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Remember Me, Fergie?

MICHAEL OWEN fired a timely reminder to Alex Ferguson by reaching another scoring milestone and rescuing a point for Manchester United.

The former England striker has had a bit-part role this season but headed a late equaliser within three minutes of climbing off the bench.

It was his 200th club career goal in England and his third in a week after his double against Scunthorpe in midweek.

The Old Trafford manager missed that as he was on a scouting mission in Spain that night - so Owen made his point to the boss again yesterday.
Afterwards he said: "Scoring goals has always been part of my career, but this is tinged with a bit of disappointment at not getting three points. Reaching 200 is something I'd rather have than not have.

"But now we will focus on next week and on the Champions League.

"Bolton is always a tough place to come, but we created enough chances and dominated most of the game so we are disappointed."

Owen admitted United were kicking themselves for failing to capitalise on slips by Chelsea and Arsenal over the weekend.

He said: "The mood in the dressing room is one of frustration. We wanted to get the three points. "And, with the way the results went at the weekend, it was an opportunity to close that gap at the top, but it wasn't to be.

source: thesun.co.uk

Lionel Messi out for two Barcelona matches

Barcelona star Lionel Messi will miss at least two matches with an ankle injury picked up in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

The Argentine was carried off in second-half injury time after a tackle by Atletico defender Tomas Ujfalusi. 

Tests confirmed ligament damage to the Argentina forward's right ankle. 

Messi, the World Player of the Year, will miss the games against Sporting Gijon and Athletic Bilbao, with further tests to follow at that point.

Barcelona take on Rubin Kazan in the Champions League on 29 September.  Messi will hope to be back for the Champions League trip to Rubin Kazan

Despite Ujfalusi being shown a straight red card for the tackle, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was critical of referee David Fernández Borbalán. 

"We are happy with the win but sad about Messi," said Guardiola at a post-match news conference.

"The TV pictures speak for themselves. It is not only Cristiano Ronaldo who needs protecting. The referees should protect all the players." 

Messi had put Barcelona ahead in the 13th minute at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, but Raul Garcia equalised 11 minutes later. 

The Spanish champions spurned several second half chances before Gerard Pique secured the points with a powerful strike from close range.

source: BBC news

Man Utd fear Valencia's season over due to injury

In the second half at Old Trafford, Valencia was involved in a challenge with Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot and required immediate attention.

Television broadcasters decided against showing a reply - indicating the severity of the incident - and Valencia required lengthy treatment before taken immediately to hospital.

After the match, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said the club suspected Valencia had suffered either a dislocation or fracture of his left ankle and could be out of action for a lengthy period.

No need to panic after Liverpool's slow start (Pepe Reina)

PEPE REINA insists there is no need to panic after Liverpool's slow start to the season.

The Reds have won one match out of four in the Premier League and have scored just two goals.
Reina needed to be in top form to keep a clean sheet as Roy Hodgson's men were held to a goalless draw at Birmingham on Sunday.

And the Spanish star said: "Any away game is tough. We've had a difficult start.
"It is never going to be easy but we all believe.

"We all helped to get a very good point. We could have lost the game, so we should be happy with the point.

"I've never beaten Birmingham in the league in five years and it is always difficult here.


"But let's look at it in a positive way. We have to go forward from here.

"We have to make sure that nobody is thinking of winning the league or anything like that at this moment.

"It is going to take a while. We have got to get used to the new players and then the system.

"We will find out at the end of the season what we can achieve. Maybe it will take a while and we all have to be patient.

"April and May is the time to talk about targets."

Rooney should look at JT

CARLO ANCELOTTI has told Wayne Rooney to take a leaf out of John Terry's book and shrug off any abuse from opposition fans.

The Chelsea captain was targeted by the boo-boys last season after stories about his private life emerged.
And while Rooney is expected to get a hostile reception at Everton this weekend following his own off-field allegations, Stamford Bridge chief Ancelotti believes he can take it in his stride.

He said: "A player who has this kind of problem has to stay focused on the match, on his behaviour on the pitch.

"If he does that it's not a big problem. When you're on the pitch, you can't think about the behaviour of the fans.


"Everyone knows how John Terry played last year. Maybe it can be a good motivation if the opposing fans are against you.

"Rooney scored in the last England game. I think he reacted very well."

source: Thesun.co.uk

Man Utd boss Ferguson brushes off Wayne Rooney talk

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to discuss Wayne Rooney's current off-field problems ahead of Saturday's match at Everton.

Rooney is at the centre of allegations about his private life but Ferguson would not be drawn on the claims.

"Let's put it to bed straightaway. I am not discussing any of my players' personal lives," said Ferguson ahead of a trip to Rooney's former club.

Rooney, 24, and his wife Coleen have, meanwhile, appealed for privacy.

A joint statement from the couple issued on Friday read: "The last six days have been extremely painful for us and for our families.

"It is impossible for us, as it would be for any family, to attempt to resolve any issues in the current media glare and against the backdrop of so many inaccurate and intrusive stories."

Everton fans, though, are unlikely to pay any heed to this plea when the Croxteth-born striker, who shot to prominence as a 16-year-old at Goodison Park, takes to the field for Saturday's Premier League clash.

Moyes told reporters at his pre-match news conference: "I think if you are a good football journalist you don't ask those kind of questions.

"If you are a gossip journalist you ask me those questions. I am interested in talking about the game and that's what I'll do.

However, Everton defender Phil Jagielka predicted that the home fans will not hold back in dishing out some "stick" to Rooney, who left Goodison for Old Trafford in the summer of 2004.

"It should be amusing," said Jagielka, who has been on England duty with Rooney.

"It is always interesting playing against people you've just been away with in the week. No doubt I'll give him a bit of banter if he plays.

"There is a good chance he will get slaughtered. He normally gets quite a bit of stick anyway. I can't see that changing come Saturday."

But he continued: "I'm sure Wayne can deal with it. He is tough and will let his football do the talking.

"I will enjoy the battle against him. I like playing against good players and Wayne is definitely a good player."

Rooney was influential in helping England beat Bulgaria last Friday and, after allegations concerning his private life were made public in the Sunday newspapers at the weekend, he scored in the 3-1 victory in Switzerland on Tuesday.

England boss Fabio Capello praised his display, but Jagielka felt he could not offer any more of an insight into the striker's mindset.

"He seems his normal self but I haven't got an in-depth view of how he has been feeling," the Everton centre-back added.

Former Manchester United star and England team-mate David Beckham said Rooney would get plenty of support from Ferguson and his staff.

Spurs lose Defoe for three months after op

Jermain Defoe is set to miss the next three months of the season - and likely Tottenham Hotspur's entire Champions League group stage - as he recovers from an operation on his ankle.

Defoe had already put off surgery on a troublesome groin problem but a knock received against Switzerland during England's 3-1 win in Basel required more urgent care and after seeing a specialist, the striker went under the knife on Thursday evening.

A statement on Spurs' official website flew in the face of expectations that his absence will only be for six weeks: "Following a review by an ankle specialist, Jermain Defoe underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle yesterday evening.

"The striker was forced off with the injury during England's European Championship qualifier in Switzerland on Tuesday and has been ruled out of action for around three months."

He will also miss England's next Euro 2012 qualifier, at home to Montenegro in October, and leave Harry Redknapp without his frontline striker, opening up opportunities for the lesser-spotted likes of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane. That duo can now expect to face the likes of FC Twente, Inter Milan and Werder Bremen in Champions League Group A.

Source: ESPN