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Barca contemplate action after Jose Mourinho outburst

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Angry Mourinho questions Barca 'power'

Barcelona will on Thursday decide whether to report Jose Mourinho after the Real Madrid coach implied they are favourably treated by referees.

Mourinho vented his fury after Barca won 2-0 at 10-man Real in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
He said: "It's clear that against Barcelona you have no chance.
"I don't know if it's the publicity of Unicef [the club's shirt sponsor], I don't know if it's because they are very nice, but they've got this power."
A statement on Barcelona's website read: "There will be an 'extraordinary' meeting of the board at 1700 [1600 BST] to discuss the action to be taken after the events of the Bernabeu.
"Later there will be a press conference at 1900 [1800 BST].
"At the press conference after the game, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho harshly criticised referee Wolfgang Stark and suggested Barcelona receive favourable treatment.
"The Legal Services of FC Barcelona are considering reporting the Real Madrid coach to the Disciplinary Commission of [European football's governing body] Uefa."
Uefa say they will not comment until they have studied the referee's match report.
Mourinho's anger stemmed from Stark's decision to send off Real defender Pepe for a foul on Dani Alves on the hour mark with the score at 0-0.
The Portuguese was also sent to the stands after protesting to the fourth official and his mood had not lightened at the post-match press conference.
Mourinho added: "I don't know if it's the friendship of [Spanish football federation president Angel Maria] Villar at Uefa, where he is vice-president.
"[Barcelona's Pep] Guardiola is a fantastic coach, but he's won one Champions League which I would be ashamed to win after the scandal at Stamford Bridge and this year, if he wins it again, it will be after the scandal at the Bernabeu.
"I hope that one day he will win a clean Champions League, with no incidents behind it."

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Sometimes I am a little bit disgusted to live in this world

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho

The first 'scandal' Mourinho was referring to was the Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Chelsea in 2009, when the Catalan club reached the final on the away goals rule.
Andres Iniesta's injury-time strike secured the win, but at the final whistle Chelsea's players confronted referee Tom Ovrebo, who had waved away at least four penalty appeals during the game.
Barca went on to beat Manchester United in the final.
Mourinho, who coached Inter Milan to the 2010 Champions League title, after after beating Barcelona in the last four, continued: "Why couldn't Chelsea reach the final two years ago? It was a miracle that Inter reached the final last year.
"I am here just to ask this question and I hope to get the answer one day."
Mourinho will now be without the suspended Portuguese defender Pepe and Spanish centre-half Sergio Ramos, who was also booked, for the second leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday 3 May.
Barring a successful appeal, Mourinho will be forced to watch the match from the stands.
"Yes, we are out. Sometimes I am a little bit disgusted to live in this world, but this is the world we live in," he said.
"We will have to go to Barcelona and look for some pride, without Pepe who didn't do anything, without Ramos who didn't do anything and without a coach to sit on the bench.
"As soon as Pepe was sent off, all of their problems were solved.

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Messi is greatest player ever - Wenger

"If, in a sporting sense, it's difficult to turn this around, I would say it's now mission impossible.
"If we go there and score a goal, they will kill us again. We have no chance.
"They have to get to the final and that's that."
Following Barca's victory, which came courtesy of two Lionel Messi goals, Guardiola chose to look ahead to the fifth and final encounter against their bitter rivals this season.
"We haven't made it to the final yet, this is the first leg match," he said.
"A team that has nine European Cups never gives up on a tie. We are two games and one draw from being European champions. We will think about the return so we can get to Wembley.
"We are a step away from the final, but we will carry on respecting Madrid, very, very much.
"If we start to believe we are already through, Madrid can punish us. We don't believe we are already there [Wembley]."
"We played a very good match and I would like to congratulate the team."

Carlo pins hopes on strike duo

Formation woes for Italian

Ancelotti: Plenty of questions to answer ahead of a cruch game on Saturday

Carlo Ancelotti remains committed to pairing Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres in attack ahead of taking on Tottenham.

The Chelsea boss faces a tough decision ahead of the crunch encounter at Stamford Bridge on Saturday over whether to persevere with the stuttering partnership.
In a game that could decide the destination of the Premier League title and possibly even his job, Ancelotti insists he is prepared to allow Drogba and Torres to play despite the pair failing to gel since January.
Ancelotti is under pressure to return to a 4-4-3 formation that many, including a number of Chelsea players, believe is the key to unlocking the best form from the champions.
Yet the Italian looks to ignore the doubters and utilise both his star strikers after Torres broke his duck on Saturday in the 3-0 win over West Ham.

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"When you have very good players, you've have to try to put them together," said Ancelotti.
"Maybe they can sacrifice something of their ability, of their skills, but they can play together. If you are able to do this, I think it is good for the team, to get good results.
"Obviously, it's too early to take a decision about this because we have another training session on Friday.
"But I think it will not be a surprise if they can start on Saturday together. They trained well. They tried to have a good combination together."

Formation

Despite a number of players wishing to make their feelings known on the formation the team will utilise, Ancelotti remained adamant that he is the man who ultimately makes the decisions.
The manager was quick to point out that his side's teamwork had improved and he would have no problems changing formation to accommodate his strikers if needed.
"The best solution would be to play 4-4-2 if they play together," he added.
"I think that we don't have a problem to play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. The result doesn't depend on the shape that you use.
"The result depends on the motivation that the players have, on the spirit that the players use on the pitch during the game."

Barcelona's Lionel Messi joins the greats

By Pat Nevin
  Lionel Messi took his season's goal tally to 52

Barcelona's Lionel Messi was just like Diego Maradona at his very best in the 2-0 win at the Bernabeu.

There just isn't any argument anymore. I think Pele, Maradona and Messi are the three best footballers the world has seen. Even considering the talents of players like Zidane, those three are a little bit above the rest.
Messi has cut through the entire Real Madrid defence in the Champions League semi-final first leg - one of the most important games of the season - for his second goal.
The Argentine sees things other players just don't, even the likes of team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Messi was kept quiet in the first half but was absolutely sensational as soon as the space opened up.
That space developed for two reasons.
Firstly, because of Pepe's sending-off, which I thought was harsh as he got a little bit of the ball in his challenge with Dani Alves.
Secondly, it may be Real Madrid against Barcelona but these guys are only human. When time goes on and players get tired, space appears. Fantastic players, like those in the Barcelona attack, can be devastating when that happens.
Once the first goal went in on 76 minutes and with Madrid a man down, I think Barcelona smelt blood. They sensed they could all but finish the tie after one match.
It was a dangerous game for Mourinho. I think he chose to play for a 0-0 draw because he knew that if Barcelona scored an away goal his side would struggle to get through.
Mourinho's tactics are not always the most sophisticated - and I am not sure his teams know how to go and attack teams, especially Barcelona.
If we look back to his most effective days when in charge at Chelsea, he played a battering ram up front in Didier Drogba and two quick men down the sides in Arjen Robben and Damien Duff.
Right now, I cannot see any way back for Real. But if there is one manager who can get it back, it is Mourinho.
However, I am sure some of those Real fans who left early will be discussing his future and it will be interesting to see who will be managing at the Bernabeu next season.
Real will put up with negative tactics if they deliver success but they won't if they don't.

Wenger won't sell star names

Gunners boss tired of discussing transfer speculation

Fab not for sale

Arsene Wenger is adamant Arsenal want to hang on to their best players following renewed speculation concerning the future of captain Cesc Fabregas.

Influential midfielder Fabregas was chased by former club Barcelona for much of last summer, but ultimately stayed at Emirates Stadium.
However, the Gunners' likely failure to win any silverware again this season has prompted fresh doubts about Fabregas' future in North London.
Speculation recently claimed that Italian giants Inter Milan are lining up a £35million bid to prise the Spain World Cup winner away from Arsenal.

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However, ahead of Sunday's showdown with Premier League leaders Manchester United, Wenger dismissed the latest stories concerning his players.
Wenger feels he has addressed the issue on numerous occasions in the past and reaffirmed his position that he does not want to offload his key men.
"We do not want to sell our players," said Wenger. "Our players have contracts and they will stay here unless we decide otherwise.
"This is a subject that is not creative, we have answered it in 80% of press conferences. This is a subject that has to stop because the past has shown the question is useless.
"I do not want to go on about the transfer market now, and whether we will buy or not buy."

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Schalke 04   0 - 2   Man Utd

Giggs's finally got the opener, after 67 minutes, United's dominance deserved

By Jonathan Stevenson

Manchester United took a giant step towards the Champions League final as they outplayed Schalke in Germany.

United could have been well ahead in the semi-final first leg by half-time, denied only by a series of incredible saves from Germany keeper Manuel Neuer.
They broke the deadlock when Wayne Rooney slipped in Ryan Giggs to slot home and Rooney doubled the advantage by firing in a Javier Hernandez pass.
Edwin van der Sar saved from Sergio Escudero, but Schalke were awful.
United will welcome Schalke to Old Trafford on Wednesday 4 May for the second leg and they now know, barring a complete catastrophe, that they will once again represent English football in the showpiece of the European game.
Sir Alex Ferguson had warned his side not to underestimate Schalke prior to the match, with United the hot favourites to progress to the Wembley final on 28 May and face either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Schalke, 10th in the Bundesliga, had destroyed holders Inter Milan 7-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, but they were completely overrun from the first whistle by a United side better in every area of the pitch.
Until they got as far as Neuer, that is. The 25-year-old Schalke captain and Germany number one, who announced last week he would be leaving his hometown club in the summer after a 20-year association, produced a goalkeeping performance of the very highest order for more than an hour.

Neuer pulled off a succession of stunning saves for Schalke

He was a one-man barrier who prevented United wrapping up the tie in the first 45 minutes, thwarting the visitors as they carved the Schalke defence open almost at will.
After Alexander Baumjohann sent a first-minute shot into the arms of Van der Sar as Schalke produced the first attempt of any note, it was all United, as they produced a display of fluent, attacking football their opponents could not live with.
Rooney's deflected shot was wonderfully clawed away by Neuer, who then denied Park Ji-Sung low down to his right and Hernandez too - and that was all inside the opening 10 minutes.
Schalke were without key defender Benedikt Hoewedes because of injury and the gaping holes at the back suggested they badly missed him.
Neuer continued to deny United, superbly sticking out a hand to deny Hernandez again, with the Mexican wasting two more golden openings shortly after.
It seemed a matter of time before United would score but Neuer made another breathtaking one-handed save from Giggs' downward header, denied Hernandez once more from the right-hand side of the box and then stood his ground to thwart Giggs from a cute Rooney pass.
Although it defied belief that the score was 0-0 at the break, in the second half United picked up where they had left off as Patrice Evra's glancing header forced Neuer to tip over his crossbar.
After Giggs shot wide, Schalke had a five-minute period in which they at least competed. A dangerous Raul cross to the far post was headed away by Rio Ferdinand and Edu forced Van der Sar to save low down to his left.
But United were gearing themselves up for another wave of attacks and they eventually scored the goal their extraordinary dominance deserved.
Schalke's generosity meant Rooney could have driven a bus through their defence, but he settled for slipping in Giggs, the Welsh veteran keeping his cool to slot between Neuer's legs and send the travelling support into ecstasy.
In the process, at 37 years and 148 days old, Giggs became the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history, overtaking AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi when he scored against Real Madrid in November.
It got even better for the United fans two minutes later as Hernandez was given what seemed an eternity to run on to a loose ball and find Rooney in the area, his strike partner giving Neuer no chance by dispatching the ball into the bottom corner.
Schalke, bereft of ideas and the ability to hit back at United, were restricted to pot shots from distance and substitute Escudero brought a good save from Van der Sar, but they were never likely to get back into it.
A jubilant United, also six points clear at the top of the Premier League, will now pay close attention to the first leg of the Real Madrid v Barcelona semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Guardiola bites back at Jose

Barca boss and Real manager in war of words

Guardiola: Barca boss hits back at Real counterpart Mourinho

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has launched an astonishing attack on Real Madrid rival Jose Mourinho ahead of their UEFA Champions League showdown.

The bitter Spanish rivals are gearing up for the latest instalment in their El Clasico series with a place in the final of Europe's premier club competition at stake.
Speaking at Real's press conference earlier on Tuesday, Mourinho hit out at Guardiola regarding comments the Barca coach was supposed to have made about certain refereeing decisions.
Mourinho, referring to an example following last week's Copa del Rey final between the duo regarding a disallowed Pedro Rodriguez goal for offside, said Guardiola had created a new group that criticises officials when they make correct decisions.
"Up until now we've had two groups of coaches," said the Portuguese.
"[There's] a very small group who didn't talk about referees. Then there's a larger group, of which I'm included, of coaches that criticises referees when they make big mistakes.
"And with Pep's statements we've come to a third group, which is a one person group, who criticises good decisions made by the referee. I've never seen this before."

"With Pep's statements we've come to a third group, which is a one person group, who criticises good decisions made by the referee. I've never seen this before."
Jose Mourinho Quotes of the week

The man

Guardiola refused to take the comments lying down, though, and launched an angry response during his press conference later that evening, taking the bait laid out by Mourinho in spectacular fashion.
The Barca coach said: "Wednesday at 8.45 we will meet each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he has already won.
"In this room (press room), he's the f****** chief, the f****** man, the person who knows everything about the world and I don't want to compete with him at all.
"It's a type of game I'm not going to play because I don't know how.
"I won't justify my words. I congratulated Madrid for the cup that they won deservedly on the pitch and against a team that I represent and of which I feel very proud."

"In this room (press room), he's the f****** chief, the f****** man, the person who knows everything about the world and I don't want to compete with him at all."
Pep Guardiola Quotes of the week

Motivated

He added: "Off the pitch, he has already won, as he has done all year.
"On the pitch, we'll see what happens."
Guardiola continued: "If you think that his allegation that I always complain about the referees is true after you've all heard from me over the last three years, well there's nothing I can do. Off the pitch there's nothing we can do to fight that."
Although Guardiola seemed to have been ruffled by Mourinho's apparent mind games, the Barca coach insisted his players would not be affected by all this.
He said: "Do you think the players will run more because I've spoken to Jose through the cameras? It's the Champions League semi-finals. The players won't be motivated by this, they know what I think about everything associated with this game."

Dzeko justifies Mancini's faith

Post categories: Football, Manchester City, Premier League

BBC Sport blog editor | 09:17 UK time, Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Ewood Park
Edin Dzeko was a grateful beneficiary of the turmoil that swirled around Fernando Torres as the Chelsea striker struggled to adapt to life at Stamford Bridge.
As a harsh spotlight was trained on the Spaniard and his quest for a goal following his £50m move from Liverpool, Dzeko was able to lurk beneath the radar as he toiled away fruitlessly following his £27m move to Manchester City from Wolfsburg in January.
Torres, who had gone 732 minutes without a goal in Chelsea colours, emerged from the darkness and into the light with a strike against West Ham United on Saturday, turning attention towards Dzeko and his own efforts to hit the target in the Premier League.
And the Bosnian finally delivered when City needed him most against Blackburn Rovers.
If he was billed on arrival as the man whose goals would push City towards the Champions League, then he may just have lived up his label at Ewood Park.

Dzeko calmly slots home his first Premier League goal - photo: Reuters

It took Dzeko, who walked into Eastlands accompanied by a reputation as one of Europe's most feared marksmen, four months and 10 games to break his duck.
Like good comedy, however, the secret is in the timing - and City's fans filed out of Ewood Park smiling after his crucial intervention.
As for Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who has repeatedly stated his support for Dzeko, he will have taken extra satisfaction from the manner in which his faith was rewarded.
After Rovers were forced to dance to the tune of David Silva in the opening 20 minutes, the Spaniard rattling the woodwork and controlling everything like a master puppeteer, City began to struggle to impose themselves against Steve Kean's gallant Blackburn .
Sensing the growing prospect of an opportunity lost, Mancini called on Dzeko to replace Adam Johnson after 72 minutes.
And as with Torres on Saturday, Dzeko made a spectacular entrance, showing a sure touch and composure to take control of an attempted Phil Jones clearance and beat Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson within three minutes of coming on.
The Premier League table reflected the significance of the moment. City now have a four-point advantage over closest rivals Tottenham, who have yet to visit Eastlands.
This was not a sparkling City show but a demonstration of, as Mancini put it, "how to win the other way".
The Italian explained: "In the first half, we played a fantastic game. We should have scored two goals minimum. In the second half, the game changed, Blackburn played very strong and hard."
As for Dzeko, Mancini added: "I'm very happy for Edin because he deserves to score. He is a good player and a good man."
City won ugly, with Nigel de Jong outstanding, after their early flamboyance fizzled out but they have responded positively to that woeful 3-0 defeat by Liverpool a fortnight ago and are now favourites to reach the Champions League as reward for the vast Abu Dhabi investment in the club.

The promised land of the Champions League is in sight for Mancini: photo Getty

The smiling Dzeko looked like a large weight had been lifted from his shoulders as he strolled around the corridors of Ewood Park - and spoke like a man who believes his City career can now take flight.
"Today was very good," said the forward, who was watched by former England coach Steve McClaren, the man who rubber-stamped his move to City during his brief spell in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
"I think it is a new beginning for me. I have confidence in myself but sometimes it is difficult. I am not the first one that didn't make the best of a move but I am happy now because I scored and helped my team.
"It's funny. I think Torres scored a lot of goals for Liverpool and changed his club and found it hard. I am happy for him because I know what the pressure is. But today I scored as well and I know that, in the future, there will be much better games for me."
Blackburn manager Kean is another man who knows what pressure is - and it grows with every game. He could take only small consolation from a display that showed plenty of character but lacked quality.
He was right to insist Blackburn were unlucky to be denied a penalty when City captain Vincent Kompany tangled with Jason Roberts in the first half and also complained that Mario Balotelli was standing in an offside position in front of goalkeeper Robinson when Dzeko scored the winner.
The worry, which also applied to fellow strugglers West Ham at Chelsea, is that, after playing badly and losing, Rovers have acquired the habit of playing well and losing - not a good one to form at this late stage and with survival at stake.
Kean was defiant but there is no escaping the growing sense around Ewood Park that Blackburn's Indian owners Venky's may have made a major misjudgement by thrusting the Scot into his first high-profile role after removing Sam Allardyce in December.
Allardyce's methods make him a divisive figure but he was working effectively and had restored stability at Ewood Park. Venky's may yet find they pay a heavy price for attempting to fix something that was not actually faulty.
A fight against relegation is tough enough for a manager with experience, doubly so for someone learning on the job - and these are tough times for Kean, with Blackburn currently in their worst run without a victory in 25 years, a sequence that stretched to 11 games following the defeat by City.
As for Mancini, he promised that City would reach the FA Cup final and the Champions League after the dismal showing at Anfield. Phase one is complete and Dzeko's release from his own personal torment took City closer to completing the second part of his manager's bold pledge.
One blot on a satisfying night for City were the chants from some of their followers about Manchester United and the Munich air disaster. They did great discredit to a fan base that is in large part exemplary, as they proved when honouring a minute's silence at Liverpool a fortnight ago.

20110426

Bruce suffers double blow

Gyan and Welbeck set to miss rest of season

Gyan: Expected to miss the rest of the season along with Welbeck due to a hamstring problem

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has revealed that Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck are unlikely to play again this season.

The strikers both had to be substituted with hamstring injuries in the 4-2 victory over Wigan at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
On-loan Manchester United youngster Welbeck was withdrawn after just 25 minutes and Gyan followed early in the second half, not long after scoring Sunderland's opener.
Welbeck has now returned to Manchester for a scan, while Gyan is being treated by Sunderland's medical team.

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The Black Cats have just four games remaining in the Premier League and Bruce admitted after training on Tuesday that he did not expect to be able to call on either of his main frontmen again this term.
"We've lost Welbeck and Gyan and it's unlikely they'll play again this season," Bruce told the club's official website.
"It's all over three weeks on Saturday. The collateral damage has been huge.
"The win was the most important thing for us last Saturday but, for me, it still doesn't hide the facts of the game.

Bad situation

"I've had to make substitutions before half-time again and that's the big thing. We have to find out why.
"Yes, we're back on track a little with the win but we've only got 13 or 14 players training instead of 24, which is a sad situation."
Bruce's attacking resources have been severely depleted, with Fraizer Campbell set to miss most of next season after being booked in for knee surgery.
Sunderland have struggled since selling star striker Darren Bent in January and without Gyan, Welbeck or Campbell, it remains to be seen who Bruce will select up front against Fulham this weekend.
Stephane Sessegnon was pushed forward in Saturday's win over Wigan and scored from the penalty spot, while midfielder Jordan Henderson also struck twice.
The victory against Wigan came after a dismal run of eight defeats in nine games that had sucked Sunderland into the relegation dogfight, but they are now back in mid-table after passing the 40-point barrier.

• Real Madrid v Barcelona19:45

Real Madrid    v    Barcelona

Live text and stats

Content will update automatically

Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Champions League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Real Madrid	v	Barcelona	19:45

REAL MADRID

BARCELONA

Possession

• Real Madrid 50%
• Barcelona 50%

Attempts on target

• Real Madrid 0
• Barcelona 0

Attempts off target

• Real Madrid 0
• Barcelona 0

Corners

• Real Madrid 0
• Barcelona 0

Fouls

• Real Madrid 0
• Barcelona 0

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL, FIRST LEG

• Venue: Bernabeu
• Date: Wednesday 27 April
• Kick-off: 1945 BST
• Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live and live on ITV 1

Iniesta only managed 10 minutes in training on Tuesday

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid because of a calf strain.

Skipper Carles Puyol is fit after a muscle strain and fellow defender Gabriel Milito also plays but but full-back Maxwell (groin) misses out.
Real also have defensive issues, with centre-back Ricardo Carvalho suspended.
Injured midfielder Sami Khedira is set to be replaced by Lassana Diarra for the third El Clasico in 12 days.
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola confirmed the absence of the influential Iniesta at a news conference on Tuesday, saying: "He can't play, 100%. We hope to have him back for the second leg."
Iniesta could be replaced by Thiago Alcantara, who has impressed in several recent appearances for the first team, or Netherlands international Ibrahim Afellay.
Guardiola remains determined to go for the win in Madrid, saying: "If you come to this stadium looking to defend a result then they will roll over you.
"I can't do that, I can't change the way we play because of the injuries."
Real have the momentum having beaten their great rivals 1-0 to win the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup, the Copa del Rey, last week.
However, the return of Puyol, who missed the Cup final and Saturday's 2-0 win over Osasuna, is a big boost, although Barca could still be forced to use defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano in defence.
The Copa del Rey win gave Real their first domestic Cup success in 18 years, their first trophy in three years and their first victory over Barca since May 2008.
The win also came only four days after the sides drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga, halting a run of five consecutive wins for the Catalan side.
It also gave Jose Mourinho, who is looking to become the first man to coach three different teams to the Champions League title, his first trophy at Real.
The Spanish sides are joint top scorers in the Champions League with 24 goals apiece, but their previous two meetings have been cautious affairs with Mourinho packing his midfield and employing more aggressive tactics.
However, the nine-times winners of European football's most sought-after trophy have had a man sent off in each of their last three games against Barca.
The first of those was Ramos during the 5-0 mauling they suffered at the Nou Camp in November.

Blues receive Essien boost

Midfielder could be available to face Spurs after positive scans

Essien: Positive news on injury front

Chelsea have been handed a boost with the news midfielder Michael Essien could be available for Saturday's clash with Tottenham.

The Ghana star pulled up with what appeared to be a left knee injury just before the hour mark of the Blues' 3-0 derby win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
His exit immediately sparked concern, given the 28-year-old has missed significant parts of the past two seasons with cartilage and ligament problems in both knees.
But scans on Tuesday have revealed he suffered only a minor tendon problem and he will be monitored ahead of the Spurs match.

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Chelsea said in a statement on their official website: "Michael had a minor problem with a tendon above his knee during the West Ham game and came off as a precaution.
"Scans show no significant issues in that area.
"We will look at him over the course of this week with regards to availability for the weekend."

Real v Barca: teams of the century

Post categories: Football

Jonathan Stevenson | 13:37 UK time, Tuesday, 19 April 2011

"I've got an idea," I said to my colleague the morning after Barcelona's 5-1 thumping of Shakhtar Donestk in the Champions League semi-final first leg. "When Barca and Real Madrid reach the semis, let's do a Greatest XIs blog. That'll get the punters talking."
We came up with only two problems: firstly, that it might look a bit silly to include players from the days of yore like Alfredo di Stefano and Ladislao Kubala alongside a picture (top right) of the blogger looking about 14-years-old; and secondly, have you seen how many world-class players have represented these teams down the years?
In the end, it was quite simple. We decided to take the entire last millennium out of the equation and pretend the world began in 2000. At least, I consoled myself while I crossed out the names of Diego Maradona and Michael Laudrup, 99% of you taking part in this debate will have seen the contenders in action.
So, what better way to celebrate four Clasicos in 18 days - with the second installment the Spanish Cup final on Wednesday in Valencia - than to choose your favourite Real Madrid and Barcelona teams from the past 11-and-a-bit years?

Increasingly at ease with the risk of looking foolish, here's my turn - complete with stats and facts brought to you by Infostrada Sports:
Real Madrid XI:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas.
Easy enough to pick Spain's World Cup-winning captain, not least because he's worn Real's number one jersey with distinction since 1999, thus rendering anyone else pretty much irrelevant. Super reflexes, quick off his line and brave too.
Did you know? Despite not turning 30 until May, Casillas has played more than 400 league and 100 Champions League games for Real, and has more than 100 caps for Spain.
Right-back: Michel Salgado.
Salgado or Sergio Ramos - arguably the hardest choice in the Real XI. Salgado nicks it because of his superior defensive ability, needed in such an attack-minded side. If you want to know what he makes of Clasicos, read his column in this month's FourFourTwo. "Hate is a strong word, but Madrid want Barcelona to lose everything," he says.
Did you know? Salgado is married to former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz's daughter.
Left-back: Roberto Carlos.
Save for Paolo Maldini, if there has been a better left-back in the past 20 years I haven't seen him. Carlos gave the team energy, pace and attacking threat down that flank - and could you ever take your eyes off that stuttering run-up and thunderous free-kick?
Did you know? Carlos is the only non-European player with more than 100 Champions League appearances.
Centre-back: Fernando Hierro.
Real's skipper and inspiration, Hierro's never-say-die attitude made him the perfect foil for the creative whizz-kids at the other end of the pitch. He won La Liga five times and the Champions League three more in a stellar spell at the Bernabeu. "He was the captain of captains," said Raul.
Did you know? Hierro played in Real's Champions League final wins in 1998, 2000 and 2002. They have not been in the final since his departure.
Centre-back: Fabio Cannavaro.
Perhaps joined Real a shade after the best part of his career, but nonetheless a wonderful defender - and still the only one to be named Fifa Player of the Year. Cannavaro filled Zidane's vacant number five shirt with relish and won the league in his first two seasons in Madrid.
Did you know? On 12 August, 2009, Cannavaro won his 127th Italy cap - taking him ahead of the previous record holder, Paolo Maldini.
Centre-midfield: Claude Makelele.
Selling Makelele was perhaps the biggest mistake Real have made this century. With him, their phalanx of attacking players were free to create carnage; without him, they were rudderless. "We won't miss Makelele, his technique is average," said president Florentino Perez in 2003. After the signing of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane begged to differ: "Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?"
Did you know? Makelele has appeared in a record eight Champions League semi-finals.
Centre-midfield: Zinedine Zidane.
A player of more astounding technical skills it is hard to imagine. Joined for a world record £46m in 2001 and blessed Spanish football with his captivating class until retiring after that World Cup final in 2006. The three-time Fifa Player of the Year's goal in the 2002 Champions League final will live long in the memory.
Did you know? In April 2002, Zidane became the first Real player since Canario in November 1960 to score a European goal at Barcelona's Camp Nou.
Right midfield: Luis Figo.
Gets the nod ahead of David Beckham because on his day the Portuguese winger was unstoppable. Joined from Barca in 2000 in one of the most controversial transfers of all time and enjoyed a wonderful seven years in Madrid, being named the world's finest footballer in 2001 and going on to win a record 127 caps for his country.
Did you know? In the last 50 years, eight players have moved from Barca to Real. Only one - Figo - has had a pig's head thrown at him as a result.
Left midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo.
The sheer volume of goals he has scored in almost two seasons at the Bernabeu almost beggars belief. He bagged 33 last season and already has 41 this time around - if it was not for Lionel Messi, he would be comfortably the most talked-about player on Earth. Finally got through a Clasico without defeat on Saturday, too.
Did you know? Ronaldo's buy-out clause is reportedly worth €1bn.
Striker: Raul.
A goalscoring machine whose heart belongs to Real Madrid. He left the club last summer after 16 trophy-laden years and 323 goals in 741 matches. Raul was a creator and a predator all rolled into one. "Real buy these big players like Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but I think the best player in the world is Raul," said Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in 2003.
Did you know? Raul moved to Real after Atletico Madrid chairman Jesus Gil shut down their youth academy where he was training.
Striker: Ronaldo.
The best thing about Il Fenomeno's retirement from football in February was the spate of highlights reels flying around showcasing the Brazilian in his magnificent prime. A striker of unparalleled physical power combined with an oft-overlooked finesse, before he was left ravaged by injury Ronaldo was unplayable.
Did you know? Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games for Barcelona in the 1996-97 season, aged 20.
Manager: Vicente del Bosque.
A Real man through and through. He won La Liga five times in a fine playing career at the Bernabeu and remains the last man to lead Real to the Champions League trophy, in 2002. Was bizarrely sacked a year later, one day after the club had won their 29th league title.
Did you know? Del Bosque was awarded the honorary title of Marquis by King Juan Carlos after leading Spain to World Cup victory in South Africa.
Barcelona XI:

Goalkeeper: Victor Valdes.
Almost as easy a choice as Casillas - it's easy to forget the 29-year-old Valdes has been Barca's first-choice keeper since midway through the 2003-04 season. After some shaky displays in the early days he has improved year after year and has won the Zamora Trophy for best keeper in Spain three times to Casillas's one.
Did you know? Since the 2001-02 season, Valdes leads La Liga in clean sheets - he has 131, Casillas 129.
Right-back: Dani Alves.
A man who tends to divide football fans in half. On the plus side he is a destructive force down Barca's right, starting attacks and creating goals and defying science with his boundless energy. But his play-acting and argumentative nature sometimes deflect from what a good player he is. Labelled his "natural successor" for Brazil by the great Cafu - no mean feat when Alves is competing with Maicon for the right-back privilege.
Did you know? Alves has assisted 13 goals in La Liga this season - second only to Lionel Messi.
Left-back: Gio van Bronckhorst.
Arguably under-rated as a full-back having started his career in midfield, 'Gio' was unwanted by Arsenal, 28 and on his way back from a year out with a cruciate knee ligament injury when he arrived at the Camp Nou in 2003. But he forged a superb alliance with Ronaldinho down the Barca left and helped them to two league titles and the Champions League in 2006.
Did you know? When Van Bronckhorst left Barca in 2007, it ended a 10-year period in which the Catalan club had employed at least one Dutchman.
Centre-back: Carles Puyol.
The heart and soul of Barcelona since he pulled on the famous Blaugrana shirt in October 1999. Puyol, a born and bred Catalan, has been club captain since 2004 and puts his body on the line every time he wears the armband. "Barca are the team every Catalan child wants to play for... I am living the dream," he once said.
Did you know? Puyol's surprise appearance after injury on Saturday was his 23rd in Clasicos. He hasn't missed a league match against Real since March 2001.
Centre-back: Gerard Pique.
Puyol's partner in crime since returning to the Camp Nou in May 2008 after a four-year spell at Manchester United. Tall, elegant, a masterful reader of the game despite only being 24, and with the ability to step out of defence and start attacks, Pique could turn into one of the great defenders of any era. Already has 13 major trophies to his name.
Did you know? Real Madrid have banned the 2010 World Cup song 'Waka Waka' since it emerged singer Shakira is in a relationship with Pique.
Centre-midfield: Xavi.
Arguably the world's best midfield player, it took Xavi a while to get the plaudits his perfect passing deserves, despite making his Barca debut all the way back in 1998. Unerringly accurate, he regularly completes more than 100 passes in a game, set up four goals in Barca's 6-2 win at Real a year ago, and was man of the match in the 2009 Champions League final against Man United.
Did you know? Xavi, who this season surpassed Migueli as Barca's record appearance maker, bought his mum a toaster with his first paycheck.
Centre-midfield: Deco.
Combative and skilful, Deco had one eye for a tackle and the other one for goal and the Brazilian-born Portuguese was a crucial component in the Frank Rijkaard era. His terrific work-rate made him the perfect foil for Ronaldinho - Luiz Felipe Scolari once said their partnership could "make rain fall".
Did you know? Along with Paulo Sousa and Secretario, one of only three Portuguese players to win the Champions League with two different clubs.
Centre-midfield: Andres Iniesta.
Another, like Xavi, who had to wait his turn to be appreciated. Iniesta's astonishing technical skills and reading of the game might have endeared him to the Barca fans, but his lack of goals was regularly highlighted as a major weakness for an attacking midfielder. Winners against Chelsea in the 2009 Champions League semi-final and the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final appear to have changed that.
Did you know? Iniesta's name has been applauded at every Spanish ground this season because of his winner in Johannesburg last summer.
Left forward: Ronaldinho.
How many other Barca players have ever been given a standing ovation in the Bernabeu? Ronaldinho was signed in 2003 after Barca missed out on David Beckham - perhaps the biggest slice of luck in the Catalan club's recent history. For three years he was out of this world; with that galloping stride, those mesmerising feet and a smile that charmed us all, in full flow he was truly a sight to behold.
Did you know? Ronaldinho scored five Clasico goals in the space of 18 months from November 2004 to April 2006.
Right forward: Lionel Messi.
The heir to Diego Maradona's throne in an Argentina shirt and Ronaldinho's in a Barca one - and he may yet go on to be better than them both. Messi is only 23, yet has been named the best player on Earth twice and this season already has 49 goals, breaking the Spanish record he already held with the Brazilian Ronaldo and Ferenc Puskas. Electric feet, clinical finishing, implausible balance... where will it all end?
Did you know? After watching a 16-year-old Messi against his Juventus side in a friendly in 2003, Fabio Capello asked: "Who is this little devil?"
Striker: Samuel Eto'o.
Goals, goals, goals. Eto'o, mind-bogglingly cast away by Real Madrid, was a guaranteed 25-a-season man and with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Ronaldinho and Messi teeing him up, he never disappointed. Eto'o scored in the 2006 and 2009 Champions League finals and left the club with Barca's first Treble as his legacy.
Did you know? Aged 15, Eto'o arrived at Madrid airport in 1996 to find Real had forgotten to send a representative to pick him up.
Manager: Pep Guardiola.
Could have made it into the team; after all, midfield general Guardiola only left Barca in 2001 after a successful 11-year spell. Returned to coach Barcelona B in 2007 and was - riskily - made first-team boss only a year later, winning the Treble in his first season as a coach. His contract runs out at the end of next season and Guardiola has hinted he may call it a day, but no-one in Catalonia will want him to leave.
Did you know? Guardiola counts Manuel Estiarte, apparently one of the finest water polo exponents of all time, as one of his closest friends.
I know - seven players from this season's Barcelona team. Is it too many, or does that reflect just what a top team this is? Only two from Real's current crop, but there is plenty of time for the likes of Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Karim Benzema to make their mark.
Maybe one day, when I'm old and grey, I'll get away with doing all-time XIs. Wonder how many of these boys would make it...skysports,bbcsports

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Garth Crooks' team of the week

EDWIN VAN DER SAR

Goalkeeper
Manchester United
Provided the turning point in United's victory over Everton, a sensational save from Jack Rodwell at 0-0 that took a deflection en route to goal. When will Arsenal and Tottenham realise that you need a top-class keeper to win anything? Van der Sar is still world-class at the grand old age of 40.
Did you know? Has the best saves-to-shots ratio for efforts from outside the area in the Premier League this season (97%).

JOHN FLANAGAN

Full-back
Liverpool
This young man played against Birmingham with the same ease and authority as Chris Lawyer, a former Liverpool player and favourite of mine. If this prodigious talent has anything like the career of that Kop icon then the glory days are really on their way back to Anfield.
Did you know? Despite being the youngest player in the Premier League, Liverpool have conceded only one goal (to Arsenal) in three games with him on the pitch this season.

JAMIE CARRAGHER

Centre-back
Liverpool
Stretchered off last week, he was back to hold the fort this week. 'Mr Dependable' was the bedrock of Liverpool's defence, albeit against the lacklustre Blues. He is the perfect role model for Flanagan and Jack Robinson.
Did you know? Has not had a single shot this season, despite playing 2,129 minutes.

GARY CAHILL

Centre-back
Bolton
This time last week the Bolton defender must have thought his world had collapsed after struggling in the 5-0 FA Cup defeat by Stoke. Against Arsenal however, he made a goal, saved another and went some way to burying that nightmare.
Did you know? Has made a clearance every eight minutes in the Premier League this season, only Blackpool's Ian Evatt and Brede Hangeland of Fulham have cleared the ball more often.

CARLOS SALCIDO

Full-back
Fulham
Played his part in a solid performance at Molineux. The Mexican international continually provided menacing raids down the left flank, resulting in a gilt-edged chance for Clint Dempsey. It is a pity the American striker was not equal to it.
Did you know? No Fulham player won more tackles this weekend (three).

JORDAN HENDERSON

Midfield
Sunderland
Just when you thought that injuries to Sunderland's strike-force had robbed them of a point against Wigan, Henderson popped up with a brace and provided the Black Cats with all three. The 20-year-old is starting to look lively again.
Did you know? Only four players have created more goalscoring chances in the Premier League this season (74).

FRANK LAMPARD

Midfield
Chelsea
In difficult conditions, the Chelsea midfielder initiated West Ham's downfall, set the stage for Fernando Torres and helped keep the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table. Lampard in this form means the title race is still not over.
Did you know? Chelsea have averaged 2.3 goals per game when he has started in the league this season, compared to only 1.4 without him.

MAXI RODRIGUEZ

Midfield
Liverpool
The Argentine put in an outstanding performance to score that hat-trick against Birmingham. There were a couple of gifts from the keeper, but you cannot do any more than be in the right place at the right time. It was an excellent contribution to a fulsome Liverpool performance.
Did you know? Scored his first league hat-trick since September 2004 for Espanyol against Real Betis.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ

Striker
Manchester United
The little Mexican pestered Everton's defence all day and eventually got his reward with a late goal. At a cost of only £6m, he is an outstanding foil for Wayne Rooney. Who would not pay three times that now? And where does United boss Sir Alex Ferguson keep finding them?!
Did you know? Has the best shot conversion rate of regular strikers in the Premier League this season (30%).

PETER ODEMWINGIE

Striker
West Brom
What a buy the Nigerian international has proved to be for the Baggies. Ever since he burst onto the Premier League scene he has transformed West Brom's attack. All credit to ex-Baggies boss Roberto DiMatteo for making a signing other managers were wary of.
Did you know? Only Carlos Tevez (50%) has been involved (goal or assist) in a higher proportion of his team's Premier League goals this season (39%).

DANIEL STURRIDGE

Striker
Bolton
What a fantastic addition this lad has made to Bolton's attack since he left Stamford Bridge on loan. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti could not have found a better way to wreck Arsenal's season.
Did you know? No player has scored more goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season than him (three).

Dillon boys making steady headway

For decades, when you interviewed parents or grandparents of race drivers, you felt compelled to ask them how they dealt with the danger to their offspring.
Nobody had to ask Richard Childress. He volunteered, before this season started, that "I can feel good about watching my grandsons race."
This is the man whose deep and abiding personal loss, his driver and best friend, Dale Earnhardt, stirred the NASCAR safety revolution that now makes him feel less anxious as his grandsons, Ty and Austin Dillon, move up through the ranks.
After the younger grandson, Ty, 19, won the ARCA race at Talladega last Saturday with what Childress called "a classic Earnhardt move," I was struck by Childress' calm at the most white-knuckling of tracks, the place where Earnhardt was seriously injured in 1996.

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John Harrelson/Getty ImagesAustin Dillon is in the top 10 in the Camping World Truck Series.

Young Dillon's last-second move began in the tri-oval, the dog leg in the frontstretch, close to where Earnhardt's car had rolled over on its side and been struck on the roof, fracturing his sternum.
Yet Childress could sit on the pit box, as both a master race strategist and a grandfather, and watch Ty's move -- a slingshot past ARCA veteran Frank Kimmel -- with unbridled glee.
Since Earnhardt was killed at Daytona in 2001, "I think we all learned a lot with that situation, losing Dale," Childress said at Talladega. "If you find anything that came out of it positive, it's that all the drivers are in safer equipment today -- the racetracks with the soft walls, the HANS devices, all the things today. We have a lot safer racing."
He paused for a moment. Long before he lost Earnhardt, Childress himself drove woozily with a concussion for months in the 1970s, daring not tell NASCAR because he had to race to stay afloat financially. And before that, Childress had dared to drive in the inaugural Talladega race in 1969 when the top drivers of NASCAR boycotted due to danger.
So for Childress, the awareness of the risks never really fades away.
"It's still a dangerous sport, and that's part of it," he said. "But that's what [Ty] and his brother wanted to do, and I'm gonna back 'em."
Ty has now won three of only five ARCA starts. Austin, 20, won twice in the Truck series last year and is currently one of the drivers to beat, week in, week out.
"When Ty turned 13, he called me and said, 'Pop Pop, we're ready to go racing,'" Childress recalled, "and that was the most expensive call I've ever had."
That's saying a lot, for an owner who came out of his first season with Earnhardt, 1981, about $75,000 in debt from all the crashes -- even with the Wrangler sponsorship Earnhardt brought with him.
"Boy, he'll break you," owner Bud Moore had warned Childress in 1983, just before Earnhardt came back to Childress for keeps in '84.

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Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCARTy Dillon has moved up to the ARCA series and won at Talladega.

To the contrary, Earnhardt and Childress made each other rich, of course, and now Pop Pop has the wherewithal to put the Dillon boys in the best equipment.
"But I knew," Childress said, "they would put [their] all into it."
At Talladega, Ty "really ran a smart race," Childress said. "He studies racing hard. I'm really proud of him for all the effort he's put into it.
"Yeah, you can have a good car, but you've got to know what to do with it," Childress continued. "And he does."
No wonder. Childress and son-in-law Mike Dillon started the boys out on dirt, the best training ground there is for oval racers in any type of cars. When a driver gets accustomed to being sideways, little can rattle him thereafter. Dirt racing, I've always believed, was the foundation of the uncanny car control that made Earnhardt so successful.
"I think dirt racing helped them more than anything," Childress said of the Dillon boys. "And they still really love to run dirt."
They're currently on slightly different paths, but "the big picture is to move them up," their Pop Pop said. "We ran Austin in the [NASCAR] East series, and we felt it was better for Ty to go ahead and move up [to the big tracks and ARCA]. We watched what happened with Austin, and we moved him on [to Trucks].
"And now we're hoping to run Ty in some Truck races before the year is over, and Austin's going to run some Nationwide. And if we find the sponsorship, hopefully we can run Ty in the Trucks next year and Austin in the Nationwide next year. That's our plan."
Can he envision Austin and Ty Dillon as drivers with RCR at the Cup level someday?
"That's something that you dream of," he said. "But they both know they've got to earn it."
They can be workmanlike, and learn racing as a craft. Pop Pop can feel good about that.

Luke Donald thwarted by Brandt Snedeker Heritage win

Donald could have replaced Germany's Martin Kaymer as world number one

Final leaderboard:
-12 B Snedeker (US) L Donald (Eng) -11 T Gainey (US) -10 T Herron (US) R Barnes (US) -8 N O'Hern (Aus), B Crane (US) P Perez (US) Selected others: -3 I Poulter (Eng) +1 G McDowell (NI)

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England's Luke Donald narrowly missed the chance to become world number one after losing a sudden-death play-off to Brandt Snedeker at The Heritage.

The result means Englishman Lee Westwood reclaims the number one spot after winning the Indonesia Masters.
Both players finished the tournament on 12 under par but Snedeker snatched victory at the third play-off hole when Donald's chip lipped out at the 18th.
Snedeker had fired a seven-under-par 64, while Donald could only make a 70.
The 33-year-old Englishman went into Sunday's finale knowling that a victory in South Carolina would have seen him usurp Germany's Martin Kaymer as the top-ranked player.
But second place allowed Westwood to regain the position he first claimed in October, while Kaymer slips to second with Donald third.
Snedeker had produced the outstanding performance of the final day, firing nine birdies in his round.
The 30-year-old, from Nashville, Tennessee, went round the front nine in 30 shots and, after dropping shots at 13 and 16, he holed a 15-footer at the 18th to briefly snatch the outright lead.
Donald, who had a one-shot lead going into Sunday's final round, picked up two shots in his first five holes but he dropped shots on the seventh and the 10th, where he missed from three feet.
But a superb birdie putt at the 13th took him back into a share of the lead.
The Englishman had a golden chance to regain the lead on the par-four 16th but a five-footer slid past the left-hand side of the hole.
Needing a par to force a play-off, Donald found a greenside bunker with his second shot on the 18th but a sublime shot rolled a foot past the hole, leaving him a simple tap-in to take the match to a play-off.
Both players hit stunning second shots into 18 and made birdies before the 17th was halved in par.
Playing the 18th again, Donald found a bunker with his second shot and could only splash out to the far edge of the green.
With Snedeker having tapped in for par, Donald had to hole the ensuing chip but his brilliant effort hit the back of the hole and bounced out to hand victory to the American.
Earlier, defending champion Jim Furyk, playing alongside Donald in the final group, made two double bogeys in the last four holes to card a 76 and slide to five under.
American Tommy Gainey took third place on 11 under par, with his compatriots Tim Herron and Ricky Barnes in a share of fourth on 10 under.

Stats the way for Liverpool

Statistics will provide the key information for Liverpool this summer

Comolli: Looking to use his expertise of French market to help Liverpool

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Liverpool Director of football Damien Comolli has highlighted the qualities of potential target Blaise Matuidi.

"When you find yourself handling three of the biggest transfers in English football history in the last days of the market, precise figures allow you not to do that blind."
Damien Comolli Quotes of the week

The Saint Etienne midfielder has been linked with a summer move to Anfield as part of the anticipated wave of summer signings.
Comolli is set to use the aide of statistics to help him decide on which players will make the grade at Liverpool.

Figures

"In France, all the figures prove that the player who wins the most possession at the feet of his opponents is Blaise Matuidi," Comolli told the News of the World.
"That is an extraordinary strong point. When the team plays high, it means a goal chance."

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Comolli believes his new policy has already paid dividends as it was used to sign Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January and to facilitate the sale of Fernando Torres.
In regards to Suarez, who has become an instant hit at Anfield, his due diligence appears to have been faultless.

Transfers

"When you find yourself handling three of the biggest transfers in English football history in the last days of the market, precise figures allow you not to do that blind," he added.
"You have to act quickly. For Luis, I asked scouts to make inquiries in Holland. I looked at his stats over the last three years - especially the number of matches played.
"We are going in the right direction of players who don't get injured. We are going to take more and more account of the health of a player in the future. It costs so much having players who don't play.
"With Luis, we took account of the number of decisive passes, his performances against the big teams, against the little ones, in Europe, the difference between his goals scored at home and away."

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Bolton   2 - 1   Arsenal Arsenal's frustration was plain to see at the Reebok on Sunday By Phil Dawkes Arsenal's Premier League title challenge is all but over after they lost to a last-minute goal at Bolton. The Gunners were below par in the first half and trailed at half-time to Daniel Sturridge's header following a corner. Early in the second half, Wojciech Szczesny saved a Kevin Davies penalty and a minute later Robin van Persie slotted in an equaliser for Arsenal. The visitors had enough chances to win the match but were left shocked by Tamir Cohen's poignant late header. The substitute celebrated his match-winning goal by revealing a t-shirt in honour of his late father Avi (a former Liverpool player), who died after a motorbike accident in December. But while Cohen's sentiment was touching, Arsenal will be left with litttle reason to lift their mood. Cannot play media.You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Title chances now minimal - Wenger After wins for league leaders Manchester United and rejuvenated challengers Chelsea on Saturday, the equation was a simple one for Arsenal: win, or essentially wave goodbye to this year's title challenge and their last remaining hopes of silverware. Three points here would have left the Gunners knowing that victory over United at the Emirates next Sunday would have taken them to within three points of the leaders, but they now trail Sir Alex Ferguson's men by nine points with only 12 to play for. Having spent much of the season as United's closest challengers for the league, Arsenal now face a battle to secure second place in the table, with Chelsea holding a three-point lead and a superior goal difference over them. There was a time, not long ago, when Arsenal's performances at the Reebok represented a central tenet of the argument that Arsene Wenger's side were a soft touch. Three successive victories at the Reebok in a run of eight straight wins in total over Bolton prior to Sunday had helped them to hit back at accusations of their physical fallibility. But doubts remain about the Gunners' mental strength, which was further fuelled by their sacrificing of a two-goal lead in last Wednesday's 3-3 draw at north London rivals Tottenham, and will now come under the severest scrutiny. Yet a victory in Lancashire would not have flattered Arsenal. They fashioned enough chances in the second half alone to comfortably win the game. The fact that they did not, when you suspect their title rivals would have, is telling. Samir Nasri will be wondering how he did not score with two clear opportunities in the second half, firstly when Jussi Jaaskelainen saved his shot after he had been released by Van Persie, and then when the Frenchman failed to connect with a header back across the box to him from substitute Marouane Chamakh. However, the visitors had only themselves to blame for being in such a frantic second-half state. They had plenty of possession before the break, but too often let themselves down by over-playing in the final third, and often lacked focus in defence. This gave encouragement to a Bolton side determined to make amends for their FA Cup semi-final hammering at the hands of Stoke last Sunday. The clearest goalscoring chances in the first half were fashioned by the home side. Cannot play media.You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Coyle delighted with turnaround in form Midway through the half, Sturridge split the Gunners defence with a pinpoint pass to unleash Chung-Yong Lee, but inexplicably the midfielder opted for an elaborate flick pass to Davies and Song was able to intercept and clear. Minutes later, Johan Djourou's mistake gave Matthew Taylor a clear shooting opportunity, but Szczesny was able to save the 20-yard angled drive low down. It was no surprise when Wanderers opened the scoring, seven minutes before the break, and it was equally predictable that the in-form Sturridge would get the goal. Gary Cahill's header from a corner was blocked on the line by Nasri and Sturrdidge was first to react, nodding in his seventh goal in nine games since joining on loan from Chelsea. In the first minute of the second half the 21-year-old made another major contribution, falling under the challenge of Djourou for a penalty. However, Szczesny was able to save Davies' poorly taken spot-kick with his legs to keep alive Arsenal's hopes of victory. These were raised further when, a minute later, Van Persie fed Fabregas in the box and then ran on to the Spaniard's lay off to side-foot in an equaliser. This prompted a 40-minute siege of the Bolton goal, but a second away goal refused to come. Instead Arsenal's growing desperation left them increasingly vulnerable at the back, and Bolton capitalised when Lee's corner was headed home by Cohen.