Happy Birthday CRISTINO 25years ♣

WE can win without cristiano ronaldo.

Real Madrid will look to build on last weekend’s morale-boosting victory over Deportivo La Coruna with an 11th successive home win on Saturday when they welcome Espanyol to the Bernabeu.

Madrid had not won at the Riazor in almost two decades and with an absentee list that included seven senior players and led to four youngsters from the reserves being named on the bench, they had it all to do not to fall eight points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

However, Madrid produced one of their best performances of the season to down Depor 3-1 and keep within touching distance of their arch rivals.

More good news for Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini comes with the potential return to action of midfielders Lassana Diarra and Rafael van der Vaart after injury for the visit of Espanyol, although Cristiano Ronaldo is again set to be missing as, unless the Spanish giants win their appeal, he will serve the second match of his two-game ban.

Madrid badly felt Ronaldo’s loss when the £80million man missed two months earlier this season through injury, but they proved against Depor that they are not reliant on the former Manchester United winger.

Defender Raul Albiol said: “You cannot depend on one player. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best in the world, but we are a team.

“We have a lot of players in this squad and, despite the absences, we’ve shown that whoever plays we will be at the same level. The team is capable of winning with or without Ronaldo.”

Whilst Madrid will be looking to put one over Barcelona’s city rivals this weekend, Pellegrini’s men will also be hoping their neighbours Getafe can do them a favour when they take on Pep Guardiola’s side.

Getafe suffered a setback last night when they went down 2-0 to Sevilla in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, but they have not lost on their last two trips to the Nou Camp.

Barca, for whom midfielder Andres Iniesta is set to make his 200th league appearance for the club, are still unbeaten in La Liga this season, though, and have won their last five league and cup games without conceding a goal.

Elsewhere this weekend, two clubs will be under the leadership of new coaches with ninth-placed Villarreal and 17th-placed Real Valladolid both having made changes following last weekend’s matches.

Villarreal replaced Ernesto Valverde with Juan Carlos Garrido and the former reserve team coach faces a daunting first game in the hotseat as the Yellow Submarine go to a Real Mallorca side who have won all nine of their home matches to date.

New Valladolid boss Onesimo Sanchez, who took over from Jose Luis Mendilibar, also faces a baptism of fire as his struggling team are away to third-placed Valencia.

Bottom club Xerez go to Athletic Bilbao with renewed hope following their 2-1 win over Mallorca, although they are still six points adrift at the foot of the standings.

The two other teams in the relegation zone, Tenerife and Real Zaragoza, face Osasuna and Sevilla, respectively.

At El Sardinero, stuttering Atletico Madrid face in-form Racing Santander for the second of three meetings with the Cantabrian side in a week. The two sides also face each other in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, with the first leg being played tonight.

Also, Sporting Gijon go to Almeria and Malaga host Deportivo La Coruna.

MANU champions of Premiere league 09! congrats

Gettyimages

cr about 2007 (translated from portuguese)

 

Cristiano Ronaldo confessed, today, in declaration to the TVI, that does not wait to make a so good time.

‘I won’t let the divers ruin a big day’

 

 

, says Cup Final ref Bennett

Steve Bennett goes into Saturday’s FA Cup Final maintaining it is unhealthy for a referee to have more than a nodding acquaintance with a manager. All things considered, that’s a good job.

Jose Mourinho probably bears Bennett no malice for being sent to the stands after his provocative finger-to-the-lips gesture infuriated Liverpool fans during the Carling Cup Final three years ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson, though, is unlikely to harbour any warm thoughts towards the Kent official, 46, who has the honour of controlling the first final at the newWembley.

Bennett is the referee, after all, who copped the full hairdryer treatment for sending off Cristiano Ronaldo in a dramatic defeat by Manchester City barely a year ago.

Ronaldo saw red for a lunge at Andy Cole which did not make contact, while Ferguson was furious at what he saw as the lack of protection for his players “when we needed a strong referee and didn’t get it”.

Sir Alex’s considered opinion back then of Bennett was reportedly “you f***ing cheating bastard” and United’s manager was quoted as telling Bennett: “You will need a police escort out of here”.

Bennett says now: “You move on. Sometimes players put you in positions where you have to react. That was a situation where he [Ronaldo] has launched himself through the air and the intentions were clear.

“The laws of the game are clear and I have to apply them. When the boot is on the other foot, would they expect the opposite to happen if somebody did it to one of their players?

“Whatever the managers’ characters, they have a job to do. We shouldn’t have contact, but I respect them, they do a brilliant job given what they have achieved. They are both excellent coaches.”

Fair play does not include what the authorities quaintly label simulation and 90,000 Wembley fans would call diving. Fingers have been pointed at Ronaldo and Chelsea’s Didier Drogba.

“A referee has to be aware,” said Bennett. “Simulation is a huge difficulty. There are some very clever players who instigate contact, who make it incredibly difficult for the referee.

“Sometimes there’s contact but an exaggerated reaction in an attempt to deceive the referee. At 150mph, it’s nigh-on impossible to be sure. Let’s hope we keep on top of it.

“I’ll make honest decisions from the heart. Most players are honest, they’ll put their hands up. The majority are genuine. You have to say to a few: ‘There’s the boundary, you’ve overstepped it’.

“Players will try to push you to the limit. But the clubs know what you will do if someone steps out of line. I’m a fairly strict referee.

“I apply the laws. If players play football, there’s no need for me to get involved. Every referee wants to keep 22 players on the field. I’d love to see 22 players at the end.

“Players have a responsibility to play within the spirit and the laws of the game. I’d like to take a step back and see a great game.”

Bennett added: “Managers are entitled to their opinion but the moment we start using common sense we get accused of being inconsistent.”

Common sense? Referees? Sir Alex’s eyes will be glinting as he contemplates that one.

 

Terry about cR 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chelsea captain has described Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been nominated by his fellow professionals for both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, as `the best in the world’.

Text also in portuguese!

Watford – Manchester United 1-4

Wayne Rooney’s brace ensured Manchester United were the first side to book a place in the first Cup Final held at the new Wembley Stadium.

The England forward lashed home a stunning opener before tapping in midway through the second half as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men coasted past Watford.

The dazzling Cristiano Ronaldo also got in on the act, as did Kieran Richardson, while Watford’s sole highlight was Hameur Bouazza’s stunning volley which had drawn the Londoners level in the first half.

Just hours after Silver Birch successfully negotiated Aintree’s famous course, Manchester United, the Premier League’s thoroughbred, looked as if they would canter to Wembley after taking a seventh minute lead.

The reinvigorated Alan Smith let Michael Carrick’s pass run through to Rooney who cut inside Adrian Mariappa before unleashing a rocket from the edge of the box which soared into the roof of the net past the despairing Richard Lee.

Lee had to be alert to prevent United doubling their lead four minutes later. The tenacious Smith robbed his Watford namesake Tommy before playing in Ronaldo. The Portuguese aimed a low cross to Rooney but Lee bravely dived to smoother.

After being penned in for the first 18 minutes like a quarantined dog, Watford began to get a footing in the game. Jay DeMerit, the American defender whose rise from non-League football is nothing short of Hollywood, rose highest to head Smith’s free-kick goalwards, only for a deflection to divert it over.

Bouazza went closer on 22 minutes. Anyone who saw his stunning goal against Plymouth will know of his lethal left boot, but on this occasion, his effort from 20 yards drifted past the far post.The Algerian got it right four minutes later, much to the delight of the sea of yellow shirts in the Holte End. After a long delay to treat Edwin van der Sar, Smith crossed when play resumed to Bouazza whose spectacular volley flashed past the United keeper and in off the crossbar.

But Watford’s joy was short-lived however. After Rooney had won the ball on the right flank, the England forward sped to the goal-line before crossing for Ronaldo who, despite being the meat in a Watford sandwich, tapped home.

Gavin Mahon, Watford’s talismanic skipper, almost conjured up an instant response two minutes later with a powerful drive from the edge of the box which was too hot for van der Sar to hold.

But United broke at pace, their classic trait, and only a timely intervention from DeMerit prevented Ronaldo a clear route on goal.

At the other end Damien Francis might have done better with a header when he was left unmarked from Bouazza’s corner on 35 minutes.

The underdogs would have been taken heart by the sight of Rio Ferdinand limping off moments later, but they had Lee to thank for keeping a Wembley Final in sight on the stroke of half-time.

After another sublime United move, Rooney seemed destined to score his side’s third from close range when Lee instinctively stuck out his left hand to push the ball over.

Watford began the second period with renewed enthusiasm and it was the excellent Bouazza who almost dragged them level but his volley through the melee trickled wide.

United put a foot in the Final on 66 minutes when Rooney netted his second. After Clarke Carlisle’s outstretched leg temporarily stopped a United attack, Smith collected the loose ball and crossed low to Rooney who gratefully accepted the tap-in.

The United fans sang ‘Que Sera Sera’, their place at Wembley seemingly assured, but for Rooney, a Semi-Final hat-trick beckoned. Smith did his best to help his team-mate when he cut a pass back but Rooney scuffed his shot straight at Lee.

Kieran Richardson, a 78th minute substitute for Ronaldo, gave the scoreline a slightly harsh look when he raced on to Smith pass and calmly slotted home.

For Watford, a 100 mile journey back to North London to contemplate what might have been. For United, Wembley awaits.

Watford: Lee, Chambers (Kabba 70), Stewart, Carlisle, DeMerit, Francis, Mahon, Mariappa (Doyley 88), Priskin (King 78), Bouazza, Smith.

Subs not used: Loach, Bangura.

Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Evra, Heinze, Ferdinand (Fletcher 41), Brown, Ronaldo (Richardson 78), Rooney, Giggs (Solskjaer 83), Smith, Carrick, Scholes.

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Cathcart.

Referee: Howard Webb.

Assistant Referees: Phil Sharp and Glenn Turner.

Fourth Official: Martin Atkinson.

Attendance: 37,425

source: http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/UnitedWatford.htm