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.’

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ESPNSoccernet

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LONDON: Ryan Giggs says Manchester United’s stars will be kicking lumps out of each other in a bid to make the Champions League final.

Already their Premier League triumph has been put into the background as they eye next week’s date with Chelsea in Moscow.

Giggs, goal hero of the title-clinching win over Wigan, said: “Confidence is high because we have a fit squad to choose from.

“The players will be kicking lumps out of each other over the next week to try to get into the team.

“That’s good for the team because we’ll all be eager to get picked and to play well. We’ll celebrate the title and then start getting ready for the game in Moscow.”

Boss Alex Ferguson admitted he might have to put the reins on players.

“Some Friday mornings before a game the training sessions are so competitive.

“I have to say ‘Come on, stop this now’ because they are really at it and I’m frightened there is going to be an injury.

“But that is just a measure of their desire to do well all the time.”

Ferguson also revealed he was dreading have to name the Champions League final squad.

There will be 11 on the pitch and seven on the bench.

“The hardest part is not picking the team but leaving players out of the bench, believe me.

“We have 25 for Moscow. That means seven of them can’t even get stripped and sit on the bench.

“That is the hardest thing. I’ve had to do it in the past.

“Somebody has to make the decision and the manager is paid to. I’m not looking forward to it but I know I’ve got to do it.” – The Sun, London

TheStar Sports

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LONDON: Manchester United will bid £30mil for Seville stars Luis Fabiano and Dani Alves this week.

Boss Alex Ferguson is wasting no time in strengthening his squad for next season and expects to strike a deal for the Brazilians.

SunSport can reveal United chief scout Martin Ferguson has watched the pair 10 times in the last three months.

Alves, 25, is seen as the long-term replacement at right-back for Gary Neville while Fabiano, 27, will add presence and goals to the attack.

The hitman, who has netted 33 times in 38 games this season, is only part-owned by the club – 65% of his registration is owned by a private investment group similar to the Carlos Tevez situation last season.

Both players are regular starters for Brazil and Alves is regarded as the best attacking rightback in the world.

Fergie’s first choice was Porto’s Jose Bosingwa but he got beaten to the Portugal player’s signature by Chelsea on Monday.

Alves was a Blues target last summer but they refused to pay his £24mil tag. – The Sun, London

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TheStar Sports

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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.”

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ESPNSoccerNet

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Record-holder Ryan Giggs marked a lifetime’s loyalty with the best present possible as he delivered another Premier League title to Manchester United as they beat Wigan 2-0.United were in front but needing calming despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half penalty when Giggs kept his nerve to coolly slot home Wayne Rooney’s through ball.

A quarter of an hour earlier, Giggs’ had been introduced for his 758th United appearance, equalling a milestone left by Sir Bobby Charlton that will surely be eclipsed in Moscow on May 21.

But all Giggs will care about is adding to a medal collection that continues to expand, containing all 10 championships won under Sir Alex Ferguson, part of an overall United haul of 17, one adrift of Liverpool, who Ferguson has vowed to overtake.

Few would begrudge the Red Devils their latest success, even if the free-flowing attack that has propelled them to glory by two points over Chelsea - who drew 1-1 with Bolton - was strangely muted.

Certainly anyone still daring to suggest Steve Bruce was happy enough to do his old club a favour clearly was not inside a stadium where, contrary to stated wisdom, the vast majority wanted a home win.

And how Wigan did their supporters proud as they controlled possession for long periods and enjoyed the majority of chances.

Emile Heskey was a particular thorn in the side of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and, with Antonio Valencia providing flashes of inspiration from the flanks, United were wobbling.

Had Chelsea known the strife their rivals were in and taken advantage in those tense early minutes, United may have toppled.

Instead, Michael Brown, Jason Koumas and Marcus Bent all failed to convert half chances and Chelsea, with longer-term problems concerning John Terry to deal with, could not seize the early initiative.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Ronaldo had been a subdued force until his moment of destiny arrived and allowed him to equal Alan Shearer’s Premier League best haul of 31.

The Portugal winger is still to produce the one stand-out performance on a day of high importance that will silence his remaining critics.

But, with the pressure starting to increase, Ronaldo was the coolest man in the stadium, sending Chris Kirkland the wrong way after Boyce had clipped Wayne Rooney.

As Sir Alex Ferguson had listed Rooney as no better than having the chance of a place on the bench 48 hours earlier, the striker’s presence in United’s starting line-up was a major surprise.

Like Ronaldo, Rooney toiled for long periods without having an impact but as Paul Scharner let the ball slide under his foot, Ferguson’s decision to select the England man was fully justified as he was onto it in a flash.

A posse of Wigan players, Boyce among them, surrounded referee Steve Bennett to complain, although in truth they had a more plausible argument when Paul Scholes barged Wilson Palacios over by the touchline a couple of minutes later.

As the tenacious midfielder had already been booked for a foul on the same man, Bennett would have been fully justified in giving the afternoon a dramatic twist by pulling out a red card.

Instead, the official, harangued by Ferguson for dismissing Ronaldo at Portsmouth earlier in the season, opted to issue a final warning, which merely reinforced the belief that United would be champions.

United certainly began the second-half as if they believed it.

Kirkland denied a thunderous Ronaldo free-kick and goalbound efforts from Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

It formed past of a frenzied period which should have seen United awarded a penalty for Titus Bramble’s ill-advised lunge on Scholes and Rooney booked as he launched a volley of abuse at Bennett for a free-kick awarded against him.

At least for the sake of United’s nerves, the action was taking place around the Wigan goal but by the time Giggs was introduced, the Latics had revived and Emile Heskey planted a header on the roof of the visitors’ net from Koumas’ free-kick.

But United were not to be denied and 10 minutes from time, Rooney provided the killer pass for Giggs to wrap up yet another title and allow minds to wander towards the Luzhniki Stadium in 10 days’ time when they intend to leave Chelsea heartbroken once more.

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ESPNSoccerNet 

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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 

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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.

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The New Straits Times

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Ryan Giggs is the Manchester United club’s most decorated player with 18 major honours are now aiming for another record.

The discovery of a statistical error in Sir Bobby Charlton’s appearance record has given Ryan Giggs the chance to become United’s record appearance-maker this season, if he features in the Reds’ remaining two games.

Sir Bobby has held the club record of 759 appearances since ending his United career in 1973, but that tally included an outing against Bolton Wanderers in January 1962 - a match in which he actually played no part.

Following his substitute appearance against West Ham on Saturday, Giggs can now equal Charlton’s record against Wigan next weekend, and overtake it against Chelsea in the Champions League final.

While the veteran winger is proud of the impending achievement, he prefers to focus on ensuring a successful end to United’s season rather than dwell on the monumental landmark.

“I’m more concentrating on winning the Premier League next weekend, and after that winning the Champions League,” he told MUTV.

“Personal records really don’t mean a lot to me while I’m still playing. They’re things that I’ll look upon when I’m finished and obviously be proud of doing. At the moment I’m just concentrating and thinking about winning trophies.”

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www.manutd.com

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Manchester United are well aware of the challenges that lie ahead in the final two games of the season, but the players believes that the chances to win two trophies at the end of them will drive the players to glory.

Premier league title will be decided this Sunday. A Victory at Wigan next Sunday will guarantee a tenth Premier League title.

Chelsea will pay a visit to Newcastle homegrown tonight. Any shocking defeat to Chelsea then Manchester United will retain their 2007/2008 title.

In 2 weeks, on 21 May, the Reds heading to Moscow for a showdown with Avram Grant’s men in the Champions League final. And most Manchester United players says they are determined to ensure there is cause for a double celebration at the season finale.

Two more wins and they will get two trophies. That’s what they’re aiming for!

No doubt, Manchester United have played well all season. To throw it away now would be very disappointing.

By now all Manchester United players should know the title belong to them if they win at Wigan. The win will boost their energy and will be looking forward to Moscow for the Champion League crown. It won’t be easy, but the players want both trophies and they’ll do everything they can to get them.

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