stopped thinking, and acting, for themselves on the pitch. "You looked at England last night and thought they needed to step up to the plate and they didn't but they have not done that for many years," he reflected.
"When I was at Manchester United I'd speak to the United lads who were with England and I'd be scratching my head (at what he heard). A lot of club managers wouldn't fancy being in international management because trying to create a club environment is very difficult but the most difficult place to create it would be with England because of the egos, a lot of them massive.
"The England players will tell you different, they'll say 'no, no' but (in that position) you must have big egos because a lot of the people around you are just fawns, hangers on are everywhere. I don't care what anyone says money does turn your head - and if you lose your hunger you are in big, big, trouble.
"Even if they'd qualified I'd still be saying there was a problem with the egos; from their body language the England players don't look a particularly happy bunch. There looks a lack of enjoyment. I'm not sure lads like to go away with England but it's not just England. Players are losing the love of playing for their countries, the only (UK and Ireland) country which seems different and always has everyone reporting for duty is Scotland."
Keane's prescription is drastic. "If (egotistical) players were affecting the balance in the team and the bond I just wouldn't select them - not even if they were the best striker, midfielder, defender and keeper. That's what really strong managers do, that's what Sir Alex Ferguson would do," he stressed.
As Ferguson's assistant, McClaren coached Keane at Old Trafford. "I enjoyed my time with Steve, he was a fantastic coach," he recalled. "There's a big difference between being a coach and a manager but I do believe the England players should take more responsibility. It's unbelievable that they have not qualified with the talent they have."
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Momentum builds behind Martin O'Neill |  Martin O'Neill, the charismatic Aston Villa manager, is the overwhelming favourite to be England's next head coach in succession to Steve McClaren, who was dismissed yesterday with a £2.5 million pay-off. O'Neill's interest depends on the exact timing of any approach from the Football Association and the freedom to bring in his own coaching staff.
His main rival for the position is Alan Shearer, the former England captain, who has no managerial experience but who does have influential admirers both within the FA's headquarters at Soho Square and the England dressing room.
The search for McClaren's successor will be conducted by Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, who will talk to senior figures within the game, such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, before deciding on his preferred candidate. Barwick, known to be a fan of O'Neill, will then take his recommendation to the FA board.
If O'Neill were to be interviewed by Barwick, he would doubtless stress his high regard for England's players and the impact he has had on English players at Villa, turning Gareth Barry into an England regular, honing the raw talent that is Gabriel Agbonlahor and directing Ashley Young's pace more potently.
Scott Carson has also impressed under O'Neill, and the Villa manager is expected to use his weekly press conference today to launch a passionate defence of his keeper, who was badly at fault for Croatia's first goal in England's 3-2 defeat on Wednesday.
The dilemma for O'Neill is simple: timing. He has been at Villa Park for only 18 months, and he usually spends four to five years building teams, as he did in lifting trophies at Leicester City and Celtic. He would also want assurances from the FA that he could bring in his trusted lieutenants, John Robertson and Steve Walford.
The FA are in no immediate hurry to make the appointment. England's next competitive game is not until September, when the road to the 2010 World Cup begins. Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development, can oversee next year's friendlies with France and Switzerland.
"I'm asking for a little bit of patience," said Barwick, confirming he could be taking the counsel of leading Premier League managers like Ferguson and Wenger. "I'd be stupid, wouldn't I, if I didn't go to the best football brains in this country. We've got to get this right."
England's demotion to the also-rans of the global game may be confirmed today when the seedings are announced for Sunday's 2010 World Cup draw. England fear they will fall out of the top tier, with Romania tipped to replace them.
The seeds for Europe's nine 2010 qualifying groups are expected to be Italy, Germany, Holland, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Portugal and Romania. Group winners qualify with the eight best-placed runners-up playing off to find the final four. If England's fears are confirmed, they could find themselves in a group with Germany, Portugal or worse - Croatia.
CULLED FROM: Telegraph | | Uneasy Benitez drops England hint |  Rafael Benitez has said he may be interested in the England job after an apparent disagreement with Liverpool's owners over transfer targets.
Benitez described his week as "not the best" after arriving late for a news conference following a conversation with George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
"Maybe I could be Steve McClaren's replacement if I improve my English," said Benitez.
"I was being serious. You never know what can happen in the future."
During his news conference, Benitez is reported to have used the answer "I am focused on training and coaching my team" up to 15 times.
Despite a huge transfer outlay in the summer on players like Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League and in danger of failing to get beyond the group stage of the Champions League.
Benitez is thought to have already started making plans for the January transfer window, but the club's American owners have issued a statement suggesting that they are not thinking that far ahead at the moment.
"There are some very important games coming up in the next couple of week and all of us need to focus on winning those games and getting the best out of the players we already had at the club," said the statement.
"We will leave any talk of buying or selling players until we come across to Liverpool in December and sit down with the manager then."
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Capello anxious for England job |  Fabio Capello is under serious consideration by the Football Association for the job of succeeding Steve McClaren as England manager and he has indicated that he would be receptive to the challenge. While Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, has emerged as a front-runner and is thought to be favoured by Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, Jürgen Klinsmann is another continental candidate who would be open to an approach.
The Italian has long been on the FA's radar. He had talks with Howard Wilkinson, then the governing body's technical director, in the wake of Kevin Keegan's leaving of the England post in 2000 and, although the FA subsequently appointed Sven-Goran Eriksson, Capello's contacts with Soho Square have remained.
Capello does not want to make the running for the job and as a coach of global repute - he has won league titles in Italy and Spain and the 1994 Champions League - he is aware that other opportunities will come up before the end of next summer. He would not relish going through the formalities of very public rounds of interviews with Barwick, as happened when the job was last open and was ultimately given to the ill-fated McClaren.
But he would be keen for discreet discussions and he indicated as much when the question was put to him on Wednesday night. Capello, who was sacked by Real Madrid at the end of last season despite having won La Liga for the second time, was working as a pundit for Rai, the Italian TV channel, on Italy's Euro 2008 qualifier with the Faroe Islands when asked about the England job. "It would be a challenge, a beautiful test to overcome and I would [be] the right age," said the 61-year-old.
Klinsmann is from a similar mould. He sees the parallels between England today, at their lowest ebb since 1994, when they last failed to qualify for a major tournament, and Germany in 2004. Back then, Germany were coming to terms with their abject performance under Rudi Völler at Euro 2004 and a seemingly bleak future.
O'Neill has already received the blessing of Aston Villa's owner, Randy Lerner, to leave should he be offered the job. He realises that, having been overlooked in favour of McClaren last time, this is likely to be his final chance of managing England. But O'Neill believes he is building a strong squad at Villa and, with an owner who has faith in him, is reluctant to leave.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian |
|
| | | | Real waiting on Ronaldo decision |  Real Madrid will open talks with Cristiano Ronaldo once he has decided where he wants to play next season. The 23-year-old Ronaldo has said he hopes to "complete his dream" of moving to the Bernabeu, despite Manchester United insisting he is "not for sale".
But Real president Ramon Calderon said: "Once Ronaldo announces his future and once his club accept to sell him then we would have talks.
"Right now he's a United player - we'll not interfere or create any problems."
Ronaldo has indicated he will make a public statement about his plans over the next few days, though the European champions have always insisted they would not listen to any offers for the Portugal winger.
"Ronaldo is under contract with another team and we cannot think about him but focus on the players we have," said a club statement on Friday.
After Portugal's exit from Euro 2008, Ronaldo signalled his intention to "take advantage of a great opportunity" with the Spanish champions.
"Everybody knows what I want but things don't only depend on me," he said. "I am not the person who decides but I hope to complete my dream."
Ronaldo said he had made the decision to leave United for Real before the Champions League final and revealed former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is set to become Chelsea's new manager, advised him to make the move.
"It's a great opportunity and, as Scolari says, that train passes by only once and we have to take advantage of it."
Ronaldo has insisted he is not worried about upsetting United manager Sir Alex Ferguson by his desire to move to Madrid.
"It is my opinion," added Ronaldo. "That is why I don't mind if people get upset. It is my decision. It is what I want."
The midfielder was in scintillating form throughout the domestic season and scored 42 goals as United clinched a Premier League and Champions League double.
United reported Real to Fifa over their public courtship of Ronaldo, although the world governing body decided to take no formal action.
Ronaldo's possible transfer fee has been put at between £50m and £80m and Real coach Bernd Schuster has urged Calderon to "pay what is necessary" to bring him to the Bernabeu.
"What is most important is to win the Champions League and he can help us achieve that," said Schuster.
After Portugal's 3-2 quarter-final defeat by Germany, Ronaldo said he required surgery on a "small foot problem" that has been bothering him for three months.
"I'll have the operation and then have a good recovery period," he added.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | I love it at the Bridge - Ballack |  Germany captain Michael Ballack admits Chelsea may be his last club as a professional footballer.
The 31-year-old has one year left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge and he revealed he would be happy to negotiate an extension to take him into the twilight of his career.
After joining Chelsea from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in the summer of 2006, Ballack had looked set to leave the club after just one season following the souring of his relationship with former boss Jose Mourinho.
But the departure of the Portuguese combined with a return to fitness provoked a changed mood in the German, which was reflected in his impressive late-season form as he became a key figure in the Blues' run to the Champions League final.
'I can imagine it (ending career with Chelsea). I will be 32 in September and still want to play two or three more years at this level,' he told Germany's Welt newspaper.
'What comes next remains to be seen.'
Ballack ruled out the possibility of following the likes of David Beckham to the United States to play out the final days of his career, instead flagging up the possibility of a return to Bavaria when he hangs up his boots.
'We felt very well in the Munich area,' he added. 'Certainly, we will return to Germany.
'The step (to America) has rarely any sporting motivation - it is more a matter of quality of life, but I am not currently thinking about this.
Ballack insists he is focused on winning Euro 2008 with Germany, particularly after the cruel ending to the Champions League final which saw him, once again, miss out on a winner's medal when he was so close to glory.
With Bayer Leverkusen in 2000, he scored an own goal as they missed out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the season.
Two years later, he lost in both the Champions League and German Cup finals for Leverkusen before losing to Brazil in the World Cup final for Germany.
Losing out to Manchester United on penalties last month in Moscow saw him become the nearly-man once again.
'I won't let things like that drive me crazy, but I will take it as it comes,' added the midfielder.
'I am always highly-motivated, but you can never force anything.
'We missed a penalty in the Champions League final because John Terry slipped. What can you do about it? That is just bad luck.
'We don't even need to talk about how much a European Championships title would mean - that would be enormous.'
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Ronaldinho aims to play in China |  Ronaldinho claims he will represent Brazil at this summer's Olympics as one of his country's over 23-year-old players.
The Barcelona playmaker, who is recovering from the muscle injury which kept him out for most of the end of last season, is looking for a new club after being told by the Spanish team he can leave.
Brazilian star Ronaldinho wants to represent his country at the Olympics.
However, despite not knowing where he will be playing his club football come August, Ronaldinho is confident he will play some part in Brazil's campaign for a gold medal in Beijing.
"I'm sure I'll be at the Olympics," said the 28-year-old.
"If God wills it, then I will be in the national team. I want to be back from my injury as soon as possible."
Ronaldinho has been linked with Manchester City and is believed to be hoping for a move to Chelsea now they have appointed former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari but if he plays in Beijing he would miss the start of the Premier League season.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Mensah weighs options | \ WIGAN target John Mensah has given Steve Bruce a boost by revealing he is keen on a move to England.
The Rennes defender is a Latics target although they may be put off by the £7million asking price.
Ghana international Mensah, 25, insists he is happy in France for now — but admits it would be a dream if, one day, he could play in England.
He said: “My family is English speaking and would like to live in England.
“Last season I could have left for Reading but I am still here.
“For now, I feel fine at Rennes. I appreciate the club and the city.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Ince is the new Rovers Guv'nor |  BLACKBURN have confirmed Paul Ince will be their new boss.
The former MK Dons and Macclesfield manager has signed a three-year deal at Ewood Park.
Ince, 40, emerged as Rovers’ first choice to succeed Mark Hughes earlier in the week.
A question-mark hung over his appointment, though, because of his lack of coaching badges — especially the UEFA Pro Licence.
But the Premier League board gave permission for him to take the Ewood Park job — providing he earns the necessary qualifications within two years.
It means Ince will become the first black Briton to take charge of a top-flight team.
Danish legend Michael Laudrup was the other name in the frame, after Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce pulled out.
SOURCE: The Sun | | GULLIT BACKS SCOLARI TO BE A BLUES-SUCCESS | Ruud Gullit believes Luiz Felipe Scolari is perfectly equipped to deal with the demands and expectations at Chelsea.
The Brazilian, who succeeds sacked Avram Grant, was confirmed as the new Blues boss earlier this month while still leading Portugal at Euro 2008.
Former Chelsea boss Gullit has tipped him to succeed, telling Ford's Feel Football programme: "He will deal with it. He has had the Brazilian national team and they are all big stars also, so he will be able to deal with that."
He added: "I have never worked with him, so I don't know what it is that sets him apart. He has the experience.
"It is a big task, but he won the World Cup and he knows how to deal with big tasks.
"I think for him he doesn't try to play attractive football, he tries to win with good football, and he did that with the Brazilian national team and with Portugal, so he knows how to play.
"But first give him a chance and then we will see. I don't think (he will be out if he doesn't win a trophy).
"I don't think you are under that pressure. I think any coach who comes in new needs to have time, you cannot expect immediate results. It will take time to adjust, but I think he will do well.
"It is important for a coach to stay for a long period. He needs time to get into it, time to adjust himself, give himself time.
"He is the right choice at the moment. I think he is very passionate. He is a passionate coach, he does everything with the heart."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | It's Rijkaard v Mancini at Chelsea |  CHELSEA plan to interview Frank Rijkaard and Roberto Mancini next week.
The Blues have not yet spoken directly to either coach — but they are the front-runners after Carlo Ancelotti announced he is staying at AC Milan.
Chelsea officials decided on a ‘cooling off period’ after Ancelotti’s snub.
With Euro 2008 kicking off tomorrow, they hope to hold talks with the pair without the eyes of the football world on them.
Rijkaard and Mancini were sacked at the end of last season from Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively.
Both rejected the chance to replace Jose Mourinho 16 months ago.
But with potential replacements for Avram Grant dwindling, it has been decided to ask both coaches to prove why they should be the next boss at Stamford Bridge.
Rijkaard has the support of some of Abramovich’s advisors including Chelsea academy director Frank Arnesen and Rom’s football consultant Piet de Visser.
The Dutchman has recently suffered some personal problems, however, and Chelsea are wary they may be dragged to London with him.
Likewise, Mancini has been caught up in allegations that he called a suspected drug dealer during his time at Inter.
Though the coach is not suspected of anything illegal, his mobile number was discovered to have made calls to a police suspect as part of a wider investigation.
That information made it into the Italian media at the time he was sacked and Mancini has threatened to sue Inter if he can prove they were behind it.
Again, Chelsea are extremely wary of employing a manager who brings that kind of baggage with him but are beginning to run out of options.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Okocha's Hull City exit confirmed |  Former African player of the year Jay-Jay Okocha is leaving newly-promoted Hull City.
The 34-year-old Nigerian has been told by manager Phil Brown that he is no longer needed at the KC Stadium.
Okocha, who joined the Tigers in September 2007, was troubled by a string of injuries and made only 11 starts for the club.
The former Bolton player spent less than one year at the KC Stadium and could now decide to retire.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Moscow's police force to handle in proper and calm way - Mutko |  A year ago this month, the Omon, Russia's police force, opened their doors to foreign media as they showed off the full extent of its weaponry, techniques and no-messing tactics.
As Russia prepared for a year of potential trouble with a newly-elected president, little did they know that 12 months on, the Omon would be bracing themselves for the arrival of thousands of English football supporters.
Ready for action: the Omon show off their credentials in 2007
Following the street rampage in Manchester by Glasgow Rangers fans after their Uefa Cup final defeat, the Russian government confirmed there would be no public screenings of the final in Moscow on Wednesday evening.
Vitaly Mutko, Russia's sports minister, said: "The police and military on duty in the city would control the event in a "proper and calm way".
"We will make sure there will be no revenge attacks or anything like that," he said.
"Lots of things happen around football but we cannot blame football for them."
If violence does ensue in the capital, then the Omon special units will take little stopping.
The equivalent of SWAT teams, they are seen as the elite force when it comes to policing. With its striking motto 'We know no mercy and do not ask for any', an Omonet is selected after enduring five no-holds-barred fist fights.
There are around 20,000 Omon police across Russia while last year 38 died on active service.
In action, they are well-oiled in dealing with large crowds. Equipped with machine guns and specially-equipped armoured vehicles, they also patrol Russia's Chechnya region as well as being trained in hostage situations.
During the rare open-doors event last May, the Omon displayed their range of skills.
They karate-kicked and punched, broke planks of wood over their backs and lay down on their backs on glass.
They also demonstrated ways to disarm criminals with knives, pistols and machineguns as well as firing rounds of pistol magazines into the air.
Last month, England supporters who experienced trouble in Moscow during the Euro 2008 failure, urged Chelsea and Manchester United fans to travel in small groups, to arrive early and beware local traffic.
Of particular importance was to avoid the Ultras, the groups of hardcore fans from Moscow's three biggest teams: CSKA, Spartak and Dynamo.
If Wednesday's match passes off smoothly and the Omon are kept indoors, supporters will then have to avoid the capital's 'drink police', who round up drunks in mobile cells and take them to 'sobering houses'.
Once at their destination, they are stripped bare and chained to metal beds until they have sobered up.
Whether any supporter will actually be subjected to these occurrences is another matter; if they do, then it is likely that they will be phoning in sick the following Monday.
CULLED FROM: Telegraph | | Fabregas set to re-sign |  Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is close to signing a new, lucrative contract aimed at finally warding off Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The 21-year-old Young Player of the Year is already committed to Arsenal until 2014 but it is understood the club are set to complete a new deal worth around £100,000 a week.
Gael Clichy already confirmed that he has agreed to a new deal and is about to extend his existing contract by a further two years.
Fabregas joined Arsenal in 2003 and in 2006 he signed an eight-year deal; his existing agreement is believed to be worth around £60,000 a week and despite insisting that they will not break their strict wage structure, the youngster's wages will be increase to send a clear message to Spain that he is staying at the Emirates Stadium.
In February, Fabregas revealed that he was in talks aimed at improving his already lucrative agreement and Arsene Wenger, his manager, admitted that a deal could be done when the season had finished.
At the time Fabregas said: "I want to succeed at Arsenal and that the club wants me is fundamental for me. I am proud (to be linked to Barcelona), I am from Barcelona and I have played there. But now I only think of winning as many titles as possible here (at Arsenal)."
Real have never disguised their admiration for Fabregas and, more recently, Ramon Calderon, the club's president, said: “Every coach likes him but my policy is that it has to be the player who makes the first step for the signing because we don't want conflicts with any team. Something nice about Cesc is that he is Spanish and this is one of my objectives - to make Real Madrid more Spanish.”
Fabregas has also admitted that he would like to see a fellow Spaniard join Arsenal, claiming that David Villa, who is set to leave Valencia, would be an ideal signing at the Emirates.
Wenger, for now, will be satisfied just to keep Fabregas and Clichy in North London, particularly after losing his midfield partner, Mathieu Flamini, to AC Milan on a free transfer.
Clichy said: "We're at the end of our discussions. Everything's going well because my intention is clear: I want to stay at Arsenal. I would love to have a career here like Patrick Vieira or Thierry Henry, to stay many years at Arsenal and leave my mark on the club. I've been in London for five years. If everything goes well I will stay here for at least eight years."
Clichy's current contract expires in 2010 and he added: "We're talking about a further two years. It's a superb plan to throw yourself into the future with this group here. I never hesitated, not at all. Arsenal is one of the great clubs in Europe."
SOURCE: Telegraph | | Ronaldo joins Utd greats Law and Nistelrooy at 40 |  Cristiano Ronaldo placed his name alongside two of Manchester United's most illustrious strikers yesterday when his two goals in the 4-1 defeat of West Ham took his season's tally to an incredible 40.
Only Old Trafford legend Denis Law and Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy have claimed 40 goals in a season for United — and Ronaldo's feat in joining them leaves Sir Alex Ferguson tantalisingly close to claiming his 10th Premier League crown in 16 years.
United will wrap it up if they win at Wigan next Sunday, and Ferguson grabbed the microphone after yesterday's victory to tell 76,000 ecstatic Old Trafford fans: 'Enjoy yourselves there next weekend."
Ferguson also raved about double Footballer of the Year Ronaldo. "His goal record is phenomenal, and 90 per cent of the time he has been playing as a wide player," said the manager.
"The boy is developing all the time. He also showed his courage when he took a terrible tackle and came back. That's a great signal to anyone who wants to kick him out of the game."
Ronaldo struck twice inside 24 minutes — the second bouncing off his thigh — to take his Premier League tally to 30, a milestone which saw a local bookmaker make a £50,000 donation to Manchester Children's Hospital.
Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick sealed the points and because of their vastly superior goal difference, United will effectively be champions if Chelsea lose at Newcastle on Monday.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | HENRY EYES CHELSEA |  THIERRY HENRY will be allowed to leave Barcelona this summer – and wants to come back to London to join Chelsea.
Henry has had a miserable year at the Nou Camp since leaving Arsenal for £16million and last week’s Champions League semi-final exit to Manchester United was the final straw.
Now 30, Henry wants to return to London – Barcelona are ready to let him go if they get the right price – and his representatives, Express Sport can reveal, have made initial contact with Chelsea.
The idea of hooking up with his French international team-mate Nicolas Anelka at club level excites former Gunners hero Henry and Chelsea are resigned to losing Didier Drogba, with Inter Milan and Real Madrid both tracking the £15m striker.
Express Sport understands the initiative this time has come from Henry and Barcelona – not from Chelsea who are interested but have concerns about the Frenchman’s age.
Henry still has three years left on his Barcelona contract and one of the key factors in his desire to leave is a wish to see more of his daughter Tea, from his failed two-year marriage to Claire Merry, who will be three years old this month.
He said last month that the only club he would come back to England to play for would be Arsenal – where he spent eight brilliant years. But that will not happen after his previously close relationship with manager Arsene Wenger cooled in the latter stages of his spell there.
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Dempsey prays to rescue Fulham | Twelve months ago, Clint Dempsey scored the winner to keep Fulham in the Premier League.
Another year and another manager later, the American with the diamond ear stud is needed to produce another golden goal by the banks of the Thames.
"It was probably the second most important goal I have scored in my career after scoring for the United States against Ghana in the World Cup. I was just at the right place at the right time," said the modest 25-year-old from Texas, who has agreed a contract extension until 2010.
Last time it was an understrength Liverpool who came calling to Craven Cottage and lost 1-0 to Lawrie Sanchez's side on the penultimate day of the campaign.
"Every game is physical and tough in the Premier League," said the US international, bought by Chris Coleman for £1.5m in January last year.
"I feel like the whole season has been a battle, so I'm not like: 'Oh my goodness' now. It's not suddenly going to be different. We have been fighting since the beginning of the season to make sure we are not in this situation and we still ended up in it. It's not like we wanted to be here.
"That's the way life is though. And that's the way the season has been - it's been tough. In the year and a half I have been here we have had three coaches, so that does not say we've been that successful. "It has been tough and everybody has been fighting hard but it's been up and down."
Fulham could be down by the end of the day, but worse things have happened to Dempsey.
When he was 12, his 16-year-old sister Jennifer died of a brain aneurism, and he still looks to her in the skies when he scores. So if grown men are crying at Fulham's fate, don't expect him to join them.
"I don't think that's bad if that's your passion," he said. "Everybody has the right to express themselves. It's just that I don't have that many tears left in me. I had already cried them out when I was a kid, when I was in seventh grade. I just don't have any more tears to cry."
But Dempsey still believes that Fulham will survive. "It would be good for everybody, especially the coach and the chairman, given the difficult year he's had with being in and out of court with all the stuff," he added.
"It would be great if we could do it for him but I am not going to talk about that now. There is a lot of work to be done, so I will save it for after."
It would be good for the coach and chairman, given the difficult year he's had with being in and out of court all the time
SOURCE: Daily Mirror | | Grant's modern-day Paisley - Keegan |  KEVIN KEEGAN reckons Avram Grant is a modern-day Bob Paisley.
Newcastle gaffer King Kev believes seeing Grant replace Jose Mourinho at Chelsea has been the same as watching Paisley replace Bill Shankly at Liverpool.
Paisley not only went on to become the most successful British boss of all time but did something Shankly and Mourinho — during his time in England — never did . . . win the European Cup.
Keegan, who locks horns with Grant at St James’ on Monday, said: “Where Avram has been very, very clever is he has let the ship sail along. That is what Bob Paisley did after Shanks.
“That is good management but it might not excite people. They’d want him to bring in 10 players.
“His record is incredible. He is not Jose. He hasn’t come in and strutted about but he knows football and he has done a great job.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Torres targets payback double |  FERNANDO TORRES has vowed to score twice against Chelsea — to pay back John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho for the kicking they have given him.
The Liverpool hotshot wants to get his revenge on the Blues defenders by putting the boot in himself — to their dream of making the Champions League final in Moscow.
Torres has been a revelation in his debut season since signing from Atletico Madrid for a club-record £21.5million.
But he faces his toughest task of all — helping Liverpool dump Chelsea from the Champions League semi-finals for a third time.
And the 24 year old would love nothing better than to blast Rafa Benitez’ men to the final after last week’s 1-1 first-leg Anfield draw.
Torres admitted: “English football is physical and reasonably honest in contrast to La Liga, where it’s more vicious with studs-first challenges and elbowing off the ball.
“But all defenders in England are tough. It must be written in their contracts!
“Now I’ve taken that on board I’ve got to go out and earn my money. I’m not scared of a scrap.
“I’ve wanted to play against guys like Terry and Carvalho for a long time, and they do me an honour by giving me a tough time. Now I’m going to try to respond by getting a couple of goals against Chelsea.
“Everybody dreams of playing in the Champions League and in just a few months I have gone from watching it on television to having plenty of memories.
“My goal at the San Siro when we beat Inter Milan 1-0, the 4-0 win over Marseille and my goal in the 4-2 win over Arsenal — now it is the turn of Chelsea.”
El Nino has taken his game to new heights at Anfield and puts it all down to boss Benitez’s obsession for detail.
He revealed: “He calculates everything, including runs and flights of the ball. If he tells you to stand five feet from the penalty spot, it’s not in your best interests to be six feet from it!
“He’ll show you that the extra distance makes the difference between a goal and a missed chance — and it’s worked for me.
“The proof for me is I had never scored a club hat-trick in my life before joining Liverpool — but I’ve since got three.
“Rafa explained it all to me before I signed. He even gave me a work schedule in advance.
“He has great powers of seduction and makes crazy demands on us. At the end of training, when we are all tired, he can still make us repeat routines 20 or 30 times.
“Nobody is sure of his first-team place. Rafa is merciless and anyone who wants to play has to earn the right in training.
“It is different to Spain, where only an earthquake can change the pecking order at a club.
“You soon learn the Liverpool way of doing things. If you train like an amateur you end up dropped for the next game.”
Yet there is one thing about life at Anfield which does not quite measure up to his days in Madrid - the dressing room.
He said: “I found it old and very small but the senior players say it’s like a listed building.”
Peter Crouch has also vowed to blast Liverpool all the way to Moscow - if he gets the chance.
The Reds striker took his tally to 11 in just 25 starts in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham on Saturday.
Crouch, likely to be a sub, said: “Whenever I play, I always feel confident I’ll get a goal.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Desailly tips Chelsea To win the double |  Marcel Desailly believes Chelsea could lift both the Premier League and Champions League trophies this season.
The Blues face Liverpool on Wednesday for a place in the Champions League final and they trail Manchester United in the league by goal difference alone.
"It is clear Chelsea feel that this is their moment," Desailly told BBC Sport. "You can see the spirit is there, and they might just do it."
Desailly also insists Avram Grant is the right man to lead the club forward.
Grant replaced Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager in September 2007, less than three months after joining the club as director of football.
Mourinho led the Stamford Bridge outfit to successive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, and guided them to two Champions League semi-finals.
Many Chelsea supporters reacted angrily to Grant's appointment and, having repeatedly sung Mourinho's name in the early days of the Israeli's reign, sections of the crowd chanted "you don't know what you're doing" during the 2-1 victory over Arsenal in March.
Grant arrived at Chelsea having never previously managed in a major European league.
But he now stands 90 minutes from taking Chelsea to their first ever final in Europe's elite club competition, while the Premier League title is still alive with two matches still to play.
And Desailly, the former France and Chelsea captain who made more than 200 appearances for the club between 1998 and 2004, insists owner Roman Abramovic was right to hand Grant the job.
"For sure," said Desailly when asked if Grant was the best manager for Chelsea. "Abramovich is clever, he knows the people to appoint in his companies and especially in his own team (Chelsea).
"He knew that maybe it was time to change Mourinho and he replaced him with a guy who perhaps did not have the same quality as Mourinho but has other qualities.
"You can see that slowly Grant has put his own style on the team, the players have adapted to him and things are going well.
"They have made a few mistakes - against Tottenham in the Carling Cup final, against Wigan in the league - but in the Champions League they have kept a good rhythm to reach another semi-final.
"Mourinho never did better than that and that's why you have to give Grant consideration and then freedom next year to work in better conditions with no polemic around him."
Desailly won the Champions League with Marseilles in 1993 and AC Milan a year later, not to mention the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship with France.
The 39-year-old believes Chelsea must win the Champions League this season to bridge the "gap between the image they give worldwide and what they have achieved in terms of trophies".
In 2005 and 2007 Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League at the same semi-final stage. while they were eliminated in the first knock-out round by Barcelona in 2006.
But following Dirk Kuyt's opener in last week's semi-final first leg at Anfield, John Arne Riise put through his own net deep into stoppage time to gift Chelsea a priceless away goal.
Liverpool must now score at Stamford Bridge, something they have done on just one occasion in their last nine visits and never under Rafael Benitez, to prevent Chelsea reaching May's final in Moscow.
Also fuelling Desailly's belief that Chelsea can complete a league and European double is Saturday's morale-boosting 2-1 win at home to United.
"It is clear that after what happened at Liverpool and against Manchester United, Chelsea feel that this is their moment," added the Frenchman.
"They have the confidence that any team would like to have. The experience that Liverpool have at this stage of the Champions League is huge but, compared to previous years, Chelsea have a better chance to succeed this time.
"I want them to do the double. I did it in 1994 with AC Milan and it is something amazing."
CULLED FROM: BBC Sport
| | Henry is still on my mind - Wenger |  Arsene Wenger admits Thierry Henry's first season in Spain has been a disappointment and would 'never say never' to the idea of Arsenal's record goalscorer returning to the club.
Henry has struggled for fitness and form at Barcelona, finding himself on the bench or being asked to play on the left wing.
It has sparked a flurry of speculation that he would leave the Nou Camp, alerting a number of ambitious clubs, but Wenger's confession came as a surprise after a season when several of his young players shone in the absence of Henry.
The Arsenal manager said: "In our situation you can never say never. He only left last year and Thierry is disappointed because things haven't gone as well as he would have liked."
Henry declares his enduring love for the Gunners in a BBC Football Focus interview to be screened today. The France striker says: "There's only one team in England for me. Everybody knows the love and affection I have for Arsenal. I was so into it, I became a fan."
Barcelona paid £16million for Henry and gave him a four-year contract last summer. Arsenal did not request a clause offering them the first option to buy him back but Wenger has stayed in contact.
"I had a chat with him not long ago," said Wenger. "He watches every Arsenal game and I watch Barcelona when I can because I'm interested to see how he looks, whether he has found his sharpness and what position he is playing. I gave him my view about his game.
"Thierry is an efficient goalscorer but they have two or three players in there. His success has been damaged a little because Ronaldinho has not turned up this year and Thierry was the one who could play left wing. That's where he has played but that's not his preferred position or where he is most efficient.
"The whole team didn't work at Barcelona. They have never been in the race for the championship. Then every player gets a little bit devalued. But he still has a lot to offer as a player. Things change quickly when you have talent and he has plenty. My interpretation is that he is happy in Barcelona and will prove he is one of their better players."
Wenger is furious with Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini for openly courting Alexander Hleb, who has two years left on his contract at the Emirates.
"It is disrespectful and we will not accept this between big clubs," Wenger said yesterday. "If I want a player from Inter Milan, I call Inter Milan. I haven't had a call from anybody. The way they proceed is absolutely unacceptable. They can call us or we shall report them to FIFA.
"Some Italians use the agent to destabilise the player. It doesn't destabilise me at all. I make the decisions. If a club want to buy a player who is under contract they call me. They will get an answer — sometimes the answer they expect, sometimes the answer they don't.
"I said last week I want to keep the team together. I do not change my mind every week. Apart from Mathieu Flamini, all our players are under contract."
Hleb will miss the final three games of the season through suspension. The campaign is also over for the injured Bacary Sagna, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby but Wenger is tempted to offer a rare start to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski at Derby on Monday.
Wenger said: "He is class. He reads the game well. He is technically good and has a good connection with the team."
William Gallas has hit back at critics who blamed his lack of leadership and on-field tantrum at Birmingham for Arsenal's late-season demise. Gallas said: "It makes me mad because I don't think it was my problem. How can you summarise our season with that thing at Birmingham? That's not why we stopped winning matches."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Spurs land £20m Modric |  TOTTENHAM have pulled off a sensational transfer coup by landing Croatia superstar Luka Modric after reaching a deal believed to be over £20million with Dinamo Zagreb.
SunSport exclusively revealed Spurs had won the race to sign Modric and beaten competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
A Spurs statement read: “The Club is delighted to announce that it has reached agreement with Dinamo Zagreb for the transfer of Croatian midfielder, Luka Modric.
"Personal terms have been agreed with the player and he will now undertake a medical and apply for a work permit.”
Modric admits he is delighted to be making the switch to London.
He said: "I'm happy to be joining such a big club.
"It will be a real pleasure to play in the English league which is the best in Europe, with three English clubs in the semi-finals of the Champions League."
Dinamo sporting director Zoran Mamic revealed: "Tottenham's president came to Zagreb.
"We signed the agreement and everything is in order. We're very happy.
"Luka is leaving for an environment where he's going to progress, while Dinamo showed that we know how to do good deals."
A top Dinamo source told us late last night: “Everything has been agreed and Modric will be going to Tottenham. All the details are in place and the fee is £20m.”
Modric will sign a five-year contract with Tottenham. The deal is believed to be a club record fee for Spurs whose previous record was the £16.5m signing of Darren Bent from Charlton last summer.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City were all linked with moves for Modric as were Barcelona, Inter and Bayern Munich.
And Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan had an £18.5million bid rejected by the Croatian club, before Spurs upped the ante to land the star.
It is a masterstroke for Tottenham boss Juande Ramos, who has landed a truly wonderful player who is expected to shine for Croatia in Euro 2008.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Jose denies Inter deal |  Jose Mourinho insists he has not signed a pre-contract with Internazionale and admits his next job could be back in the Premier League.
The Portuguese has been out of management since leaving Chelsea last September and has been strongly tipped to replace Roberto Mancini at Inter.
The Italian champions have denied the rumours and Mourinho has also confirmed that he currently has nothing in place for next season.
"In this moment I have no club," Mourinho told Sky Sports News. "I didn't sign any kind of contract, or pre-contract, or agreement, or the way you want to call it.
Life is good
"In this moment I'm happy and I hope that I have a club to start working again in the next pre-season.
"If I don't have it, I don't have it. Life is good in many other aspects and I can wait a bit more."
Mourinho would prefer to coach in a different country next season, but acknowledged he would be willing to return to England, if he receives no other offers.
He added: "I was three years and a few months in English football and being so connected with the club, with a club that I wear the shirt and I was strongly connected with the club.
"I was almost like a flag of the club and the relationship I have with the fans is something which is impossible to forget and difficult to explain - it is amazing.
"If I could choose, I would choose to go to another country and not directly from Chelsea to another English club, but I don't know, maybe the market is closed in one country and open in another one. It is something I cannot control."
Untrue
The former Porto boss also confirmed there was no clause upon his departure from Stamford Bridge that would prevent him joining another Premier League club this summer.
"A lot of people were saying I had in my contract that I couldn't work in England for two years, three years, four years - it is completely untrue," Mourinho continued.
"Legally, I'm in a condition to work in England again.
"I would prefer, in spite of I love English football, not to go directly from Chelsea to another English club, but if it has to be, it has to be."
SOURCE: skysports | | It will be different - Cris Ronaldo |  CRISTIANO RONALDO last night vowed to bounce back from his penalty pain and send United to the Champions League final.
The Portuguese star missed a third-minute spot-kick as Alex Ferguson’s side drew 0-0 against Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
But Ronaldo said: “I do not think I changed my technique, I’ve scored a few this season on that side but missing is not a problem.
“I will now score in the second leg in Manchester. We defended well and a goalless draw is a good result for us.
"We have a great home record and have still got a great chance to go through.”
Ronaldo felt he should have had a second penalty in the first half when fouled by Rafael Marquez.
He said: “He touched me and I do not know why the referee did not give it.”
United manager Alex Ferguson was happy with his side’s display.
He said: “I am satisfied we kept a clean sheet. It was a professional performance.
“I was a bit disappointed with our early transition from defence to attack and normally we’re better in possession of the ball.
“The game now starts at Old Trafford. If we lose we are out, if we win we are through.
“Our record at Old Trafford is good, there will be a good atmosphere. It will be a different game and I still think we have a very good chance.
“In Ronaldo, we had a player who could win the match. He was a constant threat and with better support we could have won.”
United were rocked by the absence of centre-back Nemanja Vidic, who missed the game with a stomach problem and is very doubtful for Saturday’s Premier League showdown at Chelsea.
Ferguson added: “Without Vidic, it meant we had to reshuffle. I decided to go with Wes Brown because of his experience.
“It would have been a bit unfair to place the responsibility on Gerard Pique against his old club.”
Fergie claimed Paul Scholes, making his 100th Champions League appearance, was United’s top player.
The boss said: “Scholes’ confidence and belief in his own ability is always there.
“When you get the result, you have to look at the plus points and there were some plus points.
"I think 0-0 in the Nou Camp is not a bad result at all.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | Barca can still go through - Rijkaard |  Frank Rijkaard admits Barcelona were fortunate to avoid conceding against Manchester United, but believes his side have a good chance of booking their place in the UEFA Champions League final.
Barca almost suffered a critical setback in the opening minutes of the first leg semi-final match against United when Gabriel Milito was penalised for handling in the penalty area.
But, to relief of the home side, Cristiano Ronaldo was off target with his spot-kick as the Red Devils failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity for an away goal.
The fixture eventually ended 0-0 as United nullified the majority of Barca's attacking threat, but Rijkaard is optimistic of progressing from next Tuesday's second leg at Old Trafford.
Intense
"I think it was an intense game," he told Sky Sports. "We were lucky that they didn't score in the early stages of the game with the penalty.
"After that I think we recovered really well and played a good game. We didn't manage to score a goal but neither did they. I think it is still open.
"We still have a possibility of going through. Scoring one goal at Old Trafford can be very important."
SOURCE: skysports.com
| | BROTHER ,WHERE ART THOU? |  JOHN ARNE Riise was so distraught with his own-goal against Chelsea that he refused to speak to his own family about the howler that has left Liverpool’s Champions League dreams teetering on the brink.
Norwegian international Riise ignored a succession of calls from his brother late on Tuesday night after his gaffe in the 1-1 draw and eventually responded by sending him a text saying he wanted to be left alone.
Riise headed in his own-goal in the fourth minute of injury-time to hand Chelsea a crucial away strike and deny Liverpool the chance to take a lead to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final next Wednesday.
He left Anfield, having been selected by UEFA to from back page undergo a mandatory drugs test, saying simply: “What can I say? I’m just so disappointed.”
The left-back, who is expected to leave in the summer, with Newcastle interested, was even less communicative when younger brother Bjorn Helge, who plays for Lillestrom in Norway, tried to speak to him.
What can I say? I’m just so disappointed
Riise
“I tried getting in contact with John Arne after the game,” said Bjorn Helge. “Eventually he sent me back a text message saying, ‘I don’t want to speak. I’m so disappointed. Give me a call back in a couple of days and we’ll speak then’.”
Riise has scored important goals for Liverpool in the Carling Cup final, Community Shield and an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and skipper Steven Gerrard has taken it upon himself to try to lift the sagging spirits of his team-mate.
“It was a horrible way for the game to finish for John and I really felt for him,” said Gerrard.
“He has been here a long time and done some wonderful things for this club. He is a great lad, too, and no one is pointing any fingers at him over what happened. We have got to try and get his head right now, because he could have an important role to play next week.
“A few of the lads had a word with him at the end and I will do my best to pick him up. That’s my job as captain, but it’s the way we all are.
"Win, lose or draw, we do it together, as a team. It’s not about individuals or apportioning blame. It is about sticking together and that’s what we will do.”
SOURCE: Daily Express | | HEARTS SUPERKID SIGNS NEW DEAL |  BREAKTHROUGH kid Gary Glen last night signed a new four years contract that will keep him at Hearts until the summer of 2012.
This lucrative reward comes just days after the teenage striker made his first start at Tynecastle and scored in the 3-2 victory over St Mirren.
Glen is the latest in a long line of exciting talent to come through the Heart s youth system which is fronted by Academy director John Murray.
The eighteen year old said last night : “This new contract rounds off a few memorable days for me after I scored my first goal for the club against St Mirren.
“That was a special moment for me and it is great to have signed this new deal.”
He added: “This football club is renowned for producing good young players and it was great to get my opportunity from the start against St Mirren.
We have real high hopes for the lad.
Hearts stand in boss Stephen Frail
"Obviously there is a lot of hard work ahead of me but having experienced first team football this season, I want to keep my head down and try to gain more opportunities.”
Hearts stand in boss Stephen Frail has been aware of Glen's immense potential from the day he first arrived at the club after spurning the advances of many top clubs in England, including Manchester United.
The caretaker manager said: “We have real high hopes for the lad.
"He has come through the ranks and while bigger clubs were interested in him, he recognised that he would get his chance at Hearts if he proved himself good enough.
"This is just the start for him and he has to knuckle down and make sure he is ready to make the most of whatever opportunities may come his way."
The Glen deal is further evidence of the Hearts policy to focus more on emerging young talent and this approach will continue during the summer as moves are made to revamp the playing staff.
Earlier this month young Icelandic international Eggert Jonsson committed his long-term future to the club by agreeing a similar long term contract.
SOURCE: Daily Express | | WE’LL DO IT AGAIN - CAPT. GERRARD |  STEVEN GERRARD has sounded a rousing battle-cry and warned Chelsea that Liverpool will fight to the finish to reach a third Champions League final in just four seasons.
The Anfield skipper shrugged off a neck injury to return to training Monday and will line up for Rafa Benitez’s side as Liverpool seek to inflict more European heartache on Avram Grant’s team. Twice, in 2005 and 2007, Benitez has edged out Chelsea at this stage and Gerrard believes that Liverpool are primed to make it a hat-trick as they endeavour to reach Moscow next month.
“I have a lot of confidence in us going out there over the course of the next 180 minutes and doing what it takes to get to another final,” said Gerrard. “This team never knows when it’s beaten. Some teams wilt and chuck it in when the going gets tough. That’s not the case with us; we’ll battle and scrap and believe in our ability to do whatever it takes – here at Anfield or down there on their patch.
“I don’t think there’s a player, a manager or fan of any team in Europe who wouldn’t say the Champions League is the pinnacle in football. That’s one of the reasons we are desperate to be there when the destiny of the trophy is decided.
“We need to be brave, bold and clinical. If we do that, then we can start thinking about Russia.
“A lot is being made of the fact we’ve got to go to Stamford Bridge in the second leg. There’s maybe a little edge for Chelsea in that, but it won’t intimidate us.”
SOURCE: Daily Express | | Court hands title to Olympiacos |  Olympiacos CFP have been confirmed as Greek champions after a case that would have seen them docked three points was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Appeal launched
The destination of the title had been thrown into doubt after Apollon Kalamarias FC appealed against a decision to award them a technical defeat in a game against Olympiacos on 3 February, which the strugglers won 1-0. Kalamarias were penalised for fielding a player, Roman Wallner, who had already played for two clubs this season – Scottish sides Falkirk FC and Hamilton Academical FC.
Ruling upheld
Kalamarias petitioned the CAS, preventing the Hellenic Football Federation from handing the Greek crown to Olympiacos. AEK Athens FC would have triumphed had the CAS overturned the original decision, but in the event the independent Lausanne-based body upheld the first ruling – enabling Olympiacos to celebrate their 36th league title and their eleventh in the last 12 campaigns.
Next goal
Josep Segura, who replaced Panagiotis Lemonis as Olympiacos coach on 11 March, said: "I want to dedicate this victory to the fans, who have helped us a lot, to the players who have gone through some hard times, and to the club's administration for putting their trust in me. The Olympiacos players are great professionals. Our next goal is to win the Greek Cup." Olympiacos completed their fixtures with a 3-1 home victory over Iraklis FC on Sunday.
Record broken
The success was particularly sweet for Olympiacos captain Predrag Djordjević. The 35-year-old Serbian midfielder has set a Greek record in landing his eleventh championship, while team-mate Christos Patsatzoglou said: "This is the sweetest and – at the same time – the toughest league we have won in recent years. In the final stretch we were more durable than our rivals."
Play-off contest
AEK finished the season with Greece's top scorer – 19-goal Ismael Blanco – and also with the Super League's best attacking and defensive records. They now join Panathinaikos FC, Aris Thessaloniki FC and Panionios GSS in the end-of-season play-offs. The winning team will earn a UEFA Champions League second qualifying round slot, with the runners-up securing a place in the same round of the UEFA Cup.
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | Mourinho targets Lamps & Drogba |  JOSE MOURINHO has agreed to become boss of Inter Milan.
And the Special One is eyeing a £35million double swoop for Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
Ex-Blues boss Mourinho struck a deal with Inter president Massimo Moratti at the weekend and will take over from Roberto Mancini in the summer.
The Italian champions have not made an official announcement.
But Mourinho has told close pals he is going back into management and has begun drawing up a list of targets.
That means more bad news for under-pressure Chelsea boss Avram Grant as he could lose two of his top stars — and his job — this summer.
Midfielder Lampard, 29, enjoys a close relationship with Mourinho after they worked together for three years.
Mourinho described him as ‘the best professional I have ever worked with’ when the Portuguese boss left Chelsea last September.
Lampard is unsettled under Grant and the pair clashed ahead of Blues’ Carling Cup final defeat to Spurs in February.
Contract talks have dragged on and the England midfielder has always been keen to play abroad.
Mourinho and Lampard have kept in touch and both would be eager to renew their working relationship at one of Europe’s top clubs.
But Lampard’s mother, Pat, is seriously ill in hospital after being struck down with pneumonia last week and he has put his career on hold until she is better.
Mourinho signed Drogba for a club-record £24m from Marseille in July 2004 — and the Ivory Coast striker’s career was transformed.
When the Special One, 45, left Chelsea last autumn, the crestfallen Ivory Coast hitman compared it to ‘losing a father’.
He later made a bombshell announcement that he plans to quit Chelsea at the end of this season. Grant has been criticised for not getting the best out of Drogba and the striker, 30, has scored only four goals for his club since Christmas.
Inter have been in talks with Mourinho since Mancini announced he was quitting in the wake of their Champions League exit against Liverpool in February.
This was despite having four years left on his contract at the San Siro.
SOURCE: The Sun
| | Avram Grant's future cornered |  Chelsea face a player mutiny and the exit of star names if manager Avram Grant remains in charge after this season.
While Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is fully aware of the rebellious mood in his club, he is adamant that he will stick by Grant.
The Israeli's hopes of landing the Premier League title were lifted yesterday when Manchester United dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Blackburn, Carlos Tevez heading United's late equaliser.
Now a Chelsea win over Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final, the first leg of which is at Anfield on Tuesday, followed by victory in the final in Abramovich's home city of Moscow would make Grant bulletproof in the eyes of the billionaire, whose priority is European glory.
If that happens and Abramovich retains Grant in his current role, key players such as Real Madrid target Michael Essien are likely to join Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard on the list of those heading for the exit this summer, while the discontent among those who stay will deepen.
Some agents have suggested that their clients will seek a move if Grant, and his similarly unpopular assistant Henk ten Cate, stay in charge. A well-placed source said: 'The players are just not having Grant, and the same goes for some of the staff.'
But Abramovich is determined to assert his authority and takes the attitude that if players can find a club willing to pay them the same £100,000-plus per week salaries they enjoy at Stamford Bridge, they are welcome to leave.
Real Madrid have stepped up their interest in Essien and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic attended Chelsea's Champions League win over Fenerbahce earlier this month, a visit which is believed to have included a meeting with Stamford Bridge chief executive Peter Kenyon and talks with Essien's agent.
Real may offer Brazil star Robinho and Dutch winger Royston Drenthe to reduce the £30million it would cost to secure Essien.
Both players were Chelsea targets, while the Spanish leaders' interest in Essien has sparked renewed reports that Jose Mourinho, a great admirer of the Ghana utility player, is bound for the Bernabeu. Michael Ballack is also believed to be considering his position and although Tal Ben Haim is the only Chelsea player so far to go public with his displeasure at working under Grant, many in the squad are still unconvinced of the Israeli's manager's abilities.
Senior players came away from the post-mortem of the 4-4 draw at Spurs, when he was criticised for tactics and substitutions, convinced that his reign would not extend beyond this season.
Since then, Chelsea have sent out mixed messages. At the Soccerex London Forum earlier this month, Kenyon repeated his assertion that Grant had a four-year contract and the job was not dependent on him winning the Premier League or Champions League, although he did acknowledge that they had not yet delivered the entertaining football demanded by Abramovich.
The following day, chairman Bruce Buck refused to give a 'yes-or-no' answer when asked at a fans' forum whether Grant would remain, adding that a manager's job security always depended on results.
Chelsea were booed off the pitch after Monday's 1-1 home draw with Wigan, and Grant's bizarre post-match performance despite victory at Everton suggested he was feeling the pressure.
Some remain convinced Grant will be pushed upstairs into a director of football-style role whatever happens this season, with a number of high-profile coaches, including Frank Rijkaard, Guus Hiddink and Michael Laudrup, in the running to take over.
Another candidate could be Sven Goran Eriksson, whose position at Manchester City may be insecure after a disappointing second half of the season. The former England coach advised Abramovich after his 2003 takeover at Stamford Bridge and was embarrassingly caught at Kenyon's house in March 2004, as Chelsea prepared to replace Claudio Ranieri.
It was a Champions League semifinal that effectively ended Ranieri's tenure when they lost to Monaco.
Grant remains outwardly confident of not going the same way and of succeeding where Mourinho twice failed — by overcoming Liverpool in the last four. Although most people, including Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez, have seen little evidence of Chelsea playing more expansively under Grant, the Israeli says he will give his team the licence to express themselves which Mourinho denied them in 2005 and 2007.
Grant said: 'The last semi-finals against Liverpool were too tactical. I think football needs to be tactical, but not too tactical. You need the freedom to play.We need the next step at Chelsea, to give players the freedom to think. I am trying to give them the freedom to think with responsibility. I have a good feeling about it.'
But even in victory, the feelgood factor at Chelsea is unlikely to last if Grant remains in charge.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | I'm ready to quit- striker Eto'o |  Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has rocked the Spanish side in the countdown to their biggest game of the season by saying he is ready to quit the club.
Barca, who host Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, have lurched from one crisis to another this season, with bitter in-fighting on and off the pitch.
Now 27-year-old Eto'o — seen as the favourite of troubled coach Frank Rijkaard and president Joan Laporta — has piled on the pressure by threatening to go.
He said: "If we continue like this next year then I will have to leave and go somewhere else. I have to win trophies."
Barca face United on the back of a disappointing 0-0 draw with Espanyol in which key midfielder Andres Iniesta took another knock on his troublesome knee but is expected to play on Wednesday.
Eto'o added: "Right now Iniesta is our best player. We need him to be fit. And if Lionel Messi is on form, it will be like having a PlayStation footballer in our team."
With perfect timing, 'I'm ready' was the simple message from 20-year-old Messi, who emerged unscathed from his first 45 minutes of football in 46 days.
Ever since he succumbed to a painful thigh problem against Celtic last month, his fourth serious injury in two years, Barca fans have been praying that their talismanic playmaker would face United.
If Sir Alex Ferguson's side are carried by Cristiano Ronaldo, then Messi is bearing the weight of the whole of Catalonia on his shoulders.
'We Need 11 Messis', blared the front page of Barcelona newspaper Sport.
'All that remains is Manchester' conceded El Mundo Deportivo in the wake of Saturday's goalless derby against Espanyol which all but handed the title to Real Madrid.
The difference in Barcelona's performance after Messi's half-time introduction was like night and day. A semi-final over two legs will, of course, be won and lost on more than a showdown between Messi and Ronaldo.
But the match offers the chance for this outrageously talented pair to stake their claims for the title of world's best player.
"I felt happy at the end because I found a good rhythm," admitted Messi following his return. "I have been unable to play for a little while so I was really eager. Obviously I have even more desire to play in the first leg against Manchester United because of what it means.
"Maybe the fans are waiting for me to show what I can do on Wednesday. I am calm and I have so much desire to be at my best and offer my team the things I can bring on the pitch."
On the comparisons with Ronaldo, Messi added: "Cristiano is a great player, he showed it last season and he's showing it this season with many goals. But the game is between Manchester United and Barcelona. It's not between Cristiano Ronaldo and me. It's a game between two great teams."
Luckily for Rijkaard, it is not just Messi who has timed his return to fitness to perfection. Rafa Marquez played against Espanyol and is ready to step in for suspended Carles Puyol.
Deco is available after six weeks out but was on the bench on Saturday with Thierry Henry, whom Rijkaard claimed was suffering from 'a little fever'.
While Catalonia is focusing on the effect Messi can have, Henry is desperate to rekindle the form he showed for Arsenal that persuaded Barcelona to pay £16million for him last summer.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | United to splash the cash |  MANCHESTER UNITED will spend a staggering £90million in wages to keep four of their stars.
The club are splashing the cash on mega salaries for Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Michael Carrick as the quartet tie up lucrative new deals.
Brown and Carrick have followed Ferdinand by agreeing contracts — which means in the last week United have committed themselves to £52m in wages.
And Portuguese genius Ronaldo, 23, is ready to seal a five-year, £150,000-a-week deal in the summer, taking the total figure to £90m.
Carrick, 26, was only two years into a four-year deal. But United have tied down the midfielder until 2012 and his weekly pay is set to rise from £50,000 to £70,000 a week.
Defender Brown, 28, was poised to leave Old Trafford on a free with his contract up at the close of the campaign — but talks this week have ended a season-long wrangle.
Brown was one of the lowest paid players on a basic £30,000 a week plus £10,000 for every game played. But he has clinched a four-year contract worth around £60,000 a week.
England ace Ferdinand, 29, has agreed a new deal worth £120,000 a week over four years.
SOURCE: The Sun | | Zip it, Hicks – Gillett |  GEORGE GILLETT has broken his silence and urged Tom Hicks to button it in the latest twist to the Anfield boardroom war.
Hicks stunned everyone at Liverpool by demanding chief executive Rick Parry’s resignation last week.
The Texan billionaire followed up with an outburst on Sky Sports yesterday, branding Parry’s reign as a disaster.
Parry has dug in his heels, knowing that Hicks cannot sack him without Gillett’s approval as both men hold a 50 per cent Anfield share.
Last night Gillett insisted he would not sell out and begged his co-owner to keep quiet.
He said: “I am saddened at this latest outburst from Tom.
“If he wanted a serious discussion on the issues to help the club move forward he should bring his views to the board and not to Sky Sports.
“We are a few days away from a vital Champions League semi-final and Tom has again created turmoil with his comments.
“Tom should stop. He knows that Rick has my support and that airing his comments in this way will not change my position.
“His failure to discuss this with the board or the management committee is significant and I was also taken aback by his version of the events as reported.
“Tom needs to understand that I will not sell my shares to him and that we need to find a way forward that is properly funded and truly in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club.
“The real business of winning matches and running and developing the club is what we should all be focused on at this moment.”
Parry also hit back at Hicks and again insisted he would leave only if enough of the directors told him to quit.
The chief executive said: “I’m accountable to the board and it’s not something they have discussed with me.
“There’s a Liverpool way, which I’ll stick to. I have a responsibility to try to keep things on an even keel when there’s turmoil off the pitch.
“We’ve got a Champions League semi-final coming up. There are a lot of important things to be done here and that’s our focus.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | I hope Barca knock Out United – Torres |  FERNANDO TORRES wants Barcelona to knock Manchester United out of the Champions League.
The Liverpool ace, 24, wants to face the Spanish giants in the final on May 21.
Rafa Benitez's side must first overcome Chelsea in the semi-finals to reach the Moscow showpiece.
But Torres says he would love to face Barca, if they can overcome Premier League title-favourites United.
He said: "First we have to beat Chelsea and that is not going to be easy.
"We want to play the final and facing Barca would be ideal.
"But Manchester United's level is very high.
"They won all the big games they had to do in Europe without any problem so they are definitely the team to beat.
"People in Barcelona will see what they are made of.
"The game should be spectacular because they are both attacking sides."
SOURCE: The Sun | | Germany surrenders to the 'Il Bomber' |  Luca Toni: having a stunning Bayern season
There is a saying in German football: Money does not score goals. However, when it comes to Luca Toni, there may be an exception to that rule.
Flying start
An €11m signing from ACF Fiorentina in the summer of 2007, the Italian international hit the ground running with a goal 14 minutes into Bayern's first game of the season, a 3-0 win against FC Hansa Rostock, and has been delighting fans throughout Germany. His winning smile, matinée idol looks, outgoing personality and friendly ways are also earning him plenty of admiring glances, regardless of his relationship with Italian model Marta Cecchetto.
Four in two
"Bayern have invested a lot of money in me and I intend to pay it back in goals and help the team," the 30-year-old said. Last week he demonstrated that aim with four goals in two games – the two in extra time that saw Bayern forge past Getafe CF into the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and two more in Sunday's 5-0 defeat of BV Borussia Dortmund. He thus heads into Wednesday's Bundesliga game at Eintracht Frankfurt with the wind firmly in his sails.
Late bloomer
Nicknamed 'Il Bomber' – an adaptation of the nickname fans in Germany gave to Bayern goalscoring phenomenon Gerd Müller – the tall but powerful Toni was a late bloomer as a player, not receiving his first Italy cap until he was 27. A FIFA World Cup winner in Germany two years ago, he had never played in any of UEFA's top club competitions until this season, marking his debut with the goal that gave Bayern a 1-0 UEFA Cup win against CF Os Belenenses.
Italy place
He has now scored ten in the UEFA Cup, and is two goals clear in the race for the competition's top scorer honour. After the stunning late success at Getafe, Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was unstinting in his praise for Toni. "We were rewarded because we have Luca Toni within our ranks," said the coach. "He is a real fighter, he never gives up and is a real winner." Italy coach Roberto Donadoni will need little persuasion to include him in his UEFA EURO 2008™ squad.
German mentality
Only the second Italian to play in the Bundesliga, after Ruggiero Rizzitelli shone sporadically under Giovanni Trapattoni at Bayern between 1996 and 1998, German life clearly suits Toni. "Apart from a little bit of homesickness, I feel super here," he said. "The Germans have a different mentality when it comes to football. The whole team went to the Oktoberfest together, in the midst of all the other people. I doubt that this would be possible in Italy."
CULLED from: UEFA.com | Ronaldo not for sale
- Carlos Queiroz |  CARLOS QUEIROZ has told Real Madrid: You cannot afford Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Manchester United winger, 23, had been linked with a sensational £100million switch to the Bernabeu.
But United assistant boss Queiroz, who was Real manager in 2004, insists Ronaldo is not for sale at any price.
He said: "We would not sell him for £100million.
"You can offer all the money in the world but there is no amount that can buy him."
SOURCE: The Sun | | Ronaldinho closes in on AC Milan move |  Manchester City's hopes of signing Barcelona forward Ronaldinho have been dealt a major blow after it was confirmed an agreement has been reached between the player and AC Milan.
Ronaldinho, 28, has had a difficult few months at the Nou Camp because of injury and loss of form, and a move has long been mooted. Milan will now discuss terms with Barca.
The forward is out for the rest of the campaign with a leg injury and a transfer can not officially go through until the end of the season.
Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, said: "In general Ronaldinho and Milan are in agreement."
Italian media have said a £6 million-a-year deal up to 2012 is in the pipeline, with a few clauses still to be agreed.
Milan chief executive, Adriano Galliani, said: "There is a general agreement with the player. Now a deal has to be reached with Barcelona. Give us time."
Spanish and Italian media reports have speculated about a transfer fee of around £20m, while some newspapers have talked about Ronaldinho buying up the rest of his contract at Barca.
Milan are fifth in Serie A and in danger of missing next year's Champions League after a poor season. They were dumped out of this year's Champions League as holders by Arsenal in the first knock-out round.
Carlo Ancelotti's men have struggled to score and create goals with Brazilian Ronaldo playing just a handful of games before being ruled out long term with a knee injury.
Fellow striker Alberto Gilardino has been lacklustre and world player of the year Kaka has been far from his best. Despite their troubles, Ancelotti has been assured of his job next term.
SOURCE: Telegraph | | Wenger accepts title defeat |  Arsene Wenger admits that Arsenal's title aspirations have ended following defeat at Old Trafford.
The Gunners boss saw his side beaten 2-1 by Manchester United on Sunday to leave them nine points adrift of the Red Devils with only four games remaining.
Emmanuel Adebayor had put the visitors in front just after the interval, before a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and an Owen Hargreaves free-kick swung the tie back in United's favour.
While accepting that Arsenal are now facing another season without any silverware, Wenger feels that the Gunnners' campaign began to go off the rails back in March when they went on a run of five games without a win.
Spirit
"Yes we are out (of the title race) of course," he told Sky Sports.
"I think we played with quality and spirit today and I am very proud of our performance, but what can you do?
"I think we got the message in March, we are not stupid, we understood it and we have to accept it.
Problems
"I feel that we had plenty of chances are were really unlucky not to win this game today.
"I just feel that in the last two months we have not been very lucky and we have seen that again today.
"It's difficult to find an obvious reason for our problems when you watch the game today, but the quality of performance we produced it is difficult to blame anybody."
Target
Wenger is also well aware that his biggest challenge over the summer will now be to try and keep his talented bunch of youngsters together.
"I believe that this team is good enough," he said.
"We have had a blip since March and we have to analyse what is the reason for that, but I feel again today, and on Tuesday at Liverpool, that we played very well and the biggest target is to keep the team together."
SOURCE: skysports.com | | Rafa demands answers |  Rafa Benitez plans to speak with the Liverpool board over their plans earlier in the season to appointment Jurgen Klinsmann as his replacement.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett held talks with the German before Christmas and speculation has since been rife about Benitez's future.
Hicks has outlined his reasons for wanting Rick Parry's resignation, and it has emerged that the chief executive was 'instructed' to attend the negotiations with Klinsmann.
Benitez still needs some of the details to be clarified and is planning to meet with the board early this week, although he insists he is relaxed about the situation.
"Off the pitch, I am surprised at things I have read," he said.
"I need some clarification about a meeting with a lot of people that I did not know about.
"I will talk with the board about this (the Klinsmann issue) - as soon as possible, today or tomorrow.
Questions
"I need to resolve questions and I want some answers. I want to clarify things.
"I am really calm - but I want answers."
It is the allegation of Parry's involvement in the Klinsmann talks that most concerns Benitez.
"I need to talk to the board to clarify things," he stressed.
"I was surprised about a meeting with another manager. What concerned me was the people who were in the meeting."
SOURCE: skysports.com | | Schalke fire Slomka |  FC Schalke 04 have dismissed coach Mirko Slomka after a UEFA Champions League exit was followed by Saturday's 5-1 Bundesliga defeat by Werder Bremen.
Early decision
General manager Andreas Müller said that the club had planned to part company with the 40-year-old coach at the end of the season, but decided to act early after the team slipped from second to third place in the league on Saturday. He said: "We've got into a situation now that could have a very negative impact on the team and endanger our goal of qualifying for the Champions League. That's why we moved quickly now."
European milestone
Slomka took sole command in January 2006 following a spell as assistant coach =. He led Schalke to the 2005/06 UEFA Cup semi-finals and to second place in the Bundesliga last season, while this time around his side reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time, only to lose 1-0 in both legs of their tie against European giants FC Barcelona.
'A good job'
"Mirko did a good job and that's clearly documented by his successful record," said Müller, who also revealed that the Gelsenkirchen club had dismissed Slomka's assistant Nestor El Maestro. "But during this season we got the impression the team wasn't developing further. We came to the conclusion a new coach could do that better." Mike Büskens and Youri Mulder, both part of the Schalke side that won the 1996/97 UEFA Cup, have been put in charge until the end of the season. The 40-year-old Büskens has been coaching Schalke's fourth-division reserve side while Mulder, one year his junior, has been a pundit on Dutch television.
CULLED FROM: uefa.com | | Ferguson relishes Barcelona test | Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is excited by the prospect of playing Barcelona after his team defeated Roma in the Champions League.
Carlos Tevez scored as United won the second-leg 1-0 to secure a 3-0 victory on aggregate over Roma - and set up a semi-final tie with the Catalan giants.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Ferguson. "I think that we have something special in our team.
"We cannot go to Spain and be negative, we must be positive."
United last met Barcelona in the Champions League in 1998 when their group encounter at the Nou Camp ended in a 3-3 draw.
But United won the Champions League final at the Nou Camp in 1999, with a spectacular 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich.
The first leg of this year's tie will also take place in Spain, on 22 or 23 April, with the return leg at Old Trafford on 29 or 30 April.
Barca defender Carles Puyol will be missing from the first leg after picking up a yellow card in the 1-0 win over Schalke.
United defender Nemanja Vidic missed Wednesday's game against Roma because of a knee injury but Ferguson added: "Hopefully by then we will have him back. If we have a full squad then we will have a very good chance."
Roma were handed a lifeline in their tie with United when referee Tom Henning Ovrebo awarded the Italian team a penalty following a challenge by Wes Brown on Mancini.
However, Daniele de Rossi smashed the spot-kick comfortably over the United crossbar.
Ferguson said of the ruling: "It was a bad decision. Wes Brown got the ball, no doubt.
"We are just pleased to be through. We had to play well but it was a European quarter-final against the team lying second in Italy and you expect them to play a bit.
"Our home record has been very good and is something to be proud of and it will have to remain so because European football is difficult."
United's defeat of Roma was their 11th straight win at home in the Champions League - a new record for the competition.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti conceded that the best team had won the tie but stated: "We put in a good game and a good performance.
"We had to take one or two risks. It was important to exploit chances when we actually created them but we didn't capitalize on them.
"If we had it would have changed the face of the game."
Gary Neville came on as a late substitute for United - his first appearance since he picked up an ankle injury against Bolton on 17 March 2007.
"I hope for this season I can come in and play a small part because it's frustrating missing run-ins," said the defender, who also believes the tie with Barca is one to be relished.
"We have two unbelievable games of football to look forward to, two football clubs who play the game the right way and they will be unbelievable occasions to be part of," he said.
"Anyone who is a football fan will be tuning in."
SOURCE: BBC Spo | | Chelsea are tougher than Gunners - Masch |  LIVERPOOL star Javier Mascherano insists their clash with Chelsea is more daunting than facing Arsenal.
The Reds meet Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four years later this month.
And after knocking out the Gunners earlier this week, Mascherano is now relishing the double-header with the Blues.
The midfielder said: "It will be very difficult against Chelsea and more difficult than playing Arsenal.
"It will be a big game for the supporters, the players, for everyone.
"I don't know if playing the second leg at Stamford Bridge will make a big difference.
"If we can score goals at Anfield in the first leg, then we will go to Stamford Bridge with half the job done.
"Chelsea are a strong team and they play the same way as us. They are a good team but we know we are a good team too."
SOURCE: The Sun | | Barca have first option On Fabregas - Agent |  Cesc Fabregas's former agent Joseba Diaz claims Barcelona have first option to re-sign the midfielder.
Fabregas started his career at the Nou Camp and Diaz said: "Barcelona have the rights to sign Cesc whenever Arsenal decide that they are going to sell him."
Fabregas split with Diaz last week, with the midfielder reportedly furious after the agent, who has close links with Real Madrid, for speaking to the Spanish champions over a possible move last summer.
Only an intervention from Fabregas's family at the time ended Real's interest.
The Spanish midfielder, rated at about £20million, has been a long-term target for both Real and Barcelona but has repeatedly stressed his commitment to the Gunners.
Fabregas has won plaudits this season for a string of superb performances, which has gave Arsenal a chance of success both at home and in Europe, but now, both hopes are more distant than close to home.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Wenger to ditch flops |  EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR surveyed the wreckage of Arsenal’s season — and warned things are Gunner change at the Emirates this summer.
Arsene Wenger’s men were devastated by their 4-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.
Now only a win at Premier League leaders Manchester United on Sunday will keep alive their last chance of silverware this season.
Just eight weeks ago, Arsenal were five points clear at the top of the league and chasing glory in two cup competitions.
But now they are facing the prospect of ending the season empty-handed.
Striker Adebayor warned: “At the end of the season in every club, there is a lot of changes and there will be here.
“But it is up to the boss to decide who is going to stay and who is going to leave the club.
“I am enjoying it here and a lot of players are happy here. But we have to stay focused and keep on going until the end of the season.
“We have learned a lot of things this year. Defeat can be painful and, hopefully, we can learn from this one.
“We were so close to the semi-finals but football decided it the other way.
Gallas blamed inexperience for loss
“As a player, these things are very difficult to take.
“You have to be focused until the end of the game. We scored, it was 2-2 with only a few minutes to go and we were going through. I do not know how they managed to get a penalty.
“We have to pick ourselves up. It is better now to focus on the game on Sunday. It will be another big game for us and we will see what we can do.”
Skipper William Gallas believes Arsenal showed their inexperience by conceding a spot-kick so quickly after going ahead on away goals.
The French defender said: “We lacked experience. You can’t concede a penalty 30 seconds after equalising. Now it will be hard to bounce back. Morale is low.
“Nobody expected much from us at the start of the season and we’ve overachieved. But when you get this far, it still hurts.”
Gunners defender Kolo Toure conceded the penalty that led to Liverpool taking a 3-2 lead when he fouled Ryan Babel in the box.
The Ivory Coast defender said: “It will be hard if we do not win anything because we were going so well at the start of the season.
"When you lose a game like this, it is difficult to talk about it right away.
“We will get together at the training ground and discuss the game.
“We know the Champions League is over and we now have to look at the Premier League.
“It is true that it will be hard but we can still do something. We just need to forget about Liverpool and think about United now.
“We need to show character and give our fans some belief for this season.
“We still have a chance of winning the Premier League and we will try to take it. We just have to look at the next game and try to win.”
Toure admits he was stunned by the spot-kick given by Swedish official Peter Frojdfeldt.
He added: “The ref gave the foul against me but I moved away from Babel and I think Cesc Fabregas caught his hand.
“It was outside the area anyway — but that is the nature of the game.”
SOURCE: The Sun
| | We'll win - Wenger |  ARSENE WENGER insists fading Arsenal still have enough quality to win the Champions League this season.
He is refusing to write off their Euro chances in their Champions League quarter-final return at Anfield after the first leg ended 1-1. Wenger insisted: “It is still too early to make any conclusions about our season but I know we can qualify on Tuesday because we have the quality to do it.
“We have made progress compared to last season because we have been challenging for the title right from the start and we are in the last eight in the Champions League.
“The young players have done remarkably well and carried the team. Now we need to prepare physically and mentally for Tuesday.
“This team have given everything against a very good Liverpool defence.”
Wenger admits his squad has been stretched to the limit in recent weeks but defends his transfer policy.
While Arsenal’s Big Four rivals have spent millions on superstar signings in recent years, Wenger is operating at a profit in the transfer market.
Since Rafa Benitez took charge at Anfield in 2004, Liverpool have spent £154million, Manchester United £124m and Chelsea a staggering £250m.
Yet Wenger has spent just £52m and recouped £70m from the sale of stars such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Ashley Cole, Freddie Ljungberg and Jose Reyes.
Arsenal’s directors have always said there is no restriction on spending.
And with billionaire shareholder Stan Kroenke making his first visit to the Emirates on Saturday, there is even more pressure on the manager to buy experienced stars in the summer.
But Wenger insisted: “If we had squads like the other three clubs, we would also have wage bills like them.
“I know that we have a rich budget and, when the stadium is paid for, we have a big financial potential. But I also feel some young players have made a big progress and will be better players next year.
“I could have spent in the January transfer window but I did not know then that Eduardo, Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky would all be out at the same time.
“The turning point was losing Eduardo when we were already without Van Persie and Rosicky. If we’d had everyone available we would still have been top of the table.”
Kop boss Benitez knows a wounded Arsenal will be tough opponents tomorrow. He said: “They have a lot of quality and are always dangerous.”
CULLED FROM: The Sun | | Gunners to host Euro big guns |  ARSENAL will host European heavyweights Real Madrid, Juventus and Hamburg this summer.
The Gunners will stage the pre-season Emirates Cup in August.
The event is being held for the second year and will take place over two days from August 2 at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman said: “We are delighted at the calibre of the three visiting teams to this year’s Emirates Cup.”
SOURCE: The Sun | | FURIOUS DROG HEADS OUT |  DIDIER DROGBA'S Chelsea career looks like ending in tears after a series of bust-ups with several Blues team-mates.
Drogba and Michael Ballack exchanged angry words in the build-up to last month's league victory over Arsenal.
In the aftermath of the dismal Carling Cup final defeat by Spurs, Drogba rowed with goalkeeper Petr Cech.
And before that Drogba and Claude Makelele had a stand-up swearing match over the striker's performances.
Upstairs
It seems inevitable Drogba will leave Chelsea in the summer, although owner Roman Abramovich will demand a big return on the £24million he paid Marseille for him in 2004.
Italian giants Inter and AC Milan would need to find around £40m to guarantee Drogba's signature.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are closing in on Getafe manager Michael Laudrup to replace Avram Grant.
The former Denmark star is pals with Blues' sporting director Frank Arnesen.
And it is becoming increasingly likely that Grant will move upstairs into a general manager's role at Stamford Bridge.
SOURCE: NOTW | | Gunners chase Brazil ace Diego |  ARSENAL have joined the race for Brazilian ace Diego, according to the player's father.
The Werder Bremen forward is wanted by a host of Europe's top clubs, including Chelsea.
But the Gunners are also interested along with Real Madrid and Juventus.
Diego's father Djar Cunha, who also acts as the star's agent, said: "Real, Arsenal and Juve love my son.
"I am not happy with the situation at Bremen. The dream of Diego is to play in Champions League."
SOURCE: The Sun | | We can still win league - Wenger |  Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side can win the Premier League - but says they may have to win all six of their remaining games to do so.
Arsenal, six points behind Manchester United, play Liverpool at The Emirates on Saturday in a crucial encounter.
Wenger said: "Some people say the title is over but not me, I still believe that we can win the Premier League.
"United have four away games and they are at home to us as well. They are excellent, but they can lose points."
He added: "It depends on how the games go and how much effort the teams put in - but no win is guaranteed in the Premier League.
"I would love to put some more pressure on Manchester United. I feel it is very important to win our game against Liverpool first and therefore we need to be at our best.
"Everything is still possible, of course - but the main thing for us is to win our games.
"Five wins and a draw is a minimum but that means we would have to win at Old Trafford. Six wins would be better."
Wenger pits his wits against Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez for the second of their three games in six days, the league match sandwiched in between their Champions League quarter-final.
He knows how important Tuesday's second leg at Anfield is with the tie poised at 1-1, but says everyone's focus should be on Saturday's league game.
"I will pick a team which can win the game on Saturday. I feel we have a good chance in the championship and do not want to miss that," said the Frenchman.
"For us it is important to win because of the situation in the league. It would have a double impact - one for the league and one for the Champions League.
"I never analyse the league when we have things in our own hands but this time that is not completely the case so we have to see where things can turn and change.
"Now it gets so tight you have to think about what might happen elsewhere.
"It can change much quicker than people think."
Wenger also believes Liverpool, five points clear of Everton in fourth but eight points adrift of the third-placed Gunners, can afford to rest players on Saturday with Europe in mind.
"I believe they will make changes. I am not sure whether Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will play," said Wenger.
"They have a big squad and a lot of experienced players who didn't play on Wednesday. To my calculation, eight players with big Premier League experience."
CULLED FROM: BBC Sport | | Drogba certain of semi spot |  DIDIER DROGBA insists Chelsea will still book their place in the Champions League semi-finals despite their shock defeat to Fenerbahce, on Wednesday.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 loss to Fenerbahce after taking the lead in Turkey.
Inspite of that loss, Drogba is confident his side can turn the tie around in Tuesday's second leg at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "It's a very disappointing result but I believe we can still go through after the next game.
"The result is not good for us, so we will want to work on it and see what didn't work against Fenerbahce."
Michael Ballack admits the defeat shocked Chelsea's stars.
The German said: "We are disappointed because we had a big chance to win and we had the game taken out of our hands.
"In the first half we controlled the game but we gave them a chance to come back and we are very disappointed.
"We played well in the first half and then it wasn't so good.
"We had two good chances made for Didier to score the second goal but we were not concentrated enough.
"We will have another go next week. We are strong enough at home but we have to concentrate.
"Fenerbahce can score away from home, so we will have to concentrate.
"But everything is in our hands and I am looking forward to next week."
SOURCE: The Sun | | Ferguson revels in Scholes renaissance | Sir Alex Ferguson takes Manchester United into the away leg of their Champions' League quarter-final tie against Roma on Tuesday buoyed by the renaissance of his midfielder Paul Scholes, writes Derick Allsop.
He said: "He's got great composure on the ball and brings order to play. It tells you what experience really means. He's what Clarence Seedorf is at Milan. When he's not in the team, it makes a great difference."
SOURCE: Telegraph | | United monitor Vucinic | Roma striker Mirko Vucinic has been given an even bigger incentive to repeat his Champions League heroics against Manchester United this week - it could win him a possible move to Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been monitoring the Montenegro star since he came on as a sub to score against United last season. United have been made aware of a registration dispute between Roma and his former club Lecce.
Roma claim they sealed a £5m deal with Lecce in the summer after taking him on loan last season. The row could open the door for United to step in.
SOURCE: Sunday Mirror | | Chelsea to fight fixture-change - Grant |  Avram Grant has accused the Premier League of undermining Chelsea's title challenge after moving their clash at Everton to satisfy broadcasters, Sky.
The Chelsea boss is incensed that a match still listed in Sunday's match programme for Saturday, April 19 has been switched to Thursday, April 17 — even though Chelsea host Wigan a mere three days earlier.
Fans have already purchased tickets and made travel plans, but Grant is understandably more concerned with the "unfair" burden on his team.
He said: "When it comes to the end of the season it needs to be an equal situation for all teams. I don't understand why it has changed and we need to fight the decision in any way we can."
A club statement yesterday added: "Chelsea FC would like to make clear the rescheduling of the Everton fixture was a decision made solely on TV grounds and as a result of the Premier League board failing to resolve schedule issues between broadcasters.
"There were never any police, fixture congestion or European fixture issues involved in the decision as has been claimed.
"Although this has hit our club and our fans on this occasion, we would have been against such a decision had it occurred to other clubs as it creates a dangerous precedent for future matches and seasons.
"We are currently investigating what options are available to help our fans, some of whom have already bought tickets for the original fixture and are now experiencing issues as a result of the change."
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Madrid-Hamburg Land 2010 finals |  The Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid will host the 2010 UEFA Champions League final, with UEFA awarding the same season's UEFA Cup final to the Arena Hamburg.
Key criteria
The UEFA Executive Committee confirmed the selection of the two stadiums after its meeting in Liechtenstein on Friday but postponed a decision on the venues for the 2011 finals to allow members more time to consider the bids. The home stadiums of Real Madrid CF and Hamburger SV were chosen on the basis of capacity, facilities, accommodation and security among other considerations.
Famous finals
Now boasting a capacity of 71,569, the Santiago Bernabéu has staged three previous European Champion Clubs' Cup finals. Real Madrid won the first of them, beating AC Fiorentina 1-0 in 1957, before AC Milan had a memorable night in the Spanish capital when they defeated AFC Ajax 4-1 in the 1969 edition. More recently, Nottingham Forest FC overcame Hamburg 1-0 in the 1980 final.
International finals
The Santiago Bernabéu has also held the home legs of two UEFA Cup finals and two European/South American Cup games involving Madrid, together with several major international matches – notably the final of the 1964 UEFA European Championship where Spain beat the Soviet Union 2-1, and the 1982 FIFA World Cup final which Italy won 3-1 against West Germany.
Important games
Seating 51,680, the Arena Hamburg opened in 2000 on the site of Hamburg's old Volksparkstadion and was the setting for matches at the 2006 World Cup. The Volksparkstadion also hosted group-stage games at the 1974 World Cup and the semi-final of the 1988 UEFA European Championship, where West Germany lost 2-1 to the Netherlands.
Super Cup
Meanwhile, the Executive Committee confirmed that the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Super Cup matches will be played at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, as is the custom. The 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship was awarded to France, and the same year's U17 event to Liechtenstein, while Nyon will stage the 2009 UEFA European Women's U17 Championship.
CULLED from:UEFA.com | | Barca still on the heels of Fabregas |  Barcelona have become favourites to land Arsenal's £20million-rate midfielder Cesc Fabregas after he appointed Darren Dein - son of former Gunners chief David - as his new agent.
Fabregas sacked former representative Joseba Diaz earlier in the week after becoming increasingly angered at the way he was trying to engineer a move for the player to Real Madrid.
And the 20-year-old has now decided to go with Dein. Dein played a key role in Thierry Henry's move from North London to the Nou Camp at the end of last season. Henry is said to be enjoying a good working relationship with the Barcelona hierarchy.
Fabregas was a trainee at Barcelona before being persuaded to sign professional forms with Arsenal and has been linked numerous times with a move back to the Catalan giants.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Can't wait for my Wembley debut – Harry Redknapp |  Harry Redknapp's route to his first appearance at Wembley on Saturday has taken him to Ipswich, Preston, Manchester — and an interrogation room at Chichester police station.
In five months he will never forget, Redknapp has rejected a multi-million pound contract to manage Newcastle, been promoted as the best Englishman to succeed Steve McClaren as England boss, and arrested by detectives on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.
'It's been a rollercoaster season, that's for sure,' said Redknapp.
But the ride is far from over. On Saturday, if he can mastermind a win over West Bromwich Albion, he could become the first manager to take Portsmouth to the FA Cup final for 69 years.
But as he proudly leads out Portsmouth at the Wembley semi-final, he will still be on police bail, along with the club's chief executive, Peter Storrie, and with little prospect of the cloud being lifted before the end of the season. Redknapp has been advised, both by his club and his solicitors, to keep his counsel, but privately he maintains his innocence.
Neither his work nor his team have suffered since the day he drove himself to Chichester police station at the end of November.
Indeed, Portsmouth have flourished. As the only Premier League team left in the competition, the club are favourites to win their semifinal — with Cardiff meeting Barnsley in the other — but Redknapp preaches caution from experience, because Ipswich, Preston and Plymouth from the Championship all offered Portsmouth strong resistance in earlier rounds.
'Being in the semi-final at Wembley is a great occasion for the club, but it's not a day out,' said Redknapp. 'We have a great opportunity and we must make sure we don't waste it. West Brom have a good squad of players. If they'd been in the Premier League this season, they'd have survived.'
Redknapp, 61, has spent 46 years since his apprenticeship at West Ham trying to get to Wembley as something other than a spectator. After all that has happened to him these past five months, it would surely be poetic justice for him to take Portsmouth to the Cup final.
'I don't get carried away, to be honest,' he said. 'I've had a fantastic living from the game that's been my life since I was 15. If I'm lucky enough to take Portsmouth to the Cup final, that would be brilliant, but mostly it would be lovely for my family, for the fans and for the players here.
'But I'm realistic. We have no chance of winning the Premier League, but we've given ourselves a chance to win the Cup. And that's lovely, isn't it?'
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | Platini courts war with Prem bigwigs |  Premier League giants Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have come under a devastating attack from Michel Platini, the most powerful man in European football.
Platini, president of European football's governing body, UEFA, has expressed fierce criticism of the Big Four's policy on recruiting young footballers from overseas, which has been led by Arsenal.
And he has pledged to work with politicians to ban clubs from signing any more 16-year-old boys from abroad.
The move by Platini, a former European Footballer of the Year and French international star, would have a huge impact on England's top four clubs, who have increasingly relied on foreign talent not just in their Premier League line-ups but also in their reserve and youth teams.
Platini is scathing in his criticism of English clubs that encourage boys to join them from abroad at the age of 16 or 17 — a practice that was pioneered by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, most famously in the recruitment of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona. The policy is now also widely used by Liverpool and Chelsea.
UEFA's president says he is working with the European Commission to introduce an exemption to labour laws specifically for football, which would prevent England's top clubs from encouraging boys from abroad to join them.
Platini said: 'I have told the European Commission that we should ban the transfer of minors.
'The first football contract that a player signs should be for club that trains them. You don't train someone to be sold, you train a player to play. It is important to protect our young people. Minors shouldn't be seen as a machine that can be transferred for the benefit of agents or clubs. They have time enough for that.
'I left for another country at 25. You don't need to leave at 15. It's to do with protecting social values, family values. There is no justification for buying them at 15, getting them over with parents, that is just not on.
'I really don't like it when a club like Lugano, Geneve, Brescia or Nancy train a player and then when they are 16, they are bought by much richer clubs. We're going to fight it.'
Platini will use French President Nicolas Sarkozy to help introduce the new legislation.
Platini will work with Sarkozy and his sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, to persuade the European Commission to allow football to introduce special rules. Platini said: "I am speaking to the European Commission regarding the specific nature of sport in European Law."
While United were criticised by Platini and have signed 16-year-olds such as Gerard Pique from Barcelona, only four of their 24-strong academy are from abroad and just 18 per cent of their playing squad under the age of 21 are from overseas.
SOURCE: Daily Mail | | PLAYERS ARRESTED IN THEFTS PROBE |  Two Southampton players were arrested on Tuesday in connection with an alleged theft from bags in a staff room at a nightclub.
Bradley Wright-Phillips, 23, and Nathan Dyer, 20, were taken in for questioning over the allegation of burglaries at the Bar Bluu nightclub in Southsea, Hampshire.
A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "We can confirm that two men, aged 20 and 23, have been arrested in connection with an allegation of burglary."
Hampshire police launched an investigation after two men were filmed on CCTV entering an unlocked staff room in the early hours of February 28.
Staff at the venue, which that night hosted R&B star Kano, later reported three mobile phones, £145 in cash, student cards and cigarettes stolen from three handbags.
A Southampton Football Club spokesman said: "It's a matter of police investigation and we cannot comment."
Meanwhile, Southampton defender Claus Lundekvam has retired from the game after losing his battle with a long-standing ankle injury.
The 35-year-old underwent surgery on his ankle tendon last week and had hoped to train with the Saints' first team this month in a bid to return to action before the end of the season, but the Norwegian international, who made over 400 appearances in a 12-year stint on the south coast, has now admitted defeat in his battle to regain match fitness.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "That's it for me, it's game over. It's very sad, but it hasn't really sunk in yet."
He added: "It's very difficult to come to terms with. Maybe once the season is finished and the players have gone I'll find it hard to deal with."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | City eye to sign Barca wonderkid Dos Santos | Sven Goran Eriksson has made a move for Barcelona's £7million-rated Mexican wonderkid Giovani Dos Santos.
Manchester City boss Eriksson has used his connections with super-agent Pini Zahavi to try to broker a deal for the 19-year-old forward.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon tried to sign Dos Santos in January but now City are discussing a permanent deal as well as a one-year loan with an option to buy.
Dos Santos's father Zizinho said: "There is interest from Manchester City. However, I cannot give more information now as Giovani's agent is the one in charge of all this. I can't say for sure if Giovani will go to another team.
"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, there is interest but first he has to concentrate on Barcelona."
Out-of-favour striker Emile Mpenza won't quit City for a Championship side - unless he gets a full-time offer on his current £20,000-a-week wage.
Cardiff and Leicester have both asked about taking the Belgian on loan for the rest of the season.
SOURCE: Daily Mirror | | Anelka is no saviour - Megson | Bolton boss Gary Megson has been forced to defend selling Nicolas Anelka, claiming the striker would not have guaranteed Bolton's survival.
Wanderers fans blame Anelka's departure in January for their slide into the bottom three and they have scored just seven goals in 13 games since he left.
Bolton have won just one league game without the France ace, who remains their top scorer on 11 goals, and replacement Grzegorz Rasiak has still to get off the mark.
But Megson claims his side were struggling with Anelka in their ranks when the manager arrived in October and that he had no choice but to sell him to Chelsea.
He said: "Everybody says if we had kept Nic we'd be better off. But when I arrived Nic had scored five or six goals and we were bottom of the table, one point behind Derby. So it doesn't follow that if Nic had stayed, we would have done better.
"I see there's criticism of Nic, which I find very strange, that he's not scoring goals at Chelsea. Yet, we're being asked why did we let him go? We had no choice and Nic wanted to go and join Chelsea, which we understood.
"He wanted to go because he wanted to play in the Champions League. It was a fait accompli and we couldn't do anything about it.
"I had a great relationship with Nic, and still do, but I knew when that window opened, there was a huge chance he would be joining one of three clubs.
"Although I admit we need to score more goals, what people must understand is that over the years this club hasn't had many people who've scored loads of goals."
Megson feels the debate over Anelka's sale is irrelevant and he is more concerned with trying to halt Bolton's alarming five-match losing run in the league against Manchester City at the Reebok today.
Megson has endured one of the toughest weeks of his managerial career, starting with the barrage of criticism he took for fielding a reserve side in the UEFA Cup and ending with his bust-up with Abdoulaye Meite at Old Trafford.
He laid into his players at half-time on Wednesday and after their dismal defeat at Wigan and knows they must start winning - fast.
"As you're running out of games, these matches become must-win games," he said. "You want to win so much it hurts.
"But I still believe we can stay up and I've been in worse situations. I've been at clubs where I've known from the first day I arrived that we're going down. It's not like that here."
Megson took heart from Bolton's improved secondhalf showing in their defeat at United and claims they must start games better.
He added: "I don't want us running round like headless chickens against City, but I do want the tempo to be really high. I want us to get the crowd going and really go for it from the beginning.
"We've got to make the most of home advantage and start picking up some results.
"We've got to make sure we realise there are only eight games left and if we're going to do it, we've got to put in a performance that doesn't give the opposition any way of beating us."
SOURCE: Daily Mirror | | Moyes committed to buying British |  David Moyes has underlined his commitment to bringing in British players as Everton maintain their challenge for a Champions League spot.
Everton started their match against West Ham United with an entire English defence and five English players in all, in sharp contrast to some Barclays Premier League teams who have only a handful of homegrown players in their squads.
"Definitely. I think that is important," Moyes said. "When we took over at Everton it was to avoid being in the bottom six; now our buying is to be in the top six so our buying had changed a little bit.
"The players that we brought in to keep us out of the bottom six have gone on to prove that they can all be part of the top six.
"So we mustn't not look at that market and I am very keen to keep bringing in British boys. That's why we put a lot of effort into scouting in the UK to see if we can find the right players."
The 45-year-old has also promoted a lot of players from the Everton youth system - notably Wayne Rooney and current team members Leon Osman and James Vaughan.
He used the example of Manchester United, who brought through David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs together, as a model of success for promoting from within.
"(That is why) I am very keen to have young players consistently come through and as we well know the Manchester United group that came through 10 years ago were well known and that helped their football club," Moyes continued.
"I keep saying that if you want a game of football in the first team and you are good, we are liable to put you in the team young and early and try and get you through and we have done that."
Moyes has also proved adept at identifying lower league talent such as Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott and smoothing their transformation into top-flight players.
"When I was managing at Preston our shopping tended to be in the Premier League reserve teams," he added. "The knowledge that I had from being at Preston helped me in that and there are a lot of good players out there and we all need opportunities."
Everton face a potentially decisive Merseyside derby this weekend at Anfield with rivals Liverpool two points ahead in the fourth Champions League spot.
"For many years Everton haven't really been able to compete as closely as we'd like but we are now on the shoulders of Liverpool and a couple of other teams and we have got to try and stay there," he said
SOURCE: Times | | Laporta denies rift with Ronaldinho | Barcelona president Joan Laporta has moved to quash speculation about a rift between the club and an out-of-form Ronaldinho.
"There is no divorce between Barcelona and Ronaldinho," Laporta was quoted as saying by Spanish media on Wednesday.
"We hope Ronaldinho will be back as soon as possible, but at the moment he is suffering some pain and we have to respect that. While he has got this pain we can't count on him."
A succession of injury and fitness problems and media speculation about night-time partying have led to reports that Barcelona are prepared to offload the former World Player of the Year at the end of the season.
But Laporta insisted that the 28-year-old Brazilian was still part of coach Frank Rijkaard's plans.
"The coach would like to have Ronaldinho at his disposal, but if that isn't possible we will just have to carry on without him," he said.
"Right now we have to look to the team rather than any individuals. The players that aren't playing should do all they can to recover and be available for the coach.
"At this stage of the season the strength of the whole team is the most important thing."
Barcelona have won just one of their last four Primera Liga matches but are only four points behind leaders Real Madrid with nine matches left to play.
They play Real Betis in the league on Saturday and meet Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final next Tuesday.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | RAFA TO SWOOP FOR BENTLEY
… in a £12M chase | Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is confident of beating off competition from Atletico Madrid to land Blackburn's David Bentley in a sensational £12million swoop.
Bentley is desperate to join a side that regularly competes in Europe, and the lure of playing in the Champions League could see him quit Ewood Park for Anfield.
The England star has a little more than two years remaining on his current Blackburn deal, but is stalling on a new contract at the club because of his desire to play on the big stage.
Rovers have offered the 23-year-old new terms of around £30,000 a week, but Liverpool could easily offer him double that.
The Kop offer is similar to the sums being talked about by Atletico, though it is understood Rovers boss Mark Hughes is reluctant to sell to another Premier League club.
But the blow of losing a player of Bentley's stature to their north-west rivals could well be softened by the inclusion of Liverpool wide-boy Jermaine Pennant in any deal.
Money is far from the likeable Bentley's main motivation and he knows that, if he is to push on and become David Beckham's regular replacement in the England set-up, he has to be playing his club football at the highest level.
People Sport has dropped hints that England boss Fabio Capello has already told him as much and Bentley will heed the Italian's advice.
Manchester City and Valencia are among a host of other clubs interested, but their poor league positions have ruled them out.
SOURCE: People | | I Want Seven New Stars - Ramos |  JUANDE RAMOS has ordered Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli to find him SEVEN new players in his bid to catapult the club back into the Premier League's top five next season.
The Spanish boss has also told chairman Daniel Levy that only five current players Dimitar Berbatov, Alan Hutton, Robbie Keane, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate are bullet-proof if anyone fancies raiding the Spurs squad in the summer.
Ramos arrived at White Hart Lane in October with a reputation for playing fast, attacking football with pace and adventure on the flanks. Five months later he has delivered his blueprint for the future.
The news almost certainly means curtains for keepers Paul Robinson and Radek Cerny, full-backs Pascal Chimbonda, Lee Young-Pyo and Paul Stalteri, defenders Younes Kaboul and Ricardo Rocha, midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and striker Darren Bent.
Even the virtuoso skills of flying winger Aaron Lennon are not guaranteed to save him from the chop because of his suspect final delivery, while Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas, Tom Huddlestone and Steed Malbranque have still to convince Ramos they can help turn Spurs into Champions League contenders.
A source close to the club said: "It seems hard on several players who have given their all this season to find themselves fighting for places but Juande has already won the UEFA Cup twice with Seville and wants to take Tottenham a stage further.
Prove
"He looks upon only five first-teamers as cast-iron certainties. No one is saying he wants to sell the others but many of them still have something to prove to him."
Spurs may have won the Carling Cup to qualify for Europe again and beaten Portsmouth in the Premier League on Saturday but recent away defeats at Birmingham and Manchester City were highly disappointing for Ramos.
Part of the master-plan involves convincing Berbatov that his future lies at UEFA Cup level and making sure Levy and his board fend off any mega bids for the Bulgarian should Manchester United or a foreign giant come calling.
And the head coach is praying that skipper King's troublesome knee responds to prolonged rest over the summer. At the moment he is playing about an hour every other game.
Ramos, whose success rate as manager now extends to seven appearances in cup finals and six victories, is expected to start his recruiting drive soon by signing Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni for £4million, leaving Robinson free to join Aston Villa or Middlesbrough.
Tottenham are also interested in Kameni's team-mate, central defender Dani Jarque, rated at £8m, and North London scouts have also been eyeing Spanish attacking midfielder Esteban Granero, who is on loan to Getafe from Real Madrid.
Getafe defender Cata Diaz is another target at £4m and fellow Argentinian, Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito is also high on the Spurs wanted list.
Three of Ramos' old Seville stars, strikers Fredi Kanoute and Luis Fabiano and midfielder Diego Capel, remain possibilities.
Source: News Of The World | | Owen fearful of England omission |  Michael Owen believes he could miss out on Fabio Capello's England squad to face France on March 26 if Newcastle's miserable run of results continues.
The 28-year-old striker has scored only five goals for the Magpies this season during an injury-hit campaign.
Owen told BBC Radio 5 Live: "When you are down it's hard to be listened to.
"Results are not going well and, when you are not playing well as a team and individually, then individuals will not get picked for the national team."
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid frontman was an unused substitute during Capello's first match in charge - a 2-1 win over Switzerland on 6 February.
"The new manager has only had one game in charge and that was a friendly so we will see what develops," added Owen.
The Magpies are three points above the drop zone in 15th place and face crucial matches against fellow-strugglers Birmingham, Fulham and Reading in three of their next four matches.
Owen added: "We are expected to get points and we need to pick them up now.
"There are certain clubs that criticism attracts. People see the support we get and if we are not up there in the prominent positions then people ask why.
"But I'm at a club where you feel like a spark will get us back on the crest of the wave and help us move up the league - that can give us a platform to build on."
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Greece Proved Anything's Possible - Samaras |  Georgios Samaras pointed to Greece's shock Euro 2004 triumph as evidence Celtic can make it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League by overcoming Barcelona.
Frank Rijkaard's side looked impressive winning 3-2 at Celtic Park in the first leg and Hoops boss Gordon Strachan admitted he would not put his house on his side getting through to the last eight for the first time.
But 23-year-old Greece striker Samaras - on loan from Manchester City - believes his compatriots' achievement four years ago means nothing in football is impossible, he said: "You have to believe in dreams, you have to believe in miracles."
He continued: "If you don't dream about your life, you won't have targets. The way Barca play is phenomenal, we saw in the first game how they pass the ball.
"One thing we must do is try to press them more, so that we can have the ball more than we had it in the first game. But we are going to Barcelona to enjoy the game.
"We are going to attack, to pass the ball, to run and do everything we can - you never know what can happen."
SOURCE: Daily Express | | African Champions League second-round draw | Draw for the second round of the African Champions League:
Olympique Khouribga (Morocco) v Entente Setif (Algeria)
ASEC Abidjan (Ivory Coast) v AS Kaloum (Guinea)
Sporting Praia (Cape Verde Islands) v InterClube (Angola)
Zamalek (Egypt) v Africa Sports (Ivory Coast)
Etoile Sahel (Tunisia) v AS Douanes (Senegal)
Dynamos (Zimbabwe) v Ajesaia (Madagascar) or Costa do Sol (Mozambique)
JS Kabylie (Algeria) v AshantiGold (Ghana)
Vital'O (Burundi) or Coton Sport (Cameroon) v Gombe United (Nigeria)
TP Mazembe Englebert (DR Congo) v FC105 Libreville (Gabon)
Al Ittihad (Libya) v Primeiro Agosto (Angola)
Union Douala (Cameroon) or ASKO Kara (Togo) v Club Africain (Tunisia)
Enyimba (Nigeria) v Simba SC (Tanzania)
Al Ahli (Egypt) v Al Tahrir (Eritrea)
Platinum Stars (South Africa) v US Tamponnaise (Reunion)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) v Curepipe Starlight (Mauritius)
Al Hilal (Sudan) v ZESCO United (Zambia)
Teams mentioned first play at home in the first leg on the weekend of March 21-23. The return legs will be played on the weekend of April 4-6.
Winners advance to the third round in April and May.
(Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond)
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Trapattoni set for Ireland post |  Giovanni Trapattoni is reported to have agreed to become Republic of Ireland manager once his contract with Salzburg ends in May.
The former Italy coach is understood to have agreed in principle to a deal but his current club, Red Bull Salzburg, told BBC Sport they would not comment.
Liam Brady is expected to be part of Trapattoni's backroom team.
FAI chief executive John Daleney said the name of the new manager would be announced on Wednesday.
Trapattoni is reported to have met the three-man panel set up to find a new manager in Austria on Sunday.
Delaney confirmed on Monday that a board of management meeting would take place to approve an appointment.
He said one name has been endorsed by the selection panel and that a news conference would be staged on Wednesday.
Trapattoni won six Serie A titles with Juventus and one with Inter Milan, while he also won league titles with Bayern Munich, Benfica and Salzburg last season.
The appointment would be a blow for former England coach Terry Venables, who had been hoping to be Steve Staunton's successor.
SOURCE: BBC Sport | | Gabon international dies after collapse on field | Gabon international Guy Tchingoma collapsed and died on the field during a premier division match in Libreville on Saturday, the Gabonews agency reported.
Midfielder Tchingoma, 21, collapsed after contact with an opposing player late in the match between his club FC105 Libreville and US Mbiliandzami at the Mondedang de Sibang stadium in the capital.
The news agency reported there were no medical attendants on hand at the game.
Tchingoma was taken to hospital in a team bus but pronounced dead on arrival. No cause of death was given.
The midfielder was born in Pointe Noire in neighbouring Congo but given Gabonese nationality allowing him to make his debut in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast in Libreville last September.
FC105 Libreville are to play Ghana champions Hearts of Oak this weekend in the first leg of their African Champions League first round tie.
Over the last two decades, there have been many reported deaths of African players collapsing while playing soccer.
High profile causalities have included Samuel Okwaraji of Nigeria, Marc-Vivien Foe of Cameroon and the Egypt international Mohamed Abdelwahab, who collapsed and died in 2006 from suspected cardiac failure just months after helping his country win the African Nations Cup. (editing by Justin Palmer)
CULLED FROM: Guardian | | Etuhu hopes to jumpstart career |  Dickson Etuhu hopes Saturday's goal against Wigan can kick-start his Sunderland career.
The Nigerian midfielder marked his return from the Africa Cup of Nations with Sunderland's first goal in the Stadium of Light victory over relegation rivals Wigan.
Etuhu's time in the North East has been mixed, with several all-action displays being undermined by less successful outings.
"I've not really got off to the start I wanted at Sunderland but hopefully things will start going for me but more importantly for the club," he told the Sunderland Echo.
"I was pleased to get off the mark but my celebration was more about us being 1-0 than because I scored it.
"I would like to think this is the start of some goalscoring form from me because I scored goals at Preston and Norwich."
Confidence boost
The former Preston and Norwich man is determined to build on Saturday's display but concedes no-one in the Sunderland dressing room is getting carried away.
"The game was a scrap, but you always get that against Wigan because they knock it long and make it difficult," he added.
"I honestly don't think about the table, no matter how far we've pulled away from the bottom three. If we lose two games we're back in it, so we're not getting excited about the situation.
"All we will think about now is Portsmouth. We've not been getting the points or breaks away from home, but it will happen soon and hopefully it will be against Portsmouth."
SOURCE: skysports.com | | Pharaohs rule Africa again |  Defending champions Egypt won a record sixth Africa Cup of Nations with a fully-deserved victory over Cameroon.
The only goal of the game came in the 77th minute when Mohamed Aboutrika pushed home a Mohamed Zidan pass after a mistake by Cameroon's Rigobert Song. The Pharaohs also came close when Hosni Abd Rabou hit the post on 61 minutes and become the first side to win back-to-back titles twice.
Cameroon were seeking a fifth title, but rarely troubled the Pharaohs.
It was a triumph for Egypt coach Hassan Shehata who becomes only the second coach to win successive trophies and his team had much the better of the first half, creating most of the scoring chances with their speed and mobility.
Once again Cameroon based their game on physical power, taking a defensive approach that supplied few openings to lone striker Samuel Eto'o.
Aboutrika came close on 13 minutes, with a 35-yard shot that was pushed around the post by Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.
Two minutes later the Indomitable Lions were forced to make a substitution, with Gilles Binya replacing Alexandre Song, who was carrying an injury from the previous game.
Cameroon defender Geremi forced a save from Essam Al-Hadari from a free-kick, but the Pharaohs almost took the lead seconds later.
Hadari's clearance found Emad Moteab, whose 15-yard shot was parried brilliantly by Kameni, but into the path of Aboutrika, whose shot was too high.
Nine minutes before half-time a ball over the Cameroon defence found Moteab inside the area, Kameni made a fine save from the shot, and it remained goalless.
Cameroon came back from the break with purpose, causing the tempo of the match to increase considerably, but Egypt quickly took control of the game again.
Kameni had to make two more fine saves, from a close-range Amr Zaki shot, then from Abd-Rabou's 25-yard cracker that he punched away.
The Pharaohs continued to pile on pressure, and Abd-Rabou hit the post with a header on 61 minutes.
With 13 minutes remaining, Egypt finally got the goal they deserved.
Cameroon captain Rigobert Song was punished for untidy defending, losing a tussle with substitute Zidan.
Zidan pushed the ball along the edge of the box into the path of Aboutrika, who had a simple finish from 15 yards.
As Egypt celebrated, Song covered his face with his shirt, knowing that he should have cleared the ball away.
Song headed over the bar in stoppage-time, but there was to be no redemption for the defender, in his seventh Nations Cup.
Egypt won the first two editions of the tournament, in 1957 and 1959, but with the competition far more intense now, these victories have far greater significance.
Shehata's feat of two Cups in a row matched that of Ghana's CK Gyamfi, who won the tournament in 1963 and 1965.
Aboutrika's goal was the 99th of the tournament, which produced more goals than any other Nations Cup.
CULLED FROM: BBC Sport | | Uefa refs to elbow dangerous play | Uefa have told their top referees to take strong action against dangerous tackles and mass confrontations when the Uefa Cup and Champions League resume this week and next. Referees attending the European governing body's annual mid-term meeting in Cyprus last week were left in no doubt that aggressive challenges deemed to threaten the safety of an opponent warrant a straight red card.
They were also asked to get tough on players in 'mob scenes' by acting quickly before trouble escalates and not hesitating to issue yellow cards - particularly to players who run a distance to get involved - and red cards in the event of any excessive physical contact.
'The referees are charged with a responsibility of protecting the players' safety. The players have got to feel safe on the field of play,' said Hugh Dallas, the Scottish former World Cup referee who is now a Uefa instructor.
The illegal use of arms and elbows is also becoming 'more and more dangerous', according to Dallas. Holding and pushing in the penalty area is an issue on which Uefa believe progress has been made - five penalties were given for this offence in the Champions League group stage - although the message was spelt out clearly once again in Cyprus: if the players ignore the first warning, then book them. The same goes for player misbehaviour in a defensive wall.
Protecting the image of the game is another concern, following the increased occurrence of mass confrontations and Dallas said: 'The players involved have to realise, "If I approach this incident, I get a yellow card."' The referees' instructions are to be equally firm with dissent, be it in words or gestures, and also with players 'waving cards' asking for opponents to be booked.
To help the man in the middle, Uefa want improved co-operation with the assistant referees, who must be vigilant away from the pitch, too. From this month, the assistant referee positioned closer to the tunnel will head straight there on the half-time and full-time whistles in an effort to forestall possible trouble between players off the field.
'The aim is to monitor the players as they make their way to the changing rooms,' Dallas said of a move that will also help combat clubs' reluctance to release video evidence of trouble in the tunnel, in the event of an incident.
One official in Cyprus made a particularly instructive comment: 'The truth is on the TV screen.' This was said to highlight the difficulty of refereeing in an age of countless camera angles rather than any desire to embrace technology: Uefa president Michel Platini remains firmly opposed to a 'video referee' and TV monitors are to be removed from technical areas for all Uefa matches. When asked their own views the referees agreed on both counts, although another show of hands revealed unanimous support for goalline technology.
Ian Rush has confirmed the Malaysian FA have contacted him about a possible role with the national team. The former Liverpool and Wales striker has been approached as part of the restructuring of the Malaysia set-up after a string of poor performances.
'I have been asked to have a look at their strikers, but it has got no further than that at the moment,' said 46-year-old Rush, currently the elite performance director of the Welsh Football Trust.
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Donadoni salutes Italian rigour |  Coach Roberto Donadoni could find nothing "to complain about" after Italy beat Portugal 3-1 at Zurich's Letzigrund, the venue for two of their UEFA EURO 2008™ group matches.
Donadoni delight
"Usually I'm a very demanding person but after this game I can only be happy," said Donadoni. "I really can't find anything to complain about. The team played great, responding perfectly to what was a difficult challenge. I'm always telling them that friendlies are very important and the players got my message."
Goal glut
Italy took the lead just before the interval as Fabio Grosso's low cross from the left allowed Luca Toni to slide in from close range. The fluent Azzurri stepped it up in the second half, adding a second when Andrea Pirlo's shot deflected off Fabio Cannavaro and a third with a Fabio Quagliarella volley after Ricardo Quaresma had netted for Luiz Felipe Scolari's team. Contract question
Raffaele Palladino also hit the bar while Antonio Di Natale was twice denied by Ricardo saves, suggesting that Donadoni's charges are on the right track. "Once again this squad proved to be very united and gave a fine performance," said the former AC Milan midfielder, whose contract with the Italian Football Federation expires after UEFA EURO 2008™. "The contract is the last thing on my mind right now."
'Fresh motivation'
"I'm sure they will come to an agreement," said captain Cannavaro, whose goal was only his second in 114 internationals. "Donadoni came in to replace a coach who had won the [FIFA] World Cup and he has given fresh motivation to every player. We are still playing with a good fighting spirit. The coach knows how much we respect and support him."
Italian pride
Quagliarella, who scored 40 seconds after coming on as a substitute, also praised the Italy coach. "I can only thank Donadoni for the faith he has always shown in me," the Udinese Calcio forward said. "He has done a great job for this side and deserves to be kept on. We have learned from leaders like Cannavaro that we must always give our very best, even in friendlies. We represent Italy and never want to embarrass our country." CULLED from: UEFA.com | | France feel the pain from Spain |  Luis Aragonés was "extremely happy" with Spain's 1-0 win against fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists France, while scorer Joan Capdevila was eager to "make the most" of the success in
Capdevila struck ten minutes from time to earn Spain victory and delight Aragonés, although the coach acknowledged that France duo Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema had been unlucky not to equalise. "France are a big, dangerous team with extraordinary physical strength," Aragonés said. "I'm extremely happy to have won but I have to say we were lucky in the last five minutes."
Living the moment
The victory avenged a 3-1 loss to France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and Villarreal CF defender Capdevila enjoyed the moment after registering his second international goal in 15 appearances. The 30-year-old said: "I have to make the most of these moments. Any win is always very welcome. It feels great to score against teams the standard of France."
Tight contest
Liverpool FC midfielder Xabi Alonso returned to the side for the first time since September 2007 after recovering from injury, and was pleased to have come out on top after a very competitive fixture. "Our opponents were very good but we managed to hang in there. We had the match under control and scored in the second half to ensure the victory."
Cost of victory
However, the success did not come without its blemishes as Spain had to replace both Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Villarreal defender Ángel López because of injuries. Torres was taken off as early as the 23rd minute with a painful-looking thigh strain, although national team doctors later said the problem was not as serious as first feared. Ángel López is awaiting further tests after damaging knee cartilage.
Philosophical
Meanwhile, France coach Raymond Domenech was his usual sanguine self, saying: "You always lose when your opponents score and you don't, but I think the match was very even and in the end we could have equalised. I'm satisfied with my players' attitude. The negative aspect is that in the second half we lost the ball several times and didn't manage the game as we did in the first period."
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | Germany show Austria no mercy | UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Austria were given a lesson in finishing by Germany after three second-half strikes confirmed victory for Joachim Löw's side at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion.
Finishing school
Austria created a host of opportunities but their failure to convert them was punished in ruthless fashion by the visitors when Thomas Hitzlsperger, Miroslav Klose and Mario Gómez scored after the break.
Early attempt
Austria, who will also meet Germany in Group B at this summer's tournament, signalled their intent inside 25 seconds when Christian Fuchs fired wide. This set the tone for the whole opening period as Germany were unable to produce anything of note to trouble the home defence.
Lucky escape
On 22 minutes Jens Lehmann had a lucky escape after racing from goal and failing to connect with the ball ahead of Austria forward Martin Harnik – Roland Linz's resulting attempt on the empty net was blocked by covering Germany defenders. However, the Arsenal FC keeper was more assured seven minutes later when he parried a Fuchs effort.
One-way traffic
Midfielder Fuchs was a lively presence for Josef Hickersberger's team and threatened again six minutes before the interval with a low cross that evaded Linz in front of goal. The game continued in a similar vein after the restart, with Joachim Standfest the next to misfire when well-placed following fine build-up play by Andreas Ivanschitz.
Cruel result
The hosts paid for their profligacy when Hitzlsperger put Germany ahead with a left-footed strike past Alex Manninger from just outside the area. Seconds later Linz squandered another chance, and the away side duly took advantage on 63 minutes as fit-again Michael Ballack fed Klose to score. Germany increased their lead ten minutes from time when two substitutes combined to give the scoreline a harsh complexion. Lukas Podolski crossed for Gómez to head past Manninger.
CULLED from: UEFA.com | Israel ambush Romania
Israel 1-0 Romania |  Romania's preparations for UEFA EURO 2008™ suffered a setback in Tel-Aviv as Omer Golan's first-half goal gave Israel victory against opponents who played most of the match with ten men.
Sending-off
Victor Piturca's side have been drawn alongside France, Italy and the Netherlands in Group C at this summer's tournament in Austria and Switzerland, and the coach had been keen to emphasise the importance of this game as "a very important test". However, Romania's hopes were dented in the 22nd minute when midfielder Ovidiu Petre was red-carded following an incident involving Tamir Cohen.
Decisive strike
The visitors had tasted defeat only once in 12 qualifying fixtures, finishing three points above the Netherlands to win Group G, but fell behind three minutes after Petre's dismissal. Golan scored what proved to be the only goal, turning in Cohen's header across the penalty area from Moshe Ohayon's corner to put Israel in control of an entertaining, fast-paced encounter.
Rare danger
The hosts came close to exploiting their numerical advantage further with several presentable opportunities. Liverpool FC midfielder Yossi Benayoun was at the heart of much of their best work and created numerous openings for his colleagues. Romania struggled to break down a disciplined and determined Israel rearguard, although they did threaten through Ciprian Marica who twice went close with first-half headers, while Adrian Mutu struck the crossbar.
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | Netherlands ‘beautiful to watch’ – Van Basten |  Marco van Basten was in ebullient mood after the Netherlands made an emphatic return to action, beating fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists Croatia 3-0 in Split with a performance that was "beautiful to watch".
Message to Europe
The Oranje were under pressure after ending their qualifying campaign in colourless fashion, scraping a 1-0 home victory over Luxembourg before losing 2-1 to Belarus, and they responded in style. Johnny Heitinga, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink all scored as Croatia were overwhelmed at the Poljud Stadium. For Van Basten, the result will send out a message to the sides awaiting his team in Austria and Switzerland this summer. "This victory will really mean something in Europe as Croatia have a good reputation," he said. "There was a lot of quality football on show, not bad considering we were not even at full strength."
New system
To what extent the rediscovery of quality football was down to increased confidence in Van Basten's new 4-2-3-1 system is difficult to measure. Whatever, the display helped to vindicate the decision to digress from the traditional 4-3-3 formation. "Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart were very dangerous on the wings, and Ibrahim Afellay also shone when he came on – at times it was beautiful to watch," said the coach. "Heitinga formed a strong partnership with Joris Mathijsen in central defence and Tim de Cler created a lot of danger in attacking midfield, enjoying the freedom made possible by having Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Demy de Zeeuw behind him. This gives us real confidence for the future."
Renewed confidence
The feeling of renewed belief was evidenced by Van Basten's players, young and old alike. "This will give us a lot of confidence ahead of the European Championship," said the 23-year-old Sneijder. "We combined well and played real football, as we were able to boss the midfield." Fourteen years Sneijder's senior, captain Edwin van der Sar has seen it all before and knows how positive an impact this victory could have, saying: "This is a huge lift for us. We knew we could not win anything the way we played in qualification but this went well." The Netherlands will be keen to continue that progress against Austria in six weeks' time.
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | Czechs suffer Polish checkmate | Poland defeated fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists Czech Republic thanks to two goals in the first half-hour of their friendly in Cyprus.
Perfect start
Strikes from Wojciech Lobodzinski and Mariusz Lewandowski gave Poland coach Leo Beenhakker the ideal start to his team's preparations for this summer's tournament. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, whose coach Karel Brückner was watching the game at home due to illness, were left to rue a missed penalty four minutes after Poland had got their second.
Early breakthrough
Poland began the brighter and went in front after only six minutes when midfielder Lobodzinski latched on to a long ball to score. Euzebiusz Smolarek had an opportunity to double the lead soon after, but one-on-one with Petr Cech he could not beat the Czech No1.
Missed penalty
The Czech Republic dominated possession as the half wore on yet failed to conjure an equaliser. They were made to pay in the 29th minute when Lewandowski found himself unmarked on the edge of the area and fired past Cech. Milan Baroš then won a penalty after he was brought down by Poland custodian Artur Boruc on 33 minutes. However, Jan Koller, the Czech Republic's all-time leading marksman, was denied his 52nd international goal as Boruc saved his tame effort.
Polish resistance
The Czechs upped the tempo after the break in a bid to get back into the match but found it hard to create openings without injured playmaker Tomáš Rosický. Koller's shot was saved by Lukasz Fabianski, replacing Boruc between the posts at half-time, while Jaroslav Plašil headed over ten minutes before the final whistle – the game's last chance. It was the Czech Republic's first loss since their home defeat by Germany last March.
CULLED from: UEFA.com | | CAF rob Drogba to pay Kanoute | Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba did not win the 2007 African Footballer of the Year award because he refused to attend Friday's ceremony in Lome, his team said on Monday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had planned to give the award to the Chelsea forward but decided not to after he said he would not travel to the Togolese capital to collect it, Ivory Coast team spokesman Jean-Claude Djacus told Reuters.
Drogba is currently playing in the African Nations Cup in Ghana with Ivory Coast who have reached the semi-finals.
The award went to Mali striker Frederic Kanoute.
"CAF has brought itself into disrepute," Djacus said. "They called Didier on the eve of the ceremony to tell him they would give the award to Kanoute if he did not come. Didier is now saying that he does not want to be part of the 2008 vote."
CULLED FROM: The Guardian | | Mascherano anxious to seal Reds deal |  JAVIER MASCHERANO wants to tie up his Liverpool future this week.
The Argentina star is hopeful of sealing a £17million move after months of negotiations.
Mascherano is registered on a long-term loan from owners MSI, so any deal did not need to be completed before last Thursday's transfer deadline.
But the ex-West Ham midfielder is desperate to finally commit to the Reds.
Mascherano said: "It's not finished yet but I am hoping to stay here.
"I have a lot of confidence that after the next week |
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