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Sir Alex Ferguson slams referee as Manchester United lose to Chelsea

• United manager questions official's integrity after 2-1 defeat
• 'You want a strong referee and we didn't get that'




  • Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
  • The Guardian, Wednesday 2 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Sir-Alex-Ferguson-007.jpg
    Sir Alex Ferguson shows his frustration at a decision by the referee, Martin Atkinson, during Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea Photograph: Tom Hevezi/AP Sir Alex Ferguson launched a scathing attack on the referee Martin Atkinson, questioning the official's appointment for this fixture and effectively casting doubt on his integrity, after Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-1 to prise open the title race.
    The United manager was left livid after Atkinson failed to dismiss David Luiz for a series of fouls committed by the Brazilian defender, only one of which earned him a booking. The visitors ended up reduced to 10 themselves when Nemanja Vidic was sent off in stoppage time, leaving them without both the Serb and the injured England captain, Rio Ferdinand, for Sunday's trip to Liverpool.
    Ferguson, whose side now sit four points clear of Arsenal having played a game more, had been spared the loss of Wayne Rooney for this fixture despite the striker's apparent elbow on Wigan's James McCarthy at the weekend but has now courted potential sanction from the Football Association himself. "You hope you get a really strong referee in games like this," he said. "It was a major game for both clubs and you want a fair referee, you know ... You want a strong referee, anyway, and we didn't get that."
    Atkinson has officiated 12 games at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea winning 11, and was in charge of the equivalent fixture last season in which United disputed the award of a free-kick against Darren Fletcher from which John Terry scored the game's only goal. Asked whether he was surprised that the same referee was appointed for this match, Ferguson said: "Exactly, exactly. I don't know why he's got the game. I must say that, when I saw who was refereeing it, I feared the worst."
    Ferguson disputed the award of the 80th-minute penalty as "so soft" but his main complaints centred on David Luiz's three challenges, the first of which floored Javier Hernández some three minutes after the Chelsea defender had drawn them level. That went unpunished, with the Brazilian then booked for a late tackle on Rooney only for a second brush with the England striker to go ignored.
    "It was incredible," said Ferguson, who will play Wes Brown alongside Smalling at Anfield. "I don't know how he's on the pitch. Even before that [first foul on Rooney] he'd done Chicharito [Hernández] off the ball, late. Nothing's done and the referee's in front of it. He's then done Rooney, clear as day, and he's six yards from him. Doesn't do anything.
    "These decisions change the game, and he's going to be refereeing every week. I was proud of my players. They've endured a lot of decisions against them, they've carried themselves through it, done their best, created chances with good football, and didn't deserve that."
    Asked whether Chelsea, now 12 points adrift of the leaders, had thrust themselves back into the title race, Ferguson added: "If they keep getting decisions like tonight, it could change everything. They got a lot of decisions in a major game and that surprised me. It's been three years in a row now down here. It's hard to take."
    Carlo Ancelotti admitted David Luiz "might have been lucky" but was impressed with the centre-half's performance. This victory ensured the champions leapfrogged Tottenham Hotspur back into fourth place, with Frank Lampard claiming a "signal" had been sent out as to the team's intent.
    Yet, even with their deficit from United cut with a game in hand and a trip to Old Trafford to come, Ancelotti conceded the gap could not be bridged to the top. "It's too far, too far," he said. "Also because they're a very good and strong team, and it'll be hard for them to lose points in the next few games. I cannot believe we are this far behind, but we have to be honest. United have played with more consistency than us. But this was an important win for our form and confidence."

 
Sir Alex Ferguson slams referee as Manchester United lose to Chelsea

• United manager questions official's integrity after 2-1 defeat
• 'You want a strong referee and we didn't get that'




  • Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
  • The Guardian, Wednesday 2 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Sir-Alex-Ferguson-007.jpg
    Sir Alex Ferguson shows his frustration at a decision by the referee, Martin Atkinson, during Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea Photograph: Tom Hevezi/AP Sir Alex Ferguson launched a scathing attack on the referee Martin Atkinson, questioning the official's appointment for this fixture and effectively casting doubt on his integrity, after Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-1 to prise open the title race.
    The United manager was left livid after Atkinson failed to dismiss David Luiz for a series of fouls committed by the Brazilian defender, only one of which earned him a booking. The visitors ended up reduced to 10 themselves when Nemanja Vidic was sent off in stoppage time, leaving them without both the Serb and the injured England captain, Rio Ferdinand, for Sunday's trip to Liverpool.
    Ferguson, whose side now sit four points clear of Arsenal having played a game more, had been spared the loss of Wayne Rooney for this fixture despite the striker's apparent elbow on Wigan's James McCarthy at the weekend but has now courted potential sanction from the Football Association himself. "You hope you get a really strong referee in games like this," he said. "It was a major game for both clubs and you want a fair referee, you know ... You want a strong referee, anyway, and we didn't get that."
    Atkinson has officiated 12 games at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea winning 11, and was in charge of the equivalent fixture last season in which United disputed the award of a free-kick against Darren Fletcher from which John Terry scored the game's only goal. Asked whether he was surprised that the same referee was appointed for this match, Ferguson said: "Exactly, exactly. I don't know why he's got the game. I must say that, when I saw who was refereeing it, I feared the worst."
    Ferguson disputed the award of the 80th-minute penalty as "so soft" but his main complaints centred on David Luiz's three challenges, the first of which floored Javier Hernández some three minutes after the Chelsea defender had drawn them level. That went unpunished, with the Brazilian then booked for a late tackle on Rooney only for a second brush with the England striker to go ignored.
    "It was incredible," said Ferguson, who will play Wes Brown alongside Smalling at Anfield. "I don't know how he's on the pitch. Even before that [first foul on Rooney] he'd done Chicharito [Hernández] off the ball, late. Nothing's done and the referee's in front of it. He's then done Rooney, clear as day, and he's six yards from him. Doesn't do anything.
    "These decisions change the game, and he's going to be refereeing every week. I was proud of my players. They've endured a lot of decisions against them, they've carried themselves through it, done their best, created chances with good football, and didn't deserve that."
    Asked whether Chelsea, now 12 points adrift of the leaders, had thrust themselves back into the title race, Ferguson added: "If they keep getting decisions like tonight, it could change everything. They got a lot of decisions in a major game and that surprised me. It's been three years in a row now down here. It's hard to take."
    Carlo Ancelotti admitted David Luiz "might have been lucky" but was impressed with the centre-half's performance. This victory ensured the champions leapfrogged Tottenham Hotspur back into fourth place, with Frank Lampard claiming a "signal" had been sent out as to the team's intent.
    Yet, even with their deficit from United cut with a game in hand and a trip to Old Trafford to come, Ancelotti conceded the gap could not be bridged to the top. "It's too far, too far," he said. "Also because they're a very good and strong team, and it'll be hard for them to lose points in the next few games. I cannot believe we are this far behind, but we have to be honest. United have played with more consistency than us. But this was an important win for our form and confidence."
 
Liverpool hope Andy Carroll and others will face Manchester United

&#8226; Raul Meireles, Daniel Agger and Fábio Aurélio all near fitness
&#8226; Coach Steve Clarke upbeat about injured players' prospects




  • Andy Hunter
  • guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 March 2011 18.25 GMT <li class="history">Article history
    Andy-Carroll-007.jpg
    Liverpool's £35m signing, Andy Carroll, could make his debut against Manchester United on Sunday. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images Liverpool's first-team coach, Steve Clarke, has said that Raul Meireles, Daniel Agger and Fábio Aurélio all have a chance of facing Manchester United on Sunday. The record signing Andy Carroll is also close to making his first appearance for the club.
    Carroll last played in Newcastle United's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 28 December and he was not involved in Liverpool reserves' game against Blackburn on Monday. However, the £35m striker, who has a thigh injury, has returned to training with Kenny Dalglish's first-team squad and will be assessed towards the end of the week, with a view to making his debut against United.
    Meireles and Martin Kelly were injured in Sunday's defeat at West Ham. Kelly will be out for a month, having torn a hamstring, but Meireles could play despite suffering a knee injury at Upton Park.
    Clarke said: "We're hopeful. He [Meireles] had a little problem with his knee and as a precaution at the start of the second half we thought it was better to take him off. That gives him a better chance of being ready for the next game. He'll get three or four days on the easier list and then hopefully towards the end of the week we'll be able to put him back in the preparations for the weekend."
    Liverpool were also without Agger, Aurélio and Sotirios Kyrgiakos at West Ham but the Dane and the Brazilian, who suffered leg and adductor injuries in the Europa League tie against Sparta Prague, are due back in full training.
    "They are both on the easy list at the moment," Clarke said. "We're almost sure Fábio Aurélio will join us on Thursday and we're hopeful Daniel will join us on Thursday or Friday at the latest."

 
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