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Jumaat, 8 April 2011
Khamis, 7 April 2011
UEFA Champion League Result : semi final 2011
> Manchester United [1:0] Chelsea
> Barcelona [5:1] Shakhtak
> Inter [2:5] Shalks
> Real Madric [4:0] Tottenham
Rooney hit with two-match ban
Wayne Rooney will miss this month's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City after he failed in an attempt to reduce the severity of a two-match ban imposed following his four-letter reaction to scoring a hat-trick at West Ham on Saturday.
The Football Association opted not to release the outcome of yesterday's disciplinary hearing immediately following a request by Manchester United, who did not wish to suffer any disruption to their preparation for last night's UEFA Champions League encounter with Chelsea.
Rooney scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge but has now learned he will miss Saturday's Premier League encounter with Fulham at Old Trafford, then the Wembley meeting with City on 16 April, with the FA merely confirming their original punishment.
"The Commission did not accept the claim and Rooney will begin the standard two-match suspension with immediate effect. The charge relates to an incident during his side's fixture with West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 2 April 2011."
At least Rooney will be eligible to play in the return leg against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Tuesday. However, his absence is a blow to Ferguson, particularly for the City encounter given the 25-year-old's remarkable winner against them in February.
In a statement reacting to the decision, Rooney was clearly upset that he had failed in his appeal and would be missing the huge game with their local rivals. He said: "I am gutted to miss two matches, one of which is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. "I am not the first player to have sworn on TV and I won't be the last.
"Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn't seem right. Whatever, I have to accept that what's happened has happened and move on from here. That is what I intend to do."
Manchester United similarly expressed their "disappointment" at the ban shortly after it was confirmed. "Manchester United is clearly very disappointed with the decision," said a statement issued by the Old Trafford outfit.
"The club put forward a very strong case to have the punishment reduced, which was unsuccessful. Wayne apologised immediately after the match and the club now wishes to move to on to what hopefully will be a very exciting conclusion to the season."
"Unlike others who have been caught swearing on camera, I apologised immediately. And yet I am the only person banned for swearing. That doesn't seem right. Whatever, I have to accept that what's happened has happened and move on from here. That is what I intend to do."
Manchester United similarly expressed their "disappointment" at the ban shortly after it was confirmed. "Manchester United is clearly very disappointed with the decision," said a statement issued by the Old Trafford outfit.
"The club put forward a very strong case to have the punishment reduced, which was unsuccessful. Wayne apologised immediately after the match and the club now wishes to move to on to what hopefully will be a very exciting conclusion to the season."
Rafael: I always speak in the plural form
Despite Brazil’s reputation as a prolific exporter of footballing talent, cases of players leaving the country even before making their debuts in the professional game remain rare. Rarer still are those that move directly into the first-team squads at a club of Manchester United's stature.
Yet that was exactly the case with Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva, who were plucked from the youth ranks of Rio de Janeiro outfit Fluminense. FIFA.com caught up with the gifted siblings to find out how things were going under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
“We came here when we were very young, so it’s normal that we’ve only started to get more opportunities now,” said Rafael, quickly answering on behalf of himself and his brother. “It’s funny isn’t it? I’m used to always speaking in the plural form. Even though we do have different experiences here and there, we go through so much together that it can get confusing at times.”
Those guys are monsters. But what can I do? I just need to keep playing my football for Manchester United and who knows, maybe I’ll be able to overtake at least one of those two.
Rafael on the quest to earn a place in the Brazil squad at the expense of Maicon or Daniel Alves
Not content with being side by side from birth, Rafael and Fabio shot to prominence together as youngsters at Flu, were both picked for Brazil’s U-17 squad and both defended their country at the 2007 edition of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Seeming to match each other stride for stride, the pair then earned a switch to the Red Devils and made the move to Englandin July 2008, though their rates of progress since have been somewhat different.
With Rafael brought into the United squad with a view to succeeding veteran right-back Gary Neville, who has now hung up his boots, left-back Fabio has had found his path blocked by a man still at the peak of his powers: Patrice Evra. Indeed, it was less than two years ago that the France international was voted the best player in his position by his fellow professionals, when earning a spot in the 2009 edition of the FIFA/FIFPro World XI.
“It’s been a slow process, but we knew that’s the way it’d be," said Rafael. "And Ferguson is great at that: he knows exactly how much time to give each player out on the pitch.”
The United No21 admits that having initially simply savoured every first-team appearance, he is now determined to play in as many big games as possible, such as tonight's UEFA Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Chelsea.
The United No21 admits that having initially simply savoured every first-team appearance, he is now determined to play in as many big games as possible, such as tonight's UEFA Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Chelsea.
“Of course when a game like this comes around you still get butterflies in your stomach," he conceded. "That never changes and it can even do you good. But I’m full of confidence at the moment. I want to play in every game, and especially ones like Champions League matches and English derbies.”
Though Rafael has benefitted directly from the denouement of Neville’s glittering career on the right of United’s back four, winning a spot in the senior Brazil side is another matter. Barring his way are the last two players to claim the right-back spot in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI: Barcelona’s Daniel Alves (2009) and Inter Milan’s Maicon (2010).
“Everyone is always saying that to me, and the worst thing is it’s true!” Rafael revealed, laughing. “Those guys are monsters. But what can I do? I just need to keep playing my football for Manchester United and who knows, maybe I’ll be able to overtake at least one of those two.”
We want to win titles here in Manchester, become Olympic champions in London and play in the 2014 World Cup.
Fabio on his and Rafael's ambitions
“I arrived here at the age of 17 and was happy just being in the squad at a great club like this, and to be second-choice behind a player like Evra,” said the left-sided member of the duo, who are now 20. “But when I saw my brother getting called up to A Seleção, despite having Daniel Alves and Maicon as competition, I thought: ‘I want to play’.
“I looked around me and I saw that I’d let myself get comfortable. I was getting older and was content to be in the same situation as when I’d arrived. That’s when I said to myself, 'Now’s the time. I’ve been here for the last three and a half years, just training with these class players, and now I want to play'. I’ve got a different mentality now and scoring my first goal (on 26 February against Wigan Athletic, followed two weeks later by another against Arsenal) helped me get that clear.”
And as the interview concluded, it was Fabio's turn to speak for both twins when outlining their shared objectives for the next phase of their careers: "We want to play in the important games, win titles here in Manchester, become Olympic champions in London (in 2012) and play in the 2014 World Cup.”
Selasa, 5 April 2011
Capello: Scudetto race is still open
England manager Fabio Capello believes the Scudetto race is wide open with seven rounds remaining.
AC Milan beat Inter 3-0 in Saturday's derby to go three points clear of Napoli at the Serie A summit. Inter dropped to third, five points adrift of their arch-rivals.
"There are still important games left to play," Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The race is still open and everything has yet to be decided. Milan have a difficult calendar ahead, while there are other teams like Napoli that are doing really well."
"The race is still open and everything has yet to be decided. Milan have a difficult calendar ahead." ~ Fabio Capello on the battle to win the Serie A.
Milan travel to Tuscany to face Fiorentina this weekend and will face Roma at the Stadio Olimpico next month. I Rossoneri end the campaign at Udinese, who are chasing a top-four finish in Serie A.
Inter, meanwhile, are still alive in all three competitions this season and host Schalke in tonight's UEFA Champions League quarter-final, first leg.
Capello believes I Nerazzurri could pay for their efforts in Europe.
"We will see what Inter do in their next games," he said. "We know that when you play on all fronts, it becomes very hard for everyone to remain competitive."
Result : 5 April 2011
> Perak [2:1] Perlis
> T-Team [4:3] Kelantan FA
> Kedah [1:2] Johor FC
> Harimau Muda A [1:2] Selangor FA
> Negeri Sembilan [0:1] Kuala Lumpur
> Felda United [1:1] Sabah
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is now just targeting the Champions League
An entertaining 1-1 draw at Stoke City left the Blues 11 points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United and even with a match in hand that appears too big a gap to close.
However, Chelsea face United in the quarter-finals of Europe's premier club competition on Wednesday with Ancelotti admitting that now represents their best chance of silverware.
"In the Champions League we are at the same level of the other teams so we have more chance to win" ~ Carlo Ancelotti.
"It is a very important game, obviously, but I think we have to be happy to be involved in this game," said the Italian.
"Everyone is waiting for this game. We want to do our best and want to show our best ability and we know there are 180 minutes to play and we hope to win.
"In the title race we have to close the gap, in the Champions League we are at the same level of the other teams so we have more chance to win.
"It will not be a surprise to play against them, they know us very well and we know them very well.
"We have to play our football and I think we will do better. We will have a very exciting game against United, they are one of the best teams in Europe.
"It was important (at Stoke) to see the team in good condition and without injury so we can prepare well for this next game."
Owen: I want to stay at United
"In an ideal world, I would extend my stay." ~ Michael Owen.Manchester United's former England striker Michael Owen said Monday he is hoping for a new deal when his contract expires in the summer.
But the 31-year-old, who has 13 goals to his credit from 37 appearances, admitted he was very much in the dark regarding manager Sir Alex Ferguson's thoughts. "I am not sure about my future yet - my contract expires at the end of this season," Owen told the club's website. "I've made no secret that, in an ideal world, I would extend my stay. I would love to play here for longer, but I will just wait and see what the club say. We've not held any talks yet."
And Owen said he was keen to face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, United go into the quarter-final first leg match against Carlo Ancelotti's side anxious to end a dreadful run of results at Stamford Bridge. They have not won in 10 games at the ground - losing 2-1 this season - but Owen believes their luck could be about to change.
"In the league last month we were 1-0 up and put on one of the finest displays of football Stamford Bridge has probably seen from a visiting team," he went on. "I don't think many teams go to Chelsea and play like that. Then they got back into the game from nothing, really. Maybe we were a little guilty of contributing to our own downfall but we won't let that happen again."
Owen is pleased the second leg is at home with the winners facing either Inter Milan or Schalke in the last four. "We prepare for every game in the exact same way - we don't take any game more seriously or less seriously than any other," he added. "The way we train, the way we travel, the way we recover, it's all the same. I don't think it will feel much different.
"We hope playing the second leg at Old Trafford will prove decisive," the player continued. "We also know that whoever progresses to the semi-final will get the same advantage there, so that's an added incentive. From that point of view, the draw's been kind to us. But it is going to be difficult to get past Chelsea over two legs."
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