Welbeck looks to the light side

Rabu, 05 Oktober 2011

The pressure England's players have to perform under has been a consistent theme of Fabio Capello's near four-year tenure.

It is, the Italian has explained, the reason why his team have found it so hard to reproduce their impressive away form at Wembley.

Little wonder therefore that Capello has turned to youth in an attempt to ensure England do not exit next summer's European Championship in the same way they did at the World Cup.
Because Manchester United striker Welbeck and his ilk are not tortured by bad experiences.

Indeed, rather than be submerged by a fear of failure, the 20-year-old has the perfect way of keeping all the pressure off.

"Mentally, you cannot put that pressure on yourself," he said.

"You cannot say 'wow, this is a massive occasion'. You cannot be overawed by anything.

"I have been brought up always to play the game and not the occasion. At Manchester United they have drilled that into us.

"They want us to win and enjoy ourselves as well."

It is the same type of attitude that ensured Welbeck was not happy with a single United appearance, or just one competitive goal.

Neither was the single cap he won against Ghana - whom he could still play for until such time as he plays a competitive game for England - enough.

Even if he ends any speculation about his international future by featuring against Montenegro in Podgorica on Friday evening, Welbeck's hunger will not be satisfied.

In that he is following the examples laid down by the very best."There are no limits," he said.

"I am not seeing it as like 'whoa, I've got to this stage' or anything like that. In football, you don't want to put a limit on anything. You don't want to be happy with where you're at.

"If you think of the main ones like Lionel Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo, they score goals and break records and just want to keep breaking them.

"They don't want to stop there. You can't ever be satisfied."

Welbeck's attitude is remarkable given the massive strides he has taken over the past 12 months.

Loaned out to Sunderland last season as he simply was not getting enough time on the pitch to justify United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's lofty claim the striker would be part of Capello's squad in South Africa, Welbeck has now established himself as number three in United's long list of forwards, ahead of Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen.

Yet it is Owen's presence at Old Trafford that provides an obvious example of where Welbeck should be aiming.

"I am learning from the best," he said.

"Michael Owen played for England at a young age and terrorised the best defenders on the world stage."

And then, of course, there is another team-mate, who has usurped Owen as England's number one forward and is likely to go beyond merely ousting him as the fourth-highest scorer in national team history.

"We all know what Wayne Rooney can do. He is one of the best footballers in the world at the moment," said Welbeck.

"The thing is, they are so easy to talk to. It's not a case of 'wow, I'm going to talk to Wayne Rooney now'. He's not like that at all. He is not that type of character.

"I am always watching them in training and how they act around the dressing room. It's always good to be around their circle."

However, Welbeck concedes, much like Jack Wilshere, the making of him was the time away from his parent club.

Placement, clearly, is everything.

And just as Arsene Wenger picked exactly the right club in Bolton to further Wilshere's abilities, so Sunderland, whose manager Steve Bruce is acutely aware of the demands placed on the shoulders of United players, was ideal for Welbeck.

"Just getting the minutes in the Premier League and to be playing week in week out with the big boys was a really big step for me," he said.

"I really loved my time there. Even off the pitch, living on my own, was different. Moving away from home helped me grow.

"I even had to cook my own food sometimes. It wasn't up to scratch, but I improved.

"As a whole, I grew from a boy to a man."

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AS Roma VS AC Milan

Kamis, 05 Mei 2011

While the AC Milan-Roma fixture may not enjoy the status of a derby, it remains one of Italian football’s classic rivalries. The two meet for the 151st time this weekend, when the mutual antipathy that exists between the northern city and the nation’s capital, the gateway to the south, will once again ensure there is no love lost on the pitch.

Origins
In terms of trophies, AC Milan hold the upper hand, having won 17 league championships and five Coppa di Italia to Roma’s three scudetti and nine national cups, a competition record. The gap between the two sides is even greater when international silverware is taken into consideration.

Milan’s trophy cabinet features one FIFA Club World Cup, three Intercontinental Cups, seven European Cup/UEFA Champions League trophies and two European Cup Winners’ Cups. Meanwhile I Giallorossi have just a Fairs Cup success to their name, achieved in 1961, though they have finished European Cup and UEFA Cup runners-up, each on one occasion.

It goes without saying that the passion generated by the rivalry lacks the intensity of the Milan derby or its Rome counterpart. What gives it a special edge, however, is the fierce competition between the cities the two clubs represent: Rome, the administrative capital of Italy, and Milan, the country’s financial capital.

Facts and figures
I Rossoneri have a clear advantage in the head-to-head, winning 69 of the 150 league matches the two have contested, drawing 44 and losing 37. The northerners even have the edge at the Stadio Olimpico with 26 wins, 27 draws and 22 defeats in 75 meetings there. Yet while AC Milan have recorded the biggest win to date in the fixture, 6-2 on 28 May 1950, the Roman side can point to the most dramatic comeback, recovering from 4-1 down just after half-time to draw 4-4 on 27 January 1935.Where Milan cannot match their Roman rivals is in the number of Italian players who have won the FIFA World Cup™ while playing for them. While I Giallorossi have had 11 Nazionale world champions in their ranks over the years, from Attilio Ferraris IV (1934) to Bruno Conti (1982) and Francesco Totti (2006), Milan can only count on eight, including Pietro Arcari (1934), Franco Baresi (1982) and their Germany 2006-winning quintet of Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Gilardino, Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo.

Legendary names
Many are the great players who have run out for these two giants of the Italian scene. Leading the way for Milan is the peerless Paolo Maldini, who made 902 appearances for the club and 126 for Italy between 1984 and 2009. Also taking their place in the Rossoneri pantheon are Gianni Rivera, Franco Baresi, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, George Weah, Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka, while Gattuso, Nesta and Clarence Seedorf are still representing the club with pride, all of them having helped pen some of the most glorious chapters in its story of sustained success.

Agostino di Bartolomei, Falcao, Pietro Vierchowod, Roberto Pruzzo, Bruno Conti, Gabriel Batistuta, current coach Vincenzo Montella and Marco Delvecchio are just some of the stars who have performed with distinction for Roma over the years. However, pride of place must surely go to Francesco Totti, a Roman born and bred and the greatest player in Giallorossi history.

Like his erstwhile international team-mate Maldini, Totti is a member of the dwindling band of players who have devoted their careers to just one club. In 607 matches for his beloved Roma since 1993, the feisty playmaker has carried his team time and time again, becoming the club’s highest Serie A scorer of all time with 206 goals, making him the fifth leading marksman in Italian league history. A fierce competitor, Totti will be intent on showing Milan on Saturday that his scoring days are not yet behind him.

Another famous figure in Milan history is current owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. A lifelong fan who made many a trip to the San Siro with his father Luigi during his childhood years, Berlusconi bought the club on 20 February 1986 and triggered a renaissance in Milan fortunes. Following on from the golden years of the 1950s, illuminated by the Swedish trio of Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm (collectively known as Gre-No-Li), and the unforgettable achievements of coach Nereo Rocco in the 60s, Berlusconi brought in the no-less successful Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti, both of whom took the club to the top in Italy and Europe.

Roma had a legendary president of their own in Franco Sensi, who died in 2008 and was succeeded by his daughter Rosella, who made light of an increasing lack of resources to keep the club in the upper echelons of Serie A. Roma were taken over on 15 April by Italian-American businessman Thomas di Benedetto, who in becoming the institution’s 21st president, said: “Roma is a princess and we are going to make her a queen.”

The rivalry today
Berlusconi has entrusted the task of restoring Milan to the pinnacle of Italian football to 43-year-old coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has so far managed a star-studded squad with aplomb. Opposite number Montella is seven years his junior but knows everything there is to know about Roma. A league champion with the club in 2001, Montella was appointed to the job only in February and advocates an attacking style of football.

This weekend’s meeting in the Italian capital promises to be a very special occasion. Allegri’s men are heading south in search of the point they need to become league champions for the 18th time, while Roma will be doing everything in their power to stop them and secure the points they need to keep their late push for a UEFA Champions League place on track.

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United book Barça showdown

Rabu, 04 Mei 2011

Manchester United's shadow squad secured a repeat of their 2009 UEFA Champions League final with Barcelona with a 4-1 win over Schalke in their semi-final second leg, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson left no one in any doubt that Sunday's Premier League crunch with Chelsea is the most important task of the week.

First-half goals from Antonio Valencia and Darron Gibson ensured there was no way back for Schalke, who were already two goals down from the first leg, and a late double from Anderson completed a handsome victory.

For Gibson in particular it represented a fitting riposte to the critics who forced him off Twitter last week after spending barely two hours exposed to a demanding public. And Ferguson got exactly what he wanted too, namely the chance of revenge over Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, who was watching from the stands, for that one-sided encounter in Rome.

"We have to make sure we learned our lessons and that we're better prepared this time than we were last time," Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar told ITV.

The Wembley final will be the 40-year-old's last in a United jersey before he retires. "To play at Wembley is going to be a great game and hopefully a better outcome than the last time otherwise it's going to be a terrible feeling," he added.

Perhaps the most crucial strategy of the night was Ferguson's decision to keep all his main players fresh for the visit of Carlo Ancelotti's side on Sunday. Eight changes from the weekend defeat at Arsenal was not so much a calculated gamble as a starting line-up born out of necessity from a manager who simply could not afford to risk injury.
To play at Wembley it's going to be a great game and hopefully a better outcome than the last time otherwise it's going to be a terrible feeling.
Edwin van der Sar, Manchester United goalkeeper

As a result, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand found themselves in the unusual position of not being required at all for a semi-final decider in European club football's biggest competition, while four more key men started on the bench.

"I didn't sleep last night thinking about it - I woke up four times - but they did me proud," Ferguson told ITV. "The fact it was a Champions League semi-final meant I questioned whether I had done the right thing, but glad I was vindicated."This team can win the cup - we have got a great team full of ability. Barcelona are without doubt the team of the moment - they play fantastic football and are a pleasure to watch."

Ferguson must have factored into his thinking that Schalke simply could not suffer a defeat as bad as they had on home soil eight days ago. They were certainly more solid in the opening stages, as was Gibson's stomach as he took an accidental kick from Jefferson Farfan.

United had an early chance to settle the tie when Dimitar Berbatov wriggled into space with some deft skill, only to allow Manuel Neuer to intercept his cross as Antonio Valencia waited for a tap-in. Chris Smalling was similarly frustrated the next time Berbatov found himself with a crossing opportunity.

United take the lead
The nervousness soon disappeared, though, as Anderson quickly switched a stray pass into Gibson's path. He picked out Valencia, and unlike last week, United did not need 11 chances before finding the net as the Ecuadorian sent his precise effort through Neuer's legs. Ferguson celebrated with the gusto of a man who felt the tie was over, his total confidence in a squad so many have doubted vindicated once more.

Within five minutes United had their second. The same three players were involved again too as Anderson used his strength to provide Valencia with a return pass. He rolled the ball into Gibson's path, although the Irishman would be the first to admit he benefited from a huge slice of good fortune as Neuer inexplicably fumbled, proving he is not perfect after all given last week's heroics.

It was simply unthinkable that United might lose a four-goal aggregate advantage, but Jose Jurado gave them something to ponder almost immediately when he profited from back-to-back errors by Smalling and Rafael.

To follow the burst of goals, three yellow cards were dished out with even greater speed, condemning United's entire central midfield trio to walk a disciplinary tightrope for the remainder of the game. The most vulnerable of the three was obviously Paul Scholes, who collected his caution for failing to retreat at a free-kick rather than one of his trademark wild tackles. But tonight there was never any danger of the 36-year-old overstepping the mark.

Anderson double
Gibson had already made a positive impact, as had Anderson. The Brazilian is still bedevilled by inconsistent performances, but this was a good one. He managed to do something he has never managed during his entire time at United - score twice in a game.

His first was due to his persistence, firing home with a shot on the turn after he had been crowded out of his first attempt to finish Nani's low cross. The second was a tap-in thanks to Berbatov's unselfish square ball.

With Darren Fletcher returning after two months out and no one suspended for the final, everything had gone right for Ferguson and his team. But the true test this week will come from another team in blue, desperate to retain their title and thirsting for revenge at being eliminated from this very competition at the quarter-final stage.

Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick said his side had been deservedly beaten. "I have to congratulate Manchester United - over the two games they were the better side," he said. "As soon as we went behind it was difficult for us.

"If you look at the comparison of their so-called second string the quality of their players stands out. Berbatov, Anderson performed well - they're the sort of players that most Bundesliga teams would be happy with. We have to admit we could have gone out in the quarter-final against Inter - tonight we found out our level."

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Guardiola looking forward to Wembley return

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he was honoured to be leading his side to Wembley for the Champions League final.

The Spaniard was a member of the Barca side who beat Sampdoria 1-0 at the old Wembley in 1992 when the club won the European Cup for the first time.

"It is an honour to get to the final," he stated. "Football is coming home.

"It was a huge moment for the club when we won the Champions League for the first time in the old Wembley and now we are in the new Wembley."

Barcelona drew 1-1 with Real Madrid, to beat their arch-rivals3-1 on aggregate to reach the final for the third time in six seasons.

Their likely opponents are Manchester United, who meet Schalke at Old Trafford tonight with a 2-0 lead from the semi-final first leg.

Should United prevail, the contest would be a repeat of the 2009 final, which Barca won 2-0 in Rome.

"We will wait and see who will be our opponent and we'll prepare accordingly," added Guardiola. "But if it's Manchester United then it will be a different game to the final in 2009 - they are a different team with different strikers.

"A match is decided by many uncontrollable things," explained Guardiola. "We were lucky in the beginning of that game and we were a bit better than them after that, but if we meet again it will be a different match. "We will have to try and find their weaknesses, have the ball and attack."

Guardiola said he would not underestimate a United side who are three points clear at the top of the Premier League, or their veteran boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"They are a great team and he is one of the best in the game - he has shown he can repeat and recreate, and win and win and win in finals," he added.

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Rooney a doubt for Manchester United

Selasa, 03 Mei 2011

Manchester United will assess Wayne Rooney's hamstring injury ahead of the Champions League clash with Schalke, but there are doubts that the striker will be fit for Wednesday's semi-final second leg encounter.

Better news for United comes with the confirmation from United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, that Darren Fletcher, who has not played for two months, will be involved at some point in the game.

Rooney scored in the 2-0 win in the first leg a week ago, but after missing training on Tuesday morning, could miss out at Old Trafford as United look to tie up a place in the final.

Sir Alex Ferguson had already suggested Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen will start against Schalke, and will give Rooney a fitness test on the day of the game.

"No, he didn't train," said the United manager.

"He had a tight hamstring so we left him today, but we'll see what he's like tomorrow."

Ferguson added: "Darren Fletcher will play part of the game tomorrow night. He's working hard and he'll be involved."

United are favourites to progress to Wembley after winning the first leg 2-0, but saw their Premier League hopes suffer a setback at the weekend as they lost to Arsenal and saw Chelsea close the gap at the top to three points.

However, Ferguson feels that his side are still favourites to lift the title for a record-breaking 19th time, but they still have plenty of work to do.

He continued: "We must be favourites, only because we're three points ahead but that can evaporate quite quickly as we realised on Sunday. "We have a big job to do yet. [We have] three games left and as I said last week the drama is not finished."

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