The Italian football team is full of leaders

Italy coach Marcello Lippi insisted his team is full of born leaders all over the pitch ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Montenegro in Podgorica.

Lippi was reacting to claims in the Italian press that the world champions lack a player with natural charisma.

“It’s not true that this team doesn’t have a leader, there’s (Gianluigi) Buffon, (Gianluca) Zambrotta, (Fabio) Cannavaro, (Daniele) De Rossi, (Andrea) Pirlo,” he said.

“All those that I have named are intelligent footballers who give their all for the team.

“There are others who aren’t here who are merely roosters in a henhouse.”

That comment was a clear reference to Sampdoria’s Antonio Cassano, who once again has been left out of the squad despite excellent club form.

Cassano is an undoubted talent but a wayward one whose temperament and tantrums have held him back in his career, not only at international level but also at his clubs.

Despite his ability he failed to make it at either AS Roma or Real Madrid and he has played only 15 matches for Italy since making his debut in 2003.

“Every coach has his cross to bear, a player with public and press pressure behind him,” added Lippi.

“This doesn’t create a problem for me and I don’t give explanations because they cause more of a palaver than they are worth.”

Lippi also hit out at the Italian press who have been running stories this week about claims from some fans in Bari, where Italy host the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, that the World Cup winning coach will be jeered for not picking Bari native Cassano.

“What really, really, really annoys me is this climate created by certain newspapers about Wednesday’s match in Bari against Ireland,” he added.

“We will see how they receive me.”

As for Montenegro, Lippi is expecting fired up opponents, particularly after they ran the world champions close in Lecce at the back end of last year.

“For them it will be a party outside the ground and an historic occasion on the pitch. It’s normal that they want to beat the world champions,” said Lippi.

“For our part we just want to demonstrate the difference in abilities of the two teams.

“But we must be careful because, like all Slavs, the Montenegran footballers have good technical ability and play at pace.”

England boss Capello rounds on Redknapp

Fabio Capello suggested Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was guilty of double standards after failing to be as critical of Alan Hutton’s inclusion in the Scotland squad as he was about Ledley King’s call-up for England duty.

Spurs centre-back King was withdrawn on Tuesday from England’s squad for Saturday’s friendly international against Slovakia and next week’s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine.

The 28-year-old Spurs captain does not train with his club between matches because of a chronic knee condition and so was a surprise inclusion in England manager Capello’s 24-man squad.

“It’s pointless. If he plays against Ukraine there is no way he can play on Saturday against Blackburn,” Redknapp said before King’s withdrawal.

However, Scotland manager George Burley has called up Hutton even though the full-back hasn’t played a first-team match for several months because of a foot injury and only recently made his comeback in a reserve fixture.

Hutton is not expected to feature in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier away to the Netherlands but could play against Iceland on Wednesday.

“We followed Ledley King for the last four or five games,” Capello told reporters here on Friday. “He played very well in all the games.

“We put him in the squad. When he was here the England medical staff checked him and the first day the knee was not good,” the Italian added.

“We waited one day to understand and check the knee again. It was the same. After this we decided he can go back home.

“But I have to say something. Mr Redknapp spoke about the England national team. But (Alan) Hutton, the Scottish player, after two months of injury, is in the Scotland squad.

“I don’t understand why he spoke about Ledley King and not about Hutton. Only this. They are different problems for him.

“He (King) played the last game. He was not injured. He played. Now I am happy because I spoke with the player.”

Redknapp, speaking before Hutton played 71 minutes of Monday’s reserve match against West Brom, said: “I spoke to George Burley and he said he definitely wouldn’t play him against Holland. It’s too quick.”

Hutton has repeatedly insisted he is ready for the rigours of international football but Redknapp said: “He has not played a game yet, so I don’t know you can work that out.”

Few question Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney’s suitability for England in terms of fitness and talent. But his temper, which led him into the kind of disciplinary trouble which saw him sent-off against Fulham last weekend remains an issue.

“He is young and sometimes his reactions are not so good, but he’s a good player and man,” Capello said on Friday.

“I spoke to him and sometimes we need to be a little bit aggressive. With him, I hope the level of the aggression will be balanced. Just aggressive, not too much.”

Juve will sign one star in the summer

Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc said on Wednesday that the Italian giants will sign a star player in the summer.

Juve are currently trailing Inter Milan by seven points in Serie A with only nine games remaining.

Following their elimination from the Champions League by Chelsea earlier this month, club coach Claudio Ranieri said they needed bigger stars to compete for the top honours.

And Blanc has now promised him at least one.

“I’m not talking about the transfer market but what I can tell you is that we will buy a star player,” Frenchman Blanc told investors at a conference in Milan.

“One who can herald a new era of success.”

Juve are not out of the championship race but will need to not lose any more ground on Inter ahead of the pair’s clash in Turin next month.

Were they to win that and reduce the gap between the two to no more than four points, Juve would certainly be in with a chance of claiming their first title since 2003.

“We’ll see what shape we’re in at the direct clash between the two teams,” added Blanc.

“Until it’s mathematically impossible, we’ll keep fighting.”

Bulgaria gives green light to sale of CSKA Sofia

Bulgarian authorities gave the green light on Wednesday to the sale of top Bulgarian football club CSKA Sofia by its Indian owner, businessman Pramod Mittal, to a Bulgarian company.

The country’s competition protection committee said on its website that the “acquisition of 100 percent of CSKA’s shares by the Bulgarian Titan Sport company” will not contravene national anti-monopoly legislation.

The authorisation was necessary for Mittal and Titan Sport to finalise the sale of the club after a corresponding agreement was signed on March 6.

Mittal, who is the younger brother of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, bought the club two years ago. But his spell as club owner was characterised by various financial troubles.

CSKA, who have won the Bulgarian championship 31 times and are the current champions, did not take part in this season’s Champions League after failing to cover their debts and obtain a license.

Krkic not looking to leave Barca

Barcelona youngster Bojan Krkic insists he has no intention of leaving the Camp Nou at the end of the season.

Speculations have suggested that the 18-year-old would be interested in a move away from the club in order to get regular first-team football next season.

“I have never even thought about going, firstly because I have faith in my chances, something that was reaffirmed to me last year, and secondly because I believe that I can compete with the players and that I can play in a team at the level of Barca,” Krkic told Catalunya Radio.

“I am at home because here I have my club, my family, my friends and in no other place would things be so good.

“At Barca, the best team in the world, we will always have the best defenders, the best midfielders and the best forwards, which is key.

“But I am keen to show that players from the youth team are also important. I try to stay away from the stories and ignore them all.”

Ibra staying but Maxwell leaving Inter

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent on Wednesday denied that his client is looking for a move away from Inter Milan.

However, Mino Raiola confirmed that another client of his, Brazilian left-back Maxwell, will definitely be leaving the San Siro at the end of the season.

Ibrahimovic sparked speculation about his future on Sunday when he said after his two-goal starring role in Inter’s 3-0 home win over Reggina: “I’m totally focused on winning the title but as for next season, we’ll see.

“I’m very happy to be at Inter but next year we’ll see.”

Inter president Massimo Moratti responded on Monday by saying: “I can’t imagine Inter without Ibrahimovic.

“But if that were to happen, it would not stop the club from carrying on.”

Ibra, as he is known in Italy, is a reported target for Barcelona but Raiola told Radio Radio that the Sweden striker, who Italian media claim to be the highest paid player in Serie A, will be going nowhere.

“People are talking about convincing Zlatan to stay but no-one has said he is leaving,” said Raiola.

“Zlatan has a great relationship with Moratti. There’s no reason for them to have a meeting (to discuss his future).

“Moratti was right when he said that we’ve given bait to the newspapers and the media to develop a story which for now doesn’t exist.

“If I or Zlatan or (Inter coach Jose) Mourinho don’t say anything Italy stops talking about football.”

Raiola also dismissed speculation that Ibrahimovic has set demands for staying with Inter.

“Zlatan has never asked for reinforcements or more money and anyone who says otherwise is a liar,” he added.

As for Maxwell it is the end of the road, however. The Brazilian was one of two players individually picked out by Mourinho for criticism following a 3-1 defeat at Atalanta in January and he lost his place to teenager Davide Santon.

Santon has impressed ever since and Maxwell has not been able to win his place back in the team.

“With Mourinho either you’re Zlatan and he takes you to his home or if you’re not Zlatan you’re dead and that’s not right from a coach’s point of view,” blasted Raiola.

“The relationship between Maxwell and Mourinho is finished.”

Raiola suggested Maxwell could move to Inter’s city rivals AC Milan.

“That’s not a decision for Inter to take but the player’s. We’ll terminate his contract, we’ll pay what has to be paid but we won’t set one price for Milan and another for other clubs.

“All the big teams know how good this player is.”

FIFA, UEFA stance ignores reality: WADA chief

World anti-doping chief John Fahey on Wednesday accused FIFA and UEFA of ignoring reality, after they rejected rules that ease out-of-competition drugs testing of individual footballers.

“One of the key principles of efficient doping control is the surprise effect and the possibility to test an athlete without advance notice on a 365 day basis,” the World Anti Doping Agency President said in a statement.

“Alleging, as FIFA and UEFA do, that testing should only take place at training grounds and not during holiday periods, ignores the reality of doping in sport.

“Experience has demonstrated that athletes who cheat seize every opportunity to do so and dope when they believe they won?t be tested,” he added.

Since the beginning of January, the world anti-doping code requires elite athletes to give notice of their location on a chosen one-hour period each day, seven days a week.

“WADA was surprised and concerned to read the statement issued on March 24 by the world and European football governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, in relation to universally harmonized whereabouts requirements that took effect on January 1, 2009,” the anti-doping agency said.

Football’s world and European governing bodies on Tuesday formally rejected the ‘whereabouts’ rule, arguing that team sport players should be treated differently.

FIFA and UEFA had stressed “the fundamental differences between an individual athlete, who trains on his own, on the one hand, and a team-sport athlete, who is present at the stadium six days out of seven, and thus easy to locate, on the other hand.”

“FIFA and UEFA therefore oppose the individual ‘whereabouts’ rule, and want to see it replaced by collective location rules, within the scope of the team,” the footballing bodies said.

But the anti-doping agency retorted on Wednesday that the code endorsed by its executive committee last May - including by representatives of team sports - had already accommodated football’s demands.

Drogba ready to extend Chelsea deal

Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba could be ready to extend his Chelsea contract, according to his agent.

Drogba has been linked with Europe’s top clubs as it appeared he was likely to leave Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

Drogba’s current contract keeps him with the Blues until 2010.

“Didi has a deal with Chelsea, so he is relaxed about his future,” he said in the Daily Express.

“It was very important for him to return to his best level without bad injuries, and he has shown that he is one of the best players in Europe.

“In football, you can never write anything off. There are big opportunities at Chelsea, so we will see what happens.

“If they present a new proposition then we will study it and after that Didi will make a decision on his future.

“A lot of big clubs in Europe have asked about him, but we will not make any decision until the end of the season.

“He is happy, playing well and his return to form and goals point to the fact he is enjoying his football at Chelsea.”

Gerrard wants new Liverpool deal

Steven Gerrard has admitted he is keen on signing a new contract with Liverpool.

The Reds skipper has two years left on his current deal and reports have linked him with several clubs, including Real Madrid and Chelsea in recent years.

“I have never been happier throughout my whole career than I am at the moment,” he said. “I have two years left on my contract and if there was a chance to extend it, I am sure I would.

“I am playing in a top team, with world-class players and I believe in the manager. Going forward, I am sure we can be successful.

“For years and years I have moaned about not being involved in a title race and being far away from the others. At the moment, I am playing in a team that’s capable of beating anyone in the league.”

FIFA, UEFA reject anti-doping ´whereabouts´ rule

FIFA and UEFA on Tuesday formally rejected rules that allow anti-doping authorities to locate individual players for out of competition drugs testing.

The governing bodies of European and world football said in a joint statement that there were fundamental differences between an individual athlete and those involved in team sports that needed to be taken into account in the World Anti Doping Agency’s (WADA) ‘whereabouts’ rule.

“The governing bodies of FIFA and UEFA formally reject the stance taken by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) concerning the ‘whereabouts’ rule and, more specifically, the individual location of team-sport athletes,” the statement said.

“FIFA and UEFA want to stress the fundamental differences between an individual athlete, who trains on his own, on the one hand, and a team-sport athlete, who is present at the stadium six days out of seven, and thus easy to locate, on the other hand.”

“FIFA and UEFA therefore oppose the individual ‘whereabouts’ rule, and want to see it replaced by collective location rules, within the scope of the team and within the stadium infrastructure.”

Since the beginning of January, elite athletes are required to give notice of their location on a chosen one-hour period each day, seven days a week, under the world anti-doping code.

FIFA had already signalled its defiance of the requirement after an executive committee meeting last Friday by insisting on special treatment for footballers.

PSV chasing Celtic Vennegoor of Hesselink

According to Voetbal International, reigning Eredivisie title holders PSV are interested in signing Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. The forward’s current deal with the Hoops expires at the end of this campaign.

PSV are unhappy with the performances of their current strikers and are reportedly ready to offload Danny Koevermans and Danko Lazovic in the upcoming transfer window. They have targeted Vennegoor as the perfect replacement for one of the duo.

The 30-year-old hitman has struggled to find his best form this campaign and has scored only two goals in 16 league appearances. However, Celtic are still keen to hold onto the towering forward and are expected to offer Vennegoor a new deal in the near future.

Buffon expects Inter to win the Scudetto

Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon believes Inter will win the Scudetto this season.

The Old Lady are seven points behind the Nerazzurri in the race for the Scudetto.

“Inter will surely win the Scudetto because they have a big lead over us,” Buffon said on Sky Sport 24.

“They are a very balanced side and so it is difficult when you let them get an advantage.

“However, there is obviously some hope we could catch them otherwise I wouldn’t bother playing on Sunday.

“Inter are the most complete squad with the best unit. At the moment they deserve to be top and under pressure they managed to respond by winning games extremely easily.

Klinsmann delight as below-par Bayern close gap

Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann was delighted the defending Bundesliga champions ground out a 1-0 win over Karlsruhe to narrow the gap on leaders Hertha Berlin to just a point.

“The three points were what mattered,” said Klinsmann despite his side’s average performance as a single first-half strike from Argentina striker Jose Sosa gave Bayern the three points.

With leaders Hertha Berlin losing 2-0 in Stuttgart, both Bayern and third-placed Wolfsburg are now only a point off the top, but Munich’s performance at their Allianz Arena against rock-bottom Karlsruhe was far from impressive.

“We?ve won the way Hertha have won seven or eight times this season, which is OK from time to time,” added Klinsmann.

“Especially in the second half, it didn?t go the way we wanted it to. We were too hurried, Karlsruhe fought back and made chances.

“We failed to wrap it up in the first half. Nevertheless, we?re satisfied enough. It?s good we?re only a point behind Berlin.

“The players are allowed an occasional off day.”

With Bayern facing Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals next month, captain Mark van Bommel was also demanding more from his side.

“There?s nothing much to say. We played badly, but won,” said Bayern’s Dutch skipper who signed a year’s extension to his contract in midweek.

“It was OK to start with and we scored the goal. But otherwise, we?re all aware it wasn?t great. At this stage of the season, these are the games you have to win, and we?ve gone out and won.

“There are three points at stake, we?ve taken them, and that?s all that matters.”

League leaders Hertha Berlin let their four-point lead slip to just a single point as they were beaten 2-0 at VfB Stuttgart.

“It was a very good game,” said delighted Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel.

“The team responded well to the 4-0 defeat by Werder Bremen the week before and rose to the challenge. They corrected a lot of mistakes and I am very happy.”

With both Bayern and third-placed Wolfsburg hard on his side’s heels, Hertha coach Lucien Favre was critical of his side’s performance after losing captain Arne Friedrich with a first-half thigh injury.

“Stuttgart were clearly better,” said the Swiss coach. “We saw two different teams, one played very well, the other one badly.

“If the team doesn’t function properly you will concede goals. We had a bad game and sometimes you have to accept that as a coach.”

Villarreal boost Champions League hopes

Villarreal put the pressure on Champions League rivals Atletico Madrid and Malaga with a 2-0 home win over 10-man Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Goals from Spanish international Santi Cazorla and Mati Fernandez saw fourth-placed Villarreal move five points clear of chasing Atletico and Malaga who are in action on Sunday.

For Bilbao, who had Markel Susaeta sent off late on, it was another setback as they have failed to win in their last seven outings and are not yet safe from the drop.

Turkish striker Nihat had the hosts’s first opening but his shot from an acute angle was blocked and Bilbao cleared their lines.

Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez, called up into the Spain squad for the first time this week, was called into action on 13 minutes producing a fine save to thwart Igor Gabilondo’s deflected shot.

The breakthrough arrived in the 68th minute with Cazorla’s fierce shot into the corner after Bilbao were cut open.

Susaeta was sent off for a second yellow card all but ending Bilbao’s hopes of getting back in the game. Fernandez then scored in stoppage time to wrap up the win for Villarreal.

Third-placed Sevilla entertain Valladolid in Saturday’s late match looking to extend their lead over their chasing Champions League rivals.

Valladolid are down in ninth but are only four points off the final UEFA Cup spot and have already beaten Sevilla this season along with Real Madrid, Villarreal and Valencia.

“It is a tricky game against a team that has surprised a lot of the top teams,” said Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez.

“Valladolid have the ability to score goals and we need to be careful. Our stadium needs to be a fortress if we want to get the points we need (to qualify for the Champions League).”

Real Madrid take on Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday trying to put the pressure on Barcelona, six points ahead at the top, in the title race.

“We cannot slip up,” said goalkeeper Iker Casillas. “There are about two months left. A lot can happen, but things can also get ugly if the league is won early.”

It is an emotional game for Almeria’s Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez who played for Real between 1985 and 1992 winning four Pichichi crowns in the process.

Barcelona host Malaga at Camp Nou on Sunday as they continue their bid for a historic treble.

“If I had to prioritise one of them, it would be the league because it?s what gives you stability and sets the tone for the team,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. “We have to focus on the next match above any other.”

Spurs check Chelsea title charge

Chelsea missed a gilt-edged chance to pile pressure on Manchester United in the English Premier League title race as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.

Luka Modric’s superb strike early in the second half consigned Guus Hiddink to his first defeat since assuming control at Stamford Bridge on an interim basis, but while the Dutchman will be piqued at losing his unbeaten record, his real annoyance will be at failing to capitalise on United’s surprise defeat at Fulham.

Instead, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side retain their four-point lead over Chelsea - a lead that could be stretched to seven if they win their game in hand - and Hiddink might well come to see this as the day his hopes of restoring the league championship to west London were snuffed out.

Ferguson, a close friend of Harry Redknapp, will be feeling even better disposed towards the Tottenham manager after this result, which should also extinguish any lingering relegation fears at White Hart Lane.

Instead, Redknapp can start looking up towards the seventh place that will guarantee a place in next season’s Europa League, the successor to the UEFA Cup.

For Hiddink, however, this defeat represented the most painful of reality checks and the Dutchman will have plenty to ponder on his flight to Moscow on Sunday, as he prepares for Russia’s World Cup qualification double-header against Azerbaijan.

It was not simply the result which will have dismayed him, but Chelsea’s limp performance. There was no energy or zip to the visitors’ football and not even the most one-eyed observer could claim that Tottenham did not deserve their triumph.

The only consolation, of sorts, was that Chelsea are not the first of the Premier League’s established elite to come unstuck in these parts. Spurs can now boast that in home league games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea they have collected eight points and conceded just one goal.

Kick-off may have been delayed by half an hour due to traffic problems caused by a security alert, but Spurs still began at a rattling pace, thanks largely to the energetic Wilson Palacios and Jermaine Jenas, who refused to grant any of Chelsea’s advanced midfield trio a moment’s peace.

Chelsea’s rhythm was wrecked. The visitors produced just two long-range shots from Michael Essien and Nicolas Anelka - both comfortably saved by Heurelho Gomes - in a toothless first-half performance and while Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, was hardly under siege, Spurs still looked the likelier scorers.

In the 18th minute, Gomes’s long downfield punt was horribly misjudged by Alex, the ball bouncing over him and into the path of Robbie Keane. The Ireland striker’s half-volley was cleanly struck but Cech proved equal to it at his near post.

Keane was a persistent menace, and he forced Cech into another smart save six minutes later, firing off a shot from 12 yards after a storming run from Vedran Corluka.

Hiddink must have been baffled at his team’s lethargy, especially as news had filtered through of Manchester United falling behind at Fulham, but if the Dutchman hoped that the interval would shake Chelsea out of their stupor, he was mistaken.

They started the second period in the same ponderous fashion they had finished the first and this time they were punished. After Aaron Lennon had wriggled into space on the right, the England winger squared to the top of the penalty area, where Modric was lurking with intent. One swish of his right boot sent the ball scudding into the bottom corner, and Spurs had a deserved lead.

Not even falling behind was enough to spark a Chelsea revival and it took until the final 15 minutes for Hiddink’s side to generate any meaningful momentum.

Gomes was finally forced into serious action in the 78th minute, when John Terry rose highest to meet Frank Lampard’s inswinging free-kick and the England defender’s header was clawed behind.

United self-destruct, Fulham blow title race wide open

Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera struck to hand Fulham a shock win over nine-man Manchester United and throw open the Premier League title race.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s league leaders followed last weekend’s defeat to Liverpool with a second successive reverse that opened the door for Chelsea and Liverpool to close the gap at the head of the table.

And to make a miserable afternoon even worse, Ferguson was forced to watch as Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were dismissed, ruling them out of crucial games in the final run-in.

The week-long post-mortem that followed last weekend’s jarring 4-1 defeat had been centred on the impact it might possibly have on United’s poise during the run-in.

Prior to that reverse, Ferguson’s side had been cruising towards a third successive title, destroying any hopes the chasing pack may have had with a formidable run of eleven successive league victories.

But the nature of Liverpool’s victory suddenly punctured United’s air of invincibility.

And judging by this shocking display at Craven Cottage, it has deflated the swaggering self-belief that had previously been a hallmark of the reigning champions’ campaign.

Having looked alarmingly fragile at the back seven days earlier, United showed no signs of having resolved the defensive problems that had allowed Liverpool to beat Edwin van der Sar four times.

Nemanja Vidic - last weekend’s guiltiest culprit - was absent following his sending off against Rafael Benitez’s side, and without the normally reliable Serb the visitors looked vulnerable to almost every early Fulham attack.

Not that the defence was given much protection by a midfield that was constantly caught in possession and seemed incapable of picking out the simplest of passes.

Credit must go to Fulham for their direct approach, with the lively forwards Andrew Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Clint Dempsey stretching the United back-line to provide ready targets for steady service delivered from midfield.

The alarm bells should have been ringing for Ferguson’s side just two minutes into the game when Dempsey found space inside the box and fired wide of Van der Sar’s near post from a narrow angle.

United briefly looked as though they might respond when Dimitar Berbatov headed over four minutes later - but astonishingly that turned out to be the visitors’ only real chance of a one-sided opening half.

Instead it was the Fulham strikers who repeatedly found space between United’s back-pedalling back four, forcing Van der Sar into a succession of excellent saves that prevented the home side taking more convincing control of the game.

There was little the Dutch keeper could do, however, about Murphy’s 17th-minute penalty that gave Fulham a deserved lead.

Zamora may lack pace but his presence had already unsettled Ferguson’s side before he rose to meet Simon Davies’s corner and saw his header palmed away by Van der Sar.

The ball came back to Zamora whose second effort was goal-bound until Scholes turned goalkeeper to concede the spot-kick and earn a red card.

Once again reduced to ten men, it was clear that this would be a stern test of United’s character but the remainder of the first half offered few signs that they were capable of clawing their way back into the game.

Ferguson’s stern glare as he left the pitch at half-time suggested he had seen more than enough and it was no surprise when the ineffectual Berbatov was replaced at half-time by Rooney.

Rooney’s omission from the starting line-up had been a surprise and the England forward immediately gave United a more meaningful attacking threat.

But although the visitors managed to carve out some presentable chances, Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer pulled off a string of outstanding saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo, Park Ji-Sung and Rooney.

And when Ferguson’s side were launching a series of desperate late attacks, Gera broke and exchanged passes with Johnson before finishing with an acrobatic volley.

Then, to cap a shocking afternoon for the champions, Rooney gestured in frustration at referee Phil Dowd, earning himself a second yellow card and ensuring United finished the game with nine men.

Old boy Sanchez aims to dent Real title bid

Hugo Sanchez became a legend at Real Madrid in seven trophy-laden seasons but on Sunday the Mexican will put sentiment aside as his Almeria side look for a first ever win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Legendary striker Sanchez starred for Real between 1985 and 1992, winning five league titles and four ‘Pichichi’ (top goalscorer) crowns, but now he wants to get one over on his old club.

“It will be emotional to return to Real Madrid but I have to put my job first and we will go for the three points,” said Sanchez.

“I would like to make Almeria history by winning at the Bernabeu for the first time.”

The only problem for Sanchez, and Almeria, is that Real can afford no slip-ups as they look to close the six-point gap to frontrunners Barcelona.

Juande Ramos’s side may have crashed out of Europe but they have won 11 of their last 12 games to stay on Barca’s heels and French midfielder Lass Diarra believes they are capable of winning all their remaining fixtures to snatch the league title.

“There is a positive atmosphere in the squad,” said Diarra.

“Our goal is to win the title by winning every game. We are very much alive and I think we can catch up with Barcelona. I am convinced we are capable of winning all our matches.”

Having halved a one-time 12-point gap to Barca, Real have just the league on which to focus while their arch-rivals must also focus on the Kings Cup final and the Champions League.

Barca manager Pep Guardiola rested Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry last weekend in the 2-0 win over Almeria as he tries to keep his stars fresh for the key final few months of the season.

Bojan Krkic, 18, scored both goals against Almeria but admits it is difficult to force his way into Barca’s star-studded line-up.

“It is not easy to get a game when you have Eto’o, (Lionel) Messi and Henry in front of you. They are three of the best players in the world,” said Bojan.

Malaga are the visitors at Camp Nou on Sunday, and are looking to claim another big scalp. The promoted side have surprised everyone this season and are only two points off the Champions League spots.

Atletico Madrid are level on points with Malaga after a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Villarreal last time out and aim to build on that success at strugglers Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Uruguayan international Diego Forlan has scored more than any other player in 2009 with nine league goals taking his tally to 19 - just four behind the league’s top-scorer Samuel Eto’o.

“I didn’t expect to score so many goals in Spain because it is a tough league,” confessed Forlan. “I am quite far away (from Eto’o) and I don’t really set targets. I just keep on working hard.”

Villarreal need to make amends for the defeat to Atletico and they host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Sevilla are well positioned in third six points ahead of Villarreal and want to consolidate their lead at home to Valladolid on Saturday.

For Valencia the Champions League dream is rapidly disappearing with the 2004 champions falling five points off the top four after one win in their last eight league matches.

Unai Emery’s side travel to an improving Racing Santander outfit on Sunday needing a win to take the spotlight off their well-publicised financial problems.

Milan focus on Champions League return

AC Milan face a tough trip to Napoli as they continue their push for a top three finish and automatic entry into next season’s Champions League group stages.

Milan finished fifth in Serie A a year ago and spent this season in exile in the UEFA Cup until they were knocked out by Werder Bremen at the end of last month.

But now, according to injured midfield general Gennaro Gattuso, the Italian giants are focussed on securing a top three finish.

While Milan may have failed to put up a championship fight this season — they trail leaders and city rivals Inter by 12 points — Gattuso is convinced that they would have succeeded where their neighbours failed and beaten Manchester United in the Champions League.

“If Milan had come up against Manchester we would have beaten them,” he said. “In one-off matches we can achieve the unexpected.

“But for us right now the most important thing is getting back into the Champions League, a year in the UEFA Cup has hurt us.”

The clash in Naples will be the latest step in achieving that objective and they will be looking to maintain their six-point lead over fourth placed Genoa, who host Udinese.

But Gattuso is expecting a rejuvenated Napoli under former Italy coach and Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni, who is taking charge of his first home match.

Napoli have not won in 10 league matches but the mood around the camp has improved since Donadoni’s arrival.

“Donadoni’s arrival will have made things even harder but if we win then third place is in the bag,” said Gattuso, who is not likely to play again this season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in December.

Before the season began this match would have been viewed as potentially a crucial one in the title race but Roma’s disastrous start to the season sees them arrive at this juncture with their eyes set firmly on clinching fourth place, not the title.

They trail Genoa in that race by two points but have stuttered recently, drawing their last three matches and winning only two of the last seven.

Juventus, in stark contrast, have won four in a row and are still dreaming of a first scudetto crown since 2003, having had their 2005 and 2006 titles stripped due to match-fixing.

Midfielder Claudio Marchisio, an increasingly important part of the team with Malian Momo Sissoko out injured, believes Juventus can still pull back the seven-point gap to Inter.

The two sides meet in Turin in four weeks.

“We’ve having a great season and we are going to keep on believing right to the end,” he said.

“There are still a lot of points to play for and Inter are starting to feel tired after all their matches.

“This is a decisive moment, we need to look for a maximum of points in our next three matches against Roma, Chievo and Genoa so we can be in the best possible position when we play the leaders.”

Inter host rock bottom Reggina on Sunday and will be odds on to come away from that with three points, particularly since star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic put his European disappointment behind him with a brace last weekend in the 2-0 win over Fiorentina.

Carlos keen on Real Madrid move

Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos has revealed that he would be interested in a return to Real Madrid if Florentino Perez wins the club’s presidential election.

Carlos has just recently signed a one-year extension with Turkish side Fenerbahce.

“I have a year left on my contract, but many things can happen with Florentino,” Marca quote him as saying. “I have renewed here and have another season, but we shall see because everyone knows I have great respect for him.

“Fenerbahce have given me the opportunity to be here for ten or 15 years, but I have already spent eleven years of my life with Real Madrid.

Walcott blow for Gunners and England

Theo Walcott’s hopes of a return to the England squad next week have been dashed by a knee injury that means another frustrating spell on the sidelines for the Arsenal winger.

The 20-year-old, who had only just completed his recovery from a serious shoulder injury, suffered the fresh setback in training on Friday.

“He will have a scan on his knee today and we are a bit surprised and worried because he was in very good form coming back,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted.

“That is very bad news for us. Out for the rest of the season would be too long, but certainly he is out of the squad for the Newcastle game tomorrow and he could be out of the squad for England.”

Wenger added: “Theo locked his knee when he was walking back from training, so it could be a cartilage. Training was fully normal and maybe he has done it in training and it came out when he stopped. But we have to see how he responds today. I hope that it is not serious, but he has to be scanned.”

Walcott had been named in England’s under-21 squad for matches next week but a good display at Newcastle on Saturday may have resulted in promotion into Fabio Capello’s senior squad for next week’s friendly against Slovakia, which is followed by a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.

Arsenal go into Saturday’s match looking to keep their noses in front of Aston Villa in the battle for fourth place and the Premier League’s finally qualifying place for next season’s Champions League.

Wenger admits he is worried that the international break could affect his side’s recent momentum.

“Now many of the team go away on international duty and I hope we do not lose players through injuries because many of our players are coming back now from injuries. It looks like we are in a good situation.

“Cesc Fabregas should be fit in two weeks. He is back in full training now and during the international break he has two weeks to sharpen up.”

Although his priority is holding off Villa, Wenger has not given up hope of catching the sides above Arsenal.

“We have prepared ourselves mentally to give absolutely everything in every game,” he said. “It is down to us. I would like to change the order of the top four to get in front of one or two teams.”

Wenger added: “The title is not as much done as people think it is. Manchester United has a huge advantage, because they are four points ahead and have a game in hand. But it is still open, because they all still have to play us, so it will be interesting.”