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Rutashubanyuma · Apr 9, 2011

Manchester United 2

Berbatov 12,
Valencia 32

Fulham 0

Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 9 April 2011 17.14 BST <li class="history">Article history

Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov celebrates after scoring against Fulham Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Sir Alex Ferguson appealed for the famous fighting spirit to see Manchester United through the crucial games that remain, though there was really no need against Fulham, who were about as convincing as their new statue and nowhere near as frightening.
United are now 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with six games to play and, like this match, the title race no longer appears much of a contest.
This was more like a lap of honour than the later stages of a marathon, an undemanding stroll in the sun in front of warmly appreciative supporters in their shirt-sleeves.
United have not won anything yet, though it certainly feels as though the league is in the bag. Despite making eight changes from his midweek Champions League line-up and playing only one man up front, Ferguson still saw his side collect the points while barely breaking a sweat.
While the manager's horse might have pulled up in the Grand National, it is going to take a collapse of Devon Loch proportions to halt his team's run to an historic 19th title.
"It's all about winning at this stage, but we were a bit casual and lackadaisical in the second half," Ferguson said. "We played well in the first half and could have had a couple more, but we were wasteful in possession in the second half and could have been punished for that.
"Fulham are a good team, they had chances to score. I don't think it was a risk making so many changes, you have to trust your squad and we had quite a few players who needed games.
"I think I picked the right team, but it was slow in the second half. It was a hot day and I think a lot of people were sunbathing. The supporters must have been saving their voices for Tuesday against Chelsea."
For all that, when United took the lead in the 12th minute it was almost against the run of play.
Fulham had not been causing the home defence any great problems, yet, even by that early stage, they had managed three decent goal attempts – Tomasz Kuszczak saving from Gaël Kakuta and Moussa Dembélé before Bobby Zamora blazed wide when he should have at least hit the target.
Dimitar Berbatov's 21st goal of the season put an end to all that, confirming that, even with just the Bulgarian spearheading the attack, United carry a valid goal threat and, once behind, Fulham accepted their lot quite meekly.
Though Berbatov was in at the beginning of the move that brought the goal, he had taken up a position as a spectator on the edge of the box as Nani beat a couple of players in an attempt to score one of the solo goals of the season. Berbatov was only just level when the ball broke to him after Nani's shot rebounded from Chris Baird, but the flag stayed down and the striker made short work of beating Mark Schwarzer with a shot into the bottom corner.
There was also a suspicion of offside when Nani set up United's second, racing on to Patrice Evra's pass to beat the offside trap and evade Schwarzer's desperate rush from his area. The goalkeeper having sold himself too early, it was a simple matter for Nani to weigh up his options, though there was still a pleasing elegance about the way he calmly chipped the ball across goal for Antonio Valencia to nod in from close range.
Or at least it appeared that way at first… replays suggested Nani had been trying to shoot and the ball reached Valencia via Aaron Hughes's attempted goalline clearance.
Fulham hardly bothered to protest either of the borderline decisions, possibly because they were relieved United had not stirred themselves sufficiently to go further ahead.
Even with Wayne Rooney suspended, Ryan Giggs rested and Javier Hernández unused on the bench, the home side had chances. Anderson should have scored when Berbatov whisked past Brede Hangeland and cut the ball back to him, and when Nani, once more, evaded Baird and the rest of the Fulham cover on the left, his final delivery missed the three red shirts waiting on the six-yard line.
Fulham improved when Eidur Gudjohnsen came on in the second half and the substitute came close to scoring with a drive from outside the area that flew only inches wide, while Zoltan Gera missed an even better chance 10 minutes from the end. With Zamora also putting a free-kick narrowly wide, Fulham had enough opportunities to take something from the game as United coasted, though they seemed fearful of increasing the urgency in case it inspired United to step up theirs.
If the title race ended early with last weekend's results, as many suspect may turn out to be the case, then here was an early end-of-season game. It seemed to suit both sides.
"We never looked like getting back on terms after going two down," Fulham's manager, Mark Hughes, admitted. "The first was offside, but it was still a poor goal to concede. We didn't really ask enough questions of United and you always sensed they could up the tempo if they needed to.
"They are ticking off the games now. It's a big ask, but you've got to give them a chance of the Treble. If anyone can manage their resources over the remaining games, this club can. They understand what it takes."
THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

SHAUN O'DONNELL, Observer reader I think we'll get No19 now. We keep winning and the others are running out of games. I thought we'd steamroll them, the way it started – Nani did some brilliant things first half – but after the second goal it turned into a bit of a damp squib. Fulham looked like a team waiting to go on holiday. We've got lots of games coming up, each one like a cup final, so it was good to have a more low-key game today.
The fan's player ratings Kuszczak 6; O'Shea 7, Smalling 7, Vidic 7, Evra 6; Scholes 7; Valencia 8 (Owen 73 6), Gibson 7, Anderson 7 (F da Silva 77 6), Nani 9 (Carrick 87 n/a); Berbatov 8
EDDIE FREMANTLE, Observer reader We created three good chances in the first 10 minutes, but once they scored it was game over. It was an end-of-season performance, including a horrible catalogue of errors for the second goal, and we wanted a bit more than that because they had rested a few. Gudjohnsen was a bright spark when he came on in the second half, but Vidic outclassed Zamora all game and we missed Duff a lot.
The fan's player ratings Schwarzer 5; Baird 6, Hughes 7, Hangeland 5, Salcido 5; Kakuta 4, Etuhu 5 (Gera 68 6), Murphy 7 (Greening 82 n/a), Dempsey 5; Dembélé 5 (Gudjohnsen 57 8), Zamora 6
To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 9, 2011

Manchester United 2

Berbatov 12,
Valencia 32

Fulham 0

Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 9 April 2011 17.14 BST <li class="history">Article history

Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov celebrates after scoring against Fulham Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Sir Alex Ferguson appealed for the famous fighting spirit to see Manchester United through the crucial games that remain, though there was really no need against Fulham, who were about as convincing as their new statue and nowhere near as frightening.
United are now 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with six games to play and, like this match, the title race no longer appears much of a contest.
This was more like a lap of honour than the later stages of a marathon, an undemanding stroll in the sun in front of warmly appreciative supporters in their shirt-sleeves.
United have not won anything yet, though it certainly feels as though the league is in the bag. Despite making eight changes from his midweek Champions League line-up and playing only one man up front, Ferguson still saw his side collect the points while barely breaking a sweat.
While the manager's horse might have pulled up in the Grand National, it is going to take a collapse of Devon Loch proportions to halt his team's run to an historic 19th title.
"It's all about winning at this stage, but we were a bit casual and lackadaisical in the second half," Ferguson said. "We played well in the first half and could have had a couple more, but we were wasteful in possession in the second half and could have been punished for that.
"Fulham are a good team, they had chances to score. I don't think it was a risk making so many changes, you have to trust your squad and we had quite a few players who needed games.
"I think I picked the right team, but it was slow in the second half. It was a hot day and I think a lot of people were sunbathing. The supporters must have been saving their voices for Tuesday against Chelsea."
For all that, when United took the lead in the 12th minute it was almost against the run of play.
Fulham had not been causing the home defence any great problems, yet, even by that early stage, they had managed three decent goal attempts Tomasz Kuszczak saving from Gaël Kakuta and Moussa Dembélé before Bobby Zamora blazed wide when he should have at least hit the target.
Dimitar Berbatov's 21st goal of the season put an end to all that, confirming that, even with just the Bulgarian spearheading the attack, United carry a valid goal threat and, once behind, Fulham accepted their lot quite meekly.
Though Berbatov was in at the beginning of the move that brought the goal, he had taken up a position as a spectator on the edge of the box as Nani beat a couple of players in an attempt to score one of the solo goals of the season. Berbatov was only just level when the ball broke to him after Nani's shot rebounded from Chris Baird, but the flag stayed down and the striker made short work of beating Mark Schwarzer with a shot into the bottom corner.
There was also a suspicion of offside when Nani set up United's second, racing on to Patrice Evra's pass to beat the offside trap and evade Schwarzer's desperate rush from his area. The goalkeeper having sold himself too early, it was a simple matter for Nani to weigh up his options, though there was still a pleasing elegance about the way he calmly chipped the ball across goal for Antonio Valencia to nod in from close range.
Or at least it appeared that way at first replays suggested Nani had been trying to shoot and the ball reached Valencia via Aaron Hughes's attempted goalline clearance.
Fulham hardly bothered to protest either of the borderline decisions, possibly because they were relieved United had not stirred themselves sufficiently to go further ahead.
Even with Wayne Rooney suspended, Ryan Giggs rested and Javier Hernández unused on the bench, the home side had chances. Anderson should have scored when Berbatov whisked past Brede Hangeland and cut the ball back to him, and when Nani, once more, evaded Baird and the rest of the Fulham cover on the left, his final delivery missed the three red shirts waiting on the six-yard line.
Fulham improved when Eidur Gudjohnsen came on in the second half and the substitute came close to scoring with a drive from outside the area that flew only inches wide, while Zoltan Gera missed an even better chance 10 minutes from the end. With Zamora also putting a free-kick narrowly wide, Fulham had enough opportunities to take something from the game as United coasted, though they seemed fearful of increasing the urgency in case it inspired United to step up theirs.
If the title race ended early with last weekend's results, as many suspect may turn out to be the case, then here was an early end-of-season game. It seemed to suit both sides.
"We never looked like getting back on terms after going two down," Fulham's manager, Mark Hughes, admitted. "The first was offside, but it was still a poor goal to concede. We didn't really ask enough questions of United and you always sensed they could up the tempo if they needed to.
"They are ticking off the games now. It's a big ask, but you've got to give them a chance of the Treble. If anyone can manage their resources over the remaining games, this club can. They understand what it takes."
THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

SHAUN O'DONNELL, Observer reader I think we'll get No19 now. We keep winning and the others are running out of games. I thought we'd steamroll them, the way it started Nani did some brilliant things first half but after the second goal it turned into a bit of a damp squib. Fulham looked like a team waiting to go on holiday. We've got lots of games coming up, each one like a cup final, so it was good to have a more low-key game today.
The fan's player ratings Kuszczak 6; O'Shea 7, Smalling 7, Vidic 7, Evra 6; Scholes 7; Valencia 8 (Owen 73 6), Gibson 7, Anderson 7 (F da Silva 77 6), Nani 9 (Carrick 87 n/a); Berbatov 8
EDDIE FREMANTLE, Observer reader We created three good chances in the first 10 minutes, but once they scored it was game over. It was an end-of-season performance, including a horrible catalogue of errors for the second goal, and we wanted a bit more than that because they had rested a few. Gudjohnsen was a bright spark when he came on in the second half, but Vidic outclassed Zamora all game and we missed Duff a lot.
The fan's player ratings Schwarzer 5; Baird 6, Hughes 7, Hangeland 5, Salcido 5; Kakuta 4, Etuhu 5 (Gera 68 6), Murphy 7 (Greening 82 n/a), Dempsey 5; Dembélé 5 (Gudjohnsen 57 8), Zamora 6
To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

Wenger won't throw in the towel

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Updated Apr 10, 2011 10:58 AM ET
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have never "cheated" their fans out of ambition - and has no plans to quit to satisfy the critics' call for change.
The Gunners boss has once again found his unwavering faith in youth called into question as the club face the possibility of a sixth season without silverware.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE

Sat., Apr. 9

Sun., Apr. 10

Blackpool 1-3 Arsenal
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle

Mon., Apr. 11

Liverpool vs. Man City

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

While Arsenal have hardly stood still in that period, either on or off the pitch, Wenger knows some people will continue to judge success purely by silverware.
However, the 61-year-old Frenchman maintains everything he has done since transforming the fortunes of the north London club over the past decade has been for the greater good - and he is not about to pack it all in now.
"My worry is to do as well as I can with the team and to get them to play decent football, so that people come and pay for their tickets and are not bored," said Wenger.
"I have watched a lot of games in my life and I think we can have a clear conscience that we do not try to cheat our people.
"We don't always manage to do it, but people come to the games and we always try to give them something for the money they spend. There is always that ambition and if we do not manage to do it then we are sorry."
Wenger is in no doubt he remains the right man for the job.
"I extended my contract for three years and I always respect my contracts," he said.
"I cannot ask my players to respect their contracts if I don't do it."
Wenger added: "I don't understand - we are second in the league and everybody keeps asking me if I should give up. What kind of world do we live in?"
Despite a disappointing six-week spell on the back of defeat in the Carling Cup final which was followed by exits from Europe and the FA Cup, Arsenal remain the closest challengers to Premier League leaders Manchester United.
However, for the Gunners to stand any chance of making their May 1 showdown against Sir Alex Ferguson's men count, Wenger accepts there can be no repeat of the flat performance in last weekend's frustrating goalless draw with 10-man Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium.
"This team cares and when what happened to us happened, it takes time to recover from that," he said.
"We have not given up - we want to do well, but it is not as easy and as spontaneous as it was before.
"The players want to win the games. They are frustrated.
"We fight very hard and the situation right now is difficult, but we can show our fighting qualities."

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

English Premier League Roundup, Apr. 10

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Updated Apr 10, 2011 11:07 AM ET
Arsenal kept the heat on Manchester United in the Premier League title race by winning 3-1 at Blackpool on Sunday.
Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead by halftime and Robin van Persie netted a third in the 76th minute after Gary Taylor-Fletcher pulled had one back for relegation-threatened Blackpool.
Arsenal is seven points behind Manchester United with seven matches remaining, including one in hand over the leaders.
Blackpool is just a point and a place above the relegation zone.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

Mancini issues challenge to City

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Updated Apr 10, 2011 8:09 AM ET
Roberto Mancini has challenged his Manchester City players to get their just rewards at the business end of the season.
It is a big week for the Eastlands outfit - first battling Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday and then taking on arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE

Sat., Apr. 9

Sun., Apr. 10

Blackpool 1-3 Arsenal | Recap
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle

Mon., Apr. 11

Liverpool vs. Man City

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

As City go for the dual aim of Champions league football next term and a first trophy since 1976, Mancini wants his players to step up and be counted.
The Italian technician told the Mail on Sunday: "We have a saying in Italy - 'there is a time you must take the fruit from the tree.'
"It means you have to get your reward for hard work. This is the moment for us to do it.
"It's normal to be tired after you work very hard for a whole year. But we have another 45 days to finish. This is the time we should push.
"We know we have to win against Liverpool but we also have a semi-final five days later.
"We need to start winning big matches."
The City boss is adamant his side can beat United at Wembley and set up a final clash with Bolton or Stoke.
He added: "There is not much of a gap between us. We were at the same level as United in our last game and all the matches with them since I arrived, except the first one when United were better than us for 20 minutes. We have deserved more in the derbies.
"United have won things for a long time and are used to playing important games.
"But we have players who have won trophies and they play to win every game. This is the start of many big games for Manchester City at Wembley."

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

Jeshi la Julio laivaa Cameroon Send to a friend Saturday, 09 April 2011 09:56 0diggsdigg

Mshambuliaji wa timu ya taifa U/23 Mrisho Ngasa akipita katikati ya mabeki wa timu hiyo wakati wa mazoezi jana jioni kwenye Uwanja ea Karume jijini Dar es salaam

Sosthenes Nyoni
TIMU ya Taifa ya Vijana ya Tanzania chini ya miaka 23, leo inatarajia kushusha ama kupandisha presha za Watanzania pale itakapovaana na Cameroon katika mchezo wa kusaka tiketi ya kushiriki michuano ya Olimpiki utakaofanyika kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar es Salaam.

Kushusha ama kupanda kwa presha za Watanzania kutategemeana na matokeo ya mchezo huo yatakayoamua timu hiyo kusonga mbele au kubaki.

Tanzania inashuka dimbani ikiwa na deni la bao moja tu baada ya ule wa awali ulifanyika nchini Cameroon kukubali kipigo cha mabao 2-1kutoka kwa wenyeji.

Tayari kocha Jamhuri Kihwelo'Julio' ameongeza baadhi ya wachezaji katika kikosi chake kitakachoikabili Camoroon leo akiwemo nyota wa timu ya taifa, Taifa Stars, Mrisho Ngassa akisaidiana na washambuliaji chipukizi wenye kasi Mbwana Samata na Thomas Ulimwengu.

Hata hivyo vijana hao watamkosa nahodha wake Salum Telela aliyeonyeshwa kadi nyekundu katika mchezo wa awali na tayari nafasi yake amepewa kipa Shaaban Kado akisaidiwa na Himid Mao.

Akizungumza jijini Dar es Salaam, Julio alisema kuwa watalazimika kupigana kufa au kupona ili waweze kushinda mpambano huo huku akiwataka wachezaji wake wacheze kwa tahadhari.

"Tuna bao moja la ugenini, lakini hii haitoshi na kujiona tumeshinda kwa vile tunacheza nyumbani, zinahitajika jitihada za dhati ili tuwewe kupata mabao ikiwezekana mengi,"alisema Julio.

Kwa upande wa Ngasa mwenye thamani ya Sh 54m, alisema atajituma kwa uwezo wake wote kwa kushirikiana na wachezaji wenzake ili waweze kushinda mchezo huo dhidi ya Cameroon.

"Nipo hakuhakikisha tunaipeperusha vema bendera yetu, ni matumaini yangu kwa kushirikia wote na mashabiki wetu basi tutashinda na kusonga mbele."Naye kocha wa Cameroon, Dieudonne Nke alisema kuwa wamejiandaa vya kutosha kwaajili ya kukabiliana na wapinzania wao.

"Tuko vizuri sasa, hali ya hewa ya hapa haitusumbui kwasababu inafanana na ya kule kwetu hivyo kilichobaki ni kupigana uwanjani tu na nina hakika tutashinda,"alisema Nke.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

Lucas calls for Dalglish deal

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Updated Apr 10, 2011 7:24 AM ET
Liverpool midfielder Lucas has called on the club's owners to give Kenny Dalglish the manager's job on a permanent basis.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE

Sat., Apr. 9

Sun., Apr. 10

Blackpool 1-3 Arsenal | Recap
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle

Mon., Apr. 11

Liverpool vs. Man City

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

Reds owners Fenway Sports Group have confirmed they have held initial talks with Dalglish about a long-term deal at Anfield.
Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson on a caretaker basis in January and has helped the side get their season back on track after a disappointing spell under the previous boss.
Lucas, who recently signed a new contract at Anfield, believes Dalglish deserves the job for the work he has done so far during his second spell at the helm.
"We still have a lot to do and to improve," Lucas told the Daily Star Sunday.
"But the way Kenny is doing it, I think he deserves to get the job.
"We can all see he knows a lot about football and that everything he does is aimed at helping his staff and the players."

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

Jens Lehmann returns to put Arsenal back on winning track at Blackpool

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Premier League

Blackpool 1

Taylor-Fletcher 52

Arsenal 3

Diaby 18,
Eboue 21,
van Persie 76

Andy Hunter at Bloomfield Road
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 10 April 2011 16.01 BST <li class="history">Article history

The goalkeeper Jens Lehmann played his 200th game for Arsenal at the age of 41 after Manuel Almunia hurt his knee in the warm-up. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty

Arsène Wenger told the Arsenal Supporters Trust on Friday that second place in the Premier League was "no disaster", but it would be remiss to take his verdict as evidence of handing the title to Manchester United after this absorbing triumph at Blackpool. Seven points behind with a game in hand may constitute only an outside chance but, with Sir Alex Ferguson's leaders still to visit the Emirates Stadium, it is a chance Arsenal are refusing to relinquish.
Damaging stalemates have punctured the Gunners' momentum in recent weeks but they did not lose their nerve when Blackpool threatened an unlikely recovery from two goals down here. Wenger's side held firm, executed another fine goal on the counterattack through Robin van Persie, and can only hope Champions League and FA Cup exertions hinder United's procession towards a 19th crown at some point.
A knee injury sustained by Manuel Almunia in the warm-up brought Jens Lehmann back into the Arsenal goal for the first time since May 2008. It seemed as though the 41-year-old, a week shy of becoming the oldest player to appear for the club, had never been away as he delivered an abridged version of his entire Arsenal career inside his 200th game for Wenger's side. Key saves, that icy stare and quiet word for any opponent who dared leave a foot in and even his contribution to the 2006 Champions League final were all reprised as the visitors made unnecessarily hard work of a contest they should have ended before half-time.
Blackpool began as is customary for a relegation-threatened side on home soil but their commitment to attack continues to be undermined by a porous defence and, once Cesc Fábregas found his range with the lofted chip over the top to Van Persie, Arsenal assumed complete control. Ian Holloway's side found no solution to the Fábregas-Van Persie supply chain, although they had all afternoon to practise, and two goals in three first-half minutes appeared to put the game out of their reach.
The influential Abou Diaby made and finished the first when he dispossessed Jason Puncheon in the Arsenal half before embarking on a determined run as Fábregas took possession and considered his options. Inevitably, he picked out Van Persie wide on the left, and when the Dutch international crossed low along the six-yard line Diaby was there to side-foot home.
Moments later, and with Blackpool contesting a throw-in awarded against them, Emmanuel Eboué broke down the right, exchanged passes with Jack Wilshere and sent an emphatic finish over Richard Kingson. Blackpool were in disarray. Van Persie failed to convert two further Fábregas flights behind the home defence and Samir Nasri struck the post from the same source.
Almost inevitably, the sunshine stroll for Arsenal was replaced by a tense affair in the second half as Blackpool rallied and reduced the arrears when Gary Taylor-Fletcher converted from close range. The referee Lee Mason had played two excellent advantages in the buildup, when Wilshere caught Luke Varney and then when Lehman tripped DJ Campbell inside the area. But despite booking the Arsenal midfielder after the goal, he failed to take any action against the German goalkeeper who was the last man.
That controversy was made redundant 14 minutes from time when the substitute Theo Walcott broke down the right and crossed for Van Persie to add Arsenal's third from close range.

Rutashubanyuma · Apr 10, 2011

Ancelotti: We must improve

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Updated Apr 10, 2011 7:03 AM ET
Carlo Ancelotti fears Chelsea have no chance of overcoming Manchester United unless they make a vast improvement on Saturday's win over Wigan.
The Blues toiled to a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge thanks to an equally-unattractive goal from Florent Malouda.

Chelsea must make history to overturn Wednesday night's 1-0 Champions League Champions League defeat to United, who have never lost a European tie having won the first leg away from home.
And on only two previous occasions has a club won a Champions League tie after being defeated in the first leg at home.
"We have to play better but this is normal," said Chelsea boss Ancelotti, who admitted his side today had one eye on Tuesday's game.
"To win there, we have to play at our 100%."
Ancelotti's men do have hope, having won 2-1 at United last season in what proved to be a Premier League title decider.
However, they were easily beating teams at that point of the campaign, something that can hardly be said about their current run of form.
"Obviously, we have more difficulty compared to last season to score a lot of goals," added Ancelotti, who on Friday had denied he needed to win the Champions League to keep his job.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE

Sat., Apr. 9

Sun., Apr. 10

Blackpool 1-3 Arsenal | Recap
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle

Mon., Apr. 11

Liverpool vs. Man City

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

"We are not able to convert the chances that we create."
Fernando Torres was as guilty as anyone here after missing a golden opportunity to end his now-infamous 12-hour goal drought.
The Spaniard came off the bench for the final half-hour and had several opportunities, with the ball even put on a plate for him by Yossi Benayoun.
"Every one of us wanted him to score today," Ancelotti said.
"Sometimes, he was really unlucky.
"But I think we have to continue to have confidence in him.
"Maybe he will score the most important goals of our season."
Torres starting on the bench appeared to indicate he would be in the XI at Old Trafford but Ancelotti insisted he had yet to decide upon his strike force.
He did confirm he had settled on a system but refused to reveal what it would be, having abandoned 4-4-2 in favour of a 4-3-3 formation this afternoon.
It had little effect as the home side struggled to break down a Wigan team they had scored 14 goals against in their previous two meetings.
Malouda's winner was also not without controversy, with Torres arguably impeding Latics goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi before the Frenchman struck.
Frustrated Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said: "It's as clear as day that he's got his elbow in his face.

"I rate (referee) Howard (Webb) so much that I'm extremely disappointed.
"That was the call of the game."
Ancelotti refused to be drawn on the incident, having been denied what appeared a clear penalty against United on Wednesday.
He said: "I don't like to speak about this because of what happened last Wednesday. It's better to stay calm.
"Maybe it was a foul but I'm not sure."
Martinez, meanwhile, played down Hugo Rodallega's reaction to being substituted, with the striker storming down the tunnel.
"I'm pleased about that," Martinez insisted.
"Hugo should want to stay on because we're fighting for our lives.
"He's been respectful to his team-mates."
Defeat left Wigan rooted to the foot of the table but Martinez was adamant they would stay up if they repeated today's performance for the rest of the season.
"Our challenge is to carry on performing at that level for the next six games," he said.
"We've got 18 points to compete for and I'm just 100% sure that if we play in that manner, we'll get enough points to stay in the Premier League.
"I feel that we would've been top 10 if the season had started eight games ago."
Martinez spent the build-up to today's game defending fellow Spaniard Torres but asked whether he now had any sympathy for the striker, he said: "After what he did to my goalkeeper, not at all."

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