Mike Phelan: Premier League trophy is Manchester United’s to lose

Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelanbelieves the Premier League title is still theirs to lose despite a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal.

With three games to go the Red Devils are three points clear of Chelsea and the two teams will battle it out next week in a tie that could potentially decide where the trophy will go at the end of the season.

And Phelan feels that although they put in a poor shift against theGunners they are still exactly where they want to be, in first place.

Phelan said: "We are sitting pretty, we've got two home games left and one away, no one said [the league] would be won with three games to go, we'll play right to the end and we're in control.

"Nobody's going to get their own way in this Premier League, we set out this season to do our job over the whole period of the season and we're sitting where we want to be and that is at the top. We're there, we've still got three games to go and it's all down to us."

Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant also insisted the Red Devils will need to pick themselves up from the defeat to Arsenal quickly so that it doesn't impact on the their final games of the season.

He added: "This performance will hurt some of our players and we'll move on quickly, we have to do that. We've got a European game, second leg semi-final [against Schalke] at Old Trafford and we're in control of that game at the moment [too].

"We'll put in a performance and then we'll move on to the Premier League against Chelsea at the weekend."

Man Utd Need Champions Nerve

It is 'squeaky bum time' and no mistake.

As Sir Alex Ferguson predicted on Friday, plenty of drama lay ahead before the spoils can be claimed. He presumably did not want his team to provide it.

The unquantifiable part of professional sport. That aspect which separates champions from also-rans. That ensures Manchester United still head the championship chase whilst Arsenal need to rely on others.

Nerve, bottle, mental toughness. Call it what you will.

At Old Trafford next Sunday, we shall discover who has the most. The answer will do much to determine whether United claim a record 19th crown or Chelsea retain it.

Aaron Ramsey's 56th-minute goal settled a frenzy in north London. But the bigger picture is all about United and Chelsea, and why Arsenal continue to be shoved to the fringes.

Arsenal's supporters made it clear from the first whistle that victory, if not quite making up for the calamitous form over the past two months that has cost them all but the remotest hope of silverware, would at least allow them to feel good about themselves again.

Let us recap. When they awoke on Sunday, February 27, the Gunners were dreaming of the Quadruple.

Since they took the field later that day to face Birmingham in the Carling Cup final, they had won two out of 11 matches, been eliminated from all three knock-out competitions and are still so far distant in the league given the time remaining, they have virtually disappeared from view.

In contrast, United, who lost at Chelsea and Liverpool immediately after that Gunners' D-day, had responded with eight wins, one draw and a single defeat until they tripped up at the Emirates today.

They require five points from three games - providing the first of them comes next weekend - to clinch the championship and know they only need to avoid a three-goal defeat to Schalke at Old Trafford on Wednesday to reach their third Champions League final in four years.

That Arsene Wenger has amassed a group of good players is beyond doubt. They proved it again in this fully deserved triumph.

So, what is the difference?

Though Wenger continues to insist Cesc Fabregas, absent today, was misquoted, part of his recent damning interview struck a very delicate chord.

"You enjoy yourself, during a phase of the championship - like this year, for example, when we were still in four different competitions. And you say to yourself 'Here I have everything!' But then that final point is missing and it's then when you have to make a decision: either go out and win or develop players."

Experience brings the added extra. Like Nemanja Vidic getting his body in the way of a dangerous Jack Wilshere burst that sends the Arsenal man tumbling on the edge of the area without getting a free-kick.

The refusal to panic or do anything silly when Arsenal were dominating and threatening menace with every attack.

Even the 'professionalism' or cheating, whichever you prefer, of Vidic flicking Theo Walcott's cross away from Robin van Persie with his hand, which would surely have brought a penalty to the hosts and a red card for the United skipper.

In his ivory tower in Zurich, FIFA president Sepp Blatter must have loved that.

Coupled with Chelsea's 'goal that never was' at Stamford Bridge last night, Blatter has concrete proof that refereeing errors harm the game's credibility.

The point is that the Premier League's youngest side of the season - 23 years and 296 days on average - would have required the intervention of Chris Foy to provide Edwin van der Sar with his first shot to save, which is not what champion sides should require when they are at home and dominant.

Eventually, the breakthrough came. For the first time United faltered.

Adjusting in central midfield following the withdrawal of Anderson, Park Ji-sung failed to track Aaron Ramsey's forward burst and were unable to prevent the 20-year-old finding the bottom corner.

It was only to be expected the visitors would respond with vigour, just as, after what he had failed to give before, referee Chris Foy would ignore Michael Owen's penalty claim.

The cheers at the final whistle did not just come from this part of London.

But Arsenal's sobering realisation is that next Sunday at Old Trafford, only United have a chance to silence them.

United Eye Shay Given

As veteran star Edwin Van Der Sar is due to retire when the season comes to an end, Manchester United have just started to monitor Manchester City's Shay Given.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has attempted to tie-up previous deals for both Schalke custodian Manuel Neuer and Liverpool's experienced goalkeeper Pepe Reina and has also apparently failed to persuade Atletico Madrid youngster David De Gea to leave Spain for a bigger challenge at the prestigious Barclays Premier League club.

Shay Given, 35 this year, has pretty much became a benchwarmer for Roberto Mancini's side throughout the campaign after failing to outclass Joe Hart for a spot in the starting 11.

The former Newcastle stopper has not even featured a single minute of Barclays Premier League action so far and has previously been strongly linked with moves to clubs like Arsenal and Fulham. But its reported that United may be now the latest club to line up a bid for the experienced stopper.

Video: Man Utd Turkish Airlines Ad, Interesting :-)

Picture: Anderson New Haircut, United players Reaction

PICTURE: Ando's Interesting New Hair Do

Park Ji-Sung was intrigued by Anderson's new hair at training at Carrington today, ahead of United's trip to London to face Arsenal.

How did the other players react?

Berbatov Back for Arsenal Clash

Source ManUtd.com

Dimitar Berbatov is available for Sunday's huge clash at Arsenal as Sir Alex Ferguson targets three points that would move United closer to clinching a record 19th title.

The Barclays Premier League's top scorer has been sidelined since the FA Cup semi-final defeat to City but has shrugged off a groin strain to make the squad for the trip to London.

Darren Fletcher is likelier to resume his comeback in the second leg against Schalke next week after appearing in the first half of the reserves' draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

"Dimitar Berbatov's fit again, he's trained all week. He had a slight groin strain and missed the last two games but he's available," said Sir Alex at Friday morning's press conference.

"Darren Fletcher played 45 minutes (last night) as you know and he's come through it fine. I could possibly include him on Wednesday and get 45 minutes out of him.

"He's put the weight back on and working hard in the gymnasium. It's a great addition to the squad at this time of year having missed him for a couple of months."

The boss is delighted to have so much strength in depth as the Reds negotiate not only the last four matches of a long and arduous league campaign but also the latter stages of the Champions League, hopefully culminating in the final on 28 May.

"There's a bit of freshness in the club. Ji-sung Park's back fresh, as are Valencia, Anderson and young Fabio's come in. That does give you an extra boost in the sense of the intensity of all the games nowadays. So it puts us in a good position.

"From my experience over the years when we've been challenging, the way we've handled it has always been good. I've got a strong squad and I can make a few changes if I want to on Sunday and on Wednesday also. We don't do a great deal of training (between the matches) now. It's a matter of recovery, getting the energy back in and keeping the form."

The form of his team, and especially his strikers, fills Sir Alex with confidence that United can win the next two crucial league games against the two teams immediately behind the Reds.

"Two months ago I think everyone was looking at these two games coming up, Arsenal and Chelsea, as league deciders and they probably are now. So we're going into the games in good form and hopefully we can keep that going.

"I think Wayne Rooney and Chicharito have been a revelation in the last few weeks. It's given us all great hope that we have a chance."

Sir Alex Want Luka Modric

Alex Ferguson has revealed he would have chosen Luka Modric or Jack Wilshere as his Player of the Year. Tottenham's Gareth Bale took the Players' award while the Football Writers' Association went for Scott Parker of West Ham. But when asked who his pick would be, Old Trafford chief Fergie said: "Luka Modric. And I think the boy Wilshere has really emerged as a great young talent." Ferguson picked out Blackpool's Ian Holloway as the top boss. He told Inside United magazine: "He must come into it when you look at what he has achieved in the economic climate he works under. He's done a fantastic job."

Also in The Sun, Nemanja Vidic reveals lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley next month would be the highlight of his career. "Just playing in the final is an incredible feeling," he says. "But to lift the trophy at Wembley as United captain would be the pinnacle of my career. It would be a dream come true."

Carlo Ancelotti has attempted to crank up the pressure in the title race by warning his team will take it to the last day. All the newspapers carry his quotes with The Starreporting: "I remember when we were losing against Manchester United and, at the end of the first half, the gap was 18 points, so to be just three behind would be fantastic. Maybe United will win the league, but we want to keep the Premier League open and fight until the last minute."

The Royal wedding dominates in the press and there's even a picture of Wayne Rooneyin a Prince William mask taken from his Twitter acount which appears in The Guardian and elsewhere.

Park Ji-Sung; discipline + intelligence + energy = perfect for Europe

Park Ji-Sung might represent something of an enigma as a footballer; but very few actually have a bad word to say about him. And Park, while he isn’t going to be short-listed for any individual awards any time soon, is as much a one-in-a-million player as his prize-winning counterparts. Ability is one thing in this game – having the correct temperament and discipline to apply that to the game of football in another. Park has done just that; and his presence on the field screams a determined player with discipline in abundance.

He might look your average player, but he isn’t – searing pace and mesmerising footwork desert him but he offers more to Manchester United. Off the ball, Park is just as good as any other without a hint of hyperbole, his movement and tendency to track back is as much admirable as it is useful. Something that has been evident in Europe in the Uefa Champions League.

Here’s an interesting statistic – Park Ji-Sung has featured in eight of Manchester United’s eleven games in Europe this season. Yet, in stark contrast, the efficient South Korean has made just 12 appearances from a possible 34 in the Premier League. It is conclusive from that, that Park is primarily used in Europe because he is perhaps more suited to the style of football and that there is more concentration on keeping possession and being compact. That’s not to say his league performances haven’t been good, because they generally have, the 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton back in November sticking in memory, where he snatched a brace at the stroke of either half.

However, Europe is where Park has thrived in particular, and against Schalke 04 on Tuesday night he embodied everything that Sir Alex is trying to achieve with an excellent performance which saw his defensive abilities noted as much as what he did in the opponents’ half. His movement is somewhat overlooked but it shouldn’t be – it’s a key asset and possibly the most important part of his game. And he offers more.

Sir Alex said recently of the player known as ‘three-lungs’: ”He’s got the discipline, intelligence and football knowledge you need in the biggest games. Discipline is so much more important in the Champions League, and you need a slightly different type of discipline in Europe.”

His tag as a ‘big-name player’ has much to do with this ‘discipline’ of his that Sir Alex recognises so well – and the boss then, much to my delight, points out his movement and notes its effectiveness: “When you pick teams for big games you need a core of discipline and he’s one of the players who can give you that. And he’s a fantastic professional,” says Fergie. “He moves and plays and moves again. That’s the asset he’s got. He doesn’t watch what other players are doing with the ball, he gets himself into another position so he can be involved again. That’s his value to us; he can be really important.”

Whether it’s the clever runs he makes or the position he assumes when United are in possession of the ball, he displays a know-how for the game and United’s system, making him as tactically-astute as any other great player, which ties in with Sir Alex’s point about his ‘intelligence’ being a real factor in his game. It makes him the player he is. And if United do go and capture another Champions League title this campaign, then part of it has much to do with this quiet, but effective, South Korean midfielder.
_ _ _

They don’t call him “three-lungs” for nothing

 Note his movement against Schalke, the arrows towards the top centre of the diagram showing how deep he picks up the ball and receives his passes. Towards the right hand side of the diagram, it shows Park picking the ball up in a very deep position, well inside his own half. This performance typifies what Park is – great movement, constantly tracking back, all complimented by his excellent work-rate. He isn’t called three-lungs for nothing, you know.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon urges end to fans' sick Munich chants

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has urged the FA Cup finalists to act after the scourge of 'Munich' chanting returned to sully his club's name.

Khaldoon, the public face of the Abu Dhabi group that have turned City into the world's richest football club, is understood to have been appalled to learn that a minority of fans have started singing songs referring to the 1958 Munich air disaster again.

City manager Roberto Mancini called for the chants to stop and said: 'I didn't hear it myself at Blackburn on Monday but what I do know is that we must have respect for what happened in the past. That is very important.' 

Vocal minority: Certain Manchester City fans have restarted singing songs about the 1958 air disaster

It is understood the City board will take steps to try to eradicate the  singing, which refers to the disaster that killed 23 members of a Manchester United party returning from a European Cup game 53 years ago. This will now be given added impetus by the fact that Khaldoon has raised the subject himself.

It is likely that City will print something in a forthcoming matchday programme and that senior players - such as FA Cup semi-final goalscorer Yaya Toure - will be asked to say something publicly. Toure is the player unfortunate enough to be the subject of the latest song, which goes: 'Who put the ball in the Munichs' net?' 

City sources stressed that although some of the club's fans seem to see 'Munich' as an acceptable term of reference for United fans, they are determined to eradicate it.

Stop it now: Sportsmail on Wednesday

It is understood City will consider banning fans they feel are responsible, but they accept it is difficult to prove anything unless fans are seen making the horrendous 'airplane' gestures that have sometimes accompanied chants about the disaster.

City will hope that victory against West Ham at Eastlands on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League will focus attention back to football as Mancini's team look to make good their position in the fourth  Champions League qualifying spot and build up momentum ahead of the FA Cup final against Stoke on May 14. 

Mancini has confirmed that captain Carlos Tevez is back in training as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, and that he has a good chance of being fit for the final. 

Tevez recently spent two weeks in Milan receiving treatment. It had been thought the Argentine was  seeing his country's team doctor but his manager revealed it had been a masseur. 

Mancini said: 'He has been working with a masseur that he trusts and now he is working with him here. I understand that. I was a player, too.' 

On the comeback trail: Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez

The Italian confirmed Tevez will return as captain if he plays at Wembley but also said he will need to sit down with the striker and talk about his future once the season is over. 

The City boss is privately fearful that Tevez will look to quit Eastlands this summer while other senior officials at the club are convinced he will leave. 

Asked if he thought Tevez's future would be influenced by Champions League qualification, Mancini said: 'No, I don't think so. For now it's more important to know when Carlos can play. We need to play the final and get in the Champions League. Then we will sit down and talk.'  

Video: Berbatov does a Godfather impression