Ferguson: Valencia’s Strike Typified History of Man United

Sir Alex Ferguson 

Sir Alex Ferguson described Antonio Valencia's late winning goal as typifying Manchester United's history after the defending champions beat Blackburn Rovers to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

United dominated the match at Ewood Park but did not find the breakthrough until the 81st minute when Valencia drilled home a cross-cum-shot, before Ashley Young secured a 2-0 victory with a precise finish, reports Goal.com.

"Coming so late in the game, it is an important goal," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "It typifies the history of the club. If you don't try to shoot, you're never going to find out if you can score like that.

"There was amazing power on it. It could have been a cross, could have been a shot, but it doesn't matter. There was great power [on the attempt]."

Sir Alex felt that for all of the possession his team had enjoyed, they had struggled to really test Blackburn goalkeeper, Paul Robinson.

"It was a long night," he admitted. "We just had to persevere and we got our rewards for it. We weren't really creating any clear-cut chances – Wayne [Rooney] had a good free kick saved by the goalkeeper, and there was a lot of great crosses by Antonio that weren't finished off.

"We always had them under the cosh, but we had to be careful of their counterattack. They were dangerous at that point."

Steve Kean's team almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when David de Gea denied both Marcus Olsson and Grant Hanley with excellent saves.

De Gea had struggled when Blackburn recorded a shock 3-2 win at Old Trafford in December.

"The progress [of De Gea] is obvious, you can see that," Sir Alex enthused. "The boy is growing in stature and confidence and he's always had great ability. He made three great first half saves and that's the kind of threat Blackburn offered to us."

"They presented us with this counter-attack, they try long balls and they're dangerous with that, they're very dangerous. David has kept us in the game. The first half we hit the post, we had a penalty claim that I don't think was [a penalty] and a lot of possession as you saw. Just to get that goal was very difficult with the way that Blackburn defended so deeply."

The 70-year-old manager was not sure that his switch to 4-3-3 had helped United but hailed the club's supporters for playing their part in the Red Devils' important win after around 7,000 of them made the short journey to Ewood Park.

"It [the change in formation] gave us a stability and a security in midfield but it didn't necessarily give us the threat we were looking for," Sir Alex explained. "Ryan Giggs coming on made a difference and certainly Ashley Young coming on made a big, big difference.

"The fans were fantastic, they were unbelievable. They deserve the result tonight because they never stopped, they urged us on the whole way. They almost sucked that ball in [to the goal]. It's frustrating at the end of matches sometimes and that's where it was right tonight."

The result puts United in control as it looks to defend its Premier League title, giving it the opportunity to, at least briefly, go eight points clear at the top when it plays QPR on Sunday.

"We've scored more goals, which is a big step for us – the goal difference deficit has gone down to only one goal," Sir Alex added. "It could come to goal difference, who knows. It's significant that we've now scored more goals than Manchester City. We look as if we can score.

"We've still got seven games left and my experience of these situations is that it doesn't matter what the points total is at the moment – what is really important is trying to win Sunday's game."

UEFA League: Stage Set for Barca Milan Battle Royal

Barca's Lionel Messi tussles with Clarence Seeforf of AC Milan during their first leg at the San Siro 

The clash between European nobles Barcelona and AC Milan looks the only wide-open Champions League quarter-final second leg this week with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all but through and Chelsea in good shape.

Holders Barca drew 0-0 in Milan in the first match last week and Pep Guardiola’s side remain favourites to advance but a score draw for the Serie A champions on Tuesday would cause a right royal upset.

Fellow European gentry Bayern will be highly confident of progressing on Tuesday against Olympique Marseille having won 2-0 in France last week while possible semi-final opponents Real welcome APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday holding a 3-0 lead.

Chelsea are 1-0 up with a home game to come against Benfica on Wednesday and the London team’s improvement under interim coach Roberto Di Matteo, with even Fernando Torres creating and scoring goals, suggests they ought to go through.

Most eyes are therefore focused on the Nou Camp where Barca - lauded by many pundits as the greatest club side of all - take on seven-times European champions Milan and former striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Milan looked like the away side for much of last week’s game at the San Siro but they kept Barca and World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi at bay while also going close through Ibrahimovic and Brazilian Robinho.

“It is the most important match of the year and at the same time the most beautiful one,” Guardiola told reporters after a 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga at the weekend.

“Bilbao don’t defend, they come at you. It’s completely different from Milan, it’s like night and day.”

Milan boss, Massimiliano Allegri vowed to attack Barca last week but it did not turn out that way as the old Italian defensive traits shone through.

He said they should go for goals in the second leg and with the prospect of Barca drawing a blank in two straight Champions League games unthinkable, Allegri’s assertion makes sense if his side listen to him this time and do not try for a 0-0 result and penalties.

Sweden striker, Ibrahimovic would dearly love to score at the Nou Camp and eliminate his former team having left Barca under a cloud 18 months ago when falling out with Guardiola.

Torres looked to have fallen out with football after an extended spell of poor form but he expertly set up Salomon Kalou for the winner at Benfica and then scored in the weekend Premier League triumph at Aston Villa.

The Spaniard hopes to keep his place on Wednesday with Didier Drogba troubled by a foot problem. Former Benfica defender, David Luiz is also a doubt.

Benfica must believe they can turn the tie around but Marseille and Cypriot underdogs APOEL, overwhelmed just to have reached this stage, are ready to kiss the competition goodnight.

Didier Deschamps’s Marseille performed a near-miracle in making the knockout stages thanks to a late goal in their 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund, their second group win over the Bundesliga champions.

However, the last 16 conquerors of 2010 winners Inter Milan face a seemingly impossible task against another German side given they need to win 3-0 at Bayern who are in fine form thanks to the recent brilliance of Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben.

Jupp Heynckes’s side are also desperate to reach May’s final in their own stadium.

Brazil Senators Want to Talk to Blatter over W’Cup

FIFA Scribe, Jerome Valcke (L) with Brazil’s Sports Minister, Aldo Rebelo 

Brazil’s senate will make another invitation to FIFA President, Sepp Blatter to visit the country to discuss passage of a vital World Cup bill after he initially asked Secretary General Jerome Valcke to go instead.

The senate wants Blatter to speak to a congressional commission which is debating a contentious bill that gives FIFA the needed guarantees to organize the World Cup. Among the issues in the bill is changing the law to allow alcohol sales in stadiums, reports The Associated Press.

The commission was scheduled to meet next week, but the senate’s press office said Monday the date is likely to be postponed.
If Valcke comes, it would be his first visit to Brazil since his harsh comments over the country’s slow preparations ignited a spat with the local government.

FIFA did not immediately return an email message requesting confirmation of Valcke’s visit, and it remained unclear if the secretary general would also travel to inspect host cities preparing for the World Cup and next year’s Confederations Cup. Valcke’s planned visit last month was cancelled after his complaints prompted Brazil’s Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo to tell FIFA that the government was going to cut ties with Valcke.

Blatter and Valcke apologized to Brazil, but the FIFA president said recently that Valcke would remain the person in charge of working with the local government to prepare Brazil for football’s showcase event.

Although the Brazilian government accepted the apologies, some congressmen openly said that they would rather see the government dealing with someone other than Valcke.

Rebelo was invited to speak to the congressional commission on the same day as Valcke but the minister said that he would not be able to make it because of other commitments.

Valcke told Brazil last month that, “You have to push yourself, kick your (backside),” to get preparations going. His words angered many in the country, including congressmen who made it more difficult for the government to approve the bill in the lower house.

Three senate commissions are expected to debate the bill before it goes to the floor for voting, which is not expected to happen before next week.

The proposed law gives FIFA the legal and financial guarantees to organize the event, and football’s governing body wants it approved as soon as possible to keep preparations on track.

Valcke had said FIFA wanted the law in place by the end of March, but the controversy over the sale of alcohol helped delay the vote. Alcohol is not allowed inside Brazilian stadiums but FIFA demands legislation is changed because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor. FIFA said Brazil agreed to change its law when it accepted to host the tournament in 2007.

Although text which specifically authorizes the sale of alcohol was removed to expedite approval of the bill in the lower house, the government said the proposed law has other articles that ensure Brazil fulfills all of its commitments made in the hosting agreement.

Manchester United Honours Adenuga

Executive Director, Globacom, Mr. Adewale Sangowawa (M) assisted by Glo Ambassadors Ini Edo (L), Funke Akindele and Nonso Diobi receiving a gift of on behalf of Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr from Mr. Ricky Thussu, Director of Relationships and Communication, Manchester United during a reception in Lagos on Wednesday

The Management of Manchester United has honoured the Chairman of Globacom Limited, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr. for his comprehensive contributions to the development of sports globally, especially the Glo-Manchester United relationship.

Presenting a specially autographed  branded Manchester United number 10 jersey and a framed, autographed soccer boot to Dr Adenuga at a luncheon held at Eko Hotel on Wednesday, Manchester United described Adenuga as a sports patron worthy of emulation.

The Associate Director, Communication and Relationship, Manchester United, Mr Ricky Thussu described the partnership of the world’s most valuable football club with Globacom, one of the 10 biggest brands in Africa as mutually rewarding, complementary and valuable. Globacom is the Official Telecoms Partner of Manchester United in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic.

Receiving the gifts on behalf of Dr Adenuga, Mr Sangowawa thanked the club for the great honour bestowed on the Chairman, adding that the partnership between the two great brands would be strengthened.
He assured that Dr Adenuga would continue to support the development of sports, particularly football in Africa.

"One of the reasons why Globacom is partnering with a world class football club like Manchester United is to leverage on the club's achievements and successes to develop the game of football in Nigeria and Africa. Arrangement is afoot to widen the scope of this aspect of the relationship. I can assure you that within the next couple of weeks, we shall announce some initiatives in football that will make our people proud," Sangowawa added.

He thanked the Nigerian sporting fraternity for the tremendous support given to Globacom and urged them to continue to support the organisation, adding that this would encourage Globacom to do more.

Speaking on behalf of the Sports Editors, Mr Toyin Ibitoye of Channels Television commended Dr Adenuga for his exemplary support to sports and urged him not to relent in his efforts whilst thanking him for his innovative strides.

In his comments, the Chairman of Padmodzi, Mr Mike Itemuagbor lamented the lack of encouragement to Dr Adenuga who he said has invested over N6 billion locally to support Nigerian football in the last 10 years and described the Manchester United honour as eminently deserved.

The President General, Nigeria Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo congratulated Dr Adenuga for the wonderful honour and urged him not to stop his numerous support for sports which had put Nigeria and indeed Africa on the global sporting map.

Globacom is the major/title sponsor of the Glo CAF Awards, the Nigerian Football Federation, the Nigerian national teams, the Ghana national teams, the Ghana Premier League, the Nigeria Sports Supporters Club and the Ghana National Supporters Club.

Brazil 2014: Confed Cup Venue Worries Organizers

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (R) talks with FIFA President Joseph Blatter at Planalto Palace, in Brasilia 

Brazil is concerned the north-eastern city of Recife will be left out of next year’s Confederations Cup because of slow preparations.

The president of the 2014 World Cup organizing committee announced on Thursday he will be travelling to Recife to discuss measures to expedite the construction of the Arena Pernambuco, which is behind schedule, reports The Associated Press.

Jose Maria Marin said he will meet with local authorities to make sure Recife can deliver “the stadium within the timeline set for the” warm-up tournament.

Four cities are secure as hosts—Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza—but FIFA will decide in June whether Recife and Salvador will also participate.

Vieira: Refs Favour Man United

Patrick Vieira

Manchester City executive, Patrick Vieira believes title rivals Manchester United and other big clubs benefit from key refereeing decisions at home.

His comments come two days after visitors Fulham were controversially denied a late penalty in their 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

The result left United three points clear at the top of the league.

"When United play at home they get some advantage that other teams don't get," Vieira told BBC Sport.

"I think when you go to United, Madrid, Barcelona, or Milan, when the referees referee these kind of games, it's always difficult to go against these kind of teams.

"This is the way it is.

"It's something the teams who are used to winning get all the time, so we need to win games so we have this advantage in the future."

With eight games left, City find themselves three points behind United, but Vieira - who took up a post as football development executive at Eastlands after retiring from playing - believes they would be worthy champions.

Speaking on behalf of Football Against Hunger, Vieira said: "This is our moment.

"Since the start of the season we've been the best team and played the best football.

"I believe the club deserves it."

However, Vieira, who has only heard about the Fulham incident and has yet to see it, also admitted that United are in pole position to claim a second successive title.

"When you are first you have the advantage, they are favourites" he said.

Vieira recently said that United's decision to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement was a sign of weakness.

In response, Sir Alex Ferguson accused City of an act of desperation when allowing Carlos Tevez to play despite going on strike.

Vieira said: "We're glad Carlos is back. The quality of these kind of players will be really important at this stage of the season.

"The issue was between him and the club. The players were really pleased to see him back.

"Its important not to lose focus, so many things can happen.

"People try to build this fire between the clubs. The heat is going to get more and more."

UEFA League: AC Milan Frustrate Barca, Bayern Beat Marseille

Barcelona's Messi (L) runs with Boateng of AC Milan

Barcelona will need to beat AC Milan at the Nou Camp to ensure their place in the Champions League semi-finals after being held to a goalless draw in Italy, reports the BBC.

The defending champions' claims for a penalty were turned down when Alexis Sanchez fell under Christian Abbiati's challenge in a dominant first half.

But Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had clear openings at the other end as AC Milan threatened on the break.

Cristian Tello was denied by a last-ditch block as Barca ran out of ideas.

However, in France, Bayern Munich took a major step to securing a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League with a comfortable away victory at Marseille.

Mario Gomez gave the German side the lead after his tame shot squirmed under the body of keeper, Elinton Andrade.

And Arjen Robben made it 2-0 after the break, playing a neat one-two with Thomas Muller before firing past Andrade from six yards out.

The winner of this tie will likely meet Real Madrid in the last four.

Madrid all but sealed their place in the semi-final with a 3-0 victory away at Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday and it looks as if the Spanish side will now meet Bayern after their result at the Stade Velodrome.
Marseille began with third-choice keeper Andrade in goal, because of Steve Mandanda's suspension, with the Brazilian making his Champions League debut and starting his first game in 14 months.

It took fully 44 minutes for Bayern to put him under any real pressure and when they did, he crumbled.

Andrade's fumble from Gomez's tame 20-yard shot saw the ball squirm under his body and into the net to give the German side an undeserved lead at the break.

Earlier, Manuel Neuer had superbly kept out Rod Fanni's close-range header at full stretch from Mathieu Valbuena's corner before Loic Remy inexplicably sliced the follow up into the side-netting from close range.