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.'

O'Neill relaxed about Barry future

Martin O'Neill is content for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry to wait until the end of the season to decide upon his future.

Barry has just over one year left of his current deal and there is growing speculation that he will look to leave Villa should they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

O'Neill said: "The speculation regarding Gareth is inevitable. It will happen, it's not a problem. I have discussed it numerous times with the player. He is very happy to wait until the end of the season to see how things develop. That's The Villa boss is not expecting a repeat of the long drawn-out saga of last summer when Barry looked set to move to Liverpool before the deal collapsed.

He added: "But this is not like last year. This is a situation which I realised would come around and that's the way it is. It's not an issue.

"I'm not bothered (by last summer). From the experience of last year I don't think that will materialise. I really have not got an issue with any of this."

O'Neill has been delighted with the way Barry has responded after failing to land his move to Anfield after the Reds failed to meet Villa's £18million asking price.

He said: "Gareth has played very, very well indeed. He gets a freedom to play that might not be afforded in other places.

"But at the end of it all I'm delighted with him and Stiliyan Petrov in the heart of the midfield, I've been delighted with the other boys as well.

"We can play different systems which we have proved during the course of the season. It's great to have learnt these things because next season they will probably have to come into play."

Brown boost for Red Devils

Wes Brown is set to return just in time to ease a potential injury crisis for Manchester United.

Skipper Gary Neville and defensive colleague John O'Shea could be out for weeks, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson after being forced out of Wednesday night's 2-0 win over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

"Wes is fine. He is training hard and should be OK for the weekend," United assistant manager Mike Phelan told BBC Radio Manches
The loss of Neville and O'Shea would leave only Rafael as cover at right-back and while the Brazilian has had an outstanding season for United, Ferguson might be reluctant to rely solely on a teenager during the crucial latter stages of the campaign.

However, after a season wrecked by injury, Brown came through a reserve-team return at Preston on Monday and Ferguson is ready to draft the England star into his squad for Saturday's encounter with Tottenham.

Brown has been missing with a foot injury since October. Although he did briefly return to action with a couple of substitute appearances at the end of January, the Longsight-born defender then dropped back out of the side.

However, while his performance at Anfield much earlier this season did attract criticism, Ferguson will not have forgotten Brown was the mainstay of a defence that won both the Premier League and Champions League trophies last term.

Meanwhile Neville and O'Shea will both be assessed on Thursday to discover the extent of their respective problems.

Neville, who has bounced back after a series of injuries over the past two years, lasted just 10 minutes before limping off with a foot injury, raising fears he had suffered a repeat of the broken metatarsal that saw him miss the 2002 World Cup.

O'Shea hurt his ankle following a late tackle by Nadir Belhadj. ter.

Keane sets promotion target

Roy Keane revealed his aim to take Ipswich back into the Barclays Premier League in one season as he declared: "It's good to be back."

The former Manchester United captain, who has been out of work since leaving Sunderland in December, was confirmed as the new manager of the Tractor Boys after signing a two-year deal.

Keane, who revealed he had received other offers, said: "It's a massive challenge trying to get the club back in the PHe added: "I'm excited and looking forward to it. I've had a good break. It's good to be back.

"Three or four weeks ago I thought, if the opportunity came up, I was ready for it. I've signed a two-year contract but I'd like to try and do it (get promotion) in one year.

"If I wasn't up for challenges I'd be out walking my dogs. I think my dogs need a break."

Keane insisted he would need time to take stock before beginning the process of shaping the team.

"Nothing will be happening over the next week or two, we've got to take stock and take it from there," he said.

He hinted at the possibility of major changes by adding: "There are a lot of players on long-term injuries and players whose contracts are up, so that might suit me.

"But it would be unfair to say to players whose contracts are up 'You've got two games to prove yourself'." remier League."

Lampard: This is my best season yet

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard claims he is having the best season of his career.

The 30-year-old has scored 12 Premier League goals during a campaign in which the Blues started inconsistently under Luiz Felipe Scolari but have returned to form since the arrival of Guus Hiddink in February.

Chelsea are still in with a shout for three trophies as they are in the FA Cup final, the last four of the Champions League and are four points off leaders Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

I think personally it has been my best season,' said Lampard.

'Over the course of the season different things have cropped up, and as a group we've had some ups and downs, but I'm very pleased with the way I've been playing.

'Hopefully my thirties can be my best years. I'm more experienced, more aware of how to play the game and how to manage myself in between games.

'People used to joke about me hitting shots from all over the pitch, and when you're younger you do try a lot of things.

'Now I'm looking for the right moment to slip people in and the right moment to score.

'If you can make two assists like I did on Saturday you don't get the glory of scoring the goal, but you get the glory of winning the game.'

It has been almost two years since Chelsea won a major trophy and Lampard is delighted they have a good chance of ending the drought this season.

'When you have a couple of years of winning leagues and cups and then a couple of barren years you're upset about not winning anything,' he said.

'We're close to winning again and we are playing as well as we did during those times. I hate to compare the Mourinho era, but there's certainly an element of that strength and belief in the team we had then.

'We lost that at the start of the season. We lost points and games through giving away late goals, but now there's a much stronger feeling.'

Bent could quit Spurs to boost World Cup hopes

Tottenham striker Darren Bent admits his future at White Hart Lane is likely to be decided in the next month and will depend on the role he plays in the club's late push for European football.

Bent is Spurs' top scorer this season with 16 goals but the return of Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane has intensified competition for starting places.

Defoe has now recovered from his foot injury and it means Bent could be back on the bench after starting the last six Premier League games.
With five matches to go and Spurs chasing a seventh-placed finish, Bent agreed who starts in those matches could point towards where his future lies.

'No one likes to sit on the bench,' said the 25-year-old, who scored the winner in the victory against Newcastle at the weekend.

'I'll have to see what happens and take it from there,' he said. 'My season has been up and down. The end of the season is coming and we'll have to see what happens after that.'

Bent feels there is an England World Cup place up for grabs next year if he is playing regular football.

However, he admitted: 'If you don't play for your club regularly you won't play for England. As long as I keep working hard and scoring, hopefully I'll be in there.'

England boss Fabio Capello was at White Hart Lane to see Bent in action at the weekend and the striker added: 'Wayne Rooney is obviously the No.1 [striker] and there is always a fight for the other spot.

'As long as I can keep scoring goals and playing well when he's [Capello] watching me, it's all I can ask for.'

Manchester United to raise price of season ticket

Manchester United have confirmed they will increase season ticket prices by £1 a game next term.

While many clubs have reduced prices to attract more cash-strapped fans at a time of a global economic crisis, United once again feel confident about bucking the trend because they are still turning away an average of almost 5,500 fans per game.

Fans' groups are not too impressed with the rises, which take the cost of a ticket to a top-price £49. The cheapest ticket at Old Trafford will be £27.
However, United feel the continued clamour to watch Sir Alex Ferguson's men - average Premier League attendances this season are 75,299 - is justified.

'We are still turning away over 5,000 people per game on average and we believe it represents good value for money,' said a United spokesman.

Earlier this month, the Glazer family revealed debts of £650million.

Since then the OFT have refused to ask United to scrap their automatic cup scheme, meaning fans who do decide to purchase a season ticket - which will be reduced in number - are again committed to purchasing tickets for all cup games, apart from the Carling Cup.

In addition, the decision of the Treasury to refuse to acknowledge tickets purchased last year should be reduced because of the mid-season cut in VAT has effectively meant supporters have felt no benefit, other than with their cup purchases.

United claim they are 'highly unlikely' to add the additional 59 pence to a £27 ticket when VAT returns to its previous 17.5% level on December 31, although supporters' groups remain unimpressed.

'It has been said in the past that the owners of the club will squeeze United supporters until the pips squeak and this is clearly the case,' said Sean Bones, vice-chairman of the Manchester United Supporters Trust.

'Earlier in the year, the government gave a 2.5% reduction on the price of VAT on tickets.

'The Glazers have absorbed this benefit and added more increases on top.'

Arshavin: Arsenal fans have still to see best of me

Andrey Arshavin maintains there is plenty more to come from him after the Russian's four goals put a massive dent in Liverpool's title bid at Anfield last night.

The 27-year-old produced a brilliant individual display as Arsenal almost snatched victory over the Reds, but were once again undone by poor defending as Yossi Benayoun grabbed an equaliser deep into stoppage time as an amazing match ended 4-4.

Arshavin cannot play in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United as he turned out for Zenit St Petersburg earlier in this season's competition.
However, the deadline-day signing - left on the bench for most of the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday - insists his display last night is only the start of things to come.

'I do not think I have adapted yet because in the first half I was quiet, except for the one moment when I scored,' the Russian said.

'It is difficult, but I will try - I need time.

'I am a new player, I have to go through [my own] pre-season and then everything will be better.'

Arshavin added: 'I had only scored a hat-trick twice in my career.

'I feel good, but also disappointed because we did not get the victory.

'Both teams wanted to win. What can I say? It was unbelievable football, but that is England for you.'

Arsenal - now unbeaten in the Premier League for 19 matches - host Middlesbrough on Sunday before heading to Old Trafford for the first leg of their European tie on April 29.

Manager Arsene Wenger accepts his makeshift defence - which could have first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia back from an ankle injury - must cut out costly basic errors.

He said: 'The big regret we have is that 10 minutes into the second half we were 2-1 down, but not from something created by Liverpool - it was from balls we did not clear properly from the back.

'Now we want to continue our unbeaten run in the Premier League and also qualify in the Champions League.'

Shearer pins Newcastle hopes on Barton

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer is hoping forgotten man Joey Barton can revitalise his midfield.

The former Manchester City star (pictured) is expected to return to full training this week after recovering from a fractured metatarsal, putting him in contention for the must-win Premier League clash with Portsmouth on Monday evening.

Newcastle have just five games in which to avoid relegation from the Premier League and Shearer said: 'If everything goes well over the next few days, we might have him [Barton] in full training on Thursday or Friday.

He can run on and get past the forwards, which, with all due respect, Nicky Butt, who is 34, can't do. 'If Joey is there to do that, it would free up other players.'

Liverpool legend Dalglish ready to return to Anfield

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has admitted he would love a return to the club he served so well as a player and a manager.

Speculation at the weekend suggested the 58-year-old Scot was to be brought in to oversee youth development at the club.

And although Dalglish, who had a 14-year spell at Anfield before quitting as manager in 1991, said he had little knowledge of any possible approach, he stressed he would be happy to help out. 'I was as far removed from the weekend's speculation about me returning to a role at Liverpool Football Club as it was possible to be but that's not to say the Sunday paper stories and TV debate escaped me,' he told LFC Magazine.

'All I can say at the moment is what I've said many times; if I can help Liverpool Football Club in any way, shape or form then I'm in. That's not a new revelation.

'If I can be of help to the club I love in any capacity then I'm more than happy to play any part that I can.

'If the manager (Rafael Benitez) or the people running the club think there's a role for me then I'll fill it happily.

'Similarly, if the club think the best thing for the club is for me to stay out of the way then I'm not going to take offence at that either.

'At the moment there's not much more that I can say other than that if and when there's anything to say to the supporters - the people who keep this club alive - then they will be the first to know.'