Young face spell on sidelines after 'very aggressive' Fulham match, according to Sir Alex Ferguson

The 19-year-old defender will be sent for an x-ray on a suspected fractured cheek while the former Aston Villa man faces two to three weeks out due to Dickson Etuhu's tackle

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted his side could be without defender Phil Jones and midfielder Ashley Young for a number of weeks after the English pair picked up injuries in the 5-0 thrashing of Fulham on Wednesday.

Jones suffered a suspected fractured cheek after being caught by the elbow of Clint Dempsey, while Young was forced off due to Dickson Etuhu's tackle in what Sir Alex thought was a "very aggressive" second half.

"It was an elbow from Dempsey but I don't think it was intentional," Sir Alex told reporters after the match. 
"He caught Jones and we'll send him for an x-ray. We'll see on Thursday but it doesn't look great.
"But there were some very aggressive tackles in the second half and Ashley Young paid the price of that. He was hurt and had to come off as well and will be out for two or three weeks.
"We are picking up injuries at the moment. Rio [Ferdinand] got a knock on the foot on Sunday at QPR but he should be available for the Blackburn game."
That would rule Ferdinand out of United's Boxing Day encounter against Wigan Athletic, with Nemanja Vidic also unavailable long-term with a knee injury.

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Liverpool striker Luis Suarez set to launch 'total appeal' against eight-match ban for racism row, says agent and lawyer

Uruguay international will be able to play for the Reds until the process is concluded, with the 24-year-old confident of the sanctions being overturned

Luis Suarez’s agent and lawyer Alejandro Balbi insists the Liverpool striker will launch a “total appeal” against his eight-match ban and 40,000 pound fine.
The sanctions were handed down to the Uruguay international on Tuesday, two months after the initial incident during the game between the Merseyside outfit and Manchester United, with Suarez deemed to have used insulting words towards full back Patrice Evra.
Suarez’s agent is adamant that his player is innocent of the charges and says the 24-year-old is confident the decision can be overturned.
“The sanction has two items, the games' suspension and the monetary [fine]. It will be a total appeal,” Balbi told reporters.
“The counts of racism that were made against him are not true. He firmly believes that this harsh sanction can be overturned.”
He added that Suarez “is very affected” by the decision from the Football Association, but insists he is “calm because of the massive support of the club, the coach, his teammates and his captain.”
The former Ajax man is able to feature for Kenny Dalglish's side in the meantime, until the appeal process has reached its conclusion.
Meanwhile, Liverpool was held to a stalemate at the DW Stadium to Wigan on Wednesday evening, with Charlie Adam failing to convert from the penalty spot, the Latics keeper Ali Al Habsi denying the Scotsman with a superb save.
Suarez took to his official website to comment on the disappointing result and thank the club’s fans for supporting him through a trying period.
He said: “We couldn't win. I think we did everything possible. These last days have been very difficult for me and I want to thank the great support received by [sic] all of you!!”

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Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Ponferradina can complicate things for us

The Portuguese boss has praised his team's Segunda Division B opponents in the Spanish Cup, describing them as a "quality side" who pose a potential danger

 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is cautious ahead of his side’s Copa del Rey round of 32 second leg clash with Ponferradina at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Having defeated the Segunda Division B Group 2 side 2-0 in the first leg away from home last week, Madrid will head into the encounter in the Spanish capital as favorite in the tie.
However, Mourinho has played down the Blancos' lead and warns that their two-goal advantage is not "definitive".
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the 48 year-old said: “The result we earned in the first leg is good, but not definitive.
“The tie will be left wide open if Ponferradina score first tomorrow and, if their motivation was high at their stadium, I think it will be even higher at the Bernabeu.
“They are a quality side who can complicate things for us.”
The Portuguese coach also commended his side on their season thus far and enthused: “It is very difficult to evaluate at the end of the actual year of football because the new year comes halfway through the season.
“We've done a good job so far. We are top of the league table, we've won our six games in the Champions League and also our only match so far in the Copa.
“We've had six very good months. In another league championship this Real Madrid would easily win the title."


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David Trezeguet set to sign River Plate deal

The veteran attacker is poised to sign a contract with the Argentine outfit and will be back in South America in time to start preseason training in January

 Veteran striker David Trezeguet is on the verge of completing his move to River Plate, the Argentine club has announced via their official website.

Released from his contract with Bani Yas at the beginning of December, the 34-year-old has already spoken of his pleasure at returning to the country in which he grew up, but no deal has yet been signed with the National B outfit.

However, the Buenos Aires side announced via its official website that the former France international has already passed his physical checks and is expected to finalize his transfer imminently.

“He passed the medical examination and this week and will sign before returning to the UAE to close issues that remained pending in the Asian country,” an official statement on the club’s website states.

River Plate has announced that Trezeguet will be ready to start preseason training on January 4, when he will also be presented to the press.

In a professional career spanning 17 years, the Rouen-born attacker is most remembered for his spells with Monaco and Juventus, not to mention his golden goal that won France Euro 2000 at the expense of Italy.

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Low ticket sales for David Beckham's LA Galaxy clash in Indonesia leaves tour organisers unhappy

The organisers for the MLS champions clash with an Indonesian Select XI admit they want to sell many more tickets, and have dismissed claims prices are too high

 The organisers of Wednesday's exhibition match between David Beckham's LA Galaxy and an Indonesian Select XI in Jakarta have admitted ticket sales are not at a level they had hoped for.
 
Hasani Abdulgani, who is the president director of Mahaka Sports, who have been promoting the game, said that ticket sales have not reached the set target.

"I am not very happy with the results of ticket sales, from around of 70,000 tickets, nearly half are not yet sold,” Abdulgani told Bola Kompas.

He added: "The expensive tickets already sold out, but the cheap tickets are deserted from buyers."

However, Abdulgani remained optimistic ticket sales would reach the target based on the typical number of walk-up purchases from Indonesian football fans.

There has been speculation the pricing of tickets has been to blame for the underwhelming interest so far, but Mahaka Sports director Eric Thohir remained confident they would reach their goal.

“Ticket sales are good, they are not doing great but everything will be good,” Thohir told Associated Press.

“In terms of broadcasting and sponsorship, we are doing well. Our goal is to sell about 45,000 tickets. Pricing should be no problems but there have been lots of games recently."

In accordance with the agreement, the LA Galaxy will play some of their stars including Beckham, Landon Danovan, and Robbie Keane to play against the Indonesian Select XI.

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Barcelona's Pep Guardiola hails Rayo Vallecano's bravery: I am sure they will stay in La Liga

The 40-year-old trainer stated that Jose Ramon Sandoval's men fought hard despite their 4-0 defeat and paid little importance to Gerard Pique's second-half yellow card

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola praised Rayo Vallecano's approach to the game following his side's 4-0 victory at Camp Nou.
 
An Alexis Sanchez double plus goals from David Villa and Lionel Messi allowed Guardiola's side to close the gap on Real Madrid in the Liga standings to three points.

After the match, the 40-year-old lauded coach Jose Ramon Sandoval's tactics and stated that the Madrid-based club are not threatened by the prospect of relegation.

"I would like to congratulate Rayo, who had a good match," Guardiola told reporters at a press conference. "They did things well and it was hard for us to beat them.

"It is impossible for them not to remain in La Liga with this ambition. They are a brave team. I would bet that they will stay in La Liga."

Guardiola then played down Gerard Pique's yellow card, which was his fifth in the competition this season.

It will see him miss the weekend visit of Levante, thus preventing the defender from being ineligible for the Clasico against Madrid on December 9 if he was booked against the Valencia-based side.

"The images show what they show and everyone saw them," Guardiola said about Pique, who shown a yellow card for time wasting.

"I do not comment on the referee's decisions. I did not do it with the penalties against Valencia or the offside against Getafe."

The Spanish coach also rejected suggestions of a rift with Villa, who has found starting spots somewhat hard to come by in the latest games.

"David Villa moves very well in these positions," Guardiola noted. "His team-mates have to find him.

"He is very important to us and he does not stop moving. Without him, things would be harder.

"Sometimes, the ball does not get to him, but he is tireless."

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger set to give Park Chu-Young a run out in League Cup clash against Manchester City

The Gunners manager believes that the competition offers him a chance to rotate the squad and the South Korean striker will get his chance to impress on Tuesday night

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that Park Chu-Young will feature in their League Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City on Tuesday night.  
 

The Gunners have been on a good run of form but Wenger claimed after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Fulham that he needs to rotate his squad and Park will get a chance up front when they take on City at the Emirates.

“I have 90 per cent decided. There is still 10 per cent flexibility and because of this I cannot tell you who plays. It will be the usual blend of experience and youth," he was quoted by The Telegraph.

"I believe that some players are on the fringe of being really limited. I will rest some players, but I still want to play a team that has a chance to win the game."
He added: "Park is adapting to the level he is facing here and he has another opportunity against Manchester City tomorrow night [Tuesday] to show that he can do it."

The ex-Monaco striker has made three appearances for the Gunners so far with two of those coming in the League Cup, while the other one was against Olympique de Marseille in the Uefa Champions League.

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Everton defender Leighton Baines delighted to see popular midfielder Marouane Fellaini extend his contract

The Belgian player recently agreed a new five-year deal with the Toffees and his teammate hailed the role of the influential 24-year old in the Goodison Park dressing room

Everton defender Leighton Baines has expressed his delight at team-mate Marouane Fellaini's long-term contract extension.
 
The Belgian midfielder agreed terms on a new five-year deal recently and Baines admitted he had been worried about the prospect of one of the club's prize assets seeking a move away.

"It was massive for the club," Baines told the Liverpool Echo. "If you get to the end of the season with a year left on his deal, you don't want to get in that situation again where you lose top players for short of their true value.

"So it's important in that sense. But it's also important that he wanted to stay – because he was in a strong position to let that happen if he wanted to."

Baines was also keen to emphasise the popularity and influence of Fellaini on and off the field.

"For us players, for me, I love him to bits," he said. "He's such a nice lad, and we're over the moon that we've kept him because he's one of the really important people around the dressing room.

"It's massive for us. Massive for the club and massive for the fans. He's a folk hero and the fans have taken to him. He's a good character.
"Everyone gets on with him. He's always happy, and when you get him on the pitch he gives you everything he's got. He's massive for us.
"Not a new signing but it's as good as in a sense, because he'd be so difficult to replace."
With the temptation of the big clubs monitoring Fellaini's situation, Baines hoped the central midfielder would be rewarded for his show of loyalty.
"He's quite young, he's done really well for us and a lot of people know about him," Baines said.
"There were definitely a few clubs sniffing around him so it was a big commitment from him to show faith in us and the club.
"Hopefully somewhere along the line it can get rewarded with success."

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Darren Fletcher admits Manchester United face an ‘uphill battle’ against Basel to progress as group winners in Champions League

A 2-2 draw with Benfica on Tuesday means that the Red Devils will need "a favour" to win Group C, with a testing away match in Switzerland to decide their qualification fate

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher admits that his side face an “uphill battle” to reach the last 16 of the Champions League after Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Benfica.
 
The Red Devils are currently top of Group C, level on points with the Portuguese outfit and needing a point away to Basel on December 7 to qualify, but their inferior head-to-head record means that if Benfica defeat Otelul Galati, so far without a point, in their final match, the Premier League side will have to settle for second place at best.

“This game [against Benfica] was a chance to win the group, but it’s going to be an uphill battle to do that now,” Fletcher admitted to The Daily Mirror.

“We’ll go to Basel needing a positive result, which we probably would have needed to do anyway if we had won [on Tuesday], so it’s no different in that respect.

“But you want to have won the group and you want to have qualified in advance of your last game.

“We’ve had two draws at home, the Basel game and Benfica, which have cost us.

“But there’s no point us moaning or saying what could have been. This is the situation we’re in, and we’ve got to respond and get the right result in Basel.

“In the last few years, we’ve won the group and we moved into the next round quite comfortably. But this is what’s lying ahead of us now and we’ve got to accept the challenge and the situation we are in.

“We’ll do that as a team and I’m fully confident we’ll go to Basel and get the result which will take us into the next round.”

United will be wary of the Swiss champions after they nearly caused an upset at Old Trafford.

Having been two goals behind in September’s meeting, Basel turned the game around to 3-2 before Ashley Young spared Sir Alex Ferguson’s blushes with a late equaliser.

“Going away from home in the Champions League is a big challenge,” Fletcher conceded.

“Basel play good, open, attacking, expansive football and create chances, so we know it’s going to be a difficult match. But we’re confident of going there and getting a result, like in every match.”

Finishing second would open United up to drawing the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Inter in the last 16, all of whom have already won their groups, but the Scotland international is unfazed by the prospect.

“Of course, it’s not ideal that we might have to face those [big] sides earlier than we would anticipate, but I can’t imagine any of those sides being too pleased to draw Manchester United.

“We’re confident no matter whom we play against, and if we get to the next round, we’ll rise to that challenge.

“We need to get the fine balance of not conceding and getting back to the attacking play we showed at the beginning of the season.

“There are always high standards at Manchester United. After every result, we look back on it - at what we could have done better and how we can improve as a team.

“I don’t think the season has been a disaster so far. We’re still in a relatively good position.”

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Exceptional Robin van Persie is on a par with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

The Gunners boss believes his captain's stunning goalscoring form, notching up 38 goals in all competitions in 2011, has him playing at the same level as the world's best

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says in-form striker Robin van Persie is playing at a level comparable to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
 
The Dutchman scored both goals in Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, which ensures that the Gunners will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as Group F winners, to take his tally to 38 since the start of January 2011.

When asked if Van Persie could be considered on a par with the Spain-based superstars, Wenger told Sky Sports: “If he keeps going on like that, of course.

“Let him play and see at the end of the season. He is the leader of the team as well so what is important is that he leads the team to success.

“I feel he’s an exceptional player and happy that he can show that. He thinks day and night about his game.”

The Van Persie-inspired win means that Arsenal become the first English side to confirm their place in the competition’s last 16 this season.

When asked at a press conference if he was surprised at this, Wenger began: “I have to be very cautious what I say.

“I think 'yes’ as Manchester United could have qualified last night and everyone expected Manchester City to qualify.

“It is difficult at that level. You never play an easy game in the Champions League.

“It was a difficult group,” he continued.

“When we saw we were playing Udinese [in the qualifying round] we could not bet that we would go through as we did.”

Arsenal can now relax knowing that they will be under no pressure in their final group game, away to Olympiakos on December 6.

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Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo confirms club has entered talks to sign LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham

The former Manchester United star is out of contract in December and recently admitted that he was aware of two "big European clubs" that were chasing his signature

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has confirmed that the French club have entered talks with Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.
 
The former England captain is out of contract next month and while he has not ruled out extending his stay in the United States, he recently admitted that he was aware of two "big European clubs" that were hoping to secure his signature.

Leonardo is well-acquainted with Beckham having coached AC Milan during his loan spell in Italy two seasons ago.

"Yes, we've spoken," the former Brazil international told The Sun. "These situations take time. We'll see if something suits him and suits us.

"I know his history and he doesn't need to tell me his past. He went to Milan and it was the same thing. There is a rapport with him.
"When you talk about Beckham, you're talking about something big. Now his contract is finished, he will decide his future."
PSG have invested heavily in their squad since being taken over by the Qatar Investment Authority during the summer.
At age 36, many have labelled the club's pursuit of Beckham as an attempt to boost their global brand but Leonardo dismissed such accusations.
"If Beckham thinks about coming, that's something we should be happy about," he said. "I think he can still bring something on the pitch with the person he is and the experience he has.
"If a player like him is thinking about Paris St-Germain that's good, and we've opened the door for discussions. Everybody's talking about PSG and that pleases me.
"PSG are on the up, there are 45,000 people in the stadium and everyone's happy."

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Eric Abidal: There is a 90 per cent chance I will stay at Barcelona

The French full-back is on the verge of committing his future to the Liga champions following weeks of speculation of a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has revealed he has reached an agreement to prolong his stay at Camp Nou.

The 32-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season and he has been locked in talks with the Barca hierarchy in recent weeks over an extension.
 
On Sunday, Abidal aired his wish to end his playing career at Camp Nou, amidst reports that Paris Saint-Germain were closely monitoring his situation.

"There is a 90 per cent chance I will stay with Barcelona," he told Canal Plus after his side's 3-2 victory against AC Milan in the Champions League. "I had a meeting with the board today [Wednesday].

"We reached an agreement, and the only thing left is to sign the contract. Then, the adventure with Barca can continue."

The France international, who joined Barcelona from Olympique Lyonnais in 2007, has made 18 appearances so far this season.

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Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka claims quotes hinting at Stamford Bridge exit were fabricated

The French hitman "categorically denies" a report that claimed he had said he is set to embark on a new challenge, and stated that the quotes linked to him were not true

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has denied suggesting a January move could be in the pipeline for him.

The 32-year-old had been quoted by The Times as saying that his time at Stamford Bridge was coming to an end, despite his wish to win one more Premier League title with the Blues.
 
Anelka has been strongly linked with a move away from Chelsea in recent weeks after failing to impose himself in Andre Villas-Boas' squad, with China Super League side Shanghai Shenhua having reportedly offered the striker a deal.

However, the Frenchman has guaranteed that the quotes attributed to him are false and that he does not yet know what the future will bring.

"Following the quotes which were attributed to me today [Wednesday] in a British newspaper, I would like to categorically deny having given any interview, let alone discussed my future," he told AFP.

"I am under contract with Chelsea until the end of the season, with many playing commitments"

The former France international, who has been at Chelsea since 2008, has so far made just six starting appearances for the Premier League outfit this term. 

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Valencia's Roberto Soldado scores fastest Champions League hat-trick since 2003 in record-breaking night in Group E

The Spanish striker set an all-time mark on matchday five in a 7-0 romp over Genk, while Chelsea's Didier Drogba also made history in defeat as the group stage nears its end

On a majestic night of Champions League action which saw Valencia destroy Genk 7-0 and Bayer Leverkusen edge out Chelsea 2-1, two strikers produced record-breaking performances.
 
Roberto Soldado of Valencia registered the competition's fastest hat-trick since 2003, when Alan Shearer scored a treble for Newcastle against Leverkusen in only 36 minutes.

The former Getafe hitman earned his in just 26 minutes on Wednesday at Mestalla, while also becoming his side's all-time leading scorer in the tournament with 11, passing Juan Sanchez, who has nine, and the first Spanish player to net three times in the first half of a Champions League clash. The fastest hat-trick in the competition was in 1995-96 when Mike Newell of Blackburn scored three times against Rosenborg in nine minutes.

Didier Drogba was not to be outdone, moving into 8th place on the competition's all-time scoring chart with 34 goals after putting his side ahead in Germany, and passing Fernando Morientes. The former Marseille man also has more goals in the competition than any other African player.

With Leverkusen already through, Soldado and Drogba will now do battle on matchday six for the last coveted qualifying spot in Group E.

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Fabio Capello suggests Scott Parker will be dropped for England clash with Sweden due to Achilles problem

Tottenham midfielder set to miss out on friendly as manager, who says he did not make a mistake in leaving the player at home for the World Cup, wants to respect the club's wishes

Scott Parker is set to be left out of the England team to face Sweden on Tuesday night with a persistent Achilles problem.
 
The Tottenham midfielder has been playing through the pain and England manager Fabio Capello has suggested that the player's club have requested that he is not risked in the friendly.
Capello is quoted by The Daily Mirror as saying: "He's got some problems with his Achilles. He needs time. I want to respect the clubs with these friendly games."
The Italian also talked about his decision not to take Parker to last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Capello said: "I didn't make a mistake. Now, after two years, speaking about mistakes is too easy.
"The players who played at the World Cup were, at that moment, the best players. But now, others are playing really well.
"I chose Scott and he's playing all the games."

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Villarreal's Jonathan de Guzman: We lost against Manchester City in Champions League because of our own errors

The former Netherlands Under-21 international was disappointed with his side's defeat as he felt they were the architects of their own downfall in the Group A clash

Villarreal midfielder Jonathan De Guzman has voiced his disappointment with his side's 3-0 Champions League Group A loss at home against Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
 
The former Feyenoord star felt the Spanish side put in a decent performance, but added that sloppy defending and individual mistakes cost them them the game.

"Although City are good up front and at the back we lost the game because of little errors at our own end of the pitch," De Guzman was quoted as saying by uefa.com.

"They capitalised on that with their counter-attacks. Otherwise I think we did pretty well, especially in the first half, but the two goals killed the momentum for us."

The Canada-born midfielder then admitted that things have not been going well for Villarreal since his arrival from Mallorca last summer, but he is hopeful that the Yellow Submarine will get back on track in the near future.

"Things have been difficult for us, especially for me because I've only just joined this team, and, since I came, we haven't had much go for us. So hopefully, sooner rather than later, our luck will turn around."

Villarreal resume domestic action on Sunday with the Primera Division game away against Espanyol.

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Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer overjoyed with leading Molde to historic Norwegian first division title

The 38-year-old is jubilant after winning MFK the first championship in their history on Sunday and believes that it was a “well deserved” success for the club

Molde coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has expressed his delight at leading the Norwegian club to their first ever Tippeligaen title during his debut season at the club.
The club, established in 1911, accomplished their triumph on Sunday following their 2-2 draw with Stromsgodset, a result which was enough to hand them the title after Norwegian giants and second-placed Rosenborg suffered a 6-3 home loss to Brann.


The results mean that Molde are now eight points clear at the top of the first division table with two more rounds of matches remaining, leaving Solskjaer overjoyed with his team’s achievement in his first season in charge.
"The club has waited 100 years for this," the 38-year-old told VG. "We have been close several times so this was well deserved.
"When Brann went 4-1 up, I realised we had done it. It was a good atmosphere in the dressing room and we will enjoy ourselves tonight."
Solskjaer became Molde coach in January 2011 after two and a half years as manager of Manchester United's Reserves.

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Villarreal's Marcos Senna ruled out of Champions League clash against Manchester City - report

The veteran midfielder won't take part in this week's European encounter at El Madrigal after having picked up a hamstring injury against Rayo Vallecano

Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido will have to make do without the services of experienced midfielder Marcos Senna in Wednesday's Champions League game at home against Manchester City after the former Spain international picked up an injury.
 
The 35-year-old picked up a hamstring injury in his side's 2-0 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and was forced to leave the pitch after 49 minutes of play due to the knock.

Senna underwent further examination on Sunday and uefa.com reports that the hamstring problem will keep the midfielder out of his side's fourth Group A game.

The first meeting between Villarreal and City ended in a 2-1 win for the English side. Wednesday's match at El Madrigal kicks off at 19.45GMT.

Villarreal have yet to pick up their first point of the group stage, while Roberto Mancini's side have so far collected four points from three games.

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Manchester City's Edin Dzeko believes Manchester United are still Premier League title favourites

The Bosnian insists that "United are United" despite the Blues being five points clear at the top and attempted to clear up his negative reaction to being substituted in Germany

Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko believes that Manchester United are still favourites for the Premier League title despite Roberto Mancini's side holding a five-point advantage over the Red Devils after 10 games.
 
Following City's 6-1 demolition of United at Old Trafford last weekend, the Blues preserved their five-point cushion with a 3-1 victory over Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Despite their position at the top of the table, former Wolfsburg attacker Dzeko admits "United are United" and that they are still favourites to retain their crown.

"I still don't think we are favourites," the Bosnian said, as quoted by the Guardian.

"There are still a lot of games to play. We have played 10 matches and are five points clear of Manchester United but for me they are still favourites for the title. We are first and want to stay there but United are United, although we are growing up with every game."

Dzeko was embroiled in controversy last month after his negative reaction to being substituted against Bayern Munich in the Champions League but the 25-year-old insists that he apologised after the game and that it was normal for him to be angry after failing to score.

"I apologised afterwards," he added. "Sometimes, it is hard when you play badly and don't score goals. Sometimes, you are angry and that is normal. I played for two and a half years in Germany. I wanted to win and maybe score a goal. In Munich we played well for the first 30 minutes and then nothing." 

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Pele celebrates 71st birthday: Premier League is best in Europe, Sylvester Stallone was my toughest opponent & Lionel Messi is an incomplete player

'The King' was in the English capital to launch his new sports lifestyle collection, bringing out the stars and a number of eye-catching quotes in the process

Brazil and Santos legend Pele celebrated his 71st birthday in London in typical outspoken style this week, hailing the Premier League as Europe's top division and branding Lionel Messi an "incomplete" player.
 
The three-time World Cup winner, who is in the UK for the global launch of his new sports lifestyle collection The Beautiful Revolution, told Goal.com: "I would love to play with Lionel Messi. But Messi is an incomplete player because he can't use his head. Also I played football for 20 years, Messi has only played for several years."

He added: "If there is one player in the world today I would love to play with it is Neymar."

Pele was speaking at a special drinks reception held in London's Covent Garden to mark his 71st birthday, with guests including Rio Ferdinand, brother Anton, ex-Bayern Munich and Barcelona defender Patrick Andersson and Pele's 1970 World Cup opponent Terry Cooper, formerly of England and Leeds United.

Brazil's leading all-time goalscorer said he was delighted to be in England and hailed the country's top-flight division: "The English Premier League is the best league in Europe, better than La Liga."

When asked about who his toughest opponent was, Pele, who faced the likes of Bobby Moore and Giacinto Facchetti in his playing days, joked: "Sylvester Stallone during the filming of Escape to Victory. He was very strong."

The Rocky star played an American POW-turned-goalkeeper in the World War Two film in which he co-starred with Michael Caine and Pele amongst others.

As a birthday present, Pele was presented by PFA deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes and Arsenal youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a special lifetime award: a glittering 18-carat gold-plated football boot.

Barnes said: "Alex is one of the best young players in the English Premier League. He made his debut at 16, and if he achieves a fraction of what Pele did he will have a fantastic career.

"Everyone remembers Pele's Brazil teams from 1957-70, and the World Cup victories of '58, '62 and '70.

"Only a few things are memorable from my childhood: the Apollo moon landings, Muhammad Ali's boxing fights... and Pele. On behalf of the PFA, we are delighted to present this award as a symbol of our esteem."

Guests at the London event were then shown the Pele sport brand's Spring Summer '12 collection, featuring the launch of three distinct ranges - Pelé Story, Pelada and Performance.

The most heralded and eagerly-anticipated from these collections is the "revolutionary, ground-breaking, ultra-light" Trinity 3E football boot, which promises to "maximise a player's game and speed potential by training your muscles as you play."

Check out all of Pele's new sports lifestyle collection at www.pele-sports.com

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AC Milan's Daniele Bonera: Our position in Serie A now better reflects our quality

The defender feels the Rossoneri are on the right track again after a sluggish start and is eagerly anticipating this weekend's game against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico

AC Milan defender Daniele Bonera has voiced his opinion that the reigning Italian champions are closer to where they belong after moving up to fifth position in Serie A following three consecutive wins.
 
The 30-year-old is pleased to see his side in the top half of the league table again after wins over Palermo, Lecce and Parma.

And he says he and his team-mates are now looking forward to attempting to extend their winning streak in this weekend's away game versus Roma.

"The league table is now a better reflection of our quality. It simply wasn’t right that we sat in the lower half of the table," Bonera is quoted as saying on the Milan website. "Now we have to stay focused because the game against Roma will be tough.

"I think Roma are still looking for their identity and we’re going there with lots of motivation."

Bonera realises that it will not be an easy game, though, as Roma will be keen to secure a positive result after their defeat in midweek.

He added: "However, they’ll be determined to put in a good performance, especially after the loss against Genoa on Wednesday evening. It’s always tough at the Stadio Olimpico."

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William Hill open market on Manchester City to win everything this season at 250/1

Rampant Citizens are favourites for the Premier League title with the bookies offering generous odds on the amount of silverware they will end the campaign with.

Manchester City's stunning start to the season has prompted British bookmaker William Hill to open a market on the unbeaten club to scoop all before them.

Hill's are offering a price of 250/1 that Roberto Mancini's team will win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League. The big spenders went top of the league after thumping Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford and are now favourites to end their title drought at 11/10 with the Red Devils at 15/8.  
 

City ended their trophy famine last season with an FA Cup triumph and they are 6/1 to scoop the domestic double. A treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup is trading at 22/1. Emulating their city rivals' treble of 1999 of the Premier League crown, FA Cup and Champions League is priced at 80/1.

"City's current form is red hot and many punters have backed them to make a strong bid to win all four major trophies," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

No English club has ever won the domestic treble or an historic quadruple. Manchester United came close to landing an English treble in 1993/94 but were denied by Aston Villa in the League Cup final before going on to win the Premier League and FA Cup.

In more recent years, Chelsea were in contention for all four trophies in 2006/07 but fell short after lifting the League Cup and FA Cup. The Blues exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage and finished second behind Manchester United in the title race.

Manchester City trophy specials (William Hill)
No trophies @ 13/10
Premier League/Carling Cup @ 7/2
Premier League/FA Cup @ 6/1
FA Cup/Carling Cup @ 10/1
Premier League/Champions League @ 16/1
Premier League/FA Cup/Carling Cup @ 22/1
Carling Cup/Champions League @ 25/1
FA Cup/Champions League @ 40/1
Premier League/Carling Cup/Champions League @ 66/1
Premier League/FA Cup/Champions League @ 80/1
FA Cup/Carling Cup/Champions League @ 150/1
Premier League/FA Cup/Carling Cup/Champions League @ 250/1

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Real Madrid's Angel di Maria determined to maintain impressive form

The Argentine winger says he is confident again and that he hopes things continue to go well for him after scoring in his side's victory against Villarreal

Angel di Maria was delighted to score in Real Madrid's 3-0 La Liga win over Villarreal on Wednesday - and says he is hopeful of maintaining the level of performance he demonstrated in the game.
 
The Argentine winger scored his first league goal of the season, and Madrid's third of the night, on the half-hour mark after previously providing assists for his side's first two goals.

And he has stressed that he is full of confidence again following his recent impressive showings.

"I'm happy with the victory and also with my goal because I hadn't scored for a long time. I had a chance to score tonight and it was a beautiful thing for me," Di Maria was quoted as saying on the official Madrid website.

"I'm very happy because things are going well for me. I'm confident again, which is important to me. I hope things continue to go well for me."

Di Maria has already set up seven La Liga goals in the 2011-12 campaign and tops the assist chart after nine games.

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Manchester United defender Chris Smalling wants to play at both Euro 2012 and the London Olympics

Former Fulham man hoping to feature at both tournaments but insists his focus will be on the Red Devils' title challenge for the rest of the Premier League season

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has revealed he hopes to feature at both Euro 2012 and the London Olympic Games next year.

Smalling would see little time off during the summer if he did feature in both tournaments but pointed out that chances to play in major international competitions do not come around very often, though he admits club matters are his priority at the moment.

"I have to say that England is not my first target at the moment and neither are the Olympics," Smalling told the Manchester Evening News.

"United is what I am thinking about. But towards the end of the season I will be looking towards that and hopefully I might get into the England squad. Obviously I'd love to go there [Euro 2012].

"There is also the Olympics as well. A lot of the lads who went to the [Euro] Under-21 Championships last summer will be able to play in it.
"Whether it is the Euros, the Olympics, or both – you would like to be involved because these opportunities do not come around too often."
For now, though, Smalling is focusing on United's defence of the Premier League title and the former Fulham player admitted his delight at his rapid ascent from non-league football to the top flight and the Champions League.
"Everybody's career is not plain sailing," he said.
"I have been very much enjoying how it has gone over the last couple of years and hopefully it will stay on course. But I will be ready if there is a setback and I will work hard.

"When I was younger I stopped playing for a professional club after being at Millwall's academy. I was at school and I thought the chance in the pro game might not come again.
"But I was always going to give it a go and keep at it and worked hard. I never gave up and the reminder of that will always help me in the future.
"That will be the same response if I get a setback in the professional game. I learned from that.

"You cannot take anything for granted."

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Inter's Javier Zanetti: We are capable of doing great things

The Argentine was pleased with his team's victory over Chievo on Sunday, and feels the Giuseppe Meazza side will still be a force to be reckoned with this season

Inter captain Javier Zanetti has voiced his opinion that the Coppa Italia holders can still achieve great things this season in the wake of their 1-0 Serie A win at home over Chievo on Sunday afternoon.
 
Claudio Ranieri's men have been struggling to find their best form in the opening months of the 2011-12 campaign, but are slowly getting their confidence back after wins over Lille in the Champions League and against the Verona-based side at the weekend.

"This a group that is capable of doing great things, and we think this every game. We're working on our solidity, and we must prevent the opposing teams from doing damage to us," Zanetti told Sky Sport Italia.

"The victory was important in not letting the standings weigh on us too heavily. Inter deservedly won, although we had to suffer until the end against a Chievo team that attacked.

"We still hadn't been able to win at Giuseppe Meazza, so this match was also important in that regard."

Inter have climbed to 16th spot in the Serie A table following the weekend's results. They have collected seven points from as many games.

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AC Milan’s Mario Yepes thrilled with winner in seven-goal thriller against Lecce & hails side's mental strength

The Colombian centre-back is jubilant after scoring vital goal at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare for the Rossoneri but admits that their opponents made it “tough” for them

AC Milan defender Mario Yepes believes that his side’s 4-3 comeback victory over Lecce in Serie A on Sunday was due to their “personality”.
The Rossoneri were 3-0 down at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare after just 37 minutes, but bounced back strongly in the second period, thanks largely to a 14-minute hat-trick from half-time substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Yepes himself scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute as Milan emerged victorious in their third successive competitive fixture, and was overjoyed with the dramatic victory in Lecce.
"I’m very happy," the Colombian centre-back told Milan’s official website. “It’s my first goal for the club.
“We couldn’t have imagined a game this tough. We did well because we managed to turn the result around from a 3-0 loss to a win.
“We showed personality and the ability to react. We got three important points."
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are currently seventh in the league standings with 11 points from seven matches, four behind leaders Udinese. They welcome Parma to San Siro on Wednesday in their next Serie A game.

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Chelsea captain John Terry 'saddened' by claims of racial slur against QPR's Anton Ferdinand

Blues defender claims he did not hurl racist abuse at the Hoops defender during his side's 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road, and says there are "no problems" between the two

Chelsea's John Terry has denied that he made racist comments towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to the Premier League new boys.
The Blues had plenty of problems to deal with as Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba were both sent off and Heidar Helguson's penalty condemned the visitors to defeat.
But there was a further fall out as internet videos of Terry seemingly shouting at Ferdinand circled the internet, with some claiming the England defender hurled racist abuse at the Hoops man.
But Terry said in a statement: "I've seen that there's a lot of comments on the internet with regards to some video footage of me in today's game.
"I'm disappointed that people have leapt to the wrong conclusions about the context of what I was seen to be saying to Anton Ferdinand.
"I thought Anton was accusing me of using a racist slur against him. I responded aggressively, saying that I never used that term.
"I would never say such a thing, and I'm saddened that people would think so.
"I have known Anton for a long time and spoke to him about it after the game and there was no problem between us.
"I congratulated him on their win. He has not accused me of any wrongful remark.
"It was clear it was all a misunderstanding at the time.
"After the result today, I am saddened to be dealing with these wrongful allegations.
"I am the proud captain of one of the most internationally diverse teams in the Premier League and I absolutely believe that there is no place for racism in sport and indeed in any walk of life."

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits 6-1 hammering by rivals City is his 'worst ever day in football'

Red Devils manager is devastated by the margin of his side's defeat but is adamant they will return stronger after an embarrassing day at Old Trafford against their rivals

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted his side’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of neighbours Manchester City will mark the worst day in his football career.
  The incredible defeat is the first time since the 1930s that United have conceded six at home and marks their worst home defeat since losing 5-0 to City back in 1955.
The United boss was under no illusions at the impact of the result, admitting it was the worst defeat in his career and in the club's history.
“It was a bad day, our worst ever day,” Sir Alex told Sky Sports. “But we’ll come back from that, that is the challenge.
“The thing that concerned me the most was the goals, for and against. The difference was 10 goals, so that was a big blow for us because you never know if goal difference will count.
“Most years it’s in our favour, but at the moment it’s not.
“We will react. There is no question about that. It’s the perfect result for us to react to because there is a lot of embarrassment in the dressing room today and that will make an impact.
“I feel disappointed. It’s my worst defeat in history, even as a player, I don’t think I’ve ever lost a game 6-1, but that’s a challenge for me too.
“They are all disappointed in there; that will make a difference.
“By January we will be okay, we usually get a shot along the road and then usually do well in the second half of the season and that will have to be the case again.
“At the moment we’ve played all the teams that are around us, so we can’t really make a difference.
“They have all got to play each other obviously, but the second half of the season is usually very important for us.”
Sir Alex’s men went down thanks to two goals each from Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, whilst David Silva and Sergio Aguero also added a goal each, with Jonny Evans receiving a red card early on in the second half.
The Ulsterman received a straight red card for pulling down Balotelli when the Italian got in behind him, but referee Mark Clattenburg had no option but to send the defender off, with Sir Alex believing it played a massive part in the match.
“I think the sending off did play a big part,” rued the 69 year-old. “You can’t believe that scoreline if you see it for the first time.
“For the first 25 minutes we were outstanding and dominated the game. Of course they scored the first goal and that was a blow to us, but the win was still achievable in that situation.
“The sending off was certainly the killer for us and after that, we just kept attacking. In the nature of Manchester United that is all well and good, but once it gets to 4-1 the defenders should just say ‘that is it for today’.
“But we just kept attacking, with full-backs bombing forward and they were effectively three against two – it was crazy, crazy football.
“I thought with the experience we have got in the side, particularly with Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, they would have realised, but they all just kept attacking.
“It is okay playing like the history and tradition of the club, but sometimes you’ve just got to have a bit of common sense.
“It could have been even more for both sides - it was so open, we just kept attacking - unbelievable.”

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Corinthians confirm talks over transfer of Manchester City's Carlos Tevez

The Paulista institution's director of football admitted that he had made enquiries to sign the controversial forward, adding that a transfer was far from complete

Corinthians have increased speculation that they will attempt to bring Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez back to Sao Paulo, with director of football Edu Gaspar revealing that he enquired about the Argentine while in Europe.
 
The Brazilians, along with Boca Juniors, have been strongly linked with Tevez since his relationship with the English club soured in September, when he seemingly refused to come on as a late substitution during a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Gaspar added fuel to those rumours on Wednesday afternoon, when he affirmed that on a recent trip across the Atlantic Ocean he spoke with sources close to Manchester City in order to gauge the possibility of a transfer.

"It is part of my job to know what is happening in different countries, looking for players who are free and who want to return home. I cannot deny that [Tevez] is one of those athletes," the director told reporters at a press conference.

"I have a great friend who works in City, Patrick Vieira. I ask questions, I want to know. Everything I did is now known by Andres [Sanchez, club president], the important people, the contacts."

The Brazilians hope to close the transfer by the middle of December, in order to welcome Tevez to the club for the start of the new season in 2012. Gaspar, however, pleaded caution from fans; also declining to give the transfer value of a prospective approach.

"He is a player who, disregarding his state of mind, has his own value. It is difficult to talk about a price to say if he is worth it or not," the club official stated.

"City have said that Tevez must stay out of the club for a month. Mancini said that he does not want him back. We will hope to resolve his situation, but at the moment there is nothing too concrete."

Tevez appeared for Corinthians between 2005 and 2006, lifting the Brasileirao championship in his first year at the club.

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Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas full of praise for striker Fernando Torres after a double against Genk

The manager believes the strikers game for Spain did him a lot of good but thinks the his performance shouldn't overshadow the 'collective' effort of the team

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas praised striker Fernando Torres for his impressive performance against Genk which saw him net a double on his return to the side.
 
The Blues were odds-on favourites to beat the Belgian side at Stamford Bridge and won convincingly 5-0.
Villas-Boas was pleased with the way his team handled the match and believes Torres has seen a revival in his confidence.
“He [Torres] wanted to play," Villas-Boas told Sky Sports. "It was important for him to play for the Spain national team and he has been keeping his form well and got into positive positions.
“I think it was a very good display by the team. It’s very decisive when you play a game of this dimension. We kept the rhythm high, in the second half we wanted to keep the rhythm high but I think here and there we missed a couple of passes.
“We increased the tempo in the last 20 minutes but couldn’t find the back of the net. But it was a good result and puts us in a good position. If we get ten points it will be very good.
"We felt confident from the beginning. We stayed focused and motivated together. The goal in the first 15 minutes gave us stability.
“I don’t think it’s about individual objectives but collective objectives.”

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AC Milan 2-0 BATE Borisov: Ibrahimovic & Boateng ease Italian giants to comfortable Group H Victory

The home team took all three points at San Siro with a dominating display against the Belarusian side, as they forgot their Serie A woes to equal Barcelona on points in the table

The home side missed a host of chances but still emerged the victors courtesy of two great goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin Prince Boateng.

The Italian champions started the match brightly, putting the visitors under heavy pressure early in the game, and in the fourth minute Alberto Aquilani was handed a great chance to open the scoring but the midfielder's close-range effort sailed just over the bar.
Then moments later and Ibrahimovic tried one from just past the halfway line but like Aquilani before him, the giant Swede’s drive flew over the top of the goal.
The hosts were still controlling the game with Aquilani looking particularly lively, as the Italy international saw one effort crash off the post before forcing Aleksandr Gutor into a good save with a drive from the right side of the box.
Just after the half hour mark and against the run of play, the away side should have taken the lead, when a lack of concentration from Mark van Bommel gifted Renan Bressan a great opportunity to open the scoring, but the Brazilian was denied by a great save from Christian Abbiati.


Ten minutes before the break, Milan took a deserved lead through a great finish from Ibrahimovic. A dangerous cross from Ignazio Abate wasn’t cleared properly, which left the Sweden international with space to drive the ball past Gutor from the just inside the area.
The second half began and the home side were still dominating the game, creating a host of chances before Ibrahimovic missed a good opportunity to get his second of the night, instead blazing his effort into the stands.
With 20 minutes to go Milan doubled their advantage with a thunderbolt from Boateng, as the Ghana international controlled the ball beautifully after an Aquilani corner before unleashing a ferocious drive from the edge of the box that left Gutor with no chance.
Following tonight's victory Milan will now travel to Belarus in November, knowing a win would all but seal their qualification to the knockout stages while BATE will be looking for their first win of the campaign.

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Manchester United's Javier Hernandez to score last & three Champions League Tuesday goalscorer tips

Jim Knight has flagged up Miralem Sulejmani as a potential scorer for Ajax, goal machine Mario Gomez for Bayern Munich and the Red Devils' gifted Mexican

 

 

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Tuesday Bet of the Day extra: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema tipped to score against Lyon

The French forward likes to rendezvous with his old club, netting in both games between the sides last season, and is a fine price to do the same at the Bernabeu tonight

Whilst a resurgent Real Madrid host Lyon in Tuesday Evening's Champions League clash on the back of three consecutive victories, the Spanish side have a surprisingly poor record against their French visitors.  
 

Having met eight times since 2005, the Madrid giants have only won once, a 3-0 victory earlier this year. Lyon have the advantage over the Merengues, with the equivalent of 13 points to the Spaniard's seven.

With this in mind, the 1.20 for a home win is far too short as an outright bet. The value, therefore, resides in the other markets, and, as a thoughtful punter, it is your duty to look elsewhere for a quality bet with profit potential.

In the goalscorer markets, there is an immediate temptation to go for the current form man in Gonzalo Higuain. His goalscoring exploits recently have taken the breath away, with three hat-tricks in four games for both club and country, making him one of the most feared marksmen on the planet.
Jose Mourinho has indicated he may now play Higuain alongside Karim Benzema, given the Argentine's impressive form only came along due to the French forward's injury. This will be a big game for the former Lyon player, and, in three games against his old club, he has found the net twice.

Having not played at the weekend it looks most likely that Mourinho (returning from a touchline ban himself) has earmarked this game for the French striker's comeback. Backing the Benz each way at 4.0 to open the scoring looks an attractive bet given that he's almost certain to start.

If you are confident in Real's ability to win, then consider backing them to win without conceding at 1.90 - and do so knowing that they've only let in one goal in their last seven home games in this competition.

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Agent claims Roma, Udinese & Palermo are interested in Nacional's Nicolas Lopez

The talented teenager has made no secret of wanting to leave Uruguay and his representative claims that there is no shortage of potential suitors

Interest appears to be heating up around wantaway Nacional starlet Nicolas Lopez, as the youngster's agent has revealed Roma, Palermo and Udinese are all interested in signing his client.  
 

The future of the 18-year-old striker has been in doubt ever since August, when his father revealed that he was in Italy to decide Lopez's future without the permission of the Uruguayan club. Nacional were furious and threatened to report the case to Fifa in order to avoid the exit of one of their most promising talents.

A move did not materialise before the summer transfer window closed, but Lopez's representative, Pablo Betancourt, revealed on Thursday that certain clubs were hoping to make a move sooner rather than later.

"Not just Roma are interested in Nicolas. Palermo and Udinese want him too," the agent told Mediagol from Italy.

Lopez has made five appearances for the Uruguayan champions since making his debut in April 2011, scoring three times.

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Manchester United forward Mame Biram Diouf believes another loan move would benefit his Old Trafford career

The Senegal international has had loan spells at former side Molde and in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and is now after more first-team action

Manchester United youngster Mame Biram Diouf believes that a further spell on loan would benefit both himself and his club.
The forward arrived at Old Trafford from Norwegian outfit Molde in 2009 and was immediately loaned back to the club currently managed by Red Devils legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Diouf then secured another temporary move to Blackburn Rover last season where he featured 26 times, scoring on three occasions.
The 23-year-old believes he may need to depart from United once more on loan to gain more first-team action, instead of fighting it out with more experienced figures such as Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen.
"It is not easy for me, but to be honest unless you are [Lionel] Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo you are not going to get in the attack of Manchester United," he told Sky Sports.
"Sometimes you have a winner of the Golden Ball [Owen] or last season's top scorer (Berbatov) not even on the bench, in the last game the striker substitutes were Rooney and Hernandez.
"I will keep on fighting and see, going on a loan to play regularly would benefit both parties."

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Otelul Galati - Manchester United Preview: Sir Alex Ferguson's side looking to make up for lost ground with first Champions League win

PROBABLE LINEUPS

OTELUL GALATI   Grahovac Skubic, Perendija, Costin, Salageanu Antal, Filip, Ibeh, Giurgiu, Bus Pena

MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea Fabio, Smalling, Vidic, Evra Valencia, Carrick, Anderson, Young Rooney, Hernandez

The Romanian side have not been in the best of form this season, as they are currently in a mid-table position in their local standings.

Their maiden tryst with the Champions League has not yielded any fruit either, as they look for their first ever points in the group stage against a club that has tasted the ultimate triumph in the competition three times in their history.

The wide array of attacking talent that the Red Devils possess might prompt the hosts to stick with a 4-5-1 line-up in the hope of snatching a point from the encounter.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made a few changes to his line-up in the recent 1-1 draw with Liverpool, keeping Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Michael Carrick on the bench. All three could make a return to the starting line-up, considering the gravity of their current situation in the group.

The champions of England have drawn their opening two games and playing catch-up for the top spot may prove to be a sticky task if three points are not secured in Romania.

Tom Cleverley (foot) and Darron Gibson (ankle) are the only fitness related concerns that Sir Alex has ahead of the trip, though Rio Ferdinand hasn't travelled, with an otherwise strong squad available to the Scot.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Otelul Galati won their domestic league last season and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. They are yet to register their first points in the competition, having lost to Benfica and Basel in their first two games in Group C.

• They have not won a match on the European stage since a 2-1 second leg victory - 4-2 on aggregate - over Turkish side Trabzonspor in the third round of the 2007 Intertoto Cup.

• The hosts will be playing an English club for the first time in their history, while Sir Alex's charges have played a Romanian club only once before - Dinamo Bucharest in 2004-05.

• Manchester United have conceded four goals so far, drawing both their games in Group C. Ironically, Otelul have shipped in three but have lost both their games.

• The Red Devils began their legendary 1998-99 European campaign with two draws, but eventually ended up conquering Europe.

• Sir Alex has guided United to two European triumphs in his long and distinguished career at Old Trafford. Should his team taste glory again, he will have equalled Liverpool's legendary former boss Bob Paisley's record of three European cups. No other manager has won as many. 

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