Title failure puts Wenger at crossroads April 15, 2010 WHEN Arsene Wenger rejected Real Madrid’s overtures last summer he conceded that this season would be make-or-break for his Arsenal team. Five years had already passed since he last hoisted the Premier League trophy aloft, and he was under pressure to prove that his unstinting faith in the likes of Denilson, Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner [...]
Magical Malouda has put Chelsea in box seat April 14, 2010 THREE weeks ago I thought Chelsea were going to throw the Premier League title away. Elimination from Europe was followed by a draw at Blackburn, and they looked short of confidence and mired in a poor pattern of play. But they have surprised and impressed me with the way they have responded. Now they are [...]
City’s Mancini hoping United are at full strength for derby April 14, 2010 MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini is hoping Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney recovers in time for Saturday’s derby – because he does not want Sir Alex Ferguson to have any excuses if they lose. City go into the clash at Eastlands in ebullient spirits, having smashed 14 goals in their last three Premier League games. [...]
PRIVATE EQUITY FAT CATS COME OUT TO PLAY April 14, 2010 SIR Peter Paul Rubens’ beautiful and ornate painted ceiling gazed down upon the most successful figures in the private equity industry last night, as they gathered in the Banqueting Hall on Whitehall for the Private Equity News Awards for Excellence in Private Equity. Executives from the likes of CVC Capital Partners, Axa Private Equity, Coller [...]
Crunch meeting for Premier shareholders April 14, 2010 PREMIER League shareholders will meet this afternoon to discuss a series of key issues affecting football’s top flight governing body. The Premier League board is said to be eager to offer more money to lower league clubs to help stave off the threat of administration. We revealed last month the governing body could double the [...]
Arsenal ownership takes fresh twist as Kroenke takes control of NFL side April 13, 2010 MYSTERY surrounding the future of Arsenal has deepened after the club’s largest investor Stan Kroenke decided to snap up the remaining shares in his American football franchise St Louis Rams. The US billionaire’s move casts doubt on his ability to launch a takeover of the Gunners, just hours after it seemed the Premier League outfit’s [...]
Ancelotti in no mood for mind games April 12, 2010 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti has laughed off Sir Alex Ferguson’s suggestion that his team view tonight’s visit of Bolton as a routine win on an inevitable procession to the Premier League title. The leaders could put one hand on the trophy with a victory tonight that would propel them four points clear of flagging Manchester [...]
Portsmouth to appeal for Euro licence reprieve April 12, 2010 PORTSMOUTH are to make a desperate plea to the Football Association to allow them play in Europe next season. The relegated south-coast club secured a place in next season’s Europa League after winning through to the FA Cup final against Chelsea on 15 May with victory over Tottenham on Sunday. But with the club in [...]
Italian on brink of outdoing Mourinho April 12, 2010 JUST a few weeks ago the scandals surrounding the alleged extra-marital activities of John Terry and Ashley Cole looked like being the most memorable things to happen to Chelsea this season. Struggling for form in the Premier League and then dumped out of Europe by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, the Blues’ campaign was in danger [...]
Kevin-Prince and paupers shock Spurs April 11, 2010 TOTTENHAM (0) vs PORTSMOUTH (2) After extra-time, 0-0 after 90 minutes PORTSMOUTH manager Avram Grant toasted “a crazy day” after the crisis club defied administration and relegation to reach a fairytale FA Cup final. Pompey weathered a barrage of pressure to take much-fancied Tottenham to extra-time before Frederic Piquionne and Kevin-Prince Boateng earned an unlikely [...]