Premier League stars miss the boat as Messi, Muller et al sail on

Following the exits of Manchester United and Arsenal at the last-16 stage, the Champions League will be without an English club in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996.

Chelsea and Manchester City both failed to navigate past the group stage, while Sir Alex Ferguson's men were dumped out of the competition in controversial circumstances by Real Madrid, and Arsenal failed to overturn their first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday evening.

Will the Premier League be able to bounce back next season? 
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Rooney headed for Old Trafford trapdoor

 

The writing appears to be on the wall for Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

Reports emerged on Thursday suggesting the striker will be shown the Old Trafford trapdoor by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, after the Scot dropped the 27-year-old for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Rooney is reportedly reluctant to leave, though his fashion-conscious wife Coleen may well be pleased with links to Paris Saint-Germain.

United, meanwhile, have reportedly turned their attention to Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski. 
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Fergie fumes as Mourinho campaigns for Man United job

 

Manchester United exited the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid on Tuesday night, with a controversial Nani red card proving decisive in the 2-1 loss, and leaving Sir Alex Ferguson furious.

The United boss was "too distraught" to speak to the press after the game, according to his assistant manager Mike Phelan.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho - who is considered a potential successor to Sir Alex - was lavishing plenty of praise on the opposition.

"I know they [United] are giants, not just physically, but mentally," he said. "11 vs 11, I doubt that we could win the match." 

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Ronaldo back on familiar ground for Man Utd - Madrid decider

 

Manchester United's decisive Champions League clash with Real Madrid sees a familiar face return to Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the club where he spent six years, won his first Champions League trophy and numerous other honours.

The Portuguese superstar will have to make sure he remembers to go to the away team dressing room upon arrival back at his old stomping ground. 

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Manchester United wrap Van Persie in cotton wool

 

Hearts were in mouths on the Manchester United bench at Loftus Road on Saturday as Robin van Persie suffered a hip injury after tumbling down camera bunker.

The Dutchman suffered the fall in the build-up to Rafael's opener against QPR and was subsequently replaced after 41 minutes with Danny Welbeck.

With Manchester United extending their lead at the top of the table to 15 points following their victory over Harry Redknapp's side, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping his leading striker will not pick up any other bumps during his side's season run-in. 

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Rooney mocks class dunce Van Persie

 

Robin van Persie might be razor-sharp on the football pitch, but his Manchester United colleagues seem to have concluded pretty quickly that the Dutchman is not quite as intimidating off it.

When asked who is the easiest to wind up in the Old Trafford dressing room, resident joker Wayne Rooney had no hesitation in identifying his new strike partner.

"I'd have to say Robin. He's not the brightest!" Rooney said in a Google hangout with DHL.

"As much of a good footballer he is, he's definitely not the brightest off the pitch and it’s just easy to get to him."

Don't worry Robin, as long as you keep banging in the goals, the banter will be kept within the confines of the United squad. Just don't go venturing into a classroom anytime soon... 

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Van Persie reveals extent of his Manchester United addiction

 

Robin van Persie has piped up with his latest tribute to Manchester United and the benefits of his exit from Arsenal last summer.

The striker has already taken a swipe at his former club this season by suggesting he is among players who all know how to be champions, and now, the 29-year-old believes he is getting more fulfilment out of his football due to the higher stakes at Old Trafford.

"I love the intensity of playing for United," the Dutchman said.

"It is great to be involved in huge games when you don't know what is going to happen. You get more out of it when there is a thin line between ­winning and losing.

"I love the buzz, the drama, the excitement. I live for that. I can't imagine the day when I have to stop playing. I know I will miss the buzz so much." 

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Ferguson is paying me a bribe to draw Wenger

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Bernabeu love-in gets Madrid in Valentine's mood

 

On a night which produced one of the most action-packed games of the Champions League this season, romance was in the air ahead of Valentine's Day as Manchester United escaped from the Bernabeu with a draw.

Sir Alex Ferguson would feel his side could have secured a first-leg victory after seeing a number of chances spurned but United are were also indebted to the heroic performance of David de Gea, whose saves, albeit sometimes unorthodox, prevented Real Madrid from adding to Cristiano Ronaldo's superb first-half header.

After the match, Ferguson and Ronaldo embraced, leaving Mourinho to insist United are not in the driving seat to progress to the Champions League quarter final, while De Gea rightly deserved the plaudits after coming under fire several times this term. 

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Manchester City run out of puff in title charge

 

What looked like being a two-horse race is apparently down to just one after a limp Manchester City were beaten 3-1 by Southampton on Saturday evening.

Roberto Mancini's men were outclassed at St Mary's Stadium and, if they beat Everton on Sunday, rivals Manchester United could go 12 points clear in the race for the Premier League trophy.

A miraculous repeat of last year's title success looks further and further away for City as their weakened team runs out of puff... 
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Sir Alex tongue-tied by FA after fine

 

Sir Alex Ferguson had his wrists slapped by the FA on Friday, receiving a £12,000 fine for comments made about match officials.

The Manchester United manager implied referee's assistant Simon Beck had been motivated by bias in his failure to award the Premier League leaders a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham.

The Old Trafford boss might be advised to hold his tongue before making such comments in the future, though why change the habit of a lifetime at 71? 

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Manchester United have one hand on the title after City's latest surrender

 

Sergio Aguero's spectacular equaliser salvaged a point for the champions, yet after Sir Alex Ferguson's men downed Fulham 1-0 just 24 hours earlier, it was again a case of two points lost.

The Red Devils now sit nine points clear at the top of the table, and even the most optimistic of fans would agree City have already surrendered in the title race...

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Which of Europe's card sharks is holding the aces this year?

 

Stick or twist? That's the real question as Europe's top bosses limber up to do battle in the second half of the season - even if they all seem to be playing their own game.

Will Arsene Wenger Go Fish this January? Who'd win in Top Trumps if Jose and Tito laid their star cards down?

How long before Roman increases the tension on Rafa before he hears that all-too-familiar Snap and finds a new willing victim for Bridge?
Can Pep, er, pep up the Bayern players after the upcoming depature of Old Maid Jupp? And will Sir Alex Beggar My (noisy) Neighbour to reclaim the Premier League crown?

All we know is we want to be in the room if this game ever takes place...
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Zaha set to take the plunge with Manchester United

 

Wilfried Zaha has made quite the name for himself in the Championship with Crystal Palace and is subsequently being coveted by the cream of the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger registered his interest in the prodigal 20-year-old back in November but as the January transfer window draws nearer to its conclusion, it appears Manchester United are on the verge of clinching the transfer of Zaha.

Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to offer the south London club £17 million to take the wonderkid to Old Trafford. Zaha has scored five goals from 32 games this season playing the majority of his matches from wide positions and was rewarded by Roy Hodgson with his first England cap in a friendly against Sweden.

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Thawly not?! Wenger & Sir Alex Ferguson left frustrated after dropped points in the snow

 

A snowy Sunday saw both Manchester United and Arsenal suffer setbacks in the Premier League, with Sir Alex Ferguson's men losing ground in the title race while Arsene Wenger's side hindered their chances of securing a top-four spot.

A late Clint Dempsey strike rescued a point for Tottenham against the Premier League leaders at White Hart Lane, while a timid opening half at Stamford Bridge saw the Gunners ship two goals as Theo Walcott's effort after the break could not inspire a comeback against Chelsea.

The draw led Sir Alex to slam the performance of assistant referee Simon Beck, while Wenger insists his players cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to secure a Champions League place for next season.

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Manchester in two-horse race for the title as Arsenal and Liverpool are left behind

 

The two Manchester clubs look set to battle it out for the Premier League title alone after their latest victories on Sunday.

First, Manchester United beat rivals Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford, despite a second half revival from Brendan Rodgers' side, before Manchester City secured three points with a convincing 2-0 victory over Arsenal.

Roberto Mancini's side may be seven points adrift of the leaders, but the performance at the Emirates Stadium indicated the title race is very much a two-horse race.

Chelsea may remain an outside bet after their convincing 4-0 victory over Stoke on Saturday, but the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool have been left flagging far behind.


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Super Van Persie rescues Manchester United in the nick of time

 

Robin van Persie scores when he wants. What started as a defiant chant by Arsenal fans last season has now been adopted by gleeful Manchester United supporters but, no matter who is doing the singing, they appear to be right.

The Dutchman has continued the blistering form which enabled him to light up north London last season, and on Saturday he notched his 20th goal of the season for United with a last-minute equaliser against West Ham.

Sam Allardyce's men thought they had booked their passage into the FA Cup fourth round courtesy of two James Collins headers but, at the death, substitute Van Persie sensationally took a brilliant lofted pass from Ryan Giggs in his stride before rifling the ball low into the net with his supposedly weaker right foot.

The two sides will now have to do battle again to see whose FA Cup dream will stay alive, and only a fool would bet against Van Persie making the difference again.
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Happy New Year! Stars prepare to bring in 2013

 

Spain secured their place in the pages of football history, Chelsea marched to an unlikely Champions League triumph and two of the greatest players of all time have smashed yet more records. 2012 will be difficult to match.

With the fixtures in the world's major leagues wrapped up for the current calendar year, the game's biggest and brightest can celebrate a job (mostly) well done.

But there's plenty more to look forward to in 2013. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will carry on and, in all likelihood, reach a few more remarkable landmarks. A mouthwatering last 16 of the Champions League awaits. And, when all else fails, there's Mario Balotelli.

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Walcott hat-trick leaves Wenger fending off buyers

 

As trump cards in contract negotiations go, Theo Walcott played his ace on Saturday evening as his hat-trick inspired Arsenal to a 7-3 victory over Newcastle United.

The England international is yet to sign a new deal with Arsene Wenger's side and with his contract expiring next summer, clubs will begin to step up their interest next month.

Walcott has confirmed talks with Arsenal are ongoing but his recent displays in a striking role could result in better offers elsewhere.
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Furious Ferguson puts Pardew in his place

 

Sir Alex Ferguson slammed 'wee club' Newcastle and their manager Alan Pardew after their boxing day clash at Old Trafford.

Pardew began the war of words by suggesting the Scot should have been sent off for berating the match officials during the game.

However, the 70-year-old hit back at the Magpies' boss and with some force too. He accused Pardew of being the worst at "haranguing" referees, and suggested the world is more inclined to take note of spats involving the "most famous club in world" instead of a "wee club in the north-east". 

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