Istanbul heads list of Games of the Decade

January 1, 2010

Here’s a total random idea: go and choose the best five matches of the last 10 years – a lot easier said than done.

Where do you begin ? Do you only pick matches you have seen yourself ? As I am based in England, do I pick only matches
played in England, or as I am lucky enough to travel round the world and watch football do I go for international matches too.

Do you allow your personal preferences to come into it? After all, any fan could easily pick five great victories achieved by the team they support.

Well, I’ve weighed it up and gone for the bigger picture: any match played anywhere. It’s a totally subjective list with no “right” or “wrong” choices so here goes: Mike Collett’s Best Five Matches of the last decade:

Liverpool 3 AC Milan 3: The epic 2005 Champions League final which Liverpool won on penalties after fighting back from a 3-0 halftime deficit. Milan thought they had won the title — Liverpool, inspired by Steven Gerrard proved them wrong.

AS Monaco 8 Deportivo Coruna 3: An extraordinary match which set a Champions league scoring record in November 2003 and included four goals from striker Dado Prso on his 29th birthday.

Senegal 1 France 0: The stunning upset in the opening match that set the tone for much of the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
Papa Bouba Diop scored the solitary goal that beat the reigning world champions.

Manchester United 1 Chelsea 1: On a night of pouring rain and unbearable tension in Moscow in May 2008, the two English teams battled to a draw in the Champions League final before John Terry’s penalty miss in the shootout led to United being crowned European champions for the
second time.

Liverpool 5 Alaves 4: The 2001 UEFA Cup final was a momentous match between the old European aristocrats from England and a little-heralded club from Spain that defied the odds to reach their only final. Liverpool completed a cup treble for the season when Delfi Geli conceded a golden goal own goal in extra time.

Source

Tags: 2002 world cup finals, ac milan, champions league final, CHELSEA, dado prso, european aristocrats, european champions, geli, halftime deficit, Istanbul, john terry, last decade, Liverpool, Manchester, Mike Collett, Milan, Moscow, papa bouba diop, pouring rain, random idea, Senegal, solitary goal, south korea, Spain, Steven Gerrard, UEFA Cup, wrong choices

Barcelona´s Messi named World Player of the Year

December 22, 2009

Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi was crowned World Player of the Year by world football’s ruling body FIFA on Monday.

Messi, whose goals this year helped Barcelona win the Champions League final and World Club Cup final, thus succeeds Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s top player, as voted by national team captains and coaches.

Messi has played a huge role in the recent success of Spanish giants Barcelona, who have won a total of six trophies in the past season including the Champions League title and the World Club Cup trophy last week.

The Argentine forward’s talents were given the ultimate thumbs-up earlier this month when he was voted the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year.

On Monday Messi, 22, had been in contention with Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, both from Spain, Brazilian striker Kaka of Real Madrid, the winner in 2007, and last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo also won both trophies last season.

While Ronaldo won the Ferenc Puskas award for goal of the season while playing with former club Manchester United, one of Messi’s goals was among the highlights.

Messi profile

Despite his diminutive stature Messi, who stands 1.69 metres or five feet seven inches tall, rose above United’s defence in the Champions League final in Rome to head the second of Barcelona’s goals in their 2-0 victory.

The Argentine is also known for his superb dribbling and fast, mazy runs that leave opposition defences in tatters, and on Monday he was just as quick to share out the plaudits.

“I want to thank my teammates, notably those who are present here tonight, without whom none of my achievements would have been possible,” said Messi.

“2009 has been a wonderful year for Barcelona and also for me.”

Messi’s goal against United in last season’s final was his ninth of the 2009 Champions League campaign and left him as the competition’s top scorer.

Last week Messi also proved decisive in the World Club Cup final. He scored Barcelona’s second goal in the 2-1 victory over South American champions Estudiantes of Argentina.

In 2009 Barcelona also won the league title, the King’s (Spanish) Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Argentina, Argentine, Barcelona, body fifa, champions league final, club manchester united, cristiano ronaldo, cup trophy, five feet seven, footballer of the year, league campaign, lionel messi, MADRID, plaudits, real madrid, ronaldo, South American, Spain, Switzerland, tatters, team captains, wonderful year, world football, world player of the year, ZURICH, zurich switzerland

Grant gets second chance to help Chelsea to title

November 28, 2009

Avram Grant gets a second chance to help deliver the Premier League trophy to Chelsea on Saturday when Manchester United visit Fratton Park for the Israeli’s first match in charge of Portsmouth.

Twenty-four hours before Chelsea have the chance to seriously dent Arsenal’s title hopes at the Emirates, Grant is perfectly placed to do his former club a huge favour by inspiring his new charges to take something from their meeting with the defending champions.

Grant, whose first and last matches as manager of Chelsea ended in defeat by United, was installed as Portsmouth’s new manager on Thursday with a brief to guide a squad that has secured only seven points from 13 matches this season off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.

It represents a tall order. But former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric is among those who believe Grant can defy the odds by leading the club to safety.

“He is a very proud man, who has ability and experience,” Mandaric said of the former Israel manager.

“Portsmouth have enough good players and with Avram organising them they have a very good chance of getting out of trouble.”

Grant’s last game in charge of Chelsea was the 2008 Champions League final in which John Terry’s slip in the penalty shoot-out handed United the trophy, and effectively cost the manager his job.

His first ended in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, a setback that Grant’s Chelsea avenged with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge later in the season.

United visit the south coast looking to cut Chelsea’s lead at the top back to two points ahead of Sunday’s London derby, for which the leaders are hopeful of having Frank Lampard fit following the England midfielder’s recovery from a torn thigh muscle.

Arsenal, in contrast, will be missing top goalscorer Robin van Persie and young left-back Kieran Gibbs, who suffered a fractured metatarsal in the Champions League win over Standard Liege in midweek, for a match they can ill afford to lose in the wake of last week’s surprise loss at Sunderland.

Former Chelsea centreback William Gallas is however expected to be fit after suffering a blow to the head in the same match, which will allow Mikael Silvestre to step in to the gap at left-back, and Theo Walcott is in line for a start following two substitute appearances since his comeback from a knee injury.

After knocking nine goals past Wigan on Sunday, fourth-placed Tottenham travel to Aston Villa for a meeting with one of their rivals for a coveted Champions League place.

England winger Stewart Downing is hoping to finally make a start for his Villa debut following his recovery from a foot injury.

Wigan will seek to bounce back against former manager Steve Bruce’s Sunderland.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan this week injected an additional bit of spice into the fixture by blaming the thrashing at Spurs on “dodgy signings” made when Bruce was in charge.

Sunday’s Merseyside derby takes place against a backdrop of discontent among supporters of both clubs.

Everton had plans to move to a new stadium blocked this week while Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions league and both clubs are struggling to stay in touch with the top four.

A 3-2 defeat at Hull on Wednesday left Everton 14th in the table while Liverpool have lost twice and drawn twice in their four league outings since beating Manchester United 2-0 on October 25.

“We know it is going to be very difficult on Sunday,” said Liverpool’s Argentinian midfielder, Javier Mascherano. “But this is a really important game for us and for our supporters and we have got to start winning in the league again by beating Everton.”

Saturday

Aston Villa v Tottenham (1730 GMT), Blackburn v Stoke City, Fulham v Bolton, Manchester City v Hull, Portsmouth v Manchester Utd, West Ham v Burnley, Wigan v Sunderland

Sunday

Arsenal v Chelsea (1600 GMT), Everton v Liverpool (1330 GMT), Wolves v Birmingham (1200 GMT)

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: champions league final, frank lampard, kieran gibbs, last game, league trophy, metatarsal, midfielder, milan mandaric, old trafford, proud man, relegation zone, robin van persie, seven points, twenty four hours

Stalemate gives Milan slight advantage

November 26, 2009

AC Milan and Marseille drew 1-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday to give the Italians a slight edge in the race for the knock-out stages.

With Real Madrid winning 1-0 at home to FC Zurich, they now lead Milan by two points with the French team a further point behind in Group C.

Marseille must beat the Spaniards in France in two weeks to have any chance of progressing but if they do win, Milan will have to beat Zurich in Switzerland or it will be them who crash out.

Milan were left holding on for the point at the end as the visitors hit the woodwork but coach Leonardo said it was a fair result.

“Maybe Marseille had the clearer chances but we also had chances in the second half, it seems to me that a draw was fair,” he said.

“I’m optimistic (about qualification). Marseille had played on Friday and had five days of rest, we only had three.

“They had more energy and that played a role. We wanted to qualify today but we drew, now we have to go to Zurich and play with a lot of concentration.”

The draw meant Milan failed to win any of their three home matches in this competition.

“It’s strange, in the past San Siro has been a fortress but this year we’re struggling,” admitted striker Marco Borriello.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, who was a member of the Marseille side that beat Milan in the 1993 Champions League final, was not happy.

“It is not a very good result, because we needed to win,” said Deschamos, who guided Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final.

“Seeing what my team did here, there was every chance we should have won.

“However, the dream is still possible. We have a small chance.”

Milan went ahead on 10 minutes following dreadful defending from Marseille as Mamadou Niang gave the ball away on the halfway line, allowing Borriello to run at Gabriel Heinze and get past the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man with embarrassing ease before slipping the ball under Mandanda.

The lead lasted only six minutes, though, as more lax defending contributed to the restoration of parity.

Niang beat Massimo Oddo far too easily on the left and Alessandro Nesta came across to cover but seemed to pull out of the challenge, allowing Niang to hit a cross that goalkeeper Dida could only palm out to Lucho Gonzalez, who rifled home.

A couple of minutes later Lucho hit a left footer that had Dida sweating as he watched it fly just past the angle of post and bar.

There was more poor defending on 25 minutes as Thiago Silva’s long ball from his own half sent Borriello clear of the defence but Souleymane Diawara just managed to bend his leg around the striker and clip the ball as the Italian went to pull the trigger.

Niang was troubling Milan’s right and late in the half he got down the line but his cut-back was just behind strike-partner Brandao.

The second half was a calm affair until 65 minutes when Brazilian Brandao somehow contrived to miss an open goal.

Benoit Cheyrou slipped Niang in behind substitute Ignazio Abate and his cross picked out Brandao on the edge of the six yard box but with the goal gaping he somehow managed to direct the ball onto the bar.

Ronaldinho almost caught out Mandanda with a cross-cum-shot before Bakari Kone escaped up the other end on the break, but with Brandao unmarked at the back post, his poor control allowed Abate to clear the danger.

From the corner Diawara’s header agonisingly came back off the foot of the post.

MILAN, Italy (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Alessandro Nesta, benoit cheyrou, Borriello, C. Marseille, champions league final, crash out, didier deschamps, dreadful, France, french team, gabriel heinze, Ignazio Abate, italians, Italy, knock out, leonardo, MADRID, madrid man, Manchester, manchester united, Marseille, Milan, Monaco, niang, real madrid, San, san siro, six minutes, spaniards, Switzerland, thiago silva, woodwork, ZURICH

Mazembe ´hide´ ahead of African final

November 7, 2009

Democratic Republic of Congo club Tout Puissant Mazembe have gone into hiding ahead of the African Champions League final in Lubumbashi Saturday.

And there was no sign of Nigerian opponents Heartland either in the southern Congolese mining city ahead of the second leg that will decide who scoops a record 1.5-million-dollar first prize.

Heartland hold a 2-1 advantage from the first encounter last weekend, but Mazembe are expected to overcome the deficit and raise a trophy they last held 41 years ago.

Mazembe prepared for the first leg in Zimbabwe and returned to Harare after losing in Nigeria to continue training under French coach Diego Garzitto far from the media glare.

“We did not come to Zimbabwe for tourism,” stressed Garzitto, a 59-year-old of Italian descent whose CV includes spells as national coach of Togo and Ethiopia.

“I am delighted we could prepare in Harare because it would have been difficult for my players to focus on the final in Lubumbashi with so much media hype surrounding the game,” he told Zimbabwean reporters.

Garzitto believes the sell-out 35,000 crowd at Kenya Stadium could play a crucial role as the Congolese ‘Crows’ seek a third title after conquering Africa in 1967 and 1968 when the club was called TP Englebert.

“With our wonderful supporters backing us we should be able to win at home,” said the coach who was hired this year as part of a five-million-dollar plan to win the premier African club competition.

Mazembe returned home late Thursday and were taken to a secret location with journalists banned from talking to players like prolific-scoring midfielder and captain Mabi Mputu.

Heartland are not expected in Lubumbashi until late Friday, a move possibly prompted by a fear of the ‘dirty tricks’ so prevalent in African football despite numberous attempts by authorities to eradicate it.

Tricks used by some hosts to demoralise visitors include cutting hot water, playing loud music and serving inferior food in hotels and drivers getting ‘lost’ en route to training facilities.

Nigerian coach Kelechi ‘Caterpillar’ Emetole is hoping for dry weather in the Congolese copper minning capital as he blames a wet, slippery Owerri pitch for a lacklustre first-leg showing.

“We have been in this situation (narrow lead) before and wriggled out. Yes, our backs are to the wall, but that is when you see the best of Heartland,” he told the Nigerian media.

Mazembe have won five games and lost one at home this year in the Champions League while Heartland have won two matches, drawn three and lost two on the road.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: Africa, african champions league, african football, champions league final, club competition, congolese, Democratic Republic, democratic republic of congo, Diego Garzitto, dollar plan, englebert, Ethiopia, first encounter, Harare, italian descent, johannesburg, loud music, lubumbashi, mabi, mazembe, media hype, mining city, national coach, nigeria, republic of congo, secret location, southern Congolese, Togo, Zimbabwe

Carrick states his case for World Cup place

October 8, 2009

When it comes to putting his medals on the table, Michael Carrick can produce a haul that eclipses even the most illustrious members of England’s midfield, yet the Manchester United star still remains his country’s forgotten man.

Carrick has won more Premier League and Champions League silverware than Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have managed between them during their careers.

While Lampard has held the Premier League trophy twice, the Chelsea star has yet to taste Champions League success. Liverpool captain Gerrard lifted the European Cup in 2005, but he is still waiting for a first title victory.

Even Gareth Barry is ahead of Carrick in the midfield pecking order despite failing to win a single major trophy in his career to date.

Carrick has no such absences from his medal collection. Since joining United in 2006, the softly spoken 28-year-old has won three successive Premier League titles and helped United defeat Lampard’s Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final.

The former Tottenham player more than played his part in those triumphs, but starring for one of the world’s biggest clubs in Europe’s top club competitions has failed to persuade a succession of England managers of his worth.

Carrick has won just 19 caps for his country since making his debut in 2001 and has yet to feature in a competitive fixture under current England coach Fabio Capello.

For a player with such exquisite passing ability and assured reading of the game, it seems strange that Carrick has been such a bit-part player.

Even the man himself agrees that his international career has never really got started.

“It probably isn’t enough caps and I should have more,” he said. “But I can’t look back on it now, I have to look forward.

“Maybe I can look back on things at the end of my career and say things about my career. I don’t think about it now.

“I should have more caps but things happen for a reason and things haven’t worked out with England as well as they could have done.

“Things haven’t fallen for me, but it’s not something I have focused on.

“You have to be performing to be in the team. It’s been a while since I started in a qualifier so hopefully the experience I’ve gained with United in top European games will help me when the chance comes along.”

If Carrick wasn’t such a shy character, he might have been tempted to question why the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren used him so little.

But he insists he does have a fierce competitive streak burning beneath his calm exterior.

“Without blowing my own trumpet, you can’t play in and win Champions League finals, win leagues and play for Manchester United without being able to cope with expectations. You have to be a top player,” he said.

“I don’t feel on the outside. England is different to United and I haven’t played as much as I would have liked at international level.

“You have to perform and to get into the team you have to please the manager and do things he wants. It’s not easy as there aren’t so many games as there are at club level so you have to take them when they come along.

“I had one game at the last World Cup which was great for me but I didn’t manage to nail down the place. But the squad has a diferent feel and I would hope that when I get the chance I can take it now.”

WATFORD, England (AFP)

Tags: absences, Barry, bit part, captain Gerrard, champions league final, club competitions, coach fabio capello, eclipses, England, england coach, Europe, fabio capello, frank lampard, Gareth, illustrious members, international career, league titles, league trophy, Liverpool, manchester united, Michael Carrick, midfield, pecking order, premier league, silverware, Steve McClaren, Steven Gerrard, Sven Goran Eriksson

Ronaldo, Kaka eye new golden Real Euro era

September 15, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, who cost Real Madrid over 150 million euros, aim to lead the Spanish giants to a 10th European title this season, with their campaign starting in the humble surroundings of FC Zurich on Tuesday.

Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player, insists the historic winning mentality at the club will be key to driving them to a place in the Champions League final which will be staged at their Santiago Bernabeu home in May next year.

“This is a club used to winning, a lot of the players here are winners, but now it’s about a new team and a new squad,” said Ronaldo, keen to dismiss comparisons with the Galactico era.

“That’s why we have to create the right mentality for us to win the league, the Champions League and the cups. This is a club obsessed with winning and now the players here have to think the same way.”

Real’s last Champions League triumph came in 2002 and with bitter rivals Barcelona taking the title last season, the club’s ambition has been sharpened further.

Last season Real Madrid were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Liverpool in the first knockout round. It was the fifth successive season they had lost out in the last 16.

“The ambition is to win the Champions League,” said Kaka.

“On top of that, you have the possibility of us being at home (in the final) and it would be fantastic to play the final at the Bernabeu.”

Real and FC Zurich have met once before in the competition but that was 45 years ago with the Spaniards winning 8-1 over two legs in the semi-final before losing to Inter Milan 3-1 in the final.

Defender Raul Albiol is a doubt for Real having twisted his ankle against Espanyol at the weekend while Pepe could make his first appearance this season.

The Portuguese centre-back is suspended for two more games in the Spanish league – as part of a 10-match ban imposed last season for violent conduct – but is eligible to play in Europe.

Zurich reached this stage with a play-off defeat of FK Ventspils with Johan Vonlanthen, Silvan Aegerter and Dusan Djuric securing a 3-0 win in Latvia before second-leg strikes from Vonlanthen and Almen Abdi completed a 5-1 aggregate victory.

ZURICH (AFP)

Tags: 45 years, Barcelona, bitter rivals, champions league final, competition, cristiano ronaldo, Espanyol, Europe, fc zurich, first appearance, fk ventspils, humble surroundings, johan vonlanthen, kaka, Latvia, Liverpool, MADRID, Milan, raul albiol, real madrid, ronaldo, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, silvan, spaniards, spanish league, two legs, violent conduct, ZURICH

Ancelotti sets final goal for Chelsea

September 14, 2009

Carlo Ancelotti has told his Chelsea stars that reaching the Champions League final is the least they should achieve in Europe’s elite club competition this season.

Ancelotti was hired by Blues owner Roman Abramovich partly because of his Champions League pedigree and the Italian, who won the competition twice during his reign at AC Milan, has set his new team a lofty goal before a ball has even been kicked.

The Chelsea boss gets a first chance to underline his European nous when Chelsea begin their campaign at home to Porto on Tuesday, but he has already seen enough of the west London side to know they can go all the way to next year’s final in Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium.

“The first objective is to reach the final,” Ancelotti said on Monday. “We want to arrive at the final before we think about winning it.

“It is not easy to reach the final but I think we have the possibility to do this.

“We have to try to do our best. We have a very strong team with fantastic players and a fantastic mental attitude.”

Chelsea have endured a rocky ride in the Champions League since Abramovich made the tournament his holy grail after buying the club in 2003.

They have been defeated at the semi-final stage four times, including last season’s agonising exit to Barcelona, and came within one kick of winning it for the first time in the 2008 final, only for John Terry’s penalty miss in the shoot-out to gift the trophy to Manchester United.

Ancelotti can’t pin-point a reason for Chelsea’s misfortune, but insists he doesn’t feel under any extra pressure to end the club’s long wait to be crowned kings of Europe.

“It is not that the club asked me to win the Champions League, they asked me to win the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the League Cup!” Ancelotti said.

“For Chelsea it is important to be in these competitions and to have the possibility to win. To win is not easy because the Champions League is a very special competition.

“I don’t know why they haven’t won it. I think they have done very well in the Champions League because they reached the semi finals five times in six years. It is not easy to do that.

“To win the Champions League is very important. You need to be a little bit lucky but it isn’t just luck. You have to believe if you want to do the best in this competition.”

Ancelotti must cope without Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba for three matches and Portugal right-back Jose Bosingwa for two games as the pair serve European suspensions dished out by UEFA for their conduct at the end of last season’s Barca defeat.

Drogba and Bosingwa hounded referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after he failed to award Chelsea three penalties before a last minute goal from Andres Iniesta knocked them out.

Losing Drogba is an especially big blow but Ancelotti believes Chelsea will be able to survive without their talismanic forward.

“We don’t have Didier or Jose, but also Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira will not be able to play and Deco cannot play as well.

“Didier is going very well. He has scored and worked very hard for the team but now we don’t think about Didier. We have to think about the players who will go on the pitch. I think we can play well without Didier.”

After watching Chelsea come from behind several times during their five-match winning run at the start of the Premier League campaign, Ancelotti is already certain his players are made of the right stuff to win in Europe as well.

“I don’t think there is a psychological problem,” he said. “Chelsea were very close to winning in the past. They didn’t win but I think there is a real possibility to do very well this season.”

COBHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, bernabeu stadium, carlo ancelotti, champions league final, CHELSEA, club competition, Cole, competitions, didier, elite club, England, Europe, extra pressure, FA Cup, first chance, holy grail, Ivory Coast, Joe, john terry, Jose, lofty goal, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, mental attitude, Milan, misfortune, Paulo, pedigree, PORTO, portugal, premier league, real madrid, west london

Busby influence lingers for Solskjaer

September 5, 2009

Manchester United would not be the force they are in the game today were it not for the role of the late Matt Busby, former striker and current reserve coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledged Saturday.

United will continue commemorating the centenary of the legendary manager’s birth on Sunday when Solskjaer takes a team up to Motherwell for a meeting at Fir Park.

Busby’s spirit was forged from the tough environment of his Lanarkshire origins and Solsjkaer is aware that the man who led United to their first European Cup in 1968 after surviving the Munich Air Crash of a decade earlier has left an indelible mark.

“When I first came to the club I got to know all about its history and, through that, Sir Matt,” said Solskjaer.

“I know exactly what he means to Manchester United.

“I have spoken to his son, Sandy, on a number of occasions, which helps to learn more about the man who built the club.

“Manchester United owes a lot to him.

“It was Sir Matt who had the drive and vision to take the club into Europe when no-one else would.”

Solskjaer, of course, made his own imprint on the European stage in netting the last-gasp winner in the 1999 Champions League final which saw United come from behind to beat Bayern Munich.

Not only that, but the final was the day of what would have been Busby’s 90th birthday.

“Of course, I will never forget May 26, 1999,” said the Norwegian.

“To score the winning goal in the European Cup final on what would have been Matt’s 90th birthday was extraordinary.

“It just brought me even closer to the club and, of course, to Sandy.”

Now it falls to Solskjaer to bring through emerging talent and he will send out a young team against Motherwell, as he looks to build on the legacy of youth which Busby began with his Busby Babes half a century ago.

“Sir Matt always believed in giving youth a chance. That was his big legacy and one that Sir Alex (Ferguson) followed.

“I am so honoured to now be playing a part in that myself.

“Young players at Manchester United know if they are good enough they will get a chance.

Proceeds from the game will go towards the Sir Matt Busby Scholarship, a programme to provide people in the Lanarkshire community with free coaching education.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: 90th birthday, air crash, alex ferguson, Bayern, bayern munich, busby babes, champions league final, club manchester united, emerging talent, Europe, european stage, Ferguson, Fir Park, Gunnar Solskjaer, half a century, indelible mark, kn, lanarkshire, last gasp, Manchester, matt busby, motherwell, Munich, ole gunnar solskjaer, Sandy, Sir Alex, sir alex ferguson, Sir Matt, striker

Ferguson, Platini question moneybags Madrid

September 5, 2009

UEFA president Michel Platini and Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson have implicitly questioned the wisdom of Real Madrid shelling out an unprecedented 250 million euros on new players this summer following the return of chairman Florentino Perez to the helm.

Construction magnate Perez returned earlier this year for a second spell in charge having been the man under whose tutelage Real launched their “galactico” era part one with the arrival of the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham.

But having gone even further this time in landing 94 million-euro man Cristiano Ronaldo from Ferguson’s United, as well as Kaka from AC Milan, Xabi Alonso from Liverpool and Karim Benzema from Liverpool, Platini and Alex believe Real’s spending spree is not necessarily going to turn them into world beaters.

“Florentino Perez wants to win everything and that’s why he has snapped up so many top stars. But we will see happens in May when the the Champions League final is played in Madrid,” Platini told Saturday’s Marca sports daily.

“The history of football shows it’s not always the big players who win tournaments, added Platini, who lifted the European Cup with Juventus as a player.

Marca quoted Ferguson as telling a reporter that “even if I respect them I don’t believe in what this Real Madrid represents.”

“Clearly, all these great players are going to produce good football and will provide their supporters with great days. It’s just that (coach Manuel) Pellegrini has yet to mould a team.”

MADRID (AFP)