Pro Eleven Headline News

Ferguson promises United will treat Club World Cup with respect

After facing criticism from home and abroad the last time Manchester United took part in the Fifa Club World Championship, Sir Alex Ferguson has promised to treat the revamped Club World Cup with respect.

"I'll take my strongest team. I think we look at this tournament as a platform for players to excel, to express themselves," he said."It is a world championship and any player who goes into it will want to play the right way and make an impression. To play in a tournament of this stature is wonderful for them."

United won the tournament's predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, with victory over a Luiz Felipe Scolari-led Palmeiras in 1999 when it was just a one-off match between the champions of South America and Europe.But the following year Ferguson and his side had to ride a storm of public reproach after pulling out of the FA Cup to feature in an expanded eight-team competition in Brazil, only to fail to make the final four.

Since then the world governing body have reinvented the tournament and moved it to Japan but despite Liverpool finishing runners-up to Sao Paulo in 2005, it has failed to capture the imagination of the British public.

Ferguson, however, will be hoping the games can provide Paul Scholes with a chance to regain match fitness. The midfielder returned to action last week in the Carling Cup after two months out after knee surgery.

"It is an opportunity for Paul to make his comeback," added Ferguson."He may have played before that but this is an ideal opportunity for him to get games under his belt. He is such an important player for us that this is a bonus for us for a player making his comeback."

Meanwhile, Sir Bobby Charlton has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to become the first Manchester United player to lift the Ballon d'Or more than once.

Ronaldo became the fourth United player after Charlton, Denis Law and George Best to collect the prestigious prize this month following his 42-goal contribution to his club's triumphant Premier League and Champions League-winning campaign.

"It won't be the last one he wins," claimed Charlton."He is a fantastic player, head and shoulders above anyone else last year. I have had to shake his hand more than once for various awards he has won over the past year. He deserves every one.

"He has done it at such a young age and has the world ahead of him. He could be a fantastic player for the next 10 years. If you are struggling a little bit he is a player who can turn a game with one bit of skill.I watch sometimes and see certain situations. But before I can even finish thinking about what he should do, he has done it."


Hoffenheim signs Hildebrand

Former Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand has signed for surprise Bundesliga leader Hoffenheim, giving the promoted team an expected boost in the one position where it has been weak.

Hildebrand was presented at a news conference Wednesday, one week after leaving the Spanish side Valencia by mutual consent. He came as a free agent and did not cost a transfer fee. Hildebrand's contract runs until the end of the 2009-10 season.

"I want to make a new start in Hoffenheim and regain my old form," the 29-year-old Hildebrand said. "I am very pleased to be back in the Bundesliga, I did not want to wait any longer."

Hoffenheim leads the Bundesliga on goal difference ahead of defending champion Bayern Munich before this weekend's final round before the winter break. Hildebrand will make his debut when the season resumes in January.

Hildebrand will be reunited with his former coach Ralf Rangnick, who made him starting goalkeeper at Stuttgart during the 1999-2000 season.

"I decided on Hoffenheim on sporting grounds," he said. "The way Hoffenheim plays has delighted me."

After winning the Bundesliga title with Stuttgart in 2007, Hildebrand moved to Valencia, but struggled there and had not played since August. He was surprisingly overlooked by Germany coach Joachim Loew before the European Championship in June.

Hildebrand had been Germany's third-choice goalkeeper and then became a backup to Jens Lehmann before the European Championship. After missing the tournament, Hildebrand has not been called up again.

Hoffenheim has stunned the Bundesliga by remaining among the top teams since gaining promotion. Backed by software billionaire Dietmar Hopp, Hoffenheim was in the third division two years ago.

Although it lost at Bayern 2-1 last week, Hoffenheim can still edge the defending champions for first place going into the break.

Hoffenheim's only relative weakness has been in the goalkeeping position. Ramazan Oezcan played six games and lost his job to Daniel Haas after an injury, but neither has been impressive.


Chelsea Shock As Alex Requests Transfer

There’s not many headlines I read about Chelsea that surprise me, but the headline I read last night suggesting Alex wants to leave was one of them.

Yeah ok, there’s been suggestions that Henk Ten Cate wanted to take him to Panathinaikos, but did anyone really take that seriously?

Well, the suggestion is that Alex isn’t happy with his lack of first-team involvement having made just 12 appearances so far this season, but the man’s been out injured hasn’t he? If he’d been available for selection, he’d have played more.

We’ve had both Terry and Carvalho out at one time or another and when fit, it’s been Alex who’s been called upon every time–and we’re not talking about one or two games are we? Carvalho’s barely been fit for f*** sake. What’s the problem?

Apparently, Brazil boss Dunga has told Alex he needs to play more games to be considered for his country’s 2010 World Cup team but if he’s basing that on the number of games Alex has featured in this season, then that’s a cop out.

I mean, we’ve played 16 games in the league for god sake and a handful of cup games. Christ, given our injuries so far this season, actually being fit enough to make 12 games is pretty good going for any Chelsea player these days.

Anyway, Alex is reported to have said, “I told Chelsea a few days ago that I wanted to leave. There are many options. But I have to think them through and see if Chelsea will let me leave in January.”

And I can only wonder if Scolari’s jaw dropped quite as much when he heard those words.