Archive for April, 2007

Jose: Ronaldo Uneducated, Immature and Disrespectful

In a week which has seen Jose Mourinho come out with one absurd statement after another, today he has chosen to continue his war of words with Manchester United winger, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mourinho claimed that it was one rule for Manchester United regarding penalties, and one rule for Chelsea. Ronaldo was asked about this, and replied, “I really don’t want to be dragged into Mourinho’s complaints over referees – everybody knows how he is. He always has to say something because he can’t admit his failures.”

This certainly hit a nerve with the Chelsea manager, who has now twice hit back at Ronaldo. On Thursday, he called the youngster a liar, and claimed he would never become the best in the World if he lied. Today, he has gone one step further, following comments from Benitez and Ferguson that Jose has no respect.

“It’s a game where a kid had some statements not very…not showing maturity and respect, maybe difficult childhood, no education, maybe the consequence of that,” Mourinho said.

Whilst Jose is concerned with trying to force a public row with a young man, Cristiano Ronaldo is focussing his attention on the increasing likelihood of United being crowned Champions.

Allardyce Wanted To Stay

Sam Allardyce shockingly stepped down as Bolton manager yesterday, following speculation and rumours in the press.

Allardyce has today said that he knew it was time to move on, but that he wanted to stay until the end of the season.

“It was a very difficult decision, of course, and one which was come to with an amicable agreement between me and Phil (Gartside, Bolton chairman),” Allardyce said. “I would have liked it to be at the end of the season, but unfortunately some of these things don’t stay private. Two weeks, or two-and-a-half weeks, it’s been since it was discussed – perhaps that’s a long time anyway. It wasn’t to be. With all the speculation that’s carried on, we decided yesterday was a good time to get all the press out of the way, and let the team and Sammy (Lee) focus on the last two games without any more speculation that’s flying around.”

Fergie Has Hugs And Kisses For Big Sam

Manchester United came back from two goals down to beat Everton 4-2 away from home this afternoon, scoring all four in the last half an hour.

It was the former Manchester United man, Phil Neville, who drew the teams level after John O’Shea scored the first, with an own goal on the goal line. Wayne Rooney scored an impressive third, kissing his new club’s badge, after being booed by the home crowd whenever he touched the ball. It was a reserves’ player who scored the fourth, Chris Eagles with a beauty in injury time.

Chelsea failed to beat Bolton at home, the game finishing 2-2, meaning United now stretched their lead at the top to five points.

In Sir Alex’s post match interview he heaped praise on his players, but had a few words for the Bolton manager, who held Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

“He will be getting a hug and a kiss, maybe two kisses,” Ferguson joked.

Ferguson: Jose Only Has Respect For Himself

Following several outbursts from Jose Mourinho this week, Sir Alex Ferguson has publically condemned the Chelsea manager, saying he has no respect. It was the recent story regarding Jose giving his team talk in Europe, despite having a touchline ban, which has pushed Ferguson over the edge.

“The story about him jumping into the laundry basket to do his team talk just shows he snubbed his nose up at Uefa,” Ferguson told MUTV. “It tells you that he doesn’t respect anyone but himself. That is dangerous.”

Ferguson went on to admit that his side have had favourable decissions recently, but doesn’t believe that warrants the comments that have come from Mourinho.

“It seems to me a couple of decisions have gone for us,” said Ferguson. “I know John O’Shea got the ball against Middlesbrough but a lot of referees would have given it. But the suggestion we have changed the regulations is bringing a suspicion into the game that we are corrupting it. That is a hell of a statement and it is wrong. Once you bring that kind of suspicion into our game, which is the most honest in the world, then we are finished. Our principles will have gone. It is a calculated attempt to put pressure on referees to give penalty kicks against us. The FA should have done something about that. They have refused to do it.”

Henry Will Stick With Wenger

Arsenal captain Henry has missed the majority of the season through injury, and has to watch his team’s disappointing season from the sidelines.

Wenger’s ability to lead Arsenal out of this disappointing spell has been questionned, but Henry has pledged his future to the club and the manager.

“At the end of last season I signed a new contract,” Henry said.”I believe in the boss and what he is trying to do here. As long as he is here then I will be here – it’s just as simple as that.”

Ferguson Blasts “Disappointing” Mourinho

Since Sunday, the outspoken Chelsea manager has made several outlandish claims, calling Ronaldo a liar, the FA corrupt, and said Liverpool are not a big club. After Sir Bobby Charlton and Cristiano Ronaldo responded cooly to the slightly bizarre remarks, Sir Alex Ferguson has today offered his thoughts.

“Jose Mourinho seems to be on some sort of personal crusade about regulations,” said Ferguson. “I am surprised no action has been taken against him. He just seems to go on, and on, and on. Everybody gets bad decisions, you just have to get on with it. He is saying our game is suspicious. That is wrong. He abused Barcelona in the past, a Swedish referee (Anders Frisk), a German referee (Markus Merk) and the other night he said Liverpool players were going to hunt down Didier Drogba to get him booked. That is very disappointing. As for Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone is entitled to have a comment or opinion. That doesn’t mean to say they are liars. He is on about changing regulations. Who is doing it? The FA? The Premier League? Uefa?”

What do you think has got in to Mourinho recently? Is he cracking under the pressure, or attempting to play mind games? Do you agree with what Ferguson has said?

United Injury Shocker

Manchester United winger, Park Ji-Sung, has been injured since the end of March, but it was initially predicted he would just miss a couple of weeks.

With just four games remaining, United are struggling with just Ronaldo, Giggs and Richardson available on the wings. On top of their injury crisis in defence, Manchester United have been hit with some bad news today. Park will miss the remainder of the season, and could even be missing next season.

“Park has flown to America to have tests on his knee injury,” Park’s agent said. “My Korean business partner has flown with him to find out what the problem is. It seems to be serious and it looks like he will miss the rest of the season. He is disappointed to be out injured and it has come as something of a shock to him as he didn’t think it was serious when he first sustained the injury against Blackburn. We are now waiting to find out the full extent of the injury.”

Gattuso Fights With United Fans

In Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 victory over AC Milan last night, it has emmerged that Gattuso was involved in a spat with a section of United fans.

Gattuso, who has turned down several offers to join the reds, was injured in the second half, and carried off down the tunnel, before returning to the dugout.

As he was stood in the dugout, some United fans started calling out to the Milan midfielder, which caused a reaction in the player. He responded to the fans, which then escalated in to shouting, and then tried to climb in to the stands. Team mates and Milan staff pulled Gattuso back, and Cafu eventually managed to calm the enraged midfielder.

It is unknown whether Gattuso will be fit for Milan’s home leg of this tie. If he is, no doubt he will be eager to give United fans something to shout about.

Milan Boss: United Now Have The Advantage

After Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 win against AC Milan last night, Milan coach, Ancelotti, concedes that his opponents now have the advantage.

“Manchester United probably do have a slight advantage,” he said. “We are disappointed about their winning goal because I felt we had the match pretty much in hand. It seemed we were going to get a good result but that goal has complicated matters.”

Liverpool Are Not A Big Club

In the latest of the war of words between Mourinho and Benitez, the Chelsea manager has today claimed that Liverpool under Benitez are not a big club.

Mourinho says to be considered a big club, you have to compete to the fullest on all fronts, rather than focussing on one or two competitions.

“Three years without a Premiership?” Mourinho asked incredulously, raising his eyebrows and rolling his eyes before turning to Chelski chairman Bruce Buck for dramatic effect. “That’s a question to ask Mr Buck, but I don’t think so. If you are not a big club you choose one competition and you fight in that competition and forget the others. Big clubs cannot do this. We have to try the maximum we can. It’s a risk of win everything or the risk of win nothing. It’s a risk we have to take,” Mourinho declared. “I’m not a statistics man but in the last three seasons, including this one, in the Premiership I think Chelsea have had 60 more points than Liverpool,” he said. “That’s a lot. So if they are a great team in knock-out competitions, [and] we have to admit that, we have to praise them for that. They are a top knock-out team, but if you play in only one competition for half of the season then you have great conditions. And since January they have only played Champions League.”