Wayne Rooney is confident Carlos Tevez will pledge his long-term future to Manchester United.

The Argentina international has indicated he would be keen to stay on at Old Trafford when his loan deal expires next year.

‘I don’t see why that shouldn’t happen,’ said Rooney. ‘Carlos enjoys playing his football here.

‘He’s got his wife and child with him, who don’t live too far away from me.

‘He’s a nice quiet lad who gets on with his job and he’s enjoying his life.’

In the space of 12 months Tevez has gone from saving West Ham from relegation to winning a Barclays Premier League title with United.

He has formed a good understanding with Rooney and the respect is mutual ahead of the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow on Wednesday.

‘Carlos is a great player and works really hard for the team. I had no doubts at all we could play together,’ said the England striker.

‘From his first day in training with us, you could see the qualities he had.

‘I couldn’t wait to play alongside him. He’s been brilliant, he’s a battler, he works so hard for the team - it’s been unbelievable.’

It is a big time in Rooney’s life, both professionally and personally as he is due to marry Coleen McLoughlin next month.

Beating Chelsea and getting a winners’ medal would be a perfect early gift, he admits.

‘Yes, it will make the wedding a bit better,’ said Rooney. ‘Of course, I’ll enjoy the summer more if I win.

‘However it wouldn’t be unbearable if we lost because you have your football and your family life.

‘They are two different things and you can’t really let it upset you too much.

‘You’ve still got people there around you and you don’t want to be sitting around grumpy.

‘When I am with my family, football doesn’t get mentioned that much.’

United retained their Premier League title on the last day and edged out Chelsea by two points.

Rooney is well aware of the threat posed by their league rivals, especially when it comes to striker Didier Drogba.

‘He’s big, strong, he scores goals - left foot, right foot, headers - at times he is unplayable,’ said Rooney.

‘Sometimes it seems as if his head’s not quite right but when he’s at his best he’s an unbelievable player.

‘I hope it’s like a Premier League game, an open game and end to end.

‘If Chelsea go one up it is very difficult to get back at them as they are more defensive than us.

‘If we go one up, we’d keep trying to get a second goal. That’s the main difference between the teams.

‘To win the Champions League on the back of winning the league would be a great achievement - we just have to go there to enjoy it.’

Article source:

ESPNSoccernet

Manchester United clinched their 10th Premier League title on Sunday after a dramatic final day of action which saw them pip Chelsea to the championship. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs gave United a 2-0 win over Wigan and ensured they retained the title, elsewhere rivals Chelsea drew 1-1 with Bolton. At the bottom Fulham retained their top flight status with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth which consigned Birmingham and Reading to relegation.

Ryan Giggs couldn’t contain his delight having scored the goal that sealed United’s tenth Premier League crown.

But the Reds’ winger, who was a second-half substitute for Ji-sung Park, says doing it in a game where he equalled Sir Bobby Charton’s appearance record is a mere aside.

“It feels great,” he said of his record-extending tenth title. “I’m not bothered about individual records, this is what it’s all about – championships.

“We knew it would be a tough game, and it was. We did well in the first half and got that first goal. Then it was a case of holding on.”

Giggs’ goal nine minutes from time ended any hopes of a late Wigan intervention, and it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving player.

“It was a great goal just to settle us down,” added the Welshman. “We felt a little more comfortable after that.”

The 34-year-old is now targeting a double in Moscow on 21 May. The Reds travel to Russia to take on Chelsea in the Champions League final, and Giggs says: “Winning the league feels great, and hopefully we can win another trophy in ten days’ time.”

Rio Ferdinand, thrice a title winner himself, spoke of the players’ admiration for Ryan.

“This is my third title but it’s Giggsy’s tenth and that puts it into perspective,” said Rio. “He keeps driving on every season and that’s an inspiration to all the lads.”

Article source:

ESPNSoccerNet

Sir Alex Ferguson is ecstatic after landing his 10th Barclays Premier League title as United boss. Here’s a transcript of his first post-match interview at Wigan:

Was this the toughest title race so far?
“It was a tough one alright and being away from home today made it more difficult. In fairness for most of the game we played well. There were some nervous moments and then the rain came and we were wondering what’s going to happen now, because anything can happen on a rainy surface. Just after half-time we started to get a grip of it. We missed a few chances and the goalkeeper made some great saves. I was saying to myself, “Please give us that second goal.” Of course, my oldest player, ten medals today, gets it – Ryan Giggs. Fantastic.”

Was Paul Scholes fortunate not to be sent off?
“I think Paul rode his luck a little bit. I thought his first tackle was reckless and he deserved to be booked. The second one was nothing, a shove and it didn’t merit a booking at all. But there was one a few minutes before that one which puts the case in doubt.”

How nervous were you when Chelsea went 1-0 up?
“You’ve got to try and dismiss all the stuff round about you, forget what was happening at Chelsea and concentrate on our own game. I think we did that okay. But there was a guy behind us who kept telling us it was 2-0 to Chelsea after just one minute.”

What would you regard as the turning point in the title race?
“It ebbed and flowed a bit. Arsenal, for long periods, looked like they were

going to win it. Then they dropped a few points after we knocked them out of the FA Cup and that told for them. We then dropped a few points at Blackburn and Middlesbrough and that allowed Chelsea to close right in. But the two points they dropped against Wigan probably won the title for us.”

How does it feel to have won 10 titles?
“Fantastic. I’m very proud. Proud to have survived for so long. It’s a great club and it’s much easier for me than it is for anyone else. How would I do without this? Tell me.”

You’re now just one title short of Liverpool’s record. Is that your next target?
“I think it will come. This side’s young. It’s developing all the time. It’s a good young team and there are plenty of years left in them. They’ll do it in their own time.”

What impact will winning the title have on the Champions League final?
“The great thing is we’re bouncing into the final. We can look forward to it. If we’d lost the title today, it would have been difficult. When we lost the title at West Ham in 1995, we lost the FA Cup final the following week. We were dead then. We’re not dead now, we’re alive. If we win the European Cup, this has to be my best team.”

Article source:

ManUtd.com

Silvestre said it was great to be at training knowing that one was working to try and win the Premier League title and Champions League.

LONDON: Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has rejected taunts from Chelsea’s Michael Ballack that Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad are experiencing the “longest week of their lives” ahead of today’s Premier League decider against Wigan.

United will be crowned Premier League champions for the tenth time under Ferguson if they emerge from their trip to nearby Wigan with a result as good as, or better than, Chelsea’s final score against Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

Having closed a five-point gap over the last two weeks to move level with United on goal difference at the top of the table, Chelsea believe they have the momentum going into the final day of the league season.

But with the two clubs also due to clash in the Champions League Final in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, United’s French defender Silvestre insists that the reigning champions are on course to wrap up the league title against Wigan.

Silvestre, recently back to full fitness following a six-month knee injury lay-off, said: “It’s great to be at training knowing that you are working to try and win the title and Champions League.

“There is a great atmosphere among the players because we’re so close to success and everybody is enjoying it. With the sun shining outside as well, it is a great time for us!

“We kept our cool against West Ham last week and now we need to do the same at Wigan. Scoring early would be ideal, but we all believe we’ll go on to win the league. I always knew that we would do well this season and go far in both competitions.”

Wigan, managed by former United captain Steve Bruce, have pulled clear of the relegation zone in recent weeks and last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa confirmed their status in the Premier League next season.

Since winning promotion to the top flight in 2005, Wigan have faced United six times in the League and Cup and lost on each occasion, but recent draws against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea underline their improvement under Bruce, who succeeded the sacked Chris Hutchings as manager last November.

But with Bruce’s links to United, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has moved to quell any fears from Chelsea that his team will be an easy touch for United today.

Whelan said: “There is nothing we would like better than to roll Manchester United over on Sunday (today), but they are used to the pressure, they are a good side and it’s going to be really hard for us to beat them.

“Make no doubt about it, though, if we can beat United we will do it. Our lads are relaxed and confident and they are up for it big style.

“We know that we could make ourselves the most disliked club in the world if we stop United winning the title, but we don’t mind that because we are going to give it a real go.

“We are on the centrestage of the Premier League worldwide this weekend and we want to show people what Wigan are about.” — AFP

The New Straits Times 

Avram Grant believes Chelsea and Manchester United should decide the destiny of the Premier League title with a winner-takes-all play-off if both teams finish level on points after Sunday’s dramatic finale.
United will pip Chelsea to the title on goal difference if the leaders win at Wigan and Grant’s side beat Bolton at Stamford Bridge.
The Israeli even joked that Chelsea’s Champions League final against United in Moscow on May 21 could serve as a showdown for both trophies.

“I must admit sometimes Manchester United play very good football and score a lot of goals,” Grant said. “But I prefer the system in Italy. If you have the same points you play the other team.

“I know I have an interest now to say that, but I like it more than just for that. Sometimes against the weakest teams you score more goals.

“If you have the same points it means you are on the same level so you have to play to see who is better. We could play winners takes all in Moscow!”

Grant’s suggestion has no chance of becoming reality this season, so Chelsea’s failure to keep pace with United’s goal spree could be costly, leaving him to rue injuries that deprieved him of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard for long periods.

“We played more attractive football but you don’t push a button and suddenly score lot of goals. We won 6-0, 4-0 and 3-0 several times,” Grant said. “When you miss so many players the target is just to win games, especially in the beginning.

“When we beat Derby 6-0 I said to one of the big players I didn’t like his game because we needed to score more goals.

“He said ‘why?’. I said maybe at the end of the season we will need it. He came to me last week and said ‘how did you know?’. I didn’t know but I knew we needed to get more goals.”

Grant suffered a blow earlier this week when the Premier League confirmed that Nicolas Anelka wouldn’t be able to play against his former club because he initially moved to west London on loan.

Ricardo Carvalho is also a doubt with a back injury following the Portugal defender’s awkward fall at Newcastle on Monday.

Chelsea’s title battle with Sir Alex Ferguson could easily spoil a 15-year friendship between the managers, but Grant insists he is already planning to share a bottle of Israeli wine with the United boss before the Champions League final.

“I have promised him an Israeli wine and we are going to drink it before the final. But it doesn’t matter. I am friends with other managers and I still want to beat them,” Grant said.

That wine will have a bitter taste for Grant if his side don’t beat Bolton. It would be unforgivable for Chelsea not to extend their unbeaten run to 21 games, even if United take the three points needed to lift their 17th English title.

But, despite Ferguson’s suggestion that Bolton were already celebrating their survival, Gary Megson’s team need to avoid a heavy defeat to avoid any chance of being sucked into the relegation zone.

After a run of three wins in four matches, Bolton will fancy their chances of doing United a favour. Kevin Davies will pose the biggest threat to Chelsea and the muscular Wanderers striker admitted his side are ready to play ugly if it ensures their survival.

“It’s only goal difference now that can affect us so we’ll go to Chelsea and put 10 men behind the ball,” Davies said. “Hopefully, if we do that we’ll be OK. We have to go down to Chelsea and do a job.”

Grant certainly won’t have any qualms about winning ugly if it means Chelsea finish a nerve-jangling final day as champions.

Article source:

The New Straits Times