Sir Alex Ferguson Not Worried About Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi – Luis Lionel Andrés Messi – FC Barcelona
Alex Ferguson says that his side are fit for their Champions League Final clash with Barcelona on Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.
Fergie adamently stated that neither he nor United are scared by Lionel Messi.
Although Messi has scored an astonishing 52 goals in Barca's amazing 2010-11 season, Sir Alex is confident that his side can stop Messi from controlling the match at Wembley.
“We’ve played against Barcelona three times with Messi in the team and there’s always a solution to every good player – and we hope we can find a solution on Saturday.
“But you’ve also got to recognise that they have other good players and we have good players, and that is why it’s such an appealing game.
“But I’m sure Barcelona are aware of the threats we can offer, and hopefully that is the case.
“I’ve just got to trust my players that they can perform on Saturday and that makes a difference.
“I know they’ll be ready.”
Barcelona v Manchester United
Barcelona to Play Manchester United in Summer Match
The top team in the England Premier League will play against the top team in the Spanish Football League - La Liga - this summer as Manchester United takes on Barcelona.
Man United will meet Barcelona in a friendly clash in Washington DC as part of their pre-season tour to the United States.
''Tours are a fantastic chance for the players to get away as a unit, to put in some good training sessions and to meet some of our fans around the world who don't have a chance to watch us play live every week,'' said Ferguson.
''Our visits to the US are always enjoyable ones. The training facilities are excellent and we certainly found last year that, with the improving quality of the MLS teams, the games are very competitive, which is great preparation for a new season.
''To finish off with a match against Barcelona will be a special moment for all our fans in the States.''
United open against New England Revolution on July 13 in Boston before travelling west to meet Seattle Sounders a week later. Next comes a game against Chicago Fire on July 23 before they take on the MLS All-Stars in New Jersey on July 27 and Barca in Washington.
Great FC Barcelona tickets and Manchester United tickets are available now online:
Spanish Copa del Rey Final 2011: FC Barcelona v Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi
Spanish Copa del Rey FINAL 2011: FC Barcelona v Real Madrid
Barca and Real fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming King's Cup - Spainish Copa de Rey. The clash of the giants will be played at E Stadium in Valencia, Spain on April 20, 2011.
The popular contest is also a clash between Spain's two top goal scorers, Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madird).
LIONEL MESSI
Messi's last match was a 2-1 victory against Getafe. Super-Messi almost gave Barca the lead with an impressive overhead kick after seven minutes, but the Argentinian - improvising with his back to goal - saw his effort saved by Getafe goalkeeper Jordi Codina. A powerful Dani Alves strike and a deflected Bojan Krkic effort gave Barcelona victory at home to Getafe in the Primera Division. Lionel won the 2009 and 2010 World Player of the Year awards.
| Lionel Messi: Games: 26, Goals: 27, | Assists: 16, | Shots: 129 |
"Messi is my Maradona," said Maradona himself, as the head coach of the Argentine national team.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Ronaldo's last match was a 2-1 win against Athletico Madrid. Real Madrid continued their long-standing domination of city rivals Atletico Madrid with the win - and keep the pressure on Primera Division leaders Barcelona. Benzema struck his 10th goal from his last eight appearances to put Madrid ahead early on, and Mesut Ozil added a second before the break. Ronaldo won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008, and subsequently was named FIFA's World Player of the Year. Cristiano's name Ronaldo came from his father's favorite actor, Ronald Reagan.
| Cristiano Ronaldo: Games: 27, Goals: 27, | Assists: 8, | Shots: 208 |
"I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. He is better than Kaka and better than Messi. He is streets ahead of them all. His contribution as a goal threat is unbelievable. His stats are incredible. Strikes at goal, attempts on goal, raids into the penalty box, headers. It is all there. Absolutely astounding." Sir Alex Ferguson, July 2009.
Watch Lionel Messi play for Barcelona and watch Cristiano Ronaldo play live for Real Madrid. Great La Liga football tickets are still available this season. Buy Spanish football tickets – including Real Madrid tickets and Barcelona tickets online now. Do not miss the Copa del Rey Final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid - Spanish Copa del Rey FINAL 2011: FC Barcelona v Real Madrid Tickets.
Real Madrid Manager Jose Mourinho Given Football Extravaganza Award
Jose Mourinho, the wealthiest manager in football, was honored with the 16th Football Extravaganza award last night. He received this award at a dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Real Madird coach Jose Mourinho has confirmed that his next job will be in the Premier League.
Mourinho spent three successful years at Chelsea between 2004-07. He steered the club to two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.
Mourinho left Stamford Bridge after becoming the most successful Chelsea manager, and guided Inter to the treble before joining Real Madrid last summer.
"I miss England and my next job will be in England," said Mourinho.
"There is unfinished business.
"And I think England wants me back, no? It was the most enjoyable time of my career.
"My Chelsea time was amazing as a football manager and family man. My family and I enjoyed it so much. We made so many friends here. We still keep in touch, we still come back."
Mourinho has been rumored to suceed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he retires, as well as rumors of the two-time Champions League winner replacing Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.
"I still have three years at Real Madrid. It is the biggest club in the world but it is also the most difficult club in the world," he added.
"They came to me for the third time and I could not say no to them for the third time - I had to go.
"And I had to go to Italy, that was important for me because I wanted to try there. Everyone said it was the home of tactics so I said let me try there.
"But it is not England, England is special. People in Italy, Spain and Portugal ask me why I love England so much and I can't explain - I just do."
Real Madrid coach Mourinho earns more than any other manager in the game, reports a survey by France Football magazine.
Mourinho earns €13.5m (£11.7m) a year. The Portuguese coach, who won the Champions League as well as Serie A and the Coppa Italia with Italian giants Inter Milan last season, was hired by Real Madrid last summer.
Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola is second with an annual income of €10.5m (£9.1m).
Rafael Benitez, who is between jobs after leaving the Nerazzurri in December 2010, earned €10.2m (£8.9M).
England head coach Fabio Capello is fourth with a salary of €8.5m (£7.4m).
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is the highest paid footballer in the world. The Argentina international, who is regarded as the world’s best footballer and has won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years, earns €31 million (£27m) per year – from his salary and publicity deals. He earns €3.5m (£3m) more than Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, a former team-mate of Ronaldo at Old Trafford, is third in the list with an annual income of €20.7m (£18m).
David Beckham of LA Galaxy and Thierry Henry of New York Red Bulls, are fifth and 11th in the list with earnings of €19m (£16.5m) and €13.6m (£11.8m) respectively.
HIGHEST PAID FOOTBALL MANAGERS MARCH 2011
1) Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid) – £11.7m; 2) Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) – £9.1m; 3) Rafael Benitez (ex-Internazionale) – £8.8m; 4) Fabio Capello (England) – £7.4m; 5) Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) – £6m
HIGHEST PAID FOOTBALLERS MARCH 2011
1) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – £26.9 million; 2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – £23.9m; 3) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – £18m; 4) Kaka (Real Madrid) – £16.7m; 5) David Beckham (LA Galaxy) – £16.5m; 6) Ronaldinho (Flamengo) – £15.9m; 7) Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) – £13.4; 8) Frank Lampard (Chelsea) – £12.3m; 9) Yaya Toure (Manchester City) – £11.9m; 10) Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) – £11.5m
Watch Lionel Messi play for Barcelona. Great La Liga football tickets are still available this season. Buy Spanish football tickets – including Real Madrid tickets and Barcelona tickets online now.
Spain v Czech Republic
Spain National Team Celebrates
Spain v Czech Republic
Spain have played 3 Euro 2012 qualifying matches so far and they’ve won them all with an average of more than 3 goals per game.
Group I leaders Spain could seal their qualification into the finals of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine in the upcoming days. To achieve that, La Furia Roja need to achieve victories against the Czech Republic and Lithuania on Friday and next Tuesday - then Euro 2012 victory will be at hand.
Spain manager, Vicente del Bosque, has Barcelona players Carles Puyol and Pedro Rodriguez out with injuries for their upcoming clash against Czech Republic.
Spain will play the Czech Republic and Lithuania in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. March could see Spain reach Poland and Ukraine ahead of time.
Barcelona has the highest number of players on del Bosque’s roster for Spain’s Euro 2012 qualifier against the Czech Republic. The Catalans have 6 of their players called up for this match - Real Madrid have 5. Chelsea’s Fernando Torres - El Nino - has been named as one of three strikers alongside Fernando Llorente and David Villa.
SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Víctor Valdés [FC Barcelona], Iker Casillas [Real Madrid CF], José Reina [Liverpool FC]
Defenders: Sergio Ramos [Real Madrid CF], Álvaro Arbeloa [Real Madrid CF], Gerard Piqué [FC Barcelona], Raúl Albiol [Real Madrid CF], Carlos Marchena [Villarreal CF], Andoni Iraola [Athletic Club], Joan Capdevila [Villarreal CF]
Midfielders: Andrés Iniesta [FC Barcelona], Xabi Alonso [Real Madrid CF],Santi Cazorla [Villarreal CF], Sergio Busquets [FC Barcelona], Javi Martínez [Athletic Club], Xavi Hernández [FC Barcelona], Juan Mata [Valencia CF], Jesús Navas [Sevilla FC], David Silva [Manchester City FC]
Forwards: Fernando Torres [Chelsea FC], Fernando Llorente [Athletic Club], David Villa [FC Barcelona]
