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Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Ancelotti: Winning is everything
Carlo Ancelotti says Chelsea will turn their back on a goal feast to ensure they earn three points and win the title.
A Chelsea win over Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday will deliver the crown in Ancelotti's debut season at the club and set them up for a league and FA Cup double.
Chelsea defeated Stoke City 7-0 in their last home match and have smashed 95 goals so far this season, but Ancelotti said: "It's our aim to win. We did a fantastic job but we've still got one game to go. We have to do our best, have the same behaviour in the last game."
He added: "Until now, we've deserved to stay at the top of the list. It would be a
tragedy if we lost the last game after 10 months of a good, fantastic job. Every day. It would be a tragedy, a disaster."
stay top
The Italian has bitter memories of the last time his side met Wigan as they were beaten 3-1 at the DW Stadium in September. The nature of the defeat will ensure Ancelotti sends out his players taking nothing for granted on Sunday.
"Wigan are a good team and have a lot of skill up front. They are quick and created a lot of difficulties against us. I remember that well," he observed.
"We have to pay attention because nothing is decided. If you don't prepare this game well before, if there are problems for us during the game we will not be able to resolve them. We have to be ready.
"Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to win on Sunday because this club has not won the title for some time. Now we are very close and everyone, I'm sure, will do his best to win this title. We just have to win. We have to score one more goal than Wigan. We're not interested in the other records. We want to win and be champions. That's all.
"We have played with continuity. We didn't fall off in the very important games, beating the other members of the 'top four' in our six games. For that reason, I believe that we deserve to stay top of the list." by premierleague
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stay top
The Italian has bitter memories of the last time his side met Wigan as they were beaten 3-1 at the DW Stadium in September. The nature of the defeat will ensure Ancelotti sends out his players taking nothing for granted on Sunday.
"Wigan are a good team and have a lot of skill up front. They are quick and created a lot of difficulties against us. I remember that well," he observed.
"We have to pay attention because nothing is decided. If you don't prepare this game well before, if there are problems for us during the game we will not be able to resolve them. We have to be ready.
"Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to win on Sunday because this club has not won the title for some time. Now we are very close and everyone, I'm sure, will do his best to win this title. We just have to win. We have to score one more goal than Wigan. We're not interested in the other records. We want to win and be champions. That's all.
"We have played with continuity. We didn't fall off in the very important games, beating the other members of the 'top four' in our six games. For that reason, I believe that we deserve to stay top of the list." by premierleague
Ferguson not counting on favours
Sir Alex Ferguson says he will be hoping rather than expecting Wigan Athletic to get a result at Chelsea.
Manchester United will head into the final day of the Barclays Premier League season still with a chance of landing a record fourth title on the trot. Yet Ferguson knows the odds are stacked against his team.
Quite apart from beating Stoke City at Old Trafford, the Red Devils are reliant on Wigan avoiding defeat at Chelsea, a feat that has only been achieved twice this season and the Latics have managed just once in four previous league visits to Stamford Bridge.
"It's pointless going into the game expecting anything from Chelsea in our favour," said Ferguson.
"I have confidence that Wigan will do their best and they will try."There's pressure on both us and Chelsea because we both need to win but I don't know what's going on in Chelsea's minds - all I know is that in this situation we just hope. You never know.
"But I will find out what has happened because there are TV people standing in front of you, people beside you and the crowd reaction sometimes tells you."
biggest disappointment
Ferguson will be without Antonio Valencia, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury, and Rio Ferdinand is expected to return.His final starting line-up of the season is likely to be an attacking one, given his stated intention is to bow out with a flourish in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
Then the United manager will probably reflect on an opportunity missed given Chelsea have suffered six defeats in a season when they have also managed to take maximum points off their main rivals, their victory at Old Trafford coming in between two ties with Bayern Munich that shaped the Red Devils' season.
"A bad week might have cost us everything," said the United manager.
"The biggest disappointment was the European Cup. It's an absolute travesty because we were the best team.
"We had a good opportunity to win it but we took the disappointment into the first half against Chelsea." by premierleague
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"I have confidence that Wigan will do their best and they will try."There's pressure on both us and Chelsea because we both need to win but I don't know what's going on in Chelsea's minds - all I know is that in this situation we just hope. You never know.
"But I will find out what has happened because there are TV people standing in front of you, people beside you and the crowd reaction sometimes tells you."
biggest disappointment
Ferguson will be without Antonio Valencia, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury, and Rio Ferdinand is expected to return.His final starting line-up of the season is likely to be an attacking one, given his stated intention is to bow out with a flourish in front of the Old Trafford faithful.
Then the United manager will probably reflect on an opportunity missed given Chelsea have suffered six defeats in a season when they have also managed to take maximum points off their main rivals, their victory at Old Trafford coming in between two ties with Bayern Munich that shaped the Red Devils' season.
"A bad week might have cost us everything," said the United manager.
"The biggest disappointment was the European Cup. It's an absolute travesty because we were the best team.
"We had a good opportunity to win it but we took the disappointment into the first half against Chelsea." by premierleague
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Foster eyes up possible loan move
Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster is weighing up the possibility of a loan move next season.
The England international has seen his progress stall this season and is now looking to regain momentum. Foster was the hero of United's Carling Cup final triumph against Tottenham Hotspur just over a year ago, winning the Man of the Match award for his penalty shoot-out heroics. He was also rewarded with his second England cap in the summer.
He began this campaign as first-choice stand-in for the injured Edwin van der Sar and won further caps against Belarus and Brazil in the autumn. But a couple of high-profile errors saw him drop down the pecking order at Old Trafford behind Tomasz Kuszczak and the fit again van der Sar.
However the 27-year-old has lost none of his faith in his own ability and is determined to bounce back - even if it means going out on loan for regular match practice.
bounce back
He told premierleague.com: "It has been a disappointing season for me. It started well and things looked rosy but then it seemed to go downhill.
"Sometimes it just does not work out but I still have confidence I can bounce back. "I only signed a new contract with United last summer. I have three years left and don't want to leave. "But maybe a loan move might help. You can see what it has done for Joe Hart this season. "He has gone to Birmingham and done wonders. He is a fantastic keeper and by playing week in, week out he has shown just how you can progress. "It is hard to do that if you are stuck on the bench or getting the odd chance here or there so it might be something to consider.
"It won't be my decision, that is for the manager and I don't want to get involved in that. But obviously I want to be playing. "Edwin van der Sar has just signed for another year so I can't expect to be playing here.
"It is difficult for goalkeepers because it is such a specialised position. It is not as if you can slot in elsewhere in the team. "There is just the one place so a loan for the season could be ideal and then I will take it from there. "I would love to get a chance at United and I don't want to leave. If you leave United there is only one way to go. "But you never know what will happen in football. Next season will be a big one for me."
crazy game
Foster has still not given up hope of figuring for England in this summer's FIFA World Cup although he admits the chances are slim. After winning four caps, the keeper has not figured for his country since the 1-0 defeat by Brazil in Qatar last November.
He added: "It would be fantastic to be involved in the World Cup but the other keepers have done well so there is a lot of competition for places. "I think I have shown what I am capable of whenever I have been involved with England so I have not written it off but I will just have to wait and see if I am in the squad."
Foster's campaign finished on a high note as he helped United to win the Barclays Premier Reserve League final against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils came from behind three times to draw 3-3 with the holders before winning on penalties. Foster saved twice and also scored a spot-kick himself, smashing the ball down the middle and into the roof of the net.
He laughed: "It was a bit like a goal-kick. I was always going to leather it. "I made up my mind a couple of weeks ago that I would take one if I got the chance. I took a similar one in pre-season in South Africa but it hit the bar.
"As we walked towards the goal, I told Villa keeper Andy Marshall that I was going to take one - and he knew what was coming but there was nothing he could do about it. I just put my laces through it. "It was a crazy game but a good one to watch. Both teams were tired at the end because we put everything into it and it has been a long season.
"Villa have only lost once all season so we knew it would be a tough match. They are no push-overs but I think we just about deserved it on the balance of play.
"We showed great character to keep coming back in the classic United way." by premierleague.com
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bounce back
He told premierleague.com: "It has been a disappointing season for me. It started well and things looked rosy but then it seemed to go downhill.
"Sometimes it just does not work out but I still have confidence I can bounce back. "I only signed a new contract with United last summer. I have three years left and don't want to leave. "But maybe a loan move might help. You can see what it has done for Joe Hart this season. "He has gone to Birmingham and done wonders. He is a fantastic keeper and by playing week in, week out he has shown just how you can progress. "It is hard to do that if you are stuck on the bench or getting the odd chance here or there so it might be something to consider.
"It won't be my decision, that is for the manager and I don't want to get involved in that. But obviously I want to be playing. "Edwin van der Sar has just signed for another year so I can't expect to be playing here.
"It is difficult for goalkeepers because it is such a specialised position. It is not as if you can slot in elsewhere in the team. "There is just the one place so a loan for the season could be ideal and then I will take it from there. "I would love to get a chance at United and I don't want to leave. If you leave United there is only one way to go. "But you never know what will happen in football. Next season will be a big one for me."
crazy game
Foster has still not given up hope of figuring for England in this summer's FIFA World Cup although he admits the chances are slim. After winning four caps, the keeper has not figured for his country since the 1-0 defeat by Brazil in Qatar last November.
He added: "It would be fantastic to be involved in the World Cup but the other keepers have done well so there is a lot of competition for places. "I think I have shown what I am capable of whenever I have been involved with England so I have not written it off but I will just have to wait and see if I am in the squad."
Foster's campaign finished on a high note as he helped United to win the Barclays Premier Reserve League final against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils came from behind three times to draw 3-3 with the holders before winning on penalties. Foster saved twice and also scored a spot-kick himself, smashing the ball down the middle and into the roof of the net.
He laughed: "It was a bit like a goal-kick. I was always going to leather it. "I made up my mind a couple of weeks ago that I would take one if I got the chance. I took a similar one in pre-season in South Africa but it hit the bar.
"As we walked towards the goal, I told Villa keeper Andy Marshall that I was going to take one - and he knew what was coming but there was nothing he could do about it. I just put my laces through it. "It was a crazy game but a good one to watch. Both teams were tired at the end because we put everything into it and it has been a long season.
"Villa have only lost once all season so we knew it would be a tough match. They are no push-overs but I think we just about deserved it on the balance of play.
"We showed great character to keep coming back in the classic United way." by premierleague.com
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Lampard: Terry form brilliant
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has praised John Terry's "brilliant form" this season. England star Lampard believes Terry's displays have played a major part in helping the Blues to top the Barclays Premier League by a single point from rivals Manchester United. Victory over Liverpool on Sunday would help edge coach Carlo Ancelotti torwards the title in his first season and deliver Chelsea's first league crown since 2006. Terry, sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, will return from suspension to face Liverpool on Sunday. The defender has come
under criticism for his form and behaviour off the pitch this season. valuable defender But Lampard believes people have to look beneath the hype and the controversy and recognise Terry's efforts on the pitch this season. "I'd like to take this opportunity to stand up for JT," said Lampard. "He's taken a bit of stick recently but Stoke was the first league game he's missed all season. "His general form has been brilliant. That's one of the reasons we're top. "Technically and defensively he's miles ahead of most of the players he gets compared to and that's why he's always in the FIFPro team and winning UEFA's most valuable defender award. "We all know it's fashionable to have a pop at the top of the tree but at Chelsea we know his true value." by premierleague
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