Last Season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Norway striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed next season is likely to be his last as a professional footballer.
The 34-year-old has a contract with Manchester United until next summer, but told Norwegian newspaper VG he is unlikely to continue after that.
'No,' Solskjaer said when asked if he could see a future beyond next season.
However, he is determined to play out the rest of his career at Old Trafford.
'I'll most likely stay here. I have one year left on my contract and I'm aiming to do as well as possible to carry on,' the Norwegian continued.
I'll have to see how I feel. I could suddenly say enough is enough, but I'll stay here next year in any case.'
Solskjaer is in his 11th season with United, but has spent the last few years battling to overcome knee problems.
However, the striker is confident he will still be able to play at Premiership level in the 2007/08 campaign.
'I'm almost certain I'll be better next season. Then I'll have this season behind me after two or three years out,' he added.
'I'll be able to play at a higher level.'

Rooney Expected Ronaldo but Voted for Drogba

Wayne Rooney has revealed he voted for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in the PFA Player of the Year awards.The England striker expects team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo to walk away with the award but admits he voted for the Portuguese's likeliest rival.
The leading pair are joined by Cesc Fabregas and Steven Gerrard as well as United team-mates Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in the shortlist.
"I think Ronaldo will win it [the main award], but he could win both," Rooney told the Manchester United website. "He's been brilliant all season."I picked Drogba - only because we weren't allowed to pick any of our team-mates. But Drogba has been fantastic this season, as has Cesc Fabregas, who I voted for Young Player of the Year."I hope Ronaldo will win it. If he does, it will be fully deserved."

UEFA: Man Utd fans must cut back on booze in Milan

UEFA have asked Manchester United to warn fans to cut down on their drinking ahead of the Champions League semi-final trip to face AC Milan next month.Just a week after United supporters were attacked inside and outside the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, they discovered they will face another trip to Italy on May 2 as Sir Alex Ferguson's side look to confirm an all-English final in Athens.A UEFA investigation is currently ongoing into the events surrounding the first leg of the Red Devils' quarter-final tie with AS Roma.But, while most observers felt it was the visiting fans who were wronged, both at that game and in the previous round against Lille when trouble also flared, UEFA spokesman William Gaillard does not believe the Old Trafford club can complete absolve themselves of all responsibility.And, while he does not expect trouble at the San Siro where United were beaten by Milan as recently as 2005, he does believe it is time to reinforce requested standards of behaviour.'There are no special concerns about the game in Milan,' he said.'It is a different city, a different stadium and a different team. There was trouble in Seville last week but none on Tuesday when Chelsea played Valencia.'If everyone behaves in a proper way, we should have a smooth sailing but Manchester United has to brief its fans and tell them what is appropriate.'There has been a problem with drink and it would be nice if the supporters were advised not to do it.'I realise this is a difficult thing but people are putting themselves at risk because they stop behaving in a rational way.'UEFA are still investigating what happened in Rome, so we have to be careful, but there is shared responsibility for most situations, even if there is not equal responsibility.'

English clubs show Premier league's strength by reaching Champions League semi final

Three teams from the same country have reached the Champions League semifinals in the same season for the third time, and this year it's showing off the strength of the Premier League.Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool - the top three teams in the English standings - all reached the last four. AC Milan is also in the semifinals."To see three English teams at this stage shows just how strong the Premier League is," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "It is really important for the Premier League to show Europe how strong we are. It is the best league in Europe at this moment."Liverpool, a five-time European Cup champion, will face Chelsea in the semifinals on April 25 and May 1. The two played in the semifinals two years ago, when Liverpool went on to win its most recent European title. The second leg will again be at Anfield, where a controversial goal helped Liverpool advance last time."They may not accept what happened here two years ago, but they cannot change things now," Benitez said. "We are pleased we will play the second leg at Anfield. If we can do something at Stamford Bridge, maybe we will then have the advantage."Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti led his team past United in the second round of the 2005 tournament, but he's more worried about the Premier League leaders this time."They have got some more experience into their best players like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo," Ancelotti said. "They have the same approach as back then, but with more quality now."United, which hosts Milan on April 24 and plays in Italy on May 2, hasn't got past Milan in three attempts in Europe - also losing in the 1958 and 1969 semifinals.None of the three Premier League teams has an English manager, but all four coaches in the semifinals have won a Champions League title - Alex Ferguson with United in 1999, Benitez with Liverpool in 2005 and Ancelotti with Milan in 2003.The fourth coach, Chelsea's Jose Mourinho, won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004.If Mourinho wins again in Athens, Greece, on May 23, he will join Ottmar Hitzfeld and Ernst Happel as the only coaches to lift the European Cup with two different teams.Hitzfeld won in 1997 with Borussia Dortmund and in 2001 with Bayern Munich. Ernst Happel won in 1970 with Feyenoord and in 1983 with Hamburg.Chelsea is also chasing Man United in the Premier League, has won the League Cup and is in the semifinals of the FA Cup.In 2000, Spanish teams Real Madrid, Valencia and FC Barcelona reached the last four, and Madrid beat Valencia in the final. Three Italian teams matched that in 2003, with Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus all reaching the semifinals. Milan then beat Juventus on penalties in the final.

Bayern to 'seriously consider' Hargreaves offer

Owen Hargreaves will shortly talk to Bayern Munich about his future after the club's president, Franz Beckenbauer, admitted for the first time that the England midfielder could join Manchester United this summer if the price is right.Hargreaves may have played his last game in the Champions League for Bayern last night as the German side lost their quarter-final tie against AC Milan.His future could be settled one way or the other this summer and the England midfielder, 26, told Sky Sports: 'I will sit down with them and we will discuss how my future looks.'
Speaking on Premiere television just a few hours before Bayern's 2-0 defeat to AC Milan, Beckenbauer said: 'If it is right that there is an offer of €25-30million (£17-£20million) for Hargreaves, then I would seriously consider it.'I think the board also think this way to satisfy the needs of the player.'Hargreaves has been a long-standing United target, but the Bavarians have resolutely refused to deal with the Premiership leaders.They believe Hargreaves should honour the four-year contract he signed last summer.

Real set to bid £54m for Cristiano Ronaldo

Spanish giants Real Madrid have reportedly agreed to offer Manchester United £54 million ($107 million) for star midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.
The Portuguese winger has been in dazzling form this season and is currently widely regarded as the best player in the world.However, his spellbinding performances, both in the Premiership and Champions League, have also made him the hottest property in world football and United face an arduous fight to retain his services beyond the current campaign.
Having stalled on extending his Old Trafford contract, Ronaldo has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Bernabeu and it is understood that the Spanish side have made him their number one target this summer.According to The Guardian, Real have stepped up their bid to land the player by meeting his agent and agreeing a course of action.The newspaper claims Franco Baldini, who negotiates all of the club's signings, met Jorge Mendes in London last Wednesday.During the meeting, Baldini apparenrtly confirmed that Ronaldo is their main summer transfer target and said they would be prepared to meet United's asking price of around 80million euros (£54million).Any such deal would represent a new world-record transfer fee, usurping the £46million spent by Madrid in 2002 on Zinedine Zidane.

UEFA Cup Preview: Tottenham - Sevilla

Tottenham Hotspur (7th in Premiership) v Sevilla (2nd in la Primera)
When: 20:45 (CET) - Thursday, April 12, 2007
Where: White Hart Lane, London.
Tottenham will take heart from Manchester United's stunning performance as they look to overturn a first leg deficit against Sevilla at White Hart Lane on Thursday.
The north Londoners will probably not be aiming to beat the high-flying Spaniards by the seven goals that the Red Devils put past Roma, but the emphasis on attacking from the start will be the same.
An early goal in the first leg gave the north Londoners' a head-start, but they were pegged back by a dubious penalty and then beaten by Aleksandr Kerzhakov's header.
That spot-kick decision that saw Sevilla draw level on the night has been a talking point ever since the game last week and the Spurs players have already said that it is an inspiration for the second encounter.
Just over 36 hours after that match in Spain, Martin Jol's side met Chelsea in the Premiership and were beaten by a single goal, but that may actually work in their favour.
Preparation Time
The Lilywhites have had all week to focus on what is, arguably, their biggest game of the campaign so far and tiredness can no longer be said to be a factor.
Sevilla had to wait until Sunday evening to play their following league fixture and the goalless draw at home to Racing Santander put a dent in the Andalucians' title challenge.
Both Jol and his Sevilla counterpart, Juande Ramos, rested players for their domestic outings and they will hope that the choice pays dividends.
While form may not count for much in what will be a hotly contested encounter, Spurs have made their own stadium a daunting place for visiting teams to go.
If Jol is to build a dynasty then he made it clear when he was first appointed that one of his main aims was to make White Hart Lane into a fortress.
Home Front
With 11 league wins, one draw and four defeats he is close to ensuring that his ambition comes true, while in Europe Spurs do still have a 100 per cent record on their own patch.
As for Sevilla their away form this term can only be described as inconsistent as they hold an incredible record of five wins, five draws and five defeats.
Ramos' side have scored 19 times on their travels, but also let in 16 goals in 15 matches, so they will have to well-drilled at the back to deny Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov a successful evening.
One of the key reasons that Spurs are pushing for a UEFA Cup place rather than a top four spot is their defence, however, as 18 goals conceded at home is not impressive.
Add to that the 27 let in on the road and it is clear to see why Ledley King's return has been so hotly anticipated and why the manager wants to add to his rearguard in the summer.
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham Hotspur: With King set to return from an injury that has seen him unable to play since Boxing Day, Jol was hoping to have a strong defence. He has received one piece of bad news in the run-up to the game, however, as right-back Paul Stalteri has suffered a hip injury. The Canadian's absence could see the home team field Teemu Tainio on the right, with Pascal Chimbonda moving to the left, and Steed Malbranque coming into midfield.
Probable Starting XI: Robinson; Tainio, Dawson, King, Chimbonda; Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque; Berbatov, Keane.
Sevilla: Andrés Palop has been ruled out of the game after he picked up a calf injury and is set to be replaced by the squad's second choice goalkeeper, David Cobeño. Up front, Sevilla's leading scorer in Europe this season, Ernesto Chevantón, is also sidelined after he suffereda knock during the goalless draw with Racing at the weekend.
Probable Starting XI: Cobeño; Hinkel, Navarro, Escudé, Castedo; Alves, Poulsen, Maresca, Correia; Renato; Kanouté.

Champions League Reaction: Crouch Reflects On Job Done

Liverpool's match-winner Peter Crouch agreed that the Reds' quarter-final second-leg victory over 10-man PSV Eindhoven was not a Champions League classic.
The Premiership side were already three up from the first leg, and most observers - including, possibly, PSV themselves - seemed to regard the second-leg as no more than a formality.
But Crouch's second-half goal ensured that Liverpool won both legs with a 4-0 aggregate to set up a semi-final showdown with Chelsea."I don't think it was much of a spectacle but we did a job, got the result," Crouch told Sky Sports."We did most of the work in the first leg obviously and it was just a case of seeing it out today, and that's what we did well."It was a strange game. All the lads were up for it. If it had stayed 0-0, I'm sure you would've seen more urgency."Regarding his own contribution, Crouch admitted he was thrilled with his recent form. He said: "I've been pleased with my form in the Champions League. It's a fantastic competition."Hopefully I can keep that run going."Ironically, the semi-final will pit Crouch and his Liverpool team-mates against the side he supported as a boy - Chelsea.The England striker said: "It's going to be a special occasion. We've had that tie before and hopefully we'll have the same outcome."He added: "My dad will be pleased. It's local for him as well so it'll be a special occasion for myself, my family and everyone connected with Liverpool."I won the FA Cup last year and hopefully can go one better this year."Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez praised his team's professionalism."We knew that it would be difficult because the mentality of the players when you are controlling the game, you don't concede any chances and you be more relaxed."Of Crouch, Benitez said: "Now he has the confidence all strikers need."I hope he can keep scoring goals until the end of the season."Looking ahead to the Chelsea clash, Benitez added: "We know it will be really difficult because Chelsea are a very good team."But we know that if we play to our level, we can beat them."And he feels it may be "a little bit" of an advantage to be playing the first leg at Stamford Bridge.But he warned: "Chelsea are a good team playing away now, as you could see the other day against Valencia."

Rafa excited by American dream

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has welcomed the positive effect new American owners George Gillett and Tim Hicks have had on the club.

Earlier this week the pair completed their takeover at Anfield, acquiring more than 98% of shares in just eight weeks to be able to take the club into private ownership.
The US duo have promised to back Benitez in the transfer market, as well as provide the funds for a new stadium in nearby Stanley Park, and the Spaniard has welcomed their input so far.
"I think it's very positive. I hope that they will try to do the best for the club because when you want to buy a club and you want to invest big money it means that you want to be successful and that you want to win everything," said Benitez.
A week ago the Liverpool boss underlined his commitment to the club by dismissing speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid and he re-iterated his desire to stay at Anfield and work with the American tycoons to make the Reds a genuine force in English football once again.
"I think that can be really good for us. If everything is going in the right direction I think it can be a very good time for all of the people involved," he told the League Managers' Association's website.
"I am really happy here and everything is okay and I think it can be a very good opportunity for doing something for the (Liverpool) history."
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FA backs under-fire McClaren

The Football Association urged England fans Thursday to lay off beleaguered coach Steve McClaren.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick said fans had every right to be frustrated after England's unconvincing 3-0 European Championship qualifying win over Andorra on Wednesday, which came four days after a dour 0-0 draw against Israel.
"I do, however, feel that there is a line to draw between acceptable criticism and personal vilification and abuse," Barwick said in a statement. "One's fair, the other isn't."
Fans chanted "What a load of rubbish" and "You're not fit to wear the shirt" during Wednesday's game in Barcelona. They showered McClaren with abuse as he walked off the field after the scoreless first half. Even after the win, they shouted "Still want McClaren out."
"This past week has shown just how the fortunes of the England team get people's emotions fired up," Barwick said. "England matters and we wouldn't want - or expect - it any other way.
"Everyone has the right to give their opinion - that's the beauty of the game - and the England fans, the most dedicated group of supporters in the world, are entitled to air theirs."
McClaren stormed out of a news conference after the Andorra game after just two questions.
"Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say," he said. "Thank you."
The former Middlesbrough manager - who replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup - has been lampooned and mocked by Britain's media.
"I know how hard Steve and everyone connected to the team is working," Barwick said. "He's a strong man and I know from speaking with him just how determined he is to deliver success for England."
After England failed to score in the first half against a part-time side ranked 163rd in the world, Steven Gerrard scored twice and Kevin Nugent once to save McClaren's job - for the time being.
"The first half was one of the most difficult 45 minutes I've ever experienced in an England shirt," Gerrard said.
But the anti-McClaren campaign hasn't died down. British bookmakers on Thursday offered 11-8 odds that McClaren will no longer be coach by the end of the qualifying period for the 2008 championship.
His assistant, Terry Venables, and Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill are joint favorites to replace McClaren at 5-1.
"Nothing could dispel the memory of the most shapeless, dispiriting, depressing evening English football has endured for decades, a night of near-disaster that was utterly unacceptable," The Mirror newspaper said Thursday.

Captain John Terry pleaded with fans to support the team and McClaren.
"We take full responsibility and it's just not fair to hear some of those chants, especially during the game," Terry said. "Every single one of us took it in - and it wasn't nice."
Wayne Rooney hasn't scored in a competitive England match since the 2004 European Championship - 16 games ago. He will miss England's next match against Estonia on June 6 after picking up a yellow card against Andorra.
Attacking midfielder Frank Lampard missed the game with a wrist injury amid rumors he had been dropped because his style of play did not get the best out of Gerrard.
England is in danger of missing out on a major soccer tournament for the first time since 1994. Croatia leads Group E with 13 points, while England, Israel and Russia all have 11. Croatia and Russia have played a game less than England.
In its previous three games, England drew 0-0 at Israel, lost 2-0 to Croatia and drew 0-0 with Macedonia.
"McClaren's resources include a handful of top-class players, but there is something rotten in the national team, something that goes far deeper than the Gerrard versus Frank Lampard debate, or the age-old left-sided problem," The Times wrote. "Maybe it has more to do with the psyche of English footballers and an environment in which underachievement, for whatever reason, appears endemic."

Frank dropped by England - Reports

Frank Lampard was fit to play in England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra but was dropped by coach Steve McClaren, according to reports.
Lampard suffered a hairline fracture to his wrist after being struck by a ball in training on Monday, but was passed fit to play with a protective cast by England physios.
However, according to a number of daily newspapers, McClaren decided not to play the Chelsea midfielder, and picked Owen Hagreaves and Steven Gerrard in central midfield.
Lampard tried to fly straight home after being omitted, but was told to stay and return to England with the rest of the squad.
Chelsea chiefs were keen to bring Lampard straight back to London to check on the injury, and offered to send a private jet, but he was made to stay with the England squad for the game in Barcelona.
However, McClaren claims that Lampard was not dropped from the side, and was merely left out as a precaution.
McClaren said: "It is not worth taking the risk with his injury. Of course he wants to play, but he understands the situation and is here to support the team."
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