Fergie: We must stop Barca trio

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits he must find a way to stop Barcelona's three best attacking players in the Champions League final.

PA PhotosSir Alex Ferguson insists his players are as determined as ever

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United and Barcelona are on the verge of sealing their domestic titles and will come face-to-face in a repeat of the 2009 final at Wembley on May 28. Ferguson hopes that his attacking players can create problems for the Catalans.
"Obviously, Barcelona is the big one now," Ferguson told US-based radio station Sirius XM. "What we have to do is find a solution to the Xavi-Messi-Iniesta problem.
''Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers. We have our share too. In the final last time we started off really well, then gave away a bad goal. After that Barcelona kept the ball very well, as they always do.
"We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother and hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us."
Ferguson also hit out at the critics who have claimed United are not as good a team as in previous years.
"Everyone has said this is not a good Manchester United team, that we are not this or that," he said. "But we have scored more goals than anyone else. Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and we will win the league by getting one more point.
"You have to put all the criticism to one side because I have to be realistic when I look at my team and ask 'Am I satisfied?' Those players have given me everything."

Owen: Focus on Barca clash

Michael Owen has confirmed Manchester United's thoughts have already turned towards the Champions League final.

PA PhotosMichael Owen is focusing on the Champions League final

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Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to make a huge number of changes for Sunday's final Premier League encounter with Blackpool at Old Trafford even though the game will have a significant bearing on the relegation battle.
Tangerines boss Ian Holloway has already expressed his displeasure at the prospect of Ferguson being fined for fielding a weakened team.
However, that seems unlikely to influence Ferguson, who in any case has plenty of internationals who need a game, plus some, such as Owen and Wes Brown, who might be making farewell appearances in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
There is no disguising what United are focused on now though, with Owen admitting training sessions were now being geared towards that Wembley confrontation with Barcelona on May 28.
"We obviously have a duty to the Premier League to perform against Blackpool and to win that game,'' Owen told MUTV. "But I would be lying if I said one eye wasn't on Barcelona now. A lot of what we are doing in training is focused on stopping them.
"I was even playing as David Villa on the left wing in training trying to mimic how Barcelona play. We are starting to prepare for that game but we will certainly be focused on Blackpool on Sunday.''
In addition to Owen and Brown, it could also turn out to be the final competitive game at Old Trafford for Paul Scholes. The 36-year-old has still to decide whether to accept Ferguson's one-year contract offer and there is a growing body of opinion that feels Scholes will ultimately decide to call it a day.
If so, Scholes will head into retirement with 10 league title medals, 675 United appearances, providing he is involved in one of his club's final two games, and acknowledged by many as the best English midfield player of his generation.
His is now an understated contribution, but it is one of the reasons John O'Shea feels any debate over the merits of this present United outfit should end.
"This team has been knocked quite a bit this season but what does that mean for the rest of the teams in the Premier League?'' O'Shea said. "The team that wins the league has been the best team.''

City deny Ronaldo intent

Manchester City have rejected speculation that they are about to launch a big-money move for Cristiano Ronaldo.

GettyImagesCristiano Ronaldo is not a transfer target claim Man City

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Ronaldo, a former World Player of the Year, quit Manchester United for Real Madrid in an £80 million deal two years ago and has been in fine form since his arrival at the Bernabeu.
However, despite the 26-year-old's 51 goals in all competitions this season, Real missed out on both the Primera Division title and Champions League glory.
With relations between Ronaldo and coach Jose Mourinho said to be strained, it has been suggested City could swoop with a bid far in excess of what Real paid for the Portugal international.
Such a move would contradict the claims chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak made in his end-of-season address on the City website, which was released on Thursday, in which he stated firmly that there would not be a mass influx of players this summer and that the club were committed to working within UEFA's new financial fair play rules.
City officials have now confirmed that Ronaldo is not a transfer target this summer, claiming the speculation is pure 'mischief-making'.
"Speculation linking the club with Ronaldo is ill-informed and unfounded and nothing other than mischief-making," senior officials told Sky Sports.
"Whilst there is no doubt that Ronaldo is one of the world's greatest players, he is not on the club's list of transfer targets."
Before manager Roberto Mancini can think about who he wants to bring in, he must resolve issues around players no longer thought to be required.
Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy are both certain to return after West Ham and Cardiff were both condemned to play in the Championship next season, while it is also expected Emmanuel Adebayor will not have his stay at Real extended.

Tevez: I want to leave Man City

Manchester City skipper Carlos Tevez has told Argentinian radio that he is seeking a move away from the club as he needs "a change of scen

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Tevez, 27, has played an integral part in City's success this season and after helping the club end their 35-year trophy drought with victory in the FA Cup last Saturday, manager Roberto Mancini insisted the former Manchester United man was staying at Eastlands.
"Carlos has told me he wants to stay," Mancini said. ''I have spoken with him many times in the last 20 days and my opinion is he will stay. He has a five-year contract and has told us he wants to stay. He said that before. He never had any problem."
Tevez initially concurred with Mancini's assessment, claiming the chance to overhaul former club United provided him with a great incentive to stay.
But the striker, who handed in a transfer request in December before later withdrawing it, appears to have once again made up his mind that a new challenge is what he requires.
"I want to leave Manchester City," Tevez told Radio del Plata. "Football has changed a lot for me and I don't know if I will even make it to the next World Cup.
"And that has nothing to do with whether I'm selected or not. I've been treated very well here and I'm grateful. I also gave my everything for the club to receive the results it has had. But I need a change of scene."
The likes of Inter Milan and Real Madrid have been linked with the Argentina ace, who is believed to have turned down a massive new deal from City worth £300,000 earlier in the season.
Tevez's 21 goals this term have fired City into the Champions League for the first time in their history and his brace against Stoke on Tuesday has helped put the club on the brink of automatic qualification for the group stage of the competition ahead of Arsenal.
As well as interest from Italy and Spain, Tevez's former club Boca Juniors are reportedly ready to offer him a chance to return to his homeland, though the forward admitted the Argentinian side may not be able to afford him.
"To go back to Boca Juniors would be beautiful but it is very difficult," Tevez said. "I spoke to their midfielder Roman Riquelme and, messing around, we agreed I would go back one day. But if we're speaking seriously, financial issues would make my return difficult."
If City agree to let their prized asset go, his last game could be this Sunday's trip to Bolton and his last action could be to win the Premier League top scorer's crown - Tevez is currently level on 20 goals withManchester United's Dimitar Berbatov.

Schalke’s Raul: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will know how to stop Barcelona

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will know exactly what to do to stop Barcelona in the Champions League final, according to Schalke striker Raul.

The former Real Madrid forward and club record scorer faced the Catalan giants on countless occasions during a 16-year spell at the Bernabeu, where he won Europe’s most coveted prize three times.

Raul told reporters: “I don’t think there is a favourite.

“There is nothing I can tell the managers of United or Barcelona. They [Ferguson and Pep Guardiola] are both great coaches and at Manchester, in particular, Ferguson is a legend. He will know exactly what his players have to do to win and they will work on a plan.

“The two sides are both very well balanced and they will know each other very well, from playing each other in the final two years ago. They are both at the ultimate level.

“Barcelona are playing very well – that is clear – but Manchester United have proved against us and in the past that they can compete with whatever team they face. It will be a great final to watch."

Raul was a member of the Schalke side that lost to United in the semi-final, where veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs sent Sir Alex Ferguson’s men on their way with a second-half goal during the first leg in Gelsenkirchen.

Like Raul, Giggs believes United can topple the side likely to contain seven of the 11 players selected in the Spain side which triumphed in last summer’s World Cup, along with the almost Lionel Messi.

“He’s [Messi] the best player in the world at the moment – his goalscoring record is frightening,” said Giggs. “But he’s just one of many players we’ll have to look after and take care of.

“They have top players and if they all click it’s very difficult to beat a team like that, but it’s not impossible. We’ve got very good players who are at the top of their form at the moment. Just like they’ll be trying to hurt us, we’ll be trying to hurt them.

“I think we’re well matched in every department. Going into any top game, you need a gameplan and the players to go out and produce it. We’ll need to do that but ultimately once you’re out on the pitch you’ve got to have the confidence to play against what is a very good team.”

United will need to overcome the memory of defeat at the hands of the Spanish champions in Rome back in 2009 when Messi rounded off a comfortable night's work for Pep Guardiola’s men with a deft header after Samuel Eto’o had opened the scoring.

Giggs added: “We didn’t react after they scored in Rome. It knocked the stuffing out of us and if it happens again we need to reach better.”

'If we beat Chesea on Sunday, we should win the league' - Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson confident of lifting title

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his confidence in claiming the club’s 19th league title if they can overcome title rivals Chelsea in Sunday’s showdown at Old Trafford.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have closed the gap since March, when they were 15 points behind table toppers United, and would go top with a superior goal difference if they were to beat United at the weekend.
However, Ferguson has hailed his team’s home form and feels that three points against the reigning champions will all but secure the title with just two further games remaining and six points separating the sides.
Ferguson told reporters on Friday: "If we win, I think we should win the league. Our home record is fantastic, probably the best in Europe, and it has to be on Sunday."
The Red Devils are unbeaten at home since last April, but the former Aberdeen man recognises the drive that his side’s opponents showed with their 2-1 comeback win at Stamford Bridge in March over United, pointing to that win as the turning point in their season.
"The result against us was the change for them," he said.
"That gave them that lift from being out of the game to winning it. And, of course, us losing to Arsenal on Sunday is going to open the door for them.
"It's a hard league to win, we know because we've been involved in championship races for almost 19 years."
After rotating his squad in the 4-1 win over Schalke in the midweek Champions League semi-final, Ferguson is expected to recall the likes of Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand for Sunday’s clash.
"Last Sunday's defeat [at Arsenal] has certainly brought us an awareness of how important this week's game is," he commented.
"It is one of the reasons why I picked the team I did on Wednesday. I wanted to give us a real chance.
"We will have a fresh team on Sunday and that makes a difference at this time of the season."
Meanwhile, on the back of a 2-1 win against Tottenham, Chelsea skipper John Terry insists there is nothing stopping the Blues repeating their success of last season.
"We showed when we went to Old Trafford and won last year, which was the decisive game, that we could do it," he stated.
"There is no reason why we cannot do it again.
"Each season you know you are going to hit a bad spell, and it is about how quickly you can get out of it. We got out of it very quickly last year, and have taken a little longer this time - but once again we are right back in the frame.
"There is nothing I want more than to bring back that trophy."

Uefa hand Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho five-match ban

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Jose Mourinho has been handed a five-match ban and fined £44,000 by Uefa following his actions and comments during and after Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first-leg tie against Barcelona.

Real Madrid have confirmed they will appeal this decision but as Mourinho has already served one game - his side's 1-1 draw on Tuesday at Camp Nou - and one other match is a suspended sentence, the Portuguese coach will miss his next three European games.

Following Real Madrid's defeat at home to Barcelona in the semi-final first leg, which included the dismissal of Pepe, who has already served his one-game suspension, Mourinho insinuated Barcelona were favoured by Uefa, a claim which was labelled as an "inappropriate statement" by the governing body.

Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto, who was sent off at half-time for his involvement in a scuffle at the Bernabeu, has been suspended for three games, one of which has already been served.

Real Madrid have also been fined £17,000 for the "improper conduct of their supporters" during their first-leg tie.

"Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed from the bench in the first leg and made an inappropriate statement at the post-match interview, has been suspended for the next five Uefa club competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible," read a statement on Uefa's website.

"The suspension includes the one-match ban for the match following the coach's dismissal, which was served for the return leg in Barcelona on Tuesday. The fifth match is suspended for a probationary period of three years. Mourinho has also been fined €50,000 [£44,000].

"Real Madrid have also been fined €20,000 [£17,000] for the improper conduct of their supporters.

"Meanwhile FC Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto, who received a red card in the first leg match in Madrid, is suspended for three Uefa competition matches, and having already served a one-match ban for the return leg, will now also be suspended for the Uefa Champions League final on 28 May and the next Uefa club competition match for which he is eligible."

Schalke should not be downbeat; they were beaten by a better team The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs. Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers. Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign. More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.

The Champions League has the final it deserves
An honest assessment of the current Champions League format leads to the inescapable conclusion that there are too many non-contests in a tournament that is bloated and plainly uncompetitive in its early stages. The whole thing is geared towards preserving the interests of the elite clubs, ensuring they are kept rich and happy, despite the machinations of Michel Platini, the Uefa president. The Champions League can be drab and uninspiring. The most competitive sides are kept segregated and, instead, processions between the haves and have nots are prominent.

But, unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in the boxing world, the two best club sides in football have an obligation to face each other at one stage or another. And so it brings us to Wembley on May 28. Manchester United make the trip to London to face Barcelona. Both are deserving finalists.

United's brand of football may have changed this season and they may be lacking in the way of outright excitement but it one of the grossest miscalculations of our time to say that this edition of Ferguson's team is a weak one. They are clear at the top of the Premier League and have just qualified for their third Champions League final in four seasons. You make not like them but you must respect them.

Barcelona have justifiably gained the critics' and fans' approval for their Champions League campaign. They have been electric at times but even they have their Achilles heel. Make no mistake, despite the format of the competition, it has still placed the best two teams against each other in the final. United's defensive resolution against Barcelona's possession football philosophy. The Catalans will monopolise the ball but Wayne Rooney or Nani will need only one chance to score.

It promises to be an enthralling show; a fitting finale to the biggest club competition in the world.

Schalke should not be downbeat; they were beaten by a better team The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs. Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers. Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign. More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.

Mourinho is on to something; Madrid need to let him finish the job

Barcelona have built a dynasty. It began in 1979 with the inauguration of La Masia, from which Barca draw their organic talent. Current graduates include Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro and a host of younger players on the fringes of the first-team. Barcelona 2011, headed by former Cantera product Pep Guardiola, is a way of life which is 32 years in the making.

In Spain's capital, things are different. They have had four different first-team coaches since Guardiola took up his position in the summer of 2008. That's four different philosophies, four different ways of playing and plenty of transfer campaigns too.

Continuity has bred the success for Barcelona whereas chopping and changing has only led Madrid around a vicious cycle of perpetual renewal, expectation and failure. There has been the odd trophy; Bernd Schuster won a Liga title before Barca began their hegemonic dominance of Spain's top flight.

But during the course of these Clasico encounters, something changed. Madrid were outclassed in November but returned for the head-to-head duels a far stronger outfit. They beat the Catalans in a one-off Copa del Rey final. Barca only beat them once in four matches and los Blancos also emerged from Camp Nou undefeated. They may be out of Europe now but their defeat at the Bernabeu came only after a red card was issued to Pepe.

Real Madrid are closer to Barcelona than they have been in years. Jose Mourinho has brought them there. With another transfer campaign imminent and with the Portuguese having another pre-season during which to impose his will on his players, they can inch yet closer next season. Madrid will have taken strong belief in their own abilities thanks to the courage and strength shown in these matches. Madrid need to give Mourinho the time he needs. Because in the Special One, they may have found the solution.

Schalke should not be downbeat; they were beaten by a better team The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs. Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers. Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign. More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.

The subtlety of Andres Iniesta supplied the antidote for the Clasico's ailments

It does not take a genius to figure out that the four Clasico matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid over the past three weeks were not conducted in the most sporting of spirits. There has been acrimony, indiscipline, violence, wars of words and ill-behaviour. Overall, it must be admitted, that the sequence has left neither club covered in glory.

Real Madrid were guilty of being overly physical and also of adopting a persecution complex once their violent ways were exposed. Barcelona deserve scorn for their hounding of referees and claiming the moral high ground even as Pedro, Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets were feigning injury and attempting to have opponents sent off.

Certain individuals, however, have managed to rise above the fetid effluent that has flowed between the two cities over the past month. Lionel Messi, above all others, has commanded the football headlines for his goals, but even he showed disrespect by booting a loose ball into the crowd at the Bernabeu.

The man who emerges unscathed is Andres Iniesta. He generally stayed out of the way of trouble and his performance against Real Madrid on Tuesday exuded class and dignity. He was rattled by a few fouls but got on with things and when the time came, he gave a pass of rare quality to send Pedro on his way to goal for the lead. Iniesta possesses the ball, usually, for only half the amount of time as his midfield partner, Xavi Hernandez. Xavi is a player of influence, Iniesta is a player of decisiveness. He is not on the ball every third pass; he flits, he roves, he finds space in which to work his subtle magic.

Busquets tackles, Xavi passes, Messi scores but, quite often, it is the man whose goal won the World Cup who makes all the difference.

Five things we learned from the Champions League this week

Schalke should not be downbeat; they were beaten by a better team

The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs.

Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers.

Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign.

More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.

Five things we learned from the Champions League this week

Manchester United's rotation policy means that 'fringe men' are first choice

Not one of the Champions League semi-finalists managed to put a point on the board in their respective domestic leagues the weekend prior to their continental second-legs. Barcelona had a 1-0 lead overturned by Real Sociedad, Real Madrid endured jeers and a 3-2 home defeat by Real Zaragoza, Bayern Munich walloped Schalke 4-1 while Manchester United went down to Arsenal. Barca and Madrid competed with shadow squads and Schalke have not got the quality to fight effectively on two, or more, fronts by tinkering with their personnel.

The case of Manchester United is more interesting. Their tie with Schalke was as good as sealed with a 2-0 away win and they were in a unique position to rest their star performers for the second-leg, which was won comfortably in any case, whilst fielding a strong team at the Emirates due to their precarious lead at the top of the English Premier League. It was therefore a low-key foray into the Champions League for the likes of Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans, who came through unscathed.

Certain Madrid and Barca players looked overawed at the weekend and it has long been apparent that both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have a rigid favoured XI. Those then thrown into the limelight have either to sink or swim. But try to name United's preferred XI and you would come unstuck. There are always one or two places seemingly up for grabs. Sir Alex Ferguson has assembled a squad in which every member is on his toes, the league's top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, included.

And it has brought him rich rewards, two-fold. Firstly, 'first-teamers' are on guard, aware that a sporting rival is on the fringes waiting to come in. Secondly, those on the sidelines are fresh because of Ferguson's well-adhered to policy of rotation. In his squad, everyone plays and everyone has a tangible chance of being 'first choice', injuries aside. There are very few slip-ups when the deputies are called upon. It keeps bodies and minds sharp and guards against complacency. It makes a winning team.