Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Wayne Rooney is to blame for the knee injury that could rule him out of the league match at Wolves.
Rooney, 24, had been struggling with the problem before the Carling Cup final but still played in England’s win over Egypt on Wednesday at Wembley.
“I don’t think he should have played [on Wednesday],” said Ferguson.
“It is his own enthusiasm that has caused it. His problem is that he can’t say no,” the Scot added.
“He told us on Sunday he was feeling his knee. Then all of a sudden people put an arm around his shoulder with England and he wants to play.
“[England boss] Fabio Capello has to pick his best team. A win was important so I don’t blame him at all.
“I was more disappointed with Wayne. Why didn’t he come off? I can’t believe it.”
Rooney is a doubt for what would be his third match in six days as Manchester United travel to Wolves looking to leapfrog Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table. Read more…
Manchester United striker Michael Owen will not play again this season after pulling his hamstring in the 2-1 Carling Cup win over Aston Villa.
The 30-year-old, who scored United’s equaliser at Wembley, pulled up while chasing a pass in the first half.
The injury all but ends Owen’s hopes of playing for England at the World Cup.
“It is more serious than we thought. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley played some part, but it’s also bad luck,” said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Owen, who will have one year remaining on his two-year contract at Old Trafford at the end of this season, was initially expected to be out for only a few weeks, but will now undergo surgery on Monday.
He said: “I have loved every minute of my first campaign with Manchester United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments.
“I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition.”
Owen, who has scored 40 goals in 89 games for England, admitted in February that he was not expecting to be included in coach Fabio Capello’s 23-man World Cup squad for South Africa. Read more…
The Guners fans are planning a special tribute to Aaron Ramsey at Saturday’s Premier League game against Burnley.
Teenage midfielder Ramsey is facing eight months on the sidelines after suffering a horrific leg break in a tackle from Ryan Shawcross during last weekend’s win over Stoke.
A special 18ftx15ft ‘One Aaron Ramsey’ banner has been made which the supporters will drop from the top tier at the Emirates Stadium.
Dozens of Gooners have contributed to the cost and the fans are hoping to arrange for the young Welshman to sign the banner.
Meanwhile former Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour is convinced Ramsey will battle back to fulfil his huge potential.
‘I am sure he will be fine,’ the ex-England international told Arsenal’s website. ‘Robert Pires did his cruciate while I was at Arsenal and came back.
‘Aaron has a strong body and a strong character for a 19-year-old. He’ll have to work hard on his fitness of course but I am sure he’ll be OK.’
Parlour, who made 466appearances for the noth Londoners, added: ‘I rate him really highly. He is an excellent player who can be big for Arsenal in the future.
‘He has gone up a standard this season. I have been really impressed by him this season.’
Chelsea’s John Terry has hit back at Craig Bellamy after the Welshman’s comments about him following Manchester City’s win at Stamford Bridge.
Striker Bellamy scored twice in City’s 4-2 victory on Saturday and made a blunt attack on the former England captain’s off-field behaviour.
“I know what JT is like, everybody in football knows what he is like. That’s off the field,” stated Bellamy.
“People in glass houses should not throw stones,” said Terry in response.
Bellamy’s comments added further frustration to Blues skipper Terry, who was arguably at fault for at least one of the Manchester City goals.
Defender Terry also suffered the ignominy of seeing Bridge publicly refuse his offer of a handshake before the game.
Bridge’s snub went down badly with the Stamford Bridge crowd and the former Chelsea star was booed by the home fans, a development that baffled some of his Manchester City team-mates.
“I don’t know why the crowd reacted the way it did,” said Manchester City captain Shay Given. “I don’t see what he has done wrong.” Read more…
Ramsey, the 19-year-old Wales midfielder was taken to hospital after a tackle by Shawcross, who was later called up to the England squad to play Egypt next week, in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory .
Arsenal are awaiting news on the condition of their player, who was transported to London for possible emergency surgery.
Manager Arsene Wenger was enraged by the tackle, which he described as “horrendous”, but in a statement issued by Shawcross, the player is adamant there was no intent.
The statement read: “There was absolutely no malice in the challenge.
“I would never, ever go out to hurt a fellow professional.
“I am deeply upset that Aaron has suffered such a bad injury and my thoughts are with him.
“I would like to send him my best wishes too for a speedy recovery.”
Stoke team-mates Danny Pugh and Rory Delap said Shawcross had not meant to hurt Ramsey.
“There was no malicious intent from Ryan, he’s not that kind of player,” midfielder Pugh told BBC radio. “He’s a good lad and and he’s been unlucky that that’s happened.” Read more…
The humiliation of John Terry could scarcely have been more complete. Just after Manchester City had swept upfield, making light of a Chelsea team by then reduced to nine men, and Craig Bellamy had tapped in their fourth goal, Terry could be seen stalking back to the centre circle, a defeated man.
He exchanged angry words with Didier Drogba, though it surely owed more to emotional instinct than rational analysis of what had taken place.
For Chelsea have not experienced a home defeat like this for years and by this stage there was little to argue over:
As they turned to return to their half, Tevez then pointed to Bridge, deflecting the glory to him and indicating the motivation behind a remarkable second-half performance.
It was an afternoon that could scarcely have gone worse for Chelsea or Terry. ‘It was very disappointing,’ said their manager Carlo Ancelotti. ‘We made a mistake and usually in football if you do that, you lose the game. We are still top of the league, if only by a point, but it is a point and that is not bad. That is the only good thing from today. Today is not a good day for us.’ Read more…
Footballer Wayne Bridge refused to shake hands with John Terry today when he came face to face with him for the first time since it emerged his former teammate had an affair with his ex-girlfriend.
There was huge interest in how the pair would behave towards one another ahead of the game between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, west London,
As the off-pitch tension built up in the wake of allegations about Terry and lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge’s three-year-old son, City player Bridge made his feelings clear by snubbing the Fair Play handshake courtesy to Terry.
As Terry, 29, stood in line with his Chelsea teammates, he held out his hand as Bridge filed past with his fellow Manchester City players.
But while Bridge, also 29, shook hands with the rest of his opponents, he walked past Terry without making any contact.
The ritual was introduced by the Premier League two seasons ago as part of the Get On With The Game campaign to encourage acceptable behaviour.
Such was the interest in the interaction between Terry and Bridge that Sky Sports viewers were able to see the crucial moments before kick-off.
Usually, the broadcaster would screen adverts during the routine and return to the pitch for the main action.
But timings were altered to make sure nothing was missed. Read more…
Although Bridge pulled out of the World Cup, City boss Roberto Mancini feels he is in the right frame to play at Stamford Bridge - and face John Terry.
‘I think Wayne is okay,’ said Mancini. ‘I don’t know what has happened in the last two weeks but I am sorry for him.
But mentally he is fine. He is an important player for us and we want him to play.’
Only a fortnight ago Mancini expressed confidence that Bridge would go to South Africa, despite the obvious issues with Terry over his affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge’s young son.
So it came as a shock to both Mancini and England coach Fabio Capello when Bridge released his statement yesterday saying that his position within the Three Lions fold was now ‘untenable’.
‘I thought Wayne would stay with the national team,’ said Mancini. ‘It must have been a very difficult decision because I know how important the national team is for any player.
‘He didn’t speak to me before he made the decision. I don’t know what has changed, but he has changed his decision because I thought that he would play for the national team. But I respect what he has done. Read more…
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admitted he does not know when Carlos Tevez will return from compassionate leave having spoken to the striker three days ago.
The Argentina international has been in his homeland for over a week after his wife gave birth prematurely.
With Tevez’s wife Vanesa now out of hospital, although the baby is still in intensive care, Mancini wants the 26-year-old back in England.
However, there is no indication yet as to when the 19-goal striker is due to return - which is a concern for Mancini with an FA Cup replay against Stoke and a trip to Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea in the coming days.
“I don’t know where Tevez is - I think in Argentina,” said Mancini after the goalless draw at home to Liverpool. Read more…
