★★★FOOTBALL / SOCCER RAG ✿◕｡&#96

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Premier League - Kroenke launches Arsenal takeover

Mon, 11 Apr 06:33:00 2011

Arsenal are poised to become the fifth Premier League club to have an American owner after sports tycoon Stan Kroenke agreed a deal for a takeover that values the club at £731 million.

Billionaire Kroenke, who already owns close to 30 per cent of the London club, said on Monday he had offered shareholders £11,750 per share and had already secured the backing of 16.1 per cent shareholder Danny Fiszman and 15.9 per cent shareholder Nina Bracewell-Smith.

He now controls 63 per cent of Arsenal and under Takeover Panel rules is compelled to make an offer for the remaining shares.

Russian steel magnate Alisher Usmanov is the other major shareholder, holding a 27 per cent stake through his Red and White vehicle which declined to comment on what his plans were.

The 63-year-old Kroenke, worth $2.9 billion in 2010 according to Forbes, already owns several US sports teams, including the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, NFL team the St Louis Rams, and Major League Soccer team the Colorado Rapids.

"Arsenal is a fantastic club with a special history and tradition and a wonderful manager in Arsene Wenger," Kroenke, who first made his fortune developing commercial and retail properties, said in a statement.

"We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success."

Arsenal, who are second in the Premier League behind Manchester United, have gone six years without a trophy since their FA Cup success in 2005.

The Gunners have 62 points from 31 league games and are seven points behind United with a game in hand and they are also still to host their rivals on May 1.

Fans have been frustrated as the 13-times English champions' spending on players has lagged behind rivals such as Chelsea and Manchester City and while it remains to be seen how much money would be in the transfer pot, Wenger welcomed the takeover.

"I have worked with Stan Kroenke at board meetings over the past couple of years and I believe he has the best interests of Arsenal at heart," the Frenchman, who has managed the club since 1996, said in a statement on the club website.

"He understands the club's heritage and traditions and our ambition to run the club in a way which protects our long term future."

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood will remain in his position.

Bracewell-Smith, whose family had been involved in the club for more than 70 years, issued a statement in support of Kroenke.

"I am confident of Arsenal's continued success both on and off the pitch and believe that Stan Kroenke will continue to develop the club in a manner true to its heritage for the players and the fans," she said.

"We wish the club, the directors and the supporters every success in the future. At the end of the day, our family will always be Gooners."

Four other Premier League clubs are owned by Americans - Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Sunderland, while Chelsea, Manchester City, Fulham, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers also have foreign owners.

Reuters

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PROFILE-Soccer-'Silent Stan' is Arsenal's Man

Mon, 11 Apr 12:36:00 2011

Stan Kroenke, the American who is poised to add English soccer club Arsenal to his bulging portfolio of sports clubs, is a property billionaire who pumps his money into his childhood passion. Nicknamed 'Silent Stan' because of his low profile, Kroenke made a big noise on Monday with news he had agreed to take over Arsenal in a deal which would value the Premier League club at 731 million pounds ($1.2 billion).

Something of a collector of sports teams, Kroenke already owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, NFL team St Louis Rams and Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids.

The 63-year-old has talked about a love of sport stemming from listening to baseball on the radio with his grandfather and even his name is sports related.

His full name Enos Stanley Kroenke was given in tribute to baseball players Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial who were part of the St Louis Cardinals team that won the World Series three times in the 1940s.

Born in Missouri, Kroenke also owns a regional sports TV network, a sports arena and soccer park and a real estate portfolio that includes shopping centres, office and apartment buildings, vineyards and ranches throughout North America.

Forbes magazine listed him last year as worth $2.9 billion, while his wife Ann Walton Kroenke of the Walmart Walton family has a net worth of a similar amount.

"He is just a brilliant man, a legendary businessman, who has done things in his life that 99.9 per cent of the world didn't have the amount of drive and success to do," Paul Andrews, executive vice-president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, was quoted as saying in British daily The Telegraph last year.

"He has built something from when he was a kid until now and he is just a very genuine individual that likes to play basketball, loves to talk sports, loves to watch sports. If he was sitting with you and me now, he would be just a normal guy."

Kroenke has pledged to take Arsenal "to new success" and although there is no information about how much money there might be for transfers, fans will hope he can repeat some of the success he has had with his other teams.

Colorado Avalanche won the 2001 Stanley Cup in the first season under his ownership and if he could bring similar joy to Arsenal fans in the shape of the Premier League title which they have not won since 2004, he will have done well.

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood, who will stay in his post, believes the club is passing into good hands.

"The Board of Directors and I consider it a key responsibility to protect the ethos and spirit of the club," he said on the club's website (www.arsenal.com).

"Mr Kroenke, although relatively new to Arsenal, has shown himself to be a man who values and respects the history and traditions of this very special club that we cherish. We are confident that he will be a safe custodian of its future."

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Chelsea head to Manchester needing to breach the Fortress

By Sonia Oxley | Reuters – Tue, Apr 12, 2011 10:22 AM SGT

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Chelsea need to do what no team has done this season and beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday if they are to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The all-English tie is the most delicately balanced of the four quarter-finals after United won 1-0 in London last week thanks to a Wayne Rooney strike. But a raft of statistics and the valuable away goal tip the tie in the home side's favour.

By contrast, Tuesday's other match looks a mere formality with Barcelona holding a 5-1 advantage over Shakhtar Donetsk ahead of their second leg in Ukraine.

Chelsea can take comfort from the fact they were the last team to win at Old Trafford, a 2-1 victory last April playing a big part in their triumphant Premier League title surge.

"We have a good memory of that but this is a different story," manager Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference.

"They (the players) have to truly believe we can win there. I don't know if they will be able to do this."

Only two sides have recovered from a first-leg home defeat to win a Champions League knockout tie and if Chelsea become the third they would find it particularly sweet after losing the 2008 final to United on penalties.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Ronaldo sends Real through to Barca Champions League date

By Steve Griffiths | AFP News – 18 minutes ago

Jose Mourinho lit the fuse on Real Madrid's explosive Champions League semi-final showdown with Barcelona by claiming his club don't get the same treatment from UEFA as their Catalan rivals.

Mourinho will be without Ricardo Carvalho for the first leg against Barca after the Portugal defender triggered a suspension when he was booked for a foul on Tom Huddlestone in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Tottenham in the quarter-final second leg.

The Real boss, whose side went through 5-0 on aggregate, admitted he could have avoided that situation by telling Carvalho to deliberately get booked when his side were 4-0 up against Spurs in the first leg.

That would have ruled Carvalho out of the second leg at White Hart Lane instead of leaving him vulnerable to a semi-final ban.

But Mourinho opted against that tactic as he had already been hit with a suspended one-match ban by UEFA, European football's governing body, after allegedly telling Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to get booked in a group match against Ajax earlier this season so they would get rid of a suspension before the knockout stage.

Undoubtedly with Barca in mind, Mourinho hinted that another club had been allowed to get away with a similar move.

That was apparently a reference to a booking for Barca's Andres Iniesta against Shakhtar Donetsk that earned him a second leg suspension but meant he would be able to play the semi-final.

There was also an incident which saw Barca duo Victor Valdes and Sergio Busquets booked for time-wasting in a recent league match - ruling them out of the next game, but leaving them free to face Real on Saturday.

"Maybe you have to find a reason why Mourinho can't clean yellow cards and other clubs can. I can do nothing about it," Mourinho said.

"To be honest, as I always am. when we scored the fourth goal in the first leg my assistant told me 'get yellow cards for Cristiano Ronaldo and Carvalho'.

"I said no way because I would be suspended for the semi-finals. Then the next day when we are at home, another coach did it.

"It was always going to be problematic going into the game with three defenders on yellows and risking missing the next match.

"Some teams can clean up their situation with yellow cards and other cannot."

The semi-final between these age-old rivals will be one of four matches in the space of a month that will determine whether Mourinho's first season at the Bernabeu will judged a success.

Real have fallen well behind Barca in La Liga and face a must-win clash against Pep Guardiola's team on Saturday. They meet again in the Spanish Cup final on April 20 before heading into the two Euro meetings.

"In a semi-final anything can happen. They have a great situation with the suspensions, which we don't. But we will fight," Mourinho said.

"We have two matches against them before the semi-finals, so we have to look at those games first.

"We have to take each game as a separate entity. I'm not of the opinion that what happens in the first game can influence the second, third or fourth."

Taking a team to their first Champions League semi-final for eight years would be a significant achievement at some clubs, but Mourinho knows only securing Madrid's tenth triumph in the competition would be enough to satisfy his demanding employers.

"I know you are judged by your results," he said. "If you don't win titles it is easy to forget all the good work that has gone before.

"But I don't think it would be considered a good season to get to the final of the Spanish Cup and the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Inevitably on one of his rare returns to England, former Chelsea boss Mourinho was asked if his future lies in the Premier League.

"It is my natural habitat," he said. "It is where I want to come... after Real Madrid. I stay in Real Madrid next season, unless the press sacks me."

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Champions League - UNITED overawe Schalke to edge towards FINAL

Tue, 26 Apr 21:34:00 2011

Manchester United took a giant stride towards the Champions League final with a one-sided 2-0 win over Schalke 04 in the first leg of their semi-final at the Auf Schalke Arena.

Incessant United pressure and a glut of chances finally told mid-way through the second half as Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney netted within two minutes of each other to give Alex Ferguson's side a clear advantage going into the return leg at Old Trafford next week.

Victory was just the eighth time in 20 outings United have beaten German opposition in the competition, and if next week's game in Manchester proves as one-sided as this match, a third final appearance in four years for Alex Ferguson's side is assured.

With Javier Hernandez and Rooney starting up front - support coming from the tireless Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia on the flanks with Giggs probing from midfield - the match belonged to United as they time and again found ways through an uncertain Schalke back line that was bereft of confidence.

The visitors could easily have been three up within the first quarter of an hour and would have been had it not been for one man - Manuel Neuer.

The goalkeeper, courted by some of Europe's biggest clubs including United, provided ample proof of exactly why he is so highly rated with excellent stops to deny Rooney, Hernandez and then Park inside the first 15 minutes.

Livewire Hernandez hit the side netting and dragged a shot wide of the upright before Neuer was called into action again, this time to deny the unmarked Giggs with a downward header amid some shoddy Schalke defending.

Neuer, who has confirmed he will leave Schalke at the end of the season - of undoubted interest to United, with Edwin van der Sar set to retire at the end of current campaign - then repelled another crisp Hernandez effort and neither Giggs nor Park could capitalise on the rebound.

But the two best chances of the first half came at the end of the period, when first Fabio - preferred at right-back to his brother Rafael and John O'Shea - blazed over the bar from 10 yards and then Giggs, who was clean through on goal, saw his effort well-saved by Neuer.

United's dominance of the opening period was total in terms of possession, territorial advantage and chances. All that was lacking was a goal. Yet they began the second half as they had ended the first - on the front foot, in control and creating chances galore.

And like in the first half, initially at least, they failed to capitalise on the glut of opportunities fashioned soon after the restart.

Michael Carrick, enjoying one of his better performances this season in the acres of space he was afforded in the middle of the park, headed on target only for Neuer to tip over before Giggs wasted his second great chance of the night, firing wide of the mark with his weaker right foot.

Hernandez then did find the back of the net, only to be flagged offside, but such was United's swagger, there was never a sense that it would be 'one of those nights'.

And in the 68th minute, United finally broke the deadlock and took the lead they so richly deserved, Giggs making amends for his earlier profligacy with an assured finish from Rooney's cute ball through.

Rooney doubled United's lead within two minutes, Hernandez playing the ball through for the England striker to fire low past Neuer.

With Schalke looking highly unlikely to trouble Van der Sar at the other end and the game effectively wrapped up, Ferguson was able to withdraw both Rooney and Hernandez with one eye on the weekend's crunch Premier League clash with Arsenal.

But even without the strike pair on the pitch, United could still have increased their advantage as Patrice Evra made good ground on the left hand side, only to fire wide of an upright.

The Red Devils are now unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League matches. A 13th and they will book their place in May's final against either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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UNITED'S ROONEY sparkles in stadium of World Cup shame

Tue, 26 Apr 23:33:00 2011

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney returned to the Auf Schalke Arena, scene of one of his most infamous moments of madness, on Tuesday but left with his reputation enhanced after a virtuoso display.

The 25-year-old striker set up the first goal and scored the second after the break as United eased to a 2-0 Champions League semi-final first leg win against hapless Schalke 04 and all but booked their spot in the Wembley final on May 28.

It was a happy return to Gelsenkirchen for Rooney, who was sent off for stamping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho when England went out in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo's wink to the Portugal bench after he protested for then United team mate Rooney to be dismissed made all the back pages of the English papers the next day but Rooney will dominate the headlines for his brilliance this time.

"I was delighted with the performance and the victory," Rooney told Sky Sports as he skipped over questions about 2006.

"First half especially we had some great chances and at halftime we were disappointed not to be in front. I thought we dominated possession and deserved the victory."

His ill-discipline cost England dear five years ago but back in the same stadium the forward was at the heart of much of United's good work having well and truly shrugged off the poor form which dogged him earlier in the season.

SUPERB PASS

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did his best to thwart United until Rooney slipped in a superb pass after 67 minutes through the legs of central defender Joel Matip for Ryan Giggs to beat Germany's number one.

Two minutes later Rooney latched onto Javier Hernandez's ball and scored with an easy finish to cap a superb performance that left Schalke's anonymous forward Raul in the shade.

Rooney was substituted in the 83rd to pats on the back from the bench in the knowledge that he had gone a long way to almost securing a third Champions League final berth in four seasons.

Rooney may not be the finished article in terms of attitude, given his recent foul-mouthed outburst into a television camera which led to a two-game domestic ban, but he has come back from a big blip in form looking stronger than ever.

Maturity is beginning to creep in too, judging by Rooney's cautious views on the second leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday, where Alex Ferguson is so confident his side will go through that he has talked about possibly resting some players.

"Schalke are a good team and you can't take them lightly," Rooney added. "We have seen how they went at Inter Milan (in the quarter-finals) and won 5-2 there. We must do a professional job and reach the final."

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Champions League - FERGUSON hails Neuer Display

Tue, 26 Apr 23:00:00 2011

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was praised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson despite conceding two goals in two minutes during the German side's 2-0 Champions League semi-final second leg defeat.

Neuer announced last week he will leave the club he joined as a boy at the end of the season with Bayern expressing firm interest and reports linking United with the in-form Germany keeper with Edwin van der Sar retiring in May.

Asked if he would make a bid for Neuer or whether a Bayern move had already been sealed, Ferguson told Sky Sports: "I think we know that (he will join Bayern), we know that for sure."

Bayern have already asked for a meeting to discuss signing Neuer, who local media say would cost 20 million euros (£17.8m), and although that was turned down the Bavarians still hope the keeper will join them at the end of the season.

Neuer made a string of fine saves in the first half to keep dominant United at bay in Gelsenkirchen but was finally beaten in the 67th minute when Ryan Giggs put the ball through his legs and two minutes later he was beaten by Wayne Rooney's strike.

Although Ferguson was astounded by Neuer's overall showing he looks poised to go shopping elsewhere for a new goalkeeper with the likes of Atletico Madrid's David De Gea in the frame.

"When (Javier) Hernandez scored and he was offside I think that told the players they could beat this keeper," Ferguson joked of the Mexican's disallowed effort at 0-0 when United, now almost sure of a place in the final, were rampant.

"Our concentration, intensity and speed of passing was excellent.

"We had less chances in the second half but were more dangerous, when Chicharito scored and it was offside it told the players they could beat the goalkeeper.

"The continuity of selection in these games gives us good experience and work-rate and I have good options with the likes of Nani, Scholes and Anderson. We have selection problems now but that is what we want."

Ferguson later said: "I think in my time at United this was the finest display of goalkeeping against us. I'm sure there were other feats but tonight we saw a very good one.

Reuters

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Schalke 04 Champions League FACTFILES

Mon, 25 Apr 03:01:00 2011

Schalke 04 players' individual factfiles:

Schalke 04 (Germany)

Champions League appearances: 4

CL record: 1 semi-final (2011)

CL match record: P32 W14 D6 L12 F48 A33

European titles: UEFA Cup 1 (1997)

Overall match record: P121 W60 D26 L35 F188 A127

Coach: Ralf Rangnick (Germany) CL Record: P8 W4 D2 L2

CL matches this season: P10 W7 D2 L1 F21 A8

14.09.10 GP A v Olympique Lyon 0-1

29.09.10 GP H v Benfica 2-0 Farfan, Huntelaar

20.10.10 GP H v Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1 Raul 2, Jurado

2.11.10 GP A v Hapoel Tel Aviv 0-0

24.11.10 GP H v Olympique Lyon 3-0 Farfan, Huntelaar 2

7.12.10 GP A v Benfica 2-1 Jurado, Hoewedes

15.02.11 KO A v Valencia 1-1 Raul

9.03.11 KO H v Valencia 3-1 Farfan 2,

Gavranovic

5.04.11 QF A v Internazionale Milan 5-2 Matip, Edu 2, Raul,

Ranocchia og

13.04.11 QF H v Internazionale Milan 2-1 Raul, Hoewedes

Scorers: Raul 5, Farfan 4, Huntelaar 3, Edu 2, Hoewedes 2, Jurado 2, Gavranovic 1, Matip 1, own goal 1

Squad

(A/G=CL Appearances/goals, 1=current season, 2=with current club, 3=total career)

Goalkeepers A/G1 A/G2 A/G3 Other clubs Manuel Neuer (Germany) 10/0 20/0 20/0 Matthias Schober (Germany) 0/0 0/0 0/0 Lars Unnerstall (Germany) 0/0 0/0 0/0

Defenders Benedikt Hoewedes (Germany) 9/2 12/2 12/2 Atsuto Uchida (Japan) 9/0 9/0 9/0 Christoph Metzelder (Germany) 8/0 8/0 26/0 B Dortmund/

Real M Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Greece) 5/0 5/0 5/0 Hans Sarpei (Ghana) 5/0 5/0 5/0 Sergio Escudero (Spain) 2/0 2/0 2/0 Nicolas Plestan (France) 1/0 1/0 11/0 Lille Christian Pander (Germany) 0/0 2/0 2/0 Frank Fahrenhorst (Germany) 0/0 0/0 8/0 W. Bremen Marvin Pachan (Germany) 0/0 0/0 0/0

Midfielders Jose Manuel Jurado (Spain) 9/2 9/2 16/2 Real M/

Atletico M Joel Matip (Cameroon) 9/1 9/1 9/1 Lukas Schmitz (Germany) 8/0 8/0 8/0 Peer Kluge (Germany) 7/0 7/0 7/0 Julian Draxler (Germany) 4/0 4/0 4/0 Ciprian Deac (Romania) 3/0 3/0 5/0 CFR Cluj Christoph Moritz (Germany) 3/0 3/0 3/0 Alexander Baumjohann (Germany) 2/0 2/0 2/0 Hao Junmin (China) 2/0 2/0 2/0 Ali Karimi (Iran) 1/0 1/0 6/1 Bayern Munich Mario Gavranovic (Switzerland) 1/1 1/1 1/1 Danny Latza (Germany) 0/0 0/0 0/0 Predrag Stevanovic (Serbia) 0/0 0/0 0/0

Strikers Raul Gonzalez (Spain) 10/5 10/5 140/71 Real Madrid Jefferson Farfan (Peru) 8/4 8/4 42/8 PSV Eindhoven Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Netherlands) 7/3 7/3 12/4 Ajax/AC Milan Edu Goncalves (Brazil) 6/2 6/2 6/2 Angelos Haristeas (Greece) 1/0 1/0 9/1 Werder/Ajax

Also played Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) 5/0 12/0 12/0 (now with Sevilla) Jermaine Jones (U.S.) 4/0 12/1 14/1 B Leverkusen (now with Blackburn Rovers) Erik Jendrisek (Slovakia) 1/0 1/0 1/0 (now with Freiburg)

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Champions League - 10 things you need to know about SCHALKE

Tue, 26 Apr 08:57:00 2011

Schalke 04 have slipped under the radar for many in the Champions League so we get the definitive rundown on Manchester United's semi-final opponents from Eurosport Germany's Dirk Adam.

Schalke have won every home match in the Champions League this season. How intimidating is the Veltins-Arena?

The Veltins-Arena is one of the most impressive stadiums in Germany. You’ve got over 60,000 fans there and they make so much noise. The noise level is very high because Schalke's fans are very enthusiastic.

Schalke are only mid-table in Bundesliga but have reached the last four of Europe’s premier competition. Why has their domestic and European form been so different?

This weekend they played only with their B team against Kaiserslautern and lost 1-0 as Ralf Rangnick is focused only on the Champions League. The Bundesliga is no longer the main priority because Schalke can’t qualify for Europe through the League and can’t be relegated. Under Felix Magath the team simply underperformed.

Why do relatively modest German teams - Dortmund in 1997, Leverkusen in 2002 - thrive in the Champions League?

Here in Germany we had only one big club in the past: Bayern Munich. Now it’s a little bit different. Many other clubs are also very strong because of their clever transfers and the new youth concept after the disaster in the 2000 European Championships. That has worked very well for Schalke with Manuel Neuer, for example.

Ralf Rangnick has only been the coach for less than a month. Have the team improved with him in charge?

Yes. The whole team works together again after they feared Felix Magath. The atmosphere is pretty good and some players have been given a new chance under Rangnick. Schalke play attractive football and some of the credit does have to go to Magath who bought in new players like Raul.

Is Raul still as good as ever?

Raul is better that ever. He’s a perfect example for any professional. The Spaniard bought a house in Gelsenkirchen and he’s doing his all for the club. He’s still a brilliant player with a perfect fitness level. Some days ago Rangnick pointed out that Raul is in very good shape.

Most English fans know about Manuel Neuer, Christoph Metzelder and Raul but who are the other key players?

One of the best players against Inter was the Brazilian Edu. He had no real chance under Magath because he played in the wrong position. But under Rangnick he plays in the middle of the attack and that’s perfect for him. You’ve also Benedikt Hoewedes, who’s a very young player who Bayern Munich are very interested in. Other good players are Alexander Baumjohann, Jose Manuel Jurado and Jefferson Farfan. And please don’t forget Klaas-Jan Huntelaar when he’s fit.

Who are the weak links in the team?

They have a very good keeper with Neuer, but sometimes the defence is not great. If Christoph Metzelder is not in the best shape he makes some mistakes. And Hoewedes is very young and sometimes a little bit inexperienced.

Will Schalke be particularly attacking at home?

I think so. They will get one goal because the perfect result would be 1-0. Raul can score always a goal and that will be the plan. Schalke hopes for one or two good chances and Raul has to score. Or Edu… so they have some different options.

Do you think Schalke have any chance of qualifying?

Schalke clearly is the underdog against Manchester United. But in my opinion the have a 50-50 chance because in the two games against Inter they were very strong. In this shape they can beat every team - including Manchester United. Qualifying for the final is not impossible.

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Champions League - Messi gives Barcelona advantage in Madrid

Wed, 27 Apr 21:41:00 2011

Lionel Messi swooped twice to give Barcelona a 2-0 win in a bad-tempered first leg of their Champions League semi-final against 10-man Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The World Player of the Year guided the ball home at the near post with 14 minutes remaining to break the deadlock before he reverted back to type from his goal-poaching cameo for the second on 87 minutes, a wonderful individual effort that saw him dance through the Madrid defence and finish past Iker Casillas.

The Argentine's match-winning brace - his 16th and 17th goals in his last 16 appearances in the competition - gives his side a clear advantage heading into the second leg at the Camp Nou next week.

Madrid will be missing midfielder Pepe for that game after the Portuguese received his marching orders for a studs-up challenge on Dani Alves after just over an hour of play.

Barca also had a man sent off, substitute goalkeeper Jose Pinto, following an unsavoury scuffle as the teams headed down the tunnel at half-time, while Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands for his sarcastic protestations in the aftermath of Pepe's dismissal.

That a game billed as a meeting of two of Europe's most exciting sides soon descended into an ugly pitch battle was regrettable but, given the frequency with which the two teams have met over the past week, hardly surprising.

Victory for Barca was their first in this four-match mini-series of Clasicos, going some way to avenge Real's win in the Copa del Rey final after the first meeting ended in a draw in La Liga.

With Ricardo Carvalho suspended, Raul Albiol came in at the back for Real and the defensively-minded Pepe was employed as a holding midfielder just in front of the back four.

Madrid's aim was clear from the outset: stop Barca playing. And Mourinho's tactics worked well enough during a tense, cagey opening 45 minutes that was far from easy on the eye.

Pepe, Lassana Diarra, in for Sami Khedira, and Xabi Alonso did a good job of stifling the creative instincts of the visitors and given their reluctance to get forward and support Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo, they barely troubled the Barca back line.

Just once was Victor Valdes called into action during the opening period, the keeper doing well to beat away Ronaldo's swerving drive from 25 yards as the half-time whistle approached.

At the other end, and despite Barca's far superior possession, goalscoring chances were also at a premium as their celebrated attack force - missing the injured Andres Iniesta's vision - was largely frustrated.

David Villa, fresh from breaking his scoring drought at the weekend, cut inside and flashed a shot wide of the upright on 10 minutes before Messi managed to unlock the defence with a superb pass through for Xavi on 24. The World Cup winner brought his international team-mate Casillas into his first action of the night with a sharp shot that required an equally smart save.

But otherwise, the first half was far from a classic 45 minutes of football.

Given the pattern of play during the opening period and the bad blood between the two sides, frustrations boiled over as the players headed down the tunnel at half-time. The melee, which saw Pinto square up to a member of Madrid's staff, ended with him being sent off and a crotchety, niggly second half ensued.

Pepe also saw red on 61 minutes although, despite the clear feelings of the Barca players who surrounded referee Wolfgang Stark, his challenge on Alves was probably more worthy of a booking than a straight red card.

Mourinho was as incensed at the decision as the home crowd, and his mocking of the fourth official ended with him being sent to the stands, where he sulked for the remainder of the game.

A man down, and the writing seemed to be on the wall for Real, although they nearly hit back with a Ronaldo header that flew over the bar soon after.

That proved as much as they could muster, as Villa stung the fingers of Casillas and Pedro headed wide from the rebound to signal Barca's intentions to grab a crucial away goal.

It came soon after, Messi adopting the unfamiliar guise of poacher to turn substitute Ibrahim Afellay's cross in at the near post on 76 minutes.

And a second duly arrived with three minutes remaining as Messi gave a stark reminder of his immense talent, gliding through the ragged Madrid back line before slotting past Casillas to furnish the game with at least a brief touch of class and send his side a step closer to a third final in five years.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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Champions League - Ranting Mourinho writes off REAL

Wed, 27 Apr 23:46:00 2011

Jose Mourinho wrote off Real Madrid's Champions League chances and accused Barcelona of being favoured by the footballing authorities after his 10-man side lost their semi-final first leg 2-0.

Real had midfielder Pepe sent off after 62 minutes and Mourinho was sent to the stands for his protests soon after, and Lionel Messi took full advantage to score both goals in a stunned Bernabeu.

"Congratulations to a fantastic football team," the Real coach said in a rambling rant at the post-match news conference.

"But congratulations for all they have as well, it must be difficult to get to get all this power. Where does this power come from? I don't know if it's because they give UNICEF publicity (on their shirts)?"

Mourinho went on to list Barca's semi-final victory over Chelsea in 2009, the Internazionale semi-final from last season and now "the scandal of the Bernabeu", as he suggested unfair red cards had been issued to rivals playing the Catalan side.

"This thing happens in each semi-final," he said. "I am here just to ask this question and I hope to get the answer one day.

"I respect him (Barca coach Pep Guardiola) a great deal as a coach and a person...but I would like to see him win a Champions League without scandals.

"Pep is a fantastic soccer coach and he has won one Champions League. I would be ashamed to have won it after the scandal of Stamford Bridge (when he said Chelsea should have had four penalties).

"I won two Champions Leagues with Porto and Inter and won both on the pitch. We won with work, effort, sweat and fight."

The second of those European crowns came after a famous rearguard action with 10 men at the Nou Camp last season, losing 1-0 after having won the first leg 3-1.

However, Mourinho quickly ruled out any chance of another heroic performance in next Tuesday's second leg at Barca's stadium.

"Obviously in the return leg it's a very difficult mission," he added. "It's not very difficult, it's impossible.

"They will get to the final and that's that" Real have had a player sent off in each of the four 'Clasicos' they have played in La Liga, the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League this season, and now will be without the suspended Sergio Ramos and Pepe next week.

Mourinho, who said he was not supposed to be speaking to the media after having been sent off, will have to watch from the stands.

When asked what he had said to receive the punishment from the German referee, Wolfgang Stark, he replied: "I didn't say anything, I just applauded his decision with two thumbs.

"If I told UEFA and him what I thought and feel I would end my career now."

On television replays of the incident he could be seen to say "Well done, well done" to the fourth official after Pepe was sent off for a high-footed challenge on Barca full-back Dani Alves.

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Guardiola lauds 'outrageous' Messi

Wed, 27 Apr 23:47:00 2011

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola described Lionel Messi's achievements as "outrageous" after the World Player of the Year produced another masterclass in the 2-0 Champions League win at Real Madrid.

The Argentina forward's two goals in the semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu, which gave Barca a huge advantage for next week's second leg, took his tally for the Catalan club to 179 and put him ahead of Josep Samitier on their list of all-time top scorers.

The 23-year-old has 52 goals in all competitions this season and 11 in 11 games in the Champions League, putting him three clear on the scoring chart he also topped in the last two editions of Europe's elite club competition.

"That's the good fortune that we have, to be able to be a colleague of his," Guardiola said.

"It's not the first time he has done it," he added of Messi's second goal, a trademark weaving run that left several defenders trailing in his wake followed by a clinical finish.

"At the age of just 23 he is the third highest scorer in the history of Barca. It's outrageous.

"But that's the beauty of our football and our game."

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Guardiola blasts 'chief' JOSE

Wed, 27 Apr 09:12:00 2011

Coach Pep Guardiola wants Barcelona to do their talking on the pitch after a dramatic war of words erupted between him and Real Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg.

Mourinho sparked an uncharacteristically angry and foul-mouthed response from his opposite number after branding Guardiola as being a unique coach who "criticises the right decisions made by referees", referring to comments attributed to the Barca boss following last week's Copa del Rey final regarding a disallowed Pedro Rodriguez goal for offside.

"We will meet each other on the pitch. He's won his games off the pitch and I'll give him his personal Champions (League) for that," said Guardiola.

"In this room, he's the f***ing chief, the f***ing man, the person who knows everything about the world and I don't want to compete with him at all."

The Barca boss added: "If you think that his allegation that I always complain about the referees is true after you've all heard from me over the last three years, well there's nothing I can do. Off the pitch there's nothing we can do to fight that.

"Off the pitch, he has already won, as he has done all year. On the pitch, we'll see what happens."

Guardiola has plenty on his plate heading into the semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu without having to worry about Mourinho's comments. Already without Eric Abidal, Adriano, Maxwell and Bojan Krkic, he lost Spain international Andres Iniesta for tonight's match due to a calf injury.

Madrid, who beat Barca 1-0 in the Copa del Rey final to end a three-year barren spell without any silverware, have less concerns.

They are without the suspended Ricardo Carvalho and injured Sami Khedira and Fernando Gago, but with a supposed second-string side thrashing Valencia 6-3 at the weekend, Mourinho has an embarrassing array of riches at his disposal.

Taking all that into account, Guardiola said at the weekend that his side were underdogs heading into the game.

However, Mourinho dismissed that suggestion, saying: "For me there are no favourites. It's the Champions League semi-finals - two rival teams who know each other very well.

"Two teams with long traditions, two teams whose players know what it is to be successful, who know how to win things and play big matches."

Eurosport / PA Sport

[kueytoc]

World Football - 'To me, Pele is the BEST,' says Pele

Wed, 27 Apr 15:37:00 2011

Pele has come out and said who he thinks is the greatest footballer of all-time himself.

In a bizarre interview with CNN, in which he continually refers to himself in the third person, the Brazilian legend said: "To me, Pele is the best."

The 70-year-old, who has recently taken up the role as honorary president of the reformed New York Cosmos team, explained his reasoning with no false modesty.

"Nobody did what Pele did. Being champion of the world at 17 years old, won three World Cups, scored more than 1,208 goals - only him!

"Then until now, nobody did this... to me, Pele is the best."

Pele also had a dig at modern-day footballers, saying they were flashes in the pan who were not in the same class as stars from the past.

"You can mention players that played for 10 years, for example (Franz) Beckenbauer, (Michel) Platini, (Eric) Cantona, Bobby Charlton, George Best, then come (Diego) Maradona, Zico.

"Those players used to play a long time. Now the players they play one year, two years, then disappear."

Pele again went back to referring himself in the third person when describing the greatest Brazil teams of all time.

"In 1958, 1962, Brazil had excellent individuals. We had Garrincha, we had Didi, Djalma Santos. Also Pele, (Mario) Zagallo were excellent players. But as a team all together I think 1970 was no doubt the best team."

Eurosport

World Cup - Pele, Charlton, Cafu join 2014 Taskforce

Thu, 14 Apr 22:52:00 2011

Pele, Bobby Charlton and Cafu will join the FIFA task force which look at ways of brightening up the game and improve refereeing in time for the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA named the 22 members of the group and said it would start work on May 10 under the leadership of former West Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer.

"The task force's objective is to look at proposals to improve both the attractiveness of football and match control in elite competitions in areas such as the laws of the game, refereeing, competition regulations, women's football, medical matters and fair play," said FIFA in a statement.

The group will provide a first report to the FIFA Congress in June next year.

The group was set up as a response by FIFA to the drab, defensive football, especially in the group stage, and the controversial refereeing decisions which marred last year's World Cup in South Africa.

Other former players involved include Frenchman Christian Karembeu, Zambia's Kalusha Bwalya and Spain's Fernando Hierro.

"This vastly experienced team will address every facet of the game, tackling any challenges related to the game and coming up with appropriate solutions," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Beckenbauer said: "Important matters such as goal-line technology, additional referees, the so-called 'triple-punishment', behaviour on and off the field, as well as various other topics still need to be discussed and positively resolved."

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Ferguson to ring changes for Schalke

By Rob Woollard | AFP News – 1 hour 34 minutes ago

Manchester United will attempt to shrug off domestic disappointment by reaching their third Champions League final in four years against Schalke 04 here Wednesday.

A 2-0 victory in the semi-final first leg in Germany has left United within touching distance of a place in the May 28 final and, crucially, has given Sir Alex Ferguson freedom to shuffle his pack for Wednesday's return fixture.

The second leg at Old Trafford comes after United's progress towards a record 19th Premier League crown suffered an unexpected setback with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, a result that has blown the title race more open.

With United facing Chelsea in a crunch Premier League meeting next weekend that could well decide the outcome of the title, Ferguson has said he will rest some of his key players against Schalke.

"I will make some changes on Wednesday without question," Ferguson revealed. "I will bring Paul Scholes back in, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen."

Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher may also make a return to first team after completing 45 minutes in a reserve match, Ferguson confirmed.

"We'll need to do that but I will probably keep my experienced players at the back. We have a big week ahead. Wednesday is a European semi-final second leg and then the game on Sunday.

"Two massive games, so we will regroup and freshen it up."

Ferguson is also confident that his side remain in a strong position in both domestic and European competitions.

"We're in as good a position as we could ever have wished for from the start of the season," Ferguson said.

"We're in the semi-final of the European Cup in the second leg, with a two-goal lead, and we go into Chelsea with equal goal difference and a home game."

Failure to seal the deal against a Schalke side who were so comprehensively outplayed in the first leg would represent an upset of unthinkable proportions, even allowing for the fact that Schalke produced the away result of this year's Champions League when they downed Inter Milan 5-2 in the quarter-finals.

As if being given a masterclass by United last week wasn't bad enough -- when only the goalkeeping heroics of Manuel Neuer prevented a rout -- the Germans' confidence also received another mauling at the weekend when they were beaten 4-1 by Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

However United defender Patrice Evra has warned his team-mates against the perils of complacency, citing his experiences with Monaco seven years ago.

"In football you never know," said the France defender.

"I remember playing for Monaco in the 2004 quarter-final and we played in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid and lost 4-2.

"Real thought they were going into the semi-final. They thought they were there already. But in the second leg we won 3-1 and went through."

Evra however is confident that United will progress provided they play to their potential.

"We just have to do our job," said Evra. "We are very near to the final now but we have to complete the task we have started.

"We have to win at Old Trafford. If we don't go through to the final now then it would be a disaster for Man United."

[kueytoc]

Barca hold Real to reach Champions League FINAL

ITN – Tue, May 3, 2011

Barcelona have comfortably advanced to the Champions League final following a 1-1 draw at home to fierce rivals Real Madrid at the Nou Camp.

Following a completely one-sided first half in which Madrid keeper Iker Casillas kept his side in the game, Pedro gave Pep Guardiola's team the lead nine minutes into the second period.

Marcelo soon hit back for a vastly-improved Madrid ten minutes later, but the Catalans never looked in too much trouble and will face Manchester United or Schalke in the final later this month, which sees them return to the scene of their first European Cup triumph, in 1992.

Madrid, two goals down from last Wednesday's bad-tempered first leg match at the Santiago Bernabeu, were missing suspended pair Pepe and Sergio Ramos.

Coach Jose Mourinho, also banned, named an attacking line-up, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain all in the side.

The goal, early in the second half, was all about Andres Iniesta, who played a fabulous defence-splitting ball through to Pedro for a clinical low finish from the Tenerife-born forward into Casillas' bottom right corner.

Karanka then sent on Emmanuel Adebayor and Mesut Ozil for Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain as Madrid sought a more direct approach.

Despite the goal, effectively little had changed: Madrid needed three to go through.

There was a huge cheer as the referee blew the final whistle to confirm Barca as Champions League finalists for the third time in six years.

The Catalans will now look for a repeat of their 1992 triumph and a fourth European Cup success in total as they return to Wembley on May 28.

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Match facts: Manchester United v Schalke 04

Mon, 02 May 09:17:00 2011

All the key facts and stats ahead of the Champions League semi-final second-leg clash at Old Trafford.

Head-to-head record

Played: 1

Wins: United 1

Goals: United 2, Schalke 0

Previous meeting

CL: SF 26.04.11 Schalke 04 0 United 2

Disciplinary

Suspended: None

Misses next match if booked: Hans Sarpei, Raul, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Jose Manuel Jurado, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar(all Schalke 04)

Facts

United have lost only one of their last 31 CL home games and have never lost by more than a single goal in the competition at Old Trafford in all of their 85 such matches.

Although United have been beaten four times out of four by German teams in the knockout stages of the CL, their overall record is good. They have lost only two of their last 13 CL games against German teams and have won five of the last six.

United's next goal will be their 300th in the CL, a tally only Real Madrid (312) and Barcelona (302) have achieved. It will be their 175th match in the competition.

United, aiming for their third final in four years, have won their last four CL games, are unbeaten in 12 and have conceded a mere three goals in their 11 matches in the competition this season, a formidable record.

Schalke, who need something of a miracle to reach their first CL final, are unbeaten in their last four CL away games and did win their quarter-final in Milan against title-holders Inter by 5-2 - a previous miracle.

Schalke have not won on four previous visits to England and have conceded two goals or more each time. They lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the CL group stage three seasons ago, went down 3-2 to Arsenal six years earlier in a group game and lost 5-1 to Manchester City in the Cup Winners Cup semi-finals in 1970, their only previous game in Manchester. Their only positive result was a 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers back in the 1958-59 European Cup.

Schalke's slim chances may depend on a goal spree from their record-breaking Spanish striker Raul. The 33-year-old, who will be playing in his 142nd and perhaps last CL game, has scored a record 71 goals in the competition, including 66 for Real Madrid. But his one and only CL hat-trick dates back more than 15 years when he netted three in a 6-1 win over Hungary's Ferencvaros.

Schalke, who need to stop United's attack adding to their lead, have not kept a clean sheet in their last six CL matches and have failed to score themselves in six of their last nine CL away games.

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Champions League - SCHALKE sure of better display

Tue, 03 May 20:32:00 2011

Schalke are hoping to draw inspiration from last month's shock victory at Internazionale when they try to overturn a 2-0 deficit away to Manchester United in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg.

The German side stunned holders Inter 5-2 in the first leg of their quarter-final at the San Siro and need to produce something similar to make amends for a woeful performance at home to United last week.

"Tomorrow we will show we can play better than we did last week and that we have learnt our lessons," Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick told a news conference on Tuesday.

"In football you can get the chance so we will see what happens... When we played in Milan against Inter people didn't give us much hope either."

The Bundesliga team's task is immense at a stadium where United have not lost for more than a year and have conceded only three goals in Europe this season.

United repeatedly tore apart Schalke's defence last week and on home soil they could prove even more devastating, even if manager Alex Ferguson is resting players ahead of Sunday's key Premier League match against Chelsea.

But with Schalke having already overcome problems travelling to Manchester, with the team delayed in Germany for a couple of hours because of visa issues affecting some players, they are showing no signs of giving up without a fight.

"I think we have to be well organised in the first 10 minutes and then we have to take our chances when they're presented, even if there are just two minutes left," Rangnick said.

"You think of Manchester United and the Champions League win when they came back to win 2-1," he added, referring to the English club's stunning 1999 final victory over Bayern Munich which came after two stoppage-time goals.

United could easily have notched several more goals last week had it not been for the heroics of Manuel Neuer who Ferguson said had produced "arguably the finest goalkeeping display against us in Europe in my time".

Asked how important Neuer, who has caught United's eye as they seek to replace the retiring Edwin Van der Sar, would be on Wednesday, Rangnick grinned: "I hope a lot less important than last week."

Reuters

[kueytoc]

The Final FERGIE always dreaded awaits

Wed May 04 09:00AM

If Manchester United are not dramatically usurped by Schalke in hugely improbable fashion this evening then the final Sir Alex Ferguson always dreaded will be in store for his side.

For Fergie, the prospect of facing the club he despises and resents even more than Liverpool and Manchester City in Real Madrid would have been a delicious one.

A chance to clatter Cristiano Ronaldo; a chance to put the club's hierarchy in their place; a chance to undermine Jose Mourinho's constant coveting of the Old Trafford hotseat.

But it will be Barcelona who await the winner of the second semi-final in the Wembley showpiece on May 28, and the test posed by Pep Guardiola's trailblazers could hardly be sterner.

The Catalans, who have won the tournament on three previous occasions - 1992, 2006 and 2009 - will learn of their Wembley opponents when United, who have a 2-0 lead from the first leg, surely close out a comfortable aggregate win this evening.

Ferguson respects, admires and lauds Barcelona to levels which border on defeatism at times, and United fans will have the comprehensive 2-0 defeat in the 2009 Champions League final still fresh in their memories.

United were thoroughly outclassed by the Catalan side in that final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, and the only major thing which has changed since then is the departure of the instrumental Ronaldo from their ranks.

Do the Premier League leaders have a chance of overcoming Barca should they shrug off Schalke at Old Trafford? It's likely even the Scot is doubtful of that.

'Never write off the Germans' will be the inevitable and frankly nauseating tagline to this evening's second leg. But seriously, do write them off.

Schalke may be absurdly unpredictable and inconsistent, but the simple fact is that there is not sufficient quality among coach Ralf Rangnick's ranks to overturn a two-goal deficit away from home.

No amount of historical and national stereotyping can seriously challenge that.

Barcelona coach Guardiola has clearly already decided who his side will face at Wembley, declaring that "It will be a different game to the final in 2009 - they (United) are a different team with different strikers.

"They are a great team and he (Ferguson) is one of the best in the game - he has shown he can repeat and recreate, and win and win and win in finals."

Ferguson looks set to field a cluster of reserves tonight; such is his side's dominance of the tie, with a now crucial Premier League encounter with Chelsea imminent.

Players will be rested and Fergie has already hinted that strikers Dimitar Berbatov and the much derided Michael Owen will be involved against the German side.

It would be foolhardy of anyone to even pretend that the United boss will have at least one eye already firmly fixed on Sunday's monstrous clash with Carlo Ancelotti's resurgent Blues.

With Barcelona lying in wait, United must put all their eggs in the Premier League basket, simply viewing the Wembley final as merely an unlikely bonus.

European football's governing body Uefa, not to mention the hierarchies at both Barca and Real, will have been mightily relieved that Tuesday's match largely passed by without the theatrics, spite and bad blood which enveloped events at the Santiago Bernabeu last week.

As if that game wasn't bad enough, the aftermath of Barca's 2-0 win in the first leg was marred by both teams complaining about the other's conduct to Uefa, Real coach Mourinho stirring things up and the Madrid club accusing Barca's Sergio Busquets of racism, so it was a blessed relief to get back to football.

With a torrential downpour in Barcelona adding to the sense of foreboding at the Camp Nou, referee Frank de Bleeckere led the two teams out perhaps expecting the worst - but he would have been as relieved as anyone that, for the first time this season, a Clasico finished with all 22 players on the field (despite Ricardo Carvalho's best efforts).

It threatened to get tetchy towards the end as Real's increasingly desperate players found themselves only able to break Barca's momentum by committing fouls - 27 in all - but De Bleeckere exerted his authority at the right moments to keep the players under control.

Barcelona celebrated reaching a third Champions League final in six seasons last evening, and United will be hoping that they can secure their place in a third showpiece in four campaigns this evening.

[kueytoc]

Ferguson won't let German team ruin his season again

Tue, 03 May 16:16:00 2011

Alarm bells rang for Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on Tuesday as he sought to solve a selection puzzle that must stop a midweek game against German opponents ruining their domestic title bid again.

United host Chelsea on Sunday in a match that will go a long way to deciding who will be crowned Premier League champions but first they need to ensure they reach the Champions League final by not letting Schalke 04 get back into their semi-final.

Last year United handed the advantage to eventual English champions Chelsea by losing 2-1 to their rivals at Old Trafford, just days after facing Bayern Munich in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final they went on to lose.

Having won last week's first leg in Germany 2-0, it would be a major shock if United did not reach the May 28 European final at Wembley and Ferguson should be able to rest several players to keep them fresh.

"If you look at the experience of last year where we lost the league was after a (midweek) game against Bayern. The team were very tired against Chelsea in that next game," Ferguson told a news conference.

"That has to have a bearing on my team selection. Two massive games, both as important as the other. There will be some changes, hopefully I've a nucleus of a team that is still good enough to win the match."

United are three points clear in the Premier League and Chelsea would go top on goal difference with victory this week, making it unsurprising that fans are focusing on that match rather than the Champions League game they feel is in the bag.

"That's the sort of optimism supporters have got, we don't share that because we feel we've got a lot of work to do tomorrow," Ferguson said.

"I hope Manchester United don't regard it as a formality tomorrow. I think our work ethic will be very high."

MASSIVE GAME

Ferguson has said he will pick a strong defence with changes likely to come in the attacking positions, presenting chances for strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen and midfielder Darren Fletcher who has missed two months with a virus.

He pointed to the fact that all four Champions League semi-finalists, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, lost domestic matches at the weekend as a reason for squad rotation.

"There are certain statistics that tell you they do take it out of you the European games, which is why Sunday's game against Chelsea is a massive game," he said.

"I have to pick the right team tomorrow in order to have the same kind of freshness in Sunday's match."

Ferguson said he expected Schalke to go on the attack, as they had no other choice, but can be comforted by United's tight defence which has let in only three goals in this year's competition.

"We seem to have better concentration levels at European games because it's not regular football," the Scot said.

"The mundane football of the Premier League is incessant tribalism almost, that you're playing either a London team ... or Liverpool teams, it creates that incredible competitive edge. But as you go to Europe it's a different type of football, different ways of playing."

[kueytoc]

United not about to let LEAD slip

Mon May 02 12:37PM

If Sunday's match between Arsenal and Manchester United had finished 0-0, no one could really have complained.

The Gunners just about deserved to win, although in truth they did not really test Edwin van der Sar until Aaron Ramsey scored his 56th minute winner.

Arsenal were on balance the better side, but they were still guilty of trying to pass it into the net on too many occasions. It they won this particular match, it is the same approach which has seen them fall short on all fronts this season and several before it.

They must not allow this win to convince them that a big reappraisal of their situation - from the football they play to the playing staff - is not needed in the summer.

Considering the history between these two sides and what was at stake, I thought the game was a bit of a disappointment.

United were poor, and their performance at the Emirates puts their much-lauded display at Schalke in their previous game into some kind of context.

They just never looked as though they were going to make a difference in this game. People at Schalke would have watched the game and been shown the way to try and beat United when they come to Old Trafford on Wednesday: stop Wayne Rooney playing.

Arsene Wenger did that by dispatching Alex Song to look after the England striker, who loves to drop deep and cause havoc in between defence and midfield. Ramsey, who greatly impressed in the absence of Cesc Fabregas, also did his fair share of helping out with the defence.

In the absence of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and even Darren Fletcher, United's uneven midfield struggled to work out just how to find a way through with Rooney neutralised. It is so rare that you see a United team stumped as to how they plan to set about their opposition, but that is what happened at the Emirates on Sunday.

I still find it unlikely that United will let their lead slip from their grasp, though. Chelsea were very average against Tottenham on Saturday. They still lack a great deal of genuine creativity and Fernando Torres was not able to build on scoring his first Chelsea goal last week. Had it not been for them getting one goal which hadn't crossed the line and another that was offside then the result at the Emirates would not have mattered, United would have all but won the title.

At Old Trafford on Sunday United will be much more confident of hurting Chelsea on the counter-attack with their own crowd behind them and the Blues needing to win.

With United going to Blackburn and then hosting Blackpool on the final day they are almost certain not to drop any points, so Chelsea simply have to get their noses in front at the weekend or they can forget about the title.

However, I just cannot see United losing two big games on the bounce, especially at this stage of the season. In the years when they have not won the title it has never been because they have blown a lead.

Whenever Arsenal or Chelsea have won the Premier League, they have always been the best team from the outset. That is not the case this season, and now that United are in the box seat with so few games remaining you would have to say they should get over the line.

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Van der Sar 'RIGHT TO GO NOW'

Tue, 03 May 16:27:00 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Edwin van der Sar to ignore the dressing-room pleas for him to extend his Manchester United career by another season and quit whilst he is still on top of his game.

The 40-year-old Dutchman announced his intention to retire earlier this year but since then he has maintained an impressively high standard, leading to calls from Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand amongst others to abandon his plans.

However, Ferguson is fearful that Van der Sar's standards may start to slip rapidly and without warning, and said: "If I was giving advice to Edwin van der Sar, right now, I would say retire.

"He is at the absolute pinnacle of his career but sometimes, when a player gets to that age, age comes onto you very suddenly. I wouldn't want to see Edwin van der Sar in that situation."

He added: "He deserves to go out at the very top and hopefully he does that."

Van der Sar is aiming to land the third Champions League triumph of his career, in addition to his fourth Premier League title since moving north from Fulham in 2005.

"His career has been absolutely fantastic," said Ferguson.

"It is not just what he does on the football field. It is how he has handles himself as a professional and a human being.

"He is absolutely outstanding. In our dressing room at half-time and before games, he is absolutely fantastic.

"My advice to him is that this is the time.

"There is no reason for him to risk another year and maybe drop below his standard."

PA Sport

[kueytoc]

Man United advance to Barca Champions League FINAL

By Rob Woollard | AFP News Thu, May 5, 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson said Manchester United could not afford to fear Barcelona after setting up a Champions League final showdown with the Spanish giants.

United on Wednesday romped into the May 28 showpiece at Wembley after overwhelming Bundesliga outfit Schalke 4-1 at Old Trafford with a virtual reserve team, completing a crushing 6-1 aggregate victory.

Two goals from Anderson plus one apiece from Antonio Valencia and Darron Gibson fired United into their third Champions League final in four years and a rematch with the team who beat them 2-0 in the 2009 final in Rome.

Barcelona's scintillating form in recent seasons have prompted some commentators to hail Pep Guardiola's team as the greatest club side ever.

But while a fervent admirer of the Catalan club, Ferguson insists his team will not be overawed when they meet in the final.

"I don't think we should be going to Wembley lacking in confidence," Ferguson said. "I think Barcelona's form has been very good this season. We're playing a fantastic team. But we can't be frightened out of (our) skins because of that.

"Their form is there for everyone to see -- our job is to find a solution."

Nevertheless Ferguson admitted that he had been anxious for United to avoid Barcelona throughout this season's Champions League and revealed he would have been happy to be playing another club in the final.

"I wish it was Brechin City or somebody like that to be honest with you," he joked. "No disrespect to Brechin City -- I love that wee club.

"But I think at the start of the season you say 'Stay clear of Barcelona'. Because their form is there for everyone to see.

"We've done our job well now that our away form has been terrific. We've found a good way of playing away from home. Wembley's not an away game, it's a neutral ground. But I think we'll be quite well prepared."

Ferguson also declined invitations to characterise the final as an opportunity for his players to avenge their defeat in Rome two years ago, when they were comprehensively outplayed by Guardiola's pass masters.

"Revenge doesn't come into it," Ferguson said. "What does come into is that this is another opportunity for Manchester United to win a European trophy.

"I've always said that other clubs have done better than us, and we should have done better in Europe.

"You have to admire the way Barcelona play, they play with great style, they've got fantastic players. But we've got a job to do and we'll find a solution.

Ferguson also admitted he would seek advice from Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho as he attempts to plot Barca's downfall.

"I speak to him quite a lot and I spoke to him last week. Real Madrid are a different team from us. I think we'll depend on our own knowledge of Barcelona -- it's not as if we've never seen them before," Ferguson said.

"But the experience that Real Madrid have and from Jose's angle -- you always take information from that because he's very helpful that way."

Ferguson steered clear of empathising with Mourinho's suggestions that Barcelona were beneficiaries of a sinister conspiracy to fix European competitions in their favour.

"At this moment in time I don't think that's an issue with us. I think a final at Wembley should represent the qualities and histories and traditions of both clubs," he said.

"It's a different set of conditions between Real Madrid and Barcelona because of the tribalism of both clubs in Spain. They've always been the two biggest clubs in Spain and therefore the rivalry is intense.

"Many things happened in both games of the semi-final that you say to yourself 'Well I hope that doesn't happen at Wembley'. But we think it should be a good final."

[kueytoc]

Ferguson backs UNITED to Test Barcelona

By Patrik Stollarz | AFP – 2 hours 15 minutes ago

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Barcelona will not have it all their own way when they meet his Manchester United side in next month's Champions League final at Wembley.

While both teams are on the brink of winning their respective domestic titles it is Barcelona, who defeated United in the 2009 final, that are widely regarded as the pre-eminent club currently playing in Europe.

The Catalans boast the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, two key players in Spain's World Cup-winning side last year, while Lionel Messi is already being hailed as one of football's all-time greats.

"Everyone has acknowledged how great a team Barcelona are but Manchester United are in this final," Ferguson told US-based satellite radio station Sirius XM.

"Everyone has said this is not a good Manchester United team, that we are not this or that.

"But we have scored more goals than anyone else. Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and we will win the league by getting one more point.

"You have to put all the criticism to one side because I have to be realistic when I look at my team and ask, 'Am I satisfied?'

"Those players have given me everything."

But Ferguson did not deny the scale of the task confronting United in European club football's showpiece match.

"Obviously, Barcelona is the big one now," he said.

"In the final last time we started off really well, then gave away a bad goal. After that Barcelona kept the ball very well, as they always do.

"What we have to do is find a solution to the Xavi-Messi-Iniesta problem.

"Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers. We have our share too.

"We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother and hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us."

Turning to domestic matters Ferguson expressed his "shock" at reports that Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti would be sacked at the end of the season despite winning a league and FA Cup double with the London club last term.

Chelsea's last hopes of a trophy this season all but disappeared when they were beaten 2-1 by United on Sunday leaving the victors requiring just a point from their final two matches to regain the title.

"It would shock me, not surprise me," said Ferguson, coming up for 25 years in charge of United.

"This is an industry that baffles me at times.

"Here is a man who has won the European Cup twice, he has won Scudettos (Italian championships). He did the double in England last year.

"Why is that being questioned? Why is it becoming an issue? I don't understand it.

"But the rumour mill is out there that he is going to be leaving. That is sad because he is an outstanding character.

"He is a great man, full of absolute dignity."

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Bale hurt as Spurs Held

Sat, 07 May 19:32:00 2011

A Jermain Defoe screamer gave Tottenham Hotspur a 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool, a result that all but ends Spurs' Champions League hopes but takes Ian Holloway's side out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Charlie Adam opened the scoring by thrashing home a 76th-minutes penalty only seconds after Heurelho Gomes had saved a spot-kick from him.

The Scot, who almost joined Spurs in January, should not have been on the pitch after a late tackle that left Bale with a potentially serious ankle injury.

The initial penalty was controversial: Michael Dawson clearly handled but he was just as clearly pushed as he flew into the ball.

Gomes’s stop from Adam’s low spot-kick was as brilliant as his subsequent flap and foul on Gary Taylor-Fletcher was ludicrous: goal-line calls notwithstanding, errors from the blundering Brazilian have now cost Spurs three of their last five matches.

But with the clock ticking down Defoe latched on to a pass from Luka Modric to thrash a sublime shot from outside the box that flew into the bottom right.

Spurs will see it as two points lost as they sit on the brink of failure to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition - Manchester City had given them half a chance by losing to Everton but only need draw with the North London side in midweek to ensure fourth place.

On evidence of the first half it was difficult to tell which side were competing for a European place and which fighting the drop.

First Gomes showed his shot-stopping ability to keep out Adam’s spectacular volley, DJ Campbell’s follow-up deflected wide, while from Adam’s resultant corner Sergei Kornilenko pounded a free-header over when he really should have scored.

Spurs, meanwhile, got much of their joy from the left flank as Bale and makeshift full-back Danny Rose enjoyed time and space to put in some brilliant low balls that were respectively

missed by Rafael van der Vaart and tipped away by Matt Gilks.

In between there was another decent save from Gomes, again keeping Adam out after his shot was deflected, with the goalless half-time score fair given the relative lack of opportunity.

The switch initially suited Spurs better, as Van der Vaart relished his more central role, blasting one over after being fed by Aaron Lennon and creating a chance for Bale, who also missed the target.

Blackpool still saw some of the ball - David Vaughan drilling a low shot wide - but Spurs were taking control of the match as Bale drilled a shot inches wide and Defoe’s acrobatic effort cleared the crossbar.

Then came the moment which ended Bale’s interest in the match and possibly the season, when he was caught by Adam just above the ankle.

After a few minutes of treatment Welshman was stretchered off, still in agony with his leg stabilised. It was unclear whether there was a break or just a bad twist but he is unlikely to return before the next campaign - shockingly Adam escaped punishment for the tackle, which was poor and late.

Spurs seemed unruffled by the injury as they continued to press Blackpool but, as the match drew on, the visitors regained confidence and almost edged ahead, Gomes pulling off another superb stop after Campbell was played in by Keith Southern.

Then came the comedy of errors that allowed the Seasiders to take the lead: the corner that followed Gomes’s save saw Probert, already under the spotlight after a few errors including missing Adam’s foul, point to the spot when Dawson handled the ball having been shoved into it.

Adam, by now the clear villain of the piece, fluffed his lines: the penalty was half-decent, low to the right, but Gomes somehow flew across to save it.

It was the Brazilian’s fourth top-class save of the match but he rendered it worthless when, from the corner that followed, he flapped dreadfully before flying towards Taylor-Fletcher and giving him a nudge: Adam, despite the attempts of Campbell to wrestle the ball away, insisted on taking it and made no mistake the second time, lashing an unstoppable effort to the left with Gomes going the wrong way.

A defeat would have been harsh on Spurs and, after toiling following the initial shock of conceding, they responded well, with substitute Peter Crouch causing the kinds of problems that raised the question of why Pavlyuchenko was even on the pitch.

Eventually the pressure told as, following a driving run from Modric, Defoe found his range and smacked a vicious low shot just inside the left-hand post.

There were 88 minutes on the clock but, following the injury to Bale and the penalty dramas, six minutes added time were signalled as Spurs threw the kitchen sink at Blackpool, almost conceding a last-gasp goal in the process as Jason Puncheon dragged one wide after a rapid counter.

Reda Maher / Eurosport