Mancini Insists He's Not Afraid of Attacking, United, or the Sack

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."

The Mill: Tuesday Transfer Rumours - Nani Righty Aggrieved?

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)

The Mill: Monday Transfer Rumours - Rooney to Escape Ban?

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)

The Mill: Monday Transfer Rumours - England B vs. Ghana?

England manager Fabio Capello plans to risk the wrath of the Wembley faithful by sending out a team of reserves to face Ghana on Tuesday. Capello insists he will keep the regulars on the bench in reserve for when the regular reserves flounder against the World Cup quarterfinalists. -- (Daily Mail)

Arsenal wonderkid Aaaron Ramsey will resign as Wales captain as early as next week, citing a consensus in the press that his lack of experience, and not the inept tactical gameplan laid out by Welsh manager Gary Speed, caused the team to lose 2-0 against England on Saturday. -- (Daily Mirror)

Wayne Rooney has hit out at the England coaching staff for not reminding him he was on a yellow card before Saturday's game in Wales. Rooney claimed he had "no idea" he had picked up a yellow card earlier in the campaign, and that he "shouldn't have to care" about being booked for petulant challenges. -- (Daily Star)

Disgruntled Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has ruled out future move to manage Manchester United by saying he would require at least a £20 million salary and a transfer budget in excess of £150 million if he were to return to England. United would only be able to offer a transfer budget of that size by selling their entire first team squad and Old Trafford. -- (Daily Express)

Blackburn manager Steve Kean is keen on bringing Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy back to the Premier League, but the move could be scuppered by Hamburg's asking price for the player. The former PSV hitman has been shopped around on a free transfer, a price much too low to meet Blackburn owners Venky's demands for a headline-grabbing, big money signing. -- (The Guardian)

Manchester United's glass midfielder Owen Hargreaves fears he will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in training. The club's medical staff hopes the former England international will be fit in time for the start of the 2013-2014 Premier League season. -- (Daily Mail)

Aston Villa's American goalkeeper Brad Friedel has denied media claims of a player revolt against under-fire manager Gerard Houllier by insisting the Villa players will stand by their manager until he's sacked at the end of the season. -- (Telegraph)

The Mill: Monday Transfer Rumours - Capello Prefers Terry?

England manager Fabio Capello insisits his decision to restore John Terry to the England captaincy, just over a year after he took it away, was made for purely footballing reasons, as the Italian didn't want to be forced into selecting misfit defender Rio Ferdinand to start every match. -- (The Sun)

Jose Mourinho is Sheikh Mansour's first and only choice to replace ineffectual Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini at the end of the season, with the Portuguese boss finally ready to leave Madrid for Manchester and United kingpin Alex Ferguson unwilling to open up a job at Old Trafford. -- (Daily Mail)

Arsene Wenger has labeled the lumpy pitch at the Hawthorns "scandalous" and "unfit for rugby," after Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Brom. The Frenchman believes his Arsenal side could win the title if they were allowed to play all of their remaining games on the pristine pitch at the Emirates Stadium. -- (Daily Mail)

Chelsea's wonderkid defender David Luiz has described his goal against Manchester City on Sunday as the "best moment of his life." Luiz was desperate to prove City wrong after the Blues mysteriously rejected the opportunity to sign him in 2009 in favor of Everton's world-class centerback Joleon Lescott. -- (Telegraph)

Manchester United supremo Alex Ferguson has shrugged off suggestions he was laughing at bench-ridden striker Dimitar Berbatov during Tuesday's Champions League victory over Marseille at Old Trafford, claiming he's not the only person who laughs at Berbatov on a regular basis. -- (The Metro)

Barcelona's Brazilian right-wing back Dani Alves is ready to reject a move to Manchester City in the summer, after revealing he'll only play for a manager willing to allow his fullbacks to enter the opposition's half. -- (News of the World)

Aston Villa stand poised to renew their interest in Manchester United's Michael Owen following suggestions United could cancel his contract at the end of the season. Villa manager Gerard Houllier believes he can bring the former England international back to his Liverpool best, even if he's out injured. -- (Daily Mirror)

Ferguson to Start Ignoring Press After Receiving Touchline Ban

MANCHESTER (DF) -- In the wake of his five game touchline ban for improper conduct by the FA, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has vowed not to appeal the decision, instead deciding to shift his focus onto a new policy towards the media-- one which will see him ignore the press and refuse interviews at every opportunity.

The FA's disciplinary panel charged Ferguson with improper conduct on March 3rd after the Scot criticized match official Martin Atkinson for his poor performance during United's recent Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge. Ferguson's comments received widespread condemnation in the English press, which many feel may have contributed to the FA's swift action.

"He's going to take a step back from the mainstream media," confirmed a United press officer early Friday morning. "We've never understood why, but there is a clear bias against Manchester United in the press and that bias directly contributed to the disproportionate ban he received this week."

Ferguson's incendiary remarks regarding Martin Atkinson were made in a post-match interview with MUTV, Manchester United's internal television channel. After the interview aired, the United manager reportedly cut off all contact with the channel, refusing an opportunity to defend himself and his comments in another taped interview.

Jack Wick, a senior producer for MUTV, refuted claims the channel has a bias against Manchester United and insisted they take an open and honest approach to their reporting. "Even though we're funded directly by Manchester United and BSkyB, we like to provide balanced coverage to our viewers."

"We've been broadcasting for nearly 15 years and we feel as if we've always given him a fair opportunity to make his case to our subscribers. If someone finds our coverage to be biased, then we have a simple solution-- don't watch. We love United and we have a deep respect for Alex Ferguson. It's our job to keep people honest."

"Sometimes you just have to poke them with a stick," Wick continued. "That's how you show love."

The Mill: Monday Transfer Rumours - Venky's Not Keen on Kean?

Blackburn owners and poultry magnates Venky's have cried fowl and started looking for a way to demote manager Steve Kean to his old role as first team coach. They claim the vegetarian Scotsman doesn't have the game to move the club forward in the pressure-cooker of the Premier League. -- (News of the World) 

New York Red Bulls playmaker Thierry Henry is itching to return to Arsenal sooner rather than later. The 33-year-old former talisman says that even though he's French, he's still capable of outworking Danish flop Nicklas Bendtner. -- (The Sun)

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that despite wild child Mario Balotelli not listening to him, he'll keep playing the Italian wonderkid as long as he keeps contributing nothing to the team apart from the odd spectacular goal. -- (The Telegraph)

Injury-ravaged England and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves is set to be offered a new contract in the summer by manager Alex Ferguson after the United boss confirmed he only wants aging, overrated England players patrolling the center of his midfield for the foreseeable future. -- (Daily Mirror)

Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure has leapt to the defence of his brother Kolo after the elder Toure tested positive during a recent drugs test. The Manchester City powerhouse insisted Kolo was sane, and only under the influence of Roberto Mancini's positive tactics. -- (The Sun)

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has defended fielding a reserve team against Manchester City in the FA Cup, claiming his reserves stood a better chance of winning at a near empty Eastlands because they have drubbed the first eleven in several recent games played behind closed doors. -- (Daily Express)

Birmingham's makeshift left back Liam Ridgewell has stressed the value of inspirational DVDs and motivational speakers, claiming the Goal! football film series and a half time pep talk from international lecturer Bear Grylls helped the Blues beat Arsenal in the League Cup final at Wembley. -- (Daily Mirror)

Ferguson to Appeal, Ask to Referee United Games Himself

MANCHESTER (DF) -- Outspoken Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will appeal his recent improper conduct charge to the Football Association, levied against him after he criticized match official Martin Atkinson, and ask that he be allowed to officiate all future United league and cup games himself.

The charges against Ferguson were announced on Thursday by the FA after the Scot's stinging assessment of referee Martin Atkinson's performance during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge. Atkinson failed to send off Chelsea defender David Luiz for a second bookable offence, gave the Blues a decisive penalty, and issued marching orders to United defender Nemanja Vidic.

"You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway, one who will call things our way, and we didn't get that," said a disgruntled Ferguson to club TV after the loss. "I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."

The 39-year-old Atkinson has a history involving high profile Manchester United games, with the Bradford-born official taking charge of the controversial 2009 Manchester derby at Old Trafford. Atkinson added on six minutes of injury time, more than the time announced by the fourth official, allowing United to score a last minute winner. The event was roundly ridiculed by then City manager Mark Hughes, but lauded by United boss Ferguson.

"Martin Atkinson has consistently shown a bias against Manchester United," claimed a Red Devils spokesperson at a Friday press conference. "Time and time again, obvious decisions have gone against us, and results have been affected. We don't know what we've done to Mr. Atkinson, apart from treating him with the upmost hospitality whenever he's at Old Trafford. Fine dining, expensive wines; all the things visiting officials should expect from a side like United."

"Unfortunately, this red vendetta appears to be a trend emerging in match officials up and down the country. The only simple solution to correct this clear bias is to allow the United manager to officiate games himself, from the sidelines. We believe this to be fair and we will be making this point to the FA at the hearing."

Should he be found guilty by his friends at the FA, Ferguson would immediately activate a suspended two game touchline ban, picked up last season after comments he made regarding the lung capacity of referee Alan Wiley.

The Mill: Monday Transfer Rumours - Sturridge in City Return?

Daniel Sturridge has issued an emphatic "please come and re-sign me" plea to Manchester City's owners after the promising young forward's big money move to West London only took him ten miles away to Bolton City Centre. -- (Daily Star)

Troubled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has ruled out a future move to Manchester City, as long as even-tempered Italian Roberto Mancini is in charge, insisting he would only play for managers like Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce who favor hard-hitting long balls and flying elbows. -- (The Independent)

Barcelona will make a move for Gareth Bale this summer after closing the door on a deal for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. The Catalan giants claim to have initially been put off by Bale "because he's Welsh," but changed their mind when they discovered he "plays like he's Spanish." -- (Daily Mirror)

John Terry still believes fifth place Chelsea can catch Manchester United for the Premier League title, even if they lose both of the upcoming meetings between the sides. Terry thinks Chelsea's greater experience will trump United's points total. -- (Daily Mirror)

French midfield maestro Charles N'Zogbia has claimed he still plans to leave Wigan Athletic for Ligue 1, despite a continuing lack of interest from French top division clubs. -- (Daily Mail)

Aston Villa are keen to bring in West Ham flop Robert Green to replace stalwart American Brad Friedel in goal, continuing manager Gerard Houllier's recent transfer policy of signing nothing but England B internationals. -- (Daily Mirror)

Russian left back Yuri Zhirkov has dismissed recent press reports suggesting he plans to quit Chelsea in the summer should he not break into the first team, declaring he could never play for anyone other than Roman Abramovich. -- (The Sun)

Glazers Keen to Emulate Saudi Royal Family at United

MANCHESTER (DF) -- Having once again ruled out a sale of the club he purchased in 2005, American billionaire Malcolm Glazer and his clan of Glazer directors are ready to implement a hierarchy at Manchester United that mirrors another high profile, billionaire family-- the one currently in charge of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

News outlets in the Middle East had reported the Qatar royal family were preparing a formal bid for the Premier League leaders, but the current Manchester United owners came out quickly to dismiss the reports as pure speculation.

"The club is not for sale at any price," declared a Glazer spokesman to media in Tampa, Florida. "Obviously, a top club like United would interest many potential buyers, but we're financially stable and not looking to sell. We're going to keep it in the family."

The Glazers, led by their patriarch Malcolm, took control of Manchester United six years ago in a deal worth nearly $1.5 billion. The transfer of power was met with extreme hostility by United supporters, who raised grave concerns over Glazer's seemingly irrational use of borrowed money to fund his takeover of the club.

"It made very little fiscal sense," claimed financial expert and United fan Avery Alexander. "His actions saddled the club with over £500 million in debt. That would be enough to buy most of the clubs in the Premier League, all at once."

"I think [the Glazers] like the idea of absolute, unquestioned control," continued Dr. Alexander. "They see the way the players respond to [Alex] Ferguson's control and they want that for themselves."

"When the 'green and gold' gangs started showing up last season, they looked at how other controlling family groups had handled uprisings and they liked what they saw coming out of the Middle East. These days, it's like looking in the mirror."

"This series of protests against oppressive regimes didn't start last month in Tunisia-- it started last year in Trafford."

The Mill: Sunday Transfer Rumors - Tevez to United?

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is considering a shock summer move for fan favorite and Manchester City playmaker Carlos Tevez after admitting he "got it wrong" -- sending sinful striker Wayne Rooney in the opposite direction. -- (Daily Mail)

Blackburn have scoffed at Manchester City's £40m asking price for mercurial Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz, with owners Venky's Limited insisting they won't waste more than half that figure on the injury-prone forward. -- (Daily Mirror)

Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham Hotspur's failure to secure the riches of Champions League qualification next season wouldn't detract him from bringing in at least "ten or twelve" new attacking midfielders this summer. -- (Daily Express)

Manchester United will raid Everton's youth system in the summer with dual multi-million pound bids for promising midfielders Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling after giving up hope of developing their own future England internationals. -- (Daily Mail)

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has moved one step closer to joining Barcelona by thanking them for their second half collapse during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie. It is believed the extra revenue will allow the Gunners to lower their asking price for the £50m-rated Spanish midfielder. -- (The Sun)

Fernando Torres is hoping to move back to Liverpool when the transfer window opens in July after failing to settle in rainy, English-speaking west London. -- (Liverpool Echo)

Newcastle United talisman Joey Barton has planned to engineer a move to Aston Villa in order to increase his chances for an England call up after a text message from new Villa signing Darren Bent convinced him Fabio Capello doesn't believe English players playing in Tyne and Wear are actually English. -- (Guardian)