Archive for February, 2007

Manchester United Are To Blame

Controversy was rife midweek when Manchester United faced Lille at the Felix-Bollaert stadium. United were quick to condemn the actions of the Lille players, coaching staff and groundsmen. Xavier Thuilot, Lille’s director general, has now fired criticism in Manchester United’s direction.

“Manchester United are imposing their own brand of the law to Lille football club, to the Felix-Bollaert stadium and to Uefa. There was a real will on their part to impose their side of the story right from the full-time whistle because the club knows what’s at stake following incidents involving their supporters.”

He then went on to blame Manchester United for the crowd trouble. “We sent their quota of places to Manchester several weeks ago, as is the usual thing to do. But the English club, instead of distributing the tickets to their supporters on their arrival at the stadium (or) on their descent from the bus, sent them out a month ago. The result – some very good forgeries, which have allowed some supporters to enter the stand reserved for them. All the forged tickets on the night were Manchester United tickets.”

Revealed: United Fans Crushed In Lille Photos

A crush developed in the bottom tier because only one entrance gate was open.

Some United fans were pushed up against a ten foot tall metal fence. Despite some injuries, no one is suffering from any long term damage.

Some fans had to be lifted over the fence to receive treatment.

Riot police used truncheons and and tear gas on those who tried to escape the crush.

More Bad News For Arsenal

Following the 1-0 defeat against PSV in the Champions League last night, Arsenal have announced another loss today. They have revealed that in the 6 months leading up to November 30th 2006, Arsenal made losses of £6.2 million. This of course is due to the Emirates development.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood explained the situation. “As well as providing improved match-day facilities and tickets for a far greater number of the club’s supporters, the Emirates Stadium project had an objective of providing Arsenal with the financial strength and resources to compete at the very highest level in all competitions. I believe that the results for the group’s first period in its new home demonstrate that we have already achieved this milestone.”

The club do not expect to reach their final targets for operational efficiency at the new stadium until the end of the season.

Shevchenko: Life Frustrating At Chelsea

Andrei Shevchenko has been widely regarded as a flop since his £30 million move to Chelsea in the summer. At 30 years old, time isn’t on his side. However, the Ukranian striker believes that things are getting better, following frustrating months.

“The first three or four months have been frustrating,” Shevchenko admitted. “I know we have a lot of forwards but the manager chooses the ones he wants to play. But for me it is important that Chelsea win. I work hard for the team but if I score goals I am a striker. But firstly, I work for the team. It has been difficult year for me with the World Cup and then coming to Chelsea but I have improved and feel better now.”

Smith Set For Important United Role

Alan Smith has been injured for over a year now, after breaking his leg against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season. Although he made a brief return in the Champions League before Christmas, it was deemed he was brought back too soon. However, now Ferguson claims Alan Smith is ready for first team action again.

“Alan will soon be really important to us – he has trained superbly,” said the Ferguson. “I gave him a game in the reserves against Liverpool and it showed he needed a game. When we put him in midfield in the second half he did really well. He is absolutely outstanding in training and is improving all the time. I could play him today, no problem at all, but the form of the team at the moment has kept him out.”

Lille Incident Leaves Ferguson In Shock

Last night, Manchester United boosted their chances of reaching the quarter finals in Europe after a 1-0 away win against Lille. It wasn’t without controversy though. When Ryan Giggs scored the winning goal with 7 minutes left to play, the Lille players responded by attempting to walk off the field. Giggs took the free kick whilst Lille were preparing the wall, however there was nothing wrong with the goal.

The game started with United fans being crushed due to poor management by groundstaff and police, and finished with Lille fans throwing things at the Manchester United players.

Ferguson has spoken out about the incident today. “It was intentional,” Ferguson told Sky Sports News about Lille’s attempted walk-off. “We should have taken the throw-in right away and got on with the game. It created such a melee of bodies on the touchline and the game was stopped because of it. I have never seen anything like it in my life,” he added. “It was intimidation of the fans, it made it hostile. Gary Neville was struck on the head by an object. They started bombarding all areas of the pitch and I have never seen anything like it, so I don’t know how to digest it. Obviously Uefa will do something, but it is in their hands.”

Wenger Accuses Chelsea Of Illegal Connection

On more than one occasion, Chelsea have financed a move for a player to join PSV, for players who can’t currently get a work permit for England. Arsene Wenger, whose side faces PSV in the Champions League tonight, has questionned the legality of this agreement.

“You have to know the bottom of things to know what the connection [between the clubs] really is,” Wenger said. “There seems to be one, but I don’t know what kind of connection exists legally. We had a connection with Beveren [of Belgium] with one difference – that they do not play in the Champions League. Eindhoven don’t play in the same league as Chelsea, but they play in the same [Champions League] competition. It’s very difficult to control, that’s why the ownership of the players has to be clear.”

Larsson’s Future Decided

Henrik Larsson joined Manchester United in January on a temporary basis, set to return to the Swedish league in March. However, the 35 year old has made a very positive impact on United, and the rumours circulated suggesting he might stay to the end of the season.

Larsson has today spoken out to confirm that he is returning when initially planned. “I am not saying that I am not flattered or grateful to get the opportunity to extend my stay but there are other things I need to think about,” he said. “The Swedish season starts at the end of March and I need to get back to that. I will stay only until 12th of March. I am going back and forward and it’s not an ideal situation,” he added. “I arrived in January and I’m going home in March to play in Sweden. It suits me perfectly.”

If Manchester United do win the title this season, Larsson wil miss out on a winners’ medal, as he will not have played in the required ten games.

Manchester United Star Dishes The Dirt On Team Mates

In an interview with The Sun, Manchester United star Patrice Evra has revealed how he sees his fellow team mates.

The player most likely to be upset with the revelations is goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar, with Evra claiming that the goalkeeper was not putting 100% in to his performances with Fulham. “Edwin, who is The Albatross, is performing a lot better with us than when he was with Fulham. He admitted to me that he slackened off a bit there. That is impossible at United.”

Evra doesn’t stop there though, he also makes a dig at captain Gary Neville. “Gary talks very quickly and gets facial twitches. He often makes little grimaces as if he were receiving an electric shock. That makes us laugh a lot and Cristiano Ronaldo takes him off perfectly.”

Nicknames of several Manchester United stars were also revealed. Mikael Silvestre and Rio Ferdinand are given the nicknames by Evra of Creatine and Snoop Dog. Wayne Rooney is The Hummer because “he’s a four-wheel drive who destroys everything in his path”, while the United line-up is completed by Paul ‘The Pitbull’ Scholes, Ryan ‘The Rocket’ Giggs, Ole ‘The Legend’ Solskjaer and Louis ‘The Panther’ Saha.

Evra Reveals Ronaldo’s Embarrassing Secret

Patrice Evra and Cristiano Ronaldo have gelled well down the left flank for Manchester United so far this season, both enjoying and managing to pull of flicks and tricks with the ball.

Evra has today revealed an embarrassing secret about Ronaldo, claiming that the Portugese winger suffers from narcissism.

“Cristiano makes me laugh because he is the only one to have his personal mirror in the dressing room. He spends hours doing his hair and putting on his gel. He loves his body.”