england league News
Man. Utd. 16.5 : Rio Ferdinand has signed a new five-year contract at Manchester United, committing himself to the newly-crowned Premiership champions until the summer of 2013. "Rio's contribution this season has been a major factor in our outstanding defensive performance," said manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferdinand, 29, moved to Old Trafford from Leeds United in 2002 for a €36.5m transfer fee. Manchester United will look to complete a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double in the final against Chelsea in Moscow next Wendesday.
Chelsea 14.5 : Didier Drogba insists both he and Chelsea captain John Terry will overcome injuries in time to be fit for the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United. "No one wants to miss this gigantic match, the match of our careers," said the Ivorian striker. Drogba jarred his left knee and Terry dislocated his left elbow in last weekend's 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers. Defender Ricardo Carvalho is also expected back in training following a back problem.
Man. Utd. 13.5 : Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester United fans he's not interested in a move to Real Madrid right now, even if the Spanish club bid1 €126m for him. "I'm at the right club, playing with the right players and I learn things all the time," said the Portugal winger, who has scored 41 goals in all competitions this season.
Alex Ferguson was selected as England's manager of the year by his coaching colleagues, 24 hours after claiming his 10th Premier League title with Manchester United. The 66-year-old, who has managed United for the past 22 seasons, can claim a second European Champions League triumph when his team face Chelsea on May 21 in Moscow.
Chelsea 12.5 : Chelsea are hopeful that captain John Terry will be fit for the UEFA Champions League final on May 21 in Moscow despite the defender sustaining a dislocated elbow in the 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers. The 27-year-old was carried off on a stretcher after a collision with team-mate Petr Cech and visiting forward Kevin Davies. Striker Didier Drogba also picked up a knee injury during the final game of the Premier League season but was able to complete the 90 minutes.
11.5 : Manchester United retained their English crown by two points from Chelsea after a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic on the final day of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half penalty, his 31st league goal of the campaign, and Ryan Giggs' 80th-minute strike secured United their 10th Premier League title in 16 years. Chelsea were held to a 1-1 tie by Bolton Wanderers.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will get a chance at another trophy on May 21 in the UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. Everton made sure of the UEFA Cup berth with a 3-1 win against Newcastle United. At the other end of the Premiership table, Birmingham and Reading were relegated despite winning with four-goal performances.
Man. Utd. 10.5 : Sir Alex Ferguson says Wayne Rooney will be fit for the Champions League final and could even feature in Sunday's Premier League title decider at Wigan Athletic. Rooney has not played since scoring in the 2-1 loss to Chelsea two weeks ago. Doubts had been raised over whether he would figure again this season following the recurrence of a hip injury, picked up against Blackburn Rovers on 19 April. United's morale has received a further boost with the news that Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic is also close to returning to action.
10.5 : An additional English club will compete in the first qualifying round of next season's UEFA Cup after England finished top of the 2007/08 UEFA Fair Play ranking. The extra club, still to be decided, will be added to the three which have already qualify from England - League Cup winner Tottenham, the fifth-place finisher in the Premier League and the winner of the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City. After the Premier League season ends on Sunday, the league's own Fair Play rankings will decide which club gets the spot. It will go to the highest placed team in the rankings not already qualified for European competitions, and that currently is Manchester City.
Newcast. 8.5 : Kevin Keegan is set to meet Newcastle owner Mike Ashley following reports that the pair's relationship has broken down over comments the manager made about the club's stature. Keegan, who is four months into his second stint in charge of the team, said this week that he didn't think it was possible for the club to finish in the top four of the English Premier League. Keegan's plans for next season took another hit Thursday when striker Mark Viduka was ruled out for as long as six months because of an Achilles problem.
