United Will Not Be Presented With Trophy At Blackburn, We Have To Wait For Blackpool

Celebrations put on ice

Manchester United will not be presented with the Premier League trophy this weekend even if they earn the point they need to win a record 19th title against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday lunchtime. Following their 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday, United will overtake Liverpool's record of 18 league championships — a record set by the Anfield team in 1990 – as long as they avoid defeat against Steve Kean's side. But United captain Nemanja Vidic will have to wait until the visit of Blackpool to Old Trafford on May 22 to lift the trophy after the League confirmed its intention to stand by its policy of holding the official presentation at the champions' final home game of the campaign. Sources at the Premier League have confirmed that the trophy will not be on standby at Ewood Park to cap United's celebrations should they win the league less than half-an-hour before Manchester City take to the field in the FA Cup final.
Rory Smith, Daily Telegraph

Elsewhere, The Independent claim Sky Sports "are hopeful their new signing Gary Neville can start his job early to be at Wembley as co-commentator on 28 May for the [Champions League] final against Barcelona".

The Sun also turn their attention to the Champions League final, claiming United aim to go on the offensive against Barcelona. "We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother," Sir Alex says. "Hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona the problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us."