Pro Eleven Headline News

Rooney hopes Chelsea still feeling Euro Blues

Wayne Rooney is convinced Chelsea will still be experiencing a Champions League final hangover at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Although it is almost nine months since Manchester United profited at the Blues' expense to collect the biggest prize in European club football in Moscow, Rooney feels it will be a long time before Chelsea get over the heartache.

He sensed it at Stamford Bridge when the two sides met in September and he does not feel it will be much different when Luiz Felipe Scolari's men tackle the Red Devils on enemy territory for the first time since that fateful penalty shoot-out.

"Losing the Champions League final to any team is difficult but to lose to one of your big rivals is hard to take,'' Rooney told United Review.

"The next game against that team is always going to be a big one, with people talking about the final and the players no doubt thinking about it as well.

"You could definitely tell it was still on their minds and I am sure it will be the case again tomorrow - I bet our fans will be reminding them.''

Liverpool's failure to beat Stoke this evening means United will be back in pole position should they overcome Chelsea, who are attempting to preserve an unbeaten away record.

It just heightens the anticipation, emphasising why every member of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad wants to play.

"You always want to play against the best teams,'' said Rooney.

"There has been great competition between the two sides in the last few years and there is always a lot at stake whenever we play each other.

"It's a big match for us because we know if we win, we will be within a point of Chelsea.'' ESPN



Bosingwa has inside knowledge to stop Ronaldo

Chelsea have already hatched plans to stop Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo from putting a further dent in their title ambitions.

Ronaldo is well known to Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari from his time as manager of Portugal and defenders Jose Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, along with midfielder Deco, have all played along side the United winger for their national side.

Ronaldo is expected to play against Chelsea despite writing off his Ferrari in a crash near Manchester Airport earlier this week. The 23-year-old winger was driving his sports car through a tunnel beneath the runways when he lost control and smashed into a barrier.

But defender Bosingwa insists Chelsea already have plans in place to stop him from having a major effect on the game.

Bosingwa said: "To stop Cristiano is not easy but at Chelsea there are people who know him well, including the manager - we know what to do stop him.

"This week I have noticed a greater intensity in training at Chelsea.

"I have seen more energy in all my colleagues because we have a big match against United which is vital for the league title and we want to win it."

Chelsea's indifferent form has seen them slip three points behind leaders Liverpool at the Premier summit.

Chelsea dropped two valuable points away at Fulham when Clint Dempsey snatched a last-minute equaliser to add to Scolari's frustration.

A Liverpool victory over struggling Stoke and a defeat for Chelsea at Old Trafford could have severe implications for Scolari's chances of lifting the title in his first season in England.

But Bosingwa summed up Chelsea's determination to prove they are still very much title contenders.

"Some people are beginning to doubt our chances for the title but we want to leave Manchester proving that there is a lot still be to be decided," he said.

Scolari is boosted by the return of captain John Terry who has missed the last three games through suspension following his red card in the goalless draw at Everton.

"It is important for us that John is back because he is our captain and a man who has a good position on the pitch," said Scolari.

"He is a leader and plays very well every game. I think on Sunday the opposing players will respect him as well. I have five central defenders in very good condition and this is very good for me."

Scolari also believes the trip to Old Trafford is the perfect fixture to motivate his squad after the disappointment of their FA Cup third round draw against Southend.

"It is the perfect game to lift them all," said Scolari. "It is a fantastic game. I think half of the world will be watching this game.

"The players don't need any motivation. It is very good for us after Southend because it was not a normal result.

"We had 27 shots and scored one goal, they had three shots and scored one goal. This game is two very good teams who have fantastic players.

"We need to win because they are four points behind us and have two games in hand.

"Those two games are not against us. It is not in our hands and we need to think about winning this game.

"If you lose one game or three points against a direct opponent like United, you are in trouble.

"I think United are playing very well. They win many games, sometimes 1-0 but 1-0 is three points." ESPN


League leader Liverpool held by Stoke

Liverpool played to a 0-0 draw at struggling Stoke on Saturday, leaving the Premier League leader in front by four points as it bids for its first English title since 1990.

Captain Steven Gerrard hit the crossbar and the post in the last six minutes for the 18-time champions.

The result came after Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Liverpool would "make mistakes ... and get punished" in the second half of the season.

Liverpool leads with 46 points, followed by Chelsea with 42 and Aston Villa with 41. Man United and Arsenal are at 38. United hosts Chelsea on Sunday, and Chelsea will move within a point of the lead with a victory. The defending champions would overtake Liverpool by winning at Old Trafford, with two games in hand.

Aston Villa leapfrogged United into third place with a 2-1 win over local rival West Bromwich Albion after a mistake by goalkeeper Scott Carson. Carson, who played for Villa last season, deflected Gabriel Agbonlahor's off-target shot into his own goal just before halftime. Curtis Davies put Villa ahead in the 19th minute.

Late goals enabled fifth-place Arsenal to stay in sight of the Champions League places with a 1-0 victory over Bolton, and Sunderland to earn at 1-1 draw at local rival Middlesbrough. Everton dropped Hull 2-0 and Newastle drew 2-2 with West Ham.

Frozen fields forced the postponement of Portsmouth-Manchester City and Fulham-Blackburn while much of the lower-league program was wiped out. Associated Press



Beckham to begin Serie A career on bench for Milan

David Beckham will start as a substitute against Roma on Sunday in his first Serie A game since moving on loan to Milan. The LA Galaxy midfielder, who is spending two months with the Italian giants to stay in the reckoning for Fabio Capello's England side, has not played a competitive game since the end of the US regular season in October.

"Beckham is ready to play even if he has been out of action for two months. But it is therefore difficult to give him a starting spot tomorrow in the match against Roma," said coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Beckham played the first half of the 1-1 friendly draw with Hamburg in Dubai on Tuesday, with third-placed Milan returning to Serie A action after a three-week midseason break. The 33-year-old Englishman and his representatives have consistently said he will return to the Galaxy in early March for the new Major League Soccer season – however, Ancelotti would be happy to keep him if the situation changed.

"He is ready to give an important contribution and we at Milan are happy he will be with us, if only for two months," he added. "If then he wants to stay with us, it would be great but the contract he has with Milan is clear and I believe he will respect it."

Ancelotti said he had not yet heard from Capello, whose in-form side play Spain in a friendly in February when Beckham is aiming to equal Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 caps. "If he wants a report I would only have positive things to say [about Beckham] because I have trained many players but it is not easy to find one with the professionalism Beckham is showing," he said. Guardian


Inter held 1-1 draw by Cagliari

Italian league leader Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw by Cagliari in its first match of 2009. Robert Acquafresca put Cagliari in front in the 65th minute at the San Siro, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic tied it in the 77th off a pass from Hernan Crespo.

Inter has 43 points, followed by Juventus at 36 and AC Milan at 33.

Juventus hosts Siena and Milan is at AS Roma on Sunday in what could be David Beckham's first game since joining Milan for three months.

Genoa shut out Torino 3-0 and joined Fiorentina in fourth place — at least temporarily. Genoa scored on headers from Giuseppe Biava, Basko Jankovic and Thiago Motta.

Genoa and Fiorentina, which hosts Lecce on Sunday, have 32 points each. Torino remained one point above the relegation zone with 15 points. Cagliari is near the middle of the standings with 22 points. Associated Press


Manchester City target Lazio's Mauro Zarate

The diminutive striker, who impressed on loan at Birmingham last season, is currently at Lazio but his registration is owned by the Qatari club Al Sadd.

His stunning form for the Italian side has turned him into one of Serie A's most in-demand players and his representative, Jose Alberti, has revealed City are preparing a bid to bring him to Eastlands.

Alberti said: "The Arabs who own the club are interested in him. We spoke last month and they told me they were ready to offer £30 million to buy him.

"Their aim is to get to the same level as Real Madrid were at during the 'galactico' era. But the player is Lazio's to lose. Mauro loves Rome and will sign a permanent deal as long as the club make a suitable offer."

Mark Hughes revealed yesterday City had seen a second, improved offer for Roque Santa Cruz, believed to be £16 million, rejected by Blackburn. It is expected that the Eastlands club will table a third bid, in the region of £18 million, with a view to completing the deal early next week. Should Rovers reject City's third offer, Hughes is expected to walk away from the deal.

Hughes also confirmed initial bids for West Ham pair Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy had been turned down, but that is unlikely to put an end to City's pursuit of the pair.

The club are thought to have turned to Everton's Joleon Lescott after growing frustrated with the fruitless chase for Arsenal's Kolo Toure. But Hughes dampened down speculation linking him to moves for Juventus striker David Trezeguet and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given.

Hughes said: "It will come to a point where we will have to make a decision [on Santa Cruz] and that could be the decision to walk away."

Hughes also dismissed reports that he was considering whether to take the captaincy away from Richard Dunne. Telegraph