Milito’s two seals Europe for Inter Milan.

After more than four decades, FC Internazionale Milano were crowned European champions for the third time thanks to a goal in each half by forward Diego Milito. The result also completed their treble after there previous triumph in domestic circuit. Courtesy to FC Bayern München who were out classed by Jose Mourinho‘s men at the Santaigo Bernrbeu, Madrid, Spain. The result also bring cheers to Inter neighbours AC Milan who will be competing in next year’s UEFA Champions league after Inter managed to secure four places from Serie A from the coming season.

Both the sides came here to win the trebles after their sucesses in the domestic season but only one had to be victorious. The stadium was packed to capacity and the atmosphere was as always electricfying. Inter dominated the possession and in the 35th minute Milito struck for his first when he cushioned header off a long punt forward from Júlio César allows Sneijder to send him clear of the Bayern defence and he lofts the ball over the advancing Jörg Butt. The teams went into the break with teh Italians leading. 

Second half saw substitutions from both the sides. Bayern brought Miroslav Klose in place of Hamit Altıntop to futher enhance the strike but it seems like everything was going against the Bvarians. In the 70th minute Milito does it again, this time collecting Samuel Eto’o‘s pass on the break and beating Daniel Van Buyten on the edge of the area before shooting in high at the far corner beyond Butt’s reach. It was 2 for Inter and Bayern was left thinking. The score line remained the same till the end much to the delight of the Inter players, coach, supporter and management.

After their sucessive triumphs in the 60s this one is welcomes. The big credit of the win goes to their coach Jose Mourinho who is famous with his tactics at every situation. One can even say he has learned from his mentors at different club. But the growing speculations of his departure to the same ground where the final was played may well halt the celebrations at the San Siro.  

Bayern wins Bundesliga while Barca retains La Liga.

Spanish La Liga Update:

FC Barcelona beat Valladolid 4-0 in the Camp Nou stadium on Sunday to retain the La Liga title. The result also meant relegation for ValladolidThe title challenge was extended up to the last week with continued pressure from rivals Real Madrid but Barcelona went into the match knowing a win would guarantee the title no matter what Real Madrid did away to Malaga. Real on the other hand had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Malaga. Valencia and Seville finished third and fourth respectively which reserved their entry into champions league along with the top two. Amongst the relegated this season from the La Liga were Xerez, Tenerife and Valladolid while Malaga escaped relegation with a last gasp draw against Real Madrid. Xerez were also relegated after a 1-1 draw away to Osasuna in Pamplona, while Tenerife also returned to the second division after Alexis’ late goal sent them to a 1-0 defeat away to Valencia.

Bundesliga Update:

Bayern wins the league cup with an easy victory agains BremenmIt was only the league cup, now the DFB-Pokal: FC Bayern has made perfectly with a superior 4-0 victory in the final against Bremen, the Double. The next party in Bavaria Berlin after the championship celebration a week ago, could begin. And the sauce next to rise in Madrid, after the Champions League final against Inter Milan this coming Saturday  A victory there would make the double a historic triple and the players know what it feels to be at this stage. While Midfielder Ilkay Guendogan found the net before the interval before striker Eric Choupo-Moting sealed the victory from the spot after the break. Already leading 1-0 from last Thursday’s first leg victory, Nurnberg’s 2-0 win in the second meeting ensured they avoid the drop out of the top flight. 

Double delight for Chelsea at Wembley.

Premier League champions Chelsea completed their FA Cup double with a narrow 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Wemby stadium here on saturday. Didier Drogba scored the only goal through a free kick to seal the double win for the blues. 

The match started in front of a pack stadium. Pompeys had a decent support who came out to play for pride and prove that they still belong to the premier league but it was not their day… Carlo Ancelotti‘s side had all eyes on the cup with nothing to loose. After fighting till the last match for the barclays premier league the blues wanted to finish with a double and they did. 

The first half went goal less with both the team unable to get past the net. Chelsea suffered a big blow in the 35th minute when Kevin-Prince Boateng‘s tackle injured German mid fielder Michael Ballack. WIth World Cup less than a month this can be a huge blow for him, being out of contract this may possibly be his last match for the blues. After that Drogba hit the woodwork in the 39th minute. 

Portsmouth had a brilliant chance to take the lead when Dindane skipped around Chelsea substitute Juliano Belletti and into the area and when the Brazilian bundled the Pompey striker over, referee Chris Foy pointed to the penalty spot. Unfortunately for Pompey, Boateng’s spot kick went straight down the middle of the goal and Cech saved with his feet. And just at the hour mark, Didier Drogba scored througha free kick when he shot around the wall and in off the post. Chelsea was 1-0 up which and the score line stayed till the end. The Chelsea players and fans were over joyed with the resut giving them the first ever double.

Chelsea plays Portsmouth to finish the year with a double.

Fresh from their triumph in the Barclays English Premier League, Chelsea will be hoping to finish with a double this season. The blues will be meeting Portsmouth in the final of the Football Association Cup (popularly known as the FA Cup) on saturday at the “new” Wembley Stadium. It was a long way for both the teams to reach the 129th final  where teams from all the divisions participated. 

 

News from the newly crowned Premier League champions is that they will be going with their usual squad that trounced Wigan Athletic in the final league match of the season. Beyond that Carlo Ancelotti is still waiting for Branislav Ivanovic injury report which is expected to make the trip to Wembley. Overall Chelsea has had a very good record over the Pompeys and the five times winners will be hoping to make it six and more importantly two in a row following last year’s 2-1 win over gunners. The blues lockers room is in absolute health after the decision of Frank Lampard to take penalty over in the previous match made Didier Drogba who was fighting for the golden boot.

For the Pompeys this is a big game. After relegating from the top division of the English league. the port club will be hoping to win the FA Cup twice in three years. They last won in 2008 after beating Cardiff city by a single goal. News from theri locker room is that midfielder Jamie O’Hara is hoping to play at Wembley on Saturday despite suffering with a double stress fracture in his back. The on loan player will be playing his last match with the Pompeys before moving back to Tottenham Hotspur, his original club. Other than that Avram Grant will be going with their usual squad and hope to make headlines tomorrow.

The match will start at 1500 Hours GMT (1930 Hours IST)

 

Final Showdown at the premier league.

After 370 matches in the Barclay’s Premeir League this season, the title race has gone down to the wire. 10 matches on the final day will decide who gets the Barclays flag and other vital positons for entry into Europe for the next season. Chelsea, currently at 83 points, has the upper hand with a point lead over rivals Manchester United but nothing vould be said till the referee blows the final whistle of the season. Also, there is a slim battle for the third-fourth place with Tottenham Hotspur just 2 points behind Arsenal who are having their worst run in years with 10 games without a point.

Chelsea will be up against Wigan Athletic for the last day. The blues will be going out with their usual squad without any fresh injuries. Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba will be all fired up to lift the trophy in front of the home crowd. For Wigan it will be playing for pride and an attempt to stop the blues to win the match and the title, their Striker Marcelo Moreno is injured due to ankle injuries along with other Wiganers. 

Defending champions  Manchester United will be hosting Stoke City at Old Trafford for the final match of the season. The pressure is double on the red devils, first one being of winning and second hoping the nearly impossibe task of Chelsea either loosing or drawing againts Wigan. For Man United veteran defender Gary Neville is injured and Rio Ferdinand is not finding the touch. High hopes are on Wayne Rooney and Berbatov to fire while hoping that Chelsea don’t fire.

The best part of tomorrow is that all the match will be starting at 1600 hours GMT (2030 Hours IST) so there will be pre-match or post match tensions. The matches are:

Arsenal Vs Fulham

Aston Villa Vs Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers Vs Birmingham City

Burnley Vs Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea Vs Wigan Athletic

Everton Vs Portsmouth

Hull City  Vs Liverpool

Manchester United Vs Stoke City

West Ham United  Vs Manchester City

Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs Sunderland

Manchester United host Spurs in the crucial league stage.

After some great round of football last weekend when Chelsea lost and United won the league it back with the utmost excitement. All the twenty teams will be in action. Starting the play with an early kick off on Saturday is Tottenham Hotspur, who defeated Chelsea and previously defeated Arsenal also, will be on the way to Old Trafford to play against defending Champions Manchester United while leaders Chelsea will be hoping to cruise past Stoke City at home and sit at a comfortable position with their lead on Sunday.

The match at Old Trafford is important for both teams. Manchester United are desperate to get back at the top and retain the title while Tottenham on the other side would be hoping to cement their fourth place while takes them to the champions league qualification round. News from the locker room is that Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown may be back in the starting line up for the red devils while Wayne Rooney is still short of full fitness to start. Sir Alex will be banking on the experiece of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to break the deadlock. For Spurs Jonathan Woodgate is out injured with a groin trouble while Jermaine Jenas is doubtful to play at OT. The table will be changed… lets see what happens.

The match timings of the weekend matches are:

Saturday

Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur 1245 Hours GMT

Bolton Wanderers Vs Portsmouth 1500 Hours GMT

Hull City Vs Sunderland 1500 Hours GMT

West Ham United Vs Wigan 1500 Hours GMT

Wolves Vs Blackburn Rovers 1500 Hours GMT

Arsenal Vs Manchester City 1700 Hours GMT

Sunday

Aston Villa Vs Birmingham City 1200 Hours GMT

Burnley Vs Liverpool 1500 Hours GMT

Everton Vs Fulham 1500 Hours GMT

Chelsea Vs Stoke City 1600 Hours GMT

Another nail to Portsmouth’s coffin…

Relegated Portsmouth‘s hopes of competing in next season’s Europa League after reaching the FA Cup final were dashed on Thursday when they were ruled out because they had not applied in time. The FA and Premier League said in a joint statement that they had told the club’s administrators they would “not consider any late application for granting of a UEFA Club Licence for the 2010-11 season.”Despite being 119 million pounds in debt and in administration, Portsmouth would have qualified for the Europa League by reaching the Cup final against Chelsea, who are sure to be in the Champions League. However, the south coast club cannot take up the place without a UEFA licence and the FA had set a March 1 deadline for clubs to apply for one.

Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou had said earlier this month that the licence had not been applied for but the club intended to do so.The fifth to seventh placed clubs in the Premier League will now be eligible for the Europa Leaguee.They fought really hard to get to the final of the oldest event in English football but Europe is now outbounds for the Pompeys. There was also a strong feeling at the FA and the Premier League that one of the reasons the UEFA club licence was set up was to try to prevent clubs being run as badly as Portsmouth have been.The transfers also seems going against the Pompeys with the first of the lot exiting. 

British media widely reported that Portsmouth had agreed to sell Begovic to Tottenham and would be liable to make the payment if it subsequently sold him to another club. But Tottenham contends that it agreed to a combined transfer fee for Begovic and defender Younes Kaboul, paying Pompey 1 million pounds as a deposit on the goalkeeper on the understanding that it would be repaid if he moved elsewhere.Kaboul joined Spurs but Begovic instead moved to Stoke for 3.25 million pounds ($5 million) on Feb 1.”Portsmouth pressed for an immediate payment in order to alleviate their cash-flow situation,” Tottenham said in a statement. “We were assured that the transfer of Begovic would be completed before the end of the transfer window.”Our intention had been to assist a fellow club in financial difficulties.”

Problems holding a determined Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal is a team  that has always been in contention to win the English Premier League but but but…  that is not what there management and fans want. There last big party blast was the premier league title in 2003/04 season and the FA Cup in 2005 and since then they are a title less team on paper no matter how hard they push and stop other to get there.  This year is no exception for them.

The big problem and the solution to it:

There are internal pressures on Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger to make the team reach that level and his stay is being questioned for the first time in 14 year of job at the Emirates by a small section at Emirates. But the veteran manager is determined with the side as he told to a leading English daily the Mail recently that “This summer or in the autumn we will talk. My personal future will depend on the capacity to win trophies but also on whether this team is improving year after year, because we are still very, very young. Ideally I would not want to leave without this generation winning a trophy.”

 

There are few great coaches and it is true that they need time to gel with the squad that is given to them. Wenger is famous for bringing in new players from any part of the world at making them famous at this stage. Sacking him can be a huge problem as many players may leave and side by side some from the management may also resign resulting in downfall of the club. So a fragile decision like this one should not be taken by the board and should be left to the ace coach to decide after all he knows what to do.

Chelsea’s step forward to the premiership title.

Chelsea are back at the top of the premiership table after a controversial goal by Chelsea‘s striker Didier Drogba took the blues to a narrow victory by 2-1 over Manchester United at Old Trafford in an early kick-off on Saturday. This has put a serious dent for the champions United to retain the league trophy. In other matches, Arsenal edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 with a 90th minute goal by Nickalas Bendtner while relegation threatened Portsmouth held Blackburn Rovers to a goal less draw at Fratton Park. 

Pre-match Manchester United knew that this one is not going to be a cake walk specially with Rooney‘s absence. Chelsea broke the dead lock in the 19th minute when Florent Malouda skipped past United defenders in style,and fired a low shot into the box where Joe Cole, who was closely held, backheeled the ball brilliantly through the legs of Evra and into the far corner. 

 

In the second Chelsea‘s lead was doubled but with a huge controversy, Just in as a substitute, Didier Drogba was clearly in offside position but the linesman was too aware to see that and as a result the play carried on, with United players protesting, and Drogba lashed into the roof of the net. the small section of Chelsea fans which came all the way from London were in peak joy. But just 2 minute later United got one back when Nani‘s ran in from the left and his low cross bounced off Cech onto Macheda‘s chest and into the net but it was looking too late. The “comeback kings” as Manchester United is known as tried their best to come level closest being Dimitar Berbatov‘s shot in the injury time which went straight into the hands of the Cech. Thus, the final Score Chelsea 2-1 Man United.

Manchester United’s four retains top position after Chelsea’s struck seven.

Manchester United completed the double over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok with an emphatic 4-0 win in the late kick-off on Saturday but not before Chelseastruck with a spectacular seven over Aston Villa at home. Meanwhile third placedArsenal’s title challenge suffered a major halt when an injury time goal by Kevin Phllips made the gunners lead go in vain and eventually they had to settle for a draw.

 

Manchester United got the lead in a pretty unusual fashion when in the crowded penalty area after Jloyd Samuelgot the ball and side footed into his own net in the 38th minute. The teams went into the break with 1-0 in home side’s favour.

Second half was truly Man United’s with three goals in it. Dimitar Berbatov got his first when a deflected ball by the goal keeper landed in his foot who simply tapped it behind the net. He got his second in the 78th minute when Nani teased Bolton defenders with some lovely footwork on
the left flank and pulled the ball back for Berbatov to complete. Finally things were wrapped up by Darron Gibson8 minutes from time when he came in as a substitute.

 

Chelsea gave a strong signals to the leaders after they thrashed Aston Villa with 7-1 scoreline. Frank Lampardnetted 4 times for the blues and Florent Malouda scored twice and one for Kalou in the win. Needless to say… but Villa equalised at 1-1 when Carew tapped a cross over the line at the far post but that was it for the visiting side.

Arsenalsuffered a major setback against Birmingham City after Samir Nasri’s 82nd minute lead was cancelled byKevin Phillips in the injury time of the match.

Other results were:

Hull City 2-0 Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Portsmouth

West Ham United 0-1 Stoke City

Wolves 0-0 Everton