Pro Eleven Headline News

Ronaldo fit to join squad for Villareal clash

Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to take his place in the Manchester United squad for tomorrow's Champions League clash with Villareal.

The winger limped off the field towards the end of Saturday's goalless draw with Aston Villa and was considered a major doubt for the trip to Spain.

However, he took full part in training this morning, as did Darren Flethcer, who missed the Villa clash with a knee injury.


Injury-plagued Real Madrid travel to Minsk

Real Madrid travelled to Minsk on Monday for their vital Champions League clash against Bate Borisovwith a squad plagued by injuries.

Coach Bernd Schuster has his options severely limited with six players out with physical problems.

The club have striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy out for the season following knee surgery, while Arjen Robben is also out until the end of 2008 with a muscle problem.

Central defender Fabio Cannavaro is out with a groin strain, while Mahamadou Diarra has a thigh injury and Ruben de la Red is still having tests since passing out in a Copa del Rey match earlier this month.

Finally striker Gonzalo Higuain twisted his ankle during Saturday night's 1-0 win against Recreativo Huelva and has also been left in Madrid. Youngster Alberto Bueno has been called into the Real Madrid squad.

Consecutive European defeats to Juventus have left Real Madrid needing to beat the Belarusian side on Tuesday night, otherwise their progress to the last 16 could rely on them beating Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on December 10.


Fabregas named as new Arsenal captain

Cesc Fabregas has been named as the new captain of English Premier League side Arsenal on the eve of Tuesday's Champions League clash against Dynamo Kiev .

The 21-year-old Spanish midfield star replaces William Gallas, who was stripped of the captaincy last week after publicly questioning the attitude of his team-mates.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia skippered the side for the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, a match which Gallas missed following his outburst.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declined to say why he had taken the captaincy away from the 31-year-old Galllas, but confirmed it was a permanent switch.

"I don't think I have specially to explain why I make the decisions," Wenger said on Monday. "William is a player that I rate and a man that I rate as well. I have a big respect for him.

"He was working as a captain and was in a very difficult media environment. He was under big pressure from the press and at some stage you do not want that (outside) pressure to affect him and the team.

"He's a player who's committed to the club. I think he will be stronger as a player because he took all the problems of the team to his heart."

Asked why he had given the captaincy to 21-year-old Fabregas, Wenger again declined to give a reason.

"I believe that for me the captain is the voice of the club towards the outside and is one of the leaders of the team," he said.

"But I don't believe in one providential man in the dressing room who sorts out all the problems. A successful team is a shared leadership inside the dressing room and he will be one of the leaders but not the only one."

The loss to Manchester City was Arsenal's fifth in the Premier League, two more than last season when they finished third.

They are currently in fifth place, 10 points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, but the north London club can clinch their place in the next stage of the Champions League.

"The team is frustrated but it's not all doom and gloom," insisted Wenger. "We have a strong belief in our ability and we have a good opportunity to show that we care about the club and we believe in our strengths......"

After Tuesday's game, Arsenal must prepare for Sunday's Premier League showdown at Chelsea.

"We can qualify tomorrow, and that is what we want to do. From then on, we have a massive game on Sunday against Chelsea," Wenger said.

"We know for us to have a chance in the championship, we have to beat all the direct opponents. If we can do that, then we still have a good chance."