FA furious at ´naive´ Beckham
FA bosses are furious with England captain David Beckham. They fear he has caused irreparable damage to their attempts to beat the threat of having to play a vital Euro 2004 qualifier in an empty stadium. Beckham was reported on Friday as saying that playing behind closed doors might be the only way to stamp out the problem of hooliganism. But a highly-placed FA insider fumed: " His quotes were both naive and stupid. He should have consulted the FA before speaking out on such a sensitive subject." Beckham thought he was taking a courageous stand against the hooligans who marred this month´s victory over Turkey at the Stadium of Light. He said: " If we had to play a qualifying game behind closed doors that would be sad for football, sad for England and sad for the proper fans who have to suffer because of the small minority. It shouldn´t happen, but it might just have to happen to stop this."
Paul Smith, Sunday Mirror
Gunners back on track
Thierry Henry lifted Arsenal clear of the anxiety and paranoia that had threatened to overpower the club with one of the most majestic goals of his career. The Frenchman struck with a 25-yard free-kick eight minutes from the end after almost as brilliantly providing Sylvain Wiltord with the opener against Steve McClaren´s determined side. Henry´s fantasy contribution not only kept the Gunners firmly in Manchester United´s slipstream - it also lifted the spirits of a camp still bemoaning the dismissal of Sol Campbell for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and that has suddenly found itself hit by a series of injuries.
Ken Lawrence, Sunday Mirror
That´s Dunn it
Arsene Wenger will probably see it as a conspiracy. In the United programme, David Dunn declared: " I´d far rather see United win it than Arsenal. I´m a northerner and and would much rather see the trophies stay up here than go to London." So when the Blackburn midfielder stepped up to take a penalty just after the restart, with Rovers 2-1 down, the increasingly-paranoid Frenchman must have suspected the worst. Sure enough, Dunn´s spot-kick was saved by Ricardo, who had just come on for the injured Fabien Barthez. It may well turn out to be the pivotal moment of the title race. If Dunn had scored, United could have been looking at two dropped points. The momentum would then have shifted from the north of England to north London, with Arsenal winning at Middlesbrough and having a game in hand. But, sorry to disappoint you Arsene, Ricardo´s save was a perfect illustration of the hunger that runs through the whole of the United squad.
Anthony Clavene, Sunday Mirror
Giggs: We cant steal it from Real
Ryan Giggs is sleeping well at night and even the prospect of facing the biggest game in his Manchester United career fails to cause him any unrest. Thoughts of the monumental title battle with Arsenal will be put to one side when United attempt to claim the ultimate scalp, that of defending European champions Real Madrid. Seemingly in an unassailable lead after a 3-1 first-leg romp at the Bernabeu, the Spanish giants are confident of rolling smoothly into the last four on Wednesday night at Old Trafford. This is the game all Europe has been waiting for since that dazzling first-leg display by Real and United´s brave comeback to grab the away goal that could yet prove so vital.
Paul Smith, Sunday Mirror
Only our best will do - Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United will have to eclipse the miracles of Barcelona and Turin to complete the ultimate Champions League comeback. United´s victory over Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp in 1999 is regarded as the most dramatic Champions League Final, although Ferguson believes the stunning semi-final fightback to beat Juventus was the defining night of that epic campaign. But those powers of recovery will have to hit new heights if the Reds are to overcome Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Wednesday. When Raul fired the European champions into a 3-0 first-leg lead in the Bernabeu a fortnight ago, no one who witnessed the majesty of Vicente del Bosque´s side could envisage United progressing into the last four.
Simon Mullock, Sunday Mirror
Figo: I´d be crazy to move to United
Luis Figo has emphatically denied suggestions that he will move to Manchester United this summer as part of a deal that would take David Beckham to Spain. Real Madrid´s Portuguese star is adamant that he would have to be dragged out of the Bernabeu kicking and screaming. And he maintains it´s an insult even to suggest that he would be used as bait by Madrid to land the England captain. On Wednesday the 30-year-old midfielder makes a flying visit to Old Trafford seeking to cement a passage into the last four of the Champions League. There is a minor matter of returning briefly to the stadium in May - he hopes - to contest the final. Beyond that he has no plans to return soon - and when he is questioned about talk of making the Theatre of Dreams his home base next season, his reaction is unequivocal.
Paul Smith, Sunday Mirror
Carlos: Reds would flop in Spain
Roberto Carlos has fanned the flames ahead of this week´s Champions League showdown by telling Manchester United they wouldn´t even qualify for the tournament if they played in Spain. The Real Madrid defender´s damning assessment of Sir Alex Ferguson´s side is that the Reds would not finish in the top four of La Liga. He said: " United have been the best team in England for a number of years, but they would not have had the same success if they played in Spain. Here Madrid are No 1. Then there is Valencia, Barcelona, Deportivo and, this season, Real Sociedad. I think United would find it difficult to finish in the top four in Spain."
Simon Mullock, Sunday Mirror
Fergie is just Fab
Fabien Barthez has lifted the lid on his stormy relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and insists: " I wouldn´t have it any other way." Manchester United´s French keeper has come under-fire for his erratic form since moving to Old Trafford three years ago. Barthez knows he has tested his manager´s patience on numerous occasions and says he has been on the receiving end of Fergie´s famous ´hair dryer treatment.´ Fergie even drafted in Spanish stopper Ricardo at the start of the season to put pressure on error- prone Barthez. Yet the former Monaco ace insists his relationship with the United boss is as strong as ever - and has total respect for the Scot. Barthez, 31, said: " We do get on with each other because we talk to one another very frankly."
Sports staff, Sunday Mirror
Keane to soldier on
Roy Keane has handed Manchester United a massive Champions League boost ahead of Wednesday´s clash with Real Madrid by vowing to play on for at least three more years. The United skipper said: " I´ve got three years left on my contract, and although I´ve said before that contracts mean very little, I´m sure I´ll be fine."
Bill Mills, Sunday Mirror
Ruudy great, Paul
Like a juggernaut steaming along in the middle lane, Manchester United´s title challenge appears unstoppable. As Blackburn Rovers found to their cost. Ruud van Nistelrooy and a Paul Scholes double provided the goals — but there could have been far more from a side simply buoyant in confidence. Arsenal still have the upper hand edge in the Premiership stakes with a game in hand — but Alex Ferguson’s side have the psychological advantage of a three-point lead. And United have have their star turns running into superb form. Ryan Giggs was back to his brilliant best at Old Trafford against Blackburn. And Scholes continues to enjoy his rich vein of form. Strikes — in the 42nd and 61st minutes — took the England midfielder’s tally for the season to 19. And following on from last Saturday´s wonderful hat-trick against Newcastle, Scholes´ second yesterday brought his total for United to the magic 100 mark.
James Fletcher, News of the World
Champing at the bit
Arsene Wenger paid tribute to his battling Gunners, who continue to slug it out toe-to-toe at the top end of the table. Two superb strikes gave the champions a deserved win against a gritty Middlesbrough side — and kept Arsenal in with a shout of retaining their title. First, Sylvain Wiltord delivered a striker´s penalty-box effort just after half-time. Then, Thierry Henry fired home a fabulous edge-of-the-box free-kick. Highbury manager Wenger acknowledged the efforts of his hitmen but was keen to praise all his stars, who bounced back from their failure to beat arch-rivals Manchester United in midweek.
Rob Beasley, News of the World
