LONDON (DF) -- With all eyes on today's historic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against crosstown foes Manchester United, under-fire Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has vowed to take the game to rivals United, defiantly proclaiming he's not afraid of being sacked at the end of the season.
A series of sub-par performances have left Mancini's side desperately clinging onto the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot, only three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, having played a game more. Regardless of the result, today's Manchester derby stands poised to set the tone for City's remaining league fixtures.
"We must play our normal game," said Mancini at his pre-match press conference. "I am not afraid of Manchester United. I am not afraid of losing my job. As a manager, you don't think of these things. I am only afraid of losing."
Liam Murphy, a former City trainee who now follows the club with the Manchester Evening News, believes today's match could prove to be the defining moment of Mancini's tenure as City boss.
"I'm afraid it's make or break time for Roberto," alleged Murphy. "Our form has been simply spastic this season. Fantastic attacking flair mixed in with dreadfully dire defensive dross. A Champions League place is a must for us this season, without a doubt, but if we blow it today, against United of all clubs, I think he's already gone."
"It's really entirely up to him," Murphy continued. "Should he beat United, go on to win the FA Cup and finally bring a trophy back to this club, all the criticism, all the negativity regarding his tactics, all the discussion of his terrible transfer dealings, all the media stories claiming he's an inept manager and in way over his head, it'll all disappear."
"You know how they always say 'beware the wounded animal'? Maybe Mancini will surprise everyone and come out fighting."
Manchester United's wing sensation Nani has declared his disappointment after being excluded from the PFA Players' Player of the Year shortlist. The young Portuguese was baffled by the snub, and said his petulance, diving, and feigning injury should have had absolutely no effect on his fellow professionals including him in the shortlist. -- (Daily Mail)
Former Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has claimed the club would not be in a relegation fight had he not been sacked by owners Venky's in December. Sources at Blackburn agreed, saying they believe Allardyce was referring to the fact he would have already had the club relegated by now. -- (Daily Mail)
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists he isn't afraid of dropping £50m flop Fernando Torress and risking the wrath of Roman Abramovich. The former AC Milan boss revealed that even though Abramovich picks the team, he's the one who hands in the final lineup to Premier League officials before the game. -- (Daily Mirror)
Arsenal supporters have reacted angrily to the news that American tycoon Stan Kroenke will launch a takeover of the club after purchasing a further 32% of the club's shares. The Arsenal Supporters Trust has urged its members to resist any potential offers to prevent Kroenke from single-handedly making the club competitive by injecting cash for high profile, quality signings in the summer. -- (Telegraph)
Under-pressure Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will allow striker Emmanuel Adebayor to make his loan move to Real Madrid permanent in the summer. The defensive-minded Italian tactician insists City don't need a commanding striker who has the ability to score goals and win games. -- (The Sun)
Newcastle United are preparing an ambitious £19.2m bid for Anderlecht's 17-year-old wonderkid Romelu Lukaku, with first team boss Alan Pardew admitting the club's scouting network had unearthed the gem on Football Manager. Pardew said: "They signed him last week, and so far he looks good." -- (Metro)
Sunderland have revealed they are being sued by one of their own fans who was knocked unconscious by a wayward strike from former player Djibril Cisse during a 2008 training session. The Sunderland legal team will claim the fan was negligent and knew he was taking his life into his own hands by standing 30 yards to the left of the goal when Cisse was practicing shooting. -- (Metro)
NEWCASTLE (DF) -- Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has hit-out at England manager Fabio Capello and his coaching staff for overlooking him in March's international squad selection, claiming he's the best English central midfielder in the game today and twice the player of England regular Gareth Barry.
The tough-tackling former Manchester City player, who received his one an only England cap in February 2007, was critical of the defensive tactics used during the recent fixtures against Wales and Ghana and charged that Capello picks his squads based purely on reputation and Italian mentality.
"Honestly, I think I'm the best English midfielder," alleged Barton in an interview with a French magazine. "In terms of English players, well, Jack Wilshere isn't bad, but Frank Lampard's on the way down and Steven Gerrard's been injured a lot. Scott Parker is one dimensional. Gareth Barry is absolute tosh."
"The only reason Barry is picked is because he's used to playing that slow Italian stuff at City," Barton continued. "Did you see the game against Germany at the World Cup? Barry's got a very good agent. He's also discreet and always agrees with the manager. He's like the guy who sits in the front row and listens to the teacher. I certainly don't lose any sleep when I play against him."
Despite his stinging criticism of those in charge, the industrious midfielder confirmed he will continue to make himself available for selection. Those who know him best in Newcastle seem to share Barton's rigid point of view, with many United supporters believing him to be the cure to England's international malaise.
"I think Joey is spot on," suggested one Newcastle supporter outside St. James' Park. "He always has been. He deserves another cap. So does Kevin Nolan, come to that, but that's another punch-up entirely. The England team needs some fresh blood and Joey is the perfect person to provide fresh blood."
"England was best when they had Newcastle players in the squad. Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, quality, quality players from the Northeast. Now who do we have representing the Northeast? Sunderland players. I'm amazed England haven't been relegated yet."
MADRID (DF) -- Despite conceding four goals and scoring none at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes his Spurs side are still in a winning position heading into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid at White Hart Lane.
Spurs will be without targetman Peter Crouch for the return leg in London after the lanky striker was sent off in the fifteenth minute by German referee Felix Brych for two bookable offences. In spite of Crouch's enforced absence, Redknapp is sure his side have the firepower to progress.
"Yeah, we'll give it a go," said Redknapp when questioned by reporters outside the team hotel. "Obviously, the lads are gutted by tonight's result, but we're confident enough to know we can turn it around."
"Their defense has more holes than Crouchy's head, at the moment," continued Redknapp. "We didn't test them tonight because of the early sending off, but we'll score six or seven at the Lane for sure. I can't imagine a reason why we wouldn't."
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho claimed in the pre-match build up he would have taken a 0-0 result at the Bernabeu, but on loan Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor's early goal combined with Crouch's red card inside fifteen minutes turned the tide of the tie heavily in favor of Mourinho's free-flowing Galacticos. Even with the four goal cushion, the Portuguese insists their job isn't done.
"Yes, we are in a good position, but anything can happen in football," professed a pragmatic Mourinho after the match. "There are still 90 minutes left to play and Spurs are capable of scoring four goals themselves. I'm comfortable in England, I'll be back there next season, but for now I won't be comfortable until the final whistle."
Mourinho added: "Hopefully we will get a neutral referee in the return leg who won't be influenced when Harry flashes his checkbook."
The FA will severely reprimand Manchester United's Wayne Rooney after the striker was caught swearing into a television camera against West Ham on Saturday. FA bosses insist Rooney's behavior was completely unacceptable, but plan to stop short of a ban due to the importance of United's upcoming fixtures. -- (Daily Telegraph)
Gareth Bale has insisted he would have "no qualms" about moving abroad in the future, should interest from top European clubs persist. Bale thinks his growth as a player could be aided if he played for a club with a real history of success. -- (Press Association)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has blamed fixture congestion for his side's slumping form in recent weeks, despite being knocked out early of both domestic cups and the Champions League. The Frenchman believes his players are still overworked and shouldn't be forced to play every week. -- (Daily Mirror)
AC Milan supremo Silvio Berlusconi has claimed Mario Balotelli's off-field antics will prevent him from pulling on the Rossoneri shirt in the future. The fiery Italian Prime Minister, under investigation for questionable ethics in his own right, said Milan fan Balotelli should use him as an example of how those at AC Milan behave off the field. -- (Press Association)
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed he cut all ties with Manchester City because fans refused to show him enough love. Adebayor insists the relationship is over, despite his being forced to return to Manchester in the summer. -- (The Sun)
Sven-Goran Eriksson's Leicester City will make a summer move for injured Manchester United striker Michael Owen should they gain promotion to the Premier League. Former England manager Eriksson believes Owen would be the perfect addition to his overrated, aging squad of players. -- (Daily Mirror)
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has contended the midweek Champions League trip to Madrid was not weighing on his players' minds as they played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Wigan. Redknapp reportedly told reporters that an away match at Wigan holds relatively the same importance as any old Champions League quarterfinal with Real Madrid. -- (Daily Mirror)
BIRMINGHAM (DF) -- Aston Villa's under-pressure manager Gerard Houllier has hit back at critics who have suggested there is a sense of disharmony emanating from his squad by declaring the club are a united front, despite allegations of training ground bust-ups, player rebellions, and binge drinking.
The Villa boss has been under the gun since taking over from Martin O'Neill at the start of the season, due in part to his inability to replicate the Northern Irishman's success. Frenchman Houllier has struggled to retain control of his players and appears to have lost the support of Villa supporters, with many in the terraces during the 1-0 home defeat to local rivals Wolves calling for him to be sacked.
"Everyone is entitled to think what they want but I took the job because it was a challenge," said the former Lyon manager. "The challenge is bigger now because of what happened but sometimes you battle to get in Europe or a cup. Sometimes you dig yourself a hole and you have to dig deeper to find a way out."
In spite of a tsumani of negative press suggesting rampant player discontent, several senior Villa players have taken to the media in recent days to lend support to their besieged manager. American goalkeeper Brad Friedel claimed the Villa squad are fully behind Houllier and remain committed to the task at hand.
"We're all professionals," said stalwart Friedel. "The players are only thinking about keeping the club in the Premier League. We don't have time to worry about our odd tactics, who's going to be manager next week, why we're taking trips to spas during the middle of the season, or why, with such a talented squad, we're not pushing for Europe. Right now, staying up is our one and only concern."
"We just have to hang in there for eight more games," lamented the experienced American. "Whatever happens after that will happen. It's not in our hands. Until we're told to say otherwise, everyone here is behind the manager 100%."
