Pro Eleven Headline News

Man Utd eye Club World Cup trophy

Manchester United will be aiming to fill one of the few gaps in its trophy cabinet when it meets Ecuador's Liga de Quito in Sunday's final of the Club World Cup.

United will go into the final as favorites to take a title that no English club has won. The Red Devils participated in the first Club World Cup in 2000 without making the final, while Liverpool lost the 2005 decider.

Liga is an unheralded opponent, having qualified for the competition by becoming the first Ecuador club to win South America's Copa Libertadores, yet United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is expecting a challenge.

"It's fair to say they're a very good team," Ferguson said Saturday. "Like most South American clubs they are resilient and powerful and that will be the case tomorrow."

Liga defeated Mexico's Pachuca 2-0 on Wednesday to reach Sunday's final with the English giants, who advanced after a 5-3 win over Japan's Gamba Osaka.

Liga coach Edgardo Bauza said his team is up to the challenge of taking on one of the world's most powerful clubs.

"I know we are seen as the underdogs," said Bauza. "But we are strong and courageous and I am sure we will put in a great performance tomorrow."

In 1999, United did win the predecessor to the Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup which matched the European and South American champions.

Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes remain from that team, having witnessed a new generation of stars emerge, headed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferguson was rich in his praise for Ronaldo on Saturday, with fresh speculation Spanish giants Real Madrid are renewing their interest in the Portugese star.

"Cristiano is similar to Pele and Maradona in that as a star or a young player with potential, he has made an impact very early in his career," Ferguson said.

Ronaldo has quickly got back near his best form after a delayed start to the season following ankle surgery, and looked sharp in Thursday's semifinal against Gamba, scoring once in United's 5-3 victory.

Ronaldo was named European footballer of the year in 2008 and is widely expected to win FIFA World Player of the Year honors in January.

Ferguson said the only things missing from Ronaldo's career are longevity and the chance to play for a World Cup-winning side.

"Cristiano has a lot of things in his favor to go on and become a legend, though. All he needs now is time," Ferguson said. Herald Tribune


Gunners face crucial clash with Liverpool

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal face a make or break clash against Liverpool on Sunday as the Gunners try to get back in the Premier League title race.

Wenger's side trail leaders Liverpool by eight points ahead of this weekend's crucial match at the Emirates Stadium and a defeat would leave their title challenge in tatters.

But Arsenal have proved adept at raising their game against their main rivals, with Manchester United and Chelsea have already dispatched by the Gunners this season.

Wenger knows another win against one of the big four is essential if Arsenal are to mount a concerted bid to take the crown from United in the second half of the campaign.

"We are highly-motivated to beat another of the so-called top four and I am convinced we have the quality to do it," Wenger said. "It is an opportunity for us to catch them, which we want to take.

"With our position in the league, we know it is compulsory for us to beat the three other teams -- Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and we want to do that on Sunday."

While Arsenal will still be some way adrift of first place even with a win over Liverpool, Wenger takes heart from the unpredictable nature of this year's race.

Liverpool and Chelsea have already dropped several points at home, while United have struggled to win the big games away from Old Trafford.

"At the moment the race is still very tight because it looks for me for the first time in six or seven years that the number of points for the winner of this league will be much lower than usual because everybody drops points against everybody," Wenger said.

"For us, the first step is to get back into the race and to get back into the race, the important thing is for us to beat Liverpool."

While Wenger plots a way to improve Arsenal's title prospects, Liverpool have been on auto-pilot in the absence of Rafa Benitez.

The Liverpool manager has been recuperating at home after a minor operation for kidney stones last weekend, but Benitez's attention to detail ensured a smooth week at Anfield.

Benitez has been in regular contact with Lee from his sick bed and the assistant manager fully expects his boss to make it to the Emirates on Sunday.

"He has had an eventful few days, it hasn't been the best for him," Lee said. "He was in a lot of pain earlier in the week but he has got better and he will be there on Sunday.

"Obviously when you take a presence like Rafa away from the place it is not going to be easy. But I have phoned him every day to keep in touch and let him know what has been going on.

"The players have done really well, they have focused and concentrated with all the stuff which has been going on in the background."

Benitez's input will be crucial if Liverpool are to halt a poor run of results at Arsenal, with their last win coming in 2000 when the Gunners were still playing at Highbury.

Despite Arsenal's erratic form this season, Lee dismissed suggestions that they have no chance of ending their four-year wait to win the title.

"I have nothing but respect for Arsenal. They are a terrific football club and a terrific institution," he said. "You can't write anyone off in December, particularly a side with the quality and calibre of Arsenal."

Liverpool's hopes of ending that run won't be helped by the likely absence of Fernando Torres with a hamstring strain.

Arsenal winger Samir Nasri could return from an ankle injury but Kolo Toure and Nicklas Bendtner are both fitness doubts. AFP


Higuain tally enough as Madrid tops Valencia

Real Madrid used a first-half goal by Gonzalo Higuain to outlast 10-man Valencia at home on Saturday afternoon to move within a point of the second place La Liga club.

The young Argentine scored his 11th goal of the season just three minutes in after collecting a pass in the box from Arjen Robben. The Dutch international split two defenders from the right wing and cut into the penalty area before laying off to Higuain, who fired a left-footed shot into the top left corner of the net, one-time, from about 17 yards out.

Valencia had numerous chances to equalize the rest of the way, but were unable to beat Iker Casillas, who made four saves to earn the clean sheet.

Madrid's Rafael Van der Vaart struck a shot off the far post 15 minutes in to narrowly miss taking a 2-0 lead.

David Villa had a chance to equalize for the visitors after Joaquin sent a ball across the box to the Spanish striker. Villa missed badly on the opportunity from the left corner of the six-yard box in the 35th minute.

Casillas made a huge save in the 55th minute on a point-blank header by Ruben Baraja that deflected off the goalkeeper's hand, then head, then post and out of bounds.

Higuain struck a shot off the crossbar off a corner kick just before the hour mark before Carlos Marchena earned his second yellow of the match for Valencia in the 72nd minute to end the visitors comeback hopes.

In the other Spanish La Liga match on Saturday, Atletico Madrid edged Espanyol, 3-2, to move into second in the league table, eight points back of idle Barcelona, which plays at Villarreal on Sunday.