★★★FOOTBALL / SOCCER RAG ✿◕｡&#96

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Champions League - Heinze regrets bitter United exit

Tue, 22 Feb 18:19:00 2011

Marseille defender Gabriel Heinze regrets the acrimonious manner of his departure from Manchester United.

The Argentina full-back spent three years at Old Trafford, during which time he won a Premier League and became a crowd favourite amongst the Red Devils faithful for his no-nonsense tackling. In 2007, Heinze demanded to join Liverpool, something totally unpalatable to Sir Alex Ferguson, and eventually joined Real Madrid instead.

Heinze said: "I regret it a lot, especially the last three months. I am a strong person and so is Alex Ferguson. I took the decision I did and I regret it, especially for the fans and I hope it has not tarnished me with them."

He added: "I don't really want to talk about what happened four years ago, maybe some day I will tell the whole story.

"But I knew the risks and was aware of what being at a club like Liverpool would mean."

Heinze has met Ferguson just once since, a brief encounter in Qatar when Argentina met Brazil in a friendly.

"I was really happy to see him," said Heinze.

"When I was at Manchester United, Ferguson impressed me a lot. He gave me a winning culture.

"I had three wonderful years there. It is a great club and it is not so very different now from four years ago.

"It is the same coach. He is the one who sends the message that it is always to win. The players may change but the philosophy stays the same."

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La Liga - Mourinho completes NINE Unbeaten Years

Mon, 21 Feb 12:07:00 2011

Jose Mourinho has now gone an incredible nine years without seeing any of his teams beaten at home in the league.

When Real Madrid beat Levante 2-0 at the weekend it ensured that the former Chelsea boss would reach the extraordinary milestone.

The last time one of Mourinho's sides was beaten on their own turf in the league was 23 February 2002, when Porto lost 3-2 at home against Beira Mar.

Since then, the Portuguese coach has moved to Real via Chelsea and Internazionale, winning 125 of his 148 home matches and drawing the other 23. That equates to an astonishing 398 points from a possible 444 at home.

But how does Mourinho's extraordinary run compare to other great streaks in sport? Consider these:

- AC Milan went 58 matches unbeaten between 1991 and 1993, a streak which helped them win three consecutive Serie A titles.

- Romanian side Steaua Bucharest managed a 104-match unbeaten run in domestic football between 1986 and 1989.

- Ed Moses ran 122 consecutive 400m hurdles races without ever losing, a streak which lasted nine years, nine months and nine days.

- Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez won 87 consecutive fights between 1980 and 1993, picking up world titles in three different weight categories as he did so.

- Roger Federer reached the semi-finals at least in every Grand Slam tennis tournament in a six-year period, starting with his victory at Wimbledon in 2004 and finishing at the 2010 French Open, when he was beaten in the quarter-finals. During that run he won 14 titles and was runner-up on six occasions.

Eurosport

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Premier League - Paper Round: Real enter Rodwell chase

Tue, 22 Feb 09:01:00 2011

Everton's Jack Rodwell has often featured in Paper Round these last few weeks - but he hasn't been linked with Real Madrid until now.

The England U21 international has mostly been mentioned in connection with the Manchester clubs - but now, according to the Daily Mail, Liga giants Real have joined the chase.

According to the paper, Jose Mourinho has instructed Real's scouting team to monitor the 19-year-old and prepare a "dossier" for him ahead of a potential summer bid.

However, the paper does say that Manchester United remains Rodwell's preferred destination.

Rodwell can play in either midfield or defence and his transfer valuation has ranged across the papers in recent weeks from £15 million at the low end to a potential £25m.

There is a lot of twisting of quotes by the papers this morning in an effort to create big stories.

Firstly, there is more from Mourinho who according to the Express has "dropped the heaviest hint yet he would consider a return to Chelsea" by saying - wait for it - that he still loves Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror starts a story with this line: "Samir Nasri has revealed he could quit Arsenal this summer if they win the title – for Barcelona."

The quote they take from Nasri actually reads like this: "As things are right now, I am happy here and I have confidence from the manager. But things can change quickly in football, and then we may have a new situation."

So player is happy, but not a psychic - therefore he must be off to Barca! Maybe not time for Arsenal fans to panic over that one just yet.

However, there is a feud developing between the clubs, reports The Sun: the Catalan giants are apparently "furious with Arsenal for trying to snatch 16-year-old wonderkid Jon Miquel Toral Harper from their academy - just like they did with Cesc Fabregas".

Toral Harper has an English mother and is believed to be close to signing with the Gunners. Apparently, when the clubs met at the Emirates last week furious Barca president Sandro Rosell "made his opinions forcibly known to Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis".

Arsenal have also been linked with 19-year-old Stefan de Vrij of Feyenoord. Chief scout Steve Rowley was impressed by the £3.5m-rated defender while checking up on the progress of Ryo Miyaichi, the Arsenal-owned Japanese youngster who is currently on loan at the Dutch giants. (Mail)

Niko Kranjcar has finally started making an impact at Tottenham but could still be on his way out. The Croat, along with Barcelona winger Alexander Hleb - on loan at Birmingham - are both wanted by newly promoted Russian Premier League team Krasnodar. (Mail)

Liverpool are holding out for £11m for their flop Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The £17m signing from Roma has been on loan at Juventus, who want to buy him but are only prepared to pay £5m. (Mail)

Finally Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Barcelona's out-of-favour defender Gabriel Milito and hope to snap him up for free in the summer.

(Mirror)

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Ober and out for United Flop

Mon Feb 21 01:07PM

It was a humbling weekend in the FA Cup for English football's big guns, as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal were all embarrassed.

Although United were the only one of the three to win, they produced the worst performance as they scraped past Crawley Town 1-0.

It confirmed what we all know - including Alex Ferguson - that United's second string simply isn't good enough.

Gabriel Obertan and Bebe in particular were pitiful. Both men might be impressive physical specimens, but neither seems to have the ability or the nous to deliver any end product.

Bebe's crossing was absolutely atrocious, while Obertan looked like he couldn't pass water.

It was farcical. If you offered those two to Crawley boss Steve Evans, I don't think he would take them.

The Frenchman is supposed to be the next Ryan Giggs, but not only is he lacking Ryan's talent, he appears to lack the drive and determination as well.

Darron Gibson was slightly better, but he does not look like a true Manchester United midfielder.

United's dismal performance cannot have come as too much of a surprise to Sir Alex. This was a similar team to the one that got thrashed by West Ham in the Carling Cup, and struggled past Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round.

Not that the manager had his best game - his decision to bring on Wayne Rooney for Anderson left United short in midfield and saw them outplayed completely in the second half.

It was an embarrassing experience for a team that used to pride itself on its strength in depth, with a second-string featuring proven quality like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Teddy Sheringham and Nicky Butt.

Arsenal's back-ups are significantly stronger, and should have won at Leyton Orient in a game they largely dominated - but they lacked cutting edge with the goal-shy Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh up front.

As for Chelsea, their defeat to Everton on penalties could be the final nail in the coffin for Carlo Ancelotti.

It was not so much that they lost - Leighton Baines's free-kick was a pearler - but they were so anaemic for the first 180 minutes of the tie.

Age has finally caught up with them. They have spent over £70 million on Fernando Torres and David Luiz, and need eight or nine similar players because they have nothing coming through the youth system.

They have no spark in their team, and nobody to get people's bums off their seats.

Chelsea are an example of what can go wrong if you do not strengthen when you are winning - suddenly you have a squad of 30-somethings and the future does not look bright.

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Champions League - United grind out draw in Marseille

Wed, 23 Feb 21:34:00 2011

Manchester United and Marseille played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, with defenders the stars in France.

Chances were few and far between as the two sides cancelled each other out, with neither goalkeeper forced into serious action and a high-quality array of forwards stifled by excellent performances from Chris Smalling for United and Souleymane Diawara of Marseille.

A low-scoring draw was the likeliest result between teams renowned for their steel at the back in Europe this season - United only conceded once in the group stages while L’OM shut out the opposition in their last four group matches.

It played out as expected as a tense and uneventful game saw neither side take many risks in a cagey, defensive affair at a pumping Stade Velodrome.

Frustration was the key word for United, for whom Nani repeatedly overcooked his dribbling when early balls would have sufficed, while Wayne Rooney sat far too deep and a midfield trio of Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson and Michael Carrick was short of inspiration.

Their best efforts were a long-range drive from Fletcher that Steve Mandanda kept out comfortably, and a couple of occasions when Nani - whose pace repeatedly tested former United defender Gabriel Heinze but whose delivery was awful - took one too many touches and slipped to the turf when clear on the right.

Marseille were little better, looking vaguely threatening from wide positions but largely only shooting from range: Edwin van der Sar’s sole act of the first half was to claim an in-swinging Andre Ayew corner as it threatened to sneak inside the near post.

If the first half was tepid, the second was a dirge as neither side showed any invention or even interest in threatening the opposition goal.

But on the hour mark, as if by clockwork, Marseille clicked into action, suddenly playing higher up the pitch, pegging United back and creating a bevy of chances.

Loic Remy beat three men before smacking a shot that was goal-bound but for Nemanja Vidic’s intervention, Ayew snatched a low drive across goal and wide after a fortunate ricochet played him through, and Brandao was blocked from finishing after a superb intervention by the highly-accomplished Smalling.

That flurry was a 10-minute interlude though, and the match slipped back into ennui immediately afterwards.

To be fair to both sides the defending was superb - even forwards Rooney and Ayew both made great tackles at various points - while the last five minutes or so saw United inspired by substitute Paul Scholes to at least make a nominal attempt to breach the Marseille defence.

The closest they came though was when Nani’s pass almost released Rooney, the England forward apparently brought down by last-man Stephane M'Bia after his first touch was heavy: the German referee waved play on with both Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson left to fume through the latter stages.

It was the only real moment of contention in a match that put neither side in the driving seat ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford in two weeks: United did not lose but the absence of an away goal means a score draw would send Marseille through.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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Carling Cup - Birmingham stun Arsenal to win Cup

Sun, 27 Feb 18:05:00 2011

Obafemi Martins scored a dramatic late winner to win the Carling Cup for Birmingham City by sealing a 2-1 win over Arsenal at Wembley.

The Nigerian came off the bench with seven minutes of normal time remaining, and in the 89th minute capitalised on a calamitous mix-up in the Arsenal penalty area to tap in the goal which lands the Blues only their second ever major trophy.

Nikola Zigic had headed the Blues in front near the half-hour mark to send fans of the underdogs into raptures, only for Robin van Persie to equalise with a stunning volley 10 minutes later.

Alex McLeish's side spent much of the second half repelling attack after attack from the Gunners - with goalkeeper Ben Foster making a string of vital saves - before Martins was in the right place at the right time to pounce as Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny conspired to let the ball loose inside the box.

The Blues held on to win their second League Cup to add to their victory in the competition in 1963, and go some way to overcoming the heartache of their penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the final in Cardiff a decade ago.

For Arsenal, their six-year wait for a major trophy continues, and their attention must now turn to Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round replay against Leyton Orient on Wednesday and then a Champions League trip to Barcelona the following week.

Arsenal dominated the possession for large parts of the match, although they were fortunate not to be a goal and a man down inside the first three minutes. Lee Bowyer was played through one-on-one with Szczesny, who brought the midfielder down inside the box. The referee's assistant had already raised his flag for offside against Bowyer, even though he had been played onside by Gael Clichy.

After that, Arsenal began to get into their stride, with the absences of Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott not hindering their trademark passing play on the wide Wembley pitch. Samir Nasri came closest to opening the scoring when he had his shot saved by the legs of Foster.

Six of Birmingham's last eight league goals against Arsenal have come from set pieces, but it was still a surprise when they opened the scoring against the run of play via that method.

Roger Johnson headed the ball goalward from the edge of the box and Zigic got in front of Szczesny to glance it past the Polish keeper for his fourth goal in his last five games.

The big Serb striker could have doubled Birmingham's lead five minutes later when Craig Gardner was tripped on the edge of the box and the ball fell at his feet, only for Szczesny to make the vital block.

Arsenal levelled soon afterwards with a sweeping counter-attack. Jack Wilshere fired a strike off the crossbar but Andrei Arshavin kept the move alive. The Russian got to the byline and cut the ball back for Van Persie to lash in a crisp volley. It was the 13th goal since the turn of the year for Arsenal's captain for the day.

The second half saw Arsenal become even more dominant in both possession and chances. Tomas Rosicky struck a half-volley just wide of the target before Foster made several crucial stops in quick succession.

Foster - who was the hero of Manchester United's shootout victory over Tottenham in the 2009 final - kept out efforts from Rosicky, Nasri and substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

Keith Fahey rattled the Arsenal post with a low drive, but it was the Gunners who looked odds on to score, particularly with Birmingham's key defender Johnson struggling with an injury.

But, six minutes after replacing Fahey, Martins secured his place in Birmingham City history when Zigic's flick-on caused confusion between Koscielny and Szczesny. The French defender hesitantly went to clear the ball as the keeper came for it, and it bounced out of his grasp and into the path of Martins, who tapped into the empty net.

With a place in Europe next season secured and an FA Cup quarter-final coming up, the future looks bright for Birmingham. However, they must quickly focus on their present, as they host relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion next Saturday with just two points separating them from the bottom three.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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Carling Cup - McLeish: We weren't given a prayer

Sun, 27 Feb 19:54:00 2011

Alex McLeish revelled in Birmingham City's underdog status after his team claimed a dramatic late 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Carling Cup final.

Substitute Obafemi Martins pounced on an 89th-minute defensive blunder to give the Blues a 2-1 upset win.

Arsenal had been overwhelming favourites to end their six-year trophy drought but a mix-up between defender Laurent Koscielny and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny allowed Martins to secure Birmingham's first major trophy since 1963.

Birmingham, battling against relegation from the Premier League, led with a header from towering striker Nikola Zigicbut Arsenal equalised through Dutchman Robin van Persie and looked poised to win the first of the four trophies they are seeking this season.

"It feels like the greatest ever (moment), in terms of personal achievement, when you consider the team we were up against," Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said in a televised interview.

"We weren't given a prayer today and I said myself that Arsenal would win nine times out of 10. But we believed. It was a titanic performance.

"We had a gameplan and managed to get our noses in front, that gives you a great chance.

"We thought if we could keep in it for as long as we could we'd get the quick guys on who can win it for us (Martins and Cameron Jerome).

"We didn't deal with the equaliser well. Roger Johnson could have let it run out for a throw-in but he kept it in play. Too many of us were out of position and Robin van Persie's movement for the goal was magnificent.

"But no doubt you need a little bit of luck - and we deserved it today."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defended his 20-year-old goalkeeper Szczesny whose error contributed to Birmingham's winner.

"I wanted to end our wait for a trophy today," said Wenger. "Both teams gave everything and congratulations to them - they have got their trophy.

"But we have regrets with the way we conceded the (Martins) goal. What can you say? You have to be positive because he (Szczesny) is a young boy.

"He has to pick himself up from that goal and hopefully he can do that.

"When we conceded the goal there was no time for us to respond.

"We have to pick ourselves up because the challenges ahead are massive. I wanted to end the wait (for a trophy) today. Now we will have to wait a bit longer."

PA Sport / Reuters

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Premier League - Sparkling West Ham beat Liverpool

Mon, 28 Feb 01:09:00 2011

West Ham's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League were given a boost after their convincing 3-1 win over Liverpool at Upton Park.

Hammers captain Scott Parker opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a wonderful finish from the edge of the box, before Demba Ba continued his scoring run for his new club right before half-time.

Glen Johnson scored against his former club to ensure a nervy final few minutes, but substitute Carlton Cole added a late third to secure a vital three points for Avram Grant's side.

Despite ending a run of four straight defeats to Liverpool, the win is not enough to lift them out of the relegation zone. The Hammers move up from bottom of the table to 18th, below Wolves on goal difference. However, the manner of the victory and the performance will give plenty of cause for optimism for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool remain sixth, six point behind Chelsea who play Manchester United on Tuesday.

After finally making his West Ham debut in the FA Cup on Monday after missing the whole campaign through injury, midfielder Thomas Hitzelsperger made his Premier League bow, six years after making the last of his 99 league appearances for Aston Villa.

The German was highly influential. He fired two trademark long-range strikes right at Pepe Reina, but his role in midfield was key to the home side bossing the half and looking nothing like a side who started the day bottom of the table.

He played his part to play in Parker's fifth league goal of the season which put the Hammers ahead. Parker slipped as he played a one-two with Hitzelsperger, but regained his footing to collect the return pass and curl an outstanding shot just inside the far post with the outside of his boot.

Liverpool had Steven Gerrard restored to the side after missing their last three games through injury, but the Liverpool captain once again played second fiddle to Raul Meireles in the Reds' midfield.

Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt were too often anonymous up front for the visitors. The only time they combined effectively was when Suarez led the counter-attack from a West Ham corner before picking out Kuyt, who drifted inside and fired into the side netting.

Frederic Piquionne caused plenty of problems for Liverpool's three centre-backs - including Scotland international Danny Wilson, making his Premier League debut - and the French striker struck a lethal low ball across the six-yard box which Ba just failed to meet with an outstretched boot.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was forced to abandon his 5-3-2 formation when right-back Martin Kelly pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by former West Ham captain Joe Cole.

Soon afterwards, Ba scored his third goal in as many league games since joining the Hammers when he met Gary O'Neil's chipped cross with a header which is best described as a falling rather than a diving one. However it is classified, it was an excellent effort that Reina could do nothing about except watch it fly into the near top corner.

Things got worse for Liverpool soon after the restart when Meireles was forced off after struggling with a knock he picked up in the first half.

Ba almost got his second of the match when he drilled a solid low strike that flashed wide of Reina's post, while at the other end Suarez almost scored his second Liverpool goal after rolling past James Tomkins on the edge of the box, only for Robert Green to make a good two-handed save.

When Piquionne glanced a header from a corner wide it alerted Liverpool to the fact that the result was not yet set in stone, and their push for an equaliser bore fruit five minutes from time. Suarez turned skilfully and swiftly in the West Ham box and his low ball across the six yard box was turned in by Johnson.

Any fears among the Upton Park faithful that their team were going to throw away two points were allayed when Cole, having only just come off the bench, muscled the ball from Martin Skrtel with embarrassing ease before bamboozling Jamie Carragher with a stepover and drilling a low strike past Reina.

After a run of four straight wins was halted by a draw at home to Wigan, Liverpool's resurgence under Kenny Dalglish has certainly hit its first major blip.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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Premier League - Fulham end City's winning home form

Mon, 28 Feb 01:09:00 2011

Manchester City's winning ways on home turf came to an end as they drew 1-1 with Fulham in the Premier League at Eastlands.

It looked like business as usual for City, who had won seven home games in a row in all competitions, when Mario Ballotelli opened the scoring on 26 minutes, placing a fine right-footed effort beyond Mark Schwarzer.

But Fulham, managed by ex-City manager Mark Hughes, drew level early in the second-half when Damien Duff converted Andy Johnson's driven cross.

The hosts turned up the pressure after being pegged back and Ballotelli, Aleksandar Kolarov and Carlos Tevez all came close.

However, the Cottagers refused to sit back and defend throughout the game and had chances of their own to take all three points, with Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey racking up chances.

There were very few serious threats on goal from either side in the opening 45 minutes, but a Fulham side widely predicted to set up defensively at Eastlands surprised their opponents with confident possession in large spells.

Captain Danny Murphy fizzed a fine long-range effort inches over the bar halfway through the first period moments before Dembele had a shot on goal caught by Joe Hart after good work from Dempsey.

But their encouraging play was for nothing when Balotelli found sight of goal amidst a sea of white shirts keeping him just outside the Fulham box and curled neatly into the bottom right corner to break the deadlock.

The goal, somewhat against the run of play, subdued the away side for much of the first-half's remainder, but it took them just three minutes after the interval to draw level.

A great ball forward from an advanced Hangeland sent Johnson racing towards goal on the right-hand side of the City penalty area, and the forward selflessly picked out Duff with a ball to the far post.

The Irish winger blasted home from close range and Hughes's men were deservedly level.

City reacted to conceding better than their opponents had in the first half, however, and had several opportunities to retake the advantage.

But not before Johnson almost added a goal to his assist on 51 minutes, getting past Jerome Boateng at right-back before his weak shot at goal was easily collected by Hart.

The home side poured forward, particularly after Patrick Vieira replaced the anonymous Edin Dzeko, and both Balotelli and Tevez should have done better after finding space in the Fulham box.

Halfway through the second period, an otherwise error-laden performance from Kolarov peaked with a superb dipping shot from at least 30 yards, which had to be tipped over by Schwarzer before it could tuck itself just under the crossbar.

But despite a late goalmouth scramble that both Tevez and Boateng attempted to convert in an area packed with white shirts, the game petered out to its fairest conclusion with both sides taking a point.

It was a result which could well officially spell the end of any talk of Manchester City mounting a late title challenge, and a good away point for a side looking to continue their journey away from the bottom three.

Liam Happe / Eurosport

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Premier League - Managers: Mancini irks Hughes

Sun, 27 Feb 19:35:00 2011

Fulham manager Mark Hughes revealed his anger at the reaction of Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini to his offer of a post-match handshake.

Manchester City 1-1 Fulham

Mark Hughes: "I am old-fashioned. I always think you should offer your hand in whatever circumstances, no matter how difficult it is. I did it and did it with sincerity after my team had been beaten 4-1 at Craven Cottage earlier in this season. I acknowledged his team were better. Maybe I misread it but I don't feel Roberto really acknowledged the efforts of my team and what we had done by the manner he offered his hand, by not looking at me.

"I don't have any regrets. City are a fantastic club and they have some great people here. I met people I was really fond of today. I have not had chance to do that since I was sacked. Everybody has pride and it was important for our staff and their families. To get a result like that is important for a lot of people."

Roberto Mancini: "In London he did the same. I know he said something but I couldn't understand what. For you (journalists) it is maybe the best thing in the match, for me, no. It is not important. He (Hughes) should be happy. His team got a draw against us.

"He (Mario Balotelli) scored a good goal but I am not happy. He should play well, better than today. For strikers it is important to score. But strikers should also play for the team. I don't just mean Balotelli, but Carlos and Dzeko as well. They should always play for the team. Mario can play better."

West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool

Avram Grant: "Scott (Parker) is a special guy. The spirit he showed was great. Three hours before the game, we thought there was no way he would play. It was a bad, bad injury. He couldn't walk or move his arms. The medical department were sure he couldn't play, but they did a good job and gave him 24 hours of treatment. He needed more than an injection, but the medical department did brilliantly with him. He's the type of player I like: he always gives 100 per cent, is always positive. I like some of the things from old-fashioned play. That's what they did in the olden days. They gave everything."

Kenny Dalglish: "We never passed it as well as we can or took the opportunities that came our way. The last 20 or 25 minutes, we started to play a wee bit like we can. We got the goal near the end and we thought we might steal a point. There were a couple of shouts for a penalty, things that are outside our control that you can't manage, but we'll try to correct the mistakes we made."

PA Sport

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Premier League - FA await ref's Rooney report

Sun, 27 Feb 10:44:00 2011

Referee Mark Clattenburg's explanation of why he awarded Wigan a free-kick following Wayne Rooney's clash with James McCarthy will determine whether the Manchester United striker ends up facing a three-match ban.

Latics boss Roberto Martinez was incensed by the sight of Rooney smacking his elbow into the back of McCarthy's head and sought out Clattenburg for an explanation at half-time.

The Durham official told Martinez he felt there had been "a coming together", something he appeared to indicate through hand gestures at the time, but that cut little ice with the Spaniard.

The only obvious way round this for Clattenburg when he sends in his official match report would be to state he saw the clash, but not the elbow.

Even then, the FA would be within their rights to ask exactly why he gave the free-kick considering, without the elbow incident, McCarthy had moved towards Rooney rather than the other way round.

If Clattenburg says he saw the entire clash fully, Rooney will escape sanction, although a three-match ban could see him miss this week's Premier League games with Chelsea and Liverpool, plus the FA Cup sixth round tie against either Arsenal or Leyton Orient.

"I saw the incident clearly and the referee did as well because he gave the free-kick," Martinez said.

"Once you give a free-kick it is quite clear that it is a red card. When you look at the replay, it is quite clear he catches James McCarthy in the face with his elbow.

"If one of my players had done that, I would think he was very lucky to stay on the pitch."

United manager Alex Ferguson, however, said "there is nothing in it".

"But, what will happen, because it is Wayne Rooney, the press will raise a campaign to get him hung by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that.

"It is unbelievable. Watch the press. It will be interesting to see it."

United's victory took them four points clear of Arsenal, who play Birmingham City in the League Cup final later on Sunday.

They can stretch that lead to seven when they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

PA Sport / Reuters

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Aiyah !...why so careless !!!

Chelsea rally to beat United 2-1 in thriller

Reuters - 1 hour 26 minutes ago

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON - Chelsea blew the title race wide open when they came from behind to beat Premier league leaders Manchester United 2-1 thanks to Frank Lampard's controversial 79th-minute penalty at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

United had deservedly led through Wayne Rooney's 29th-minute strike but Chelsea's Brazilian defender David Luiz equalised nine minutes into the second half with his first goal for the club since joining from Benfica in the January window.

The champions, unbeaten at home against United since 2002, surged forward after that and took the points when Chris Smalling tripped substitute Yuri Zhirkov and Lampard fired home a penalty United manager Alex Ferguson described as "soft."

United remain top on 60 points, four clear of Arsenal but with the London side now having a game in hand. Manchester City are third on 50 with champions Chelsea up to fourth on 48.

"It was a great performance by us. We didn't deserve that," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "It's three years in a row the referees' decisions have changed the game.

"I'm proud of my players tonight, they've endured a lot of decisions against them and they've done their best."

MISERABLE NIGHT

Defender Nemanja Vidic's stoppage-time red card for a second booking completed United's miserable night and the Serbian defender will miss Sunday's trip to face Liverpool at Anfield.

Ferguson felt Luiz should also been sent off for a robust challenge on Rooney and Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said the defender "could have been lucky."

However, the Italian was pleased with his side's commitment, saying: "The performance was really good. If you do not play well you cannot beat Man Utd."

The fixture that has so often been billed as a virtual title decider in recent seasons initially had something of a low-key feel about it with Chelsea unaccustomedly so far adrift of their rivals and their hopes of retaining the title long gone.

Ancelotti opted to go with Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka as his front men, leaving Didier Drogba on the bench.

Alex Ferguson also permed two from three with Rooney and Javier Hernandez starting together, with Dimitar Berbatov among the substitutes. It was the same strike force from Saturday's 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

The manager said before the game that Rooney was fortunate to be playing having escaped a ban for his off-the-ball elbowing of Wigan's James McCarthy but he was not the only pantomime villain on show as United gave a special welcome to Ashley Cole.

The England defender had been fined and investigated by the police for shooting a member of the Chelsea staff with an air gun at their training ground. One United fan held up a sign saying: "Don't shoot Ashley" while all of them roared "shoot" every time he touched the ball.

In an open, attacking game, United gradually took control and Rooney should have put them ahead when he mistimed a header after 21 minutes.

MORE ENERGY

He made amends eight minutes later when he collected the ball 25 metres out, turned in acres of space and drove a fierce low shot beyond Petr Cech into the bottom corner.

Chelsea showed more energy after the break and levelled after 54 minutes when Ivanovic headed a deep cross into the path of Luiz and the Brazilian defender waited for it to drop before expertly slamming a shot past Edwin van der Sar.

Drogba replaced Anelka after an hour while Berbatov went on for Hernandez 10 minutes later. Ryan Giggs also joined the fray for his 606th league game, equalling Bobby Charlton's United record set on the same ground in 1973.

Chelsea begun to control more of the ball, forcing United to defend deep and it was another substitute, Zhirkov, on in the 71st minute for Florent Malouda, who turned the game when he went down under the challenge of Smalling.

Lampard dispatched a powerful penalty and Chelsea, instead of trailing the leaders by 18 points, are now 12 adrift and back in the Champions League places.

[kueytoc]

Must be 'KELONG' lah !

Chelsea's Luiz in spotlight as Ferguson rages at Referee

Reuters - 1 hour 55 minutes ago

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON - Chelsea defender David Luiz was the centre of attention after scoring in their 2-1 comeback win at home to Manchester United on Tuesday as visiting manager Alex Ferguson unleashed another rant at the match officials.

United led with a Wayne Rooney goal after half an hour but Brazil centre back Luiz slammed home a well-taken equaliser nine minutes into the second half and Frank Lampard completed the turnaround 11 minutes from time with a penalty.

United had centre back Nemanja Vidic sent off in stoppage time for a second booking but Ferguson was incensed that Luiz had not suffered the same fate earlier and was also unhappy with the penalty given after Chris Smalling tripped Yuri Zhirkov.

"The penalty kick was so soft but we played very well. It was a great performance by us. We didn't deserve that," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"That's three years in a row referees' decisions have changed the game ."

Luiz was booked by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul after 61 minutes then appeared fortunate to escape a second yellow card after flattening Rooney.

"It was incredible. Even before that he'd done Chicharito off the ball. He'd done him late. Nothing done, the referee's in front of it," added Ferguson.

"He does Rooney clear as day, he's six yards from it, he doesn't do anything. These are decisions that change the game and he's going to be refereeing every week."

PROUD FERGUSON

Ferguson, who said before the game that Rooney was lucky not to have been banned after a clash with Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy at the weekend, added:

"I'm proud of the players. They've endured a lot of decisions against them but they've come through it, they've done their best and created good chances."

Chelsea's win took them within 12 points of leaders United and, asked if they were back in the title race, Ferguson said: "If they get decisions like tonight then it can change everything. They got a lot of decisions that surprised me."

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti did not want to discuss the officials but said Luiz might have been lucky.

"There was a lot of intensity and it was not easy for the referee to decide every time," he said. "There was a lot going on on the pitch so the referee decided he didn't see this."

The Italian preferred to concentrate on the spirit shown by his side after they had been outplayed in the first half.

"We kept going with strength, intensity and power in our performance against a fantastic United team," he said.

"We actually started well but at halftime I told them that we had to do it for 45 minutes, not just 15.

"It was not easy to come back but we had a good balance in the second half."

The win took Chelsea back into the top four but Ancelotti said the champions had no realistic hope of catching United, who are four points ahead of Arsenal having played a game more.

"It's too far, we can't think we can get to the top," he said. "But the victory was important for us and our confidence."

Midfielder Lampard added: "We're still a lot of points behind but all we could do was win the game.

"United are deservedly top but we've still got some fight in us and we showed that tonight."

[kueytoc]

Champions League - United through to Quarters despite scare

Tue, 15 Mar 21:36:00 2011

Manchester United ensured their name will be in the hat for Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw after a nervy 2-1 win over Marseille at Old Trafford.

Javier Hernandez put United ahead early on and despite several scares at the back the Mexican netted a second with 15 minutes remaining to put the home side firmly in the box seat.

But a Wes Brown own-goal on 82 minutes meant stress levels inside the ground remained high with the tie still on a knife edge during an anxious finale.

Yet the French champions were unable to seriously test their hosts again and United held out to progress to their fifth successive last-eight appearance in the competition.

Hernandez broke the deadlock with a simple fifth-minute tap-in after Wayne Rooney had started the move and then delivered the killer pass across the face of goal.

The strike followed a bright opening by United, who knew that victory on the night would see them progress to the quarter-finals after the first leg at the Stade Velodrrome had ended goalless.

But even a goal to the good, the tie was delicately balanced and an away Marseille goal would have turned the tie completely on its head.

That knowledge appeared to play on the minds of United's back line, which was missing the influential Nemanja Vidic after the Serb failed a fitness test on the calf strain he picked up at the weekend.

As such, Alex Ferguson was forced into fielding Brown and Chris Smalling in the centre of defence - the same pairing that played in the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Premier League a week and a half previously.

And during the opening period, the makeshift back line did little to suggest United were going to maintain their excellent defensive record in this competition, which had seen them concede just once in seven previous games heading into this one.

Soon after Nani had opened the scoring, Smalling nearly got caught out as an innovative flick-on from Andre Ayew looped over the defender's head and into the path of Andre-Pierre Gignac. Only an abject finish from the France international kept United's clean sheet intact.

Souleymane Diawara was then allowed to meet a corner unchallenged but, again, United were saved by another atrocious finish, this time as Diawara conspired to head wide.

And on 42 minutes, Smalling's attempted clearance only found Loic Remy, who blazed a vicious first-time effort over the bar.

Yet United survived those scares and were actually the better side during the opening period, bossing possession and only lacking the nous to unlock the visitors' defence for a second time.

The second half was a different story as Marseille, forced to attack more and with United sitting back a little, began to enjoy more of the ball.

Benoit Cheyrou brought Edwin van der Sar into action on 74 minutes as the pressure on United's goal mounted but the hosts relieved the pressure as Hernandez hit on the break in virtually a carbon copy of his first goal.

This time Antonio Valencia, a second half replacement for Nani, was the architect, slipping the ball through for Ryan Giggs to square to Hernandez, who had another simple finish from close range.

The goal should have put the tie to bed, but Marseille extended their interest in the match when Gabriel Heinze - booed on his return to Old Trafford - attacked a corner and Brown bundled the ball into his own net.

Yet Didier Deschamps's side failed to take inspiration from the goal and what should have been a grandstand finish saw the French side fail to fashion any more chances.

The result sees United maintain their impeccable record against French opposition at Old Trafford - they have never lost to a side from across the Channel at home - and means they join Internazionale, Tottenham, Barcelona, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk in Friday's draw. Chelsea's fate will be decided on Wednesday when they meet FC Copenhagen, while Real Madrid play Lyon.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Ferguson handed FIVE-Match BAN

Wed, 16 Mar 15:25:00 2011

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has been handed a five-match touchline ban after the FA found him guilty of improper conduct over his comments about referee Martin Atkinson after the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea.

He will watch the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley from the stands, as well as much of United's Premier League title run-in.

And Independent Regulatory Commission fined the Scot £30,000 and, in addition to the clash with City, he will be banned from the dugout for games against West Ham, Fulham, Newcastle and Everton.

The sanction starts on March 22, meaning he will be able to coach from the dugout during the home game with Bolton this weekend.

Ferguson, who contested the improper conduct charge, was given a three-match ban for the comments about Atkinson, but the FA also invoked a two-game suspended ban carried over from last season, when he accused Alan Wiley of being unfit to referee at the highest level.

The heavy punishment stems from Ferguson's apparent allegation of bias, when he said "a fair referee" should have been appointed for the Chelsea game on March 1.

He said: "You want a fair referee - or a strong referee, anyway - and we didn't get that. When I saw who the referee was I did fear it. I feared the worst."

He insisted that Atkinson missed two fouls by David Luiz that should have resulted in sending-off, and he also disputed the incident which saw Yuri Zhirkov win a penalty after a challenge from Chris Smalling.

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Furious Nani slams Carragher

Wed, 16 Mar 15:23:00 2011

Manchester United winger Nani has launched a furious attack on Jamie Carragher over the tackle which left him with an ugly gash on his leg.

Carragher sent an apology into the United dressing room immediately after Liverpool's 3-1 win at Anfield on March 6 and then waited to offer his personal remorse for a challenge that forced Nani to be stretchered off.

But the Portugal star was having none of it. He had not forgotten it was a previous Carragher challenge on him that sparked an injury that eventually forced him to miss two months of last term.

And even now, in the wake of a quicker-than-expected comeback against Marseille in the Champions League, Nani is livid.

"I don't know what Carragher was thinking but I do know what he did was not football," said Nani, speaking for the first time about the challenge.

"He came to apologise after the game. But I was not happy. It is the second time he injured me. Before he put me out of the game for two months. He always tackles like that.

"I don't want protection. I just want the referees to be fair. If it is a red card, they have to give it. If they give the card, the next time the player doesn't make the tackle."

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Bryan Robson battling Cancer

Wed, 16 Mar 11:11:00 2011

Manchester United and England legend Bryan Robson is battling throat cancer.

The current Thailand manager, 54, had an operation to remove a tumour from his throat on March 3 in a Bangkok hospital.

A Manchester United spokesperson said: "At this moment, Bryan is fine to continue with his role as Thailand coach and his role as ambassador of Manchester United.

"Bryan and family have requested that he can continue with his treatment in private and ask that their privacy is respected.

"The oncologist is confident that the condition is treatable."

Robson captained both Manchester United and England during a distinguished career.

He won 90 caps for England, scoring 25 goals and made 461 appearances for United scoring 99 goals between 1981-1994.

Nicknamed 'Captain Marvel', the combative midfielder helped the Old Trafford club win two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

As a manager he has taken charge of Middlesbrough, Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United, as well as Thailand.

Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Chelsea march on to Quarter-Finals

Wed, 16 Mar 21:48:00 2011

Chelsea sealed their safe passage through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw at home to Copenhagen.

The Premier League champions took a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Denmark to Stamford Bridge knowing a draw would be more than enough against their underdog opponents.

Although the Blues' march forward in this season’s competition was not put under serious threat at any point, the Danish champions put in a solid performance to earn a draw and a clean sheet.

Yuri Zhirkov, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba could all have easily put Chelsea in front, but Dame N’Doye threatened to make it an uncomfortable night with a woodwork-rattling free-kick in the first half.

John Obi Mikel headed onto the crossbar early in the second half and substitute Fernando Torres came close on a couple of occasions to grabbing his first goal for his new club, but Stale Solbakken’s men were good value for the 0-0 result as they exited the tournament.

Despite not needing to score on the night to advance, Carlo Ancelotti’s side clearly aimed to send their supporters home happy and marked their intent to build on their 2-0 advantage as early as the 10th minute.

Drogba showed some good skills to find space for a shot, but from a fair distance he failed to trouble Johan Wiland in the Copenhagen goal.

Drogba was involved again on 18 minutes as the hosts turned on the style. After being fed by Zhirkov, the Ivorian backheeled Ashley Cole though and though Cole could not get a shot off himself, he returned possession to Zhirkov to shoot off target.

Zhirkov continued to torment the away side and minutes later the Russian cut the defence wide open with a pass through to Anelka, whose shot was weak and parried by Wiland.

Just as it looked like a matter of time before Chelsea extended their lead over the two legs, John Terry fouled N’Doye just outside the Blues’ penalty area and the forward spectacularly curled the resulting free-kick against the upright with Petr Cech stranded.

It served as a warning to the English side that they were not necessarily home and dry yet, though Zhrikov had another good chance thanks to a lovely ball from Drogba on 33 minutes.

Drogba should have put the tie out of Copenhagen’s reach within minutes of the restart when he tamely connected with a low volley from Jose Bosingwa’s cross.

And with 51 played, a Chelsea corner sparked a game of head tennis amidst the blue shirts packing the box, finishing with Mikel’s close range nodded effort against the bar.

Fifty million pound man Torres replaced Anelka halfway through the second period, and although he almost provoked an own goal with a speculative shot deflected wide of Wiland’s post, it was not the night for his eagerly-anticipated first goal in a blue shirt.

And although Chelsea saw out the remainder of the game to ensure their participation in the last eight of this year’s tournament, Copenhagen more than deserved their clean sheet.

And as the first Danish side to make the knockout stages of the Champions League, FC Copenhagen exit Europe with their heads held high.

Liam Happe / Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Ancelotti: We lacked Precision

Thu, 17 Mar 00:34:00 2011

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side "lacked precision" up front against Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge but remains confident about his side's Champions League chances.

The Blues were held to a goalless draw by the Danish side, but progressed to the last eight thanks to the 2-0 lead they held from the first leg of the last 16 tie in Copenhagen.

Such was Chelsea's confidence that the lead secured by Nicolas Anelka's brace three weeks ago would prove a safe enough cushion, Ancelotti started with Fernando Torres, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda on the bench.

Torres came on for the last 23 minutes but after sending one shot fizzing past a post and another into the second tier of the stand, the Spaniard remained in search of his first goal after six matches for his new club.

It was all of little concern to Ancelotti, however, as his side stayed on course for the semi-finals for the sixth time in eight years after joining fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in Friday's draw.

Chelsea lacked intensity but always looked capable of upping the pace if they needed to and they almost had to when Dame N'Doye cracked a free kick against a post in the visitors' only worthwhile goal attempt.

"I think the performance was good," Ancelotti said. "We didn't want to take a risk for this game and prepared well. We had good defensive control of the game, we worked hard, and we had a lot of opportunities to score.

"We obviously need to be more precise in front of goal, but these are little details. The general performance was good.

"Obviously we have to improve. We had so many chances to score, and we'll have to score. Obviously.

"But I see the team fresh and it's a good moment for us. We can improve, really, in the next games of the Champions League.

"I think we have a squad that's strong enough to win it. All the players are fit. The team is strong enough.

"If we play at 100 per cent we have a possibility to get to the final stages of the Champions League."

Copenhagen, 20 points clear at the top of their domestic league and the first Danish side to make the knockout stage of the Champions League, were happy with their night's work.

"Chelsea were the best team over two games. We were good in seven of the eight games but let ourselves down at Parken after the winter break," Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken said.

"We didn't really have the quality to hurt them tonight, the few times we were through our finishing was poor so we've probably reached the extent of our level.

"Maybe if N'Doye's free kick had gone in we'd have had a look at Chelsea's nerves but all in all I'm really proud of what we've done in this campaign."

Ancelotti's attention was on Sunday's game against City and he said Torres, Essien and Malouda would all start.

"I'd already decided the team to play against Manchester City and I wanted those players to be fresh," said the Italian.

"The feeling is good, all the players are fit and fresh and we are in a good moment."

Eurosport / Reuters

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Mourinho keen to avoid Chelsea

Thu, 17 Mar 00:40:00 2011

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has said he was keen to avoid former clubs Chelsea and Internazionale in the Champions League quarter-final draw.

The flamboyant Portuguese helped Real end six years of Champions League failure when they beat Lyon 3-0 for a 4-1 aggregate success to claim a berth in the last eight for the first time since 2004.

That was the year Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto before moving to Chelsea and then to Inter, whom he led to a treble of Italian league and cup and Champions League last season.

"I prefer to avoid Chelsea and Inter because emotionally it's difficult playing against your people and your friends," Mourinho said.

"If we have to play them then we will play them as we are all professionals but I'll have to forget they are my people.

"Emotionally I will have to better prepare myself to play Inter or Chelsea."

Real could also be drawn against great Spanish rivals and 2009 winners Barcelona.

They are five points behind Barca in La Liga with 10 games left and are due to play them in the Copa del Rey final on April 20.

Real Director General Jorge Valdano said it would be better for Spanish football if the pair met later in the competition, adding that he would not like to draw Schalke 04, as the return of former Real striker Raul would be too much of a distraction.

"We wouldn't like it if Raul visited us," Valdano said.

"There would be too much emotion in the atmosphere and it wouldn't be advisable."

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Bruce turned down £4.5m Carroll

Wed, 16 Mar 10:04:00 2011

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has admitted he once had the chance to sign striker Andy Carroll for just £4.5million when he was manager of Wigan.

Carroll could make his first start for Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on Sunday after finally shaking off the thigh injury with which he arrived at Anfield after his £35m switch from Newcastle in January.

But Bruce has revealed the England international might have made his name in very different colours after playing an impressive cameo role as a substitute for the Magpies at Wigan in December 2008.

He told the Journal: "When I was Wigan manager, he came on against us and played well, really well. We were hammering Newcastle and Andy came on and won them a penalty with two minutes to go.

"On the Monday morning, I rang up (then manager) Joe Kinnear and I said to him, 'Would you sell me Andy?', and they quoted me £4.5m.

"To be honest, I seriously thought about it - however, in the end, we could only go to £2.5m. I had (Emile) Heskey at the time and I did wonder if Heskey and Carroll would work, so Andy Carroll could quite easily have ended up being my player."

[kueytoc]

WHO WILL COME OUT VICTORIOUS ???

United set for Chelsea clash in Champions League

AFP News – Sat, Mar 19, 2011 12:26 AM SGT

English giants Manchester United and Chelsea are set to clash in the Champions League quarter-finals after being drawn in a rematch of their 2008 European final here on Friday.

Holders Inter Milan will meet Schalke 04, tournament favourites Barcelona play Shakhtar Donetsk and Tottenham face Real Madrid.

Premier League leaders United will travel to reigning English champions Chelsea for the first leg and will have the home advantage at Old Trafford for the return leg.

United beat Chelsea on penalties in the final in Moscow three years ago.

Chelsea have never won the Champions League and are desperate to do well in Europe as they sit nine points behind three-time European winners United in the Premier League.

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez admitted his side face a tough task at Stamford Bridge where they have not won since 2002, and lost earlier this month in a clash which resulted in Sir Alex Ferguson picking up a five-match touchline ban.

"We play in the same league and it is going to be tough," said Hernandez, who scored both goals against Marseille on Tuesday to put United through to the quarter-finals.

"Stamford Bridge is a nice stadium and it makes it a little bit like a league game.

"But if there is an advantage it is that we are at home in the second game."

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said: "I'm neither happy nor disappointed, I'm realistic. It will be difficult of course but it's very exciting.

"It's a good thing for English football. At least, unlike last year, there will be at least one English club in the semi-final."

Chelsea or United will go through to face either Inter Milan or Schalke, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona could be set for a semi-final showdown should they advance.

Barcelona are drawn to meet Ukrainian newcomers Shakhtar Donetsk as Real Madrid take on surprise English side Tottenham, who dumped seven-time winners AC Milan out of the tournament in the last 16.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is expecting a tough trip to the Ukraine.

"We know Shakhtar and they know us. We've played very tight matches against them. It's a very strong team physically and with experienced players. We had problems beating them in the SuperCup (2009).

"Playing the second leg in the Ukraine will be a handicap but that's how it is," said Guardiola.

Tottenham, who reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1962, look to have a tough task against the record nine-time winners but can take heart from the fact Real have not won any of their last five meetings with English teams.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp insisted his side have nothing to fear from Real Madrid.

"It's a great draw, of course you'd have loved to play Schalke, but it's Real Madrid," Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

"Madrid are not in the same league as Barcelona, in my opinion, and this is a genuine opportunity for Tottenham. And no no-one wants to play against Gareth Bale; they fear him. He has become a monster and can destroy anybody. Whoever Real Madrid pick at right-back will have his hands full."

Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid have not won the competition since 2002, and the Portuguese coach will be bidding to not only guide them back to the top in Europe but to become the first man to win the Champions League with three different clubs.

Mourinho led Porto to the title 2004 and guided Inter to victory last season before moving to Spain where he has managed to get Real through to the last eight for the first time since since 2004.

Should the Spanish clubs advance they could meet four times in less than a month. They are also due to play in the Spanish league on April 17 and in the King's Cup final on April 20.

Inter Milan, meanwhile, are on paper favourites against Schalke 04, after eliminating Bayern Munich in the last round.

And the Italian club's general manager Ernesto Paolillo admitted he was relieved.

"Let's say we're a little relieved, some bigger dangers, on paper, like Real Madrid and Barcelona were avoided," he said.

"But we mustn't slacken and we must remain wary, these matches which seem less fascinating can be deceptive. The eight teams who got to this stage are very strong."

Schalke captain Manuel Neuer said: "Meeting the titleholders is a big challenge but maybe also a good omen because Schalke 04 already achieved a good result at the San Siro in the UEFA Cup final in 1997.

"Starting with the match away is an advantage but at the same time you have to remember what happened in the last 16. Inter lost at home against Bayern Munich which didn't stop them from qualifying by winning 3-2 in Munich."

The quarter-final first legs will be played on April 5 and 6 and the return matches the following week on April 12 and 13.

The semi-finals are on April 26-27 and May 3-4 with the final set for Wembley on May 28.

[kueytoc]

Wait LONG-LONG...!!!

Ancelotti dreams of Wembley Glory

Sat, 19 Mar 07:54:42 2011

Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea are not obsessed by winning the Champions League - but just dream of doing so.

Chelsea will face Manchester United in the quarter-finals and the Italian has warned his players that only by winning the tournament outright will they avenge their 2008 final defeat in Moscow. Tottenham meanwhile have a hugely glamorous tie against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

Ancelotti said: "It's not an obsession to win the Champions League - it's a dream, and I agree with Mourinho on that. We have to play a quarter-final and then we'll see if we deserve to be in the semi-final. Last year it was a really bad moment, losing to Inter. Now it's not an obsession to win it, it's a dream."

He added: "I don't have to have revenge against United - I was not there. For my players, I don't think it's a good motivation, revenge. It should be fantastic motivation to look forward in the future.

"We have four games to reach the final in London. If Chelsea reached the final there, we'd have good revenge for 2008 - not against United."

The victors will face either holders Inter Milan or Schalke of Germany for a place in the final at Wembley on May 28. United have not won at Stamford Bridge since 2002, and were defeated earlier this month in a stormy encounter that has ended up with Sir Alex Ferguson incurring a five-match touchline ban.

United striker Javier Hernandez, who scored both goals against Marseille on Tuesday, said: "We play in the same league and it is going to be tough.

"Stamford Bridge is a nice stadium and it makes it a little bit like a league game. But if there is an advantage, it is that we are at home in the second game."

For Spurs, they will have another of Harry Redknapp's "greatest days" to savour - and with the prospect of Barcelona - who take on Shakhtar Donetsk - lying in wait in the semi-finals if Tottenham achieve yet another improbable victory in Europe this season.

Redknapp said: "It's a fantastic draw. What a game to look forward to against one of the greatest clubs in world football. You have to look forward to games like this. These are the great days in your life and great days in Tottenham's history."

[kueytoc]

Please dun GO...???

Premier League - Papers: Juve eye Berba swoop

Sat, 19 Mar 02:22:00 2011

Serie A giants Juventus are plotting a raid on Manchester United for fed-up striker Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian hitman, who is United's top scorer with season with 20 goals, has become frustrated at increasingly being overlooked in favour of Javier Hernandez.

Berbatov watched from the bench as Hernandez struck a brace in Tuesday's Champions League win over Marseille and his unhappiness has not gone unnoticed in Italy.

Juve, along with Genoa, have spoken to Berba's agent and, with the player's contract due to expire in 2012, the pair are willing to pay £9 million for his services. (The Sun)

Passing Berbatov on his way out this summer could be Jack Rodwell, with reports having linked the Everton midfielder to United for some time now.

But Toffees boss David Moyes has rubbished such talk, saying his club are not vulnerable to poachers like United.

Alex Ferguson wants Rodwell but Moyes said: "We are not vulnerable. I have heard the stories about Jack and they are a load of rubbish.

"We have a great working relationship with Manchester United. The chairman (Bill Kenwright) has a great relationship with David Gill and I have with Sir Alex.

"To say that a deal is already done for Jack is completely untrue and I don't know where those stories have come from." (Daily Mail)

Meanwhile, Moyes is monitoring Kieron Dyer's loan spell at Ipswich, with a pay-as-you-play deal in the offing should the injury-prone West Ham midfielder impress at Portman Road. (Daily Mail)

Chelsea have slapped a £10m price tag on defender Jose Bosingwa's head - a price potential suitors Juventus cannot afford.

The Old Lady are instead set to go for a cheaper option in £5m Hoffenheim right-back Andreas Beck, meaning Chelsea will have to wait before they can offload the Portuguese. (Daily Mail)

Stoke and Blackburn have rekindled their interest in Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia.

The Frenchman is keen to quit the DW Stadium at the end of the season and, although Sunderland and Newcastle are favourites to slug it out for his signature, the Potters and Rovers have re-joined the race.

Liverpool are also interested in N'Zogbia, who will cost around £9m. (Daily Mail)

And finally, Newcastle will run the rule over Australian youngster Mustafa Amini.

The 17-year-old is one of Australia's brightest hopes and the Central Coast Mariners' midfielder will spend some time on trial at St James' in a bid to win a deal with the Premier League club. (Daily Mail)

Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Ten-Man United move five points clear in Premiership

By Steve Griffiths | AFP News – Sun, Mar 20, 2011 4:24 AM SGT

Ten-man Manchester United moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League as Dimitar Berbatov's late goal clinched a 1-0 win over Bolton on Saturday.

Title rivals Arsenal, meanwhile, had to settle for a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

With Sir Alex Ferguson watching from the stands as the United boss served the first of his five-match touchline ban, his side's hopes of breaking down an obdurate Bolton defence suffered a blow in the second half when centre-back Jonny Evans was shown a straight red card by referee Andre Marriner for a dangerous tackle on Stuart Holden.

But the leaders produced another of their regular late rallies and Bulgarian forward Berbatov came off the bench to bag the 88th-minute winner after Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen spilled Nani's shot.

Ferguson said: "You've got to admire the character of the players. The fans were fantastic, but the players take great credit.

"They have come through a tough programme and deserve all the credit they get."

That dramatic late intervention increased United's lead thanks to Arsenal's latest stumble at the Hawthorns.

Arsene Wenger's side have already lost the League Cup final and crashed out of the Champions League and FA Cup in the last month and now even a win in their game in hand on United would leave them two points off the top.

The second-placed Gunners suffered a nightmare start as Steven Reid headed Albion into the lead with a third-minute header from Chris Brunt's corner.

A shambolic piece of goalkeeping from Manuel Almunia allowed Roy Hodgson's team to double their lead in the 58th minute, with Peter Odemwingie rolling the ball into an empty net after the Spaniard had charged from his line.

Andrei Arshavin gave Arsenal a lifeline with a stunning strike in the 70th minute and Robin van Persie claimed the equaliser eight minutes later when he converted as he challenged Abdoulaye Meite.

"It was a game where we needed to show lots of character and resilience in a football match which was played on a rugby pitch," Wenger said.

"It was more about character than football. We made a massive mistake on the second goal and you cannot afford to do that. But we have shown we are ready to fight."

Elsewhere, Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier endured a miserable end to a depressing week as Wolves won 1-0 at Villa Park.

Villa defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins were fined this week for criticising Houllier's coaching staff in a restaurant row.

Neither player featured here, while Villa fans unfurled a banner demanding Houllier's sacking.

Matt Jarvis piled on the misery for Houllier when he fired third-bottom Wolves ahead with a stunning volley in the 38th minute.

At Ewood Park, Blackburn battled back from two goals down to a salvage a 2-2 draw against local rivals Blackpool.

Charlie Adam put Blackpool 2-0 up with a controversial penalty and a stunning free-kick, but Christopher Samba reduced the deficit just after half-time and Junior Hoillett hit the equaliser in the 90th minute.

League Cup winners Birmingham crashed into the relegation zone after losing 2-1 at bottom-of-the-table Wigan.

Alex McLeish's team opened the scoring in the sixth minute when defender Liam Ridgewell smashed in, but on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley equalised before Maynor Figueroa struck a 90th-minute winner.

Stoke cruised to a 4-0 victory over Newcastle at the Britannia Stadium, with the goals scored by Jonathan Walters, Jermaine Pennant, Danny Higginbotham and Ricardo Fuller.

Everton won their mid-table battle with Fulham as goals from Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha sealed a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park.

Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey got one back in the 62nd minute but David Moyes' men held on.

In the day's early kick-off, West Ham rode their luck to escape with a 0-0 draw against London rivals Tottenham that moved them out of the bottom three.

Avram Grant's side gave a gritty display at White Hart Lane, but they needed some good fortune to avoid defeat as Tottenham hit the woodwork three times through Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale.