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Ferguson sees United hitting form at right time

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson feels that his team are hitting form just as the season is beginning to get serious.

United have already lost five Premier League matches this season and were knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round stage by League One team Leeds.

Having lost in the Champions League at home to Besiktas and also suffered defeat in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final with Manchester City, United have had an unusually inconsistent opening to the campaign.

But, having beaten Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates last weekend, Ferguson’s team are still firmly in the race for the Premier League title race with Chelsea.

They have also lined up a League Cup final date with Aston Villa and are through to the second round of the Champions League, in which they face AC Milan.

Ferguson thinks that overcoming City in the second leg and then beating Arsenal have put United’s season on track and he expects his team to get stronger and stronger as the end of the campaign approaches.

“Historically, we have always grasped the nettle at this time of the year. They realise there is something at stake and we can’t afford inconsistency.

“Teams will drop points in every run-in, there is no doubt about that, but we are experienced and know that if you’re going to drop more than the rest you’re going to lose the league. That’s a fact.

“Our aim is to try to be as consistent as we can, and try to produce the kind of performances we did on Sunday (against Arsenal) and that will take us very close.

“We are talking about the run-in to the league now and three points is three points, it doesn’t matter where you get them from.

“Whatever games we have got left, if we win most of them we have a good chance.

“We have got to keep the momentum going, we have an important time coming up. We have to go to Villa Park on the Wednesday, then we’ve got the Milan game and League Cup final, we have got a big time coming up, consistency and form is going to be important for us.”

Ferguson believes his team’s conditioning gives them an edge at this time of the season.

“It definitely has a lot to do with the training we do, but you have to have the players. You can have the fittest team in the world but if they can’t play, what chance have you got?”

Ferguson is hoping that the possibility of playing in the World Cup can help Owen Hargreaves win his battle against serious knee problems.

The England midfielder has been sidelined since September 2008 and Ferguson has left him out of United?s Champions League squad.

The United manager remains confident that Hargreaves will play before the end of the season and thinks he could contribute to Fabio Capello?s squad in South Africa.

He said: “It’s hard for him, of course. He’s been out for a year and a half. It’s bound to be hard for him. The physios are doing their best with him. There are some times we feel he’s almost there, and then he seems to be slow again.

“I’m confident he will be back before the end of the season. It’s the recovery, it’s slow.

“The biggest incentive should be to get back into our team, but if at the end of it is that carrot of being at the World Cup, then I’ll be happy with that. I think he would be an important player for England too.

“If he gets back, the confidence would come back. If he were to start playing, the confidence would come back. The confidence would be the key factor in that.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, alex ferguson, big time, champions league, CHELSEA, consistency, emirates, England, FA Cup, fabio capello, good chance, inconsistency, LEEDS, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Milan, nettle, no doubt, owen hargreaves, premier league, sir alex ferguson, South Africa, stake, villa park

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Hitzlsperger keen on Stuttgart stay

Thomas Hitzlsperger has rubbished rumors, linking him to a move away from Stuttgart within this month, by saying he wants to see out his contract.

There had been reports the Germany international was hoping to move on in the January transfer window to ensure he would get regular first-team football ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

And while, the 27-year-old midfielder has been struggling with a knee injury, he made his first appearance in almost two months in Friday’s 1-0 win at Freiburg.

And although Hitzlsperger admits his determination to get back into the starting line-up, he insists he is happy to stay at the Mercedes-Benz Arena until his contract expires this summer.

“It is my desire to remain at the club until the end of the season – I have not been talking to any other club,” he told Deutsche Presseagentur.

“It was a pleasure for me to help the club as a substitute (against Freiburg) straight after my injury.

“There is, however, no doubt I am hoping to be a first-team regular soon.”

Hitzlsperger is available for free in the summer and Real Zaragoza were one of the sides linked with a cut-price move for the former Aston Villa player this month.

Tags: aston villa player, desire, deutsche presseagentur, first appearance, freiburg, Germany, knee injury, mercedes benz, midfielder, no doubt, pleasure, price move, real zaragoza, starting line, stuttgart, team football, thomas hitzlsperger, World Cup, Zaragoza

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Leeds fight on as Wigan survive County scare

Leeds United’s thrilling FA Cup adventure goes on after a penalty equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time ensured Simon Grayson’s side took Tottenham to a fourth round replay.

Jermaine Beckford, Leeds’ match-winner in their third round victory over Manchester United, was the hero again, coolly converting the spot-kick to earn the League One (third division) side a 2-2 draw and a second chance of reaching the last 16.

Notts County also lived to fight another day after coming within seven minutes of a classic giant-killing act before being forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Premier League club Wigan.

Holders Chelsea eased into the fifth round at the expense of Preston while Reading followed up their elimination of Liverpool in the last round by accounting for another Premier League side, Burnley.

But there was no doubt that the biggest drama of the day came at White Hart Lane, where Leeds looked dead and buried until Michael Dawson was adjudged to have brought down Beckford deep into injury time.

The striker had cancelled out Peter Crouch’s opener for Spurs early in the second half but Leeds had appeared to be on their way out after Roman Pavlyuchenko came off the bench to restore the hosts’ lead a quarter of an hour from the end.

In the end though Spurs were left to rue their failure to capitalise on their dominance in an opening spell in which Jermain Defoe failed to convert a penalty of his own.

Notts County, who are threatened with bankruptcy because of an unpaid tax bill, were on track for a famous win over Wigan after opening up a two-goal first-half lead through former West Brom striker Lee Hughes and Ben Davies.

But the League Two (fourth division) side allowed Wigan back into the contest through Jason Scotland and Ben Watson’s 83rd-minute equaliser sent the tie to a replay.

County’s caretaker manager, Dave Kevan, said: “I thought the lads were fantastic, but when we look at it again in the cold light of day, we’ll have mixed feelings. They know they’ve had a great opportunity to cause an upset, and sadly that hasn’t quite developed.”

County’s League Two counterparts Accrington Stanley, the lowest-ranked club left in the tournament, went down to a 3-1 defeat by Fulham after having Darran Kempson sent off just before half-time.

At that stage, the tiny Lancashire club were matching their Premier League guests with Michael Symes having cancelled out Erik Nevland’s opener for Fulham.

But the home side tired after the break and Damien Duff and Zoltan Gera sent the Londoners through.

“They made life very difficult for us,” Fulham boss Roy Hodgson admitted. “But in the second half we showed them more of our qualities and ended up winning the game relatively comfortably.”

Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge struck either side of half-time as Chelsea advanced to the last 16 with a 2-0 win over struggling Championship side Preston North End.

Reading ensured they joined them in Sunday’s fifth round draw when Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scored an 87th-minute winner against Burnley.

Birmingham extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches with a 2-1 win at Everton. Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson gave Alex McLeish’s on-form side a first-half lead and despite pulling a goal back through Leon Osman, Everton were unable to conjure up an equaliser.

Portsmouth gained some relief from their on and off-the-field woes by coming from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1.

Darren Bent had given Sunderland the lead and the match was briefly interrupted by protesting fans running on to the pitch.

But a double from Nigerian striker John Utaka ensured the Pompey supporters departed Fratton Park in better spirits.

Aston Villa followed up their advance to the League Cup final with a 3-2 defeat of Gus Poyet’s Brighton. Nathan Delfouneso, Ashley Young and Fabian Delph were on the scoresheet for Martin O’Neill’s men.

Bolton registered their first win under Owen Coyle by beating Sheffield United 2-0 at the Reebok.

But Wolves must replay with Crystal Palace after being held to 2-2 draw at home to the on-form Championship side.

West Brom beat Championship promotion rivals Newcastle 4-2 in an entertaining clash at the Hawthorns while Cardiff City beat Leicester by the same scoreline.

Derby edged Doncaster 1-0 and Roy Keane’s Ipswich went down to a 2-1 defeat at League One Southampton.

Arsenal face a potentially awkward fourth round tie at Stoke on Sunday, which also sees Manchester City travel to Scunthorpe.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: burnley, caretaker manager, cold light of day, equaliser, FA Cup, grayson, injury time, kevan, lee hughes, leeds united, michael dawson, mixed feelings, no doubt, Notts County, peter crouch, second chance, west brom, white hart lane, Wigan

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Ferguson insists United debts not stopping him spending

Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday dismissed claims he is prevented from dipping into the transfer market to strengthen his squad because of the financial pressure generated by Manchester United’s huge debts.

United’s American owners, the Glazer family, are attempting to re-structure debts which stand in the region of 700 million pounds (1.1 billion dollars), leading to an assumption that their manager would be prevented from strengthening his squad in January.

The 80 million pounds banked from the summer sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid remains largely untouched but, while Ferguson is adamant he will not be spending any of that sum this month, he insists that is only because he cannot see the quality — or value for money — available in the current market.

“We have got the money. There is no doubt about that, no question,” Ferguson told reporters.

“I just don’t see that player who can make a difference for us in terms of value and availability.

“It is still the case that I won’t be buying. I can never see any real diamonds in January, only now and again.

“We struck lucky with (Nemanja) Vidic and (Patrice) Evra, although it took them time to adjust. We bought (Louis) Saha in the window, who was a marvellous player but had a lot of injuries. And we bought Andy Cole in the window, who was fantastic.

“So those have been success stories for us but you can’t guarantee that in January. You’re looking for players to possibly play in Europe and that’s limited because of other teams’ involvement in Europe. It’s never a certain success route.”

Rather than activity in the transfer window, Ferguson has maintained his bigger concern is the fitness of his central defenders and the United manager is hopeful that Rio Ferdinand will be back in full training within two weeks.

However, Nemanja Vidic, who declared himself injured while warming up for last weekend’s surprise home FA Cup defeat to League One Leeds, will be out for ten days.

Ferguson had said after the match he did not know why Vidic had pulled out of the match, a comment which fuelled speculation of a behind-the-scenes rift and further encouraged rumours the Serbia international is keen on a move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Ferguson however moved to clarify the situation on Friday, saying Vidic had damaged a nerve.

“Vidic felt a bit of a problem with the nerve going down the right side of his leg, it has been a problem recently for him,” said Ferguson. “He didn’t feel confident about playing the game. I understand that because it was quite painful.

“We sent him to a specialist on Wednesday and the problem will be solved by some exercises we are going to have to give him now. He should be back in about ten days’ time. It is not a long-term problem. We think we are in control of it. Hopefully he will come back quite quickly.”

Vidic will miss Saturday’s Premier League match at Birmingham and next weekend’s home clash with Burnley.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: 1 billion dollars, andy cole, assumption, Barcelona, Birmingham, central defenders, current market, diamonds, Europe, glazer family, LEEDS, louis saha, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, nemanja vidic, no doubt, Patrice, patrice evra, premier league, Real, real madrid, Rio, rio ferdinand, ronaldo, sir alex ferguson, success stories

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Torres: Reina is the best keeper in the world

Fernando Torres believes his Liverpool and Spain team-mate Jose Reina is the best goalkeeper in the world. In what has been a miserable season for The Reds, Reina has arguably been their most consistent player.

“Like always he’s having a really good season. For me he’s now the best keeper in the world,” said Torres.

“In Spain everyone knows he’s a very good keeper and in England there is no doubt he is the best.

“He’s played at a top level since he signed here and won many Golden Gloves (for the most clean sheets) – and hopefully he’ll win one more this season.

“He’s having a massive season and at Villa we won the game thanks to him.

“We must be really happy to have him in the team and hopefully he’ll be here for a long time.”

Torres has also hailed Reina’s influence off the pitch and believes the experienced 27-year-old is a vital member of the squad.

“Pepe is one of the most important players in the dressing room,” he said. “After Stevie (Gerrard) and Carra (Jamie Carragher), I think he’s the most important.

“He’s always happy round the place, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room.

“He is always trying to be positive and is a really good professional.”

Tags: best goalkeeper in the world, carra, clean sheets, consistent player, dressing room, England, Fernando Torres, game thanks, gerrard, golden gloves, jamie carragher, Jose, jose reina, Liverpool, miserable season, no doubt, pitch, reds, Spain, team mate, vital member

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Live World Cup draw blog on Friday – please join in

Just a heads up we will be running a live World Cup draw blog on this site from around 1630 GMT on Friday so feel free to join in the fun.

Which seeded teams will be the unlucky ones to get France or Portugal? Will hosts South Africa get a fortunate draw?

No doubt we’ll touch on referees, handballs, security worries, African hopes for a first title etc etc.

I’m not as beautiful as South African actress Charlize Theron, who is hosting the draw in Cape Town, but hey you can’t have everything…

Source

Tags: actress charlize theron, cape town, charlize theron, France, GMT, no doubt, portugal, referees, security worries, South Africa, Theron, unlucky ones, World Cup

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Smith shrugs off Scotland speculation

Walter Smith will ignore speculation surrounding his future as he concentrates on leading his team to victory against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Smith has been heavily linked with a return as Scotland boss after George Burley was sacked following the national team’s 3-0 friendly defeat to Wales last weekend.

But the Gers boss, whose contract with the Ibrox club comes to an end in January, has ruled himself out of the running and says he would happily remain at Rangers without a contract.

Smith’s side have made an unbeaten start to the season domestically and sit just two points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, with a game in hand over their rivals.

Rangers could return to the top of the league with a win over Kilmarnock and pile the pressure on the Hoops who don’t play Dundee United until Sunday.

However, the Ibrox side have drawn four times in the league so far and Smith says his side must address their habit of dropping costly points.

“In the next phase of games we are looking for more consistency than we had in the first spell of matches,” Smith said.

“I think in our more recent matches we have been doing better, ever since the home game with Unirea (in the Champions League) at Ibrox.

“There is no doubt we have dropped too many points through draws and that is something we want to rectify.”

His comments were echoed by keeper Allan McGregor, who says the side will be boosted by the return of some long-term injury absentees in the weeks to come.

“I think when you look at the start of the season there were games where we underperformed and that was frustrating,” McGregor said.

“But in the last three or four fixtures we have been a lot quicker and sharper. When you consider that we have had to make a lot of changes to the team and a few young lads have come in it bodes well for the future.

“Against Killie we will have more boys back including Kevin Thomson and possibly Madjid Bougherra and it’s not long before Mo Edu will be available again.”

Meanwhile, Old Firm rivals Celtic could be without five top team stars for their match against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.

Keeper Artur Boruc and midfielders Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney are out for the difficult trip to Tayside due to long-term injuries.

With captain Stephen McManus suspended for the match and Glenn Loovens struggling with a groin strain manager Tony Mowbray has problems.

Mowbray said: “There is no chance of them being ready for Tannadice. They are not ready to train this week, so it’s not a question of rushing them back.

“They are trying to get fit and are working with the medical staff. It’s frustrating because they are all influential players for us, but we have to accept the situation and move on.”

Craig Levein, heavily tipped for the Scotland job, knows a win for his side could see them close the gap on the league leaders to just two points.

Elsewhere St Johnstone make the trip to Edinburgh as they face Hearts at Tynecastle.

St Mirren host third-placed Hibernian boosted by the return of injured trio Mo Camara, Craig Dargo and Allan Johnston.

Falkirk hope to pick up their first win of the season and close the gap at the bottom as they take on nearest rivals Hamilton and Motherwell welcome Aberdeen to Fir Park.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Falkirk v Hamilton, Hearts v St Johnstone (1230), Motherwell v Aberdeen, Rangers v Kilmarnock, St Mirren V Hibernian

Sunday

Dundee United v Celtic (1230)

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: absentees, bougherra, champions league, george burley, home game, hoops, kevin thomson, kilmarnock, mcgregor, no doubt, rivals, Scottish Premier League, speculation, Unirea, walter smith, young lads

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Crash victim Cudicini to make full recovery, say Spurs

Tottenham say goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is expected to make a full recovery after surgery on injuries he suffered in an horrific motorbike crash.

The 36-year-old Italian hit a car on Thursday while driving through east London, fracturing his wrist and damaging his pelvis.

The former Chelsea star was operated on at a private hospital on Friday and his north London club believe he is on course for a full recovery from an accident initially described as “life-changing” by ambulance staff.

Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond said on Sunday: “It’s going to take some time, he will be on crutches for a period of time and no doubt he’ll be in hospital for a good few days yet,” Bond told Sky Sports News.

“Obviously it’s such good news that all being well he will make a full recovery.

“At this moment no-one is going to put any type of time span on it – we are just glad to know that he’s well.

“That’s the most important thing and hopefully he’ll be back putting his boots on and his gloves on in the not so distant future.”

A female driver and a child passenger escaped unharmed from the car involved in the accident, which was described as a ‘write off’.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: ambulance staff, carlo cudicini, chelsea star, crash victim, crutches, distant future, east london, gloves, Goalkeeper, motorbike crash, no doubt, north london club, pelvis, period of time, private hospital, Sky Sports, sky sports news, spurs, time span

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Redknapp in favour of Old Firm England bid

Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers have won backing for their bid to join the English Premier League from Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp.

The long-standing Old Firm campaign to join the English setup was given a boost last week when both Everton’s David Moyes and Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill endorsed Bolton chairman Phil Gartside’s plan for them to be included in a new two-tier top flight.

Gartside’s proposal is expected to be discussed at a meeting of Premier League clubs this week and Redknapp has become the first English boss to publicly back the concept.

He told the Daily Record: “Absolutely, I would welcome Celtic and Rangers to English football if they wanted to play down here. No doubt about it. I’m sure they would be good for the English game.

“We are talking about two huge football clubs and if they were to join our league you would be looking at great games in great stadiums.

“I was up in Scotland only a couple of months ago to watch Celtic play Arsenal in the Champions League qualifiers and the atmosphere was out of this world.

“It was incredible and I’d love to see games like that on a more regular basis.

“The one worry I would have is what happens to the rest of Scottish football if the two of them are allowed to leave but only the people up there know the answer to that.

“If you’re asking me if it would be good for the English game then the answer is yes.”

Former Celtic player Moyes and ex-Parkhead boss O’Neill have emotional ties to their former club but Redknapp is a more dispassionate observer.

And despite acknowledging the Old Firm would eventually become a threat to his own club, he would still welcome them with open arms.

He said: “It’s true, with the extra money they would get down here the two of them probably would end up challenging clubs such as ourselves for European places but that’s nothing something we should be scared of.

“We are talking here about two great clubs and it would be fantastic to compete against them. It would only make the game in this country stronger if we had two clubs with their tradition operating in our league.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, champions league qualifiers, coach harry, daily record, David Moyes, emotional ties, England, english game, English Premier League, football clubs, gartside, Glasgow, great clubs, great games, Harry Redknapp, london, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, Neill, no doubt, parkhead, Phil Gartside, premier league, premier league clubs, s david, s martin, scotland, scottish football

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Rangers teen Wilson out to impress

Rangers defender Danny Wilson is not taking his place in the side for granted ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Premier League clash with St Mirren after an impressive start to his Rangers career.

The 17-year-old hasn’t put a foot wrong since being asked to partner David Weir in the centre of the Gers defence after Madjid Bougherra and Lee McCulloch were ruled out with injury.

The teenager made his debut in a 3-1 League Cup win over Dundee and has since made his European bow in the Old Firm side’s 1-1 with Unirea Urziceni on Wednesday.

Bougherra expects to be fit enough to return when Rangers take on St Mirren this Saturday at Ibrox but Wilson’s early contributions will cast genuine doubt over whether the Algerian merits an instant comeback after injury.

The teenager insists he is taking nothing for granted but there’s no doubt he has given manager Walter Smith something to think long and hard about as Rangers aim to cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the table.

Wilson – who became the club’s youngest Euro debutant since Willie Henderson in 1961 – added: “I’m just taking things as they come.

“I know there are more players in the squad who are capable of stepping back into the team.

“Just to have been given the nod for the couple of games I’ve played in so far has been excellent for me. I think I’ve done well so far but I need to keep trying as hard as I can when my chances come along. If I play I play and if I don’t, I won’t be too disheartened.”

Smith will be without injury victims Pedro Mendes, Maurice Edu and Kirk Broadfoot for the match against the Buddies, who have made a solid start to their league campaign.

On Sunday, league leaders Celtic are away to Falkirk where boss Tony Mowbray will be without midfielders Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney through injury.

But the boss has been boosted by the return of Marc-Antoine Fortune from injury after he made his come-back as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Kilmarnock last Saturday.

His eight-week absence limited Celtic’s striking options but Fortune looked sharp and dangerous when he came on as a second-half substitute.

“It’s easy to look back and say that we’ve missed Marc but you always miss good players when they are out,” Mowbray said. “He adds something different to the team.

“When he was fit and available at the start of the season, the team was generally scoring goals. He gives us a different dimension to the qualities of Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras.

“Those two players have worked very hard for us, but Marc’s work with his back to goal can give us a platform. We will look to utilise him and the other strikers as the season goes on. They all have a part to play, but I was delighted with Marc’s return.”

Hibernian could join Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League if they triumph against Hearts in the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle on Saturday.

John Hughes’ side are 12 points ahead of their city rivals, who sit in eighth position in the table but the Jambos have home advantage.

In Saturday’s other games Aberdeen take on St Johnstone at Pittodrie, Hamilton take on high-flying Motherwell in the Lanarkshire derby and Kilmarnock host Dundee United.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v St Johnstone

Hamilton v Motherwell

Hearts v Hibernian

Kilmarnock v Dundee United

Rangers v St Mirren

Sunday

Falkirk v Celtic (AFP

Tags: Aberdeen, broadfoot, danny wilson, David Weir, debutant, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Ibrox, john hughes, Kirk Broadfoot, league campaign, league leaders, Lee McCulloch, madjid bougherra, marc antoine fortune, mcculloch, no doubt, partner david, pedro mendes, Scott Brown, scott mcdonald, Scottish Premier League, Shaun Maloney, st mirren, sunday league, tony mowbray, urziceni, walter smith, willie henderson, Wilson

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