Keane: It’s time to buy
Roy Keane has urged Manchester United to buy this summer in a bid for Euro success. Skipper Keane said: “You can’t afford to stand still – you have to think ahead. If you go back to when Liverpool were dominant, they bought top players every summer no matter what they had won. It is important to keep building because it keeps the players on their toes.”
Sports staff, The Sun
Heavy going, Giggs
Manchester United were a bunch of losers yesterday – on the racecourse. The Premiership champions went through betting hell at Chester. Ryan Giggs said: “I’ve not had a winner all day. It’s a lot tougher than playing football. Giggs admitted the players have found it easier to relax now the title is won. He added: “It’s certainly taken the pressure off. But a lot of the lads are disappointed we haven’t had a high-profile celebration.”
Trevor Clements, The Sun
This is my revenge
Juan Veron raised a two-fingered salute to his Manchester United critics and declared: " This is revenge on all those who called me a loser." The Argentine international playmaker has spent the last two years struggling to win over a sceptical British public. But United´s magnificent championship fightback has finally given Veron something to smile about. Now the man who cost a block-busting £28.1million when he arrived at Old Trafford from Lazio cannot wait to get his hands on the Premiership trophy on Sunday. Veron, 28, was right at the heart of United´s champagne celebrations to mark their amazing triumph this week. For the majority of Alex Ferguson´s squad, it was merely the latest in a long catalogue of title triumphs.
Mark Irwin, The Sun
Beckham faces pay freeze
David Beckham will have to sign a new four-year contract for no extra cash if he wants to stay at Old Trafford. Beckham finally made a statement on Tuesday, saying that he loved Manchester United and did not want to leave the club. This came despite huge interest from Real Madrid in the England captain and an imminent move by AC Milan to land him. Becks wants to stay but there is still plenty more to be done before that becomes a reality and he starts next season in a red shirt. Boss Alex Ferguson has to decide firstly if he wants to keep him rather than take the £30million-plus that would be on offer to help finance his rebuilding plans. Then the board will want to make sure that Beckham is tied to the club for a lot longer than the two years that are left on his contract.
Neil Custis, The Sun
Eminem´s a Premier hit
Rap star Eminem has been a smash-hit with Premiership players this season. League sponsors Barclaycard carried out a survey to discover what music inspired the 20 sides. And Eminem was the clear winner with seven clubs choosing tracks from the album 8 Mile. Irish rock band U2, whose hit Beautiful Day provides the theme to ITV´s Premiership highlights, came second. Teams were asked if they listened to music before games and if they had one DJ among the players who chose tracks. Music psychologist Dr Neil Todd of Manchester University said it helped teams gain a mental edge. He said: " Footballers require a mental toughness and music can be important before games. Eminem´s music may play a role rather like the Haka. Some players will be motivated by the determined, repetitive dance rhythms combined with cutting lyrics often themed around reclaiming pride and self-confidence. U2 may work in a different way. Uplifting songs such as Beautiful Day can help create a positive frame of mind."
Vikki Orvice, The Sun
Becks pay freeze
Manchester United will test David Beckham´s pledge of loyalty - by offering him a new contract without a pay rise. The Old Trafford board are keen to seize upon Beckham´s insistence that he has no plans to move abroad by tying their highest-profile player to a new long-term deal. But Beckham will not be offered an increase on his current £95,000 a week because United have now set a limit on player wages. Chief executive Peter Kenyon warned midway through the season that salaries had reached their limit. And Beckham´s insistence that he will remain committed to the club that he has served for a decade will now be put to the ultimate test. He is on a basic £75,000 a week, which rises to £95,000 through a clause in his contract which guarantees him a slice of the money generated from his image rights.
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
I was a loser but now I´m a winner...that´s what I call revenge
Juan Sebastian Veron last night insisted winning the Premiership title was " personal revenge" against everyone who branded him a £28million flop. World Cup star Veron struggled to settle at Old Trafford after his record-breaking move from Lazio two years ago and he nearly returned to Italy last summer. But the Argentinian superstar has finally justified his huge transfer fee by playing a major part in Manchester United´s championship success and he admits that proving his critics wrong gave him extra pleasure. And Veron even claims winning his first trophy with United represents some consolation for Argentina´s humiliating early exit from last summer´s World Cup. Veron, who becomes the first Argentine to ever win the Premiership, has received his fair share of criticism since joining United in 2001 - and he is delighted to finally taste success.
John Cross, Daily Mirror
Wenger´s boys shake off the blues - Arsenal 6 Southampton 1
For Arsenal it was a case of too much too late. The brilliant flowing football that produced six goals against Southampton last night was six days overdue but could yet help save their season.
Ian McGarry, Daily Mail
Van´s just champion
Ruud van Nistelrooy has told Thierry Henry he is welcome to his double footballer of the year award and insists: " Give me the Premiership every time!" Manchester United´s Dutch striker was snubbed by his fellow professionals and the football writers in favour of Arsenal´s Henry, despite scoring 43 goals in all competitions this term. But van Nistelrooy admits he has no qualms about missing out to his Gunners rival for the two gongs.
Peter Edwards, Daily Express
O´Shea sure is OK with Ferguson
John O´Shea has nutmegged Luis Figo, swapped shirts with Raul, won his first Premiership title medal - and will now bank a whopping pay rise. The Manchester United star is set to treble his wages as a reward for making the breakthrough from fringe player to established first-teamer. Sir Alex Ferguson will rip up the young Irishman´s current contract, which still has three years to run, and give him a new long-term deal worth about £35,000 a week. O´Shea has played 51 games this season - the same as David Beckham. And, remarkably, they have come in five different positions. " He´s been sensational," said Ferguson. " It doesn´t matter where we play him, nothing seems to faze him."
Richard Tanner, Daily Express
Fergie move hits cash snag
Manchester United´s £14m bid to sign Ronaldinho has stalled - because the Brazilian wants a cut of the fee! Paris St Germain´s World Cup winner is one of Sir Alex Ferguson´s main targets as he looks to rebuild his squad to win the Champions League. Ronaldinho arrived at PSG on a free transfer from Brazilian side Gremio, and has a clause in his contract which entitles him to 20 per cent of any future deal. PSG paid him and his advisers £10million in signing-on fees and want to make a profit if he moves on.
Danny Fullbrook, Daily Star
