F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

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Manchester United won the Premier League for the first time in four years on Sunday as 10-man Chelsea, needing victory to keep the title race alive, could only draw 1-1 at Arsenal.

The result, coming a day after United beat Manchester City 1-0, left Alex Ferguson's side seven points clear of Chelsea with two games remaining.
Arsenal led with a 43rd-minute Gilberto penalty after Chelsea centre back Khalid Boulahrouz brought down Julio Baptista and was sent off.

Michael Essien's glancing header with 20 minutes remaining gave Chelsea hope and led to a furious late assault.

However, they were unable to find the second goal and now instead of Wednesday's Stamford Bridge meeting with United being a title decider it will become merely a handover ceremony.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho congratulated United and said he was proud of his team, emphasising the season was far from over as they could still win the FA Cup to add to the League Cup they have already won.

"Maybe I'm prouder today than when we were champions ... because my players are heroes. I think they did it brilliantly. The season is not over, we have a final to play. The season for me was magnificent," he told Sky Sports.

Manchester United manager Ferguson said that despite being in the running for other silverware this season, winning the league title had been the priority.

"Some years ago I used to always have an obsession with winning in Europe but I think that's been overtaken by the demands of the Premier League because I think it's the highest league in Europe now and to win it is a big big achievement," he told Sky Sports.

The draw leaves Arsenal level with third-placed Liverpool on 67 points but behind on goal difference. Both sides are already assured of a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League.

STORMY FINAL

Chelsea, who beat Arsenal 2-1 in a stormy League Cup final in February, had beaten them away in the league only once in 17 years while the Gunners had suffered only one league defeat at the Emirates Stadium this season, to West Ham United.

However, in a game they had to win they were without 31-goal striker Didier Drogba, a late absentee with an ankle injury, as well as Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.

Without their chief target man Chelsea were forced to play a more intricate build-up as diminutive duo Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole tried to create openings for the often isolated Salomon Kalou.

Arsenal also attempted to fashion an opening with their familiar short, sharp passes but the breakthrough came with a simple length-of-the field punt by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann which Boulahrouz misjudged.

As he scrambled back to try to regain ground on Baptista he brought the Brazilian down in the box and a red card brought his first appearance for seven weeks to a premature end.

Gilberto dispatched the penalty - virtually the only shot on target from either side in the half - and Chelsea's hopes of a third successive championship were just about over.

Arsenal initially took control after the break but Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas missed good chances, allowing Chelsea back into the game.

TIRELESS ESSIEN

In their first sustained attack of the second half Wright-Phillips clipped in a near-post cross that the tireless Essien, escaping from his enforced defensive role, expertly glanced in.

The goal lifted Chelsea and, after Alexandr Hleb had blown another great opportunity for Arsenal, they piled on the pressure.

Essien shot just wide on the turn, Frank Lampard missed his kick with the goal beckoning and, in the 90th minute, Lehmann saved well from Kalou, who should have scored.

Eight days ago Chelsea were dreaming of an unprecedented quadruple but, after being knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Liverpool on Tuesday they now have only the May 19 FA Cup final against United to try for a double.

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Manchester United was crowned English Premiership champions for a record ninth time on Sunday.

The Red Devils secured the title after Chelsea managed only a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Sunday. A day earlier, the Red Devils posted a 1-0 triumph over Manchester City.

Manchester United holds an insurmountable seven-point lead over Chelsea with two games left.

Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz was sent off for fouling Julio Baptista after 42 minutes and Brazilian Gilberto scored from the penalty spot.

A header by Michael Essien with 20 minutes remaining gave Chelsea brief hope, but a draw was not enough and United claim the title for the first time since 2003. Chelsea has held it for the last two years.

Asked how the latest title compared with the previous eight, Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson told television channel Sky Sports 1, "All of them were good. Maybe the fact that for two years Chelsea dominated the Premiership and we had a big job to do to catch them (makes this one special).

"The was key was a good start to the season and we did that. It gave us momentum and from that moment on we did not lose it."

Ferguson was ecstatic with the Chelsea result.

"I went to see my grandson play this afternoon and they won their league and we won ours. I watched the last 15 minutes (of the Chelsea match) and was in agony. My heart was in my mouth. It's a great effort by Chelsea, we've got to give them credit."

Ferguson admitted the domestic league is United's priority after conceding the Champions League had been more important years ago.

"The Premiership is such a competitive league with the pressure on big clubs to do well, and that means it is a priority for us. Some years ago I had an obsession with winning in Europe but I think that's been overtaken by winning the Premier League," he said.

"It's the priority but I do wish we'd got to the (Champions League) final in Athens."

Ferguson, now 65, plans to continue in management for some time and admitted his aborted retirement several years ago was a mistake.

"It's easy to retire," he said. "It was a quick decision. I did it years ago and regretted it within days. I feel invigorated by the young players at the club and players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Neville, Paul Scholes. It gives me the right vibes.

"I don't know how long I'll last now but I'm enjoying it."

Ferguson revealed his pride in keeping Chelsea at bay in the title race for most of the season.

"t's not easy to keep a lead for around six months knowing Chelsea are on your coat-tails," he said.

"The crucial part was the resilience of the players when we started getting injuries. Credit to the players who dug in every week for us. It's been a fantastic effort by them."

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Hot dogs, apple pie and ... soccer?

It may not exactly flow off the tongue, but a trio of American owners in English football are on the verge of doing something you wouldn't expect from, well, a trio of American owners in English football.

Malcolm Glazer took the first step toward what the Yanks would refer to as a "triple crown" and the Brits would call a "treble" when Manchester United won the Premier League title Sunday.

It was the first major trophy for the team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner and his sons took over two years ago amid protests from many of the club's fans.

The 16-time league champions can make it a double May 19 when they face Chelsea in the FA Cup final. United already owns a record 11 FA Cups.

The third major trophy up for grabs would be the most impressive, partly because English rival Liverpool can win its sixth European Cup title despite a less-then-stellar Premier League season and partly because the team was sold to a pair of Americans in February.

Liverpool -- now owned by George Gillett Jr. of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and Tom Hicks of baseball's Texas Rangers -- will play AC Milan on May 23 in the Champions League final in Athens, Greece.

Another American, Randy Lerner, bought Aston Villa at the beginning of the season, and Stan Kroenke seems to be making an effort to take over Arsenal.

Whatever their reasons for investing in English soccer -- and it'll take a minor miracle to convince anyone it isn't about money -- Gillett is already looking forward to helping Liverpool win yet another European Cup.

"Our aim now is to go on and win the Champions League," Gillett said Tuesday after Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalty kicks in the semifinals.

But while most Liverpool fans have embraced Gillett and Hicks and look forward to an influx of top players they hope the once-mighty dollar will bring, many United fans still hate the Glazers.

The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, which has been anti-Glazer from the start in part because it is afraid the debt put on the team after the takeover will lead to higher ticket prices, complimented United manager Alex Ferguson on its Web site while taking a swipe at the owners.

"Given all the financial constraints he's been under, we reckon this could well have been Fergie's finest hour," the site said about Ferguson, who has won nine Premier League titles and 20 trophies overall in his 20 years at United.

As for the Glazers, the group is less kind.

"Matt Busby had a vision," reads an ever-changing image in the top-right corner of the site's home page, referring to United's other great manager of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. That statement is followed by four photos of past glories, but the third and final frame features photos of Glazer and his sons with the words, "This ... is not it."

A rather harsh attack on an owner who spent $32 million alone on England midfielder Michael Carrick. Before that, the Glazers also brought in Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, a pair of defenders who were among eight of the United players who made up the Premier League's team of the year last month.

"All the doomsayers who said we would be in trouble have been proved wrong," Manchester United chief executive David Gill said Monday. "(The Glazers) have brought a stability to the club and stability is the key element of any football club."

Gillett and Hicks haven't had time to bring Liverpool any new players because they took over after the transfer period ended. But the two have been amazed by what they bought, and it certainly looks as if they're ready to move the club forward.

"I couldn't have imagined when we bought the club the kinds of experiences we've already had," Gillett said. "This is so much bigger and so much more important to so many people than we could ever have imagined."

Despite owning the Canadiens, one of the most successful sports franchises in the world, Gillett is starting to understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to "the beautiful game."

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Charlton was relegated from the Premier League on Monday after losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham.

Dimitar Berbatov scored in the seventh minute after a cross from Ledley King. Jermain Defoe made it 2-0 in injury time.

Charlton needed to win its final two games to avoid relegation to the second-division League Championship. Charlton remained in 19th place with 33 points, five points behind 17th-placed West Ham with one game remaining.

Wigan has 35 points in 18th. Last-placed Watford will join Charlton and one other team yet to be determined in the League Championship next season.

Going into Sunday's final round, Sheffield United is in 16th place with 38 points, just ahead of West Ham on goal difference, and three points ahead of Wigan.

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Charlton's relegation from the Barclays Premiership was confirmed Monday following a 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

Ironically, it was former Charlton striker Jermain Defoe, jeered as he came off the bench, who sealed the win with an injury-time strike after Dimitar Berbatov had scored an early opener.

It means Addicks boss Alan Pardew goes into Sunday's clash at Liverpool without the chance of catching his former club West Ham, who are one place above the relegation zone.

The result did however bring joy to Fulham, who are now certain to be in the Premiership next season.

After the game Pardew admitted Charlton "haven't been good enough" to avoid the drop.

Referring to the row over West Ham not being deducted points for breaking Premier League rules, Pardew told Sky Sports 1, "In terms of where we are in the league, (aside from) the politics that are going on off the pitch, you end up where you end up.

"We haven't been good enough. The scoreline doesn't really do the game justice. Their little bit of quality was the difference. That bit of quality is what we've lacked on this final run when we got ourselves so close."

Pardew refused to be drawn on whether the managerial changes the club made this season contributed to their downfall.

"I can only talk since I've been here," Pardew said. "This is a great club. The board have been very, very supportive to me and the fans have been absolutely brilliant."

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رييس كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا (اي.اف.سي) روز دوشنبه در حاشيه برگزاري كنگره اين كنفدراسيون ، باشگاه منچستريونايتد انگليس را به "حرمت شكني" متهم كرد و از اين تيم خواست تور آسيايي خود را لغو كند.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از كوالالامپور، "محمد بن*همام" با اشاره به تداخل تور آسياي منچستريونايتد با مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا، از قهرمان اخير ليگ برتر انگليس خواست به جاي غارت كردن پول*هاي اين قاره، چيزي در فوتبال آسيا بر جاي بگذارد.

وي اظهار داشت: تور خود را لغو كنيد، اين پيام من به نمايندگي از خانواده فوتبال آسيا، تمامي بازيكنان و مربيان ماست. به چيزهاي ديگري غير از پول فكر كنيد. آسيا در طول فصل پول زيادي براي آنها دارد. آيا آنها نمي*توانند اين پول را براي سفر نكردن به آسيا ذخيره كنند؟
بن*همام نگران است كه سفر منچستريونايتد به آسيا، مانع توجه به مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا شود.

مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا از ۷تا ۲۹ژوييه ( ۱۶تير تا ۷مرداد) سال جاري به ميزباني مشترك كشورهاي اندونزي، مالزي، ويتنام و تايلند برگزار مي*شود.

منچستريونايتد ماه گذشته اعلام كرد به منظور آمادگي براي مسابقات فصل ۲۰۰۷ ۲۰۰۸به كشورهاي ژاپن، كره جنوبي، ماكائو و مالزي سفر خواهد كرد.

اين تيم قرار است مسابقات خود را از روز ۱۷ژوييه با ديدار مقابل اوراوا رد دياموندز ژاپن آغاز كند و سپس براي ديدار با اف.سي سئول در روز ۲۰ژوييه به پايتخت كره جنوبي برود.

تيم "الكس فرگوسن" سپس در روز ۲۳ژوييه براي ديدار با شنزن راهي ماكائو مي*شود و روز ۲۷ژوييه آخرين مسابقه خود را در كوالالامپور برگزار خواهد كرد.

رييس اي.اف.سي ادامه داد: تاريخ مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا توسط فدراسيون بين*المللي فوتبال (فيفا) تعيين شده است و فدراسيون*هاي كشورهاي ميزبان تضمين كرده*اند كه در ماه ژوييه و تا سه روز بعد از پايان اين رقابت*ها، مسابقات فوتبال ديگري برگزار نكنند.

وي ضمن انتقاد شديد از منچستريونايتد كه پس از تساوي يك بر يك چلسي مقابل آرسنال به قهرماني در مسابقات فصل جاري ليگ برتر رسيد، گفت:
فدراسيون فوتبال مالزي در صورت برگزاري اين مسابقه با برخورد انضباطي روبرو خواهد شد.

بن همام خاطرنشان كرد: ما سعي مي*كنيم مردم را براي تماشاي مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا تشويق كنيم اما به نظر مي*رسد كه مسوولان منچستريونايتد مي*خواهند با اين عقيده مخالفت كرده و بازار خود را بر پا كنند. اين نوعي تفكر مستعمراتي بوده كه به هيچ عنوان عادلانه نيست. از نظر قانوني نمي*توانيم مانع از سفر آن*ها به مالزي شويم اما نمي*خواهم اين تيم در كره، ژاپن يا كشورهاي ديگر بازي كند.

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رييس فدراسيون بين*المللي فوتبال (فيفا) از باشگاه منچستريونايتد انگليس خواست، زمان ديگري را براي تور آسيايي خود تعيين كند.

به گزارش خبرگزاري آسوشيتدپرس از كوالالامپور، سفر منچستريونايتد به آسيا به دليل تداخل با مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا، از سوي رييس كنفدراسيون فوتبال اين قاره اقدامي غيراخلاقي عنوان شده*بود.

قهرمان ليگ برتر انگليس قرار است تابستان سال جاري همزمان با برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا به كشورهاي ژاپن، كره جنوبي، مالزي و ماكائو سفر كند.

اين تيم قرار است روز ۲۷ژوييه ( ۵مرداد) يعني دو روز قبل از برگزاري فينال جام ملت*هاي آسيا در جاكارتا اندونزي ، در مالزي بازي كند.

مالزي يكي از چهار كشور ميزبان جام ملت*هاي آسياست و مسوولان برگزاري اين رقابت*ها نگرانند حضور يكي از قدرتمندترين تيم*هاي جهان، برگزاري اين مسابقات را تحت الشعاع قرار دهد.

"سپ بلاتر" در كنگره كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا خطاب به باشگاه منچستريونايتد اظهار داشت: سفر شما كاملا قانوني است اما لطفا اين كار را همزمان با برگزاري بزرگترين رقابت فوتبال آسيا كه بر اساس تقويم بين المللي مورد قبول تمامي خانواده فوتبال است، انجام ندهيد.

آسيا بازار پر منفعتي براي باشگاه*هاي اروپايي است و منچستريونايتد هواداران بسياري در شرق و جنوب شرق آسيا دارد.

به گفته "محمد بن*همام" رييس كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا، كشورهاي اين قاره خواستار همكاري با باشگاه*هاي اروپايي هستند اما برخي از اين تيم*ها بدون توجه به فوتبال ما، خود را تحميل مي*كنند.

وي افزود: اكنون زمان آن فرا رسيده تا اتحاد خود را براي حفظ فوتبال آسيا نشان دهيم.

بلاتر هم اظهار داشت: به عنوان رييس فيفا خواستار اتحاد شما هستم.

اتحاد و احترام دو چيزي است كه با يكديگر معني پيدا مي*كنند.

مقامات فوتبال مالزي چندي پيش اعلام كرده بودند كه بازي منچستريونايتد در اين كشور بخشي از توافقنامه*اي است كه سال گذشته براي حمايت از صنعت گردشگري در مالزي امضا شد.

اتحاديه فوتبال مالزي همچنين تاثير منفي حضور منچستريونايتد در اين كشور را بر مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا رد كرده است.

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تيم فوتبال چارلتون انگليس پس از شكست ۲بر صفر مقابل تاتنهام از ليگ برتر باشگاه*هاي اين كشور سقوط كرد.

به*گزارش خبرگزاري آسوشيتدپرس از لندن، در اين مسابقه "ديميتار برباتوف" گل نخست تاتنهام را در دقيقه هفتم وارد دروازه چارلتون كرد و گل دوم نيز توسط "ژرمين دفو" در وقت اضافه به ثمر رسيد.

تيم چارلتون براي جلوگيري از سقوط به ليگ دسته اول انگليس بايد در دو مسابقه آخر خود به پيروزي مي*رسيد.

چارلتون پس از اين شكست با ۳۳امتياز در مكان نوزدهم جدول ليگ برتر باقي ماند.

وستهام با پنج امتياز بيشتر و يك مسابقه باقي مانده در مكان هفدهم اين جدول قرار دارد.

ويگان با ۳۵امتياز هيجدهم است اما تيم آخر يعني واتفورد به چارلتون خواهد پيوست.

بنابراين گزارش، تكليف يك تيم ديگر براي كسب سهميه حضور در مسابقات فصل آينده جام باشگاه*هاي اروپا هنوز مشخص نيست.

با توجه به دور پاياني مسابقات اين فصل ليگ برتر در روز يكشنبه، شفيلد يونايتد با ۳۸امتياز در مكان شانزدهم است.

اين تيم با تفاضل گل بهتر، بالاتر از وست*هام و با اختلاف سه امتياز بالاتر از ويگان ايستاده است.

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مقامات فوتبال مالزي به علت فشارهاي كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا، سفر منچستريونايتد به اين كشور را در ماه ژوييه لغو كردند.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از كوالالامپور، "تنگكو عبدالله بن سلطان احمد شاه" نايب رييس اتحاديه فوتبال مالزي همنوا با رييس كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا خواستار لغو تور پيش از فصل منچستريونايتد انگليس به آسيا شد.

وي در حاشيه برگزاري كنگره كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا به خبرنگاران گفت: اين تيم نمي*تواند در زمان تعيين شده به مالزي بيايد. اين سفر به تاييد كنفدراسيون فوتبال آسيا نرسيده است و ما بايد از آن پيروي كنيم.

منچستريونايتد نمي*تواند در جريان برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا وارد مالزي شود. اين تيم بايد زمان ديگري را براي سفر به اين كشور تعيين كند.

"محمد بن*همام" روز دوشنبه سفر منچستريونايتد به آسيا همزمان با برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا را نوعي "حرمت شكني" عنوان كرد.

وي با بيان اينكه تمامي فدراسيون*هاي كشورهاي ميزبان تعهدنامه*اي را براي برگزار نكردن مسابقات ديگر در جريان برگزاري جام ملت*هاي آسيا امضا كرده*اند، گفت: فدراسيون فوتبال مالزي در صورتي كه اجازه بدهد
منچستريونايتد روز ۲۷ژوييه ( ۵مرداد) در كوالالامپور بازي كند، ممكن است با برخورد انضباطي روبه*رو شود.

تنگكو عبدالله اظهار داشت: اين خبر بدي براي هواداران فوتبال است اما ما بر اساس احساس خانواده فوتبال آسيا تصميم مي*گيريم. جام ملت*هاي آسيا براي ما اولويت دارد. ما بايد از درخواست بن*همام براي نيامدن
منچستريونايتد به آسيا در جريان برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي اين قاره حمايت كنيم. اين باشگاه بايد برنامه خود را تغيير دهد.

مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا از ۷تا ۲۹ژوييه ( ۱۶تير تا ۷مرداد) سال جاري به ميزباني مشترك كشورهاي اندونزي، مالزي، ويتنام و تايلند برگزار مي*شود.

منچستريونايتد ماه گذشته اعلام كرد به منظور آمادگي براي مسابقات فصل ۲۰۰۷ ۲۰۰۸به كشورهاي ژاپن، كره جنوبي، ماكائو و مالزي سفر خواهد كرد.

بر اساس برنامه فعلي، اين تيم قرار است مسابقات خود را از روز ۱۷ ژوييه با ديدار مقابل اوراوا رد دياموندز ژاپن آغاز كند و سپس براي ديدار با اف.سي سئول در روز ۲۰ژوييه به پايتخت كره جنوبي برود.

تيم "الكس فرگوسن" سپس در روز ۲۳ژوييه براي ديدار با شنزن راهي ماكائو مي*شود و روز ۲۷ژوييه آخرين مسابقه خود را در كوالالامپور برگزار خواهد كرد.

[abadani69]

مقامات باشگاه منچستريونايتدانگليس ابرازاطمينان كردند كه تور آسيايي تيم فوتبال اين باشگاه طبق برنامه انجام مي*شود.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از لندن، اين در حاليست كه مالزي اعلام كرده به دليل تداخل سفر منچستريونايتد به اين كشور با برگزاري مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا و نگراني از اينكه بازي اين تيم مانع از توجه به مسابقات مذكور شود، از آنها استقبال نخواهد كرد.

تيم منچستريونايتدانگليس كه اخيرا به*قهرماني در مسابقات فصل جاري ليگ برتر رسيده است ، هواداران بسياري در آسيا دارد و قرار است تابستان امسال مسابقاتي را درماكائو، ژاپن و كره جنوبي برگزار كرده و در نهايت به مالزي سفر كند.

"فيل تاونسند" سخنگوي باشگاه منچستريونايتد در اين*باره گفت : در تلاش براي مشخص شدن برنامه سفر خود به مالزي هستيم اما مطمئنيم كه باقي تور طبق برنامه انجام خواهد شد.

مسابقات جام ملت*هاي آسيا از ۷تا ۲۹ژوييه ( ۱۶تير تا ۷مرداد) سال جاري به ميزباني مشترك كشورهاي اندونزي، مالزي، ويتنام و تايلند برگزار مي*شود.

منچستريونايتد ماه گذشته اعلام كرد به منظور آمادگي براي مسابقات فصل ۲۰۰۷۲۰۰۸به كشورهاي ژاپن، كره جنوبي، ماكائو و مالزي سفر خواهد كرد.

براساس برنامه فعلي، اين تيم قرار است مسابقات خود رااز روز ۱۷ژوييه با ديدار مقابل اوراوا رد دياموندز ژاپن آغاز كند و سپس براي ديدار با اف.سي سئول در روز ۲۰ژوييه به پايتخت كره جنوبي برود.

تيم "الكس فرگوسن" سپس در روز ۲۳ژوييه براي ديداربا شنزن راهي ماكائو مي*شود و روز ۲۷ژوييه آخرين مسابقه خود را در كوالالامپور برگزار خواهد كرد.

[abadani69]

Manchester United's clash with Chelsea on Wednesday will be no dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final, with United manager Alex Ferguson set to rest several key players after their title success.

The fact that United wrested the Premier League crown from Chelsea last weekend means there is nothing riding on the game at Stamford Bridge, which comes 10 days before the two sides meet again in the cup at Wembley Stadium.

As he prepared for Wednesday's fixture, Ferguson told reporters: "I'm glad we are going there as champions. It would have been some game if we weren't.

"The fact that we have won it means there is no need to be demanding of our players. We can now prepare for the final.

"I will just spread my squad the best I can. Obviously the ones who need a rest will get a rest... There will be a lot of changes simply because the players are tired."

"The ones who played on Saturday were running on empty. They gave their last drop."

Ferguson will take the chance to give some players, possibly the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, a breather against Chelsea as he is committed to selecting a strong side for United's final league game.

United face West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday in a match that will have a bearing on who is relegated, with West Ham hoping to survive and send down either Sheffield United or Wigan - who play each other - with Watford and Charlton Athletic.

"The West Ham game is a very important issue. Obviously we have to respect our reputation," Ferguson said.

"Alan Curbishley (West Ham's manager) is a good friend of mine but he understands we have to respect the wishes of other managers.

"They deserve our best attention to the game and I will be picking a team to win on Sunday."

UNITED HONOURED

Before that, United can enjoy their first match as champions at the home of the team they deposed, with Chelsea set to give United a guard of honour in a reversal of the roles the two teams played out at Old Trafford in May, 2005.

"I'm pleased at that," said Ferguson, whose relationship with Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho appears to have survived one or two verbal jousts during the season.

"He was very complimentary in his post-match interviews (on Sunday) and I expected that.

"I am sure he understands that winning and losing are twins, in a way, and you have to deal with it the right way and the same way."

"If you win you don't need to gloat and if you lose you don't have to go bananas about it. You have to accept defeat is defeat. We all get it and I think he has done that this time."

[abadani69]

Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to risk Premiership winners Manchester United losing to Chelsea on Wednesday to make sure fair play prevails in the relegation battle.

The Red Devils boss is aware all eyes will be on Old Trafford on Sunday when United plays a West Ham side looking for a point to guarantee their league safety.

But Ferguson is eager to make it clear West Ham boss Alan Curbishley can expect no favors, with Sheffield United and Wigan also scrapping to avoid relegation.

And the United chief's determination to ensure he has a full strength side available against the Hammers means he will rest a number of key players at Chelsea Wednesday.

"The West Ham game is a very important issue," Ferguson said. "We have to respect our reputation. Alan Curbishley is a good friend of mine but he understands we have to respect the wishes of other managers.

"I will be picking a team to win on Sunday. I don't know what my team will be at Chelsea but there will be a lot of changes, simply because the players are so tired."

Among those likely to miss out are midfielders Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar may also be rested, while Ferguson will assess the fitness of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is looking beyond the Red Devils clash to the FA Cup final on May 19 when the two teams meet at Wembley Stadium in London.

"We will crack on, we still have the FA Cup. We are down, but we are not out. You win together and you lose together," Cole said.

"We are fighting for each other - and we have always been about that. We will bounce back. This season is not finished yet. We have one trophy (Carling Cup) and could still end up with two. I am really up for it (FA Cup).

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has promised his players will applaud United onto the pitch Wednesday, just as Ferguson ordered his team to do when Chelsea won the title two years ago.

"They clapped us out when we won the league, and that took a lot of dignity," Cole said. "I am sure we will repay the favor. There is a good rivalry between the two clubs.

"We have a lot of respect for them. They won the league but we are going to come back stronger. We will have to put more points on the board next year and I am sure we will. However, now we are all focused on the FA Cup."

[donsaeid]

با مبلغ 27 ميليون پوند

اتوئو به منچستريونايتد مي رود


مسئولان تيم فوتبال منچستريونايتد براي جذب مهاجم كامروني بارسلونا مبلغ 27 ميليون پوند را پيشنهاد داده اند.



به نقل از سايت گل، مسئولان بارسلونا به شدت خواهان جذب ساموئل اتوئو هستند و مي خواهند با جلب رضايت سران باشگاه بارسلونا، مهاجم كامروني را به اولدترافورد بياورند.

بنا بر اخبار منتشره در رسانه*هاي انگليسي، منچستريونايتد براي خريد اتوئو مبلغ 27 ميليون پوند را پيشنهاد داده و تمايل دارد كه در فصل تابستان وي را به خدمت بگيرد.

سر الكس فرگوسن، علاقه زيادي به توانايي هاي مهاجم بارسا دارد و مي خواهد يكي از بزرگ ترين قراردادهاي فصل را با وي به امضاء برساند.

سرمربي منچستريونايتد در اين زمينه تاكيد كرد: بازي با سرعت بالا در اولويت برنامه هاي تيمي ما قرار دارد و در پي جذب بازيكنان سرعتي هستيم.

در فصل جاري اتوئو رابطه خوبي با فرانك ريكارد، سرمربي و رونالدينييو، مهاجم بارسلونا نداشته و احتمال جدايي وي از بارسا جدي است.

[abadani69]

Manager Jose Mourinho was ordered from the bench 10 minutes from the end of Chelsea's 0-0 tie with Manchester United on Wednesday in the Premier League.

Having been forced to listen to Red Devils fans taunt him over their league title, Mourinho had to watch the last few minutes among the crowd after referee Graham Poll told him to leave for overreacting to a United foul. From his seat behind the bench, he then saw his players waste late chances.

Before the game, Chelsea players stood in two lines in tribute to the Red Devils' league title, applauding United as it took the field.

The two clubs will also meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 19. With nothing at stake Wednesday in terms of the league championship, Mourinho and Alex Ferguson rested several key players.

With such players as leading scorer Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack missing because of injury, Chelsea left out goalkeeper Petr Cech and Frank Lampard.

United rested Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, and had Wayne Rooney, Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes on the bench. Rooney and Carrick appeared in the second half.

China striker Dong Fangzhuo made his first competitive start for Manchester United but did little to impress his fans. He was replaced by Rooney with 17 minutes to go.

Late in the game, United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak made two one-handed diving saves to keep out shots by Salomon Kalou and Lassana Diarra. But he scared his own teammates when he dropped a cross from Joe Cole under no pressure four minutes from the end and was thankful to see a follow up shot fly wide.

When the Poland goalkeeper missed another corner in the final minute, Wayne Bridge's low shot was kicked off the line.

ROME (AP) -- AS Roma beat two-time defending champion Inter Milan 6-2 in the first leg of the Italian Cup final.

Christian Panucci scored two goals and Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta and Amantino Mancini added the others. Hernan Crespo scored both of Inter's goals.

"We're all happy this evening but it's only the first leg," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "As often happens when we score so many, we also concede goals."

The second leg of the home-and-home, total goals series is May 17. Roma, which lost to Inter in the last two finals, is bidding to win its first Italian Cup title since 1991.

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) -- Sevilla reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time in 45 years with a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Sergio Duda and Javier Chevanton scored in the first half of the second leg of the semifinals at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium to send Sevilla through 5-0 on total goals in the home-and-home, total-goals series.

Sevilla, which has also reached the UEFA Cup final, will play FC Barcelona or Getafe in the final at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on June 23. Barcelona leads Getafe 5-2 ahead of Thursday's second leg.

Sevilla has won the Copa del Rey three times, last in 1948.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- SC Heerenveen beat Ajax 1-0 in the Dutch league playoffs, which decide who gets to join champion PSV Eindhoven in next season's Champions League.

Lasse Nilsson scored the only goal in the 18th minute.

AZ Alkmaar was held to a 1-1 tie by FC Twente in the other playoff. Simon Cziommer gave AZ the lead in the 13th, but Kennedy Ba***cioglu tied the score in the second half.

The teams that win the home-and-home, total-goals series will face each other for a spot in the Champions League. The others will play in the UEFA Cup.

PARIS (AP) -- Eight-time French champion Nantes was relegated to the second division despite beating Bordeaux 1-0, ending 44 seasons in France's top league.

Sedan also dropped down after losing at Lille 2-1.

French champion Lyon beat Lens 3-0 on goals from Sidney Govou, Juninho and Alou Diarra. Lyon, which has won six straight titles, has 78 points from 38 games -- 20 points ahead of second-place Marseille, which beat visiting Nancy 2-1.

[abadani69]

Struggling West Ham United said Wednesday it will not appeal the record fine of nearly $11 million imposed by the Premier League's independent commission over the signings of Argentine stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

The penalty followed a two-day hearing at the end of last month, when the commission concluded that the players were partially owned by Media Sports Investment, a company formerly run by Iranian-born businessman Kia Joorabchian. That ran contrary to Premier League rules.

However, the club controversially avoided a points deduction and subsequently has climbed above the three relegation places.

New West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson was not involved in last summer's signings.

"I think it is now time to draw a line under this matter," he said in a statement. "The fine imposed on us was very significant, but we accept mistakes were made and it is now time to move on.

"Our intention as a club is to be totally focused on Sunday's game (at Manchester United). We know our fate, like every other club, will be decided, where it should be - on the pitch."

West Ham's decision not to appeal is not a surprise, given that the punishment was deemed lenient by their relegation rivals.

With Premiership TV revenue to soar higher than ever when a lucrative new contract kicks in, West Ham can expect to make back the fine several times over if it avoid relegation - which seems likely.

Fulham, Sheffield United, Wigan and already-relegated Charlton have threatened to take legal action against the commission's failure to deduct points.

Mascherano has since signed with Liverpool.