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Upcoming Games

Today's Games Qualifier: 07/01/10 Qualifier: 07/08/10 Qualifier: 07/15/10 Qualifier: 07/22/10 - 07/23/10 Qualifier: 07/27/10 - 07/29/10 Qualifier: 08/03/10 - 08/05/10 First Round: 08/17/10 - 08/19/10 First Round: 08/24/10 - 08/26/10 Group Stage 9: 09/16/10 Group Stage 10: 09/30/10 Group Stage 11: 10/21/10 Group Stage 12: 11/04/10 Group Stage 13: 12/01/10 - 12/02/10 Group Stage 14: 12/15/10 - 12/16/10 Round of 32: 02/15/11 - 02/17/11 Round of 32: 02/22/11 - 02/24/11 Round of 16: 03/10/11 Round of 16: 03/17/11​

Thursday, March 10, 2011​

Round of 16​

Braga Municipal

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Sporting Braga​

1:00 PM ET

Liverpool​

Goals Cards Substitutions
BayArena

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Bayer Leverkusen​

1:00 PM ET

Villarreal​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Philipsstadion

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PSV Eindhoven​

1:00 PM ET

Rangers​

Goals Cards Substitutions
da Luz

Expand

Benfica​

3:05 PM ET

Paris SG​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium

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Dynamo Kiev​

3:05 PM ET

Manchester City​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Luzhniki Stadion

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CSKA Moscow​

1:00 PM ET

FC Porto​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Amsterdam ArenA

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Ajax​

3:05 PM ET

Spartak Moscow​

Goals Cards Substitutions
De Grolsch Veste

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FC Twente​

3:05 PM ET

Zenit St. Petersburg​

 

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Upcoming Games

Today's Games Qualifier: 06/29/10 - 06/30/10 Qualifier: 07/06/10 - 07/07/10 Qualifier: 07/13/10 - 07/14/10 Qualifier: 07/20/10 - 07/27/10 Qualifier: 07/27/10 - 07/28/10 Qualifier: 08/03/10 - 08/04/10 Playoff Round 1: 08/17/10 - 08/18/10 Playoff Round 1: 08/24/10 - 08/25/10 Super Cup: 08/27/10 Group Stage 1: 09/14/10 - 09/15/10 Group Stage 2: 09/28/10 - 09/29/10 Group Stage 3: 10/19/10 - 10/20/10 Group Stage 4: 11/02/10 - 11/03/10 Group Stage 5: 11/23/10 - 11/24/10 Group Stage 6: 12/07/10 - 12/08/10 Round of 16: 02/15/11 - 02/23/11 Round of 16: 03/08/11 - 03/16/11​

Tuesday, March 8, 2011​

Round of 16​

Camp Nou

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Barcelona​

2:45 PM ET

Arsenal​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Donbass Arena

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Shakhtar Donetsk​

2:45 PM ET

Roma​

Goals Cards Substitutions

Wednesday, March 9, 2011​

Round of 16​

White Hart Lane

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Tottenham Hotspur​

2:45 PM ET

AC Milan​

Goals Cards Substitutions
Veltins-Arena

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FC Schalke 04​

2:45 PM ET

Valencia​

 

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Completed Games

Today's Games Qualifier: 08/11/10 - 09/03/10 Qualifier: 09/07/10 Qualifier: 10/08/10 - 10/09/10 Qualifier: 10/12/10 Qualifier: 11/17/10 - 03/26/11 Qualifier: 03/29/11 Qualifier: 06/03/11 - 06/04/11 Qualifier: 06/07/11 - 08/10/11 Qualifier: 09/02/11 - 09/03/11 Qualifier: 09/06/11 Qualifier: 10/07/11 - 10/08/11 Qualifier: 10/11/11​

Wednesday, November 17, 2010​

Qualifier​

Group F - Maksimir Stadium

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Croatia​

3 : 0
Final

Malta​

Match Stats | Match Trax

(19') Niko Kranjcar

(42') Niko Kranjcar

(81') Nikola Kalinic
Goals

(74') Darijo Srna
Cards Massimo Grima (84')

(60') Nikola Kalinic

Mladen Petric

(69') Ivo Ilicevic

Rakitic

(78') Mario Mandzukic

Eduardo

Substitutions Ryan Fenech (70')

Andre Schembri

Kevin Sammut (82')

Daniel Bogdanovic

Paul Fenech (88')

Gareth Scibarras

Group E - Olympiastadion

Expand

Finland​

8 : 0
Final

San Marino​

Match Stats | Match Trax

 

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Liverpool v Manchester United, Premier League, 1.30pm Sunday 6 March

Luis Suárez savours prospect of partnership with Andy Carroll

• Forwards train together for first time
• Carroll could see action against United

• Tim Rich
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 22.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Andy Carroll, left, and Luis Suárez of Liverpool look on during a Liverpool training session. Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Beginnings, as Kenny Dalglish knows, are everything. He marked his first game at Anfield with a goal and so, within 16 minutes of coming on against Stoke City, did Luis Suárez. Others are not so fortunate. As Newcastle United's manager, Dalglish brought Jon Dahl Tomasson to St James' Park, where he blew a one-on-one against Sheffield Wednesday. His game on Tyneside never recovered. On Sunday, against Manchester United, it is likely to be Andy Carroll's turn.
  Whether he starts, the partnership with Suárez, upon which Liverpool have lavished £59m, cannot be long delayed. It is the classic big man, little man combination seen most effectively at Anfield when John Toshack and Kevin Keegan spearheaded Bill Shankly's attack. Having shaken off a thigh injury, Carroll has been training with Suárez for a number of days now and the Uruguayan has already wondered how defenders will cope.
  "He hasn't played a competitive game for two months but it is up to us as a group to ease him back in after all that time away," Suárez said, nursing a cup of mate at Liverpool's training ground at Melwood. "My impressions so far are that he is very tall, good in the air and has great feet. You have to remember that defenders here are very tall; that's why the duels between them are very good to watch but I still don't know how they are going to cope with him."
  Because of injury and suspension, the central defenders Sir Alex Ferguson will be able to deploy are the unconvincing combination of Chris Smalling and Wes Brown. "It is important for us that neither Vidic nor Ferdinand will be there," Suárez said. "But you have to say that any player who is at Manchester United must be there for a reason."
  For much of his time at Old Trafford, many wondered what Diego Forlán, Uruguay's last contribution to the Premier League, was doing until in December 2002 he scored twice in three minutes at Anfield. After the second, Gary Neville ran up and told him: "They will never forget you after that."
  As Suárez sips his mate through the traditional silver straw, the song United fans sang for Forlán is translated for him: "He comes from Uruguay, he made the scousers cry &#8230;"
  "Diego told me that this will be the most important game of the year for them &#8211; as it will be for us," Suárez said. "To score in a game like this is something you dream of. That United fans still sing that for Diego shows the power of the fixture. We know how important it is that Manchester United do not win the title. It would be a big prize to stop them winning the league.
  "I've played a lot of big derbies in Holland and Uruguay and for the national team, against Argentina and Brazil, so I am calm. The only derby I was ever nervous before was the one between Nacional and Peñarol when I was 18. If you become obsessed with how big the game is, you will get nervous and you'll take it into the match."
  In Amsterdam he was known for what South Americans call picardía, a bit of devilment &#8211; the cunning and ability to be there when it counts. "It is a hard quality to explain," he said. "[Ruud] van Nistelrooy and Raúl have it. At Ajax [for whom he scored almost a goal a game] and Groningen I was in the right place at the right time."
  He would hope that these qualities might erase the perception of him as the man whose handball in Johannesburg against Ghana helped steal the World Cup from Africa and whose career in Dutch football ended with a suspension for biting an opponent.
  "Sofia [his wife who left Uruguay at 16 to join him in the modest Dutch town of Groningen] said that if I behaved off the field like I do on the field she would not be with me," he said. "It would be great if people in this country had a positive image of me. The fans loved me at Ajax.
  "It is important for me to defend my team &#8211; that is what Uruguayans are like. When I wear the shirt of any team, I become a fan of that team."
  
  

 

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Liverpool v Manchester United, Premier League, 3pm Sunday 6 March

For Manchester United and Liverpool fans alike 19 is the magic number

Sir Alex Ferguson's team travel to Anfield in sight of the title win that would erase the bitterness of an April day 19 years ago

• • 
    
• Comments (209)

• 
• • Daniel Taylor
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 16.02 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Manchester United need one for title for 19, which would be one more than Liverpool have managed. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA An April day, 1992. Manchester United have lost 2-0 at Liverpool and once more their title hopes have gone cold. It is a quarter of a century since the trophy last had residence at Old Trafford and Anfield is rejoicing in their misery. Sir Alex Ferguson can still remember the shouts of "**** you" from the home dressing room. Ryan Giggs recalls it being the worst experience of his professional life. Outside the ground, a supporter asked for his autograph. "I signed it and he tore it up in front of my face."
  It was the season United had seemed certain to get rid of all that pent-up frustration, only for them to disintegrate during the final, traumatic few weeks. "Maybe it was the final lesson for us, the ultimate experience in humility," Ferguson said at the start of the next season. He pinned a photograph, entitled Dante's Inferno, up in the dressing room, showing the distraught faces on the bench &#8211; and it was there to "make sure it never happens again". Yet even when United won the league the following year, Liverpool had the power to belittle the achievement. Ferguson took his side to Anfield and a banner went up on the Kop: "Come back and sing Ooh-Aah Cantona when you've won 18."
  Those days can feel like a distant past &#8211; one that many Liverpool supporters will cling to &#8211; given the subsequent trajectory of the two clubs. Last season United's fans took their own banner to Anfield: "You told us to come back when we've won 18 &#8211; we are back." This season, the indignity could get even worse for Liverpool. Ferguson's team start this weekend four points clear of second-placed Arsenal and in a position of strength from which to win the title that would make them the most successful league club in English football. It would be their 19th, one more than Liverpool, when 20 years ago it was 18-7 in favour of the Merseyside club.
  When Kenny Dalglish was reminded ahead of Sunday's game of the shift in power he reached for the default setting, citing Liverpool's five European Cups to United's three. "We've still got bits we can hang on to," he said. But there was a glimpse of regret, too, from the man who masterminded Liverpool's last league title. "I never considered they would catch us," he admitted. "You take greater satisfaction from when your own team is successful, and they've been more successful than Liverpool over the past 20 years."
  Ferguson was not speaking to the media today but we knew what he would say about it anyway. There was no mention of equalling Liverpool's record when title No18 was won in 2009. No gloating, no reminding us of the one time when the tribal nature of this rivalry got the better of him and he famously told this newspaper that his greatest achievement was (expletive removed) "knocking them right off their perch". United's manager now swerves the question, to the point where journalists in Manchester have all but given up trying to extract his thoughts on the subject. "I'm not getting into that," has become the standard reply. "That's for the fans."
  Pete Shaw, writing for United's longest-running fanzine, Red News, made those feelings abundantly clear in a recent edition: "I can't get the thought of being that close to 19 out of my head. I just want to dance with 19, caress her. I delight in 18, but you want to be ahead. I want that crown. I almost obsess about it. That number. That 19."
  From inside the club, however, there has been very little on the subject. "You have to detach yourself from the emotions of it," said Giggs, United's longest-serving player. "I'm a United fan, I grew up in the 1980s when Liverpool were winning everything. But ultimately I'm just trying to concentrate on winning the league. Everything that comes after that &#8211; beating records, that sort of thing &#8211; it's great for the fans, brilliant for the fans. But I'm just trying to win the league."
  There is a desire not to say anything that might come across as gloating or being overly presumptuous, particularly after the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday. What is not particularly well-known, too, is that Ferguson regrets that quote about Liverpool and the way it has been repeated over the years to symbolise his antipathy towards the Anfield club when, in reality, Ferguson probably has more respect for them than any of United's other rivals.
  Ferguson will nod appreciatively when he talks about the history at Anfield. In his first book, A Light in the North, published in 1985 and telling the story of seven years at Aberdeen, he recalled his first visit to Liverpool, for the European Cup quarter-final against Saint-Etienne in 1977. "I didn't walk away from the ground after the game, I floated out," he wrote. "It was as if I had been given an injection of one of those stimulant drugs. Instead, all that happened was that I had been caught up in the most exciting football atmosphere I have ever experienced. These Liverpool fans support with passion!"
  On Merseyside they will argue it is not strictly true that he was responsible for Liverpool's downfall. Liverpool's last league title was in 1990 and Arsenal and Leeds United succeeded them before Ferguson won the first of his 11 championships.
  "Liverpool's decline began with Hillsborough in 1989, and the toll it took on Kenny Dalglish," according to Paul Tomkins, the author of several books about the Anfield club. "Roy Evans and Rafa Benítez took title races into May but once United had overtaken Liverpool in 1992 they had the formula for success: a winning mentality, managerial stability and increased riches."
  Tomkins recently released Pay As You Play, which uses a Current Transfer Purchase Price Index to calculate how much past transfers would be worth in the current market. "At the time of United's first modern-era success, Liverpool had the most expensive squad in the newly formed Premier League. In today's money, Graeme Souness spent £127m on Paul Stewart, Dean Saunders, Julian Dicks, Mark Walters, Michael Thomas, Neil Ruddock, Nigel Clough et al, and roughly £100m of it was not recouped; poor signings, poor investments. Liverpool have never fully recovered."
  Daniel Harris, author of On the Road, a book about his experiences of following United, can recall Liverpool's domination. "Should United win the league its principal joy will be in putting yet another one over on Liverpool," he says. "Growing up in the 1980s, my childhood was blighted by their relentless trophy accumulation; every second of revenge is a gorgeous thrill."
  Tomkins believes there has been "a certain inevitability about United reaching 19 first" and admits it is a worry for Liverpool's fans. "Of course," he adds, "we can still cling to how long we held the record, and more importantly, those five European Cups to United's three."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Liverpool v Manchester United, Premier League, 3pm Sunday 6 March

For Manchester United and Liverpool fans alike 19 is the magic number

Sir Alex Ferguson's team travel to Anfield in sight of the title win that would erase the bitterness of an April day 19 years ago

• • 
    
• Comments (209)

• 
• • Daniel Taylor
  • guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 16.02 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Manchester United need one for title for 19, which would be one more than Liverpool have managed. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA An April day, 1992. Manchester United have lost 2-0 at Liverpool and once more their title hopes have gone cold. It is a quarter of a century since the trophy last had residence at Old Trafford and Anfield is rejoicing in their misery. Sir Alex Ferguson can still remember the shouts of "**** you" from the home dressing room. Ryan Giggs recalls it being the worst experience of his professional life. Outside the ground, a supporter asked for his autograph. "I signed it and he tore it up in front of my face."
  It was the season United had seemed certain to get rid of all that pent-up frustration, only for them to disintegrate during the final, traumatic few weeks. "Maybe it was the final lesson for us, the ultimate experience in humility," Ferguson said at the start of the next season. He pinned a photograph, entitled Dante's Inferno, up in the dressing room, showing the distraught faces on the bench – and it was there to "make sure it never happens again". Yet even when United won the league the following year, Liverpool had the power to belittle the achievement. Ferguson took his side to Anfield and a banner went up on the Kop: "Come back and sing Ooh-Aah Cantona when you've won 18."
  Those days can feel like a distant past – one that many Liverpool supporters will cling to – given the subsequent trajectory of the two clubs. Last season United's fans took their own banner to Anfield: "You told us to come back when we've won 18 – we are back." This season, the indignity could get even worse for Liverpool. Ferguson's team start this weekend four points clear of second-placed Arsenal and in a position of strength from which to win the title that would make them the most successful league club in English football. It would be their 19th, one more than Liverpool, when 20 years ago it was 18-7 in favour of the Merseyside club.
  When Kenny Dalglish was reminded ahead of Sunday's game of the shift in power he reached for the default setting, citing Liverpool's five European Cups to United's three. "We've still got bits we can hang on to," he said. But there was a glimpse of regret, too, from the man who masterminded Liverpool's last league title. "I never considered they would catch us," he admitted. "You take greater satisfaction from when your own team is successful, and they've been more successful than Liverpool over the past 20 years."
  Ferguson was not speaking to the media today but we knew what he would say about it anyway. There was no mention of equalling Liverpool's record when title No18 was won in 2009. No gloating, no reminding us of the one time when the tribal nature of this rivalry got the better of him and he famously told this newspaper that his greatest achievement was (expletive removed) "knocking them right off their perch". United's manager now swerves the question, to the point where journalists in Manchester have all but given up trying to extract his thoughts on the subject. "I'm not getting into that," has become the standard reply. "That's for the fans."
  Pete Shaw, writing for United's longest-running fanzine, Red News, made those feelings abundantly clear in a recent edition: "I can't get the thought of being that close to 19 out of my head. I just want to dance with 19, caress her. I delight in 18, but you want to be ahead. I want that crown. I almost obsess about it. That number. That 19."
  From inside the club, however, there has been very little on the subject. "You have to detach yourself from the emotions of it," said Giggs, United's longest-serving player. "I'm a United fan, I grew up in the 1980s when Liverpool were winning everything. But ultimately I'm just trying to concentrate on winning the league. Everything that comes after that – beating records, that sort of thing – it's great for the fans, brilliant for the fans. But I'm just trying to win the league."
  There is a desire not to say anything that might come across as gloating or being overly presumptuous, particularly after the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday. What is not particularly well-known, too, is that Ferguson regrets that quote about Liverpool and the way it has been repeated over the years to symbolise his antipathy towards the Anfield club when, in reality, Ferguson probably has more respect for them than any of United's other rivals.
  Ferguson will nod appreciatively when he talks about the history at Anfield. In his first book, A Light in the North, published in 1985 and telling the story of seven years at Aberdeen, he recalled his first visit to Liverpool, for the European Cup quarter-final against Saint-Etienne in 1977. "I didn't walk away from the ground after the game, I floated out," he wrote. "It was as if I had been given an injection of one of those stimulant drugs. Instead, all that happened was that I had been caught up in the most exciting football atmosphere I have ever experienced. These Liverpool fans support with passion!"
  On Merseyside they will argue it is not strictly true that he was responsible for Liverpool's downfall. Liverpool's last league title was in 1990 and Arsenal and Leeds United succeeded them before Ferguson won the first of his 11 championships.
  "Liverpool's decline began with Hillsborough in 1989, and the toll it took on Kenny Dalglish," according to Paul Tomkins, the author of several books about the Anfield club. "Roy Evans and Rafa Benítez took title races into May but once United had overtaken Liverpool in 1992 they had the formula for success: a winning mentality, managerial stability and increased riches."
  Tomkins recently released Pay As You Play, which uses a Current Transfer Purchase Price Index to calculate how much past transfers would be worth in the current market. "At the time of United's first modern-era success, Liverpool had the most expensive squad in the newly formed Premier League. In today's money, Graeme Souness spent £127m on Paul Stewart, Dean Saunders, Julian Dicks, Mark Walters, Michael Thomas, Neil Ruddock, Nigel Clough et al, and roughly £100m of it was not recouped; poor signings, poor investments. Liverpool have never fully recovered."
  Daniel Harris, author of On the Road, a book about his experiences of following United, can recall Liverpool's domination. "Should United win the league its principal joy will be in putting yet another one over on Liverpool," he says. "Growing up in the 1980s, my childhood was blighted by their relentless trophy accumulation; every second of revenge is a gorgeous thrill."
  Tomkins believes there has been "a certain inevitability about United reaching 19 first" and admits it is a worry for Liverpool's fans. "Of course," he adds, "we can still cling to how long we held the record, and more importantly, those five European Cups to United's three."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Samir Nasri can almost 'feel' Arsenal's hands on Premier League trophy

Playmaker examines Arsenal's run-in and predicts how and when his side can defeat Manchester United in title race

• David Hytner
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 22.30 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Samir Nasri of Arsenal says his team's remaining games are easier than those of Manchester United. Photograph: Gary Prior/Getty Images for adidas Samir Nasri takes his seat at the table. The location is one of Wembley's dressing rooms yet it feels a little like an expensive hotel suite, all dark wood upholstery and hi-spec finishing. Someone cracks a joke about a Mafiosi sit-down. "We're here to make you an offer you can't refuse &#8230;" Arsenal's man of the season laughs.
  Nasri's message, though, is not out of keeping with the imagined theme. When the kid from the mean streets of Marseille talks, he reveals ambition, calculation and steely desire. His business is indeed pressing. "We know that it is today or never," he says. The 23-year-old is referring to the Premier League title and Arsenal's designs upon it. The fight looks to have boiled down to a straight shootout with Manchester United and Nasri admits that he can almost "feel" the trophy. He seeks to clarify his statement.
  "When I say it is now or never, in French we say this as well, it doesn't mean that if we don't do it this year, we will never win a trophy," he says. "But what I mean is that it is our best chance since I came to a club to do it. It feels like that to me. Chelsea are not as good as last year, Manchester United as well, so it is our time."
  Nasri speaks critically about his club's rivals, which is unusual for a high-profile footballer but it reinforces the strength of his character. "When we played against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December [Arsenal lost 1-0], they didn't play in the normal way," he says. "They were scared. They played with three defensive midfielders and they closed the game. They know that we can beat them.
  "United are not like they were two years ago with Cristiano Ronaldo and [Carlos] Tevez. For me, they were untouchable. Every time at Old Trafford, they scored in the 90th minute and they made the difference always against the small teams. This year, away from home, they have been unconvincing. Chelsea as well, I don't know what happened to them but they just fell down after eight games or so. This year we have had fewer injuries and everyone has grown up, and that's why I say what I say."
  Nasri has scrutinised the remaining fixtures and he pinpoints Arsenal's game in hand on United as being potentially decisive. It comes away to Tottenham Hotspur on 20 April. Arsenal famously won their last league title at White Hart Lane in 2004. "If we beat Sunderland, we move to within a point of United and then they play at Liverpool on Sunday without [Nemanja] Vidic and [Rio] Ferdinand and, this year, United are really strong at the back so something can happen there. They hate each other. And if we win our game at Tottenham, we can be on top. So that is why I say we feel we can win the title.
  "We have the best schedule. United still have to play Liverpool, Chelsea at home and they have to come to the Emirates to play us. I think we have more chance than United because I am convinced of our quality and I know that the Carling Cup will help us now to face the other targets that we have."
  The Carling Cup final against Birmingham City last Sunday was supposed to provide Arsenal with their first silverware since 2005 and the springboard to greater glories in May. Instead it served up last-minute calamity, a familiar sinking feeling and yet more questions about the team's mental toughness. "If you win the Carling Cup, it can give you confidence and sometimes when you haven't won a trophy you become scared of winning," Nasri says. "Winning the Carling Cup could have helped us but now we have to show we are men, that we have the guts to give our answer in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup."
  Nasri admitted that fear had undermined his team in the past, specifically when they fell to Barcelona in last season's Champions League quarter-final. This season's last 16 re-match is delicately poised, with Arsenal 2-1 up ahead of Tuesday's second leg at the Camp Nou, but Nasri anticipates a different outcome. This time out, he feels, Arsenal have found liberation in the role of underdogs.
  "Last year we didn't touch the ball," he says. "They were everywhere, it was like playing 16 against 11. It really was a nightmare. Maybe we were scared of them as they were fantastic. But this year we said we had nothing to lose. We just played our game and we beat them. At the Camp Nou they will have to attack and they will leave space for us to score on the counter-attack and so we will do it."
  Nasri does not disguise his admiration for Barcelona, the club that he could have joined from Marseille at the age of 16. His agent held talks with Txiki Begiristain, who was then the Barcelona sporting director, but no official offer was forthcoming. May Nasri play one day for the Catalans?
  "When I was younger my hero was [Diego] Maradona," he says. "After that it was Ronaldo and [Zinedine] Zidane but Maradona played for Barcelona. The game that they have is the way that I love football. I don't make plans for my future. I have learned that you cannot predict what will happen."
  Nasri said that he could not rule out playing for another English club, although he did make one exception. "I will not play for Tottenham," he says. "It's like in France, I cannot play for Paris St-Germain [Marseille's rivals] because I'm faithful."
  But William Gallas swapped Arsenal for Tottenham. "That's another good reason not to go there," he says. Nasri's feud with Gallas is well documented.
  Nasri will discuss a new contract at Arsenal in the summer &#8211; talks are currently on hold &#8211; and he says that he wants to stay. The weather apart, he likes London, he is happy at Arsenal and he acknowledges that they have made him into the player that he is today.
  His progress this season has been eye-catching. Being overlooked for the France World Cup squad last summer has helped him physically and perhaps motivated him further while his numbers speak for themselves. The headline statistic is his 14 goals in all competitions; he had 12 across his first two seasons at the club and he is being talked about loudly as a potential Footballer of the Year.
  Individual accolades, though, will not suffice. When rival clubs splashed the cash in January, it heightened the sense that opportunity knocked for Arsenal. "We keep hearing we have quality, quality, quality," says Nasri, "but we have to show it and that means winning a trophy."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson to ignore legal advice and appeal FA charge

&#8226; Ferguson faces five-match touchline ban if found guilty
&#8226; United manager criticised referee Martin Atkinson at Chelsea

• Daniel Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 22.30 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Sir Alex Ferguson criticised the referee Martin Atkinson after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport Sir Alex Ferguson has ignored the advice of Manchester United's legal team by pleading not guilty to his Football Association charge of improper conduct, risking a five-match touchline ban in the process.
  Ferguson met the club's representatives on Friday morning, when it was recommended to him that he admit the offence, but the United manager made it clear that he felt he had a legitimate case to fight the charge.
  The club have informed the FA and a hearing is being scheduled for Ferguson to explain his post-match criticisms of the referee Martin Atkinson after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, in particular his complaint that the occasion did not get a "fair referee". The implication was of Atkinson showing bias towards Chelsea but United's defence team will present the FA with video footage highlighting what they consider to be mistakes in favour of the London club, not just from this fixture but also the corresponding game last season.
  Ferguson has two matches of a four-game touchline ban hanging over him as a suspended sentence for his criticisms of Alan Wiley in 2009, when he alleged the referee was physically unfit to officiate in the Premier League and had been stopping to catch his breath during breaks in play.
  With that in mind, the United manager was advised that he would probably receive a three-match ban from the dugout if he admitted he had gone too far in his criticisms of Atkinson but that the punishment could be extended to four or five games if he denied the charge and it was proven.
  A brooding Ferguson did not make himself available for the usual Friday press briefing at United's training ground, refusing to discuss Sunday's game at Liverpool even with MUTV, the club's television station with which the offending interview took place. He has, however, spoken to Sirius XM's The Football Show and used the New York-based station to have a thinly veiled dig at Rafael Benítez. "Winning the European Cup gave Benítez some leeway for a few years," he said of the former Liverpool manager. "The European Cup is very important for Liverpool &#8211; they've won it five times &#8211; and that's why Rafa survived as long as he did, because the fact is they had a lot of bad results at the time."
  Darren Fletcher, the United midfielder, has followed Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick by signing a new contract, tying him to the club until 2015.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

• Sport
• Football
• Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson to ignore legal advice and appeal FA charge

• Ferguson faces five-match touchline ban if found guilty
• United manager criticised referee Martin Atkinson at Chelsea

• Daniel Taylor
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 22.30 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Sir Alex Ferguson criticised the referee Martin Atkinson after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport Sir Alex Ferguson has ignored the advice of Manchester United's legal team by pleading not guilty to his Football Association charge of improper conduct, risking a five-match touchline ban in the process.
  Ferguson met the club's representatives on Friday morning, when it was recommended to him that he admit the offence, but the United manager made it clear that he felt he had a legitimate case to fight the charge.
  The club have informed the FA and a hearing is being scheduled for Ferguson to explain his post-match criticisms of the referee Martin Atkinson after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, in particular his complaint that the occasion did not get a "fair referee". The implication was of Atkinson showing bias towards Chelsea but United's defence team will present the FA with video footage highlighting what they consider to be mistakes in favour of the London club, not just from this fixture but also the corresponding game last season.
  Ferguson has two matches of a four-game touchline ban hanging over him as a suspended sentence for his criticisms of Alan Wiley in 2009, when he alleged the referee was physically unfit to officiate in the Premier League and had been stopping to catch his breath during breaks in play.
  With that in mind, the United manager was advised that he would probably receive a three-match ban from the dugout if he admitted he had gone too far in his criticisms of Atkinson but that the punishment could be extended to four or five games if he denied the charge and it was proven.
  A brooding Ferguson did not make himself available for the usual Friday press briefing at United's training ground, refusing to discuss Sunday's game at Liverpool even with MUTV, the club's television station with which the offending interview took place. He has, however, spoken to Sirius XM's The Football Show and used the New York-based station to have a thinly veiled dig at Rafael Benítez. "Winning the European Cup gave Benítez some leeway for a few years," he said of the former Liverpool manager. "The European Cup is very important for Liverpool – they've won it five times – and that's why Rafa survived as long as he did, because the fact is they had a lot of bad results at the time."
  Darren Fletcher, the United midfielder, has followed Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick by signing a new contract, tying him to the club until 2015.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Darren Fletcher signs new four-year deal with Manchester United

&#8226; 27-year-old midfielder commits to club until 2015
&#8226; 'I take great pride in playing for Manchester United'

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 11.10 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Darren Fletcher has been at Manchester United since he was 15. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images Darren Fletcher has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2015.
  "I take great pride in playing for Manchester United," said the midfielder, who joined the club in 2000. "I have won many trophies in my years playing here and I am looking forward to winning many more in the seasons to come."
  Although Fletcher has not always been an automatic starter for United, in more recent years he has become a significant figure in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad. His absence through suspension was cited as one of the reasons why the side performed so badly in the 2009 Champions League final against Barcelona.
  Ferguson said: "Darren has been at the club since he was 15. I am extremely proud that he came through the ranks of our youth academy and am delighted Darren has signed a new contract. He has developed into a top-class midfielder."
  Fletcher has now made 288 appearances, scoring 21 goals. He has won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup. In addition, he is the current Scotland captain, having inherited the armband from Barry Ferguson.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Real Madrid review security as José Mourinho security guard is stabbed

&#8226; Incident happened at airport in La Coruña
&#8226; Injury is not serious and was not caused by knife

• Sid Lowe
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 20.02 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  The Real Madrid coach, José Mourinho, was unhurt in the incident. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images Real Madrid have increased security measures around José Mourinho after a member of the coach's security team was stabbed with an unidentified weapon. The incident occurred as the Real team were travelling to La Coruña to face Deportivo last weekend, it emerged on Friday.
  Mourinho was making his way through Alvedro airport when the incident happened but he was only informed of events on Friday The injury to the security guard does not appear to have been serious. It is unclear whether Mourinho was the intended target. Real Madrid are awaiting the results of police investigation and CCTV footage is being studied.
  In the meantime Real, who will travel to Santander on Sunday, have decided to review the security arrangements around their often controversial coach in a climate of growing tension and hostility towards him. It has not been confirmed whether they will overturn the decision &#8211; taken by the club president, Florentino Pérez &#8211; that playing staff should make their own way through terminals rather than being collected on the runway. Pérez wants to foster a sense of closeness between the club and its fans. Two players are always chosen to sign autographs at the team's hotel.
  According to reports on the Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Mourinho was making his way through a crowd of supporters who had gathered to welcome the team to La Coruña. He may have stopped to sign autographs. He was flanked by security staff, one of whom noticed a slight pain in his side. When he arrived at the coach, the security guard noticed that he had sustained a small cut of around four centimetres, believed to have been caused by a sharp object but not a knife.
  Real Madrid have not commented officially and have sought to downplay the incident.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Premier League players join mourners at funeral of Dean Richards

&#8226; Funeral for former defender takes place at Bradford cathedral
&#8226; Robbie Keane and James Beattie among mourners

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 16.06 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Dean Richards's funeral took place in the former defender's home city of Bradford. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Premier League players have joined hundreds of mourners at the funeral of Dean Richards, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur defender. Richards, who was forced to retire from the game in 2005 following illness, died last weekend aged 36.
  The Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane and the on-loan Blackpool forward James Beattie joined friends, family and former colleagues for the funeral at Bradford cathedral, Richards's home city in west Yorkshire. The Wolves veteran Steve Bull and the former Bradford City manager Chris Kamara also attended the service.
  Richards is fondly remembered at Wolves, where he moved after impressing with Bradford. He went on to play for Southampton and Tottenham, who paid £8.1m for his services.
  Richards was forced to retire from the game after suffering from dizzy spells and headaches &#8211; an illness which was initially diagnosed as an inner ear infection.
  "Deano was a giant," Kamara said. "He played with elegance and composure and was a joy to watch. He was a star player with a Rolls-Royce engine.
  "In the football community we're all stunned. You can't get your head round it. He was someone who brought joy to everyone and, if you knew him, played with him or worked with him, you knew what a character he was."
  Mark Lawn, the Bradford joint-chairman, said: "He was a nice guy and very down-to-earth. Players now would be a lot better men if they took a leaf out of his book. He came back in 2007 to coach the youth players, but I don't think we paid him. That was a mark of the man &#8211; he just wanted to give something back."
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Premier League players join mourners at funeral of Dean Richards

• Funeral for former defender takes place at Bradford cathedral
• Robbie Keane and James Beattie among mourners

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 March 2011 16.06 GMT <li class="history">Article history
  
  Dean Richards's funeral took place in the former defender's home city of Bradford. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Premier League players have joined hundreds of mourners at the funeral of Dean Richards, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur defender. Richards, who was forced to retire from the game in 2005 following illness, died last weekend aged 36.
  The Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane and the on-loan Blackpool forward James Beattie joined friends, family and former colleagues for the funeral at Bradford cathedral, Richards's home city in west Yorkshire. The Wolves veteran Steve Bull and the former Bradford City manager Chris Kamara also attended the service.
  Richards is fondly remembered at Wolves, where he moved after impressing with Bradford. He went on to play for Southampton and Tottenham, who paid £8.1m for his services.
  Richards was forced to retire from the game after suffering from dizzy spells and headaches – an illness which was initially diagnosed as an inner ear infection.
  "Deano was a giant," Kamara said. "He played with elegance and composure and was a joy to watch. He was a star player with a Rolls-Royce engine.
  "In the football community we're all stunned. You can't get your head round it. He was someone who brought joy to everyone and, if you knew him, played with him or worked with him, you knew what a character he was."
  Mark Lawn, the Bradford joint-chairman, said: "He was a nice guy and very down-to-earth. Players now would be a lot better men if they took a leaf out of his book. He came back in 2007 to coach the youth players, but I don't think we paid him. That was a mark of the man – he just wanted to give something back."