Hiddink: Blues trophy hunt is not over

Guus Hiddink is ready to concentrate on a cup double after conceding Chelsea are realistically out of the race for the Barclays Premier League title.

Hiddink insisted that it was now time to focus on the Champions League and the FA Cup after their goalless stalemate against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

"It is difficult but we now have to focus on only two other roads - the Champions League and, later on in May, Everton again in the FA Cup final," admitted Hiddink.
Chelsea face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Nou Camp next Tuesday and Hiddink is considering giving some of his players a rest against West Ham on Saturday.

He is already without centre-half Ricardo Carvalho for the trip to Spain, the Portuguese having suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

But in a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final at the end of May, Chelsea and Everton served up an entertaining draw that was dominated by goalkeepers.

Chelsea's Petr Cech and Everton's Tim Howard produced fine solo performances to preserve the deadlock which, coupled with Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Portsmouth, put an end to any remaining title ambitions for Hiddink's side.

The Blues are six points adrift of leaders United who have a game in hand and Hiddink added: "Everyone is disappointed. We knew it was difficult to go for the title so when you drop two points there is disappointment of course.

"But this team is able to cope with that and focus ourselves on the difficult game against Barcelona next week."

Allardyce rejects 'bizarre' Keane claim

Sam Allardyce has delivered a withering put-down to Roy Keane after the Irishman's "bizarre" outburst at his former Manchester United team-mates who have become managers.

Keane, the new Ipswich manager, questioned whether Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes should be regarded as "good managers" or successful because they have yet to win a trophy - but Allardyce said Keane himself had a long way to go to be seen alongside either of his former United team-mates.

Allardyce, whose Blackburn team come up against Bruce's Wigan side on Sunday, told PA Sport: "I find that statement to be quite bizarre to be perfectly honest."

He added: "What Sparky and Brucey have done with the resources they have had shows they are both top managers and very, very capable managers.

"I think that Roy's a long distance away from a Steve Bruce and a Mark Hughes by his lack of experience in the job. So I find that quite a bizarre statement and I wouldn't agree with that at all."

Hughes meanwhile has reminded Keane he is not the only one with a fierce hunger to succeed as a manager.

And he feels Thursday's observations were just an example of his former team mate shooting from the hip without necessarily giving a great deal of thought to the substance of his words.

"Roy is just making a statement," smiled Hughes. "The media are very glad he is back on the scene because he is good value.

"I don't think many managers who get appointed to a mid-table Championship team could make the impact Roy has.

"It is a compliment to him and the personality he has. He has taken on a big task there, just as I have here. It is about driving our clubs forward."

Gerrard to miss Hull trip

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of making a return from injury at Hull in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

The England midfielder is still struggling with a groin problem which has forced him to sit out the last three matches.

Manager Rafael Benitez is hopeful, however, Gerrard will be fit for next weekend's visit of Newcastle.

Ferguson fine with Benitez jibes

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy for Rafael Benitez to keep aiming his verbal volleys at Manchester United because he trusts his players to avoid them.

Benitez has launched a series of scathing attacks on Ferguson since the turn of the year, the latest being a claim in Spain that the United manager is fearful of Liverpool because he knows they are a better side than his own.

"He is definitely saying a lot," said Ferguson of Benitez's jibes. "But I am happy for him to carry on with it."
The latest comment seemed strange in a week when United opened a three point lead at the Premier League summit, although it did maintain a feud Ferguson continued last week when he claimed Benitez had behaved with contempt towards Sam Allardyce for his reaction at a goal against Blackburn at Anfield recently.

But Ferguson has no wish to silence Benitez, preferring to let his team do the talking.

"I have to trust my players. I know they are good enough," he said.

"I have trusted them for years now. That is why I have picked them.

"They are a good bunch of lads and we will just carry on the way we always have."

Meanwhile, Gary Neville has been ruled out for a fortnight after injuring his foot against Portsmouth at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

It means the Red Devils' skipper will miss both legs of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal and also key Barclays Premier League games against Tottenham on Saturday and Middlesbrough on May 2.

Fabregas charged over Hull spat

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following allegations he spat at Hull assistant boss Brian Horton after the FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium on March 17.

The Gunners were asked by the Football Association to provide their observations, and according to manager Arsene Wenger, they have now decided to take the matter further.

"Fabregas has been charged for improper conduct on the night," the Arsenal manager said, speaking at Friday's press conference ahead of the Barclays Premier League game against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

"I always said we are always very open to co-operate with any investigation," he added.

"I personally looked at the reports, at the video evidence and there is nothing in there against Cesc."

Fabregas, who was not playing against Hull because of a knee injury, issued a statement on the evening of the incident to deny he spat at Horton in the tunnel.

Should the charges be proven, Fabregas - who missed more than three months of the campaign with a knee problem which required surgery - could face a suspension.

However, that would only be for domestic matches and as such would not cover the forthcoming Champions League semi-final against Manchester United.

Wenger continued: "I dont know if we will appeal - I will see what we can do about that. At the start, I am not a great fan of appealing because I said we are very open to co-operate and now I dont think we should stop that.

"I am very positive that there was enough evidence in what I have seen that the case should have been dropped."

Knee surgery for Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the forthcoming Test series against West Indies after contracting a knee injury playing in the Indian Premier League.

The influential England all-rounder will fly home from South Africa, where the IPL is being played, and undergo an operation on his right knee next week which their medical team believe will sideline him for the next three to five weeks.

That will sideline 31-year-old Flintoff for both Tests and the three-match one-day series against West Indies, but he should recover in time for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament starting on June 5.
Flintoff complained of a soreness in his right knee playing for Chennai Super Kings, who made contact with England immediately after he underwent scans at a Durban hospital.

They confirmed Flintoff had suffered a slight torn meniscus in his right knee and after they were inspected by Dr Nick Peirce, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer, he was booked in for an operation early next week.

"Clearly this is a huge disappointment for both the player and the IPL team," admitted Peirce. "This sort of degenerative injury though is one that could have happened at anytime, anywhere.

"The procedures we put in place meant that the ECB medical staff were alerted about the problem immediately and we thank Chennai for their co operation."

Keane is back - and already slamming former United stars turned managers

New Ipswich boss Roy Keane walked into Portman Road insisting all that had gone before was history - and neither he nor any of his former Manchester United team-mates had yet achieved anything in management.

The former Republic of Ireland midfielder, 37, has signed a two-year contract with the Coca-Cola Championship side, who earlier this week sacked Jim Magilton.

Keane has been out of work since departing as Sunderland manager last December but insisted the challenge and timing was right for his return to the game.

However, when quizzed on what it was that made him and the likes of Bryan Robson, who had stints at Middlesbrough, West Brom and Sheffield United; Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager; Steve Bruce - in charge at Wigan; and Paul Ince, sacked after a spell with Blackburn earlier this season, all successful in the dugout, Keane wasted no time in putting the record straight.

'Who are the good managers you are talking about?' asked the Irishman.

'Sparky [Hughes] and Brucey have not won a trophy have they?

'They have potential.

'Steve Bruce has had a good season but Steve Bruce has been manager how many years?

'Sparky has done a brilliant job at Blackburn but is facing different challenges at Man City.

'We are all facing different challenges.

'Until an ex-team-mate of mine from 1994 goes on and really achieves something, then I would not agree with what you are saying about being a successful manager.

'You need a bit more than some of those managers have achieved yet.'

Keane added: 'With me, it is a desire to win, a fear of losing, wanting to achieve something in my life.

'I had five months out of the game and, while I really enjoyed it, I had this gut feeling that it was time to try something.

'I believe I can potentially be a good football manager.

'I have done nothing in the game yet; I did okay at Sunderland, but I want to do better than okay.'

Keane took Sunderland into the Premier League in what was his first season as a manager in 2006-07, and intends to do the same with the Tractor Boys

However, he warned: 'There are lots of clubs in the Championship who feel they belong in the Premier League - Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Sheffield United; look at Charlton now.

'Ipswich are a club with a good heritage who did well in the 70s and 80s.

'As much as it is a massive part of the club, it is about now and what I achieve.

'I am looking forward to it.'

Arsenal not a real threat, says Anelka

Nicolas Anelka has claimed Chelsea are as big as Real Madrid - and slammed former club Arsenal for coming up short in the title race again.

The Chelsea striker, who joined the Blues from Bolton in January 2008, has scored 15 goals this season and has the FA Cup final and the Champions League semi-finals to look forward to.

The Gunners, however, are likely to finish fourth in the Premier League while Chelsea have, until Tuesday's draw with Everton, challenged Manchester United and Liverpool for the title.
And, having beaten Arsenal 2-1 in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final, Anelka said: 'Chelsea are a mega club composed of top players, within which you have to win every game because you are put under massive pressure.

'You have to win week in, week out.

'It's different at Arsenal. They are composed of young players, playing for third or fourth place, but we do not really speak about them for the title. Chelsea are like Real Madrid. The pressure is huge.'

Blues team-mate Michael Ballack, meanwhile, has admitted shock at Frank Lampard's absence from the shortlist for the PFA player of the year award.

The midfielder (pictured) has scored 19 times for Chelsea this term and Ballack said: 'Frank has played consistently at a high level all season.

'I don't know why he was not nominated but at Chelsea we know how good he is and that is all that matters.'

Saints to appeal against points deduction

Southampton will appeal against the ten-point penalty which has condemned them to Championship relegation.

The Football League imposed the penalty yesterday having investigated Saints' finances since their holding company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc, went into administration.

Southampton argued because the club itself is not in administration they should avoid the mandatory points penalty but the League decided the deduction stands.

If the south-coast club finish outside the bottom three they will still be relegated as the points will be taken from this season's total, while if they finish in the drop zone they will start next season in League One on minus-ten points.
Saints, currently second-bottom and four points from safety, therefore face the bizarre prospect of playing their final two games for the right to start the League One season on zero points rather than to avoid the drop.

In a statement, the club said: 'We are of the opinion an incorrect conclusion has been reached.' League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: 'The job of the Football League Board is to protect the integrity of the competition and that is what we have done.'

Liverpool could make move for Tevez

Liverpool will make a sensational attempt to sign Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez this summer, according to reports.

The Argentina striker admitted this week he is resigned to leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season after failing to command a regular starting place.

United have to pay around £22million to keep Tevez at the club after a complicated two-year loan agreement expires.
But today's Times reports Rafa Benitez is keen to battle Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester City for his signature.

Sir Alex Ferguson would be loathe to see Tevez sign for a rival after blocking Gabriel Heinze's switch to Liverpool two years ago.

But United will have no say over where Tevez goes as he does not belong to the club.

Arsenal's Euro hopes hit by Van Persie blow

Arsenal could see their defence boosted by the return of goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and Johan Djourou this weekend - but the Gunners will head into the Champions League semi-final clash against Manchester United without leading scorer Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman, who has hit 17 goals this season, continues to be troubled by a groin problem which saw him miss the midweek 4-4 draw at Liverpool and will not feature in Sunday's Barclays Premier League game with Middlesbrough at Emirates Stadium nor the first leg of the European tie against the holders.

Manager Arsene Wenger, though, hopes van Persie will be fit by the time United come to London on May 5.

There was more positive news on Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who could face Boro following a minor hamstring concern, while Almunia (ankle) and Djourou (knee) could both be back to bolster what Wenger accepts has been a 'fatigued' defence.

'We will rotate a little bit again, but we have no major injuries from Liverpool,' said Wenger.

'Manuel Almunia was in full training on Thursday and we will see how he responds. Djourou was in full training also so we will see how he is too. Both could come back into the squad.

'It is not enough training to say [for sure] yet, we need 48 hours more.

'Emmanuel Adebayor should come back into training on Saturday. He could be in the squad.

'But Robin van Persie is definitely out for Sunday and for Manchester United.

'Gael Clichy could be back for the second Manchester United game.

'He has a scan [on his back] on Monday. We will go from there. He has a chance to be back in full training next week.'