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

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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 

PETALING JAYA: Coach Norizan Bakar (pic) will be leaving Kelantan at the end of the month, leaving the Premier League side in a quandary ahead of the Malaysia Cup competition, which is scheduled to begin on June 11.

“I had a talk with the Kelantan FA (Kafa) president last week,” said the former national coach yesterday.

“I am leaving on personal grounds and will leave on an amicable note. The players are having a break now and will report for training again next Thursday. I will complete my duties at the end of the month,” he said.

Kelantan had a good run in the Premier League this season. They just missed out on promotion to the Super League, finishing third in the 13-team competition behind Kuala Muda Naza and KL Plus with 53 points from 16 wins, five draws and three defeats.

The team chalked up a 100% record at home, winning all 12 matches at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru.

Last season, Kelantan finished eighth in an 11-team competition and made early exits in the FA and Malaysia Cup competitions.

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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.

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Muda Naza’s gamble with a team of national discards and veterans has paid off handsomely with the Premier League title.

It is a proven formula for head coach K. Devan. He applied it when he led his former team, Negri Sembilan Naza, to the Super League crown in 2006. Negri also finished as the Malaysia Cup runners-up and made it to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

But the Deer surprisingly dropped Devan, who won the best coach’s award for his efforts. And it was no surprise when Devan brought along his old faithful charges to Gurun to carry the challenge for Kuala Muda this season.

Seasoned campaigners, among them skipper Mohd Annuar Jusoh, B. Rajanikandh, Azizon Kadir, Manzoor Azwira, Liew Kit Kong, Rudie Ramli and P. Sivanantham, formed the core of the Kedah club side.

The 35-year-old Annuar is one of the longest-serving players in the M-League. He has been in the business since 1992 and said that he would keep on going as long as he could.

We’re the champions: Kuala Muda Naza’s players and officials posing with the Premier League trophy after beating KL Plus 3-2 in their final league match on Saturday. – AZMAN GHANI / The Star

“It all boils down to self-discipline and what you want to do with your life. I want to continue to play football. I have helped a team win the Premier League title and gain promotion to the Super League and it proves that age is no barrier if you put your heart and soul to the tasks,” said Annuar.

Devan said that there was no substitute for experience.

“There were basically two strong elements that resulted in the team achieving success this season,” he said.

“One was the strong support of the management (Naza Group) and the other was the strong commitment of the players throughout the season.”

But the team had to put the celebrations of their success on hold following the demise of the founder and chairman of the Naza Group, Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin S.M. Amin.

Devan added that many teams in the M-League opted for new blood, leaving the veterans with little option but to move to the second-tier competition.

But Devan has made the right selection of players, including a few national discards, who were heavily criticised after the national team’s disastrous outing in the Asian Cup Finals, which Malaysia hosted last year.

“It is a remarkable achievement for the club to move to the top flight after just four seasons in the M-League (Kuala Muda finished second from bottom in the 11-team Premier League last year),” said Devan.

He added that some of the teams wanted to sign their players, including the veterans, on loan for the Malaysia Cup competition scheduled to kick off next month.

The 16-team Malaysia Cup competition is for the 14 state teams, Police and the Armed Forces.

Kuala Muda also have some outstanding youngsters in Faderin Kadir, who was named man-of-the-match after they edged arch-rivals KL Plus FC 3-2 in their final match of the season at the KL Football Stadium in Cheras on Saturday.

The team also had three influential foreigners – Nigerian striker Nkoju Emeka and Brazilians Jose Antonio Vega (midfielder) and Fernando Rebeiro (defender).

Kuala Muda completed the Premier League on 61 points – four more than KL Plus, who will also play in the Super League next season. Kelantan finished third on 53 points.

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) have not made a decision on teams to be relegated from the Premier League. Initially, the bottom two teams will go down. The two teams who finished at the bottom this season are Forces (14 points) and K. Lumpur (16).

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