Hitzfeld reviews the season: 'We know what we have to do better'

The curtain has come down on a disappointing season at Bayern. The dethroned Bundesliga champions finished a relatively poor fourth, missing out on the Champions League for the first time since 1997. The time is right for an analysis of the positives and negatives in 2006-7.

"We were especially poor against less strong opponents and dropped too many points," Ottmar Hitzfeld exclusively told premium channel FCB.tv, "we've drawn our conclusions, we know what we're lacking, and what we have to do better in the new season."

Interview: Ottmar Hitzfeld

FCB.tv: Ottmar Hitzfeld, what were the fundamental reasons why Bayern finished no higher than fourth this term?

Ottmar Hitzfeld: "I'm very pleased we were able to make it up to our fans at least a little by winning our last two matches, and also that we gave Mehmet Scholl a decent send-off. But at the end of the day, it was a very disappointing season. We were especially poor against less strong opponents and dropped too many points. On the one hand, it was because we were less hungry after the tremendous success of back-to-back doubles, and we thought we could win trophies by giving it 80 percent. On the other hand, it was certainly because we lacked certain types of player. We often faced teams who did nothing but defend, so perhaps we needed a physically powerful striker with strength in the air, or a midfielder capable of beating two men and giving us a numerical advantage. That's something we definitely lacked. I also believe to an extent the team was unable to cope with the pressure. But we've drawn our conclusions, we know what we're lacking, and what we have to do better in the new season."

FCB.tv: Have you completed your analysis?

Hitzfeld: "Naturally, we've kept up a continuous dialogue as we put together a concept for the new season: the kind of players we need, the positions where we need strengthening, the players we want to keep and the players we no longer require. The decisions over who's staying and who's going were made fairly early."

FCB.tv: Four players officially took their leave on Saturday, and Owen Hargreaves is moving on as well. Could Roque Santa Cruz be the next departure?

Hitzfeld: "He's still contracted to us, but he's talking to other clubs. We have ideas of our own. The decision whether he's going or staying hasn't been taken yet."

FCB.tv: Three new signings have been confirmed so far - or do you know more than that?

Hitzfeld: "Obviously I know more than what has been announced so far. We've completed one or two other transfers, but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeneß want to announce everything together as a single package, so we'll all have to be a little patient."

FCB.tv: Will you be adding players from the club's youth section?

Hitzfeld: "Yes, Mats Hummels was already part of the squad this season, and he'll continue to train with us next term. We'll also add Toni Kroos, he's trained with us and played a few games for the reserves. He's still young and needs match practice, but I reckon both will appear for the first team in the course of the season."

Bayern sign Germany starlet Marcell Jansen

Rumour which has been growing in intensity over the last few days became reality on Thursday evening when Bayern announced the signing of Germany starlet Marcell Jansen. The versatile 21-year-old arrives at the Säbener Strasse from relegated Borussia Mönchengladbach for an undisclosed fee, and is set to ink a four-year deal keeping him in Munich until 30 June 2011.

Jansen has played for Gladbach since joining his home-town club as an 11-year-old, but was unwilling to drop a division with the side which finished bottom of the Bundesliga in 2006-7. The youngster, who is equally at home on the left side of midfield or at left-back, has scored five goals in a total of 73 German top flight appearances to date.

He made his full international debut for Germany on 3 September 2005 against Slovakia, and currently boasts a total of 14 caps. Standing 1.91 metres / 6 ft 3 in tall and weighing in at 84 kilograms / 185 pounds, he was the youngest player in the Germany squad at last summer’s World Cup.

The Monchengladbach-born talent joins Hamit Alintop, Jan Schlaudraff and Ernesto Sosa as Bayern’s fourth confirmed new arrival for the coming campaign. More signings will be announced shortly.

A pleasant bonus for the player will be his new-found proximity to his girlfriend, voted “Miss Munich” two years ago and a resident of the Bavarian capital. Welcome to Bayern, Marcell!

FIFA won’t allow matches to be played above 2,500m

No international soccer matches will be allowed to take place above an altitude of 2,500m in future, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Sunday.

A number of countries, among them Bolivia, frequently stage home international games at high altitude but Blatter said FIFA were following advice from their medical committee.

“I know there will be complaints about this, especially from South America, but we have to think of the health of the players first. It also leads to a distortion of the competition if matches are played at such a level.

“The Executive Committee have listened to a proposal from the medical committee and have decided to act because to play at above that altitude is not healthy or fair.”

Bolivia traditionally play their home matches in La Paz, which, at more than 3,600m above sea level, is the highest capital city in the world.

Blatter was speaking at a news conference following the last executive committee meeting before the start of FIFA’s 57th Congress this week and the inauguration of FIFA’s new headquarters in Zurich.

He also said that the associations of Macedonia and Kazakhstan had been given a deadline of June 15 to resolve their internal problems or else face possible sanctions from world soccer’s governing body.

He said FIFA would not relax their rules on shirt advertising for international teams and reported that of 23,000 doping tests carried out by FIFA in 2006, 91 had proved positive and of those just seven were for steroids.

“Most of the others were for marijuana or other things players use – they were not even performance-enhancing,” said Blatter, adding that FIFA would be using doping controls at all their major tournaments this year, including the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup matches in South Korea and Canada respectively.

Dortmund’s Metzelder all set for Real switch

German international defender Christoph Metzelder will leave Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund to join Spanish giants Real Madrid next season, Dortmund coach Thomas Doll revealed on Sunday.

The 26-year-old centre-back has made 30 appearances for his country and was named by national coach Joachim Loew in the squad for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovakia.

Having admitted in interviews he has been learning Spanish for months, Metzelder’s switch to Madrid has been one of the worst kept secrets in football, but Doll finally confirmed it on Sunday.

“Christoph Metzelder will go to Real Madrid next season and we are looking for another defender to replace him,” Doll told German television channel DSF.

The move has yet to be confirmed by the Spanish side, but an announcement is expected by Real after La Liga finishes on Sunday.

FAM eager to save United tour

Blatter: Wants United to reschedule tour

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have vowed to do all they can to ensure Manchester United’s trip to Malaysia goes ahead.

The Premiership champions have planned a 10-day tour of Asia this summer and are pencilled in to play a Malaysian Select XI on July 27 in Kuala Lumpur after games against J-League champions Urawa Red Diamonds on July 17, FC Seoul on July 20 and Shenzhen FC on July 23. However, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and AFC president Mohamed Hammam have expressed a desire for United to reschedule their tour so that it will not clash with the Asian Cup, which also takes place in July.FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has promised everything is being done to ensure the tour goes ahead.

Manchester United visit: Poor planning on FAM’s part

IT is regrettable to see the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in a fix over its decision to go ahead with the proposed visit by the Manchester United football team here in July.

Surely the FAM, having signed the contract — Organisation Association Agreement — which states that no match can be held during the Asian Cup on July 7-29 and three days after, should not have invited or agreed to the English Premier League team’s visit during those dates?

Football results worldwide

Argentine Div 1: Estudiantes 4 Newell's Old Boys 4; Nueva Chicago 2 Lanus 1.

Leading standings: San Lorenzo de Almagro 35; Estudiantes 33; Boca Juniors 32; Arsenal 26; River Plate 26.

Belgian Cup final: Club Bruges 1 Standard Liege 0.

Brazilian Div 1: America RN 0 Figueirense 1; Corinthians 0 Atletico Mineiro 0; Fluminense 3 Internacional 0.

Leading standings: Corinthians 7; Atletico Paranaense 6; Parana 6; Palmeiras 6; Vasco da Gama 6.

Croatian Cup final (second leg): Slaven Belupo Koprivnica 1 Dinamo Zagreb 1 (Dinamo Zagreb win 2-1 on aggregate).

French Div 1: Monaco 2 AS Nancy 0; ES Troyes AC 3 Racing Lens 0; FC Lorient 0 Paris St Germain 1; Sochaux 1 St Etienne 0; Lille 1 Stade Rennes 1; Nice 3 Le Mans 3; Lyon 3 Nantes 1; Marseille 1 CS Sedan Ardennes 0; Toulouse 3 Girondins Bordeaux 1; Valenciennes 1 Auxerre 3.

Leading standings: Lyon 81; Marseille 64; Toulouse 58; Stade Rennes 57; Racing Lens 57.

Friendly internationals: Namibia 1 Zambia 2; Ireland 1 Bolivia 1; Wales 2 New Zealand 2.

German Cup final: Stuttgart 2 Nuremberg 3.

Hungarian Div 1: Dunakanyar-Vac FC 1 Pecs 1; Fehervar FC 2 REAC 2; Gyor ETO 4 Diosgyori-BFC 0; Kaposvar 2 Paksi SE 0; Tatabanya 0 Zalaegerszeg 3; Debrecen 2 Sopron 1.

J-League: Yokohama FC 2 Oita Trinita 1; FC Tokyo 0 Nagoya Grampus Eight 1; Vissel Kobe 2 Kashiwa Reysol 1; Kashima Antlers 2 Ventforet Kofu 0; JEF United Chiba 1 Gamba Osaka 2; Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 Shimizu S-Pulse 1.

Leading standings: Gamba Osaka 28; Urawa Red Diamonds 23; Kawasaki Frontale 21; Kashiwa Reysol 21; Shimizu S-Pulse 21.

Norwegian Div 1: Fredrikstad FK 1 Valerenga Oslo 0.

Polish Div 1: Gornik Leczna 1 Groclin Grodzisk 3; Gornik Zabrze 0 Korona Kielce 0; Lech Poznan 0 Odra Wodzislaw 0; Legia Warsaw 1 Zaglebie Lubin 2; Pogon Szczecin 0 GKS Belchatow 2; Widzew Lodz 1 Cracovia Krakow 3; Wisla Krakow 0 LKS Lodz 0; Wisla Plock 1 Arka Gdynia 0.

Romanian Cup final: Poli Timisoara 0 Rapid Bucharest 2.

Serbia Div 1: Red Star Belgrade 1 Hajduk Kula 1; Bezanija 3 Vojvodina Novi Sad 2; Partizan Belgrade 7 Mladost Apatin 1.

Russian Div 1: CSKA Moscow 2 Zenit St Petersburg 0; Krylya Sovietov Samara 3 Dynamo Moscow 2; Kuban Krasnodar 2 Tom Tomsk 1; Rubin Kazan 3 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 0; Spartak Nalchik 0 Rostov 0.

Leading standings: CSKA Moscow 20; Krylya Sovietov Samara 19; Zenit St Petersburg 19; Spartak Moscow 19; FK Moscow 16.

Scottish Cup final: Celtic 1 Dunfermline Athletic 0.

Slovakian Div 1: Dukla Banska Bystrica 0 MFK Kosice 1; FC Nitra 0 Zilina 2; FC Senec 2 FC Artmedia Bratislava 2; Ruzomberok 1 Slovan Bratislava 1.

Slovenian Div 1: Domzale 2 Ptuj Drava 0; HIT Gorica 1 Primorje Ajdovscina 3; MIK Celje 4 Bela Krajina 0; Koper 3 Nafta Lendava 1; Maribor 3 Interblock Ljubljana 0.

Swedish Div 1: Hammarby 0 Elfsborg Boras 1.

Turkish Dv 1: Antalyaspor 1 Genclerbirligi 3; Fenerbahce 3 Ankaragucu 1; Konyaspor 0 Gaziantepspor 2; Sakaryaspor 1 Rizespor 1; Sivasspor 2 Erciyesspor 1; Vestel Manisaspor 0 Denizlispor 0.

Ukrainian Div 1: Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1 Kryvbas Kriviy Rih 1; FK Kharkiv 0 Chernomorets Odessa 1; Stal Alchevsk 0 Metalurg Zaporizhya 1; Arsenal Kiev 1 SK Karpaty L'viv 0.

Juve confirm coach’s departure

Juventus coach Didier Deschamps has quit after just one season despite leading the fallen Italian giants back to the top flight, the club confirmed on Saturday.

Deschamps took charge of the team for the home win over Mantova amid intense speculation that he had resigned after a meeting with club officials late on Friday.

The club at first denied that the Frenchman had officially quit but his departure was confirmed following the 2-0 win, which assured Juventus of the Serie B championship.

“Juventus and Didier Deschamps announce that they have mutually cancelled their contract, which had brought satisfaction, joy and success to both sides,” a club statement said.

Juventus were demoted from Serie A last year in Italy’s match-fixing scandal but have made an immediate return under Deschamps despite a nine-point deduction.

Media reports have consistently linked other managers to the post with former Juventus and Italy coach Marcello Lippi among those mentioned.

Sevilla beats Zaragoza 3-1 in Spanish league

Sevilla beat Zaragoza 3-1 Sunday to stay within two points of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at the top of the Spanish first division.

Madrid leads with 72 points, FC Barcelona is second on head-to-head results and Sevilla third with 70. There are two rounds left.

Luis Fabiano, Alexandr Kerzhakov and Frederic Kanoute scored for UEFA Cup winner Sevilla.

Also Sunday, it was: Gimnastic Tarragona 0, Atletico Madrid 2; Racing Santander 2, Levante 3; Celta Vigo 2, Real Betis 1; Osasuna 2, Real Sociedad 0; Athletic Bilbao 1, Mallorca 0; and Recreativo Huelva 0, Espanyol 1.

The UEFA Cup trophy was presented at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium before the match. Sevilla beat Espanyol on penalties in the final in Glasgow, Scotland on May 16.

Fabiano hit a powerful shot in the 25th minute which Zaragoza goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez parried, but Fabiano then scored with his second attempt.

Andres D'Alessandro equalized when he hit a direct free kick straight into goal in the 74th though Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop got his fingertips to it.

Earlier, Kanoute hit a penalty kick high in the 52nd minute before Russia forward Kerzhakov scored in the 83rd and Kanoute added a third goal in injury time.

Zaragoza's Carlos Diego was ejected in injury time.

Fernando Torres scored two goals for Atletico against Gimnastic to boost its chances of securing a berth in next season's UEFA Cup.

Gimnastic was relegated to the second division.

Torres scored in the 11th minute from Maxi Rodriguez's assist and also converted a penalty in the 55th after Maxi Rodriguez was fouled.

Earlier, Mustapha Riga of Ghana scored twice and Feliz Ettien of the Ivory Coast added another goal for Levante to guarantee its survival in the first division.

Levante midfielder Ettien struck an athletic left-foot volley into goal from a cross by Salva Ballesta in the 12th minute.

Santander striker Nikola Zigic equalized with a header in the 33rd before Riga lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Juan Jesus Calatayud in the 38th. Riga scored again with a powerful low shot in the 73rd for 3-1.

Felipe Melo pulled a goal back for Santander in the 78th minute.

Brazilian striker Robert opened the scoring for Betis in the 30th and Gustavo Lopez equalized for Celta in the 42nd. Betis midfielder Jesus "Capi'' Capitan was ejected in the 45th. Fernando Baiano converted a penalty in injury time for Celta.

Osasuna's David Lopez headed a goal off a high cross by midfielder Valdo Lopes in the 26th. Iran midfielder Javad Nekounam scored in the 32nd to secure another season in the top flight for Osasuna.

Mallorca defender Jose Carlos Nunes held Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz in the penalty area and Ismael Urzaiz converted the penalty for Bilbao in the 19th.

Raul Tamudo scored for Espanyol in the 82nd minute.

Better late than never seems to be Owen Hargreaves' story as he heads to Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER United celebrated their most successful season in four years in the recently concluded Premiership campaign and during the break leading up to the start of the new term in August, will look back with much satisfaction.

They reached the FA Cup final last weekend, but narrowly lost out to Chelsea, and also came agonisingly close in the Champions League where they eventually bowed in the semi-finals. The League Cup did not rank much up the order at Old Trafford and Southend ended the Red Devils’ exploits in November.

But it was the Premiership from which Man United drew the most delight. Their triumph came on the back of a show of real spirit and character, something Alex Ferguson has done well to instil at the club in his 20 years in charge.

However, those who believe that the fiery and elderly Scotsman will be just sitting around, gleefully rubbing his hands together and dreaming of a 10th league title next season, are far off the mark.

Ferguson has long set in motion a programme detailed to lure some of the best players around to Old Trafford for next season, when they aim to not only retain the Premier League title, but also add to the Champions League success of 1999.

And already there appears to be movement as Owen Hargreaves hinted that, by the end of this week, a statement would be made to outline his future.

The Bayern Munich and England midfielder steered clear of saying where he might be headed, but he has in the past openly expressed a desire to play for the Old Trafford team.

It has been widely reported that Bayern have accepted a £17mil bid for the 26-year-old defensive linkman and the club’s president Franz Beckenbauer intimated as much earlier in the week, confirming that Hargreaves was “leaving.”

This prompted Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to express his disappointment about the exit from the Allianz Arena of Hargreaves.

He was quoted on the club's website as saying: “A player like Owen Hargreaves would have looked good in our team next year. And in the defensive midfield position Owen is one of the best in the world – it's a big sporting loss for us.”

Hargreaves, who spent most of last season on the sidelines recovering from a broken leg, told the BBC of his impending switch: “It's been one of the longest transfer sagas. I'm sure this week we'll hear some new information.”

Man United tried to sign Hargreaves in the off-season last year and again in January, but failed to do so as Bayern held out. Now with the deal seemingly done, although Man United have declined to comment on the matter, Old Trafford midfielder Michael Carrick has said he would be more than happy to have Hargreaves in their ranks.

Carrick, who arrived in Manchester from Tottenham in an £18mil deal at the beginning of last season, said: “World-class players will strengthen you and Owen is a top player. We are at the world's biggest club and we want the best players. We need a big squad to fight on all fronts.”

Indeed, should Hargreaves move to Old Trafford, Ferguson will have at his disposal an enormously potent midfield combination that could somewhat alienate Darren Fletcher. One can only assume that the Man United boss will find it hard not to play Hargreaves, Carrick and Paul Scholes together in the middle of the park, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs gliding down the flanks.

This would be nothing short of an awesome midfield, and when one throws Wayne Rooney, and possibly Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), Franck Ribery (Marseille), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough), Michael Owen (Newcastle) or Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) into the equation upfront, then the other big guns across Europe will know that the Red Devils will take some beating next term.

Southampton defender Gareth Bale has also been said to be a target of Ferguson. Tottenham are also apparently keen on the Wales player, who has had a price tag of £10mil-plus strung over his head.

For those tipped to be on their way out of Old Trafford, the names of Mikael Silvestre, Gabriel Heinze, Kieran Richardson and Louis Saha have often cropped up.

But with Hargreaves sparking an exciting start to Man United's spending spree, the absence of any or all of those players mentioned would not be missed much.

Two of Germany's top teams have a humbling season ahead in the Uefa Cup.

GERMAN football is at the crossroads after a Bundesliga season that concluded with heavy hitters Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen made to consume copious amount of humble pies as they await the commencement of the Uefa Cup next season. Noble gesture or not, Bayern even congratulated freshly crowned German football champions VfB Stuttgart via full-page ads in local papers on Tuesday.

“Congratulations VfB! We congratulate you on the title and promise a big fight for the trophy next season,” Bayern said in the ad published in the Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten dailies.

In the Bundesliga, the “guard of honour” concept is tweaked rather differently, apparently.

Champions VfB Stuttgart, runners up Schalke 04 and third-placed Werder Bremen may not fill their counterparts from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A with trepidation but if the trio had thumbed the nose of the Bundesliga's established order, they would be taken lightly at their rivals' own peril.

The presence of these less heralded German clubs in Europe's most prestigious competition almost defies the theory that a club needs to invest an obscene amount of money to succeed.

The successes of Schalke, Stuttgart and Bremen have not only sidelined Bayern, the standard bearers for German football both locally and in Europe, and Leverkusen but demonstrates the improved quality of the Bundesliga.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's Bayern were doomed to fourth position even before last weekend while Leverkusen, managed by Michael Skibbe, were made to scrap for a last minute Champions League ticket. In the summer, Hitzfeld and Skibbe have monumental challenges ahead of them.

Both need to tear down their teams and put together virtually new ones to re-establish their mark on the local league before entertaining ideas of progressing in the Uefa Cup.

Hitzfeld, who has declared that he would leave at the end of Season 2007/08, has a tougher task than Skibbe in forming a first eleven capable of mounting a title quest. Hitzfeld would oversee the departures of a handful of players, seasoned stars of his championship-winning side of the late 1990s and at the turn of the millennium, before he can get down to the business end.

The transfer saga of Owen Hargreaves would thankfully find its tedious end at Old Trafford while Mehmet Scholl had announced his retirement but the midfielders are only two of at least half a dozen who are due to be off-loaded to make way for Hitzfeld's new side.

Claudio Pizarro, a free agent in the summer; has been earmarked by Chelsea and Juventus plus a number of clubs from Spain for a switch. His fellow striker Roque Santa Cruz is wanted by Real Betis and there are doubts over the Allianz Arena career of Roy Makaay.

It is likely that Bayern will not only be parading a new strike force but a restructured and aggressive midfield and defence, if the calls of veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn are heeded. Alemannia Aachen goal-getter Jan Schlaudraff, Schalke's Turkish midfielder Hamit Altintop and Argentine midfielder Jose Ernesto Sosa from Estudiantes de La Plata have already signed up and there will be more additions in the next two months – Deco of Barcelona and Fiorentina's Luca Toni are just two of the most exciting names mentioned.

Leverkusen were similarly troubled by under performing key players, never recovered from the loss of Dimitar Berbatov and now face a busy close season after Skibbe's men almost threw away their comfortable top four status in the last few weeks of the season. Skibbe was unable to rally his troops for a double aim of making progress in the Uefa Cup (Osasuna beat them last month in the quarterfinals) and ensuring that the Werkself (Factory Squad) do not miss the Uefa Cup boat.

Earlier this month, the club's sports director and German legend Rudi Voller slammed want-away utility player Marko Babic and striker Andrej Voronin, the club's number one goal-poacher and a Liverpool player in the summer, for their scant contributions to Leverkusen's struggle.

Babic and Voronin head the exit queue at the BayArena and they are expected to be joined by goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt and defender Juan, who is reportedly bound for AS Roma. Leverkusen have started rebuilding for the next campaign with the recent acquisitions of Wolfsburg's Ghanaian defensive midfielder Hans Adu Sarpei and Greek striker Theofanis Gekas, the top marksman for Bochum and the Bundesliga with 20 strikes.

As both do not have Champions League incentives to offer prospective employees, their supporters would be anxious that the talented youngsters at the clubs come through at the right time and step into the vacuum left by their seniors. The only certainty is that Bayern and Leverkusen would fish in the local pond while Skibbe and Hitzfeld have their work cut out for them as they prepare to bait A-list footballers to revive their ailing clubs.

AC Milan 2-1 Liverpool: Pippo punishes Reds

This time there was to be no miracle escape and no sixth European Cup.

Even though Dirk Kuyt's last-minute header raised the prospect of a comeback equally as memorable as the one Liverpool produced in Istanbul two years ago, ultimately only a Greek tragedy was awaiting Rafael Benitez as his side fell victim to AC Milan's Champions League revenge mission in Athens' Olympic Stadium.

There will be no consolation for the Merseysiders' vast following that Milan's crucial opener was a fluke, Andrea Pirlo's 45th-minute free-kick flicking off Filippo Inzaghi to give Pepe Reina no chance.

All they can reflect on is the knowledge that, in a tight contest, infinitely more watchable than Saturday's woeful FA Cup Final, the Anfield men had enough chances to emerge victorious and squandered them.

For once Steven Gerrard's shooting boots failed him when it mattered and with Liverpool unable to find a second in a frantic late scramble, it was Inzhagi's 82nd-minute second that allowed Milan to complete a British hat-trick, having already eliminated Celtic and Manchester United from the competition.

Of far more significance to the Serie A giants, whom some will remain convinced should not have been allowed back into the tournament after initially being expelled in the wake of the Italian match-fixing scandal, is confirmation of a seventh European triumph - only two behind Real Madrid - and a fifth winners' medal for the remarkable Paolo Maldini.

Unlike on that delightful Turkish night two years, it had all begun rather promisingly for Liverpool.

Although they were starved of possession for long spells, Benitez's men largely kept Milan at arm's length.

Javier Mascherano, who won Olympic gold with Argentina on this ground in 2004, was a key factor in the Merseysiders successful smothering operation.

Twice Liverpool's holding midfielder was left for dead by an initial moment of brilliance from Kaka. On both occasions, rather than dive in, Mascherano stayed on his feet, recovered his position and took the ball back.

As Benitez predicted, Milan got their full-backs forward at regular intervals.
However, not only did Marek Jankulovski and Massimo Oddo continually pick out Pepe Reina with their crosses, their enthusiasm to push down the flanks provided Liverpool's wide men with the space to attack.

Jermaine Pennant in particular rose to the challenge.
The speedy former Arsenal man was by far the Reds most effective performer and visibly rose in confidence after having one early shot parried away by Dida.

Pennant gave the Rossoneri defence a torrid time, providing the cross which Gerrard, asked to provide the main attacking support to lone striker Dirk Kuyt, volleyed over.
Gerrard was his usual energetic self but, without direct involvement in the midfield skirmishes, struggled to exert the kind of influence he would have wished.

Instead, Pennant continued to torment Jankulovski, indirectly creating the opportunity Xabi Alonso fizzed wide just before the half hour, then cutting inside to set up John Arne Riise, who drilled over.

The winger linked with Gerrard to set up Kuyt, only for Alessandro Nesta to block.
At that point, with the snarling Gennaro Gattuso booked for one borderline tackle too many on Alonso, Liverpool were by far the more likely scorers.

Unfortunately, just as in Istanbul, a rude shock was awaiting Benitez right on half-time as Inzaghi's desire to hunt a rebound saw him deflect Pirlo's free-kick past Reina.
Ripping intended interval team talks up against Milan is nothing new for Benitez and in the knowledge Liverpool's position was nowhere near as acute as the one he faced before, he opted not to change things until close to the hour mark.

By that stage two years ago, Benitez's side had thrillingly drawn level. This time, not only were they still behind, Milan were starting to get on top.

The arrival of Harry Kewell at least gave the Italians something else to think about, although the momentum was with them and had Pirlo curled home a 20-yard free-kick instead of dipping it over the bar, Liverpool would surely have been doomed.

Pirlo's near-miss ignited Gerrard's fire and Liverpool's talisman should have levelled when he sped onto Kuyt's pass, then flashed past Nesta, only for Dida to save a precise shot aimed at the far post.

It was the Reds clearest opportunity before Inzaghi raced onto Kaka's inspired through ball, rounded Reina and tapped home Milan's second.

A few Italian hearts must have stopped when Kuyt nodded home from close range but instead of the beginning of a comeback, it proved merely to mark the beginning of the end.

AC Milan wins Champions League final

AC Milan made sure there was no Liverpool comeback this time. The Italian club won the Champions League final Wednesday, defeating Liverpool 2-1 behind two goals by Filippo Inzaghi for its seventh European Cup title.

"These are the evenings that remain with you for all your life," Inzaghi said. "I've scored quite a few times in Europe but scoring in the Champions League final is something special."
The game was a a rematch of the 2005 final when Milan blew a 3-0 halftime lead and lost on penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie that become one of the greatest finals in the competition's 52-year history.

"The defeat two years ago will stay me for a lifetime," Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said. "But this is a different story. It's our turn to celebrate now."

Milan moved within two of Real Madrid's record of nine European Cup triumphs. Liverpool has won five times.

Milan, whose previous title came in 2003, won a showdown between teams struggling in their leagues — Milan is fourth in Serie A and Liverpool is third in the Premier League.

The sea of red of Liverpool fans at one end of the stadium outnumbered the red and black of Milan at the other.

Milan went ahead when Andrea Pirlo's 45th-minute free kick went through the wall and deflected off the side of Inzaghi and past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Inzaghi made it 2-0 in the 82nd, taking a pass from Kaka in the center, spurting ahead and rolling the ball from an angle past the outstretched Reina.

"The first goal opened up the game, but the second was certainly more beautiful," Inzaghi said.
Dirk Kuyt scored for Liverpool with a minute to go. This time, however, there was no extra time and no penalty shootout.

"It's the complete opposite," said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose goal began the comeback in Turkey two years ago. "You've got to take it on the chin, move on and try to pick yourself up, but at the moment it's heartbreaking. We gave everything but it wasn't to be tonight."

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, who also led Valencia to the UEFA Cup title in 2004 before moving to Anfield, rued the deflected goal.

"We lost against a good team with top-class players," he said. "The first half we played really well but conceded a goal, a deflection, through bad luck."

AC Milan nearly was kicked out of this year's competition by European soccer's governing body but was allowed to remain and started in the third round of qualifying.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, a month short of his 39th birthday, became the oldest nongoalkeeper to take part in a final. He collected his fifth winners' medal, one short of the competition record by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti now has two winners medals as a coach to go with the ones he won as a Milan player in 1989 and 1990.

"This joy has to be shared with all those close to the club, all those who have sustained us, and all the fans," Ancelotti said. "It was a very difficult game, much like our season. We started slowly but grew in confidence as the game went on.

Final Champion League... Who Will Win ?

Tonight's the Champion's League final between Liverpool and those wounded and hungry for revenge Italians. Here's my wishlist:

1. No matter how 'fit' he is, PLEASE don't start Kenevergetwell, unless you want to have to substitute him at the 20th minute again.
2. PLEASE don't start Crouch and play the long ball.
3. PLEASE leave Bozo out of the team, because he does fuck all for the team
4. PLEASE get someone to MANMARK Kaka, because if you can keep him quiet half the game is won.
5. The other half is to keep that raving lunatic Gattuso from trying to turn all our players into Paralympians.
6. PLEASE don't try to play for penalties. Not only will it be a fucked up game then, I also don't think my heart can take another high stakes penalty shootout.

I bet for Liverpool

From the rubble to the Ritz for Japan's Nakamura.

THE Shunsuke Nakamura who ripped off his Celtic shirt and jumped into the crowd at Kilmarnock last month had come a long way from the awkward youth of a decade ago. Nakamura had just scored the goal that secured Celtic a second straight Scottish Premier League (SPL) title and subsequently finished the season as Scotland's double player of the year.

As he accepted his Football Writers' award at the weekend, the black-suited Nakamura was unrecognisable from the nervous youngster who had taken Japan by storm in the late 1990s but struggled to speak to foreign journalists.

His crowd-diving antics were a world apart, too, from the 2000 Asian Cup, when the midfielder grumbled about having to speak to reporters at all, let alone overseas media.

At the Lebanon tournament seven years ago, the Japan team had to train on a pitch surrounded by bombed-out slums used to shelter Hezbollah fighters.

As Israeli war jets buzzed overhead, none of the players looked more nervous than Nakamura – then a scrawny 22-year-old with little to offer other than a cultured left foot.

On a pitch hemmed in by crumbling buildings and strewn dangerously with rubble and twisted metal, Nakamura already stood out as a potentially world-class player.

Japan's then coach Philippe Troussier, however, thought Nakamura too much of a luxury player and was less than impressed with his unadventurous spirit off the pitch in Beirut. “With Nakamura and most of the others, if I left a naked woman tied to their bed for them, they would run from the room screaming,” the Frenchman shrugged.

“I told them to go out into the city for dinner but they decided to stay in and play computer games. They have no sense of adventure.”

Troussier ultimately decided he could not afford to risk selecting Nakamura for the 2002 World Cup and abruptly discarded him from his squad, preferring the more robust Mitsuo Ogasawara and causing a public outcry.

Nakamura himself responded simply: “It's made me more determined to work harder.”
A frustrating spell at Italy's Reggina followed but fast forward to 2007 and Nakamura has shaken off the luxury player tag and become the heartbeat of Celtic.

He was voted Scotland's Players' Player of the Year last month after becoming the first Japanese to win back-to-back titles in Europe.

The pout has been replaced by a wide smile and the player, now 28, is always ready to share a joke with journalists – in stark contrast to former Japan team-mate Hidetoshi Nakata.
Even during Japan's disastrous 2006 World Cup campaign, Nakamura was one of the first to stand up and take the flak, refusing to hide or make excuses.

Nakamura scored nine goals in 35 SPL games this season and one of his trademark free kicks gave Celtic a 1-0 Champions League win over Manchester United, securing a place in the knockout stages.

“That was the highlight of my season,” said Nakamura. “Not because it was me who scored it but because it was more important we got into the last 16.”

Wise words from a player Troussier feared might never grow up yet who now has English Premier League clubs queuing up to try to lure him away from Celtic Park.
Watching Nakamura tearing off his shirt and piling into the crowd at Kilmarnock, the abiding impression was that the boy had finally become a man.

English football powerbrokers head for AFC showdown

Two of English football's top powerbrokers will be in Malaysia to resolve a drawn-out row over Manchester United's planned Asian tour.
Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards and Manchester United chief executive David Gill will meet Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Hammam today, AFC officials said.
Hammam, backed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, has demanded United postpone a planned match against a Malaysian XI on July 27 and the rest of their tour as it clashes with the Asian Cup Finals from July 7-29.
He reiterated on Tuesday his position that United, or any other club, cannot play in countries hosting Asian Cup matches while the tournament is on.
“We are still looking to resolve the issue and the AFC's position remains the same,” he said.
“We are seeking an amicable solution with all parties concerned. I'm optimistic we can solve the problem.”
Earlier this month, Gill said Malaysia was a “second home” for the club and he was “extremely sad and disappointed to hear that we are not welcome”.
Despite uncertainty surrounding the match in Kuala Lumpur, United continue to offer travel packages on their website for the entire Asian tour, including the Malaysia game.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) initially backed Hamman but reversed their position after Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi threw his support behind the United match.
Hammam has asked to meet Abdullah but he has had no official response so far, AFC officials told AFP.
Malaysian Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said on Tuesday the government's backing of United should not be misconstrued as a snub to the Asian Cup.
She said she wanted to see the United game go ahead because it was part of the nation's 50th anniversary celebrations of its independence from Britain.
“The Sports Ministry is as committed to the Asian Cup as ever. We will do our best to ensure that the stadium is filled during the Asian Cup,” she was quoted as saying.
“Even the prime minister wants Manchester United to be here as part of our Merdeka (independence) celebrations, and we are merely supporting the prime minister's call.”
Hammam has said the government, through the Sports Ministry, gave an undertaking that it would honour its commitments to the Asian Cup as a host nation, which includes not holding any other football matches while it is on.
He has warned of “wide-ranging legal repercussions” if United visit Malaysia during the tournament, urging them to reschedule the match in August.
The newly-crowned Premier League champions announced in April that they would warm up for the 2007-2008 season with a tour that takes them to Japan, South Korea, Macau and Malaysia.
The Asian Cup Finals are co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The countdown to the Champions League final has begun

THE European Champions League final in Athens next Wednesday has all the elements for an absorbing and captivating showdown between two of Europe’s football aristocrats – AC Milan and Liverpool.

The pondering over who will do what, when and how has been unrelenting since the beginning of the month when Italy’s most successful club in Europe, and England’s equivalent, booked their berths in a final that will play out as a repeat of the 2005 edition.

On that occasion Milan let slip a three-goal advantage in the space of six disastrous second-half minutes. It gave Liverpool a lifeline, one that they went on to maximise in a successful penalty shootout.

Now, as they prepare to face-off in what can best be described as a “grudge match”, although the Italians continue to play down this angle, there appears to be a lessening of the odds favouring the Milan side.

Bayern set to splurge for next season

Bayern Munich’s board have approved plans to invest massively in a new-look team that they hope will recapture domestic dominance and become an international force.

The club’s management and the supervisory board met behind closed doors late on Monday to discuss plans for the new season.

“The board presented the players we need to get and we are all of the opinion that it’s the right way to go and make Bayern successful,” chairman Franz Beckenbauer said.

Bayern will finish the season without a trophy, after sweeping the domestic double the previous two seasons. They were ousted in the second knockout stage of the Champions League and will play in the UEFA Cup next season.

“We will have to invest a lot of money,” Beckenbauer said following the two-hour meeting.
Bayern officials have not mentioned any names, although Italy striker Luca Toni has been widely reported to be high on the list.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has said that perhaps up to eight new players could come to Bayern.
So far, three new signings have been revealed – Hamit Altintop from Schalke, Jan Schlaudraff from Alemannia Aachen and Jose Ernesto Sosa from Estudiantes de La Plata

Mourinho: I may use keeper Hilario as a striker

Chelsea are so short of players for Saturday’s FA Cup final they may be forced to use goalkeeper Hilario (pic) as a substitute striker, manager Jose Mourinho said.

Mourinho, who has spent millions to bring in new players but insists on working with a “manageable” size squad, said he was down to 15 fit men for the Wembley showdown with double-chasing Manchester United.

Mourinho suffered his latest blow when midfielder John Obi Mikel was ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up in Sunday’s final Premier League game, a 1-1 home draw with Everton.

Michael Ballack, Andriy Shevchenko, Ricardo Carvalho, Arjen Robben and teenage striker Scott Sinclair were already definite absentees while fullback Ashley Cole is still doubtful.

“Maybe if Ash is ready we have 15,” Mourinho told Chelsea TV.

“The reality is that for a final we do not have 16 players. It’s not a good picture. For the bench maybe Hilario, he’s not bad as a forward, or I’ll have to bring one of the kids in.”

Portuguese keeper Hilario, 31, joined the club last July and made 18 appearances between October and January.

AFC to respond to FAM over Man Utd match

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be responding to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) Thursday with an official statement.

On Monday, FAM defied an AFC ruling and decided to go ahead with the Malaysian Government's plans to stage a match between the national team and English Premier League champions Manchester United on July 27.

Clare Kenny Tipton, AFC assistant general secretary and director of marketing and media communications, said from Beijing Wednesday that she was aware of FAM’s decision to go ahead with the match and added that AFC would issue an official statement in the next 24 hours.

"I am flying out from Beijing today (Wednesday) and will meet AFC president (Mohamed Hammam). By the end of tomorrow (Thursday) we should have something out," said Clare, who had to cut short her trip attending the International Football Arena Conference on behalf of the AFC president in Beijing.

FAM are courting trouble and risk facing sanctions by the Asian governing body for football for their actions.

Cup of glory awaits the Devils

Manchester United can turn the clock back to the halcyon days of Eric Cantona on Saturday, when the champions bid to complete a Premier League and FA Cup double at the expense of Chelsea.
Thirteen years after United did the Double by trouncing Chelsea 4-0 at Wembley, having won the league two weeks previously, Alex Ferguson’s side can repeat the feat in a historic first final at the new Wembley Stadium.
Cantona, who converted two penalties, Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel were all part of a great United side in 1994, along with a 20-year-old Ryan Giggs.
Giggs returns to northwest London as the sole survivor of that side – notably with Bruce, Hughes and Keane all pitting their wits against Ferguson as Premier League managers next season.
United are once again a potent attacking threat but Hughes and Cantona’s places have gone to Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, who have scored 23 goals each this season and set the domestic game alight.
Giggs and Paul Scholes have also made vital contributions from the final third in terms of goals and assists as United topped the goalscoring charts with ease.
All should be available on Saturday as United’s front-wheel drive machine is pointed at Chelsea, whose two years of league title domination has now been ended.
To beat them in the FA Cup final would further underline United’s superiority this season and strike a psychological blow before Chelsea can re-group for next season’s hostilities.
It would also bring United their 12th FA Cup and sixth under the indefatigable Ferguson, who celebrated a memorable 20th year at the helm in November.
Though both sides bowed out of the Champions League semi-finals, United look to be in slightly better shape after suffering a run of injuries at the back.
Serbian centre-half Nemanja Vidic has returned and stand-in left-back Kieran Richardson is also available, though doubts remain over skipper and right-back Gary Neville.
Mentally, Neville believes United are well-equipped to match the achievements of Cantona and Co, despite the absence of such commanding figures in the side.
“The 1993-94 team had an incredible amount of strong characters, powerful individuals, but does this team not have character?” he told The Times last week.
“Does (winning at) Liverpool away not prove character? Coming from behind at Everton? Did they not take guts? Maybe we show our courage in a different way but it is there, believe me.”

Magath ends speculation

Former Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath ended speculation on Monday that he has joined VfL Wolfsburg, insisting that he wants a job with an elite club outside Germany.
“I’m keen on a move abroad. I want to go to a country which has a lot of teams qualified for the Champions League, such as England, Italy or Spain, because one day I want to win the Champions League,” said Magath.
Despite leading Bayern to successive Cup and league doubles, Magath was sacked in February after the reigning champions slipped in the table.

Platini wants two more referees per game

UEFA president Michel Platini has said he wants two more referees in each soccer match to reduce the number of controversial decisions.
“My idea is to increase the number of referees,” Platini told French magazine France Football in an interview released yesterday. “Refereeing with three people is obsolete. Three referees can’t see everything.”
In addition to the referee and the two linesmen, Platini wants two more officials who would stay next to the goals and could monitor what happens in the penalty areas.
“I propose two more referees, who would be over 45 and would not have to run because they would stay next to the goals,” the former France playmaker said. “We have to show the world that we’re against unfairness and want to move towards fewer errors.”
Platini said he was against the use of electronic devices and video to assist referees.
“There is a risk with electronic systems to dehumanise soccer,” he said. “If television channels want to be the bosses of refereeing, they can stand for election,” he added. – Reuters

Kaka wants the Cup

AC Milan playmaker Kaka expects Liverpool to play a long ball game in the Champions League final next week when he will be bidding to complete a personal wish list of achievements.
The Brazilian has been in outstanding form for Milan this season and scored three goals over two legs in the semi-final win over Manchester United to set up the clash with Liverpool in Athens on May 23.

“I think Liverpool are different from Manchester, they play a game that is very typical of English soccer. They are a very well-coached team by (Rafael) Benitez and they are a very tactical team. They are a team that marks tight,” Kaka said.
“Manchester are a team that like to play more, the quality of their passing is better and they keep the ball longer,” he said in a interview for Adidas.

Transfer Rumours for 4 Major English Club

Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson already admitted that they need three new signings and they would be splashing some cash for quality players. A striker should be high on the list, with the likes of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen or Samuel Eto’o type of player, a target man to play upfront and Rooney sitting behind him. A holding midfielder is must and Owen Hargreaves is almost sure to get that vacancy, where in Europe, Ferguson will likely play him just infront of the back four, giving Scholes and Carrick freedom to attack. And a back up for Gary Neville is also important, and we bet they will buy someone who has attacking qualities as well.

Chelsea
They had problems in central defence and will strengthen the back four with new signings. A striker is also on the list with rumours of Benni McCarthy, who formerly played for Porto under Jose Mourinho and Carlos Tevez will be the type of player that can provide at least 20 goals per season. With Shaun Wright Phillips not performing to expectations, and Robben/Cole are prone to injuries, they might buy a winger, say Franck Ribery probably……..

Liverpool
With Robbie Fowler released, they will be searching for a top class striker that can provide the goals regularly. And with Benitez Spanish connection and of course a 40 million pound warchest, the likes of David Villa or Fernando Torres are mouthwatering prospect. Carlos Tevez might end up here as teammate Javier Mascherano could be a pulling factor. A right/left winger must also be added with candidates such as Nani of Sporting Lisbon and also Simao. Last but not least, a central defender maybe…

Arsenal
A major revamp needed and we expect Lundberg, Flamini and Baptista will either be sold or released. For starter, they badly need a striker, period, as they relied heavily on Thierry Henry and Van Persie. They also have great history of buying pacey wingers, remember Overmars and Pires, and will probably go for Franck Ribery as well. In midfield, they are too lightweight and need a box-to-box midfielder or a holding midfielder to cover Fabregas. But for all our effort, we are not suprised if Arsene Wenger end up buying an unknown teenager out of nowhere.

How to Train Young Player

Every player requires different training method. You can't over train them, because logically hard training can make player exhausted. I would like to share my experience on how to train the player. You must train them gradually.

This is a daily training schedule that you must give to your young player:

Striker: (Individual training)
one stamina promotion, two shooting and one attacking

Midfield: (Individual training)
one stamina promotion, two strategy

Defender: (Individual training)
one stamina promotion, two deffensive

Goal Keeper: (Individual training)
one stamina promotion, two goal keeping

give this type of training until they reach 21-22 years old.
then start to let this player play as a substituional player to increase their routine value. When his stamina reaching 90 and above, stop giving stamina promotion but just focus on Pace for striker (by giving sprint training), Duel for defender, and ball control for midfielder (by giving them heading training: in the squad trainning)

Tips: rearrange your player to substitute, then give them heading training by selecting substitute only

Striker For Sale

$150,000.00 ONLY

Paroi Munchen FC Gratest Acchiement

Here's an overview of Paroi Munchen FC greatest achievements.

Season League Pos. Pl. W. D. L. Go. Diff. Pts.
5 Fourth Division, Group 19 13 17 5 6 6 35:38 -3 21
4 Fourth Division, Group 29 3 17 9 3 5 38:30 8 30
3 Fourth Division, Group 40 7 17 9 2 6 37:31 6 29
2 Fourth Division, Group 47 6 17 7 6 4 41:32 9 27
1 Fourth Division, Group 82 4 17 9 6 2 39:27 12 33
0 Fourth Division, Group 19 17 17 3 4 10 29:38 -9 13

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO MANCHESTER UNITED

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was predictably over the moon after achieving his priority this season - wrestling the Premiership title back from Chelsea.

The Blues’ draw with Arsenal on Sunday handed the title to the Reds, who now cannot be caught by Jose Mourinho’s side by virtue of a seven point lead with two games remaining.

“It’s a fantastic day for the club and the supporters, it’s been a fantastic season for them,” Sir Alex told Sky Sports. “Everyone associated with the club has been fantastic.

Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea's draw with Arsenal handed Manchester United the Premiership title for the first time since 2003.

Champions for the previous two years, Chelsea found themselves a man and a goal down after Khalid Boularouz was sent off for fouling Julio Baptista.

Gilberto Silva put away the penalty as keeper Petr Cech went the wrong way.

Chelsea mounted a spirited rearguard action after the break and with 20 minutes left Michael Essien pulled them level with a courageous diving header.

AC Milan beats Manchester United 3-0

The hopes of seeing an all-England final in the UEFA Champions League were shattered on May 2 at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, as the home team defeated Manchester United by 3-0.

Since the first match played last week in Manchester had ended with a 3-2 victory for the Red Devils the English team had a good chance of advancing to the grand finale that will be played on May 23 in Athens, Greece.

Some 6,000 loyal Manchester United fans made the trip to Milan only to be disappointed by their team's ineffective play on a rainy evening.

All credit must go to the A.C. Milan players that came out onto the pitch with a clear objective of scoring as soon as possible and evening up the aggregate score.

After the and final blow, United were too demoralized to change the tide of play and it will be A.C.Milan that will go for its seventh European championship title against Liverpool in Athens, and get revenge on the defeat suffered in the 2005 final against the English team.

Man Utd secure Premiership title

Manchester United have clinched their first Premiership title since 2003 following Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The result sees United, who have now won the Premiership a record nine times, seven points clear at the top of the table with just two games left.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It's a fantastic day for the club and fans.

Man U Can Clinch Premiership Title

Manchester United could ease the disappointment of being knocked out of football's Champions League by winning the English premiership title for the 16th time this weekend.
Playing in driving rain, the six-times European champions outclassed United, overturning their 3-2 first leg deficit for a 5-3 aggregate win.
But United can put that behind them and take a huge step towards the premiership title on Sunday if they win the local derby against Manchester City.
Their first title since 2003 could then be sealed a little over 24 hours later if reigning champions Chelsea fail to beat Arsenal in the London derby.
United have a five-point lead over Chelsea with three matches to play and can still end up winning the Cup and League double.

Reds off to Athens after dramatic penalty win ends Chelsea hopes

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0 (aggregate 1-1, Liverpool win 4-1 on penalties).

Liverpool reached their second Champions League final in three seasons with a nail-biting penalty shoot-out win. Dirk Kuyt's spot-kick, Liverpool's fourth, sparked the Kop celebrations after Pepe Reina (right) saved from Arjen Robben and Geremi. A first-half opener from Daniel Agger wiped out Chelsea's first-leg lead and took the tie to extra time. But Chelsea, who created little on the night, had an assistant referee to thank for taking the game as far as penalties. An extra-time effort by Dirk Kuyt - who had hit the bar in normal time - was ruled offside when TV replays showed he was level.