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| Wednesday, May 23, 2007 |
| Manchester United 0 - 1 Chelsea |
 Didier Drogba scored during extra time Saturday to give Chelsea a 1–0 victory over Manchester United in the first FA Cup final at rebuilt Wembley stadium. Among the biggest let-downs of a final where tired legs ensured there was no hope of lofty pre-match expectations being met by England's top two, Drogba produced his 33rd and final goal of an incredible season at just the right time as a penalty shoot-out seemed certain. Chelsea now has four cup titles and joins Arsenal (1993) and Liverpool (2001) in becoming the third club to win both cups in the same season. United did their best to rally but after a draining season, in which they extended every sinew to finish champions, they had nothing left to give as two teams too tired to reach the Champions League final did finally fall on the ropes exhausted. Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba, widely accepted as the best two players in the Barclays Premiership, were virtual bystanders. United manager Ferguson still has five FA Cup titles to go with his nine in the Premier League, and Manchester United’s record of FA Cup titles stays at 11.
"It’s disappointing. It was a big game simply because of Manchester United’s history in the FA Cup," Ferguson said. "It’s exceptional, it’s very good. We’ve lost two FA Cup finals now (in three years) and haven’t scored a goal. But today it was just about tiredness. I think that’s a genuine reason." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 4:07 AM |
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| Thursday, May 17, 2007 |
| Mourinho Wants Cup Classic |
 Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hopes this weekend's FA Cup final at Wembley can be one of the greatest ever and he has called Ferguson to help make a classic one. The Portuguese is preparing for his first FA Cup final, and wants to make the event as spectacular as possible.
"Everybody has a responsibility in the final, everybody - me, Sir Alex, the players, referee Mr (Steve) Bennett and his assistants," Mourinho said.
"I will be very sad and disappointed if the final is not a good event, a fair event, without problems, with a good winner and proud loser.
"I will be very sad and disappointed if the final is not a good event, a fair event, without problems, with a good winner and proud loser.
"I want to win but Man Utd want to win. Chelsea gave a good example of how to behave when we lost the Premiership crown.
"I would be disappointed if some of the players were diving or trying to get others red-carded, I would be very disappointed with that.
"It is up to us all to make it a sporting event to remember. If both teams can have an attacking and positive spirit, we can make the game a real final - a final the new Wembley deserves.
"I have a big desire to make it a big sporting event, a very good game of football - that is the message I am passing on to my players.
"Play with happiness, an open mind and heart and really enjoy it. I believe the other side have similar feelings to ours."
Mourinho admits he still has many decisions to make regarding the final make-up of his side.Injuries have already robbed him of striker Andriy Shevchenko, midfielder Michael Ballack and defender Ricardo Carvalho, and there are doubts over John Obi Mikel, Arjen Robben and Ashley Cole. |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 12:05 AM |
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| Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
| Ronaldo Collect Another Award |
 Cristiano Ronaldo will collects collect another award at the Football Writers' Association 60th anniversary dinner in London tomorrow night as the Footballer of the Year Award. The 22-year-old Manchester United winger has already collected a plethora of accolades after helping drive his team towards the Barclays Premiership title, and potentially an FA Cup double.Ronaldo was earlier this week named the United fans and players' player of the year, as well as scooping both the awards from the Professional Footballers' Association - the first man to win each category in the same season since Andy Gray in 1977.United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will also attend the gala event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel to honour one of his star men, who recently agreed a new five-year deal with the Old Trafford club.
Chairman of the FWA, Paul Hetherington said: "Cristiano has picked up every award in sight - which is an indication of the superb season he has had.
"The football writers' have clearly got their choice right as the Footballer of the Year, which shows there have been no agendas carried over from the World Cup last summer.
"Even though Cristiano has already been presented with many awards, we believe tomorrow night will be be a very special occasion for him."
Hetherington added: "This is the original of all awards to honour the outstanding footballer of the season.
"It is our 60th anniversary - we started off with a famous winger in Sir Stanley Matthews as our first winner and now our latest recipient is also a winger blessed with breathtaking skills."
Cristiano Ronaldo signed by United in a £12.2million deal during August 2003, before the season is out could yet get his hands on more silverware, with the FA Cup final against Chelsea set to be played at the new Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
"I am at a great club, with great players. We should be looking to win something every year," said Ronaldo.
"This season is not over yet either. We still have a chance to win the double and, while you can never say who will win any match, the confidence in the team is high and I believe we have a good chance." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 11:05 PM |
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| Saha Ruled Out Of FA Cup Final |
 Ferguson has confirmed that United striker Louis Saha has been ruled out of Saturday's FA Cup final with Chelsea because of a knee injury. He has been struggling with a combination of knee and hamstring problems and his last appearance came as a substitute in the final 13 minutes of second leg Champions League semifinals at San Siro.
"Louis is out," said Ferguson.
"He picked up the knee injury in Milan and we did another scan on Monday to identify the problem for clearly.
"With Louis now, it is a matter of deciding what to do next. We will be making a decision next week but we are considering an operation."
Saha has 13 goals for United this season. Manchester United is seeking to win the Premier League and FA Cup titles in one season for the first time since 1999. |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 10:49 PM |
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| Tuesday, May 15, 2007 |
| Gill Promises Funds |
 Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill has promised Sir Alex Ferguson funds to improve his squad for next season. Ferguson has celebrated his ninth league title in charge of United but Gill insists there is no chance of complacency creeping in at Old Trafford.
"You can't just assume the success you've achieved will continue," Gill told Manchester United Radio.
"You have to always look to improve and invest, and that's what we're going to do. We've got a great team who have done very well and we'll be looking to tweak it here and there.
"Manchester United has been - and always will be - a club that buys players as well as giving youth its chance. And that's what we'll see next year and for many years to come."
Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves tops the list of players linked with a summer move, with Dimitar Berbatov and Gareth Bale also reputed targets for the Red Devils manager. Only players who improve the quality of his squad will arrive at Old Trafford over the summer that Ferguson Insist.
"Any time you bring a player into a winning team you have to measure whether it's going to improve you," he said. "We're doing that at the moment with some players.
"Assessing what we've got is hopefully right, and if we do bring someone in they'll contribute and compliment the team or the squad."
Gill also paid tribute to the work done by the Glazer family, revealing their expertise off the field has helped facilitate success on it.
"The Glazer family understands the sports business and know that success on the pitch is key to success off the pitch," said Gill.
"Before they'd taken over there was a lot of talk about what the ownership structure was going to be and we had the disciplines of the Stock Exchange to follow.
"I think now, with the private ownership, we have stability and can concentrate on delivering a great team on the pitch." |
| posted by j4ckpot @ 6:24 AM |
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