Capello warns of Spanish threat to Premier League clubs in Champions League

The England manager sees Real Madrid as the greatest threat to Barcelona’s attempt to retain the trophy they won so emphatically against Manchester United at Wembley last season.

Capello expects the Premier League contingent to reach the final stages of as usual, but it is Jose Mourinho he rates as most likely to scupper Pep Guardiola’s European aspirations.

“I think this year that Real Madrid will be really close to Barcelona,” said Capello, a former manager at the Bernabeu.

“They play a different style and are improving a lot. I don’t know whether Barcelona will get to the final at the end of this season. The squad at Real Madrid is really strong which means they can change the players around and this will help them. I can see that important players for Barcelona are injured now. I hope they will be fit for the next part of the season.”

Manchester City will take on La Liga opposition, Villarreal, in Spain on Wednesday, but Capello is making no bold predictions about the prospects of the English representatives. 

“Teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are improving and could reach the final stages,” said Capello, who was promoting Wembley’s Exhibition of Champions tour.

“For me another team you need to watch is Bayern Munich. This is a really good team. The way that they played against Man City was really something. They have good balance, a winning mentality and they are scoring a lot of goals. And for the first time after a very long time they have got a good goalkeeper and this is really, really important.”

Capello was a Champions League-winning manager with AC Milan in 1994, an achievement he still ranks as his best as a coach.

Kroenke says Manchester United are streets ahead of Manchester City off the pitch

“I would be much more proud if all our leagues were developed with the idea that you are competing on the basis of intellect and work and effort instead of just simply, 'I am going to throw dollars against the wall’,” said Kroenke.

With the rest of the Premier League struggling to keep pace withManchester City, Kroenke defended Arsenal’s self-sustainable model and made a point of acclaiming the Glazers for underpinning their phenomenal success by developing Manchester United infrastructure and revenues.

Kroenke’s own takeover at Arsenal differs fundamentally from the controversial leveraged model that has loaded debt on United, but he said that supporters should focus on the results.

“What was so tough about the Glazers’ situation?” said Kroenke. “They won. And they have increased revenues by a huge amount. If I was a fan of that club I would go ’wow’. Because how could you do it any better?”

When it was put to him that the Glazers had taken money out of the club, Kroenke said: “Some of their players have taken money out and maybe they haven’t performed. I think it’s time maybe for everybody to think a little bit.

United dig deep to overcome Everton

Power shifts tend to be declared too readily on the basis of solitary results, when no one knows better than Sir Alex Ferguson it is mucky little wins such as this that collect championships, not just seductive goal feasts.

Each of Ferguson’s titles has been accumulated through his club’s capacity to grind out three points without functioning anywhere near half throttle.

As he compiles his memoirs of 25 years at Old Trafford, the less romantic one-nils may be recalled as fondly as any battering his teams have dished out.

Like all the best generals, Ferguson is adept not only at recognising when to go on the offensive, but also when to unashamedly cry ‘retreat’.

This was a triumph in the art of implementing a bunker mentality.

Arsenal extracting maximum value from rampant Robin van Persie as Chelsaea victory raises club's stock

Issues surrounding Van Persie’s discipline helped prompt Feyenoord to sell at such a low price.

It was still a fabulous deal, half the price that Chelsea were paying PSV Eindhoven for Mateja Kezman at the same time.

Wenger has since spent substantially on attacking talent, including Andrei Arshavin (£15m), Theo Walcott (£9m), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£12m), Gervinho (£10m) and Chu-young Park (£5m).

None can match the value-for-money of Van Persie, whose hat-trick was the gleaming icing on a fruitcake of a London Derby.

“I feel I can score every time I go out on to the pitch,’’ said the Arsenal striker. 

“It’s just the best feeling to have. It doesn’t really matter who we play, we always create chances so that means I always have a go. Then it’s up to me to score.’’

Space and opportunities are created for Van Persie by the likes of Gervinho and Walcott, who both impressed at the Bridge.

“We’ve got a striker who is on top of the world at the moment and, for me and Gervinho, playing alongside him is a dream,’’ said Walcott of Van Persie.

“He can make your game look so easy.

“It shows how important he is to this team. He’s had so many injuries but when you have a fit Robin through the whole season you will be a totally different team.

"I’m not saying he makes us a one-man show but Robin gives us that totally different dimension.

"So we’re happy, hoping he stays fit and keeps on banging in those goals every week.”

Gerrard facing the agony of lengthy injury lay-off due to an infected ankle

Gerrard had fluid drained from the ankle at a Liverpool hospital yesterday and the club are now awaiting to gauge the effect of that procedure.

There are fears, however, that the injury will force Gerrard out for a prolonged spell.

Confirmation of the recovery time is likely to arrive tomorrow, but there was a grim mood at Anfield as the captain received treatment.

Gerrard is understood to be distraught that what seemed to be an innocuous cut on his ankle, sustained in training last week, has developed into a potentially more serious problem.

The 31 year-old Liverpool stalwart has only recently returned toPremier League action after a six month absence due to an unrelated groin problem, and he was just regaining his full match fitness. He has endured a nightmarish few months, and is believed to be devastated at the prospect of a further prolonged absence.

Five things I learned from a terrible afternoon at Old Trafford.

1. Mancini picked the right team
The Manchester City manager could have gone several ways for this derby. He could have picked Edin Dzeko to lead the line, chosen Samir Nasri instead of James Milner, and he might have plumped for Pablo Zabeleta over Micah Richards. But no. Roberto Mancini followed his instincts, which proved to be sound. Milner and Richards were superb. And as for Mario Balotelli, well, this madcap striker could not have done much more to repay the faith of his manager.

2. Sir Alex Ferguson is human
I’m talking here about his team selection, as it is unusual for theManchester United manager not to make provisions for opponents who flood central midfield. City tend to do exactly that when David Silva is drifting inside and when, in this case, Milner does the same to join Gareth Barry and Yaya Touré. As a result, Anderson and Darren Fletcher simply could not cope. Even before the sending off, they were being outmanoeuvred by City’s superior numbers.

3. United's defence needs stability
They need Nemanja Vidic back alongside a regular partner. I know United have been hampered by injuries but Jonny Evans showed that he falls slightly short in this kind of company. He certainly should have been cuter when trying to stop Balotelli rather than fouling him. The referee had no choice but to send him off. It was a mistake that should not have been allowed to happen and probably wouldn’t have been committed by a stronger central defence.

4. Strength of the squads
City have arguably amassed a better squad than United. We should avoid overreaction, this was just one result. City must first prove they can go the distance before any shift-of-power claims receive proper attention. Nevertheless, look at the players available to City. Joe Hart, Richards, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Touré, Silva, Nasri and Sergio Agüero would all probably win a place in Ferguson’s side. Agree or not, you cannot deny that it is a valid talking point.

5. City have arrived
They are genuine title contenders. We suspected as much beforehand but this really hammered home the point. No one can be in any doubt now that Mancini’s squad is big enough and good enough to push United and Chelsea all the way. Just as importantly, self belief has just soared through the roof. The tentative attitude seen in the first 15 minutes here, when the visitors didn’t believe in themselves enough, should now be consigned to history.

Chiefs name Khune as captain

Kaizer Chiefs have announced that Itumeleng Khune will serve as their new captain going forward.

In a statement released on the club’s official site, it reads: “Kaizer Chiefs relieves Jimmy Tau of his captaincy and appoints Itumeleng Khune as the team’s new captain.

“The appointment follows deliberations within the Club and Coach’s decision as a result of the media speculation surrounding Jimmy Tau’s tenure as captain.

“The Club wishes to put it on record that Jimmy Tau did not send an email to the Club resigning as a captain and further that there was no ‘bust up’ between the Head Coach, Vladimir Vermezovic and Jimmy Tau as reported in the media.

“Itumeleng Khune will be supported by a committee of the following players; Tinashe Nengomasha, Kaizer Motaung JNR, George Lebese and Lawrence Molekwane.” 

Tevez handed record £792,000 fine

The club have not found the Argentine forward guilty of gross misconduct owing to an inability to secure firm evidence of a refusal to play as a substitute in the Allianz Arena.

However, Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan has sanctioned a hard-line stance with the former Manchester United striker due to the club’s belief that Tévez’s conduct in Munich was premeditated after being informed six days previously that he would no longer receive £6 million in loyalty bonuses as a result of his efforts to leave the club.

It is understood, however, that Tévez and his representatives will fight any such allegation at the highest level, with sources close to the player insisting that there is no foundation to the suggestions.

City’s lengthy investigation into the incident in Munich, which involved interviews of witnesses on the bench alongside Tévez, concluded last week, with the club confirming in a statement that the player had been found guilty of five separate breaches of contract.

The statement said: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that a disciplinary hearing has been concluded in relation to a charge of misconduct by Carlos Tévez. 

“The charge relates to events during the Champions League match against Bayern Munich on 27 September 2011. Following a detailed investigation and associated hearing, a disciplinary panel has upheld the charge of misconduct. Five separate breaches of contract formed the basis of the decision by the panel.

“As a result Carlos Tévez has been fined four weeks’ wages and has been suspended for a period of two weeks [deemed to have already been served]. He has received a written warning as to his future conduct.

“Carlos Tévez has been informed in writing of the decision of the disciplinary panel, and the Club has written to the Professional Footballers Association for ratification of the fine.”

Tevez set to sue Roberto Mancini for defamation of character

The development raises the extraordinary and unprecedented prospect of both men — and other players and officials at City — having to go to the High Court to give evidence.

It is, potentially, a case that could cost millions of pounds to settle given the value of the player and the damage, also, that Tévez feels has been done to his reputation and career by Mancini’s allegations.

The 27-year-old striker is adamant that his only offence was a refusal to warm up again, having already done so during the second half of the match, and it’s believed that he considers the findings of City’s disciplinary hearing against him, published on Tuesday night, help vindicate his stance. If Tévez takes legal action, it will be against Mancini rather than City.

Tévez will appeal the decision, in any case, and is determined that the issue is dealt with by an independent Premier League tribunal. If he carries through his threat of legal action it could mean that the case is not fully resolved until deep into next year.

It is understood that despite being fined four weeks’ wages by the City-convened tribunal yesterday after being found guilty of five counts of misconduct over what happened in Munich, Tévez believes that the body’s findings actually support his case against Mancini. 

This is partly because of the apparent failure to fully back Mancini’s allegation on the night — in his press conference and also to television cameras — that Tévez refused to come on as a substitute. It may be argued by City that it is a case of semantics — separating out a refusal to play from a refusal to warm up — but Tévez is adamant there is a difference especially on a confused and heated evening on the City substitutes bench.

He was told of his punishment on Tuesday night in a letter sent to him by Graham Wallace, City’s chief operating officer and also the man selected to chair the internal inquiry into his behaviour. In his letter, Wallace wrote: “My decision is that in full view you refused to carry out instructions given to you by Mancini and Ivan Carminati [City’s fitness coach] to resume warming up with a view to playing in the match... and you are thereby guilty of misconduct.”

Tévez will argue that this simply endorses his claim that he did, indeed, refuse to warm up again — although he then argues that he did try and do so but was told not to by City’s coaching staff. He will claim that none of the 15 witness statements gathered by the club supports Mancini’s assertion that he was refusing to play.

On the night, Mancini alleged: “He [Tévez] refuses to go in. He refused to come on the pitch. What I said to Carlos is between me, him and the team [but] I’m really disappointed because it is Carlos. I decide the changes.”

Tévez now has 14 days to decide whether he will appeal the decision — which he seems certain to do — and then the case will go to a further hearing of a freshly convened City board. That will probably include a representative of the club’s owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group. After that it can go to the Premier League which is not expected to hear the case until mid-December. Manchester City declined to comment on Tuesday night.

Rio Ferdinand and others could suffer as a consequence of Manchester United's 6-1 thrashing

Ferguson criticised Ferdinand and Evra’s second-half performances against City in his televised post-match interview, but Brazilian midfielder Anderson is also understood to have borne the brunt of the manager’s anger following his poor performance.

As a result of Manchester United’s abject display, Ferdinand cancelled a planned post-match trip to Wembley to watch the NFL clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears.

Nemanja Vidic is expected to play from the start at Aldershot in theCarling Cup having missed the City game due to lack of match fitness after just one first-team outing since suffering a calf injury on the opening weekend of the season.

Vidic’s comeback game, against Otelul Galati in the Champions League last Tuesday, ended with the United captain being dismissed for a late challenge by German referee Felix Brych.

Uefa will decide at a disciplinary hearing on Nov 17 whether to extend the Serbian’s mandatory one-match suspension for the red card.

United's players feeling their fans' pain after 6-1 thrashing

Manchester United suffered their heaviest home defeat in more than half a century as Roberto Mancini’s team moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with Manchester City's biggest win on United territory since 1926.

But with City’s victory underlining the club’s ability to challenge United for honours for the first time in over 30 years, the sense of a power shift in Manchester has grown with Sunday’s remarkable result.

And with many of United’s players being based in and around the city, Fletcher admits that he and his team-mates will not spared from the goading that the supporters will face in the wake of the 6-1 defeat.

“Without doubt, we realise how much stick and how much banter there will be for our fans.” Fletcher said. “We know how much it is hurting because the players are hurting just as much.

“We have to live in the city as well so we are going to have to deal with it too. 

“But as I kept reiterating to the lads after the game, we have to remember how it feels to lose by this scoreline.” City’s victory saw them replace United as the bookmakers’ favourites to win this season’s title race.

But Fletcher insists that United will not allow the size of Sunday’s defeat to paint a false impression of their own title aspirations.

“There is a long season to go.” Fletcher said. “There are no medals handed out at this stage of the season and there are still 20-odd games left.

“It is a bad result losing to Manchester City, but this doesn’t mean the league is over. We have to respond and win our next game.

“City are in a great position but Chelsea were in this position last year and were eight or nine clear. They are the team at the top and everyone will now be trying to knock them off.

“We are disappointed, really disappointed, but we will have to bounce back.

"Nobody wants to lose by the margin we did, but lose by 1-0 or lose by that score and it is the same points difference.”

Orlando Pirates striker Benni McCarthy out of action for two weeks

Orlando Pirates will be without striker Benni McCarthy when they face Jomo Cosmos in a League game on Sunday due to a hamstring injury. 

The striker has been ruled out of action for the next two weeks.

McCarthy limped off the field during Telkom Knockout Cup game against Black Leopards on Saturday. He was replaced by Bongani Ndulula after scoring the first goal in the 2-1 win.

However despite the absence of McCarthy, Pirates are expected to welcome back Tlou Segolela and Thulasizwe Mbuyane for the trip to Port Elizabeth to face Ezenkosi on Sunday.

Mbuyane missed the game against Leopards due to a bout of flu while Segolela has been nursing a knee injury for the past few weeks.

Meanwhile Pirates striker Rudolf Bester is on cloud nine after scored his first goal for Pirates this season during the game against Black Leopards on Saturday.

"The goal was made more special by the fact that it was the one that helped us get the win and qualify for the second round of the competition,” says Bester.  

Moroka Swallows coach Gordon Igesund believes in Lerato Chabangu

Moroka Swallows coach Gordon Igesund believes that striker Lerato Chabangu still has a lot to offer South African football. 

Igesund gave Chabangu a lifeline after he was dumped by Mamelodi Sundowns allegedly due to lack of discipline and alcohol problems, however, the hitman came back to haunt his former club when scored he scored Swallows second goal that sent Sundowns packing from the Telkom Knockout Cup with a 3-0 defeat at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.

Igesund predicted that local football fans would soon be seeing the ‘old' Chabangu that used to mesmerise defenders whilst at Chloorkop a few years back.

"I am very happy with Chabangu's performance. I have always said he is one of the most talented players in South Africa and I am happy to see him working hard at training.

"I believe his goal against Sundowns will go long way to motivating him to score more goals for Swallows this season."

The Dube Birds coach also says that Malian striker Cisse Bongouta is still very much in his plans this season. Bongouta has not seen much action this season as Igesund has preferred to play Siyabonga Nomvete and Mpho Maleka upfront.

"Cisse always offers me plan B or C but at this moment Nomvete and Maleka are doing well upfront. Cisse is a great professional and working hard at training and he will get his chance very soon.

Dynamo Moscow after Pattison

Matthew Pattison has revealed the name of the Russian club, where he underwent a trial in the past week. 

Pattison flew out on October 16 to Russia to undergo a trial, but at the time the club's name had been withheld and only referred to as an "unnamed club".

It is established that the club is none other than Dynamo Moscow, but it appears Pattison is still a far way off from making the move, if it happens at all.

Pattison says: "I went for three days to Dynamo Moscow and I came back on Friday.

"Maybe I might go back again, who knows? I'm not too sure so I will have to wait and see… My representatives are speaking to them," Pattison continues.

The 24-year-old is dismayed at having fallen down the pecking order of midfielders at Mamelodi Sundowns and has admitted that he is unsure over his future at the club.

"I have to keep my options open, because I'm a free agent at the end of the season. You gotta take care of your own interests and if it is not working out, then you got to move on," Pattison adds.  

Player positions are not guaranteed_VV

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladmir Vermezovic has sharply criticised his players in the wake of a shock 2–1 loss to Platinum Stars in the Telkom Knockout Cup.  

The coach singled out goalkeeper Arthur Bartman, who made some crucial saves on Sunday, as the only player who showed commitment and a desire to win.

"If it was not for Bartman, we could have lost the match by a wider margin," says the Kaizer Chiefs coach.

The match was played in sweltering conditions with water-breaks used in both halves, but the coach refused to blame the defeat on the conditions. 


"Most of the players did not do well and this is why we lost the game. It was tough and we were playing in very high temperatures but it was the same conditions that Platinum Stars were playing under so this can never be used as an excuse," says Vermezovic.

He hinted at making some key changes to his line-up ahead of Saturday's League clash against Platinum Stars and pointed out that there is no player in the side who is guaranteed of a starting place.

He also revealed that Josta Dladla's omission from the team was a technical decision.

"Josta has to take my decision not to field him as a professional. He has to work harder.  Kaizer Chiefs is a big club. We always want to win all the matches that we play but this is always not possible.

"The positions of players are not guaranteed at this club and all of them know that," he adds

Vlad V: Tau no longer captain

Vladimir Vermezovic has finally broken his silence over the captaincy saga at Kaizer Chiefs by revealing that Jimmy Tau is no longer the captain of the team.

Tau, who missed Chiefs' match against Black Leopards on October 16, made a return to the starting XI in the 2-1 loss to Platinum Stars in the Telkom Knockout Cup last 16 match at the Royal Bafokeng stadium on Sunday but, remarkably, Tinashe Nengomasha was handed the captain’s armband.

Quizzed over this at the end of the match, the Serbian reluctantly admitted that he has stripped Tau of the captaincy, while Nengomasha will captain the team from now on and the coach says he intends to release a statement in the coming days to put the matter to rest.

Vermezovic though, refuted claims that he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Tau, despite reports to the contrary after they allegedly clashed after Chiefs lost 2-1 to Golden Arrows in a League match in Polokwane at the end of September, that led to Tau reportedly sending an e-mail to the club's management asking to step down as captain.

Vermezovic was peeved at the senior players’ reluctance to take a penalty at the death that could have brought Chiefs on level terms and at least got a point, but the senior players left the responsibility to George Lebese, who fluffed the opportunity to hand Arrows the win.

However, Vermezovic is adamant that he habours no ill feelings towards Tau, but on the other hand he declined to state the reasons for Nengomasha taking over from Tau.

He could only say he has “four captains” at his disposal at Chiefs, including Nengomasha, which is why the long-serving midfielder is suitable for the role. 

City hit united for 6'.

Ferguson, who celebrates his 25th anniversary as United manager on Nov 6, witnessed his club’s biggest derby defeat since another 6-1 loss to City in January 1926 — just one short of United’s record home defeat, a 7-1 loss to Newcastle in September 1927.

Playing with 10 men following the 47th-minute dismissal of defender Jonny Evans, United on Sunday capitulated in the dying stages as City ran in three late goals. But with City moving five points clear of United with their emphatic victory, Ferguson admitted he had never experienced such a dark day as a manager.

“It was our worst ever day,” Ferguson said. “It’s the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I don’t think I ever lost 6-1. I can’t believe the scoreline. The first goal was a blow for sure, but it was retrievable at 1-0.

“I’m shattered, I can’t believe it. It was an incredible disappointment, but we will react, no question about that. It’s a perfect result for us to react to because there is a lot of embarrassment in the dressing room — and quite rightly so — and that will make an impact. You have to recover. The history of Manchester United is ‘another day’ and we will recover.”

The humiliation of United’s defeat resulted in the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, being barracked and jostled by home supporters as they travelled from the players’ tunnel to an awaiting helicopter.

Keeping The Noisy Neighbours Quiet

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has, more than once, dismissed Manchester City as "noisy neighbours". The truth of the matter though is that City are neighbours who won the lottery. It might take them some time to come to terms with the cash in their bank account, but once they do, their spending power can only be gasped at. United are doing well to keep City quiet, but will have to keep raising their game as the petrodollars continue to be lavished by Roberto Mancini.

Ferguson will be concerned with the apparent sloppiness of some of his side’s defensive play of late and the return of Rio Ferdinand looks a timely one. United gave an indication as to the former Leeds defender’s importance when leaving him at home for their midweek Champions League clash in Romania, all so Ferdinand can face City in tip-top shape.

United are certainly taking nothing for granted. "I think City are doing fantastically well", said Ferguson. "If they hadn’t thrown away a two-goal lead at Fulham they’d have a 100% record. It could be quite a game on Sunday and I’m looking forward to it."

The derby will also offer a glimpse of the future. United have rejuvenated their squad and the likes of Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Javier Hernandez and David de Gea could be leading the Red Devils’ fightback against City for the next five to ten years. In this battle, while winning is important, sending a message is equally so. United must show they are ready to defend their crown.

Mobile Blogging from here.

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Nani primed to play a key role when Manchester United face Manchester City on Sunday

Nani’s fragile self-belief, his frustrating inability to deliver when it mattered most and the pressure of filling the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80million sale to Real Madrid had prompted speculation of his imminent departure from Old Trafford, a perception hardly dispelled by his decision to publicly criticise Ferguson’s handling of him in an interview in a Portuguese magazine in Nov 2009.

Yet when Premier League leaders Manchester City arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday aiming to end Manchester United’s record run of 19 successive home league victories, Nani will no longer anticipate a watching brief from the substitutes’ bench ahead of a role as one of Ferguson’s key attacking weapons.

At 24, the Portuguese winger has now emerged from Ronaldo’s shadow and become a key figure in his own right. Ten goals last season led to many observers billing Nani as United’s player of the year and, although Antonio Valencia’s return from a long-term injury in the Spring saw him lose his place to the Ecuadorean, he is likely to get the nod over the former Wigan player against City.

And after scoring three goals in his last three games against Roberto Mancini’s team, Nani insists he is now mentally tough enough to take on the challenge of performing when it truly matters for United.

“All the players want to play in these games, especially me.” Nani said. “My confidence for these games is high and I feel comfortable in these sort of games. 

“I like the pressure these games bring and, every time we play a big game like this one against Manchester City, we have a lot of motivation.

"Every year, the games against City seem to get more important. We usually play well against them and I hope I can make a contribution to make sure we win on Sunday.

"That is what I have been doing this season. I have been working hard and waiting for these big games because I believe I have the quality and mentality to play in them.” Nani’s two-goal performance during the Community Shield victory against City at Wembley in August, when United overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to clinch a 3-2 victory, emphasised his increasing importance to Ferguson’s team.

The former Sporting Lisbon winger’s pace and natural attacking instinct are regarded as key elements in the team’s evolution towards the cavalier approach displayed by United and their emerging youngsters in the early weeks of this campaign.

United’s progress has slowed in recent games, however, with two draws in their last three league fixtures opening the door for City to claim top spot ahead of the derby.

But Nani insists that United will not be intimidated by City’s elevated status when the two teams meet this weekend.

“I think they (City) are one of the teams who have been doing fantastic since the season started.” Nani said. “Chelsea are also doing fantastic, so it is too early to say it is just going to be about Manchester United and Manchester City for the title.

“City have a fantastic team at the moment with fantastic players. They play a lot of good stuff and it will be difficult to play against them.

“But we should not forget, we are United and, when we play at home, it is very difficult to beat us.

“We will try to do our best to win the game again and of course we are confident. We should be confident every time we play at home because we have a fantastic home record.

“At Old Trafford, we have to believe we are going to win most of the games, but the motivation against the big teams is the highest it can be and I feel very good to play in this game.” Victory for City would see them move five points clear of United and, having defeated Ferguson’s team in the FA Cup semi-final last season, there is a growing belief at the Etihad Stadium that they now face their neighbours on an equal footing.

Nani insists, though, that the semi-final defeat will not come into United’s thinking on Sunday.

"No - all the players have forgotten this now especially as we beat City in the Community Shield at Wembley at the start of the season.” Nani said.

“It’s important that we remember that, rather than the semi-final or any other games we lose.”

How Wayne Rooney’s goal in a million stunned the world

I had woken early in Chicago to watch the game, but Wayne’s goal certainly made it worthwhile. Not only was the Aon logo extremely visible throughout the multiple global TV replays and photo images when it happened, but years from now, when the goal against Manchester Cityis shown time and again as perhaps one of the greatest of all time, you will still see the Aon name.

That one image epitomised the value of Aon’s relationship withManchester United.

I remember Greg Case, our CEO, being in Mexico when United announced the signing of Javier Hernández from Chivas de Guadalajara and he told me that it made him realise how big United were on a worldwide scale.

With Manchester United having more than 330 million global fans and with every televised match having an audience on a par with that of the Super Bowl, we saw the opportunity for a dramatic increase in brand awareness for Aon by securing a partnership with the club and moments like Rooney’s goal against City only strengthen that.

Manchester United owners the Glazer family planning Old Trafford and Wembley double

The Glazers, presently planning a partial flotation of Manchester United on the Singapore Stock Exchange, have been criticised by Buccaneers fans in recent months for appearing to prioritise United ahead of the NFL franchise.

But with the Americans also being subjected to hostility from United supporters since their leveraged takeover of the club in May 2005, co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer and director Bryan Glazer, are keen to ensure that every effort is made to attend both fixtures this weekend.

Although the Glazers have been regular visitors to fixtures at Old Trafford since the supporter-led green-and-gold campaign against their ownership during the 2009/10 campaign, the family’s passion for American football has often seen them attend more United games in the latter stages of the campaign with it coinciding with the NFL off-season.

The Glazers regard this Sunday’s fixtures as hugely important both for United and the Bucs, however, with Joel, Avram and Bryan determined to explore every means of attending both.

With United’s Premier League clash with Manchester City kicking off at 1.30pm and the Bucs NFL International Series game against the Chicago Bears due to start at 6pm, seeing both games has not been ruled out by the Glazers, who have the use of their own private jet. 

However, if it proves impossible to take their seats at both Old Trafford and Wembley, it is likely that at least one member of the family will attend each game in order to avoid accusations of favouritism of one team over the other.

Meanwhile, United defender Chris Smalling has claimed that the derby against City has now become the biggest fixture in the club’s season.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted last week that United’s encounters with Liverpool were the number one on the club’s fixture list, but Smalling believes that City’s emergence has made the Manchester derby the biggest game of all.

Smalling said: “I was on the bench at Eastlands last year and then I played in the Old Trafford game and the build up was immense, so I cannot begin to think what this next few days will be like.

“It is one game I want to win more than any other. I think this is the biggest game and biggest derby we face now.

“City have been investing and growing steadily and have hit some great form this season.

“I think they are an even bigger threat this year than last. Given the amount of changes they’ve made and another year on and they are tighter as a bunch of players and more together.”

Tau, VV rift rumours fuelled

While 'VV' was absent to give his views ahead of the game, his second in command Donald 'Ace' Khuse hinted that Amakhosi may well stick with the youngsters that delivered the result on Sunday, notably Lucky Baloyi, George Lebese and Tlou Molekwane.
"For now, we still want to check if everyone is ready and able to stick to how we want to play this weekend," Khuse said. "If that happens, we will stick with using the youngsters approach and rest the older guys.

"But, if during the course of the week, things are not working according to how we want them to, then we will have to bring back the older guys into the starting line-up.

"However, you have to understand that we want to play a quick game, which we get when playing the younger players. With the older players, since they were playing week-in week-out, they were starting to slow down a bit and we felt that the younger boys can play quicker.

"The thing is, we want speed in our team because most of the teams we play against tend to defend with the whole team. Once we catch them on the counter, we have to use pace, which is something that the younger guys do well.

"We also thought about changing the youngsters in the last game so as to prepare them for the future," said Khuse.

Khuse adds that for this weekend's game, being a cup match, the approach will change, though the mission remains the same – to win this game and go ahead to defend the trophy that they are seeking to win a third consecutive time.

"A cup is a once-off tie, so we play aware that once you lose you are out, which is something we don't want. So the approach cannot be the same in the sense that in the cup we have to show that we want it more, but then we also have to be cautious not to open up at the back.

"It will be good thing for us if we can win it for the third time in a row and fourth time overall.

"The players want this trophy so badly because we have the ambition to win all the trophies this season along with the League. Our team is ready for Platinum Stars.

"In every game for us there is pressure for the team to perform but our players can adapt to that, plus we have no injury worries," Khuse said. 

Mourinho Supports 'Selfless' CR7

Only for a player of Cristiano Ronaldo's abilities would a return of nine goals from 12 appearances be less than satisfactory.

But such has been CR7's astounding scoring rate for the last few seasons that anything under a goal per game is out of the ordinary.

Ronaldo's manager at Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho, is not concerned by the Portuguese superstar's relatively slow scoring start the season however.

It is helped by the fact that both Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema- essentially Real's main strikers- are sharing winger Ronaldo's goal burden so far.

But more than that, Mourinho says he is happy with Ronaldo's overall contribution for the team.

Notably, while CR7 has failed to trouble the back of the net as often as he would like, he has been creating more goals for his team-mates than he has in the past. And so The Special One has thanked CR7 for his 'selflessness.'

"Ronaldo seems fine to me. I'm delighted with him," Mourinho said earlier this week.

"It would be a problem if he didn't score and the team also didn't win. It happened against Levante and Racing Santander. He hasn't scored in the last few games but the team has so it's not a problem.

"I also liked seeing him giving an intelligent and selfless performance [against Lyon in the Champions League].

"He won the Golden Boot and the La Liga top scorer award last year and he wants to win things that are more important this season."

All eyes turn to Old Trafford for key derby

The eyes of the footballing world will be focused on Manchester on Sunday when English champions Manchester United play league leaders Manchester City in one of the most eagerly-awaited derbies between the two for years.
According to recent figures from the Premier League, 1.4 billion viewers regularly tune in to watch their matches everywhere from Australia to Zanzibar and Sunday's game will be one of the biggest attractions of the season.
The players of both teams have been talking up their chances and, although one match never truly defines a season, victory in a derby usually assumes particular importance for the fans of the winning side.
Those who worship at Old Trafford have had many of their prayers answered for years with United securing trophy after trophy under Alex Ferguson and Manchester United's Portuguese winger Nani has told local media that United will be far too strong at their Old Trafford fortress for their neighbours.
City's Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong says City will be going to Old Trafford for the 1230 GMT kickoff as the top-ranked team in the country – and they intend leaving that way too.
United have won 24 of their last 25 league matches at Old Trafford, and all of the last 19, and have not been beaten there since Chelsea won in April 2010.
Nani, while recognising the threat City pose, is optimistic about another win that would take United back to the top after they slipped to second last week.
"City have a fantastic team at the moment with fantastic players," the 24-year-old Portugal winger told reporters after United beat Romanians Otelul Galati in their Champions League match in Romania on Tuesday.
"City are playing a lot of good stuff and it will be difficult to play against them. But we should not forget we are United. When we play at home it is very hard to beat us. That is why we are so confident.
"With a record like ours, we should be confident every time we play at home. We have to believe we are going to win most of the games."
However, Sunday's match came far too early in the season to be regarded as a title-decider, he said.
"I just feel it is too early to say it is just going to be about Manchester United and Manchester City for the title, Chelsea have been doing very well as well."

NO 1
Nani has already struck against City this season, scoring twice when United came from 2-0 down to beat them 3-2 in a thrilling Community Shield season curtain-raiser at Wembley in August.
Since then City, like United, have been unbeaten in the league and go to Old Trafford as leaders following a 4-1 win over Aston Villa last weekend which followed United's 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
De Jong said he expected to leave Old Trafford with City still top.
Talking to reporters after City beat Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, he said: "Of course all of us believe we can go there and win. We're going there as No 1 and the aim is to stay No 1.
"We are on top of the league so going into that game we just have to be confident and play our game as well as we have been doing.
"The pressure is still the same as it was last year. But what has changed is that we are now No 1 going into this derby.
"We don't have any point to prove. We've shown our quality throughout the season. We don't need a game against United to show how good we are but it's two of the best teams in England going up against each other and I expect it to be a great game."
Although United won the Community Shield, which is little more than a high-profile friendly, City beat United in the last competitive match between them, the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley in April.
A month after that City won their first trophy for 35 years when they beat Stoke City in the FA Cup final, and while De Jong knows City's recent past cannot compare to United's, he said: "You can't build a history of winning trophies over 25 years like United have done just in one year.
"There's more to come but we are building here step by step and that takes time. Maybe you don't get a lot of time when you are spending a lot of money on players. But still you need to go step by step – that's how it has to be."

Wenger: Half My Players Wanted Out

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he faced a serious mutiny during pre-season, when 'half the Gunners dressing room wanted to leave' the club.

But now that they are slowly moving up the table after their disastrous start to the season, Wenger is confident Arsenal will finish in a top-four position.

However, the Gunners boss accepts that defections have cost his side dearly. But he refuses to believe that players like Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy quit the club to win trophies, and says money was the motivating factor.

"It was a very difficult summer because half the dressing room wanted to leave," said Wenger on French radio station RTL. 

"Frankly, if you compare what Manchester City have won in the past and what Arsenal have won, then you don't go to Manchester City to win titles. Players go to Manchester City because they pay much better than Arsenal.

"There's always a financial logic behind who ends up being successful in any league. If Barcelona or Real Madrid paid three times less than Malaga, players would go to Malaga. That's always the case. It's as simple as that. So when a player has the choice between two clubs who have the same ambitions, if he can earn three times as much at one club, he'll go there. That's logical."

City chase Abidal...

Barcelona star Eric Abidal says he is a wanted man.

The French international has yet to commit his long-term future to the Spanish and European club champions, putting a number of top clubs on red alert.

Abidal has been locked in so-far unsuccessful contract negotiations with Barca, but after the outpouring of emotion regarding his cancer scare last season, it is hard to see Abidal playing anywhere else.

While his future remains up in the air however, other clubs have been emboldened to make their interest in Abidal clear.

"There are clubs that have shown an interest, notably PSG, Milan and Manchester City," Abidal told RMC.

"But there have been no concrete offers and I can't say any more.

"I have a lot of respect for Barca but if we can't reach an agreement, the door is always open."

32-year-old Abidal says he plans to play for another two more seasons at least, and for now it is not clear where that will be.

"I believe I have the legs to go on for two more years," he said.

"I have an international objective. We have qualified for Euro 2012, which is good, but I am also looking at the 2014 World Cup."

Why Majavu Quit..?

It was confirmed the news that Zola Majavu has resigned as the CEO of the PSL just months after taking on the position. 

Majavu, who was previously the PSL's prosecutor, took on the role as CEO at the beginning of the season and his resignation has come as a shock to many. The Siya crew spoke to a number of club owners, who unsurprisingly asked to remain anonymous, to find out why Majavu decided to throw in the towel.

 

One particular informant said, "Look, there's nothing sinister about his resignation. It's very simple, as CEO of the PSL he wanted more powers, like any CEO. The league didn't feel that he should be given more powers and he felt he couldn't continue the working relationship."

 

This was confirmed by a number of club owners, with one informant adding, "I agree with the league that he should not have been given more powers because he doesn't have the necessary experience as a CEO, he has a legal background."

 

Yet another source said, "Why appoint him as the CEO if you feel he doesn't have the necessary experience to take on all the responsibilities of a CEO?"

 

Majavu himself confirmed his exit from the position but refused to make an official comment as to his reasons for leaving.