Winger will have somewhere to go after training next season

Last summer we were the first to tell you about CR7, the fashion boutique that Cristiano Ronaldo opened in Madeira and gave to his sister Elma. Since then, the Manchester Utd star has opened another CR7 in Lisbon, and the Spanish press are today getting their knickers in a twist over the location of the next store: Madrid.

The front page of sports paper Marca says he is to bring his fabulous fashion sense to the Spanish capital, and that this is yet another indication of his strong desire to play for Real madrid next season.

Marca also suggests that the store may be named ‘CR9′, as the only way he could wear a number seven shirt at Real would be if he pried it from Raul’s cold, dead hands. It just so happens that he has also trademarked the CR9 name.

While C-Ron has made little attempt to disguise his desire to play in La Liga, The Spoiler has discovered that the new store opening may not be as indicative of a summer transfer as Marca believe. According to the official CR7 site, there are plans to open stores in Paris, Milan, Madrid, London, Berlin, Prague, Tokyo and Los Angeles. (Sorry Manchester, no silver hotpants and Freddie Mercury jackets for you.)

- Thespoiler.co.uk

Brazilian fitness trainer opens up about relationship

Cristiano Ronaldo's latest squeeze Gabriela Entringer has admitted they're seeing each other.

The Manchester United hunk hit it off with the Brazilian fitness trainer when they met at a nightclub six weeks ago.

But until now, Cris, 24, and Gabi, 28, have stay tight-lipped about the romance.

‘Everything’s happened very quickly,’ she says. ‘Cristiano won me over. I feel very passionate about him.’

But Gabriela’s mum Rosana and police officer dad Jadson are worried about the media attention she's getting.

‘Jadson has become a bundle of nerves over this,’ Rosana tells the Daily Star.

‘He thinks Gabi should stay clear of Cristiano because he’s going to turn a lot of things upside down in her life. Their relationship has been all over the Brazilian press.

‘There has even been talk that Brazil’s Playboy is ready to offer nearly £200,000 to put Gabi on their front page. Jadson would have a heart attack if that ever happened.’

- nowmagazine.co.uk

England manager Fabio Capello has branded hot-headed striker Wayne Rooney "a crazy man" after his antics at Craven Cottage last weekend.

The 23-year-old was one of two Manchester United players to see red in the 2-0 defeat by Fulham last Saturday - receiving two yellow cards after midfielder Paul Scholes had been sent off earlier for a deliberate handball.

Rooney received his marching orders from referee Phil Dowd for hurling the ball back at the official when he demanded that it be re-taken from the correct spot.

After remonstrating with Dowd, Rooney stalked off in a rage and punched a corner flag on his way to the dressing room, which prompted cheers from the home crowd and led to speculation that he could face a further rap from the FA.

However, despite being spared a personal hearing - and receiving a standard one-match domestic ban for his two yellows - renowned disciplinarian Capello gave Rooney a dressing down as the squad met up ahead of this weekend's friendly against Slovakia at Wembley.

"What were you doing punching the corner flag?" the Italian queried in front of the rest of the squad.

"You're a crazy man, a crazy man."

Capello also reminded the rest of the squad of their responsibilities in the public eye after a spate of recent off-field problems for England internationals.

Ashley Cole was recently held in a police cell after abusing officers while on a night out in London, while Steven Gerrard has been in court after being charged with assault and affray relating to a recent nightclub incident.

The charge of assault was later dropped, although he still faces a trial over the second charge.

- .inthenews.co.uk

Claude Makelele has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to join Real Madrid next summer.

Manchester United star Ronaldo would be a happy man if he was to seal a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, according to Makelele.

The former Real midfielder has claimed that the Portugal international is made to play in Spanish football and would make the most of all the space allowed by Primera Liga defenders.

“If he was to arrive, he would enjoy himself a lot,” Makelele told As when asked about Ronaldo possibly moving to Madrid.

“He is very quick. In England, running away from the defences is difficult but here [in Spain] there is much more space.

“If they signed him he would bring a lot.”

- Setanta

One iconic No. 7 is going to have a word with the referee ahead of Sweden's forthcoming game with Portugal...

Sweden striker Henrik Larsson has claimed that his former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is inclined to hit the ground a little too easily when tackled, and is warning his team-mates not to fall into the tricky winger's traps.

He also revealed that he will be speaking to the referee ahead of the Swedes' World Cup qualifier with the Portuguese in Porto on Saturday, as he fears that his nation's qualification hopes are under real threat from the Red Devil.

"I intend to speak with the referee before the match to warn him about Ronaldo diving," English tabloid The Daily Mail reports Larsson as telling reporters in Portugal earlier.

"We must be careful, as a team, not to get caught out by that, but so must the referee. I will be having a word with him and telling him to keep an eye out for it."

Ronaldo has become notorious in England for his alleged theatrics when tackled, though his club manager Alex Ferguson has pointed out that the player is subject to some excessively rough treatment from defenders, and referees should be offering the player more protection.

- Goal.com

Rio Ferdinand thinks fellow Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic can win the PFA Player of the Year award.

The Serb, 27, was an ever-present during a run of 14 consecutive league clean sheets earlier this season.

Ferdinand told BBC Radio Manchester: "He'll definitely be in the running for Player of the Year.

"He's probably been our most consistent player, with Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar. Those three have been stand-out. He's a top player."

Fellow Red Devils star Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award for the last two years.

Only one defender, Chelsea's John Terry, has been named Player of the Year in 15 years.

"Attacking players normally get the awards and the accolades," said Ferdinand.

"JT won it a couple of years ago but not many centre-halves have won it so it would be nice."

- BBC Sport

There'll be no miracle recovery for Berba for what already amounts to a must-win qualifier for his country in Dublin on Saturday...

The latest word from the Bulgarian national team camp is that there is absolutely no way that Dimitar Berbatov will be able to take part in the World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland at Croke Park this weekend.

Rumours had been swirling that the superstar striker would somehow be able to overcome the ankle injury he picked up on the weekend, after his Manchester United team-mate John O'Shea warned his Irish colleagues to not be surprised if Berbatov suited up this Saturday.

But Bulgaria boss Stanimir Stoilov has responded to these reports, which have been gathering steam in the Emerald Isle, by discrediting them completely.

"Berbatov's leg has been immobilised, it will take him 10 to 14 days to recover," he insisted to local reporters.

"After that, he will start light training sessions. He can fly to Dublin to watch the match if the United management lets him go. Our national team doctor has received all of Berbatov's medical tests and x-rays. Hardly anybody questions his injury."

Bulgaria are desperately short up-front for a game that they simply cannot afford to lose, with Manchester City's Valeri Bojinov and Hertha Berlin's Valeri Domovchiyski both set to be sidelined as well.

- Goal.com

Manchester United players could be looking for summer transfers if these leaked photos of their 2009/10 prototype kits get the go-ahead.

New kit designs for Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea and Manchester United have been published on The Spoiler and early indications suggest it is United's players who could come off worst.

Designers of the white and red away shirts have used a lace-up collar to finish the neckline similar to that last seen on their green and yellow shirts in the mid-1990s . The second effort is kinder on the eye, with a '60s feel about it.


Liverpool are next, and it is pretty much as you were with the away kit design, apart from a slightly more pond-like shade of green.

Anfield officials have already said they will stick with their current home jersey, and also appear relatively happy with the travelling strip.

Chelsea appear to be contemplating adding a zip to their home and away kits, with new designs giving off a slight impression of body armour.

And congratulations to Arsenal who have come up with a design that represents actual change [and still resembles a football shirt].

This season's lemon yellow could make way for a demure shade of racing green. However, Arsenal fans have already noted that the last time the club wore green was the 1982/83 season - when they finished.

- Telegraph.co.uk

The England defender has hailed the sacrifices made by his country's servicemen and women...

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was on duty with the England squad yesterday, meeting some of Britian's disabled ex-servicemen, wounded in recent conflicts, to sign autographs and chat.

He took the time to thank all members of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces for the sacrifices that they made, believing that it put the task ahead of him and his team-mates into perspective.

"They are the heroes," he told The Manchester Evening News.

"You are speaking about people who are going out and risking their lives for the country.

"We have seen so much on TV about how these guys go about their work and the sacrifices they make for our well-being, for us to be able to share the same room is a privilege.

"We know how to play football and lose matches but what they do is a bit different to losing a game of football.

"They are more worthy of the word hero than we are."

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender John Terry, attending the event along with David Beckham and Ferdinand, also spoke of his pride in the veterans' sacrifice, and how he would have liked to have served his Queen and country, though he wasn't sure he was up to it.

"They love their football, they like to look up to us but I would like to be in their shoes and do what they do," the Blues skipper told The Daily Telegraph.

"It's great they want to do that and they are brilliant at their job. I would love to [serve], of course. Put your life on the line for the country – I would love to, but I don't think many of us could."

- Goal.com

Back to back defeats for the first time in the league in four years, six goals conceded and only one scored, a possible 10-point lead more than halved and humiliation at home to their fiercest rivals. Manchester United may want to forget March 2009 as quickly as possible, but to Patrice Evra what looks alarmingly like a slump is no more than "a little accident"

The French defender is as baffled as the rest of his Old Trafford team-mates as to how they have had their aura of invincibility shattered, first by Liverpool and then Fulham as what looked like a Premier League title procession has turned into a dogfight.

But Evra remains confident United will be able to put their blip behind them when Sir Alex Ferguson's squad reconvenes after international duty next week.

He said: "I have been at Manchester United for three years now and this is the first time I have lost two straight matches. But I am sure it is just a little accident."

Evra's confidence is matched by that of team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who believes the champions' greater experience, as well as their putative four-point lead, stands them in good stead for the resumption of domestic hostilities in nine days' time.

But the England international believes Ferguson's side will have to win all of their remaining league games if they are to see off an increasingly stern challenge from a resurgent Liverpool side.

"That's always the case at this stage of the season," Ferdinand said. "We have gained some great experience that it comes down to winning at all costs, so hopefully we can lean on that."

However, midfielder Darren Fletcher conceded that their task will be made harder by the combined effects of suspension, international travel and their commitments in the Champions League.

"We would have been desperate for another league game but unfortunately the international break has come along," he said. "Hopefully it's just a setback but it's easy talking about it, you have got to prove that on the pitch."

Ferguson will have to juggle his resources as best he can for the visit of Aston Villa a week on Sunday, a game that comes just 48 hours before the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Porto.

Nemanja Vidic, nominated by Ferdinand as United's player of the season, will miss the game through suspension, while Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes will join him on the sidelines.

United will also face a battle to engage the services of Ji-Sung Park, who is in Seoul for South Korea's derby with the North next week, and Anderson, who is in the Brazil squad for a double header with Ecuador and Peru.

Of the 20 United players called up for international duty, though, it is Carlos Tevez who will concern Ferguson most. With Rooney missing, the Argentine should be in line to face Villa but he will have to overcome the long flight back from La Paz, where Diego Maradona's side face Bolivia on Wednesday, as well as the effects of playing at an altitude of 3,600 metres.

- Telegraph.co.uk

Manchester United are set to have the AIG logo on their shirts for another season despite attempts by the crisis-hit American financial giant to rebrand its "wounded and disgraced" name.

United are seeking a new sponsor to replace the £56.5 million four-year deal with AIG which expires at the end of the 2009-10 season.

The European champions are confident of securing a lucrative agreement by the autumn, with both Saudi Telecom and Indian financial services company Sahara linked with replacing AIG

But with next season's United strip – due to be launched in China on the first-leg of the club's Far East tour in July – already in production with the AIG logo in place, moves by AIG to change its name to AIU could leave United with a redundant sponsor for the duration of the 2009-10 campaign.

A Nike spokesman said: "For the 2009-10 season all Manchester United shirts and training products have been produced with the AIG logo in line with the company's continued sponsorship of the club.

"The speculation surrounding AIG had very little impact on the process of manufacturing this product."

AIG has been bailed out four times by American taxpayers in recent months after incurring colossal losses during the global credit crisis.

And the company's security team has been forced to warn US-based employees to take special precautions and "avoid wearing any AIG apparel with the company insignia" as a result of growing hostility towards the company following revelations of bonuses paid to employees from bail-out funds.

The company's Manhattan offices have already been renamed AIU Holdings and chief executive Edward M Liddy has admitted that AIG have no option but to change their discredited name.

Liddy said: "I think the AIG name is so thoroughly wounded and disgraced that we're probably going to have to change it."

United are due to receive the final £14 million instalment from AIG ahead of the start of next season, but the American company, rather than United or Nike, would be forced to foot the prohibitive cost of any logo changes on next term's kit.

The club will play in the four-team Audi Cup in Munich at the end of July. The two-day competition, held at Munich's Allianz Arena, will feature United, Boca Juniors, AC Milan and Bayern Munich.

United will face Boca on July 29 following their four-game tour of the Far East before tackling Milan or Bayern in the final/third-place play-off on July 30.

- Telegraph.co.uk

Peter Davenport revealed to Setanta.com that Manchester United seriously considered appointing Brian Clough as club manager.

Retired Manchester United striker Peter Davenport recently revealed that during his time at Old Trafford, he believed that the club were seriously considering appointing Brian Clough as United's manager just before the Red Devils secured the services of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Clough has been the subject of many discussions of late, as the biographical film of his time as a manager, 'The Damned United', has just been released in cinemas.

Both Ferguson and Clough are figureheads of top-flight management, and Davenport had the privilege of playing under both gaffers, signing for Manchester United from Nottingham Forest back in 1986.

Ron Atkinson was sacked during Davenport's tenure at United, and in the quest to find a new manager for the side, the ex-striker felt that chairman Martin Edwards was keen on having Clough take over at the club.

Despite press reports suggesting a link between the two at the time, Edwards denied that any offer was made to Clough before appointing Sir Alex at Old Trafford. However, Davenport has now revealed that Edwards spoke to him three times about the whole affair, requesting his opinion on Clough as a manager.

"Martin was always intrigued at the possibility of getting Brian Clough," claimed Davenport.

"He asked what he was like, how he operated, and Martin would have been very pleased if Clough had ever been in the frame for the United job. I think he would have got it.

"At that stage Clough was at the height of his powers, had won the European Cup twice. But Forest had finished higher than United [in the First Division] a couple of seasons before, so the teams were in similar positions.

"I don’t think he [Edwards] ever made a move, but I think he had a lot of respect for Clough."

- Goal.com

Darren Fletcher has admitted that Manchester United are desperate for game-time in order to get their faltering title challenge back on track.

Two consecutive defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Fulham have derailed United's campaign and they are eager to play again to prove their worth as champions.

"We would have liked another game straight away to respond to a couple of difficult games," said Fletcher.

United have conceded six goals and scored only once in their two defeats, while Liverpool have scored 13 in only three games. This is a trend that Fletcher and his colleagues will be keen to reverse.

"We would have been desperate for another league game. But I think Liverpool would have been wanting the league to continue, so you never know. We just have to deal with it." The 25-year-old argues the only way United can prove their form is just a blip is by getting out on the field and playing. "It's easy for me to say it's only a blip but we have to go out on the park and show it's only a blip," he said.

Scotland face Holland in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, and Fletcher is relieved his United team-mate Edwin Van der Sar has chosen to remain in retirement. "I don't know if the manager [Scotsman Sir Alex Ferguson] had a word in his ear because he was playing Scotland!

But he made the decision and I like to think that's good for Scotland," said the midfielder.

- Telegraph.co.uk

The Reds defender is backing their rivals from up the East Lancs Road to crack under the pressure...

Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel thinks that the pressure exerted by him and his team-mates on Manchester United will be too much for the Red Devils to handle, and Liverpool's 19-year-long drought for the league title will come to an end this season..

Liverpool mauled their rivals 4-1 at Old Trafford a week and a half ago, and United slipped up again when they were beaten 2-0 in west London at the weekend by Fulham. Skrtel is sure that there will be further errors from Alex Ferguson's men as the season's end nears and the pressure grows ever more intense.

"I think yes, because there are eight games left or so," he told deniksport.cz.

"They are also in the UEFA Champions League. A lot of points are still up for grabs, and although they have a match against Portsmouth in hand, they will not have it easy against them.

"I just hope that we will stay in-form, they will slip-up and we will jump over them in the table."

The Slovak also feels that his club manager Rafa Benitez deserves much of the credit for Liverpool's more sustained title challenge this year, and hailed the effect the Spaniard has had on his personal game, adding, "It is good for us players as well as for the fans and the whole club, because Benitez has done a great piece of work during his time at Liverpool.

"He is enormously popular here and I think that he is a coach of great qualities. He has also helped me personally.

"He has taught me a lot. Thanks to him we work a lot on tactics and game discipline. I have improved in both aspects."

Liverpool thrashed Aston Villa 5-0 at the weekend, a result many felt has ended the Midlanders push for a top four finish. The Villans face United next though and Skrtel did not rule Martin O'Neill's men out from still having a vital part to play in the destination of this season's Premier League crown.

He concluded, "It will not be an easy game for them. Aston Villa are still aiming for a Champions League spot and will not give them anything easy.

"We will see. It would be great if they could play better than against us and steal a point or three from United."

- Goal.com

The more Ben Foster attempted to untangle the riddle that is his football career, the more he sounded like some sort of high-wire performer rather than the latest great hope for a position once filled by such luminaries as Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton.

Indeed, after the furore surrounding Ledley King, the phrase "balancing act" was rarely far from Foster's lips as he fielded questions about his own club versus country headache.

On the one side of Foster's high-wire act is a desire to stay at Manchester United, yet over the other edge is the dream of replacing David James as England goalkeeper before next year's World Cup and the realisation he might need to leave Old Trafford in search of regular first-team football. A huge decision is looming.

"It's the biggest club in the world against the biggest competition in the world," Foster said. "I'm not happy just to sit around and be the No 2 goalkeeper. You have to be playing. You can't expect to go to the biggest competition in the world not playing regular football.

"I know Fabio has the rule of not picking players who haven't been playing for their clubs. I don't know what the future holds. I've got no desire to move away from Manchester United. I love the club. But, on the other hand, I've got ambitions.

"It's a bit of a fine line for me. I want to be at Manchester United for as long as I can be. But there comes a moment when I do want to be playing also. I am 25 and I am hoping to have another decade or longer in the game.

"Hopefully, it will just be a case of biding my time. It is frustrating, but you probably only get one chance at being at United. You expect there to be a lot of people fighting for the same position."

The fight is with Edwin van der Sar and Foster probably has until the end of next January either to replace the 38-year-old Dutchman or to leave for another club, whether permanently or on loan, if he is to have a chance of boarding the plane for South Africa next year as Capello's first-choice goalkeeper.

It is a curious situation and one which brings into sharp focus the changing landscape of the Premier League. There was a time when English football was a conveyor-belt of world-class goalkeepers, yet it is now one of the positions of greatest concern to Capello and his management team.

The level of hope that surrounds Foster is illustrated by Capello's willingness to break one of his guiding principles and select a player in the England squad who is not featuring for his club.

The way Foster rose to the big occasion of a Wembley final in the Carling Cup victory over Tottenham certainly provided encouragement for those like Aidy Boothroyd, his former manager at Watford, who regard him as potentially the best goalkeeper in the world.

Foster, though, is aware that the likes of Petr Cech, Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina had all accrued considerably more experience by the same age.

"I would like to think I am good enough," Foster said. "I enjoy playing the big games. I don't really feel the pressure or get nervous. When you're out there is front of 70-odd thousand people you really get to know yourself and to know what you're capable of.

"There's a lot more pressure on anyone when they are out there doing that. Some people fail miserably under that sort of pressure and other players just seem to thrive on it.

"I would like to think that I am one of those players who likes that sort of pressure."

- Telegraph.co.uk

Manchester United breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after the FA indicated that it will take no further action against Wayne Rooney or Sir Alex Ferguson in the wake of the 2-0 defeat by Fulham on Saturday.

The FA has written to Rooney to warn him about his future conduct after the England forward’s show of dissent at Craven Cottage, where he lashed out at a corner flag as he left the pitch after being sent off for two bookable offences by Phil Dowd.

Dowd, the referee, confirmed in his official report to the governing body that he had not been verbally abused by Rooney after showing the player a second yellow card for reacting angrily to the official’s insistence that a United free kick be taken from its correct position. Rooney, who had earlier been booked for a foul, hurled the ball past the referee in a temper.

However, he will serve only a one-game ban, which will rule him out of United’s Barclays Premier League game at home to Aston Villa on Sunday week.

Paul Scholes, the midfield player, will also miss the Villa match through suspension after being shown a straight red card for handling the ball on the goalline, from a Bobby Zamora header.

Ferguson also escaped censure, despite openly criticising the performance of the referee, news that will no doubt anger Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, who accused his United counterpart in January of getting preferential treatment from the FA. The United manager had said, “It’s Phil Dowd, so what do you expect?”, when asked for his assessment of the referee’s performance.

The FA said: “Phil Dowd has confirmed to the FA that he was not verbally abused by Wayne Rooney following his red card against Fulham on Saturday.

“The FA will not take any disciplinary action against the player in relation to his behaviour towards the match referee. In light of Rooney’s actions as he left the field of play, the FA has written to him and warned him about his conduct.”

- TimesOnline

The United veteran reckons the biggest game of the season is approaching in the form of Aston Villa...

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has stated that he feels that the game against Aston Villa has become critical if United are to regain the title this season.

The Red Devils have suffered two defeats in their last two Premier League games, losing 4-1 at home to arch rivals Liverpool, and 2-0 at Craven Cottage to Fulham yesterday, and desperately need to steady the ship as Liverpool make some seriously big waves behind them.

35-year-old Giggs believes that now is the time for cool heads, and claims the squad will be fully focused for the visit of Villa after the international break.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Giggs said, "We're obviously disappointed with the result. After losing last weekend, we wanted to come here and put on a good performance.

"Chelsea losing is better than them winning, but we have got to do our own job and not worry about the teams around us.

"It is still in our hands. The lads are going away on international breaks now and I hope we don't get too many injuries. Hopefully, we can get back on track against Villa."

This statement was backed by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who also said that they can use their slender lead in the title race to their advantage.

"As I've said, when you lose games in March and April, it can cost you.

"Fortunately, we have a slender lead at the moment but it's not a lot. Obviously, I'm hoping we go away for the internationals and come back at our best.

"We've got a home game against Aston Villa in our next game and that's absolutely crucial."

Ferguson's side are currently in first place in the Premier League, one point ahead of Liverpool and with a game in hand. But they will need to stop the run of defeats quickly, to prevent their Premier league crown from slipping.

- Goal.com

Fergie didn't bother trying to hide his disappointment regarding United's defeat at Craven Cottage...

Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney both saw red at Fulham as Manchester United sank to a 2-0 defeat, their second loss on the trot.

A blatant handball from the former allowed Danny Murphy to put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot on 17 minutes amid a hugely disappointing first-half display from the Red Devils.

United made some tactical changes at the interval and looked a completely different, well-drilled outfit thereafter, but their numerical disadvantage meant that piling forward left them exposed at the back. Zoltan Gera made good use of this fact and sealed the win for the home side with a late clincher.

"I was disappointed with the first half, I must admit," United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told the press.

"We didn't get started at all and that's cost us the game.

"They were lively and they got stuck in, and we expected that. They lost 4-0 to us a few weeks ago so we expected a response from them. We didn't meet that challenge. I think we can thank Edwin van der Sar for keeping us in it.

"In fairness to the team, in the second half they responded to the half-time talking and I think we were unlucky not to get something out of it. Their goalkeeper's made some terrific saves but we've missed a few chances ourselves.

"It's inevitable that one of their counterattacks will put you in trouble, and that cost us the game. We did really well and we were unlucky. If they'd have got the goal back then they may have even won it. In fairness they kept going and good credit to them for that."

United's consecutive defeats have shortened the gap between the league leaders and a chasing Liverpool to just four points, a deficit that could be shortened further should 'Pool overcome Aston Villa on Sunday.

"As I've said, when you lose games in March and April it can cost you," said Ferguson.

"Fortunately, we have a slender lead at the moment but it's not a lot. Obviously I'm hoping we go away for the internationals and come back at our best.

"We've got a home game against Aston Villa in our next game and that's absolutely crucial."

- Goal.com

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been given a one-match ban by The FA after being sent-off in United's 2-0 Premier League defeat against Fulham on Saturday.

23-year-old Rooney was sent off by referee Phil Dowd for two bookable offences, the second card after seemingly throwing the ball in the direction of thr referee, also punching the corner flag in frustration while leaving the pitch.

But in his report, Dowd said that there were no unsavoury comments from Rooney, meaning the former Everton star won't face any extra sanctions beyond the one-match suspension.

The suspension means that Manchester United will not only be missing Wayne Rooney for the visit of Aston Villa to Old Trafford in United's next Premier League fixture on April 5, but The Red Devils will also be without central defender Nemanja Vidic, who was sent-off against Liverpool, and Paul Scholes, who saw a straight red-card in the match against Fulham.

The FA confirmed the one-match ban for Rooney on Monday, with an FA spokesperson saying: "We have clarified with Phil Dowd that there was no abuse from the player after he was dismissed.

"In relation to the incident when he punched the corner flag, the referee did not see that and we have written to Wayne Rooney reminding him of his responsibilities."

- premiershiplatest.com

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is preparing a £3.5 million bid for Manchester United defender Wes Brown.

The People says Brown, 29, has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford and O'Neill will guarantee him regular first-team football - which will boost his chances of getting in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

With his 30th birthday just around the corner, Brown will have to be playing regularly if he is to get in Capello's squad for South Africa next year. A move to Villa will give him that.

- TribalFootball.com

To be honest, I didn't watch the game last night. I was too tired and went to sleep early. I woke up this morning and found out that United lost another game. From 10 points, now we're down to 4, maybe to a single point if Liverpool win tonight's game.

What's going now? We should have Rafael and Fabio for fullback while Van Der Sar need a rest. Like I said many times, Berbatov is useless, he's barely had chances and too LAZY to chase opponent's player. I rather have Tevez on every game although he didn't score many. At least he's a good feeder.

Scholes was unlucky using hands although he should just let the ball pass him. We can still win the game if we had 11 players on the pitch. For Rooney, I think Sir Alex Ferguson should put him into a mental institution. That kiddo have temper problem. For God's sake, you're a striker, act like one. We don't need player with crazy tackle.

LONDON (AFP) — Guus Hiddink admits Chelsea might have spurned their best opportunity of overhauling Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

The west Londoners could have slashed United's advantage at the top of the table to a single point after Sir Alex Ferguson's side were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at Fulham on Saturday, their second defeat in as many matches.

But Chelsea failed to capitalise as they slumped to a 1-0 loss at rivals Tottenham, leaving their hopes of restoring the title to Stamford Bridge after a three-year absence in tatters.

Instead, it is Liverpool who now appear to have the best chance of making United sweat as the run-in gains pace over the coming weeks.

"We lost a huge opportunity, knowing that United were losing, it was a great chance to really change things," Hiddink said. "These are the typical days in a tough league. They are key moments. If Manchester United lose, we have to strike but we didn't do that.

"There's not just pressure on United but also ourselves and Liverpool. When you're chasing you have to win your games but to lose the goal as we did in the 10 minutes after half-time, with so many professionals and internationals, is bad for us."

Hiddink could barely contain his annoyance with his side, who were inexplicably lacklustre at White Hart Lane.


The Dutchman, who is in charge on an interim basis until the end of May, when he will return to manage the Russian national side permanently, was especially irritated by their sloppy start to the second half.

Chelsea, having been distinctly second best before the interval, compounded their woes with some flaky defending which allowed Aaron Lennon to exploit space on the right wing. The England international's cross was met first time by Luka Modric, whose excellent low shot found the bottom corner.

Falling behind knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and it was not until the last 15 minutes that Chelsea finally generated some meaningful attacking momentum. But Heurelho Gomes made fine saves from headers by Alex and John Terry and Spurs deservedly held on for a famous victory.

Hiddink will have plenty to ponder as he leaves England for the first time since his appointment at Stamford Bridge. He is due to travel first to Amsterdam, to visit his elderly father, and then on to Moscow where he will begin planning for the World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein.

But the former PSV Eindhoven manager refused to accept that Chelsea were distracted by his impending international commitments.

"We missed this opportunity due to our start in the second half," Hiddink complained. "We talked about that at half time. We knew they would come at us from the start and we emphasised that but it was very sloppy defence for their goal.


"Sometimes, there are circumstances where you can't always look for the best solution when the ball is in a dangerous part of the pitch: we have to just clear instead. We must learn from that."

Hiddink's dark mood was in stark contrast to that of Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, whose side are suddenly eying a belated charge for seventh place, a finish which will guarantee Europa League football next season.

Redknapp could barely disguise his disdain for the UEFA Cup when he took control at White Hart Lane this season, and regularly complained that the extra fixtures placed too great a burden on his squad.

But he has attributed that attitude to Spurs' other commitments, rather than contempt for the competition itself.

"It wasn't that I disrespected the UEFA Cup - we were in a relegation battle and the League Cup final," he said. "I had to prioritise. If we had been in the top half we would have gone for it.

"We'll go for it again this season so let's push on and try and get seventh. We need to start looking upwards as a club - our recent form demands that because it's been terrific."

- AFP

Fabio Capello will tomorrow break his long-standing rule never to pick players who cannot get a regular game for their clubs by selecting Ben Foster in his squad to tackle Slovakia and the Ukraine.

Foster has been almost permanently injured since Capello replaced Steve McClaren 15 months ago.

Indeed, his bad luck goes back further than that, with just one England cap in in a career that has promised much but, until a man-of-the-match performance in Manchester United's Carling Cup Final win over Tottenham, delivered very little.

Capello had already heard plenty about Foster. But being at Wembley to get a first-hand view of the Red Devils keeper allowed the Three Lions chief to get confirmation.

And while a visit to Fulham a fortnight ago went unrewarded once Sir Alex Ferguson surprisingly decided to pick Edwin van der Sar against his former club, Capello intends to stick with his gut instinct.

"I will pick Foster,'' said the England boss. "A lot of people have told me he is a very good goalkeeper but he has always been injured. I watched him on TV and then he played in the Carling Cup Final and I saw him there.

"He surprised me with his confidence. I went to Fulham hoping to see him in the FA Cup tie but Sir Alex pulled him out. I will check him again during the week in training and then decide if he is going to play.''

As Capello has pledged to make his maximum number of six substitutions in the friendly against Slovakia in order to ensure his team are fresh and raring to go for the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine on April 1, there must be a reasonable chance Foster will add to the single cap he won under McClaren in a friendly defeat by Spain at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old will replace Joe Hart in the squad, the Manchester City youngster recently ousted from first-team duties by the arrival of Shay Given at Eastlands.

"It is different for goalkeepers,'' admitted Capello, when pressed on Foster's clear status as Old Trafford understudy to Van der Sar. "I want to get to know him and this is the first time he has been fit.''

As Van der Sar has signed a one-year contract extension to play on next term, Foster has no immediate prospect of getting a regular game at United.

However, Ferguson's pledge that the former Stoke star will be a United - and England - regular one day appears to have won Capello over.

While Foster represents a new face, the remainder should be pretty familiar - Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard are all set to be added to the squad that slipped to the 2-0 defeat in Spain last month.

The comprehensive nature of that loss seemed at the time to be a significant step backwards for the Three Lions.

But now he has had chance to look at the match again, Capello is genuinely optimistic for the future, believing it showed England can take on and beat the world's finest.

"When we lost against France (Capello's second game in charge) I said I was happy because I understood a lot of things,'' said the Italian. "Now I understand even more. I know the value of my team. The next time we play Spain it will be different. Now I know we can play against every country in the world.''

The one significant unknown remains the Wembley crowd.

Upwards of 75,000 are expected for Slovakia on Saturday evening - a pretty decent statement in itself.

But, against Kazakhstan in October and the Czech Republic a couple of months earlier, disaffected sections of the England support made their voices heard, leading to hints of a fear factor inside the home dressing room.

It is a problem that must be solved if England are to cruise towards South Africa 2010, although Capello is confident there will be no repeat of the jeering.

"The fans will help us this time,'' said Capello. "We will have 12 players on the pitch. I am sure of that. We need them.''

- ESPN

Manchester United star plans Paris trip

Wayne Rooney has organised a romantic trip to Paris to mark wife Coleen turning 23.

The Manchester United star was unable to celebrate the WAG's actual birthday on 3 March due to football commitments.

So he has booked a 2-night stay at the Tremoille Hotel in Rue de la Tremoille to make up for it, reports the Sunday People.

Wayne, 23, and Coleen tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Portofino, Italy, last summer.

- NowMagazine

Manchester United's bad couple of weeks could be about to get much worse...

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney may receive a three game ban, following his sending-off in yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The England international received a second yellow card for throwing the ball away and followed Paul Scholes down the tunnel, as the league leaders ended the game with nine men.

Whilst a dismissal for two bookable offences automatically results in a one game ban, it is believed that Rooney’s reaction to the red card may see his punishment increased.

The striker initially refused to leave the field and protested vehemently to referee Phil Dowd, before punching the corner flag on his way to the dressing room.

The News of the World claim that Rooney’s refusal to leave the field could land him in hot water and suggests that the FA may decide to increase his ban, depending on the contents of the referee’s report.

Should this prove to be correct, it would mean the striker would miss United’s games against Aston Villa, Sunderland and Everton, although, of course, this has not yet been confirmed.

Such a ban would be a big blow to United’s title hopes, which took another battering yesterday, as they lost their second successive game for the first time in four years.

The Red Devils will now look to get back on track in their next fixture, after the international break, at home to Aston Villa.

However, they will go into that game without their suspended trio of Nemanja Vidic, Scholes and Rooney.

- Goal.com

Bulgaria's football team captain Dimitar Berbatov will certainly sit out international duty against Ireland and Cyprus after suffering an ankle knock. The injury came during Manchester United clash with Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

"Dimitar's got a good crack on his ankle. There's some swelling there. We'll have a look in the morning. Bulgaria will have to miss Dimitar Berbatov," Manchester United Assistant Manager Mike Phelan told the BBC.

The doctor of the national football team ruled out any chance for Berbatov to join the match against Ireland.

“In no way can this happen. The injury will stop him from playing football for at least two weeks. Most probably this is about his old ankle problems, which have aggravated despite the measures that have been taken,” Mihail Ilev told the Bulgarian National TV channel.

The Bulgarians' new manager, Stanimir Stoilov, is facing an uphill battle since he can not bank on the experience of one more of his best footballers in the crucial forthcoming World Cup qualifier Martin Petrov, who is still recovering from a surgery.

Bulgaria is up against the Republic on 28 March.

- novinite.com

Ji-Sung Park is edging closer to signing a new deal with Manchester United.

The News of the World says Park’s new contract will keep him at United for the next four years and earn him £50,000 a week.

The South Korean star, 28, had started to question his future at the club with his current contract due to expire at the end of next season.

But he remains a part of Fergie’s plans despite being left out of the Champions League final team last May. The United boss claimed the decision to omit Park was one of the toughest he has had to make.

- Tribalfootball.com

A disappointed Ryan Giggs gave his thoughts on Manchester United's second consecutive league loss after Fulham beat them 2-0 at Craven Cottage...

Ryan Giggs spoke to MUTV tonight after his Mancheter United team's defeat at Fulham, giving his own spin on what today's results - including Chelsea's shock result against Spurs - mean in terms of the battle for the title.

"We didn’t expect that [Spurs] result... it’s better than [Chelsea] winning," said the Welshman.

"We’ve got to do our own job, not worry about the teams around us. It’s still in our hands."

Despite feeling that the title race is still being very much dominated by the Red Devils, Giggs is well aware of the severity of the back-to-back losses his team have suffered, an occurrence so rare that one must delve back four years and 148 matches into the past to find the last time United suffered consecutive losses in the league.

"We’re obviously disappointed with the result. After losing last weekend, we wanted to come here and put on a good performance," Giggs continued.

"We didn’t do that in the first half - our passing was sloppy and our movement wasn’t good enough. We just couldn’t get it going, the tempo wasn’t good."

The veteran midfielder cited the sending off of Paul Scholes as a possible excuse for the sub-par performance by the champions.

"Scholesy’s sending off dealt us a double blow because we were down to ten men and Fulham were awarded a penalty. It was just instinct really – if you’re on the goal line, you’ll try and save it. He was unlucky to be the last man but it was a sending off."

Fully admitting that ex-Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar kept his side in the game for a long time, Giggs credited his side with an improved second half performance, even if they couldn't salvage a result.

"Going a goal behind and down to ten men, we had to arrange our shape a little bit differently. We came out and played a lot better in the second half. We were on top, we created some good chances and their keeper made a couple of good saves. Had one of those efforts gone in then we could have gone on to win it but it wasn’t to be.

"Some of our lads now go away for the international break. Hopefully we won’t have any injuries and we can get back on track against [Aston] Villa."

- Goal.com

Manchester United implode for the second time in succession whilst Liverpool scent blood in the Premiership title race

SOMEBODY is cracking up in the Premier League and it is not Rafael Benitez. For the second Saturday in succession, Manchester United imploded, this time losing 2-0 at Fulham, to leave Liverpool scenting blood in the title race. Also for a successive weekend Sir Alex Ferguson’s team lost on-field discipline and finished a match without 11 men. At opposite ends of a remarkable match Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were shown red cards by Phil Dowd, the referee, with Rooney’s sending-off causing his manager to complain furiously.

Chelsea suffered a surprise defeat by Tottenham to pass up the chance to close ground on United but Liverpool will move to within a single point of the champions should they beat Aston Villa at Anfield this afternoon. United’s lead was seven points just eight days ago but yesterday’s defeat, after last Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Liverpool, has put them under pressure. It is the first time in almost four years that Ferguson’s side have suffered consecutive league defeats and arguably United’s most seismic loss of form since losing 5-1 and 6-3 in successive games against Newcastle and Southampton in 1996-97.

Scholes was ordered off for deliberately handling a header from Bobby Zamora on the goalline and Danny Murphy put Fulham ahead from the spot. Then, after Zoltan Gera made it 2-0 in the 85th minute, Rooney, already cautioned, was booked again for dissent after Dowd ordered a quickly-worked free kick to be retaken. Rooney, right, threw the ball back towards the official. After protesting against his red card furiously Rooney showed even further dissent when he punched a corner flag on his way off.

Ferguson prevented his players from surrounding Dowd at full-time but attacked the referee in his post-match interview. Of Scholes’ red card he said. “It was close to him and he could have easily got out of it but it’s Phil Dowd so what do you expect?” Regarding Rooney, Ferguson said: “The first thing I’d say is, ‘Did he throw the ball at the ref? The ball was thrown directly to where the kick was to be taken. Did it hit the ref? No. Did he throw the ball in anger? Yes, because he wanted the game hurried up.”

Ferguson did not excuse his side’s performance, admitting: “We didn’t play well enough in the first half to win.” Even if Liverpool win today, United will have a game in hand. “Fortunately we have a slender lead at the moment. We hope to go away on the international break and come back, back to our best,” Ferguson said.

- Times Online

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledged his team were not good enough as they 2-0 lost at Fulham.

The defeat, on the back of last week's 4-1 home reverse against Liverpool, means the Barclays Premier League leaders have suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time in 147 games.

After Danny Murphy (penalty) and Zoltan Gera had scored in each half to condemn his team to a 2-0 defeat, Ferguson said: "In the first half we never got started. They were lively and got stuck in and we respect that - they lost 4-0 to us a couple of weeks ago. But it's disappointing we didn't meet the challenge."

He added: "If you lose games in March and April it can cost you. Fortunately we have a slender lead at the moment but not a lot and I'm hoping we come back from the internationals back to our best."

Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were both sent off by referee Phil Dowd - Scholes in the 17th minute for handling a Bobby Zamora header on the goal line and substitute Rooney for a second bookable offence.

The latter dismissal frustrated Ferguson, who added on MUTV: "Did he (Rooney) throw the ball at the referee? The ball was thrown direct to where the free-kick was being taken - did it hit the referee? No.

"He threw it because he wanted to get the game going. What can you say about that?

"There wasn't a bad tackle in the game but John Pantsil was booked in the first half for nothing - it was just a tackle. Tackling isn't always perfect - I thought it was totally unfair.

"But there's no point talking about the referee - we didn't play well enough to win the game in the first half and that's why we lost it.

"In the second half I thought we did really well - they kept going and credit to them. But we're home to Aston Villa in our next game - and that will be crucial."

- Press Association