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Ancelotti: Blues won't slack off


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Updated Apr 19, 2011 11:15 AM ET
Carlo Ancelotti denies his apparent indifference to his fate as Chelsea boss could cause his players to slack off for the rest of the season.
Ancelotti last week claimed it would "not be a problem" if Roman Abramovich sacked him after overseeing what is set to be the club's worst campaign since the Russian billionaire's takeover.


Indeed, Ancelotti seemed all but resigned to losing his job in the summer but, for now, he and his players are in limbo with six matches remaining this term.
With the Premier League title on the brink of being surrendered, there could be a danger of the squad losing their motivation over the course of the next month.
But Ancelotti said: "They are Chelsea players, they are professional.
"This is football, that sometimes the manager can change.
"They are working with me at this moment. Maybe they will work with me in the future. Maybe they will not work with me in the future, but with another coach."
There are numerous reasons for the decline at Chelsea which has put Ancelotti in the firing line, most of them arguably not the Italian's fault.
One of those was certainly the injury and illness suffered by Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba at the end of last year, during what was the club's worst run in the league for almost 15 years.

Sat., Apr. 16​
Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap
Sun., Apr. 17​
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool | Recap
Tue., Apr. 19​
Newcastle 0-0 Man Utd | Recap
Wed., Apr. 20​
Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​


Ancelotti claims the duo's absence cost Chelsea vital points that might have made the difference in the title race.
He added: "In the difficult moment, it was not easy to move on without these kind of players.
"We missed them in November and December when we didn't play well.
"Everyone doesn't have a good memory but this team, in the last month or more, did very well in the Premier League.
"This team have played good football and won a lot of games.
"Maybe two months ago, no-one could think we could come back to fight for the title.
"We didn't think this, but we are not so far from Manchester United and we're very close to Arsenal. Two months ago, this was a dream.
"In general, the team are doing well in the Premier League.
"We beat United, City and won a very difficult game against West Bromwich."
Chelsea are eight points behind United ahead of the leaders' trip to Newcastle.
A defeat or draw for Sir Alex Ferguson's men would give the Blues a slim chance of hauling themselves back into the title race but Ancelotti said: "The gap doesn't allow us to think we can win the title.
"So it's better for us to think about preparing for the next game against Birmingham to try to win, and the other five games."
Much more realistic is overhauling second-placed Arsenal, which Chelsea will do if they beat Birmingham and the Gunners fail to win tomorrow's north London derby.
However, Ancelotti once again demonstrated the level of expectation at Stamford Bridge by saying: "Second or third place is not important for Chelsea."
November's defeat at Birmingham was one result which the Blues might look back on as ultimately costing them their title.
"That game was one of our best performances this season. We didn't win and were really unlucky," said Ancelotti ahead of tomorrow's game against a City side who have taken seven points from nine to haul themselves out of the drop zone.
"They were in the relegation positions, but had very good results in the last few weeks.
"They're not out of fighting from relegation entirely, so they need to take a point tomorrow. It will be a tough game.
"They have good organisation and will try and play on the counter-attack, as they played against us in their home game."
 
Redknapp rejects Chelsea talk


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Updated Apr 19, 2011 5:27 AM ET
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has expressed his happiness with life at White Hart Lane and played down reports linking him with Chelsea job.
It was claimed at the weekend that Redknapp had emerged as a shock candidate to replace under-fire Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti in the summer.


But Redknapp, who is odds-on favourite to become the new England coach with Fabio Capello due to step down next year, does not listen to the speculation.
"I don't take a lot of notice. I just get on with it. It's speculation," he told the Daily Mirror.
"I've never spoken to anyone from Chelsea. No-one's come to me and said that Chelsea are interested in me or anything else.
"I've got a job to do here. I love it here. I'm happy here."
Redknapp is also holding onto the belief that he can turn Spurs into Premier League title contenders.
"I keep saying, this club isn't that far away - if they want to push on - from winning the championship," he said.
"You can't stand still. It means improving. Better players make you a better team. With one or two additions, I think we can go on and push for the title.
"Everyone will go at it in the summer. Arsenal will. Liverpool will - Liverpool are going to be a team to be reckoned with next year.
"They've been out of the Champions League, but I don't see that happening again after next season. With Kenny Dalglish there, I think they'll have a real go for it.
"If you want to be a top club, you need top players. There's no other way of doing it. There's no magic formula."
 
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  • Report Abuse DynamoGunnerReborn
    • 4/19/2011 6:44:52 PM
    Can 'arry be prime minister? I heard a rumor from fat frank...
  • Report Abuse Yankshire_Pud
    • 4/19/2011 5:13:59 PM
    Come off it 'Arry, we all know that you are the source of 80% of the rumors that you deny.
  • Report Abuse DynamoGunnerReborn
    • 4/19/2011 1:08:52 PM
    If he moved to Chelzki, Arry could coach his nephew!
  • Report Abuse Spudkilla
    • 4/19/2011 12:57:12 PM
    The tax-man is coming Arry and if there is anything you are going to need surely it's money,that's if you are not in jail.
  • Report Abuse AREACODE876
    • 4/19/2011 12:55:31 PM
    Winning the CL is the mean focus for Chelsea so Redknapp WOULD NOT BE THE MAN FOR THE JOB. He got a bid of luck in reaching that far with TOT but him coaching a winning team i don't see that anytime soon.
  • Report Abuse DynamoGunnerReborn
    • 4/19/2011 12:27:42 PM
    He'll leave when the club is bankrupt.
  • Report Abuse honeywelldeevon
    • 4/19/2011 11:26:15 AM
    Redknapp who are you trying to fool surely not me if the right offer presents itself you would run faster than usain Bolt to sign, remember the same way you run from Portsmouth.
  • Report Abuse irishyid
    • 4/19/2011 8:46:38 AM
    A young man has his application for season tickets at the Emirates rejected on the grounds that he is circumcised apparently you have to be a "total prick" to support the Goons.
  • Report Abuse irishyid
    • 4/19/2011 8:40:02 AM
    Harry wants England job if MU or City are not available and JM wants back in the EPL well a Yid can dream,LOL.
  • Report Abuse PhiladelphiaHotSpur
    • 4/19/2011 6:46:43 AM
    Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm................where on earth was this claimed ?
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Lescott: United are wary of us


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Updated Apr 19, 2011 4:34 AM ET
Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott reckons Manchester United are starting to look over their shoulders as the Blues continue to progress.
Lescott was part of the City side that beat the Red Devils 1-0 at Wembley on Saturday to set up an FA Cup final against Stoke.
While United are on course to land a record 19th title this term, Lescott believes City are fast closing the gap and will be meeting their rivals more and more in big games over the coming years.


The England defender said: "I know United are top of the league and will probably go on to win it.
"But I think they are looking over their shoulders now and thinking about the way we are progressing.
"In the next couple of years we're going to be getting to semi-finals and finals a lot more.
"We'll meet them more and more."
City are looking to claim their first piece of silverware since winning the League Cup in 1976 yet Lescott insists there is no pressure on them to beat Stoke next month, even despite all the money the club has spent.
He said: "Manchester City winning a trophy would be huge. I don't think there is a deadline or a need to win by a certain date.


"I don't think anyone is saying 'we have to win the Cup this year, the league next' or anything like that."
Lescott does, however, admit that ending the club's trophy drought in the FA Cup would be special.
"It would be great to win any silverware but the FA Cup is a bit different," he said.
"The chance to win it and end the 35-year wait....it will be fantastic.
"I have been surprised by how much the manager wants to win the FA Cup. He sees it as a chance to win something special."
 
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  • Report Abuse ManUFan66
    • 4/19/2011 3:07:38 PM
    Man City played well for them and United stunk it up. Two things caused that loss, the inability to get Rooney on the pitch due to dumb FA rulling and O'Shea telling Carrick to pass it across the goal while Toure was lurking. United was obviously fatigued.
  • Report Abuse PhiladelphiaHotSpur
    • 4/19/2011 12:06:11 PM
    @Halnone - It sounds like Dzeko would fit in perfectly at the Lane w/ our wingers..........how about 10 large & Roman P ?? pretty plz ???
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 4/19/2011 11:21:46 AM
    Eastlands will improve not by buying every year but by allowing the squad to work their way into building a cohesive unit. One reason Barca is successful; because they allowed the squad to become a team.
  • Report Abuse honeywelldeevon
    • 4/19/2011 11:19:25 AM
    @Halnone sure city can and will get better if they continue to buy players wholesale. Lets hope the oil wells never dry up.......haha. Forever United!
  • Report Abuse honeywelldeevon
    • 4/19/2011 11:16:00 AM
    ManU will never be wary of city there's no need to well at least not right now. ManU is only wary of City's ridiculous spending spree in trying to buy a title. All teams buy players but some buy wholesale, good teams build players and in doing so builds loyalty and this can speaks to longivity and sucess of teams.
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 4/19/2011 11:05:35 AM
    Mancini needs to be careful. The loss to liverpool was more damaging than the victory over Manchester United was positive. Yes, there is something to be said about having your team experience winning a trophy. However, the Eastlands board set out priority number one as qualifying for the CL. Winning against Liverpool would have put them in firm position but now Spurs is only 3 points off and Liverpool lurks abt distantly in the backround. If they fail to qualify/loss the playoff qualifier Mancini will get sacked regardless of whether or not they win the FA Cup---which I hope they do win.
  • Report Abuse henryuja
    • 4/19/2011 10:05:48 AM
    SoccedDon you need to understand Berba cant score in big games never has never seems as if he will, and Philly dropping 3 on an abysmal Pool side isnt a big game.We'll keep him cuz we need him to continue dropping 5 on teams like stoke and birmingham
  • Report Abuse soccedDon
    • 4/19/2011 8:50:19 AM
    I cannot understand why ManU would be looking over their shoulder because it was ManU that gave up that goal...
    Trevor Booking and the FA for some reason seem to not like ManU and tried to level the playing field by suspending Rooney. Man City is a ok team but Manu is the better. I was puzzle to know why the Mexican did not start because he would have put away at least one of those easy chances that BerBatof got
  • Report Abuse halnone
    • 4/19/2011 8:49:31 AM
    PhiladelphiaHotSpur
    I'm not sure what's up with dzeko. Looks like he hasn't settled completely yet and Mancini didn't want to throw him into a game of that magnitude. hes not scoring goals because City don't have any width and dzeko scores all his goals from crosses into the box. im hoping things will change next season.
  • Report Abuse PhiladelphiaHotSpur
    • 4/19/2011 8:37:21 AM
    Yo Dimitar - Your giving not City fans hope..........not the brightest of moves since you wear that United kit......you best drop a double today vs NU.........
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Moyes: Everton are close


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Updated Apr 19, 2011 8:12 AM ET
Everton manager David Moyes insists it would not take a great deal of money to turn the club into genuine contenders in the Premier League.
While rivals have spent fortunes in the quest for silverware, the Scottish boss thinks the Toffees would only require a small influx to challenge.


Everton are one of the Premier League's founder members since its inception in 1992, although they only have the 1995 FA Cup success to show for nearly two decades of top-flight football.
The club have survived a couple of relegation scares, but in the main the Goodison Park outfit have been challenging for European places without threatening for top spot.
Moyes knows the club need new funds to keep growing and progressing, although he does not believe it requires the level of investment seen elsewhere around the league.
"New ownership isn't always the solution," explained Moyes. "We don't need new owners, we need new money.
"Everton could be very close to being very good for not an awful lot of outlay.
"It might not be one of those clubs that needs £300-£400million to turn it around.
"Maybe the team doesn't need £100m. Maybe the team needs an amount that would give it a chance to breathe again and give a little more.
"That's maybe why we don't need a zillionaire."
 
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  • Report Abuse Yankshire_Pud
    • 4/19/2011 5:04:41 PM
    Is it contract time for Moyes?
    Kenwright is a responsible owner, Everton a fine, proper club and Moyes an excellent manager but they operate on a shoe-string and simply can't move to the next level without a cash injection.
    It's a squad game now and it just takes a couple key injuries to wreck the Toffees.
  • Report Abuse RedForce
    • 4/19/2011 8:35:21 AM
    Lol this was a great laugh.
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Young to decide future in summer


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Updated Apr 19, 2011 4:29 AM ET
Ashley Young has spoken of his commitment to Aston Villa but reiterated that he will not make a decision on his future until the summer.
Young will have only 12 months left of his contract this summer and is being strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.


Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City are also believed to be interested in the 25-year-old.
But Young has been at pains to insist he will make no decision until the end of the campaign.
He said: "I've always said that I'm going to speak to the manager (Gerard Houllier) and the chairman (Randy Lerner) in the summer.
"I'm fully committed to the club and you can see that by the performance I put in against West Ham on Saturday.
"I'm just concentrating 100% on my football and we will speak at the end of the season."
Villa have moved into the top half of the Premier League after seven points from the last three games have lifted them away from the relegation zone.
But Young said: "I think it's more people outside the club who have been concentrating on what's happening at the bottom half of the table than us.
"We decided after the disappointing home result against Wolves a few weeks back to start looking up.
"We had a good point at Everton and now have had back to back wins against Newcastle and West Ham."
 
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  • Report Abuse soccedDon
    • 4/19/2011 2:34:30 PM
    Ashely young should stay with his club. If he goes to ManU, Chelsea or ManCity he will not play that often. I truly do not see him as a strong footballer physical. His skills are decent and he must work harder to get better but going to those club and not playing will only kill the confidence he work so hard to develop and push him in the wrong direction. However he could thrive at Tottenham because of the type of player they have in their team
  • Report Abuse VillaFan99
    • 4/19/2011 2:05:42 PM
    Lets start the bidding at 16 million pounds, shall we?
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 4/19/2011 11:59:15 AM
    Chelsea 24/7---I wouldn't pay more than 4 million but that is just me. Young put his own value at 24 million---get me the tank! 😉
  • Report Abuse Chelsea24-7
    • 4/19/2011 11:35:09 AM
    A lot of teams will be after him. I wonder at what price?
  • Report Abuse Gunnerkidd
    • 4/19/2011 11:26:15 AM
    AW shud get him imagine him on the left and theo on the right will make us a dangerous counter attacking team and add scott parker this squad needs sum english spine to show em how to play with heart and urgency
  • Report Abuse redevil_83
    • 4/19/2011 8:57:39 AM
    pretty ordinary player. but he's coming to united
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Bale and Wilshere win PFA prizes


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Updated Apr 18, 2011 5:14 PM ET
Tottenham's Gareth Bale was named PFA Player of the Year on Sunday night, while Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere took the Young Player award.
The 21-year-old has been in imperious form for Spurs in both the Premier League and Champions League this campaign, becoming one of the most talked about players in the world in the process.
Bale was also nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, but that went to Wilshere.

Sat., Apr. 16​
Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap
Sun., Apr. 17​
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool | Recap
Tue., Apr. 19​
Newcastle 0-0 Man Utd | Recap
Wed., Apr. 20​
Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​


Bale becomes the fourth Welshman to be honoured, following in the footsteps of Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs.
''I am more than delighted really,'' he said. ''It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals.
''It is a honour really when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go 'wow' really.
''There haven't been too many Welshman to have won the trophy but it is great and it is great for me personally.
''And it is not just for me, it is for all my team-mates that have helped me through the season and it is kind of for everyone really.''
Bale endured a tumultuous beginning to life at White Hart Lane following his move from Southampton, with his first year punctuated by injuries and an inability to secure a first-team starting spot.
However, the winger's turnaround in fortunes has been nothing short of spectacular and he insists he never doubted his ability to reach the top.
''I think it is due to a bit of everything really,'' he added.
''At the beginning I wasn't really playing much and I always believed in myself that if I did get a run in the team - which I eventually did - that I would be able to prove what I can do.
''That did happen and I kind of never really looked back from there.
''Playing in a good team with good players definitely helped me a lot and all the boys have been fantastic, the manager has been fantastic, giving me my chance, and it is something I want to improve on.''
Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez of Manchester City finished second and third, respectively.
Wilshere said winning the young player gong was "amazing".
The 19-year-old has attracted plaudits from fans and pundits alike for his performances this season, during a campaign which has seen him establish himself as a key player for the England senior team.
''It is my first full season and it is a massive award, especially from my fellow players,'' he said. ''It is amazing.
''I am very proud to be the fifth recipient from Arsenal, it is good to keep this history going.
''Arsenal is a good club for bringing youngsters through and they keep proving it so I would like to thank the manager as well.''
Wilshere has long been considered one of the brightest talents to come through the Gunners' youth system in recent years and this time last year was on loan at Bolton honing his talent.
Now he is an integral member of Arsene Wenger's side, showing skill and nous that belies his age.
''I am a bit surprised,'' he added. ''I always knew I could do but still it was a surprise how early it came.
''I am delighted just to be in the team to win an award, so I have to keep it up now and hopefully we can win something this year.''
World Cup final referee Howard Webb won the PFA Merit award and was recognised along for his achievements this year with long-term assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey.
''It came as a bit of a surprise really," said Webb. ''It certainly is an honour to be recognised by such an esteemed body as the Professional Footballers' Association. It means an awful lot.
''It is nice that the playing side of the game has taken this opportunity to mark what happened with us last year, the two finals that we did and I am very proud of that fact."
 
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  • Report Abuse bockrath16
    • 4/18/2011 11:30:14 PM
    i hope borussia dortmund stick togethere for next years CL....if they could reproduce the from they had this year they could go deep....sadly i see alot of budesliga teams have a great year and die down the next......dortmund has won the CL before with a team like this
  • Report Abuse Diosesdel10
    • 4/18/2011 10:58:36 PM
    and i know Sahin is not a Turk like Arda Turan is but he's of Turkish descent much like Mesut is. So hopefully he can help in bringing Nuri to the Spanish capital next season.
  • Report Abuse Diosesdel10
    • 4/18/2011 10:56:31 PM
    Topal - ARda is supposedly going to be a COLCHONERO next season. Hope all goes well for him & that does indeed materialise.

    those turks are good footballers that can def play a pivotal part in any team's success. I believe Nuri Sahin will be playing for a TOPE EUROPEAN Club next season. Maybe Inter, maybe REAL MADRID. the kid got an educated left foot .

    As for El APACHE Carlitos, he's supposedly out for another 4 weeks with a hamstring injury, but we'll see if that's truly the case. I think he'll be back for the Tottenham game tho... while some say that he's played his last game for City, but it's not his Style to go out that way.

    It's usually a much more dramatic fashion, like lifting a trophy.
  • Report Abuse ynwa_in_la
    • 4/18/2011 10:10:08 PM
    For once I agree with the picks. Congrat's to two deserving winners. Wish we had 'em ;-)
  • Report Abuse italiatotti3
    • 4/18/2011 9:11:25 PM
    karlos i dont care for either tottenham or arsenal, but i gotta say, you guys dont have much to be cheering for right now, or be laughing at tottenham, they are a rising club that did better in the CL than you guys this year, and if crouch didnt ruin the 1st game in madrid for them, they might still be playing. If i were you, id just hope to stay top 3 in the league in order to keep your heads up at least a little bit
  • Report Abuse italiatotti3
    • 4/18/2011 9:06:15 PM
    ajax95, if that wasnt a sarcastic comment, then you are an idiot. I dont even need to back up that statement either, and I would bet at least 98% of the people on here would agree with me.
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 4/18/2011 9:05:47 PM
    Thanks Philly...cheers! 🙂
  • Report Abuse PhiladelphiaHotSpur
    • 4/18/2011 8:31:08 PM
    D10 - Tevez is a baller, no doubt, and is a total headcase........how many times did he whine about being homesick and question his allegience to City ? Thus, he isn't taken serious on the award front..........its much more then just play. See Nani.......

    Either way, United are looking good for another EPL and Vidic is the engine of that squad........he deserves it. IMO

    Yo Spide.........congrats on the Galat dubs...............GS
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 4/18/2011 7:07:39 PM
    Dio-meant that as a question 🙂
  • Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
    • 4/18/2011 7:07:17 PM
    Dio---Do you know Tevez's injury status.

    Btw to all my fellow Galatasaray fans great win today! Arda brace was huge it is excellent to see him performing at high level once again. It has been a tough season but the future is starting to look bright. 🙂
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Dalglish backs Reds as the best


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Updated Apr 18, 2011 8:59 AM ET
Kenny Dalglish insists Liverpool remain the "best club in English football, if not world football" despite pushing great rivals Manchester United a step closer to a record 19 domestic championship titles after snatching a dramatic 1-1 draw with the last kick of the Premier League game at Arsenal.
Dirk Kuyt's penalty with the last kick of the game secured a point for the Reds, who had earlier seen captain Jamie Carragher knocked out after a clash of heads with John Flanagan and carried off on a stretcher.
Sat., Apr. 16​
Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap
Sun., Apr. 17​
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool | Recap
Tue., Apr. 19​
Newcastle 0-0 Man Utd | Recap
Wed., Apr. 20​
Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​


Just moments earlier, though, it had seemed as if Arsenal would keep up the pressure on United when Robin van Persie scored from the spot deep into eight minutes of stoppage time.
With United now six points ahead of the Gunners, it seems the championship is set to return to Old Trafford, which would see the Red Devils eclipse the achievements of their rivals from Merseyside.
However, for Dalglish, that would not take anything away from Liverpool.
"Sadness? In my eyes we are still the best club in English football, if not world football, so I am not very sad at that," said the Scot, in his second stint as manager at Anfield, where he won a plethora of honours as a player.
"The surprise is that they [Liverpool] have not won the title for a long time, that is the surprise, but it's not sadness, it's just a fact of life.
"They never acquired enough points in any season since 1991 to win it.
"They came close a couple of years ago when Rafa (Benitez) went close, had a fantastic record against the so-called top four, but just couldn't get it over the line."
Dalglish added: "It will be fantastic to get back there, but you need to hit the standards other teams have set.
"That is four games - United, [Manchester] City, Arsenal and Chelsea. We only dropped two points and that was here."
Dalglish believes his injury-hit squad can take great heart from recent displays.
"I don't think there's any team anywhere that's shown the same attitude and commitment that our team showed," said Dalglish, who took £35million striker Andy Carroll off as a precaution after he jarred his knee.
"Losing Fabio Aurelio early on, putting a 17-year-old on at left-back, losing our captain, having right-back at only 18 with his second game, we have lost our centre forward, we've lost a goal and eight minutes into injury time they still didn't want to accept that were going to get nothing from the game.
"You can't speak any higher about them than that."
Dalglish was quick to play down a touchline spat with Wenger at the final whistle.
"That would be sad too if that was reported," he said.
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"I just told him there I still owe him dinner. There's no problem."
Carragher, meanwhile, maintained there was no cause for alarm over his head injury despite being carried off on a stretcher, his neck in a brace and given oxygen.
However, after treatment at the Emirates Stadium, the veteran Reds centre-half had recovered enough to join in the celebrations at the final whistle.
"It was a little clash of heads and these things happen in football. As soon as I came round I was absolutely fine," the 33-year-old said.
"I watched their penalty in the dressing room and then saw that we got our own.
"I was just praying that we scored because to get four points out of six from the last two games is fantastic.
"I went out onto the pitch at the end because I wanted to celebrate with the lads."
Carragher added: "Some of the players we had out there, because of the injuries we had, still qualify for the youth team so it was a really good team performance."
 
Sir Alex Ferguson calls Javier Hernández's late booking an 'insult'

• United manager sure striker did not dive in Newcastle draw
• 'The referee let himself down. There is definitely contact'



  • Louise Taylor at St James' Park
  • The Guardian, Wednesday 20 April 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Javier-Hern-ndez-disputs--007.jpg
    Javier Hernández, left, disputes the late booking he is given by Lee Probert during Manchester United's draw at Newcastle. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

    Sir Alex Ferguson blamed Lee Probert, the referee, rather than fatigue or Cheik Tioté's successful suppression of Wayne Rooney for his side's failure to win at St James' Park.
    The Manchester United manager saw Newcastle United survive a 90th-minute penalty claim when Javier Hernández was given a yellow card for simulation after appearing to fall over Danny Simpson's outstretched leg.
    "It was a clear penalty," said Ferguson. "I thought the referee had a good game tonight but he's let himself down by booking the player. If it's not a penalty, fine, but to book him is an insult. There is definitely contact, no doubt about that."
    Simpson, once an Old Trafford right-back, disagreed. "To be honest, I didn't feel like I touched him, maybe he went over too soft," said the 24-year-old. "I'm glad the referee gave it my way, I'm glad he made the right decision and the lads got a point having worked so hard."
    Such words would be anathema to his former manager but at least, with Arsenal now trailing United by seven points after their own draw as well, against Liverpool last weekend, Ferguson could afford to be reasonably sanguine. "At this stage of the season you look at it and we're in a better position than we were on Saturday," he said.
    So too are Newcastle. This draw, inspired by an impressive performance from Tioté, their Ivorian midfielder who did much to quell Rooney's threat, moved Alan Pardew's side up to ninth while also placing them on 40 points, a tally which virtually eliminates any lingering relegation fears.
    A delighted Pardew is now aiming for a "top-eight" finish but conceded that Simpson had played with fire in stoppage time. He said: "Danny sticks a leg out, which is dangerous, but he didn't touch the guy, he definitely dived and was looking for it."
    "I'd like to praise the referee, he was very brave there. You have to applaud his decision. United are pushing at the end, looking for a late goal and history, so there's pressure there. My heart sank. I thought the ref would give it, which would have been hugely frustrating. "
    Pardew, though, was less enamoured with Probert after the official did not award another potential penalty when Peter Lovenkrands tumbled under Anderson's challenge. "The Lovenkrands one was a sitter," said Newcastle's manager. "It was a story of two penalties, one that definitely was for us and one that wasn't for them."
    Pardew prepares his players for every match they are about to play by providing them with printed dossiers on individual opponents augmented by personalised DVDs highlighting tricks and tactics specific to particular rivals.
    Such homework appeared to pay off during a disciplined performance in which the sterling defensive work of Tioté, José Enrique and Fabricio Coloccini was complemented by, in the first half at least, some powerful play on the flanks by Joey Barton and Jonas Gutiérrez.
    "We really got at them in the first 30 minutes and deserved a goal," said Pardew who gave Stephen Ireland, on loan from Aston Villa, a debut as a second-half substitute. "But Manchester United moved us around in the second half and we were out on our feet at the end.
    "Their movement and calmness in possession is something we aspire to. That's going to be our next step next season. But we can be very proud of our discipline, our team impressed me tonight."
    Pardew added: "We need a bit more guile and imagination but Manchester United, who I think will win the league title, are the best team we've played in terms of quality. So it was a tremendous night for Newcastle United."

 
Newcastle frustrate Manchester United in final push towards title




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Premier League

Newcastle United 0 Manchester United 0



  • Kevin McCarra at St James' Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 19 April 2011 23.57 BST
    Peter-Lovenkrands-Newcast-007.jpg
    Newcastle United's Peter Lovenkrands shoots at goal as Manchester United's Chris Smalling tries to block. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

    The match never quite veered away from deadlock and even its sole controversy lacked substance. In stoppage time Javier Hernández moved across the Newcastle United right-back Danny Simpson but it was hard to tell if there was significant contact to leave the Mexican on the turf. The referee, Lee Probert, was confident of his own penalty area interpretation and booked the Manchester United attacker.
    Despite that this was not an evening for controversy or, for that matter, surprise. It was a typical outcome for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who have now drawn nine of their 17 away matches in the Premier League. There is a lack of verve in that record but the challenge to Arsenal in pursuit is still a stern one. Arsène Wenger's team will have to record a victory at White Hart Lane to move to within four points of the leaders.
    All in all, stalemate at St James' Park was a useful outcome. When Newcastle had called for a penalty of their own after an hour Probert was entitled to be unimpressed by the readiness of Peter Lovenkrands to go to ground, although there might have been a trace of contact from Anderson. Nothing came to fruition. The one notable aspect lay in the jaded look of the United side. They had also been flat when beaten in the FA Cup semi-final as Manchester City took command after half an hour and never relinquished it again. The likeliest conclusion must be that United will take the title but only by grinding their way towards it.
    So far as the Champions League is concerned, Schalke may now be all the more excited about a semi-final in which United could betray signs of fatigue. They did apply pressure to Newcastle after the interval but that had more to do with character than verve. There was just one shining opportunity. Hernández passed to Patrice Evra and the left-back evaded Cheik Tioté before his cut-back was mishit by Ryan Giggs and flew wide after 67 minutes.
    The Welshman could hardly believe he had been so clumsy. It was a night suffused with frustration, yet United would have imagined that they had the appropriate footballers for the task. Hernández had not started the FA Cup semi-final, Giggs was rested from it and that fixture completed Wayne Rooney's ban. All three were on the field from the start at St James' Park but there was no prospect of an immediate barrage.
    Newcastle, then, had an intense desire of their own to attack and this is, after all, a club putting the finishing touches to its work in ensuring that it stays in the Premier League. The home support booed lustily when Michael Owen, their former attacker, came on for the visitors but there was also perhaps an unwarranted fear of what harm he might do.
    United themselves could have been on edge since Rio Ferdinand had been sidelined by a calf strain but Chris Smalling illustrated once more that he is an effective deputy, particularly when someone like Nemanja Vidic is there to guide him. Nonetheless Alan Pardew's players did have the best chance of the first half, bungling though the finish turned out to be.
    A Joey Barton delivery found Lovenkrands in space after 43 minutes but he misconnected to send a header wide. Despite that disappointment the home crowd was cheerful, if not euphoric at seeing their side nullify United for great swaths of the game.
    It was impossible for the visitors in that period to create any sense of an onslaught and, in reality, the occasional furore should not disguise the fact that the fixture was mediocre. There has been an ambiguity about this campaign. Ferguson has, of course, been adroit in varying the line-up to conserve energy and 70 goals from 33 League games speaks of impact, yet there have always been grumbles about decline.
    The suggestion that United will return to the transfer market in earnest this summer makes complete sense. It still looks very much as if Ferguson's team will be champions but once that is done the process of reshaping the squad must accelerate.

 
Newcastle frustrate Manchester United in final push towards title






Premier League

Newcastle United 0 Manchester United 0



  • Kevin McCarra at St James' Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 19 April 2011 23.57 BST
    Peter-Lovenkrands-Newcast-007.jpg
    Newcastle United's Peter Lovenkrands shoots at goal as Manchester United's Chris Smalling tries to block. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

    The match never quite veered away from deadlock and even its sole controversy lacked substance. In stoppage time Javier Hernández moved across the Newcastle United right-back Danny Simpson but it was hard to tell if there was significant contact to leave the Mexican on the turf. The referee, Lee Probert, was confident of his own penalty area interpretation and booked the Manchester United attacker.
    Despite that this was not an evening for controversy or, for that matter, surprise. It was a typical outcome for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who have now drawn nine of their 17 away matches in the Premier League. There is a lack of verve in that record but the challenge to Arsenal in pursuit is still a stern one. Arsène Wenger's team will have to record a victory at White Hart Lane to move to within four points of the leaders.
    All in all, stalemate at St James' Park was a useful outcome. When Newcastle had called for a penalty of their own after an hour Probert was entitled to be unimpressed by the readiness of Peter Lovenkrands to go to ground, although there might have been a trace of contact from Anderson. Nothing came to fruition. The one notable aspect lay in the jaded look of the United side. They had also been flat when beaten in the FA Cup semi-final as Manchester City took command after half an hour and never relinquished it again. The likeliest conclusion must be that United will take the title but only by grinding their way towards it.
    So far as the Champions League is concerned, Schalke may now be all the more excited about a semi-final in which United could betray signs of fatigue. They did apply pressure to Newcastle after the interval but that had more to do with character than verve. There was just one shining opportunity. Hernández passed to Patrice Evra and the left-back evaded Cheik Tioté before his cut-back was mishit by Ryan Giggs and flew wide after 67 minutes.
    The Welshman could hardly believe he had been so clumsy. It was a night suffused with frustration, yet United would have imagined that they had the appropriate footballers for the task. Hernández had not started the FA Cup semi-final, Giggs was rested from it and that fixture completed Wayne Rooney's ban. All three were on the field from the start at St James' Park but there was no prospect of an immediate barrage.
    Newcastle, then, had an intense desire of their own to attack and this is, after all, a club putting the finishing touches to its work in ensuring that it stays in the Premier League. The home support booed lustily when Michael Owen, their former attacker, came on for the visitors but there was also perhaps an unwarranted fear of what harm he might do.
    United themselves could have been on edge since Rio Ferdinand had been sidelined by a calf strain but Chris Smalling illustrated once more that he is an effective deputy, particularly when someone like Nemanja Vidic is there to guide him. Nonetheless Alan Pardew's players did have the best chance of the first half, bungling though the finish turned out to be.
    A Joey Barton delivery found Lovenkrands in space after 43 minutes but he misconnected to send a header wide. Despite that disappointment the home crowd was cheerful, if not euphoric at seeing their side nullify United for great swaths of the game.
    It was impossible for the visitors in that period to create any sense of an onslaught and, in reality, the occasional furore should not disguise the fact that the fixture was mediocre. There has been an ambiguity about this campaign. Ferguson has, of course, been adroit in varying the line-up to conserve energy and 70 goals from 33 League games speaks of impact, yet there have always been grumbles about decline.
    The suggestion that United will return to the transfer market in earnest this summer makes complete sense. It still looks very much as if Ferguson's team will be champions but once that is done the process of reshaping the squad must accelerate.
 
Different Alan gives Jonas Gutiérrez and Newcastle United fresh legs

A deserved draw against Manchester United shows the beneficial effects of Alan Pardew's quietly convincing management style at Newcastle United



  • Jonas-Guti-rrez-007.jpg
    The crossing ability of Jonas Gutiérrez, pictured challenging for the ball with Manchester United's John O'Shea, right, was slated by the former Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters

    About this time two years ago Alan Shearer was patrolling Newcastle United's home technical area. Unaware that snatches of his conversation could be overheard, the former England captain once memorably, and scathingly, slated Jonas Gutiérrez's crossing ability.
    Twenty four months on the Argentinian winger, now urged on by another manager called Alan, surged repeatedly down the left wing against Manchester United but this time the touchline mood music sounded considerably more approving.
    Direct, dangerous, strong, speedy and, above all, largely accurate when it came to delivery, Gutiérrez created some decent first-half chances, won free-kicks and gave John O'Shea a night to remember for mostly uncomfortable reasons.
    Although still erratic at times he has improved beyond all measure since that deconstruction by Shearer as Newcastle headed for a season in the Championship. A big part of the credit for this renaissance belongs to Chris Hughton but Gutiérrez's game appears to have been sharpened under Alan Pardew's quietly convincing management.
    Along with Shola Ameobi, Joey Barton, Fabricio Coloccini and José Enrique in particular, he belongs to a group of players who have improved appreciably in recent months.
    If Newcastle squad members are offered freedom to improvise on the pitch, precious little 'off the cuff' happens away from it these days. Pardew provides every player with a personalised pre-match dossier highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the next opponents. Not content with relying on the written word, Newcastle's staff augment such information with individual DVD's highlighting rivals' tricks and tactics.
    The burning of all this midnight oil bore fruit here as Cheik Tioté's midfield discipline frequently succeeded in suppressing Wayne Rooney's threat. In a wider context it has helped a squad lacking real strength in depth &#8211; not to mention natural left-footers &#8211; compensate for Andy Carroll's potentially season-defining defection to Liverpool in January.
    Making the most of the resources at his disposal, Pardew has been forced to experiment, on one recent occasion relocating the impressive Coloccini from centre-half to midfield, but he has not merely taken tactical risks.
    The recent suspension of Kevin Nolan, Newcastle's influential captain, prompted the leap of faith involved in a temporary handing of the armband to Barton. Admittedly the midfielder's crossing and set-piece execution sometimes fell below his usual standards here but he proved a powerful force wide on the right. Times have certainly changed since the spring of 2009 when a cataclysmic row between Barton and Shearer seemed set to preface the former's exit from Tyneside.
    Pardew claims he has a "strong connection" with Barton but acknowledges their relationship must be lived on a day-to-day basis. Much the same could be said of his coping strategy for dealing with the "Ireland question".
    Three months after arriving on loan from Aston Villa, and following assorted injuries and a bizarre interview with a French football magazine in which he dissed Cork and Birmingham while suggesting his natural habitat was Los Angeles, Stephen Ireland finally made his debut as a 69th-minute substitute.
    He made it to some effect. With his first touch Ireland combined with Ameobi before volleying tantalisingly wide on the turn, showing a technical flair which has sometimes been absent from Pardew's side.
    Few on Tyneside have missed Michael Owen and, entirely predictably, the former £120,000-a-week Newcastle striker was serenaded with "only one greedy bastard" when he came on for Manchester United.
    Pardew looked nervous &#8211; unnecessarily so. Tioté, Coloccini and Ireland were among those who secured a deserved draw. It may be some time until they turn the clock back to the mid-1990s and start challenging the other United for the title again but Newcastle and their manager should not be underestimated

 
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