Chelsea – Manu

 

No matter the outcome, Chelsea’s visit to Manchester United on Sunday will provide one of the major talking points at the close of play this weekend. An already fascinating encounter was given an added edge on Thursday when it was announced that Jose Mourinho had left the Blues by mutual consent. The Portuguese manager, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge, was one of the major personalities in English football and his head-to-heads with United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson helped make this such an eagerly anticipated fixture.

Chelsea and United are currently level on 11 points and it will be interesting to see how new Chelsea manager Avram Grant approaches the match. United have hit form, winning each of their last four matches 1-0. Will Grant send his players out in search of a point or go for the jugular, hoping the likes of new signing Florent Malouda can find the net as he did in the Community Shield against United in August?

Cr training

The commitee of the Manchester United arrives the Lisbon this tuesday, for 12h40, to confrot the Sporting in the first day of the phase of groups of Liga of the Champions. Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani return the Alvalade for 18h, height marked for the trainings of adaptation to the relvado one of the adversary of the “lions”, that it will have only 15 minutes open to the social communication. Trainer Alex Ferguson and a player of “reds” will speak in conference of the press for 17h30.

How hard on top cr7

Ronaldo: ‘It’s tough at top’   MILLIONS of women want to bed him – and millions of fellas would love to be him.But Manchester United’s hunky winger Cristiano Ronaldo reckons it’s not all fun and games being a Premiership footballer. The 22-year-old hunk – who earns £135,000 a week – claims it’s tough at the top and can sometimes be a lonely place. He said: “Many people have images of footballers as people who like to go out all the time, spend their money lavishly and to date many women. “It’s hard to escape this idea but dealing with the pressures of being a famous footballer and the publicity it attracts can be very difficult. “Footballer’s lifestyles are always under scrutiny but the image and publicity about wealth, glitz and good times often fail to tell the true story. “Sometimes it is a very lonely world and we don’t feel safe in any place. “Yet our status and our salaries mean we rarely win the public’s sympathy.” Cristiano’s off-pitch exploits – including an alleged romp with five escort girls earlier this month - are infamous. He’s been linked to telly babe Gemma Atkinson and Bollywood star Bipasha Basu to name a few. Although his dream woman, Angelina Jolie, is married to Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt, Cristiano claims he’s too busy for women anyway. In the interview with Hello! magazine, he went on: “I come under intense media scrutiny so I am very private about the girls I date. “I am a gentleman, and I do not want them to experience the media pressure, which I have learned to ignore. “For me, a girl does not need to be famous for me to like her. “I do have my romantic moments but I am sensible. It is company that is important for me. Star-studded … interview in this week’s Hello! “I would like to marry, maybe in my thirties, but I have not met the right girl yet. “For me, it is what is inside a beautiful woman that is important, although she must also be beautiful, like Angelina Jolie. “I appreciate funny, kind, friendly women with good conversation and laughing is one of my favourite pastimes, although the time is not right for me to have a relationship. “Football is my life. That is my focus.” With his reported £40m fortune Cristiano can afford to splash out on the finer things in life. Recent treats have included as a Bentley GT convertible, several pieces of diamond jewellery and even a mansion in Lisbon. But the soccer star admits there’s one thing he’d love that money can’t buy – kids. Cristiano says: “Every year at Christmas I dress up as Santa Claus, in full costume – it is a family tradition – and bring the gifts to the children,” he said. “When I am with the children in the family I get broody.” Cristiano was a 12-year-old child himself when he left Madeira determined to make it big in the world of football. And although he sometimes misses home, he also loves life in the UK. He added: ”The best thing about Britain is the people – they are fair. “When you do well, they say so. When not so well, they say so. “I feel privileged the British people have taken me to their hearts.”

Cristiano vs. poland

Portugal 2 Poland 2

Poland’s Jacek Krzynowek grabbed a late equaliser to deny Portugal a crucial victory in Euro 2008 Qualifying Group A on Saturday.

The visitors went ahead through Mariusz Lewandowski just before half-time but Maniche levelled for Portugal five minutes after the interval.

Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have sealed a precious win for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side with 17 minutes remaining, but Krzynowek’s fortuitous late strike rescued a point for Poland.

Ronaldo and Simao Sabrosa caused problems for the Polish defence early on.

The latter blasted a free-kick against the wall after seven minutes as the hosts dominated the early exchanges.

Deco then found Nuno Gomes in the area with a wonderful pass on 26 minutes, but Artur Boruc saved well at the striker’s feet.

A minute later, Ronaldo fired a stinging drive against the bar as Scolari’s side continued to threaten.

But Poland also came close at the other end six minutes later, when Ebi Smolarek fired just over the bar.

A minute before half-time, the Poles did take the lead.

Ricardo parried Jakub Blaszczykowski’s shot from the edge of the area, but Lewandowski was at hand to smash home the rebound.

Portugal reacted quickly after the interval and got back on terms when Nuno Gomes got in behind the Polish defence to set up Maniche who gratefully fired past Boruc after the goalkeeper had failed to clear the danger.

Nuno Gomes almost added a second goal seven minutes later after good work from Jose Bosingwa, but this time Boruc was alert to the danger and intercepted well.

Nuno Gomes was then replaced by Ricardo Quaresma after 68 minutes and the change had an almost immediate impact.

Quaresma charged down the right and crossed for Simao.

The Atletico Madrid winger failed to connect with a header, but the ball fell kindly to Ronaldo, who smashed a volley past the helpless Boruc to put Portugal in front.

The Manchester United star’s effort looked enough to secure a win for the Portuguese, but with three minutes remaining Krzynowek smashed a long-range effort against the post with the ball rebounding into the net off Ricardo’s shoulder.

Teams:

Portugal Ricardo, Bosingwa, Fernando Meira, Bruno Alves,Caneira (Miguel 12), Deco, Maniche, Petit, Ronaldo,Nuno Gomes (Quaresma 69), Simao (Joao Moutinho 81).

Subs Not Used: Quim, Andrade, Tiago, Nani.

Goals: Maniche 50, Ronaldo 73.

Poland Boruc, Wasilewski, Jop, Zewlakow,Bronowicki (Golanski 55), Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Dudka,Smolarek (Lobodzinski 73), Krzynowek, Zurawski (Matusiak 56).

Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Sobolewski, Saganowski, Glowacki.

Booked: Boruc, Wasilewski, Bronowicki.

Goals: Lewandowski 44, Krzynowek 88.

Att: 48,000

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).