Nowhere to hide
Roy Keane has told his teammates it will be ´unacceptable´ for Manchester United to finish this season without a trophy. If United lose out in the Premiership title race to Arsenal they will have gone two seasons without a trophy for the first time in 14 years. Keane says the responsibility for such an unenviable record will lie fairly and squarely with the players. He said: " Two seasons without a trophy is unacceptable and the players will have to take responsibility. Nobody will be able to hide and one or two players will have to go."
Neil Custis, The Sun
How dare you ask that
Alex Ferguson yesterday blew his top in a four-letter rage when he was asked about David Beckham. The Manchester United boss has grown sick of the controversy surrounding Beckham since he left him out of his starting line-up for Wednesday´s European Cup match against Real Madrid. At his Friday Press conference the media were warned not to mention the subject. But, when one radio journalist did, Ferguson lost it completely.
Sports staff, The Sun
Keane: My finest hour
Roy Keane will enjoy this title triumph more than any other if Manchester United complete one of the great comebacks and claim the Premiership. Keane, like boss Alex Ferguson, believes it will be this team´s greatest achievement. The Old Trafford skipper admits he has failed to fully savour past triumphs but insists this time it would be different. Keane, 31, is impressed at the way in which United have picked themselves up from a crushing defeat at rivals Manchester City back in November. Back then, he even wondered if United would finish higher than mid-table. They entered March eight points adrift of Arsenal. Yet now - with three games left, starting at Tottenham tomorrow - they are three points clear having played a game more than the Gunners. Keane said: " If we do it I will make sure I enjoy this one. Maybe this will be more special."
Neil Custis, The Sun
No more bench for Becks
David Beckham will say goodbye to Manchester United if he is left on the bench at Spurs. United go to White Hart Lane for a match they must win in their chase for the title. But if Becks is left out for the fourth time in five games he will turn his back on the club. He instructed agent Tony Stephens to gauge interest from abroad after he was snubbed by Alex Ferguson for United´s clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Neil Custis, The Sun
Find out which players have been linked with a move to United >
Ronaldo has won us title
Robert Pires says Ronaldo has won the Premiership for Arsenal. Pires claims Manchester United´s challenge was fatally damaged by the Brazilian´s hat-trick on Wednesday. He said: " We hope being knocked out of the European Cup like that by Real Madrid will damage United." Arsenal players were glued to the TV as United won the quarter-final second leg 4-3 on Wednesday but went out 6-5 on aggregate. Midfielder Pires added: " People buried Ronaldo too soon and I´m delighted he is back. What he showed against United at Old Trafford is that, even with a few too many kilos on him, he is capable of winning any game. For United and Real it was obviously a joy to play in that kind of match, but it might have an after-effect."
Ben Kinsella, The Sun
Hodd not Gunner help ´em
Arsene Wenger is begging bitter rivals Tottenham to do his Arsenal side a big favour tomorrow. Glenn Hoddle revealed he bumped into the Gunners boss at Spurs reserves´ clash with Arsenal in midweek. Spurs face Manchester United at White Hart Lane tomorrow but boss Hodd said: " I´m not so sure our fans would want us to do Arsenal a favour. So I told Arsene we´ll do OURSELVES a favour."
Pat Sheehan, The Sun
Kewell chase hots up
Manchester United face a battle from Inter Milan and Barcelona for Harry Kewell. Liverpool will also join the chase for the £6million Leeds star if they fail to land Marc Overmars or Damien Duff. United boss Alex Ferguson plans a double swoop for Kewell, 24, and £8m-rated keeper Paul Robinson. And Leeds may have to part with both because they are still £78m in debt. Caretaker boss Peter Reid admitted: " The club needs to keep hold of its best stars. But it also needs to build and bring young players through the ranks. I was with Alex Ferguson after the Real Madrid game and he didn´t say anything to me about Kewell."
Sports staff, The Sun
Fergie´s fury over Beckham question
Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday staged an extraordinary rant when quizzed about David Beckham´s proposed move to Real Madrid. Fergie´s advisers warned that he would not field questions about Beckham´s move to the Spanish giants despite Real edging closer to a £38million bid. And the Manchester United boss launched into one of his famous ´hairdryer´ tirades when a radio reporter ignored orders and raised the topic at the club´s Carrington training ground.
Sports staff, Daily Mirror
Real deal: Del Bosque´s charm offensive
The charm offensive that Real Madrid believe will end with David Beckham unveiled as the Bernabeu´s next glittering adornment began in earnest last night. Throughout all the talk linking the England captain with a new life in the Spanish capital, one man has remained silent. But coach Vicente Del Bosque has clearly been biding his time, waiting for the moment to make his pitch straight to Beckham. Last night, with the fall-out of Beckham´s shock axing by Sir Alex Ferguson from the side that suffered Champions League elimination at Real´s hands, it came. Del Bosque cut through all the bluster as he admitted publicly for the first time that he covets Beckham as the next addition to his team of all the talents. Del Bosque said: " I´ve now been following Beckham since he was 17 years old. He seems to me an incredible footballer with enormous technical qualities. He´s an extraordinary player and nobody can doubt that. It doesn´t surprise me that he was able to do what he did in the half-hour he was on the pitch on Wednesday."
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror
