★★★FOOTBALL / SOCCER RAG ✿◕｡&#96

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Premier League - Bale suffers torn Ankle Ligaments

Mon, 09 May 15:31:00 2011

Tottenham's Gareth Bale will play no further part in the club's season after a scan revealed ruptured ankle ligaments, Spurs have confirmed.

Bale had to be carried off in the second half of Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Blackpool on Saturday after a challenge by Charlie Adam which caught the PFA Player of the Year hard on the ankle.

The Welshman had a scan on his left leg in hospital on Monday that revealed damage to the 21-year-old's ankle which rules him out of Tottenham's final three matches against Manchester City, Liverpool and Birmingham.

A club statement reads: "An MR scan today (Monday) has revealed that Gareth Bale has suffered a ruptured ankle ligament.

"Following consultations with an ankle specialist, Gareth will remain in a protective boot for up to 12 days before beginning rehabilitation with the player expected to be fit for the start of pre-season."

But what of Adam, who was not punished at all by referee Lee Probert?

Probert did not even give a free-kick for the tackle; but is it right that Adam escaped and will now be able to play in Blackpool's crucial final two Premier League fixtures? Does he deserve punishment for the tackle that looks to have ended Bale's season?

Adam himself said: "I just saw the ball. I just tried to get it. It was never intentional. I never tried to hurt him because he's a wonderful player and at the end of the day I'd rather see these players on the pitch."

Eurosport / PA Sport

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I didn't try to HURT Bale - Adam

Sun, 08 May 18:25:20 2011

Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam has defended the tackle which may have caused serious injury to Gareth Bale, insisting he never meant to hurt Tottenham's star winger in the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.

Bale left the ground on crutches with a protective boot around his left leg after Adam's 64th-minute challenge. The Scot appeared to stamp on Bale's ankle as he went in for the tackle after the 21-year-old was knocked off balance by Blackpool midfielder Keith Southern.

Adam said: "I just saw the ball. I just tried to get it. It was never intentional. I never tried to hurt him because he's a wonderful player and at the end of the day I'd rather see these players on the pitch."

Adam rounded off a difficult week by scoring the penalty which sent the Seasiders ahead before Jermain Defoe saved the hosts' blushes with an 89th-minute equaliser.

Alan Shearer criticised the midfielder for his performance at Stoke last week and manager Ian Holloway admitted he considered dropping the player because of his recent dip in form.

The 25-year-old had to have two chances to score the opener, as he saw his first spot-kick saved by Heurelho Gomes before the Spurs goalkeeper - pumped up from his save - bundled over Gary Taylor-Fletcher from the resulting corner to give Adam a second chance from 12 yards.

The skipper made no mistake from the spot before pointing to the Blackpool badge and his captain's armband in front of the travelling support.

"I just wanted to put the second one in the net. I was disappointed to miss one, but I was confident to take it," said Adam, who came within minutes of signing for Spurs in the January transfer window. "In these types of games you have to show a bit of character.

"It's been a difficult time for the club. We've been through a lot in the past few years - going up from League One, the rollercoaster last year in the Championship - and so it's a dream to be playing in the Premier League.

"The fans pay a lot of money, travel a long way to see us week in and week out and we've never had anything but good support and that's why I celebrated in the way that I did."

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Premier League - Rodriguez HAT-TRICK in Liverpool Romp

Mon, 09 May 21:55:00 2011

ShareretweetEmailPrintMaxi Rodriguez continued his rich vein of goalscoring form as Liverpool blitzed Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage to jump above Tottenham and into fifth place in the Premier League.

Argentine Rodriguez added to the hat-trick he scored against Birmingham two weeks ago with another three against the Cottagers, taking his tally to seven in his last three games.

Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez also got their names on the scoresheet as Liverpool's upturn in form under Kenny Dalglish continued, with victory seeing the Reds climb two points above Spurs, who have a game in hand - against Manchester City - on Tuesday.

Moussa Dembele and Steve Sidwell were on target for Fulham, but the former's strike came too late at 3-0 down and the latter's was a mere consolation as time ran out. Defeat for the Cottagers, their first at home in eight games, sees them remain in 10th.

Liverpool, whose claim to be the most successful English side in domestic football was left hanging by a thread after Manchester United's win over Chelsea a day earlier, roared out of the blocks and effectively put the game to bed with barely a quarter of an hour played.

With £35 million striker Andy Carroll left on Merseyside, Kuyt and Suarez continued their partnership up front and, with Rodriguez posing a threat from the left and all three players on the top of their games, Liverpool simply blew Fulham away in a blistering opening to the game.

Javier Hernandez had claimed the fastest goal of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday, but Rodriguez wasted no time in eclipsing the Mexican's record, netting the opener with just 31 seconds on the clock.

Suarez was the architect, breaking free before playing a measured pass across the face of goal. The cross was deflected and Mark Schwarzer could only slide a clearance to Rodriguez, who buried the ball into the back of net to get the evening's scoring under way.

Rodriguez's second came in the seventh minute, the Argentine expertly volleying back past Schwarzer as he latched onto Glen Johnson's excellent deep cross to the back post.

Fulham were in total disarray and they were lucky to escape a penalty shout on 15 minutes when the labouring Brede Hangeland - back in the side having missed the weekend's win at Sunderland, but looking distinctly off the pace - appeared to push Suarez, who was bearing down on goal.

Referee Lee Mason waved play on, but Liverpool did not have to wait much longer for their third, this time the breakthrough arriving courtesy of an uncharacteristic goalkeeping howler by Schwarzer.

Kuyt's shot on goal appeared speculative at best, but Schwarzer allowed the effort to slip through his fingers and into the back of the net at his near post to gift Liverpool a three-goal lead after just 16 minutes of play.

From there on in, there was no way back for Fulham, although to their credit they fought bravely in the second half, introducing Bobby Zamora introduced from the substitute's bench.

Zamora headed on target, Clint Demspey fired over the bar and Eidur Gudjohnsen dragged a shot wide as the hosts gave their visitors something to think about.

And their improved play was rewarded when Zamora, with his back to goal, laid the ball off for Dembele to fire past Jose Reina and give Fulham some slight hope of getting back into the game.

Those hopes were short-lived though as Rodriguez completed his hat-trick in fine style, lashing the ball into the top corner on 70 minutes to open up a three-goal lead again and deflate whatever wind had gathered in Fulham's sails.

Five minutes later and Liverpool grabbed a fifth, Jonjo Shelvey slipping a pass through for Suarez to run on to, round the keeper and slot home with aplomb to register a well-deserved goal.

Sidwell matched Rodriguez's third with a thumping strike with four minutes remaining, but it was too little too late from Fulham and served as scant consolation as Liverpool ran out comfortable, and deserved, winners.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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Premier League - Dalglish hails 'clever' MAXI

Tue, 10 May 00:18:00 2011

Kenny Dalglish hailed hat-trick hero Maxi Rodriguez and his side's "fantastic" performance in Liverpool's 5-2 demolition of Fulham in the Premier League.

Argentine Rodriguez struck a second treble in as many weeks to take his tally to seven goals in his last three outings.

Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez were also on target at Craven Cottage as Liverpool continued their resurgence under Dalglish by moving into fifth place.

Dalglish said: "That was a fantastic performance...the players are a credit to their profession.

"We started really brightly, the football they played, the movement, work rate and effort to stop Fulham playing. Fulham had a right go at us in the second half but we matched them."

Of Rodriguez, Dalglish said: "He's a very clever player.

"A lot of balls have been falling to him in the box - but you've got to be there to put them away and he has been.

"You can't score if you're not playing and he had a few games off and has come back really strong. I'm delighted for him and everybody.

"We've done fantastically well since January and it's great credit to the players, Steve Clarke, Sammy (Lee) and the backroom staff - it's not a one-man band by any shape or form.

"We'll just keep going and see what happens."

Such has been Liverpool's remarkable turnaround since Dalglish returned to the club to replace Roy Hodgson, the clammer for the Scot to sign a permanent deal at Anfield has reached deafening proportions on Merseyside.

Dalglish, however, would not drawn on the subject.

He said: "When we've got something to tell you, we'll tell you. Nobody's under any pressure whatsoever.

"But it wouldn't matter if you were manager if we've won 5-2!"

Eurosport

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Premier League - Everton dent Man City Ambitions

Sat, 07 May 17:02:00 2011

Everton came from behind to claim a Premier League double over Manchester City with a 2-1 win at Goodison Park, landing a dent to City's Champions League hopes.

Yaya Toure gave City the lead in a first half they dominated but Everton owned the second period, bravely throwing on an extra striker as Sylvain Distin and Leon Osman scored with headers while Roberto Mancini again paid for his negativity away from home.

The Italian tactician has seen wins turn to draws and draws become defeats in a season blighted by his obsession with using a five-man midfield, even when goals are required.

This time he waited until the 81st minute to throw on a second striker, over a quarter of an hour after Everton had equalised and nine minutes after they had taken the lead.

The result leaves City in fourth, seven points clear of Tottenham and Liverpool, who play later this weekend, while Everton cement their hold on seventh after taking six points off Mancini's side this season, having won by the same scoreline at Eastlands.

A win would have put City on the brink of sealing fourth place but Mancini stuck with his usual away policy of packing the midfield, leaving Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson on the bench as the more artisan Edin Dzeko and James Milner were preferred.

Initially they created more chances than usual, with most of the danger coming from the excellent David Silva, who almost scored a wonderful ninth-minute goal when his superb first touch bought space for a low drive that beat Tim Howard but went wide.

Two minutes later and Silva was involved again, this time delivering a volleyed first-time ball while running into the left, a pass of a brilliance matched by Patrick Vieira’s ineptitude in the finish: from four yards he managed to blast over.

Everton, meanwhile, were toiling, seeing plenty of possession but with only Victor Anichebe to aim at as their midfield seemed reluctant to take risks.

Just before the half hour, City got a deserved breakthrough with Silva the architect again as he flicked the ball in the air before playing the deftest of passes to Toure, who smashed home the finish from a difficult angle.

They were on fire now as Dzeko fired weakly at Howard, while Toure fluffed his lines sliding into another Silva cut-back, and Phil Jagielka denied Aleksandar Kolarov with a superb last-gasp tackle.

All Everton could manage for their part was a deflected free-kick from Mikel Arteta and a header wide from Jack Rodwell, the sole chance from a succession of corners.

David Moyes acted by taking off full-back Tony Hibbert for striker Jermaine Beckford, dropping Phil Neville back into defence as he switched to 4-4-2.

The game opened up at both ends: after a Leighton Baines free-kick ricocheted off the wall, Rodwell’s finish deflected just wide, while Beckford turned provider when he sent Baines through, the England left-back falling as he finished weakly at Joe Hart, apparently under pressure from Pablo Zabaleta.

City, meanwhile, were denied a second through some super shot-stopping by Howard, who kept out Toure when put one-on-one by Silva, and tipped away Dzeko’s looping header.

It was end-to-end-stuff as both sides attacked with relative abandon, Anichebe fluffing his lines when Rodwell played him in and, on the break, Dzeko firing just wide.

Everton got the breakthrough when, seconds after Tim Cahill came off the bench, the Australian won a free-kick which Arteta swung on to the head of Distin, with Hart possibly at fault for letting the powerful downwards finish squirm in off his right hand.

The Toffees were throwing everything at City and they had successive penalty appeals waved away when Beckford and Cahill went down in the box.

It mattered not as, seconds later, Osman somehow beat Vincent Kompany to Neville’s excellent cross, his Olympian leap above a much taller man was matched by a superb looping header beyond Hart and in.

Everton’s leveller came on 65 minutes and their second seven Everton-dominated minutes later: yet Mancini did not see fit to bring Balotelli and Johnson into the game until the last 10 minutes, after Everton had almost netted a third when Beckford was denied by Hart at point-blank range.

It is that kind of tactical conservatism that arguably sees City fighting for fourth place when they should be challenging for the title: to win the Premier League you have to at least aim to win your matches.

Predictably the latter stages were all City as they bombarded the Everton goal but the closest they game was a Milner shot that deflected off Baines and flew over.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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Is TORRES really finished ???

Tue Apr 12 09:01AM

He's finished. His legs have gone. He just doesn't fancy it any more.

That seems to be the prevailing opinion of Fernando Torres, whose inclusion in tonight's Champions League quarter-final is being talked about like it were Jason Lee reincarnate stepping out at Old Trafford.

Torres has played 10 games for Chelsea without scoring. A significant enough drought for any striker, let alone one who cost £50 million.

And yet, mysteriously, the Spaniard remains favoured to start against Manchester United this evening.

Finished.

Football fans love bandying that word about - it is so brutal, so definitive.

Life is rarely as simple as that. Players' careers tend to follow a gentle curve, rather than dropping abruptly off a cliff.

No doubt Torres has plenty of miles on the clock. It is nearly 10 years since he made his debut for Atletico Madrid; he very quickly became a first-team regular and, at 19, captain.

Exceptions abound, but generally speaking wear and tear starts to take its toll after about 500 games.

Injuries do not have to be serious, but a hamstring pull here and an ankle sprain there gradually restrict movement. And Torres has had his share of niggles over the years.

Including all competitive matches at club level, plus games for the Spanish U21 and senior teams, Torres is on 458.

Didier Drogba, six years his senior but a late starter, is not far ahead on 526 matches - and, for what it's worth, many more of Drogba's appearances are as a sub.

Wayne Rooney - another early developer - is almost exactly level with Torres on 459. Robin van Persie has played 350 times, Ruud van Nistelrooy is on 478 and another Dutchman, Marco van Basten, only played 353 games in his injury-shortened career.

But even if Torres really is on the downslope, that does not mean he cannot contribute usefully to Chelsea. 'Declining' is not the same as 'finished'.

In any case, there is no conclusive proof Torres is on the wane. Not yet, anyway.

Last spring he scored a flurry of nine goals in his last seven games under Rafa Benitez's management before picking up the injury that ended his club season and hampered him at the World Cup.

That player has not disappeared overnight. But if not, why is he performing so badly?

Torres faces almost identical obstacles to those presenting Andriy Shevchenko when he arrived in 2006.

His price tag and the expectations of him are huge. Suspicions persist that he was wanted by Roman Abramovich rather than the manager. He is accused of being past his peak. And he joins a team whose formation is built around Didier Drogba - Chelsea still play the same basic three-man attack with Drogba flanked by two wide players.

This tactical conundrum needs addressing before conclusions can be drawn about Torres.

Presently, he is having to play like Drogba - with his back to goal, laying the ball off then attacking the penalty box to meet the cross back in.

Torres's game is about explosive runs through the channels, dribbling at defenders and getting beyond the last man. That isn't the Chelsea way - not at the moment, anyway.

So, what has to be done? One of three things:

1- Torres needs to change his game. He's a clever chap, and an exceptional talent. Great players like Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo learn to adapt, to perform different roles. For £50 million, surely Torres can fit into the Chelsea blueprint.

2- If Chelsea are determined that Torres is their man, they could bring the mountain to Mohammed and build their side around the Spaniard. After all, why would you make such an expensive acquisition if you are not prepared to play to his strengths.

3- Shove Torres on the wing. Carlo Ancelotti has experimented with Drogba out wide, but surely Torres is better suited to that role. Nicolas Anelka, a not totally dissimilar player, was successfully converted from a central striker to a wide one. But again the price tag comes into play. Are you really going to break the British transfer record for a striker, then play him out of position?

Whatever the right move, Ancelotti needs to do something, as the current uneasy jobshare between Torres and Drogba just isn't working.

Successive managers failed to accommodate Shevchenko - Ancelotti cannot afford to let the same thing happen again.

Torres is not finished. But unless he finds some scoring form, his manager could be.

twitter.com/alexchick81

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UNITED have left rivals playing Catch-Up

Mon May 09 12:50PM

I was at Manchester United when they won their first Premier League title in 1993. That was the club's eighth title overall, and I can assure everyone that at the time none of the players could have imagined that United would now be on the verge of beating Liverpool's record of 18 titles.

For Sir Alex Ferguson, however, I think it was always a different story. He came to United with the aim of one day surpassing Liverpool's domestic dominance and, after winning his first Champions League, set his sights on beating them in Europe too.

If United beat Barcelona in this season's final at Wembley, his thoughts will no doubt immediately turn towards becoming the first manager to win four European Cups at the same club, again beating a mark set by a Liverpool boss.

It is that kind of drive and determination to constantly set new targets and break new records which has been the cornerstone of United's success over the past two decades. He demands the same ambition from his players and all the people who work around him, and has little time for those who fall short of those standards.

I have said recently on a few occasions that this Premier League season has not been the best in terms of quality, and that it has been as much about the other top teams falling short as much as it has been about United being the best team. Even if they win both of their remaining games, it will still be the lowest title-winning points total in a decade.

But the fact that they have come out on top in such an odd season makes you wonder what price you would get on them making it to 20 championships next season. Their main rivals have certainly got to pull their fingers out if any of them are going to stop that happening.

Chelsea may have run United closest this season, but their performance on Sunday at Old Trafford shows they have got a lot of work to do. For all their great service over the years, John Terry and Frank Lampard just look well off the pace against top opponents these days. Didier Drogba too seemed oddly powerless. I cannot remember the last time he had such an ineffectual match for Chelsea.

There is plenty that needs to be done to that squad to make them a true elite force again, especially if Fernando Torres does not finally play like a footballer worth £50 million from the off next season. If Roman Abramovich does decide to sack Carlo Ancelotti then that, I believe, will only set their progress back even further.

Rather appropriately, considering how spineless they have been at times this season, Arsenal could really do with strengthening the core of their team as well as adapting their philosophy. They are crying out for a new centre-back, a proper holding midfielder and an out-and-out goalscorer. Arsene Wenger needs to accept that Robin van Persie will never be fit for an entire season and sign a striker who is not so bothered about playing pretty football but knows how to nick a goal.

With the money they have, Manchester City may well prove to be the most consistent rivals to United in the coming years, but until they change their approach that will not happen. City may well win their first trophy in over 30 years at Wembley on Saturday, but the FA Cup is still a poor return given the quality they have had in their squad all season. In this day and age it is impossible to win a major league playing as negatively as they have done this season.

Liverpool themselves have improved vastly since Kenny Dalglish arrived in January - they have picked up 30 of their 55 points so far this term in just 15 league games under him. Once he is signed on to do the job permanently, he can start making changes to the squad which will keep them on that upward trajectory. However, completing a transformation from lower mid-table strugglers to title winners in the space of 18 months may be even beyond Kenny's abilities.

United, of course, can and do need to improve too, but theirs is the most solid base from which to do so. Aside from the pressing matter of replacing Edwin van der Sar in goal, a couple of canny additions to add legs to the midfield and perhaps another striker to provide competition for the ones already there are really all that are needed, in my opinion.

But Ferguson will be aware of all this. His recent policy of leaving out Dimitar Berbatov - still the Premier League's top scorer even now - has shown he is not afraid of making the big decisions, something which has served United so well for the past 25 years and will continue to do so until whenever it is he finally decides to call it a day.

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FERGIE laughing his way into Record Books

Mon May 09 08:51AM

When Alex Ferguson starts cracking the funnies, it usually means it is time for everyone else to go home. If it gets to the business end of the season and Fergie's post-match press conferences chiefly comprise him sitting back, hands behind head, expectantly awaiting a ripple of polite chuckling from the assembled media, then typically it is game over.

Take, for example, his comments following his team completing the job against Schalke. When asked if he would have picked Barcelona as his Champions League final opponents, he said: "We'd choose Brechin City or somebody like that. No disrespect to Brechin City, I love that wee club."

Early Doors has no doubt that his affection for the boys from Glebe Park is genuine (they have a lovely hedge at the side of their pitch), but his using them as the butt of a joke is a tell-tale sign that he is coasting through 'squeaky bum time', perhaps his most famous late-season quip.

The 69-year-old was at it again on Sunday following his side's dominant title-deciding win over Chelsea at Old Trafford. It was a 2-1 victory which, particularly in the first half, made the Blues look more like Ghanaian club Berekum Chelsea than defending champions. Except, of course, Berekum are currently 11 points clear at the top of the Ghana Premier League.

The win leaves United requiring just one point from their final two league games to secure a record 19 league titles in the English top flight, and Ferguson was rightly feeling bullish enough to joke about his side falling flat on their faces before the finish line.

"Don't even mention Devon Loch," he said. "My dad backed that!"

It's not even as if everything went United's way yesterday. Sure, they got the rub of the green early on as Javier Hernandez scored the fastest goal of the season after David Luiz took his Sideshow Bob impression to another level, his big flapping feet failing to block Park Ji-sung's through ball.

But, according to the many cynics out there, they won at Old Trafford in spite of referee Howard Webb's efforts instead of because of them for once. The Rotherham official, so often accused of being easily swayed by appeals from the Stretford End, turned down two strong penalty claims for the home side.

He continued: "It's fantastic to be the most successful team in the country. The minute we won that first title in 1992 the door opened, and we've been involved in the first two (positions) all throughout that period - it's a fantastic achievement. For the last 17 or 18 years it's been Arsenal and Chelsea as our nearest challengers, and the last few years it's been Chelsea. Arsenal made a great attempt this year but them losing today has finalised it. We deserve the title and hopefully we'll get that point now."

The fact that United are set to overtake Liverpool's haul of titles is, quite frankly, staggering. When the Premier League was inaugurated in 1992, thereby inventing this great game we call football, Liverpool had 18 titles to their name, while United had seven. Aston Villa were on the same number of championships, while Everton and Arsenal could also boast more titles. Chelsea - for the record - had one. Now, however, just a point against either away to Blackburn on Saturday or at home to Blackpool the following weekend will see United eclipse their Anfield rivals.

And, if things couldn't get any sweeter, Saturday's match at Ewood Park kicks off at 12:45 so as not to clash with the FA Cup final later that same afternoon. Playing what was once the showpiece match of the domestic calendar on the same day as a clutch of league games has drawn plenty of criticism, but United fans won't be complaining if they can lift the title on the same day as local rivals Manchester City lose to Stoke at Wembley.

One man who has been in the squad for the entirety of that run toward undisputed North West supremacy is Ryan Giggs. The Welshman has not let his advancing years diminish his influence, and he flourished in the centre of midfield, supposedly the patch which Chelsea routinely claim as their own. Giggs's continued excellence makes a mockery of the perennial debate over how to replenish Chelsea's 'ageing' squad.

The 37-year-old has had a better campaign this season than he did when he was named PFA Player of the Year 2009, a prize which was supposed to act as a lifetime achievement award. Two years later, he is still going, and he had a hand in both goals yesterday to all but wrap up his quest for a dozen Premier League winners' medals.

Giggs recently signed a new one-year deal at United and Ferguson, 70 at the end of the year, insisted before the Chelsea game that he would continue in his job regardless of whether he wins two, one or even no trophies this season. As long as they still have reason to smile, there is no reason for them to stop.

- - -

Ferguson post-match joviality is in sharp contrast to his Chelsea counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti. The general consensus is that he had to win at Old Trafford to give himself any hope of saving his job.

The usually unflappable Italian was clearly feeling the pressure, and was so incensed by Luiz's first-minute foul-up that he threatened to replace the Brazilian immediately, even sending out substitute Alex to warm up.

Their mid-season slump aside, Chelsea have still been decent enough to be in with a shout of the title in May, a year after completing the club's first ever double. That, however, may not be enough to stop Roman Abramovich from wielding the axe come the summer.

Ferguson used his pre-match programme notes to denounce the perilous nature of Ancelotti's employment as ludicrous, but the Chelsea boss will be kept waiting until the end of the season to learn his fate.

Ancelotti said: "We have to wait two weeks - it is not a long time. I hope to stay but it is not my decision."

Perhaps Abramovich should look at United's four-year wait for silverware under Ferguson and appreciate how stability is the foundation of success before his petulance costs him another top class manager.

Fat chance.

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Guardiola "privileged" to coach Barca's Invincibles

By Kevin Fylan | Reuters – 16 hours ago

LONDON (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, back celebrating at Wembley almost two decades after his first taste of European Cup success, said he felt privileged to coach matchwinners Lionel Messi and Xavi.

Guardiola was part of the team that helped Barcelona win the European Cup for the first time at the old Wembley in 1992.

On Saturday he returned to mastermind a 3-1 triumph over Manchester United that earned him his second Champions League as coach, though he himself refused to take much of the credit.

"I feel privileged to have these players," Guardiola said after goals from Pedro, Messi and David Villa gave the Catalans a second Champions League final win over United in three seasons.

"I don't feel like the boss of them. So many people have worked so hard to achieve this and I congratulate everyone."

Guardiola confirmed that he would stay on as coach for at least one more season, but as ever refused to commit himself any further.

While praising man-of-the-match Messi, who he described as "unique, a one-off," Guardiola said the most satisfying part of the night was seeing how much has team had improved from two years ago in Rome, when they beat United 2-0.

"When I looked again at how we'd played in Rome I wasn't that impressed," the perfectionist Guardiola said.

"But the match served its purpose. We trained harder and tonight we had more chances and used them better."

Looking to the future, Guardiola said he would look within himself to find motivation to continue.

"The challenge has to come from inside myself," Guardiola said. "I'm so happy to be here as a coach of these guys.

"I intend to continue one more year and we'll see. When the passion of the night has gone I'll go home, rest a bit and come back."

Guardiola's Barcelona were praised by Ferguson as the best side he had come up against in his 25 years of management.

Asked how he would rate his own side against the great teams of the past, Guardiola was his usual circumspect self.

"It's impossible to say as I didn't see the Madrid of Di Stefano, the Santos of Pele or the Ajax of Cruyff," he said.

"I would just like people to remember us a team that are enjoyable to watch."

(Editing by Alastair Himmer)

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We were mesmerised by Midfield and Messi, says Ferguson

By Mitch Phillips | Reuters – 16 hours ago

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United were never able to control Barcelona's midfield or deal with the brilliance of Lionel Messi as they were overwhelmed 3-1 in Saturday's Champions League final, manager Alex Ferguson said.

Like many before them, United had no answer to the wonderful passing of the players who did so much to help Spain become world and European champions and seemed powerless to get a grip on Messi as he danced through their defence almost at will.

"They do mesmerise you with their passing," Ferguson told a news conference in the bowels of Wembley to the background accompaniment of departing Barcelona fans celebrating their third European title in six years.

"We never really controlled Messi, but many people have said that. We never really closed the midfield well enough to counter them.

"We tried to play as near to the way we normally play. For instance, it's alien to us to try to man-mark players. We tried to play as normally as we can. It wasn't good enough on the night, we acknowledge that."

United actually started well but, just as they did when they lost the 2009 final to Barcelona in Rome, they quickly fell away.

Pedro put the Spaniards ahead after 27 minutes but there was a spark of hope for United when Wayne Rooney fashioned an excellent equaliser seven minutes later.

"When we got the lifeline I expected us to do better in the second half, but it wasn't to be," said Ferguson, whose hopes were blown away by second-half goals from Messi and David Villa.

"Nobody's given us a hiding like that but they deserve it because they play the right way and they enjoy their football."

STEPPING STONE

Ferguson has led United to three Champions League finals in four years, winning in 2008 having also triumphed in 1999, and said he was now facing up to the task of finding a way to compete with Barcelona for the ultimate club honour.

"It's not easy but that's the challenge, we shouldn't be afraid of that," he said.

"The challenge is always to improve yourselves, to build your team, I think we have some very good players, we'll mull it over in the summer.

"We've been consistent in Europe in the last few years but maybe this might be the same sort of stepping stone as when they beat us 4-0 a few years ago," he added in reference to the group-stage Nou Camp drubbing in 1994.

"Great teams do go in cycles and the cycle they are in at the moment is the best in Europe.

"How long it lasts and whether they can replace that team, they certainly have the philosophy ... it's always difficult to say that you can find players like Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta and Messi, probably not, but they are enjoying the moment.

"In my time as a manager I'd say yes, they are the best team I've faced."

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

[kueytoc]

Guardiola hails 'UNIQUE' Messi

By Glyn Kirk | AFP News – Sun, May 29, 2011

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hailed man-of-the-match Lionel Messi on Saturday after the Argentian maestro inspired a Champions League rout of Manchester United.

Messi scored Barcelona's superb second as the Spanish giants ran out 3-1 winners over United to clinch their second Champions League crown in only three years with an electrifying display at Wembley.

Messi's second-half strike saw the Argentinian equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of 12 goals in a single Champions League campaign, and took his tally to an astonishing 56 goals in 62 matches this season.

Afterwards Guardiola did not hesitate to lavish praise on the 23-year-old superstar.

"He is the best I have ever seen and probably the best I will ever see," Guardiola told reporters.

"I don't think this team would have made the qualitative leap that we have made in the past few years without him.

"Messi is unique, he is a one-off. I just hope that he does not get fed up and he can continue to play as he has done."

Guardiola, one of Europe's most highly rated young coaches, meanwhile confirmed he intends to remain at Barcelona for at least another season.

"I always feel pressure inside of me but I'm so happy to be here as a coach to these guys," he said.

"I intend to stay one more year here and then we will see. It all depends of whether I feel the passion. If I don't feel the passion any more, maybe I go home."

Guardiola also declined to give his opinion on where he believed his team ranked in the annals of football.

"I don't know because I didn't see a lot of teams. I never saw the Ajax of (Johan) Cruyff, or the Real Madrid of (Alfredo) di Stefano or the Santos of Pele. But if people remember us as one of the best in maybe 10 or 15 years I will be happy."

[kueytoc]

Messi the MASTER as brilliant Barca win Champions League

By Rob Woollard | AFP News – Sun, May 29, 2011

Barcelona confirmed their place in the pantheon of football's greatest sides, outclassing Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley to claim their second Champions League crown in three years.

Goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa secured a deserved victory for the Catalan magicians after England international Wayne Rooney had raised United's hopes with a well-taken first-half equaliser.

The star of an electrifying team performance was Argentinian striker Messi, the 23-year-old maestro whose brilliant effort on 54 minutes saw him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of 12 goals in a single Champions League campaign.

It also took Messi's tally for the season to an astonishing 56 goals in 62 games for club and country, and propelled Barcelona towards their fourth victory in club football's most prestigious competition.

In a poignant finale, the honour of hoisting aloft the famous silver trophy was given to Barcelona's French defender Eric Abidal, playing just two months after undergoing surgery to remove a liver tumour.

United coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who had been determined to avoid a repeat of the 2009 final in Rome, where Pep Guardiola's men had struck early before going on to clinch a 2-0 win, conceded Barca were best on the night.

"I expected us to do better but at the end of the day we were beaten by the better team," said. "They are the best team we have ever played, they are at the peak in this cycle of their team.

"There was good evidence we are a consistently good European team but we were beaten by the best team in Europe and there is no shame in that."

Of his own side he added: "We expected to do better, simple as that."

Barcelona coach Guardiola meanwhile lavished praise on man-of-the-match Messi. "He is the best I have ever seen and probably the best I will ever see," Guardiola told reporters. "Messi is unique, he is a one-off."

Despite a bright opening United were ultimately handed a defeat that was just as emphatic as their loss two years ago, with the Spanish champions revelling in the wide open spaces of Wembley.

United, lining up in an aggressive 4-4-2 formation, had harried Barcelona relentlessly in the early exchanges as they sought to prevent the Catalans from settling into their flowing passing rhythm.

But it was not long before Barcelona found their feet and United were to spend much of the opening half an hour, and the match, firmly on the back foot.

Villa shot wide after being picked out by Messi on the edge of the area and moments later Pedro went close after Xavi and Gerard Pique combined menacingly.

A jinking run by Messi set alarm bells jangling in the Manchester United defence before the striker threaded a lovely pass to Pedro only for United skipper Nemanja Vidic to slide in with an important block.

United had Vidic to thank for another superb piece of defending shortly afterwards, the Serbian judging his tackle brilliantly to deny Messi.

But on 27 minutes, Barcelona's relentless pressure finally reaped its reward. An exquisite pass from Xavi struck with the outside of the boot picked out Pedro and the winger coolly clipped his shot beyond van der Sar.

At that point Ferguson must have been fearing a repeat of Rome.

But crucially, United were able to find an equaliser within seven minutes.

Rooney combined passes with Michael Carrick out wide on the right before racing towards goal. Another one-two with Ryan Giggs, looking perilously close to off-side, and Rooney was in space.

The England international took his time and swept in a curling shot beyond Victor Valdes to round off a wonderful move.

The goal clearly rattled Barcelona, but the Catalans were soon threatening again. Messi went on a surging run and picked out Villa but then just failed to control his team-mate's return pass and United breathed again.

United started the second half positively but again Barcelona were swiftly on top as the warning lights were flashing again.

A fine save from van der Sar denied Dani Alves after the Brazilian was played in by Andres Iniesta before Vidic headed away Messi's follow up shot.

But on 54 minutes Barcelona were back in front.

Messi gathered the ball 25 yards out, and with Patrice Evra standing off fatally, the Barca talisman buried a thunderous low shot beyond van der Sar.

With Barcelona firmly on top it was left to Villa to apply the coup de grace on 69 minutes, curling in a majestic strike after another marvellous run from Messi.

[kueytoc]

'Best Ever' Barca gave us a hiding - FERGIE

By Carl de Souza | AFP News – Sun, May 29, 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Barcelona as the best side he has ever faced after the Spanish giants outclassed Manchester United to lift the Champions League at Wembley on Saturday.

Ferguson said United had been "given a hiding" after the Catalans handed his team a ruthless masterclass in a one-sided final at Wembley, where Pep Guardiola's men romped to a 3-1 victory.

"In my time as a manager I would say yes, this is the best team I've faced," a disappointed Ferguson told a press conference afterwards.

"I think everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It's not easy when you've been well beaten like that to think in any other way. No one's given us a hiding like that."

Saturday's victory was Barcelona's second triumph in the Champions League in three years -- and their third in five years.

Ferguson admitted that Barcelona would be difficult to beat so long as their star players Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez remained in their ranks.

"I think that great teams do go in cycles, and I think the cycle they're in at the moment makes them the best in Europe, there's no question of that," he said. "How long it lasts, whether they can replace that team at a certain point, who knows? But they certainly have the philosophy.

"It's always difficult to say whether you'll be able to replace players like Xavi and Iniesta at a certain point. Probably not. But they are enjoying the moment and they deserve to because they play football the right way."

With typical defiance, Ferguson insisted United would be determined to learn lessons from the defeat and seek to come back stronger next season.

He compared the loss to the famous 4-0 drubbing United received from Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 1994, a result which helped redefine his team's approach to European competitions.

"It's not going to be easy, but that's the challenge," Ferguson said. "You shouldn't be afraid of a challenge. The one thing we have shown is that we are consistent in Europe.

"This may be the kind of stepping stone that we had some years ago when we got beaten 4-0. We improved after that and we want to improve after tonight."

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Reaction - Rio: Goals Preventable

Sat 28 May 22:32:00 2011

Quotes after Barcelona cemented their status as the greatest team of the era by romping to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final at Wembley.

Rio Ferdinand: "At 1-1 we genuinely thought we could win the game. But we got hit with a bit of a sucker punch. A couple of their goals were preventable, but you've got to give credit when it's due. We had a gameplan today that we thought could beat them. Tonight, it just wasn't to be."

Nemanja Vidic: "When you come to the final, you want to win. We didn't win today, but we have to say tonight that Barcelona played some good football. They had more chances than we did. And they were better than us tonight."

Edwin van der Sar: "We made one or two mistakes, and they punish you. It was one game too many for us I think. It's not nice to lose of course but they had the better chances. I don't know if I could have prevented (Lionel) Messi's goal. I thought I was positioned well but I think (David) Villa was blocking my sight. Messi tends to curl it to the far post and he just clipped it around Villa. They are very good. We started well in the first 15 minutes, same as we did (against Barca in the 2009 final in) in Rome, and you just have to try and score the first goal but we didn't do thatIt's not always given that your career ends on a good note but I thank everybody for the memories and we'll see each other again."

Michael Owen: "The lads are gutted but we have no complaints. Barcelona are an exceptional team and are worthy champions. We still had a great season."

David Villa: "I dedicate the goal to my whole family, my wife, my daughters, and maybe especially to two nieces. Very happy with the goal."

Javier Mascherano: "I think it was a really good game played by Barcelona. We played the final like we played all season. We are very happy because we played the way we know."

Dani Alves: "Winning this Cup again is wonderful. Manchester United were very classy in defeat, they're an example."

Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Player ratings: Magic Messi

Sat, 28 May 22:58:00 2011

No prizes for guessing who tops our player ratings from Barcelona's Champions League triumph against Manchester United.

BARCELONA

GK: Victor Valdes 7 - An uncertain start from the keeper who has once again won the Zamora award as La Liga's stingiest custodian. Was panicky in dealing with Rooney and Hernandez's early pressure, but soon began to play the ball around - his distribution is crucial to Barca's slick play. Booked.

RB: Daniel Alves 7 - The barnstorming Brazilian full-back was, as ever, a constant menace. He gave Patrice Evra, already having to deal with David Villa, plenty to think about. Forced a good save one-on-one with Edwin van der Sar. Booked.

CB: Javier Mascherano 7 - After an early examination in which United made the most of Puyol's absence with a series of high balls up to Hernandez, the wily Argentine got wise and dealt with the threat much better. Put in the sort of destructive performance all too familiar to United fans from his days as a Liverpool player.

CB: Gerard Pique 7 - The former United defender played a big role in getting the ball forward for Barca, bringing it out of defence and always managing to find either Xavi or Iniesta. Made his height count for plenty amongst his shorter team-mates.

LB: Eric Abidal 7 - The fact that the Frenchman was playing just nine weeks after having surgery on his liver to remove a tumour is amazing. Abidal looked fighting fit as he silenced Valencia, so often the key to United's successes.

DCM: Sergio Busquets 7 - Steered clear of controversy and stuck to his official brief of screening his defence and supporting is more stellar midfield colleagues. After Barca's top trio of passers - Xavi, Iniesta and Messi - Busquets made the most passes out of anyone else on the pitch. More than Giggs and Park combined, in fact.

ACM: Andres Iniesta 8 - The major supply line to Messi, Iniesta found the little Argentine 28 times in the 90 minutes, including the one which set up the second goal. Also had the highest pass completion rate too.

ACM: Xavi Hernandez 9 - It is a cliche to call Xavi Hernandez the 'pass master' of Barcelona and Spain, but like so many cliches it is born out of truth. The diminutive playmaker completed 124 passes, 18 more than the entire United midfield. The heartbeat of this great Barca side.

RF: David Villa 8 - Constantly running, always a threat, Villa certainly didn't look like a man who has been struggling for goals of late. Was given more than enough space to shoot for his goal, but he still had to bend a delightful finish out of Van der Sar's reach.

CF: Lionel Messi 9 - Man of the match - What is there left to say about Little Leo? His low curler for his 12th goal in 13 European games this season was a beauty. The jinking run which unsettled United's defence and led to Barca's third was mesmeric. The world's best player was the outstanding performer in the biggest club match imaginable. Who can possibly stop him winning a third straight Ballon d'Or next year?

LF: Pedro Rodriguez 8 - By far the least exalted of Barca's fearsome attacking triumvirate, but the 23-year-old has definitely grown out of his former diminutive nickname, 'Pedrito', in the past year. Kept his cool to fire Barca into a deserved first-half lead.

- - -

MANCHESTER UNITED

GK: Edwin van der Sar 5 - A sad way for such a great goalkeeper to end his career. Made an impressive sprawling save to parry Xavi's inswinging effort, but you can't get a good mark when you ship three goals in any match. Still, if David de Gea does come to Old Trafford to replace him, the young Spaniard had better hit the ground running.

RB: Fabio da Silva 6 - Ferguson gave the Brazilian the nod over his twin brother by dint of his greater discipline, and Fabio largely did what was required of him, including a goal-line clearance from a Messi flick. He was flagging by that point midway through he second half, however, and was replaced by Nani moments before Villa scored the killer third.

CB: Nemanja Vidic 7 - A commanding aerial presence, as you would expect from the United skipper, and he marshalled the rear-guard action which ensured his team went into half-time on terms. Berated Evra after conceding the first goal, but must take some responsibility for not closing down the strikes which led to the second and third.

CB: Rio Ferdinand 7 - Like Vidic, Ferdinand was good for much of the match. Barca's forwards were just better. Made several crucial tackles and blocks when the game was still in the balance.

LB: Patrice Evra 5 - The Frenchman was culpable for Pedro's opener after he let the nippy forward out of his sight at the crucial moment. Was pressed back too often by Pedro and Dani Alves, and was therefore unable to get forward often enough to sufficiently support United's attackers.

LM: Ji-Sung Park 6 - For all the energy and dynamism that the Korean brings to the midfield, in this instance he came up short. All the pre-match talk about him being the key to shackling Messi turned out to be misguided and fanciful, as the Argentine happily proved on several occasions.

CM: Michael Carrick 6 - Did well to track back and assist in repelling Barca during their dominant spells of possession, but never had a chance of asserting any authority on the game. Often unfairly targeted by some as the weak link in United's midfield, he was certainly no worse than any of his colleagues here. Booked.

CM: Ryan Giggs 5 - After all the furore over his legal issues over the past week, who would have thought that Giggs would find anonymity in the most-watched match of the season? Deserves high praise for a fantastic campaign, but his ageing legs just could not compete in a midfield ruled by Barca's midfield schemers.

RM: Antonio Valencia 5 - The Ecuadorean winger has so often been the key man for United. Witness their upturn in form upon his return to the team following serious injury. But Abidal in the main and Barca in general managed to keep him quiet throughout, and he should have at least been booked on many occasions.

FW: Wayne Rooney 7 - The only real high-point of United's night was the performance of Rooney. It feels like so long ago that he looked finished, clogging ineffectually from game to game as his own fans berated him for requesting a transfer, only to win a bumper new contract. A classily-taken goal in a Champions League final shows just how far he has come.

FW: Javier Hernandez 5 - Rightly heralded as the buy of the season, this match felt like a step up too quickly for the sprightly Mexican. Caught offside almost as often as Xavi made a pass, Chicharito looked lost as he was asked to do so much work off the ball. However, his time at the very highest level will surely come.

Tony Mabert - Follow me on Twitter @tony_mabert / Eurosport