We must be better than in 2009, says Guardiola

Barça manager admits he is worried about today's opponents, in particular the 'excellent' Hernandez

Pep Guardiola has warned his players that they will have to play better than they did in 2009 to win tonight's Champions League final.

The Barcelona coach spoke of lapses in intensity and mistakes made two years ago that he feels Manchester United will better punish this time as the two repeat the Moscow final.

Guardiola said: "If we play the same way we did in 2009 then it will probably not be enough. And if we repeat certain things that we did in that game then we will not win this one."

Asked what aspect of United's play he was most concerned about he replied: "Everything. I am worried about everything. [Rio] Ferdinand coming out with the ball from the back, the talent they have in midfield, [Antonio] Valencia and Nani on the wings and the players they have up front with [Wayne] Rooney and Chicharito. We have to be concerned about everything."

The Barcelona manager and his players have spoken regularly in the build-up to the final about Javier Hernandez and Guardiola clearly sees the Mexican as a threat to a defence that will probably have Javier Mascherano alongside Gerard Pique.

He said: "He is the huge surprise of the season. He arrives with such great timing into the area. His running into space is excellent and he can also shoot very quickly while moving at speed. United have brought a very big player and someone who is going to be great for them for many years to come."

The Barça coach was asked about comments made yesterday by Johan Cruyff that he would not be surprised to see Guardiola walk away from the club after tomorrow's final such has been the pressure placed on him this season.

Cruyff said: "Guardiola has worked very hard in these three years and it would not surprise me if he went after this game regardless of the result in the final." The Barcelona coach's slightly evasive answer was: "It is a privilege to lead this club in finals like this one against such a historic opponent. I have a contract for another year and I expect to see it out. It is not the time to speak about this now."

Carles Puyol, who is expected to start at left-back this evening, said it was vital that his manager decided to stay at the club. "He is the best coach in the world and I want him to stay for many years. It will be the best for the club," said the defender who will play his third final tonight in his third different starting position.

Guardiola was asked about Sir Alex Ferguson's assertion that this would be the "final of the decade" and said that could only be decided after the game. "People can talk about it being the final of the decade but we have to prove that by playing the final of the decade. We have to prove it and that will be our intention. I hope for the rest of the world that they will look back at it like that. Three finals in four years for them and three in five for us it is clear that it is an extraordinary final. We are up against one of the most historic clubs in the world.

"People are always asking about the best team in history but you cannot make comparisons. There have been many great teams. I never saw the Madrid of Alfredo Di Stefano, for example. If people in the future talk about us saying: 'I saw them play' that will be enough."

Guardiola has always denied being close to signing for United as a player when he left Barcelona, yesterday he finished by admitting the possibility existed. "Sir Alex made the right decision not to sign me," he said, "I was on the way down at the time."

Ferguson feels hand of history ahead of 'final of the decade'

Barcelona are the world's greatest team – but the world's best manager is confident

It is 20 years and 13 days since Sir Alex Ferguson won his first European trophy against a Barcelona team in Rotterdam and although the Cup Winners' Cup was not quite the big time he dreamed of then, it precipitated a shift in both teams' fortunes.

The next season Barcelona won the European Cup and for United, what followed in the next two decades is the success story of modern English football.

Twenty years on and they meet under different terms: Barcelona might have the greatest team in the world but United have the greatest manager.

Yesterday evening, when he was asked whether this was the best final anyone could have hoped for, Ferguson went one better. "It could not just be the final of the decade, it could be the best final of the decade," he said. "The attraction of two great teams with a great history is obvious. It is an appealing final in terms of what could happen in the game.

"Anything could happen in this game. There could be a lot of goals, there could be a lot of excitement and a lot of good football, I'm sure of that. It is set up. The platform is certainly there."

Strictly speaking the decade is only one year old, but we all knew what he was getting at. Tonight at Wembley, on European domestic football's biggest night, the game's two best sides face one another. Barcelona, the favourites, have a team that stands comparison with the best of all time. United have a manager of unparalleled success in the current day who seems to have been around for all time.

In a question that borrowed a phrase from Tony Blair, the British politician Ferguson knows best, he was asked yesterday whether he could feel the hand of history on his shoulder. This, after all, was United at Wembley in a European Cup final, which for most people will always mean Sir Matt Busby and Bobby Charlton against Benfica in 1968. "Aye, it's certainly not Hampden Park," Ferguson said, by means of a joke.

"I think this is a symbol of English football. We have been here a lot of times and a lot has changed since the old Wembley. When we come here we know it's a big game and there's none bigger than this. I feel this is a right place for a final."

No mention of the history or the significance to United's past, which he tends to skirt around until after the big victories when he changes tack and positively wallows in it. But this is history in the making. This could be his third European Cup, putting him on a par with Bob Paisley looking down on the rest of his managerial counterparts of all time.

Yes, the hand of history will be on Ferguson's shoulder tonight, all right. It is remarkable to think how far he has carried this club since that first European trophy in 1991 when, he recalls in his autobiography, they prepared outside Rotterdam in the stadium of a village team. Last night Ferguson watched his coaches conduct a training session in front of a media presence that would dwarf that of 20 years ago. In the meantime the four Glazer brothers, whose family own the club now, posed for a photograph on the touchline.

When United won that game in Rotterdam the defeated coach was Johan Cruyff, who went on to shape the philosophy of the club that has made them so dominant today. In goal was Carlos Busquets, father of Barça's current attritional midfielder Sergio, and the following season Pep Guardiola would become a regular in the team. Now 40, he is the current Barcelona manager. Ferguson admitted yesterday that he tried to sign Guardiola when he later came to leave Barça.

When Ferguson mentioned that, it reminded you of just how long he has been around. He will need all of that cunning tonight if he is to beat a team as formidable as any that United have played in his 25 years as manager.

This is a brilliant Barcelona team which, having weathered United's early surge against them in the final of 2009, made Ferguson's team look so ordinary. Tonight, a slip of concentration from Rio Ferdinand, a rash challenge from Fabio Da Silva, a stray pass from Michael Carrick and Ferguson knows it could be the same again, with him helpless on the touchline as Barça keep the ball and the clock ticks down.

There are fundamental questions about how Ferguson will play this game. Whether he plays 4-3-3 – or 4-5-1 when United are defending – with Wayne Rooney on his own in attack. Or if he is more adventurous and plays Javier Hernandez with Rooney in a more orthodox 4-4-2 system. About how he presses the opposition and tries – as all else have failed since Internazionale last season – to tame the Barça beast.

Ferguson knows that his managerial peers across the world, who hang on his every word, will be watching to see how the old master does it. He knows that the task is huge but not impossible and, by the same token, he does not want to be embarrassed.

The closest Ferguson came to answering the question about how he will approach this game was when he was asked whether his own team's attacking threat is overlooked. A fair question until you consider that, with 52 goals this season, there is a good chance that Lionel Messi will have scored more than the entire United first XI, depending on the team Ferguson picks tonight.

"As we always do, we recognise the quality of our opponents," he said. "I think it's unwise not to prepare your team for the way your opponents play, for their strengths and weaknesses. We do that with every team. Every opponent gets that respect.

"Of course we always focus on what we can do ourselves. We hope that we have plenty to offer. We have the players to do that – I don't think anyone can question our attacking players."

Even put through the Ferguson truth decoder that did not sound like a commitment to fight fire with fire – and who, really, can blame him? The brutal experience of that final in Rome two years ago burned him. Unlike 20 years ago, he has the reputation and the trophies and the wealth now. But the Ferguson legend has been built on nights such as these, the nights when it feels that everything is at stake.

Chelsea given hope as Hiddink says he will listen to offers

Guus Hiddink hinted yesterday that he may be ready to return to Chelsea despite previously distancing himself from the Stamford Bridge job. Hiddink, who is currently manager of Turkey's national team, said that he would consider any offer that came his way.

Speaking from the Turkish training camp in the Netherlands ahead of their game against Belguim next week, Hiddink said: "At the momentthere's nothing concrete to talk about, but if there was a concrete offer I would think about it. We'll play this game and then see. The moment things are concrete, I'll go to where I have to be."

Meanwhile Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and Robert Pires are among 10 players released today by Aston Villa. First-team squad members Moustapha Salifou and Isaiah Osbourne have also been allowed to leave Villa Park along with youngsters Durrell Berry, Ellis Deeney, Calum Flanagan, Harry Forrester and Arsenio Halfhuid.

Former England Under-21 captain Reo-Coker had featured regularly for Villa since signing from West Ham in 2007 but will now be looking for a new club, as will Norwegian forward Carew who spent the second part of last season on loan at Stoke.

Pires has been tipped to join former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry in Major League Soccer in the United States and the 37-year-old was never likely to extend his original six-month contract.

Reo-Coker moved to Villa Park from West Ham for £8.5m four years ago and captained the side several times during his stay. He featured in 30 Premier League games last season.

Norwich have signed forward James Vaughan from Everton for an undisclosed fee as Canaries manager Paul Lambert looks to build a squad capable of keeping the East Anglia club in the Premier League.

The former England Under-21 international has agreed a three-year deal at Carrow Road, subject to the completion of relevant paperwork. Vaughan has had loan spells at Leicester, Derby and Crystal Palace in the past few seasons after struggling to establish himself at Goodison Park.

The 22-year-old came through the ranks with Everton but his first-team opportunities remained limited.

Wales beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Dublin last night to finish their Carling Nations Cup campaign with a win. Aaron Ramsey and Rob Earnshaw scored, with the latter saying: "I'm very pleased. We needed it. The whole team needed it because it just gave us a lift and a boost because we are working hard."

Nemanja Vidic warns Manchester United will lose if too much focus on Lionel Messi

Nemanja Vidic fears Champions League heartbreak for Manchester United if they become obsessed with shackling Lionel Messi in Saturday's final against Barcelona at Wembley.

Vidic captained United to a record 19th English title this month but the Serbian defensive rock knows he is in for one of the toughtest tests of his career against the stardust quality of Pep Guardiola's Spanish champions.

Messi scored in Barca's 2-0 victory over United in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome and has dominated the build-up but Vidic will not have eyes only for the twinkle-toed Argentine goal machine.

"Messi is a great player and is really hard to stop," said Vidic. "But I would not underestimate the other players they have like Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta, they're really good players who can produce good performances in the vital games.

"It is not just about one player. It's about stopping Barcelona as a team."

Vidic remembers only too well the sight of Carles Puyol lifting the Champions League trophy for the Catalans two years ago and says that image is a motivating factor for Wembley.

"Obviously when you get to a final as big as that and lose the game it's not a great feeling," added the former Spartak Moscow player.

"To see the other team celebrate the biggest trophy you can have, it's not a great moment.

"It's sad but we had to say that the better team won that night. Barcelona are a great team and obviously they will have a lot of possession during the game.

"But it is down to us to exploit their weaknesses which all teams have."

United have no injury worries but it remains to be seen whether manager Alex Ferguson opts for a five-man midfield to counter Barcelona's threat or gambles with a second striker.

"The gaffer has some big calls to make because all the players are fit and it will be really hard to choose the first 11," said Vidic.

Nani stakes claim for Manchester United starting role at Wembley

Nani has promised Sir Alex Ferguson he will deliver if he is handed a starting spot at Wembley tomorrow.

The Portugal winger was king of the assists at Manchester United this season, with his early-season form one of the major reasons why United ended up collecting a record 19th league title.

However, with Antonio Valencia impressing since his return from a broken ankle and Nani's own performances dipping slightly, it has seemed increasingly likely the 24-year-old will miss out on a place in Ferguson's team when they square up to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

It would complete a hat-trick of omissions, given he was also left on the bench in 2008, when he was eventually introduced and scored in the penalty shoot-out, and 2009, when he was left to kick his heels on the bench.

Nani would be disappointed if he suffered that fate again. He believes he is the man to unhinge the Catalan giants.

"I have played against Argentina and Spain and always done well," he said.

"Barcelona's football is the same and the players are the same.

"I like to play against teams who play that way. It is good for me.

"I feel happy because I know when I play against those players, it will go right."

Yet Nani also views Barcelona's star names as the men who set a standard he needs to match.

For so long overshadowed at United by the vast contribution of Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani has blossomed since the former world player of the year's departure to Real Madrid two years ago.

He is adamant further development is possible though, and watching Lionel Messi at home on TV only fuels his desire to get better.

"When I am at home and watching TV I think about Barcelona's players in a totally different way than if I am playing against them," he said.

"At home, I appreciate the way they play.

"Messi is the best player in the world. I like to see him play and see the things he does. He inspires other players to do different things as well.

"But on the pitch I want to be better than them.

"Every day I am on the training ground I always practice. I want to improve the things I am not good at. I am trying to be mentally stronger.

"I am not perfect but feel with more experience I can contribute more to the team."

That impact may not always be immediately obvious to the watching public.

There are still times when team-mates appear infuriated at a failure to deliver early balls, a key component of Antonio Valencia's game and a reason why the South American may just get the nod from Ferguson for the single winger's slot believed to be up for grabs.

However, his victory in the United players' player of the year poll was confirmation Nani's contribution is recognised in the dressing room.

"That meant a lot to me," said the former Sporting Lisbon star.

"It means the people who work with me know what I am doing every day, during training and matches, and recognise my contribution for the team.

"That makes me happy. It is more important than any trophy from the fans or the league."

Nevertheless, Nani is sweating on his starting spot, with Valencia having the added advantage of being fresh after his lengthy injury lay-off.

"There is no pressure on me," said Nani.

"I know my quality. I know what I have been doing for my team-mates.

"The manager knows what he is doing. I have played every game.

"Antonio is just starting now. He has played a couple of games because I needed a rest.

"Now I am feeling very good so we will let the manager decide.

"Whatever team he picks, I just hope we win."

Jack Wilshere: 'If you get in their faces, Barça seem to ease off in the second half'

The Arsenal midfielder knows from experience how to beat Barça.

The greatest praise you could accord Jack Wilshere on the night Arsenal beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Emirates in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie in February was thus: if there was one man in the home team who looked like he was good enough to play for the opposition then it was the 19-year-old.

Wilshere was in the team that played 34 minutes with 10 men at the Nou Camp 20 days later, and lost the game 3-1. This week, Wilshere gave his insight into playing – and beating – Barcelona:

United have a better chance than we have. They have players like [Darren] Fletcher, Park [Ji-sung], [Antonio] Valencia. They are all "runners" and they can stop players. I would play Fletcher, just doing what he normally does – running everywhere – and then [Michael] Carrick and [Ryan] Giggs.

[In attack] we played with just Robin van Persie and [in United's case] I would play with just [Wayne] Rooney, with Valencia and Park helping when they get the chance to get forward. For most of it they will be defending because that is what Barcelona do to you.

Jack Wilshere (left) tries to track down Andres Iniesta at the Nou Camp

Get tight on them

Three passes – bang, bang, bang – and they are through. You have to get in their faces. I have said it before: you really have to hold your shape. United will be good because they have the players like Fletcher who will get after Barça. You have to stop players like Xavi, [Lionel] Messi and [Andres] Iniesta or they will kill you.

Barça change in the second half

If you can get in their faces they seem to ease off in the second half. We did that in the second half [of the first leg]. I don't think they get tired but [something changes] and you really have to go for them. We beat them at home. Obviously the away leg was a different game. After we went down to 10 men we had no chance.

Watch them pressuring the referee

We saw it against Real Madrid. Like Man U they are good at getting round the referee and convincing him to be on their side. I don't really think they are divers, they are just good at getting round the referee and helping him change his decision.

When people say Barça keep the ball well, they're not exaggerating

I'd watched them play against us the year before at the Emirates and everyone kept saying you have to defend or you're not going to get near them. I thought: "It can't be that bad." But for that first 20 minutes I don't think I've ever run so far in my life. We got the ball and they had three closing us down every time and just got it back. We couldn't keep the ball.

You cannot afford to man-mark Messi

We knew we had to stop him playing but if you try to stop him too much there are other players who can hurt you like Iniesta and Xavi. For me, Messi is the best player in the world and you have to stay tight to him. But there are other players you have to deal with as well.

You have to talk to each other. Messi likes to drop off and if he does you have to go with him because if you give him that time to turn and run at you he can kill you.

The first goal he scored against us wasn't bad

It wasn't until afterwards on the bus [that I saw a proper replay of it]. I thought [Manuel] Almunia had flicked it up but afterwards I saw it was Messi who had done it. There's probably only him who could – in that split-second – just flick it up and over the goalkeeper and put it in. I always have Messi in my team on Fifa 11. He's the best on there as well.

You've got to win the ball high up

A couple of days before the game we worked on our shape defensively and worked out what we were going to do when we didn't have the ball. When we had the ball, the idea was to keep it, and when we didn't, the idea was to get around them with three men and press them quite high. They like to play it and if you can nick it in their half you've more of a chance.

I couldn't bring myself to go into their dressing room afterwards

I swapped with Xavi and then I asked Cesc to get me Messi's shirt. I was a bit embarrassed to be honest. I didn't want to walk into their dressing room and ask for it.

I'm backing Barça on the night

I think it will be Barcelona because of the way they play. It's the way Arsenal play and the football I like. So if anyone deserves to win, it's Barcelona.

Napoli deny receiving offer from Tottenham for Ezequiel Lavezzi

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has denied receiving an offer from Tottenham for Argentina striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Lavezzi has been linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League after a fine season for the Serie A outfit, who finished third to qualify for the Champions League.

"Lavezzi? I have never spoken to Tottenham," De Laurentiis told Italian radio station Radio Marte.

De Laurentiis went on to reassure Napoli fans that the club's top stars will not leave this summer despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik is a reported target of AC Milan while Napoli's top scorer Edinson Cavani has been tracked by a host of top European clubs.

"I ask the fans to be calm," De Laurentiis continued. "When the transfer market opens everyone wants to buy but 95% of the time, it's just gossip.

"Napoli supporters are intelligent and they cannot be taken for a ride by the press.

"We are growing as a club and we will continue to do so.

"If someone arrives and wants to buy a player that doesn't want to wear the Azzurri colours, then they will have to bring out their wallet.

"But I, in seven years, have not received any offers and I am the one that decides.

"We are not a supermarket, perhaps we are an expensive jewellery shop and as soon as people see the prices, they are scared away."

Kevin Phillips, Sebastian Larsson and Lee Bowyer leave Birmingham

Birmingham have confirmed the release of Kevin Phillips, Sebastian Larsson and Lee Bowyer following the club's relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Veteran striker Phillips and midfield duo Larsson and Bowyer are joined through the St Andrew's exit door by Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Czech defender Martin Jiranek and full-back Stuart Parnaby.

All six players have left the club on the expiry of their contracts.

Blues confirmed, however, that the club has taken up the option of a one-year contract extension for captain Stephen Carr.

Spanish midfielder Enric Valles has also penned a new one-year deal despite missing most of last season with a foot injury following his arrival from Dutch side NAC Breda.

The club confirmed discussions over a new contract are ongoing with Scotland forward James McFadden, who missed most of last season with a knee injury,

Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu told club website www.bcfc.com that the announcements are the result of boardroom discussions about the strategy of the club following their drop into the npower Championship.

"We have discussed strategies and player movements and policies," he said.

"Suffice to say there is by and large consensus in the way we believe we should proceed."

Gianfranco Zola backs Harry Redknapp for Chelsea job

Gianfranco Zola has claimed Harry Redknapp would be a success if appointed Chelsea manager.

The last 24 hours have seen Redknapp installed as the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti following a surge in bets placed on the Tottenham boss.

Redknapp has since insisted he knows nothing about any interest there might be from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who reportedly admires the way Spurs play under the 64-year-old.

Guus Hiddink is said to be Abramovich's number one target, while Zola himself has been linked with a coaching role in any new set-up.

And the former Blues striker believes Redknapp has the quality to manage Chelsea, telling talkSPORT: "Harry is one of those managers that has the skills to do well everywhere.

"I don't know if Harry Redknapp is type of manager Chelsea is looking for but, with his quality, nobody can doubt him."

Zola expressed his sympathy for Ancelotti, who was sacked after Sunday's final game of the season.

"I fell Ancelotti did a good job for Chelsea and, like many fans, we are sorry for what happened to him," said Zola of his fellow Italian, who has revealed he wants his next job to be in the Barclays Premier League and has been linked with promoted QPR.

"I think Ancelotti really likes London and he likes the way football is played over here.

"That doesn't surprise me because, after Italy, if you come here, you really enjoy the culture."

Beckham full of praise for United

 

 

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has been speaking positively about the 2011 Premier League title winning team and wished them the best of luck ahead of this weekend’s Champions League final.

Before looking at what Beckham has had to say on the current crop, it is worth mentioning how good it was seeing him in a Manchester United shirt again last night.

He was taking part in Gary Neville’s testimonial at Old Trafford and started in midfield alongside Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. For United fans everywhere, it was a real treat and Beckham in particular showed himself in a good light.

 

 

Football betting pundits watching the game note how the LA Galaxy man was pinging the ball all over the park and showed that he is still a fabulous player who could probably still perform admirably in the Premier League.

Anyway, back to the current set of Manchester United players who Beckham clearly admires. In fact, he would probably love to be a part of the current squad if he was being totally honest.

The 36-year-old said: “They are up there with the best United sides of all time; the proof is in the trophies they have won. People have criticised the team but you can’t ask for more than that.”

“They have that togetherness that every United side has had under Sir Alex Ferguson and they will continue to have that.”

As for taking on Barcelona at Wembley this Saturday, Beckham admits that the Premier League champions may well start as underdogs, but Ferguson has what it takes to ensure that those looking to win football bets on a United win go home happy.

Beckham continued: “Everyone is talking about Barcelona as one of the best club sides in the world – and of course they are – but if anyone can beat Barcelona at their peak, then Sir Alex Ferguson knows how to do that. I hope they go and do that.”

It is always good to hear Beckham’s views on Untied and he clearly still holds the club close to his heart. There is no doubt that he enjoyed playing in front on the Old Trafford cloud again last night and alongside a mixture of the current team and past players.

Hopefully Beckham’s wish of United winning the Champions League this weekend comes true and his notion of the current team being one of the best in the club’s history is confirmed.

 

 

Defoe's wrist injury compounds striker crisis for Capello

Fabio Capello's striker shortage for England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland a week on Saturday became more acute yesterday when Jermain Defoe became the latest player to pull out of the squad.

Capello has no plans to replace Defoe, leaving him with just three strikers – Peter Crouch, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora. Wayne Rooney is suspended for the game and Andy Carroll has already been declared in sufficiently fit to merit a call-up.

Defoe is the second player to pull out of the squad since it was announced on Monday, following Fulham reserve team goalkeeper David Stockdale who is getting married the day before the game. With more withdrawals expected after Saturday's European Cup final there are fears that Capello will be left with a much weakened squad for a crucial game.

The injury to Defoe is thought to be a small fracture to his wrist which the player sustained in Tottenham's game against Birmingham on Sunday. Danny Welbeck who won his first cap in the last England international against Ghana in March could be an alternative, but is on duty with the England Under-21s preparing for their European Championship next month.

Defoe has a small fracture to his wrist which he sustained in Tottenham's game against Birmingham on Sunday

With Capello showing no sign of picking Crouch in recent games – despite the fact that he is by far and away the most experienced striker in the squad – the likelihood is that he will select a 4-3-3 formation with Bent in the centre forward position. Ashley Young and Theo Walcott are the favourites to start on the wings.

It will not go unnoticed that Capello has again overlooked the claims of Michael Owen. The former England striker, fourth on the all-time goalscorers' list, said this week that he still believed he could win more caps after the Italian quits next summer. Or earlier if England fail to qualify for Euro 2012. The England squad meets up on Monday.

Shay Given interested in Celtic switch

Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given has refused to rule out a move to Celtic after insisting a switch to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League would not be a step down for him.

The 35-year-old has spent most of the season warming the bench as second choice behind Joe Hart at Eastlands.

He is desperate to be playing regular first-team football again and has long been linked with a return to Parkhead, where he spent three years in the youth team in the early 1990s.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon recently hailed Given as "a top, top goalkeeper" but acknowledged he would cost a lot of money to recruit.

However, a goalkeeper will be high on Lennon's agenda this summer, with Fraser Forster having now returned to Newcastle following the end of his loan spell, which is unlikely to be repeated at the Glasgow giants.

Given, who is on Carling Nations Cup duty with the Republic of Ireland this week, said: "It's no secret I'm a big Celtic supporter and have been all my life. I don't know what their goalkeeping situation is.

"Fraser Forster had a very good season up there and there has been talk of him moving on a permanent basis so we would have to wait and see. But it is a fantastic club with fantastic supporters.

"Ideally, I would like to be playing but it's out of my hands. If Manchester City want me, I've got another two years left on my contract. I don't really know what's going to happen.

"At the moment, I'm focused on the Scotland game on Sunday and then the game against Macedonia [Euro 2012 qualifier on June 4].

"After that we will see what comes up - if there are options to play somewhere. If not, I'll go back to Manchester City pre-season and get my head down and go again."

Asked if a switch to the SPL would be a step down, he said: "Not if you're playing with Celtic, it's not.

"It's a great club, with an unbelievable history, so I wouldn't look at it as a step down. It's a fantastic club but it's too soon to say what's going to happen or if that's going to happen.

"But you never say never when Celtic come calling."

Lennon looks set to sign a new contract with the Hoops despite missing out on the SPL title to rivals Rangers and Given has been impressed by the Celtic boss.

He said: "He's had a difficult season with all the off-field stuff and a lot of lesser men would have walked away from the job.

"It was brilliant to see him picking up the Scottish Cup at the weekend, although I think the biggest disappointment was the game they lost at Inverness.

"But there is always next year to go for the league and I'm sure Neil will be working extremely hard over the summer to strengthen the squad and come back stronger."

Given was thrilled to be between the sticks for the Republic last night, albeit a 5-0 win over Northern Ireland meant a quiet night for the goalkeeper.

He said: "It was nice to get playing again. I would have liked to have been a bit busier but the lads played very well and we scored some good goals.

"It was nice to pull the jersey back on and go through the mental side of things of preparing for the game, although I didn't have much to do.

"Northern Ireland actually started all right and had a good chance very early on. Maybe that was a wake-up call for us and we played some good stuff.

"I know Northern Ireland had a young team but we should take lots of positives from the goals we scored."

Chelsea make approach for Manuel Pellegrini claims agent

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini's agent has hinted Chelsea have made an initial approach for the Chilean.

The Blues are again in the market for a new manager - their fifth in the past three years - after Carlo Ancelotti paid the price for a trophyless campaign just 12 months after guiding his team to an historic double.

While Guus Hiddink is said to be club owner Roman Abramovich's first choice to reprise the role he filled on a temporary basis to such great effect two years ago, convincing the Dutchman to leave his current post with the Turkish Football Federation could prove complicated.

That could lead to Chelsea looking at other targets, such as Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Pellegrini's agent has indicated the 57-year-old former Real Madrid boss is also on the Blues' radar.

Jesus Martinez told Chilean radio station Cooperativa: "It is normal for clubs without a coach, such as Chelsea through intermediaries, to start asking Pellegrini, but he is very comfortable at Malaga and has a contract there.

"He has put a lot of effort into Malaga and is pleased and excited to work with the team."

Chelsea maintained they would not be making any comment on the continuing speculation regarding the appointment of their new manager.

Blackpool activate Charlie Adam contract clause

Blackpool have activated a clause in Charlie Adam's contract which in theory gives him another 12 months at Bloomfield Road, but it is unlikely to prevent the Scotland midfielder moving in the summer.

The 25-year-old was the subject of failed bids by Liverpool and Tottenham in January and now Ian Holloway's side have been relegated from the Barclays Premier League it seems inevitable he will leave.

But having successfully fended off offers mid-season Blackpool will hold out for the best price for Adam, having turned down £6million offer from Liverpool four months ago.

In addition to their prize asset, it seems the Seasiders will also find there is plenty of interest in a number of other players as clubs seek to take advantage of their drop into the npower Championship.

With that in mind 12-month options have also been taken out on Keith Southern, Neal Eardley, Ian Evatt, Billy Clarke, Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Louis Almond.

The club have offered new contracts to goalkeeper Matt Gilks, left-back Stephen Crainey, midfielder David Vaughan, striker Brett Ormerod and youngsters Mark Halstead and Ash Eastham.

Blackpool have also confirmed a total of 11 players have been released.

They are goalkeepers Richard Kingson and Paul Rachubka, Marlon Harewood, Andy Reid, Rob Edwards, Danny Coid, Malaury Martin, Jason Euell, David Carney, Salaheddine Sbai and Ishmel Demontagnac.

"Blackpool Football Club would like to thank all of those players departing for their efforts and wishes them all the very best for the future," said a club statement.

Park pours energy into atoning for disappointments of previous finals

Dropped in 2008 and defeated in 2009, the in-form Korean is eager to make amends at Wembley

Sir Alex Ferguson has described leaving Park Ji-sung out of the 2008 Champions League final as the hardest decision of his career. The robotically tireless midfielder did not even make Ferguson's 18-man squad. Park channelled the rejection into a commitment to improve, and played in the 2009 final– but missed United's best chance. On Saturday he has a third chance to impose himself on football's highest stage, and is desperate to do so.

He will surely get the chance. Park has been a necessary player in United's springtime resurgence, excellent since his return at Upton Park in early April after a three-month absence. Park had not played since Boxing Day but, as Ferguson has perfected his hand to play for the highest stakes, the South Korean is increasingly called upon. His utility and team play has proved more attractive to the manager than the frippery of Nani, despite the Portuguese's individual excellence. For all Nani's early numbers, he is now back in the chorus line behind Park.

The apex of Park's season, or possibly of his time at United so far, came against Chelsea at Old Trafford in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. Park was so energetic as to appear to be playing in triplicate. From the left wing, he covered Patrice Evra's surges forward, contributed to the midfield battle and broke into the Chelsea box. From one such run, after 77 minutes, that would have exhausted weaker players, he gave United a 3-1 aggregate lead that assured their progress.

That height is the new baseline for Park, who hopes to play even better at Wembley. "I'll have to perform as well as I did in that game and improve in the final as well," Park said of that night. "I guess that was as good as I have played, especially in the first half that was a good moment for me. Hopefully, I can play like that on Saturday, not for me but for the team."

Park knows that his multifunctional role is necessary to his inclusion in the side. "My position is that I have to attack as well, not only run a lot but when I get chances I should finish. I try to do my best at that as well. My first priority is to win the game and that means I have to score, assist and do everything I can for us to win the game."

Park Ji-sung's importance to Manchester United has grown in recent months

Should United beat Barcelona on Saturday, they will certainly need Park to reach into the furthest recesses of his own resources. He will presumably be deployed again as a defensive left-midfielder, to balance the more traditional wing play of Antonio Valencia on the opposite side. Park's long list of labours will include restraining Dani Alves, the world's best wide player and Barcelona's nominal right-back.

It was on the right flank that Park was deployed in the 2009 final with Barcelona. He was largely on the fringe of the game except for an incident in its second minute: he arrived first at a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick parried by Victor Valdes, but his six-yard finish was blocked by Gerard Pique. United never had a better chance, and lost 2-0.

Park has been trying to avoid the memory of that miss. "It was two years ago so I have to forget bad things," he said. "If I score I always think of that but I didn't and we lost the game so I don't think of that. If that chance had gone in maybe it would have been a different result, but it didn't and it wasn't. Then we conceded a goal after that but it changed the game and we lost concentration so it's difficult to come back from that."

After that defeat in Rome, the whole club is keen to atone at Wembley. But for Park it matters more than for most. Having not played in Moscow in 2008, he is yet to win a European Cup on the pitch. Should he play in a United win, he said it would be the "best moment" of his career. The enthusiasm is understandable after the disappointment of three years ago. "It was very disappointing for me," Park recalled. "It was a very hard time for me but it was the manager's decision and he was looking to take care of the team and trying to win the game. I had to follow that and I had to prove myself and I knew if I wanted to play in a final, then I'd have to improve.

"Managers make hard decisions and he had many great players," he said of Ferguson. "If I had been capable of playing in the final, he would have put me in the squad so it meant that I had to improve."

Despite his own frustration at one final missed and another lost, Park is hugely famous at home. "I get a lot of parcels coming over from South Korea," he said. "They send me everything from food, clothes, sweets." Idolisation, though, is not without its drawbacks. "It's difficult to deal with being stopped in the street," he said of trips home.

Park speaks contentedly of being able to "walk around more easily" in Manchester. Should he make up for the disappointments of 2008 and 2009 on Saturday, be picked, stifle Dani Alves, and score one of his crucial goals, he may not even be able to do that.

Michael Owen gives up on playing for England

Michael Owen has given up hope of being selected for England by Fabio Capello.

The 31-year-old striker, a peripheral figure for Manchester United, has not featured for the Three Lions since playing in a friendly against France in March 2008.

He was quoted in The Guardian as saying: "I was disappointed for the first squad I missed, a little bit less for the next one and after about three or four times, I didn't really expect to see my name.

"For the first couple of squads I looked at the players [named] and looked at what I had done. For the last dozen squads, I haven't looked. I don't even think about [being picked] now. Honestly.

"It's sad, really. If I keep getting up for something, then [find out] I am not in, I am just kidding myself."

At the peak of his powers, Owen, who has 40 international goals to his name, was widely expected to overtake the England record of 49 held by Sir Bobby Charlton, but it is an ambition the former Liverpool striker has abandoned.

Owen said: "I am not going to kid myself. Every time I saw him I was 'closing on your record, Sir Bobby'.

"Now I just see him for who he is: a great man."

Massimiliano Allegri labels Jose Mourinho 'pathetic' and insecure'

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has labelled Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho "pathetic" and "insecure".

Allegri, who led Milan in his first season in charge to their first scudetto since 2004, was asked to give his opinion on rival coaches on TV show Le Iene.

When questioned about former Inter Milan boss Mourinho, he said: "Every now and then he (Mourinho) is pathetic.

"He continuously repeats the same things and it becomes banal.

"I think he is very talented but his arrogance hides insecurity."

In two years at Inter, Mourinho won the Champions League and successive Serie A titles before moving to Madrid.

The Portuguese was recently given a five-match ban by UEFA for implying Barcelona are given special treatment when the Catalan club beat Madrid in the Champions League this season.

Allegri is the latest in a long line of fellow coaches to give Mourinho a less than glowing reference.

Guus Hiddink recently called on him to apologise for his behaviour surrounding the Barca tie, while the Portuguese has had a long-running feud with Rafa Benitez and former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.

Xabi Alonso explains Liverpool depature

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has admitted he felt compelled to leave Anfield two years ago after losing the backing of manager Rafael Benitez.

The Spain international's departure to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 came as no real surprise as he had been on the verge of leaving the previous year.

That was prompted by Benitez's failed attempts to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, which convinced Alonso he had to move on.

"At the end of that (2008) season, speaking to Rafa, he told me the situation and that he wanted to sign other players and I could be one of the replacements," said the Real midfielder.

"If an offer would have come, probably I would have been sold.

"That's when I told myself that the situation had changed - from being a very important player to being one of those who can be sold to get funds to sign other players.

"I accepted it because I am a professional but you have to realise what your situation is.

"At the end nothing happened because there was no agreement and we started my last season in Liverpool."

In fairness to the Reds' then manager Benitez, Alonso had just endured probably his poorest season since joining from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2004.

But conversely, seemingly spurred on by events, the Spaniard's final campaign was also probably his best - it was certainly true for Liverpool who ran Manchester United very close in the title race with a record points haul.

"I didn't feel I had a point to prove. I knew what I was capable of giving to the team and what I had given for the four years," he told LFCTV.

"In the last one the team was really good. We were very competitive and it was a disappointment not to win the league.

"I was really happy with the team and my team-mates and felt that we could do great things.

"I was happy on that side but within a club you have to see the big picture and another season would have been too much for me.

"It was very difficult to take that decision (to leave) but it was probably for the best for me because if I had stayed another season it would have been uncomfortable for me."

Giggs furore threatens to harm United's final plans

Ferguson fury at press conference as signing of £17m keeper De Gea confirmed

The Ryan Giggs injunction controversy yesterday threatened to undermine Manchester United's preparations for Saturday's Champions League final, as the player was withdrawn from training and a masked gang attacked photographers' cars outside his house.

Giggs last night played in Gary Neville's testimonial match against Juventus at Old Trafford but his absence from Carrington yesterday morning only inflamed the controversy, with Sir Alex Ferguson taking so badly to a question about the 37-year-old's value against Barcelona that he told his press secretary that the inquisitor would be banned from Friday's pre-match press conference at Wembley. "We'll get him. We'll ban him on Friday," Ferguson said.

The United manager last night confirmed the £17m signing of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea, which may be concluded early next week. "We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for," Ferguson said. "He's a young goalkeeper; very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for [Edwin] van der Sar. We were looking for the same type of qualities as Edwin, because the one great quality Edwin always had was his composure and organisational ability."

But the Giggs issue is more difficult to control. United accept that Ferguson cannot ban any journalist from Friday's press conference and the manager's clear displeasure was followed six hours later by a gang arriving in a Ford Transit van to throw eggs and flour at journalists and vandalise six cars. A press statement on the incident, which was issued without the club's advance knowledge by Greater Manchester Police, included the name of Giggs' street.

Giggs is at the centre of a row regarding injunctions

Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes all played half an hour of Neville's testimonial last night, with David Beckham also pulling on a United shirt for the first time since 2003. United lost the game 2-1.

Ferguson's response to the events of the past 72 hours suggests he feels they could destabilise United's preparations if he allows them to. The Giggs press conference question – about the value of having a player of such experience available for the final – was put by the Associated Press's Rob Harris, an experienced journalist known in the press corps for his willingness to raise the difficult issues, and was the third of the day at Carrington.

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs warms up ahead of Gary Neville's testimonial match against Juventus last night

"All the players are important, every one of them," Ferguson replied, then asked his press secretary, Karen Shotbolt, for the identity of the questioner, in an aside which was caught by the microphones. After establishing from her that this journalist would be seeking attendance on Friday, Ferguson replied he would be banned.

Giggs has shown no superficial signs of the strain surrounding his legal battle with reality TV star Imogen Thomas in recent weeks. He was convivial with those journalists he recognised at Manchester Airport en route to United's semi-final match in Schalke on 26 April and was the only player willing to stop to talk at any length to the daily press reporters, after United's second-leg win took them to Wembley.

But United, who fielded Anderson and Rafael da Silva for the last 25 minutes of Neville's testimonial, know that distractions could be fatal. Captain Nemanja Vidic acknowledged yesterday that a key part of their task would be the psychological one – of not allowing Barcelona to get under their skin with gamesmanship.

"We have to focus and concentrate and then it won't be a big deal to handle the things that we know will come," said Vidic in a discussion of the controversy surrounding the Catalans' semi-final first leg against Real Madrid. "Obviously their players have a different mentality to us but it won't be a problem to deal with these things. They may do things and argue more than they should do but it won't affect us. The referee for the game will probably be the best referee around. I think he can cope with that."

Chelsea target five signings in summer spree

Chelsea may have no manager but they are ploughing ahead with a serious overhaul of the playing staff, with up to five players leaving and five more coming in.

Didier Drogba is not one of the players that Chelsea are looking to move on, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray. In fact, Chelsea are considering offering the 33-year-old an extension to his current contract, which has one year left to run. Instead, Chelsea are open to offers for Nicolas Anelka, who also has one year to run on his current deal.

The club will also allow Yuri Zhirkov, Jose Bosingwa, Paulo Ferreira and Henrique Hilario to leave over the summer. They would also listen to offers for some of their younger players including Jack Cork and Gaël Kakuta. Fabio Borini has already joined Parma, but Patrick van Aanholt has signed a new four-year deal.

Last summer, five senior players were allowed to leave and only two were brought in. Chelsea, who have earmarked several young players as new recruits, will not make the same mistake again.

Their main transfer targets include the Brazilian striker Neymar, 19, from Santos, who they tried to sign a year ago but their offer of £17.5m was turned down; Racing Genk's 19-year-old Belgian left-winger Kevin de Bruyne; the highly rated 18-year-old Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku at Anderlecht; and Netherlands right-back Gregory van der Wiel of Ajax, who is 23. They will also target a reliable second-choice goalkeeper as back-up for Petr Cech, and a return move for Asmir Begovic at Stoke City is not being ruled out.

Chelsea's transfer policy is being led by chief executive Ron Gourlay, who sacked Carlo Ancelotti on Sunday afternoon just minutes after Chelsea lost 1-0 to Everton.

Ancelotti is still putting the finishing touches to his compensation package of around £5m, having successfully insisted that Chelsea do not insert a clause into the agreement that would prevent him from working for another Premier League club immediately. Chelsea had tried to insert the clause, as Ancelotti had one year left to run on the three-year deal he signed in 2009, but the Italian said that he would rather take a smaller compensation figure.

Barça play it safe by flying to London two days early

Caution is rarely a factor on the pitch for Barcelona but off it the club are not prepared to leave anything to chance as they flew by private jet to Stansted last night two days ahead of schedule to avoid any potential disruption caused by the Icelandic ash cloud. They will train today and tomorrow at Arsenal in the build-up to Saturday's Champions League final.

Last year the Spanish champions were forced to travel by coach to Milan to face Internazionale in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final by earlier disruption to flights from an Icelandic volcano. They lost the game 3-1 and were unable to overturn the deficit in the second leg. The Barça coach, Pep Guardiola, is determined there should be no such complications ahead of Saturday after the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano. "We are looking to reduce the risk for the team to zero," a club spokesman said.

Barcelona beat Arsenal in the last-16 earlier this season, amid some controversy in the second leg over Robin van Persie's red card, but relations between the two clubs have remained good. A Barcelona spokesman said: "Arsenal were kind enough to let us use their facilities on Wednesday and Thursday. We contacted them as soon as we knew that we had to travel early and their response was positive. It highlights the respect between the two clubs and we are obviously grateful to them."

David Villa, meanwhile, is among a number of Barcelona's players who believe that Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Spain has made United a better side. "Cristiano Ronaldo's departure has liberated them," said Villa. Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid for £80m in 2009, but has been unable to prevent Barça retaining the La Liga title.

Dani Alves, Barça's Brazilian full-back, claims that United have a better balance without the Portuguese. "This Manchester United team is much more unpredictable without Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "They have formed a more balanced group and they are stronger than they were two years ago."

Andres Iniesta also believes United have improved since the two met in the Champions League final in Rome in 2009. "They have grown as a team," said the midfielder. "They are dominating in England and now they are fighting for the Champions League. They are always competitive."

Michael Owen: Doubling up as Villa to help United plan for Barça attack

The veteran tells Ian Herbert he can live with being a bit part at Old Trafford in a week when he had to pretend to be the opposition

A decade ago, he was stepping up to collect the Ballon d'Or which marked him out as the best footballer in Europe but as Manchester United attempt to become the best team in Europe he has had to content himself with the role of body double. When Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff started calling on the reserves to create a shadow Barcelona team for the first XI to play against in the past few weeks, Michael Owen found himself being David Villa.

Though Owen arrived at Old Trafford two years ago intent on proving that the talents which made him the scourge of European defences in 2001 still burned, his anxieties this week include the uncertainty of even making the United bench against the Catalan side on Saturday evening. The odds are weighted marginally against it. Little did he imagine on that winner's platform in Zurich 10 years ago that his first Premier League medal, finally attained in the season when the 18-title record of his Anfield alma mater was overhauled, would come after a campaign in which he started one league fixture and four matches overall.

There is a sense around Old Trafford that Owen may just stay for one more year with a manager who continues to be struck by his work-rate in training. There has been "one chat" about the future with Ferguson, Owen says. "I don't want to speak to the manager prior to a Champions League final, he's got much bigger things on his plate. Straight after the match – then we'll talk."

The equanimity with which the 31-year-old bears frustrations more befitting of a 35-year-old striker comes from an inner notion that Saturday evening at Wembley might just allow him to inscribe his name in history like the Saturday night in Munich which delivered that hat-trick against the Germans 10 years ago. "I will be imagining it," he says of that hypothetical notion. "I might not even have a place on the bench but I always have my own thoughts going into the game. And if you don't think something can happen then you have no chance of it happening. I will have private moments when I drift away and think about different things that could happen..."

The same goes for England. This is the man who became England's youngest captain since the sainted Bobby Moore, 40 years before, when Sven Goran Eriksson knocked on his door in April 2002 and asked him if he wanted to lead the side out against Paraguay at Anfield. ("Just a little bit," Owen told him.) In the bleak years after Euro 2004, he and Emile Heskey were the one effective forward partnership England fielded and it was they who swept aside the Russians at Wembley in September 2007. Fabio Capello, not averse to the occasional indecision with his captains, does not extend the rule to his strikers though, and even Championship players such as Cardiff City's Jay Bothroyd have been deemed a better choice this season.

The private agonies have included seeing Sir Bobby Charlton around the place at Old Trafford – initially a reminder, Owen admits, of how his once inexorable progress towards Charlton's record 49 England goals, was so abruptly cut off, with him nine goals adrift. "Every time I saw him, I thought: 'I'm closing on your record Sir Bobby.'" Owen says. "Now I just see him for who he is; the great man he is. I've not given up on England but I've given up trying to understand. It's come to an abrupt stop under this manager. I was disappointed for the first squad I missed; a little bit less for the next one and after about three or four times, I didn't really expect to see my name. For the last dozen squads, I haven't looked at the squad.

"It's sad really. It is. But if you split up with someone, there's not much point thinking 'will we get back get together?' You just upset yourself. If I keep getting up for something, then not getting it, I am just kidding myself."

The weeks spent in the vain hope of a chance from the United bench – with Javier Hernandez's presence creating one major impediment and Danny Welbeck's return from Sunderland threatening another next season – are less easy to rationalise. "Once in a while I get asked to play and expected to play really well, there and then," Owen says. "If you don't, you get a lot of criticism. People think 'he got his chance'. It is hard to prepare, prepare, prepare and all of a sudden play and produce – harder than you'd expect. I have to prepare physically as if I'm playing – eat the right foods, possibly energy foods, which are waiting to be burned inside my body, rest at certain times – and then all of a sudden I've not played but [prepared] as if I will. The next day I have to train three times as hard. I get into a poor cycle; mentally I am up and down. That's all been quite challenging for mind and body."

However, Owen knows the prospect of playing against what is rated as the world's greatest club side is better than having packed up and left for the summer. The fascinations of the past few weeks have included observing Ferguson in the red heat of the home straight of a Premier League title. "He's got far more to him than a fear factor to make you play well," Owen observes. "But he does have the side to him that you want to perform because a lot of people would be fearful of the telling-off. The older I get the more I look for different things. When I was a kid I just listened to what the manager said and go out and try to do it. As I've got older, I've got more inquisitive. Why is he saying that, trying to motivate a certain player like that? The older I get the more I understand and can resonate with him more."

It means that he can just about bear the request to be David Villa. And just who has been Lionel Messi's body double? Owen grins and walks away. Even the outsiders are insiders in Ferguson's ranks.

Playing the Villa: How the two strikers measure up

Michael Owen/David Villa

258 Career goals 303

40 International goals 46

19 Most goals in a league season 28

0.46 League goal/game ratio 0.46

1 FA Cup, 1 Uefa Cup Championship, 1 Premier League title, 1 Ballon d'Or Honours 1 World Cup, 1 European Championship, 1 La Liga title, 2 Copas del Rey