Showing posts with label premier league. Show all posts
Showing posts with label premier league. Show all posts

Gerrard defends young guns’ desire

London: Steven Gerrard has rejected Patrick Vieira’s claim that young English players lack the pride and hunger to represent their country and pointed to a new-found strength in depth within the national set-up which is serving to “raise performances” under Roy Hodgson.

Vieira, now Manchester City’s football development executive, had pointed to a lack of coaching quality as one explanation for why England “don’t produce enough talent” and suggested young players “are not as proud as they used to be”, citing the number of them who withdraw from international duty through injury between the ages of 16 and 21.

Yet Gerrard, who was set to gain his 99th cap in Tuesday evening’s awkward World Cup qualifier against Poland, insisted he has seen no evidence to back up the Frenchman’s assertion.

“It surprised me to read that and the impression I get, certainly from seeing the young players every day at Liverpool, is that they’re desperate to get into this set-up,” said the England captain.

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Manchester City Cannot Win English Premier League, Coach Mancini Says

Manchester, England. Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, insisted on Wednesday his team cannot win the Premier League title because of Manchester United’s superior team spirit.

In a bizarre post-match press conference, following City’s emphatic 4-0 victory over West Brom at Eastlands which brought his team to within five points of the leaders with five games remaining, Mancini refused to accept his club can overhaul the defending champions.

“United is a fantastic team and I don’t think they can lose five points,” said Mancini. “For us it’s important we finish this season well. For us, it has been the best season since 1968, for us that’s important.

“Always I will fight, every day. Also my team but now I think it’s too late. It’s not mind games. United have a fantastic spirit, we don’t have the same spirit. For this reason, it’s very difficult.

“I spoke with my players before the game and said it’s important we finish this season well because it is the best season since ‘68 when Manchester City won the championship. We need to do our best until the end.

“It’s important we play very well like we did for 28 games.”

Mancini challenged his side to complete home and away victories over United when the two Manchester rivals collide at Eastlands on April 30.

“For us it’s also important to beat United here so we have beaten them two times this season. The guys will do their best because we are professional. We had a good season, we want to finish well,” he said.

City won easily against Albion with two goals from Sergio Aguero, one from David Silva and a first goal of the campaign from Carlos Tevez, who started his first game for the club since September.

The Blues also looked vastly improved without the distraction provided by Mario Balotelli, who was serving the first of a three-match suspension following his red card at Arsenal on Sunday, although Mancini insisted that he will throw him straight back into the fray when his ban is complete.

“I’m pleased with all the players,” he said. “It was important to come back to play like one month ago, to score four goals. I’m happy for Carlos because he scored one but he is not ready maybe for 90 minutes. It’s difficult. He scored, I’m happy for Aguero who scored another two goals.

“And it’s important Mario got only three games. I thought he would get six or seven games. And if Carlo continues to play, he can improve his performances for us.

“I thought in the dressing room (on Sunday) Mario would take a six or seven game ban so yes, he will play when he is available. He will be ready for Man United!”

Tevez’s performance was so impressive that he was even afforded a standing ovation by supporters when he was substituted in the second half - a far cry from earlier in the season when Mancini insisted his City career was over.

“It’s normal,” said Mancini. “Carlos made a mistake like Mario. I think once a guy apologises, everything is finished. When one player like Carlo scores, it’s important for the supporters. They understand the situation.”

City now face Norwich on Saturday while United host Aston Villa on Sunday with the title race seemingly destined for a few more twists - not that Mancini claims to know too much of what is going on currently.

“I thought United played tomorrow,” said Mancini. “I didn’t know. Only when they finished the game I knew they played tonight. I didn’t know why our fans were cheering during the game.

“We play Norwich in another three days, it will be very tough. We can put pressure back on United but only for 30 minutes, two hours. I would be surprised. For me, United are a really top team and I don’t feel they can lose five points.”

At least West Brom manager Roy Hodgson believes that the title race is now wide open.

“Making up five points in five games is better than eight points in five games,” he said. “Sir Alex (Ferguson) will be disappointed not to have got something from the Wigan game.

“But City stil have to reel in those five points. The title race is more interesting now than it was before tonight but there is still an awful long way to go. I think both teams are playing well.”

Agence France-Presse

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Man United ousts holder City from FA Cup

Manchester United took a measure of revenge on neighbor Manchester City on Sunday by knocking the defending champion out of the FA Cup with a 3-2 victory marked by Paul Scholes coming out of retirement.

Wayne Rooney headed in two goals either side of Danny Welbeck's volley in a dominant first-half in the third round match, which saw City Vincent Kompany sent off for fouling Nani in the 12th minute.

But the hosts, which humiliated United with a 6-1 league victory at Old Trafford this year and beat their rival in last year's FA Cup semifinals, staged a second-half comeback with Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero scoring to ensure a nervy end for the visitors.

The 37-year-old Scholes came out of retirement on Sunday morning and replaced Nani in the second half, but gave away the ball that led to Aguero's 65th minute-goal.

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Essien ready to return for Chelsea

London - Ghanaian international midfielder Michael Essien should be in line for a first team start in mid-January after recovering from a serious knee injury said Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas on Friday.

Essien, 29, has not played this season after suffering the injury before the first match of the campaign but Villas-Boas said he was nearing the stage where he could compete for a starting place.

"He (Essien) will return to the squad in mid-January and will be available for matches," said Villas-Boas.

"I think that in three weeks, he will be in a position to compete for a starting place."

Essien ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the start of pre-season training, just the latest in a series of injuries that have disrupted his career.

He has been plagued by knee injuries during his time at Stamford Bridge; he sustained another cruciate problem in September 2008 that ruled him out until the following March and also missed last year's World Cup after tearing medial knee ligaments during training for the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2010.

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Sir Alex Ferguson says television has too much power

In an exclusive interview with BBC North West Tonight, Ferguson said TV controls aspects of the game because of the vast amount of money it provides.

He claimed clubs had lost control over fixtures and this had had a detrimental effect on those competing in Europe.

"When you shake hands with the devil you have to pay the price," he said. "Television is God at the moment."

He added: "It shows itself quite clearly because when you see the fixture lists come out now, they can pick and choose whenever they want the top teams on television.

"You get some ridiculous situations when you're playing on Wednesday night in Europe and then at lunchtime the following Saturday. You ask any manager if they would pick that themselves and there'd be no chance."

And clubs, the 69-year-old Scot added, are not even getting the kind of money they deserve from TV. He said the Premier League sold their product to 200 countries and "when you think of that I don't think we get enough money".

Former Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick agreed that football is now "super-reliant on television" but suggested that TV revenue had helped facilitate United's success under Ferguson.

"Sir Alex's comments always have to be taken seriously - he is a very wise and experienced football man," Barwick told BBC Sport.

"But on this one, I do think Manchester United have almost had a lion's share of TV revenue over a period of time and it has helped build a fantastic stadium in Old Trafford and helped build Sir Alex's teams with star players.

"Manchester United will always do well in the television market because a lot of people follow them.

"The Premier League should be applauded for the number of countries it has got the game to. It has been a massive success story."

The Premier League's television rights deal was last renewed in February 2009 when Sky reportedly paid in excess of £1.6bn to show five 23-game packages from 2010-13. Irish-based broadcaster Setanta paid £159m for one bundle of 69 matches over the three years. This package was later taken over by ESPN.

The record deal equates to clubs earning, on average, £4.3m for each game shown live on television.

In addition, overseas TV deals earned Premier League clubs just over £17m each last season.

Under the new deal, United earned more than £60m from television last season - a combination of fees for having their matches shown live, and prize money based upon league position.

So far this season, the champions have appeared in six televised league games, and are scheduled to appear three more times before the end of November.

United have the benefit of home fixtures after each of their scheduled Champions League group matches, while their current nearest rivals at the top of the Premier League table, Manchester City, must play away from home in each league fixture after their own matches in Europe's premier club competition.

In an in-depth interview with North West Tonight, Sir Alex Ferguson also discussed:

The effect of losing to Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League Final: "When Barcelona beat us in Rome there was an issue on how we could get to that level. We've made steady progress since then."

On the club's youth policy: "We have a nucleus of young players aged around the 20-21 mark who can be the nucleus of what we regarded as the Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Beckham era."

On his longevity at the club: "Nobody talks about sacking [me] so I can have the vision of looking two, three years ahead."

On his rumoured dressing room tirades: "Myths grow all the time. If I was to listen to the number of times I've thrown teacups then we've gone through some crockery in this place. It's completely exaggerated, but I don't like people arguing back with me."

On losing: "I don't like losing but I've mellowed. I maybe have a short fuse but it goes away quicker now."

On football's future: "I feel sympathy for the working class lad. I've always championed about ticket prices and try to equate that to people's salaries. I look at some of those London prices when we go there and it's horrendous. But I think the Premier league is a strong product because there's a tremendous honesty in our game and fans play a part in that."

On player's salaries: "You can understand that clubs are desperate to win something and their imagination stretches and they end up paying silly money for players you'd never consider."

On turning 70 in December: "When I was 60-65 it didn't bother me. I am just glad to be here. Getting to Hogmanay at 70 - I'm delighted."

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Paul Scholes understands Carlos Tevez's refusal to play

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Scholes was unwilling to play in a League Cup tie in 2001, having been dropped for the previous game against Liverpool.

He stated what he did was "equally bad if not worse" than Tevez's situation.

"I know Carlos quite well. He's a player who wants to be playing," Scholes told BBC Radio 5 live.

"When he's a sub, it will be killing him.

"It's totally up to the manager but Carlos wouldn't have been thinking that. He'll be thinking, 'The manager is against me, why is he not bringing me on? I'm City's best player and he's not playing me'.

"I'm not saying he [Tevez] is right - it's totally up to the manager."

Scholes, 36, refused to play for Sir Alex Ferguson after being selected in a weakened team for a November 2001 League Cup defeat by Arsenal, a day after being dropped for a Premier League defeat by rivals Liverpool.

And he added: "You think you should be playing and my head was all over the place. I thought he [Sir Alex Ferguson] was messing me about, wrongly really. It's up to him what he does with his team.

"I realise it was stupid. I let the manager down and it was something I regretted. It's probably similar to Carlos Tevez's state of mind if it is true he refused to come on."

Scholes insists he apologised to Ferguson soon afterwards and was fined a week's wages.

He said: "Considering what I did, the manager was well within his rights to sack me and do whatever he wanted me to do with me.

"I went to apologise as soon as I realised I'd made a massive mistake.

"He fined me the maximum and that was it - the story was over and I think I played the next game."

The former England international retired in the wake of United's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in May to take up a coaching role within the backroom staff at Old Trafford.

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Ferguson marks silver anniversary at Old Trafford

London: The mood was not one of sentimentality as Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 25th anniversary at Old Trafford. It was the quest for redemption weighing most heavily on his brow. Ferguson chose not to view his own stadium as the scene of so many well-remembered triumphs. He sounded more like a member of the emergency services leading his team back to the scene of a trauma.

The most damning reminder of their first home appearance since the 6-1 dismantling by Manchester City was delivered by Ferguson in his uncompromising programme notes.

"It's painful even to think about it, but I don't want the players to forget it totally because it must serve as a reminder of the necessity of keeping our concentration levels high," Ferguson wrote.

"The score against us only reached such high proportions because of our own stupidity. It was a recipe for disaster and we contributed to our own downfall. City didn't even have to work for their last three goals, but the fact is that we were left with an embarrassing scoreline, the butt of many a joke I know."

It is typical of Ferguson that the only history he wanted to reflect upon ahead of the arrival of Otelul Galati was current and painful. If nostalgia is the neurotic inability to deal with the present, Ferguson continues to ooze the confidence of a man who is looking only to the future.

When asked about his latest milestone, Ferguson was dismissive. He is more interested in making amends for recent failure than discussing the artefacts of two decades of success. "I've not reflected on it but I'm looking forward to the next 25 years," was the somewhat curt response to a question about his latest milestone.

It is Ferguson's refusal to reflect on his own triumphs which gives him the authority to cast aside those who've served him well.

Players such as Rio Ferdinand know what lies ahead. There was a brutality about Ferguson's pre-match assessment of Ferdinand's dwindling powers which explains why and how he keeps the United juggernaut rolling. There is nothing revolutionary about how Ferguson does it. He captures the best young players with the skill of Robert Helpmann. (Chris Bascombe)

— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2011

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Can rough diamond Kaby make the grade at Chelsea?

Having first appeared on the Chelsea radar during the final months of José Mourinho's reign in West London, exciting midfielder Aliu Djaló is hoping for his Blues breakthrough under Mourinho's apprentice, André Villas-Boas.

Djaló, known simply as Kaby after the famous leader of his homeland of Guinea-Bissau, arrived in London after four years in Boavista's Academy. Chelsea were initially alerted to the talents of the then 15-year-old by one of Mourinho's trusted aides, and splashed out a reported £5 million to take Kaby to Cobham.

The skillful central midfielder struggled to adapt to the English game in his first season as a scholar, but on occasion still showed glimpses of his boundless potential. The 2009/10 season then saw big improvements from Djaló, who thrived when given the opportunity to captain Chelsea's Under-18s. He played a key role in the FA Youth Cup win, showing off all his attacking talents, while showing good awareness and discipline to track back and help out defensively.

Last season, the improvements continued, and they didn't go unnoticed away away from Stamford Bridge.

Crystal Palace gave him a 17 minute pre-season run out, but the Championship outfit failed to agree terms with Chelsea over a loan move. Undeterred, Djaló followed up some good pre-season form with 18 Reserve team appearances, in which he scored three goals and made eight as the Blues won the Premier Reserve League.

He continued to show off his usual blend of flicks, tricks and stylish attacking play, but also injected an improved work ethic to his performances.

The current Portugal Under-20 international has since played 45 first-team minutes against Wycombe Wanderers during this pre-season, and has already trained with the first-team on a handful of occasions. At 19, Kaby needs to ramp up his development, something a loan move may well help with.

Chelsea have wasted money on many prospects who have failed to make the grade over the years, but don't rule out the committed and talented Kaby Djaló just yet.

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Van Persie: We have to be stronger

Robin van Persie feels it is difficult to put into words the reasons why Arsenal failed to deliver silverware again, but maintained it was up to the squad to prove they have what it takes to get over the line next season.

The Gunners 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa leaves them in real danger of being overtaken by FA Cup winners Manchester City in the race for automatic Champions League qualification.

Since suffering a dramatic last-minute defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final at Wembley, Arsene Wenger's men have recorded just three wins in all competitions as swift exits from Europe to Barcelona and the FA Cup at Old Trafford followed before a total collapse of their Barclays Premier League title bid.

Van Persie - whose late consolation goal took his tally to 21 and was his sixth in the last seven games - accepts Arsenal need to show more courage if they are to turn potential into trophies.

"There were lots of things (which went wrong) - we were not consistent enough. It is difficult to talk about it now," Van Persie told Arsenal TV Online.

"It is going to be difficult to finish third, but we still have one game and have to win that to at least give us a chance.

"Next season we have to try [to come back stronger]. Everyone starts from scratch and we have a chance, it is up to us to prove it."

Thousands of Arsenal fans had already headed for the Emirates Stadium exits ahead of the squad's lap of appreciation, with boos greeting the final whistle.

Despite seeing victories over Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United this season, the fans - who next season face a 6% hike in ticket prices - have been short-changed as once again a campaign which promised so much failed to deliver.

Wenger accepts the fans have the right to vent their frustrations.

Van Persie added: "The supporters have been great, every single game they have been supporting us tremendously and I am really proud to be a Gunner with them as our fans."

Should Manchester City beat defeated FA Cup finalists Stoke at Eastlands tomorrow night, then Roberto Mancini's big-spending team would climb above Arsenal ahead of the final round of top-flight fixtures next Sunday.

Were Arsenal, who topped the table in late November, to finish fourth, they would face a qualifier to again play in the Champions League, which then means pre-season plans, expected to include a first tour to the Far East, would probably need to be adjusted.

Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen made his long-awaited return from eight months out with an Achilles problem, but took time to grow into the game alongside Sebastien Squillaci, who was substituted at half-time in a tactical change.

The Belgian admitted the defeat by Villa was "awful", and insists focus must improve next season.

"Our mentality was not good enough, and I do not think we can accept that as an Arsenal side, and we should work on that, otherwise we are not going to win a lot of games anymore," Vermaelen told Arsenal TV Online.

"The individual quality is there, but we have to work hard to get the three points in every game."

Vermaelen added: "There is a big difference if you have to qualify for the Champions League or not, so that is something really important to play for.

"Now we have to battle with Manchester City for that third spot, so it is going to be difficult."

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Manchester City proving their worth

By Jaydip Sengupta

Dubai - Former Manchester United midfielder Lee Sharpe believes Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City are destined for glory after their defeat of the Red Devils in the FA Cup recently.

Speaking to XPRESS during his visit to Abu Dhabi in his role as guest commentator on AD Sports, Sharpe said: "Manchester City are definitely learning to live with the top teams now, and I'd expect them to make a top four Champions League spot this year.

"If you look at the talent they've got in the side, there's no reason why they won't continue to challenge the top premier league teams every season. You don't spend all the money they've spent without expecting silverware to follow.

More attacking

"I think the manager, [Roberto] Mancini needs to be a little bolder going forward into next season. As is the Italian way, he seems a little too obsessed with defence and with not losing, and not brave enough to go out and play to win games. They're a team capable of playing a better type of football.

"It wouldn't hurt to aim a bit higher either. It's been a wide open league again this year and Manchester City are more than capable of contending for the top couple of spots and not just for a Champions League place. The more they win, the more the mind-set at the club will change and they will start to believe that they can challenge for the league title."

Talking of his former club who are very much in the running for a double, Sharpe said: "I know that the guys will have been really disappointed with the result in the FA cup semi-final. It's a blow, definitely, but I think it would just have made them more determined than before to do succeed in the other cups."

Asked to comment on Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's view that the Reds are the best club in England going by their European record, Sharpe said: "I love Kenny, he's a great guy. Liverpool are a fantastic club with a great set of supporters but the fact remains that they have been poor over the last few seasons. I think instead of looking at what you achieved 20 years ago as a club, what's more relevant is what's happened in the last few seasons. He's doing a great job at Liverpool this season though. They've turned around their season amazingly and I'd expect him to build on that for next season," he said.

Source: http://gulfnews.com
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United favourites but Chelsea not out yet

London - Fortress Old Trafford, Chelsea's flat form and a welter of statistics point to Manchester United advancing to the semi-finals of the Champions League today — yet one goal changes the whole tie.

United hold the whip hand following Wayne Rooney's goal in their 1-0 quarter-final first-leg win at Stamford Bridge and in most circumstances in the Champions League and for United, that would be that.

Alex Ferguson's team have lost one of their last 30 matches in the competition at Old Trafford and none in the last six years. They have progressed in all 16 European ties where they won the first leg away from home.

This season they have conceded only two goals in nine Champions League games while in the Premier League they have won 15 and drawn one of their home games. Since the Champions league began only two sides have recovered from a first-leg home defeat to win a knockout tie — Ajax Amsterdam against Panathinaikos in 1996 and Inter Milan against Bayern Munich last month.

Yet the particular nature of this all-English tie means that such statistics are undermined in a game between two teams who know each other so well.

Although Chelsea have won only one of five away games in all-English Champions League ties, they won at Old Trafford in the Premier League a year ago and know that they need only one goal today to swing the advantage their way.

Hanging in there
Only two of the teams' last 12 competitive games have been decided by more than one goal so both sides know the Londoners are still very much in the tie.

"Of course Chelsea can do to us at Old Trafford what we've done there," said Ferguson. "We've only got a one-goal lead and we have to be very careful and give a top performance.

"It will be a tough game. The tie is not done." Ferguson had the luxury of making eight changes from the first leg for Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham and those on duty came through unscathed after a straightforward 2-0 win.

Antonio Valencia was on the scoresheet as he continues his rapid rehabilitation from a broken ankle to offer the manager plenty of attacking options after he decided to start with Nani on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

United looked sharper all over the pitch in that game but Chelsea could still easily have come away with a draw.

Playing on Tuesday

Manchester United v Chelsea

Misses next match if booked: John Obi Mikel, Ramires, Fernando Torres, Yuri Zhirkov (all Chelsea)

Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona

Suspended: Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk); Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

Misses next match if booked: Oleksiy Gai, Luiz Adriano, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Darijo Srna, Yaroslav Rakitskiy (All Shakhtar Donetsk)

Playing on Wednesday

Schalke 04 v Inter Milan

Suspended: Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan); Jefferson Farfan (Schalke 04)

Misses next match if booked: Thiago Motta (Inter Milan); Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Manuel Jurado (Schalke 04)

Tottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid

Suspended: Pepe (Real Madrid); Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur)

Misses next match if booked: Raul Albiol, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Ricardo Carvalho (all Real Madrid)

Source: http://gulfnews.com
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Arsenal misses chance to pressure United

Arsenal was held to 0-0 by Sunderland to halt its charge for the Premier League title while West Bromwich Albion and West Ham picked up crucial victories at the other end of the table on Saturday.

Sunderland was thankful to Simon Mignolet at the Emirates Stadium, with the goalkeeper producing an inspired display to keep second-place Arsenal at bay in a one-sided match.

League leader Manchester United, which has played the same number of games as the Gunners, can move six points clear at the top if it beats Liverpool away on Sunday.

Third-place Manchester City moved four points behind Arsenal by beating bottom side Wigan 1-0. Midfielder David Silva grabbed the winner when his low shot in the 38th was bundled into his own net by Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

In-form West Ham eased past Stoke 3-0 to climb out of the bottom three, replaced by Birmingham which lost 3-1 at home to relegation rival West Brom.

In the other games, Bolton and Fulham both scored late goals to clinch 3-2 wins over Aston Villa and Blackburn respectively, and Everton rallied to defeat Newcastle 2-1 away.

Substitute Marouane Chamakh's close-range header against the crossbar was the closest Arsenal came to breaking the deadlock on a day of frustration for the London team, which will now travel to Spain ahead of the second leg of its Champions League last-16 match with Barcelona.

With Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie among the players already out for Arsenal, manager Arsene Wenger will be unhappy to see midfielder Jack Wilshere come away nursing a minor ankle injury. The England international should be fit for the Barcelona game, though.

Wenger was more concerned his side wasted the chance to apply heavy pressure on United and was unhappy at what he believed was a wrong decision to disallow Andrey Arshavin's second-half goal for offside.

"I am too disgusted to speak about these things," Wenger said. "These kind of things have too big an impact on the Premier League and we are really disappointed but we have to take it on the chin for the next game."

Mignolet defied Nicklas Bendtner with a superb tip over the bar at the end of the first half, while Samir Nasri saw the Belgian deny him three times to somehow keep the score level.

City was lucky to come away from Eastlands with three points, given the circumstances surrounding Silva's goal and with Wigan wasting a host of clear-cut chances in the second half.

City, in the middle of a busy run of fixtures and playing three days after an FA Cup win over Aston Villa, was lethargic all match.

"In the first half, we played well, but in the second half we were so tired and Wigan played well," City manager Roberto Mancini said.

There was more movement at the foot of the standings as West Ham continued its upward progress with a comfortable victory over Stoke.

Demba Ba, with his fourth goal in three games, Manuel da Costa and Thomas Hitzlsperger were the scorers for the Hammers as they moved a point above Birmingham, which came back down to earth after its 2-1 win over Arsenal in the League Cup final last weekend.

Alex McLeish's side was deservedly beaten by West Brom, which produced an inspired second-half performance to claim a first win since mid-January.

Youssouf Mulumbu, James Morrison and Paul Scharner found the net for the visitors after the break, with Chile midfielder Jean Beausejour scoring Birmingham's consolation.

Those two victories brought Blackburn back into the relegation picture after its defeat at Fulham.

Bobby Zamora scored the winner from the penalty spot, his first goal in more than a year, to see Fulham home and leave Blackburn just two points off the bottom three.

Blackburn twice came from behind to equalize, through goals by Grant Hanley and David Hoilett, after strikes from Fulham winger Damien Duff at Craven Cottage.

Bolton provisionally moved above Liverpool into sixth place thanks to the victory over Villa, whose winger Ashley Young will rue missing a penalty when his team was 2-1 up.

Darren Bent and Marc Albrighton twice put Villa ahead only to be hauled back by a brace from Gary Cahill, before substitute Ivan Klasnic scored the winning goal for Bolton.

Leon Best opened the scoring for Newcastle at St. James' Park but goals by Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka earned Everton the win. (Steve Douglas)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com
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Ferguson eyes key wins over Arsenal and Chelsea

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United can take a giant step towards regaining the Premier League title if they win this month's crunch clashes against Arsenal and Chelsea.

United moved two points clear at the top of the table last weekend after Chelsea's latest stumble at Newcastle dropped them to second place and Ferguson's side can extend that lead with victory over the champions and then Arsenal in the coming weeks.

The third placed Gunners, who are also two points behind United, visit Old Trafford on December 13, with United's trip to Stamford Bridge following six days later. And as Arsenal and Chelsea meet themselves on December 27, Ferguson accepts it is going to be a crucial period.

"You always want to win those games because they are really significant," Ferguson told Inside United.

"We have managed to claw ourselves into a position where we are two points ahead of Chelsea, so the game at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal's trip to Manchester will certainly be very important, there's no doubt about that.

"We saw that last season - some big decisions didn't go our way in the two matches against Chelsea and they ended up costing us important points."

A foul by Didier Drogba on Wes Brown was missed by the referee as John Terry scored the winner for Chelsea against United at Stamford Bridge last season, while a Drogba goal at Old Trafford later in the season was shown to be offside.

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Newcastle defender Williamson signs new deal

Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson signed a new five-and-a-half year contract with the Premier League club on Friday.

Williamson has played a key role in Newcastle's solid start to life back in the English top-flight after last season's promotion from the Championship.

Magpies manager Chris Hughton rates the 27-year-old as one of the finest English central defenders on current form and was delighted to hand him an improved deal.

Hughton said: "Mike has been outstanding for us since he came. He was somebody who I tracked for a while before we got him, and he has perhaps exceeded even the expectations we had of him.

"He has a brilliant attitude and in my opinion has been one of the best English centre-backs in the league this season."

Former Portsmouth centre-back Williamson added: "I've played in the lower leagues before, so to get the opportunity to play at St James' Park every other week - and grounds like The Emirates and Old Trafford - is fantastic for me.

"Me and my family have settled here quickly and it's great to know that we'll be staying here for a long time to come."

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Solskjaer leaves Manchester United to coach Molde

Oslo - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ended a 14-year association with Manchester United on Tuesday when he agreed to move back to his home country as coach of Norwegian club Molde.

The 37-year-old Solskjaer, who scored United's injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final, signed a contract with a yearly salary of 2.4 million Norwegian kroner ($410,000), plus marketing income.

Solskjaer is quitting his job as coach of United's reserves and will begin his new job Jan. 10. Solskjaer, who has three children, said family reasons were the main factor in his decision to return to the club where he played for 18 months before joining United in 1996.

Solskjaer arrived at Old Trafford as a youthful-looking striker and quickly became a fan favourite for his knack of scoring quickly as a substitute -- earning the nickname "the Baby-Faced Assassin."

He scored 128 goals in 367 matches, including one against Bayern Munich in United's 2-1 Champions League final win. The same year, he scored four goals in 10 minutes after coming on a substitute in an 8-1 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest.

He retired to a coaching role in 2007 after failing to recover from a knee injury.

"He's been a fantastic servant, and he's contributed to the development of our young players," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said in a statement. "I think that his career as an outstanding professional footballer gave him a foundation to get into coaching. He's had a great introduction with our reserves and this is the right time for Ole to take up his first managerial position."

Solskjaer's colleagues from Manchester United -- Mark Dempsey and Richard Hartis -- will accompany him to Molde as his assistants. The club has won the Norwegian league title twice but finished 11th this season.

Solskjaer said he was confident that next year will be big for the club, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011.

"It will be a year of celebrations and the team is certain to win titles," Solskjaer said. "This is a dream job. I discussed my future career with Sir Alex Ferguson and he advised me to choose a club where there are people that you would like to work with. The choice was therefore easy.

"After 14 years in Manchester, I look forward to coming home to Molde."

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Chelsea: Drogba Recovering from Malaria

London - Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has almost recovered from malaria diagnosis, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.

The player from Ivory Coast was absent at last month's match against Aston Villa and Spartak Moscow, because of illness before down the field.

Drogba also only played as a substitute in the second round on Sunday when they lost 0-2 at Liverpool, because of illness and the results showed he was hit by a virus.

"The medical team told me Didier suffered from malaria and about 48 hours after that he'll be back," said Ancelotti told a news conference.

"One time (malaria) is a very serious disease, but now different and it is possible to treat it in a short time will heal. He is all right now," said Ancelotti ahead of home games against Fulham on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow he will appear again (since the beginning of the game)," said the coach of the Italian by adding, midfielder Michael Essien will also appear again after all this time had to rest at Anfield.

Previous Ancelotti talked about the sick strikernya.

"He lost his physical initial condition, he could not join the exercise, he lost power. Didier feel like not powered so it can not join the exercise," he said.

"We do not know about where and when he was stricken with malaria virus. Maybe it happened some time ago. He can not go down the field when his health has not recovered 100 percent," he said.

The defender Alex (foot) and striker Nicolas Anelka (back) has recovered to match Wednesday, while midfielder Frank

Lampard, who injured since last August, is expected back from the village halamnnya at Sunderland on Sunday. (A008/A023)

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Wayne Rooney signs five-year Manchester United deal

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old striker said concerns over the strength of the club's squad were behind his original decision not to sign a new deal.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I'm delighted Wayne's agreed to stay."

Rooney stated: "I said on Wednesday the manager's a genius and it's his belief and support that convinced me to stay."

The England international, who will be out for three weeks after injuring his ankle during training on Tuesday, added: "I'm delighted to sign another deal at United. I've spoken to the manager and the owners and they've convinced me this is where I belong.

"I am signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history - which is the reason I joined the club in the first place.

"I am sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they have read and seen.

"But my position was from concern over the future.

"The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it's up to me through my performances to win them over again."

The agreement ends a period of intensive discussions at Old Trafford after Rooney issued a statement in which he revealed that United chief David Gill had not given him the assurance he was seeking about the future squad.

"It's been a difficult week but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United," Ferguson told the club's website.

"Sometimes, when you're in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand.

"I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.

"I'm pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United's great players.

"It shows character and belief in what we stand for.

"I'm sure everyone involved with the club will now get behind Wayne and show him the support he needs to produce the performances we know he is capable of."

Rooney's team-mate Rio Ferdinand said on social networking website Twitter: "It was never in doubt in my mind tweeps, Wazza is Man Utd through and through there's no way I could have seen him playing for another club, defo not a Prem club anyway."

Former United midfielder Lou Macari admitted that he was surprised by the news.

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "I didn't see this coming.

"It's going to be difficult for Wayne to get everyone back on board. I don't think it will be as easy as just scoring goals. It's going to take a lot of other things and over a period of time he'll learn to get back on with his football."

United supporter Liam Bradford, who is the assistant editor of the Red News fanzine also told Radio 5 live: "I'm completely flabbergasted.

"It's been one of those weeks. It's been completely mad.

"I don't know whether this has been planned all along and this was just some elaborate mind game that Sir Alex Ferguson was playing with Wayne Rooney on board or whether it has just been completely surreal for the last seven days.

"At the end of the day, he is a world-class footballer and I really wouldn't want to see him anywhere else. I think I'm more relieved that anything he is not going across the city to the team that plays in blue."

Rooney will not return to action for three weeks as he recovers from an ankle injury that saw him carried out of training on Tuesday.

He moved to Old Trafford from Everton in 2004 for £25.6m and has helped the club win three successive Premier League titles from 2007-09. His previous contract was due to expire in the summer of 2012.

From BBC

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City deny Rooney contact as clubs weigh up offers

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini denied on Wednesday that his club had approached Wayne Rooney in a bid to sign the striker from cross-town rival Manchester United.

Big-spending City was one of the teams heavily linked to speculation about Rooney, who has told United manager Alex Ferguson he does not want to extend his contract at Old Trafford beyond 2012.

Mancini said City hasn't spoken to the Englad international and believes the 24-year-old Rooney won't go anywhere.

"Rooney is a great player but I think he'll stay at United," said Mancini. "He's a good player, he's an important player for United.

"He is a United player. It's not correct to speak about that situation. I have respect for him, for Ferguson, for United. I want to speak only about my players."

Chelsea and Real Madrid have already said they would be interested in signing Rooney if he carried out his threat to leave United, as Europe's major clubs weigh up bids in the January transfer window.

City, which is owned by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour, would be one of the few clubs who could afford to pay the wages Rooney may demand.

Mansour has spent more than 300 million pounds ($475 million) on players, including Carlos Tevez, who left United in 2009 after his contract ran out to join City. Tevez had a season earlier teamed up with Rooney to win the Champions League with United in 2008.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday "everybody will be interested" if United was willing to sell Rooney before his transfer value starts to plummet as the end of his contract approaches.

"If at the end of the day Man United decide that he is to leave, then give me a call," said Mourinho.

If Rooney was to favor a move to Madrid, he would link up again with Cristiano Ronaldo, who struck up a superb partnership with the England striker at Old Trafford before leaving for the Spanish giants for 80 million pounds in June 2009.

"But I believe he belongs to Man United, he belongs to Man United fans, he belongs to Old Trafford. I believe he is going to stay," Mourinho added.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday that his club would be keen to move for Rooney if the striker was on the market.

Spanish champion and three-time European Cup winner Barcelona was also widely reported as a potential bidder for Rooney.

"He is one of the greatest players in the world as there are very few players with his qualities," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was quoted as telling The Sun newspaper. "He's a player I very much admire."

Sections of the British press said on Wednesday that money was the key factor behind Rooney's decision to walk away from United, despite Ferguson's claim that the club was willing to offer "the best terms possible for any player in the country."

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Rooney plunges United in crisis

What began as tabloid rumour became dramatic football fact this week when it was revealed Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to dismiss claims it was due to a fall out between the two but whatever the reason it is a serious dent to United’s hopes of silverware this season.

In the Champions League last season Rooney virtually carried the Red Devils to the quarter finals, before an ankle injury suffered against Bayern Munich proved the beginning of the end for his and United’s campaign, as those who bet on Champions League games will no doubt remember.

This year the club made a shaky start – etching out a nervy goalless draw with Scottish Champions Rangers. A win in Valencia got them back on track, but the latest revelations regarding Rooney has hit their preparations for the home tie against Bursapor.

An ankle injury is set to keep the England striker out anyway, but if he does leave in January, how far can United realistically go? The Champions League predictions suggest they could struggle.

Since the departure of Ronaldo he is their main goal threat, with the frustratingly inconsistent Dimitatr Berbatov and inexperienced Javier Hernandez their only other options.

Saturday’s league draw with West Brom also highlighted United’s deficiencies at the back and you have to wonder whether they can even get out of their group, let alone reach the latter stages.

Fergie has overcome plenty of challenges in his illustrious career, but this one could be his toughest yet.

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Rooney’s Future In Doubt As Man Utd Drop More Points

Over the weekend many would have thought that the biggest news story surrounding Man Utd would be the 2-2 draw at home to West Brom on Saturday, which saw Man Utd again lose a two goal lead to get their fifth draw of the league season. However the biggest story of the weekend was the news than Wayne Rooney is refusing to sign a new contract with the club and could leave as early as January.

Wayne Rooney has been in the newspapers for all the wrong reasons over the past couple of months with his form appearing to suffer for it. His performances in Man Utd shirts have been a shadow of what we have come to expect. The club have left him out of important matches appearing to want to protect the player but it appears as if there has been more to it with rumours that Rooneys relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson has deteriorated, possibly beyond repair.

The stories surrounding Rooneys refusal to sign a new contract are varied with some stating that the club simple won’t meet his wage demands with others seeming to point directly to his relationship with his manager.

Unsurprisingly there will be a number of clubs interested in signing Rooney with Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona and Real Madrid all clubs linked with possible moves. Man City are thought to be the early favourites being able to meet the transfer fee and salary demands. Whether he will be seen in the new Man Utd shirt next season remains to be seen.

The speculation surrounding Rooney is the last thing Man Utd need. The club are not too far behind in the league at the moment but need to start wining games if they are to realistically compete for the title this season and with their top striker possibly looking towards the exit door it doesn’t exactly inspire the other players in the team who looked to Rooney last year to drive the team forward.

There are sure to be a number of developments over the coming weeks with this story but if it proves to be true, and Rooney is heading for the exit door, then this will intensify the need for Man Utd to invest considerably in their squad. Man Utd already look weak in some positions and depend on players that are coming to the end of their careers. These players need to be replaced with top quality players and if Rooney goes, potentially relatively cheaply, it will be near on impossible to replace everyone with players of a similar standard.

Written by Colin Hill, a sports writer who blogs about football shirts.

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