Man U’s Ferdinand says he will be ready for Champions League final

LONDON - Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has revealed there is “no chance” of him not being fit enough to start the Champions League final despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s assertion that the defender’s involvement is in serious doubt because of a calf injury.

Wenger feels like he has killed someone

LONDON - Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger feels that the amount of criticism he has copped in the recent past, makes him feel like he has killed someone!

Arsenal’s Cesc’s says will try to spoil ManU’s championship party

LONDON - Cesc Fabregas has promised that Arsenal will do everything in its power to beat Manchester United today.

3 fans arrested after Italian Cup final; questions raised over Champions League safety

ROME — Three fans have been arrested and five police officers injured in disturbances connected to an Italian Cup soccer final between Sampdoria and Lazio.

Injury-hit Barcelona looking to win first of three trophies

VALENCIA - Barcelona are in sight of their first of three trophies Wednesday, in the final of the Spanish King’s Cup against unfancied Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona star Iniesta doubtful for Champions League final

MADRID - Barcelona star Andres Iniesta is a doubtful starter in the Champions League final as he pulled a muscle in his right thigh in Sunday’s dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Villarreal.

Tottenham Spurs join in the bidding race for Argentine Tevez

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspurs are fighting Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid to land Argentine forward Carlos Tevez.

Barcelona to rest Henry before big battle

BARCELONA - Barcelona’s French striker Thierry Henry will most likely miss the Spanish club’s next four games, including Wednesday’s Copa del Rey final against Atletico Bilbao.

Schaaf declines comment on reported talks with Wolfsburg

BREMEN - Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf refused to comment Saturday on a report he was being lined up to take over at Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg.

Fergie challenges Man U stars to make history

LONDON - Coach Alex Ferguson has challenged his Manchester United heroes to make history in Rome by retaining their Champions League crown.

Hiddink wants intelligence and emotion from Chelsea players

LONDON - Chelsea’s interim coach Guus Hiddink has called on his players to overcome Barcelona with a combination of “intelligence and emotion” in their Champions League showdown at Stamford Bridge tonight.

Asian Champions: Pohang advances with 3-2 win over Central Coast

SEOUL, South Korea — Brazilian striker Denilson scored a hat trick to lead the Pohang Steelers to a 3-2 win over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners and into the second round of the Asian Champions League.

Barcelona are virtual Liga champs after thrashing Real Madrid

MADRID - Barcelona are the virtual Spanish league champions after a memorable 6-2 win over second-place Real Madrid.

Tevez to focus on Champions League semi-final

LONDON - Manchester United star Carlos Tevez will focus on tonight’s Champions League semi-final against Arsenal instead of thinking about his future at the club.

All 9 Mexican soccer games this weekend with be closed to public because of swine flu

MEXICO CITY — All nine Mexican first-division soccer games this weekend will be played behind closed doors, a move aimed at stemming the spread of swine flu.

Messi knows that defeating Chelsea will make him world’s best footie player

LONDON - Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi knows he can only be officially crowned as the best player on the planet if they beat Chelsea.

Bayern Munich fires Juergen Klinsmann as coach; Jupp Heynckes to be interim replacement

BERLIN — Bayern Munich fired Juergen Klinsmann as coach on Monday, ending his two-year contract with the defending German champions after less than a season.

Chelsea coach Hiddink now targetting a treble gong

LONDON - Chelsea coach Guss Hiddink has targeted a treble, which he admits was unthinkable when he took over as manager in February.

Roo warns rivals that there’s ‘more to come from me’!

LONDON - Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has warned key soccer rivals Chelsea and other teams that they can expect him to play football at his best when he confronts them on the field.

Kawasaki takes control of Asian Champions League Group H with win over Mariners

KAWASAKI, Japan — Brazilian Renatinho’s 80th minute header gave Kawasaki a 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday and control of Group H in the Asian Champions League.

Man U’s Fergie putting 70-mln pound master plan in place should Ronaldo quit

LONDON - Manchester United coach-cum-manager Sir Alex Ferguson will put a spectacular 70-million-pound plan in place when and not if Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo demands a summer move to the Spanish football club Real Madrid.
United would use the world record fee to try to lure Brazilan Kaka, along with Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery.

Arsenal legend tells coach Wenger to target Chelsea goalkeeper Cech

LONDON - Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to target the wobbly keeper Chelsea’s Petr Cech, whom he sees as the weak link that could lead to the Blue’s eviction from the Champion’s League.
Parlour, 36, was at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday as Cech dropped a series of clangers in the epic 4-4 draw with Liverpool.

Man U says it is ready for a scrap with Porto

LONDON - Manchester United has warned Porto that they are ready for a scrap and won’t loosen their grip on the Champions League crown.

Manchester United maintain lead over Liverpool

LONDON - Federico Macheda was the hero again for Manchester United as the defending champions maintained their lead over Liverpool at the top of the English Premier League.

Chelsea wanted me not to book their players: Danish referee

LONDON - Danish referee, who officiated Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Liverpool last Wednesday, made a shocking revelation that a Stamford Bridge official had told him the club would not welcome bookings of their players who risked suspension for the return leg.

Arsenal determined to catch up with Chelsea, Liverpool

LONDON - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said that Manchester United can still win five trophies this season, but he is determined to stop their quest for glory and has not given up hope of catching Liverpool and Chelsea in the league.

Man U’s complacency may end up in a failed season, warns Vidic

LONDON - Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic has said that Manchester United is guilty of complacency and warned his team mates that they must rediscover their focus if their season is not to end in failure.

Barcelona take a step towards Liga

MADRID - Barcelona took another step towards the Spanish Primera Liga title Saturday, with a tight 1-0 win away to midtable Valladolid on a goal from league top scorer Samuel Eto’o.

Majestic Barcelona stay six points clear of Real Madrid

MADRID - Majestic Barcelona turned on the style by slaughtering hapless Malaga 6-0 at home, with two goals from league top scorer Samuel Eto’o.

Real Madrid now three points behind leaders Barca

MADRID - Real Madrid are now just three points behind Spanish leaders Barcelona after a stormy 5-2 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Primera Liga.