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Manchester City win Barclays Premier League title

2012-05-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

Roberto Mancini's side pip neighbours United on afternoon of astonishing drama

Key Points Manchester City are the 2011/12 Barclays Premier League champions City score twice in injury time to secure top spot in dramatic fashion Late goals deny Manchester United a 13th Barclays Premier League crown Manchester City were crowned champions of the Barclays Premier League after an afternoon of astonishing drama at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini's side seemed to be destined for second place for much of the afternoon as Queens Park Rangers produced a display of resilience to thwart their opponents. The situation was desperate as the match at the Etihad Stadium moved into injury time. QPR, down to 10 men for the final 35 minutes of the match after Joey Barton's red card, were winning 2-1 and set to become the first side this season to beat City on their own patch. More significantly, Manchester United were winning 1-0 at Sunderland thanks to Wayne Rooney's header - which meant City had to secure victory to win their first title in 44 years. With 75 seconds of the five minutes of injury time elapsed Edin Dzeko fired in to level the match and set the tone for an astonishing finale. And with less than two minutes remaining, Sergio Aguero fired past Paddy Kenny from close range to spark massive celebrations in the stadium.

Managers look forward to critical final day

2012-05-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

The 20 Barclays Premier League bosses on a season finale with everything to play for

The denouement to a thrilling Barclays Premier League season takes place on Sunday 13th May, with several key issues still to be decided at the top and bottom of the table.
The title, UEFA Champions League places, UEFA Europa League places and the final relegation spot are still yet to be decided.
Find out exactly what can happen on the final day by clicking here >>
Here, the managers of the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs look forward to what promises to be a day that will live long in the memory:

THE TITLE RACE
Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers
Man City's Roberto Mancini: "When you play the last game and if you win, you can win the Premier League title, then for sure that is a big game.
"And in this situation, we play against a team in QPR that play to avoid relegation. It will be hard, it will be difficult - more than at Newcastle, more than against Manchester United."

QPR's Mark Hughes: "Our away form is probably the worst in the Premier League, so that doesn't auger well. But it's a one-off game, a huge game for Man City, and maybe City will get nervous about their situation. Stranger things have happened.
"City have the view that if something can go wrong it will go wrong for them, that's how their fans have thought down the years. But they are an outstanding football team and the prize they are going for is the ultimate prize."

Sunderland v Manchester United

Sunderland's Martin O'Neill: "We're a bit-part on Sunday, but it's good to be involved in it. Man City think this will be an easy game for United - but they only took a point from us in two matches this season.
"For us, if we win, we've got a chance of finishing in the top 10, and that's not something I was thinking about a few months ago. It's a terrific effort by the players, because they've won some matches this season they probably had no right to win."

Man Utd's Sir Alex Ferguson: "Do you know what I was doing 29 years ago today [Friday]? I took a wee team - Aberdeen - to beat Real Madrid in a European final wiith 11 players, home-bred, and the oldest player was 27 years of age.
"That's Queens Park Rangers' challenge - to do an Aberdeen. We need something stupid to happen at City, we know that."

THE EUROPEAN PLACES
Everton v Newcastle United

Everton's David Moyes: "I said if we finished in the top 10 that would be an acceptable achievement. But I don't think you ever want to be saying finishing 10th - or seventh - is that good. The only place you want to finish is first.
"Maybe in the Premier League it is slightly different because getting in a Champions League spot is seen as success. I wouldn't say 10th is successful, I would say it is adequate, a decent return for us."

Newcastle's Alan Pardew: "We can be very proud of what we've achieved here, and the players have done brilliantly. It's been a fantastic season - to finish fifth would be a marvellous achievement anyway.
"Sunday will play out, and we'll hear about other things happening during the game. A lot can happen on the last day and there's a lot to play for. To be competing for the Champions League is more than we could have imagined."
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham

Tottenham's Harry Redknapp: "If we can finish third it will be great, but if we finish fourth that would still be a great achievement.
"I don't think we've finished above Chelsea too many times since the Premier League started have we? So that's good."

Fulham's Martin Jol: "I'm very satisfied with how we've done this season, especially after the start and all those games we had to play to get into the Europa League proper. In the last 20-odd matches we'd be in the top five in the League.
"We could finish eighth if results go our way, but the only thing that matters is that we get a good result at Spurs. I don't think it will be emotional for me; hopefully it won't be very emotional for the Spurs fans either. But Spurs will always be in my heart."
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal

West Brom assistant Keith Downing: "We want to finish with more points than last year and finish in the top 10. And also we want to win for two people: Roy Hodgson, for the 16 months of fantastic work he's put in; and Dave Matthews, the kit man who's been here for 50-odd years.
"It's an important day for everybody. We've laid a lot of hoodoos to rest this season and we know the magnitude of the game on Sunday. Arsenal are a superb side and credit to them for getting themselves in the position they are in now."

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger: "Defensively we were poor against Norwich, but we were trying to hard to win the game. All of a sudden it wasn't in our hands, but the other teams failed to take advantage and that was a big lift for us.
"If you look at how far back in the League we have come from to be in the position we are now in, it's really remarkable. We have a massive game in front of us, but I feel we're focused and switched on."

THE RELEGATION PLACE
[See also Man City v QPR]
Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers

Stoke's Tony Pulis: "I'm just focused on doing what we do. Owen [Coyle] has his own responsibilities, he has got his football club to look after and he has to manage the week the way he has to manage the week.
"I can guarantee everybody that we'll be running around and we'll do our best and if we win the game, brilliant, if we don't, it's still been a great season for us."

Bolton's Owen Coyle: "I truly believe we will stay up. I know we are capable of going and winning a tough game at a tough venue. We have players who can score goals - to win games you must score goals - and we can do that.
"We can still be smiling on Sunday night. To do that we have to give a huge performance."

THE OTHER MATCHES
Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers

Chelsea's Roberto di Matteo: "Our schedule has been crazy. We've played many more games than our opposition and I don't have any regrets. We've pushed the players and they've responded fantastically. To be able to play in the Champions League final is incredible.
"I couldn't ask for any more from any of them. We've tried to win every game and sometimes the other team was better. We wanted to finish fourth, so that's the disappointment. But it could still be a great season."

Blackburn's Steve Kean: "We got to focus on the Chelsea match and then look to build a squad that hits the ground running and gets us out of the Championship at the first attempt.
"In the short term, I want to keep the majority of this squad together. We know we have to bounce back as quickly as possible because it gets harder."
Norwich City v Aston Villa

Norwich's Paul Lambert: "You hope that the players are going to keep kicking on and driving on. I don't want to be up here one season and then go down again.
"You want to keep kicking on. And they're young enough to keep that hunger and to keep going. That's testament to them that they want to keep on improving."

Aston Villa's Alex McLeish: "We got over the line, there's obviously a bit of relief there. People expect us to be higher up the table because our name's Aston Villa, but sometimes there are reasons for that not to be the case.
"We've under-achieved for this football club in terms of past history, no doubt. But we've lost experienced players at crucial times and we've missed Darren Bent, his goals would've got us a bit higher up."
Swansea City v Liverpool

Swansea's Brendan Rodgers: "Both teams have a lot to play for. Liverpool will try to finish as high as they possibly can. There's a demand on a club like Liverpool to win every single game. The performance during the week [against Chelsea] was exceptional.
"And as always we are at home, we always expect to do well. We will have a great celebration and hopefully we will have a performance and a result on top of that."

Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish: "We want to do as well as we possibly can in every game we play for this football club. To win a trophy this year is a good result and to get to the FA Cup final is a good result - and to get in the Europa League is a measure of success.

"We're not happy finishing below anybody in the table, we want to be finishing above everybody."
Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wigan's Roberto Martinez: "I don't expect to lose anyone under contract this summer. Everyone has improved in the last 12 months and everyone's got another level to go up, too.
"The next step is that we produce the form of the last 12-14 games for an entire season, and then we become a football club that isn't trying to avoid relegation anymore. But Sunday is a celebration, and what this team has achieved is truly remarkable."

Wolves' Terry Connor: "If we win I can enjoy the last game. But the players, the staff and the fans have given me great support over the past couple of months and I'd like to thank them all for that.
"When [new manager] Stale [Solbakken] comes in to work he'll have the full backing of myself and every member of staff. We'll welcome him like we welcome everyone coming here and we'll give him every chance to succeed in the job."

2012-05-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

MANCHIN Vs FERGUSON

Club Pld Pts

Man City 37 86

Man Utd 37 86

Arsenal 37 67

Tottenham 37 66

Newcastle 37 65

Chelsea 37 61

Everton 37 53

Liverpool 37 52

Fulham 37 52

West Brom 37 47

Sunderland 37 45

Swansea 37 44

Norwich 37 44

Stoke 37 44

Wigan 37 40

Aston Villa 37 38

QPR 37 37

Bolton 37 35

Blackburn 37 31

Wolves 37 25

Captains Kompany & Evra prepare for D-Day

2012-05-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

Man City and Man Utd skippers look forward to final day of 2011/12 season

Key Points

Man City and Man Utd both aiming to win Barclays Premier League on Sunday

Man City host QPR and Man Utd travel to Sunderland

Captains Kompany & Evra both confident of success

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Manchester United skipper Patrice Evra say they are both fully focused and confident going into the last day of the Barclays Premier League season.

City are top of the table going into Sunday's denoument, leading United only on goal difference after 37 matches.

"I can only tell you one thing - all the players will be ready for it"
- Vincent Kompany

Belgian defender Kompany knows that if he can lead his side to victory at home against Queens Park Rangers, they will be crowned champions of England for the first time since 1968.

"We are determined and completely focused on what we have to do," Kompany told his club's official website. "I can only tell you one thing - all the players will be ready for it.

"People say this match is somehow different, but every team that has come to the Etihad Stadium this season has needed to get something.

"It'll be a good game, I'm sure of that. Things don't have to come easy and if QPR give us a good game then fair play to them. We just have to be better than them.
"I'd have happily played the game a day after we beat Newcastle last weekend. A whole week's build-up is annoying and you want to get it over with, but hopefully that'll help to make it so special."

Mata: We want to make Chelsea history by winning Champions League

2012-05-12T14:39:00.002-07:00
The Spaniard thinks it is important to gain European qualification with victory, while hailing Di Matteo's "character" but refusing to speculate on whether he will stay on as boss

Chelsea star Juan Mata has expressed the players' desire to win the Champions League "for the club" as well as to secure a place in the competition next year. Since Roman Abramovich bought the west London club in 2003, the Russian has pumped huge amounts of money into it in order to try and win Europe's top competition. The Blues did manage to reach their first Champions League final in 2008, only to lose on penalties to Manchester United, with then-manager Avram Grant being removed soon after. This season, despite Andre Villas-Boas being sacked part-way through the season, Roberto Di Matteo has stepped in and led Chelsea to its second shot at lifting the elusive trophy. The 24-year-old Mata, who was signed from Valencia in the summer, revealed that the squad wants to make history by defeating Bayern Munich, while adding that it is also important to qualify for next season's tournament. The Spaniard told Press Association Sport: "We want to win for the club, and for us, because we can make history for Chelsea. "But, as well, it's important to play in the Champions League next year. Chelsea always want to be in the Champions League." Winning the final, which is to be staged at Bayern's home ground the Allianz Arena, is now the only way the Premier League side can cement Champions League football for the 2012-13 season, after a disappointing league campaign. However, the 23 million pound man insisted that if they triumph in Germany, adding to the FA Cup victory against Liverpool, the season will have been a success. "It hasn't been an easy season for us in the Premier League," Mata continued. "We are in sixth position, so it's not what Chelsea deserves. But we won the FA Cup, we have the chance now to win the Champions League as well. So, if we win both, it will be an amazing season for us." Nevertheless, there is still much speculation concerning Di Matteo's future at the club. Mata was signed by former Blues' boss Villas-Boas but gave his support to the interim boss. However, he would not say whether he thought the club's former midfielder Di Matteo would get the job permanently. "Robbie's a very good guy, a very good person," the midfielder said of Di Matteo. "He has character, he knows Chelsea. He used to play [for the club], now he's training. So he's a very good manager and we are all with him. "We don't know, we don't know [whether he will get the full-time role]. It's not our job. But I think all of us are happy with him. We have to win the final of the Champions League and now that's it."

CHELSEA NEW 2012/13 HOME KITS

2012-05-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

£45.83

£50.42

Manchester City captain Kompany wins Barclays Player of the Season award

2012-05-11T13:37:00.000-07:00
The Belgian center back, who scored the winner against Manchester United in April, has been at the heart of the Blues team in what could be a Premier League-winning season.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been awarded Barclays Player of the Season. The Blues defender, 26, has been instrumental in the side's resurgence in form since their defeat at Arsenal in early April. Since that 1-0 loss - which looked to have eliminated them from the title race due to an eight-point deficit from leader Manchester United - Roberto Mancini’s men have been in fine form. The club has conceded just once and scored 15 times in its current run of five straight wins. The "noisy neighbors" started the season with a bang and led the league for large periods of the 2011-12 campaign despite limited success in European competitions. A 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford led many to believe they were certain to become Premier League champions this season. City ended April with a jubilant 1-0 win in the Manchester derby to complete the league double over Sir Alex Ferguson's men - the goal was scored by Kompany from a corner just before the halftime whistle. The club needs to win at home - a feat it has failed to accomplish only once this season - against QPR to secure itse first Premier League title. The Belgium international won the Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season award ceremony.

2012-05-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

Guardiola: I will rest for a year and then see what happens The 41-year-old coach was full of praise for his assistant, who will take charge of the Blaugrana in the summer and revealed he will get some much needed rest and relaxation More On : Barcelona, Pep Guardiola Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will take a one-year sabbatical at the end of the season. The 41-year-old announced last month that will leave Barca in June after four successful years in charge of the club because of the exhausting nature of the job. "I will rest for a year and then we will see," he told reporters at a press conference. "I do not have any plans, not even plans to coach again. "I will do something, but you will not be seeing me that much." Guardiola then heaped praise on assistant coach Tito Vilanova, who will replace him at the helm of the Blaugrana in the summer. "It is very hard to say if we will work together in the future," he noted. "He gave everyone a lesson in bravery and courage when he decided to take over the team. "I hope Tito will be here for a long time, that would be a sign that things had gone well. "I learned that Tito would replace me the same day of the press conference in which I announced that I was leaving." Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has cast doubt over David Villa's chances of making the Spain squad for Euro 2012, but Guardiola has declared that the striker will be fit for this summer's showpiece. "His recovery is going very well and according to schedule," he explained. "The doctors and himself set the possibility of playing at the Euros. "It will also depend on Del Bosque, he is the one who will decide." Guardiola commented on the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao, saying that he anticipates a tough match against the Basque side. "We will meet a very demanding Athletic," the Spanish coach noted. "They were the surprise package in Europe. "They will be a very tough side to beat, even more so now, as they will try to bounce back from their Europa League disappointment."

TRANSFER ZONE

2012-05-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

The Manchester United striker is available for transfer this summer after becoming unhappy with a lack of playing opportunities but he does not want to stay in England.

AVB

2012-03-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

5 March 2012 Last updated at 16:20 GMT

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Chelsea job will be 'hell', says Luiz Felipe Scolari

Working under Roman Abramovich will be "hell" for the next Chelsea manager, according to former Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Abramovich is looking for his eighth permanent manager since 2003 after sacking Andre Villas-Boas on Sunday.
"It will be hell for whoever succeeds him," said Scolari, who spent seven months at Chelsea in 2008-09.
"[The sacking] is strange - although it's not so strange to me because of what I went through there."
Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2008.

At Chelsea - Scolari v AVB

Scolari AVB

36
Played
40

20
Won
19

10
Drawn
11

6
Lost
10

In September of the previous year, Jose Mourinho, winner of successive Premier League titles with the Blues, had left the club to be replaced by Avram Grant, who was sacked despite taking Chelsea to the Champions League final.
Brazilian Scolari was then removed after only 36 games in charge, with Chelsea lying fourth in the Premier League.
At the time of his departure, there were suggestions some players were not happy with his management style - problems Villas-Boas has also reportedly encountered.
"Some things are known, like the relations with the owner, who has the relationship with some players before the coach," added Scolari.
The former Portugal boss also believes one of the reasons why Chelsea have a ratio of nearly one manager a year under Abramovich is down to the club's culture.
"England has clubs like Arsenal, where Arsene Wenger has been for several years, yet has won only two or three championships," he said. "Chelsea's culture is very different."
Villas-Boas arrived in London after winning the quadruple with Porto in his first full season as a club manager.
And Scolari, now in charge of Brazilian club Palmeiras, believes Villas-Boas will recover from his Stamford Bridge experience.
"Villas-Boas was a champion and he will continue to be. He needed to replace at least seven or eight players, even since I was there, but he failed."
Meanwhile, Blues winger Juan Mata says he is determined to rescue Chelsea's season after this latest setback.
"I think we have to start again," he told Chelsea TV. "We are not in a good moment, we are not in a good run of results, but we all want to change it.
"We have a very good squad and we have two months to achieve our objectives in the Premier League, in the FA Cup and Champions League."

Club	Pld	Pts
Man City	37	86
Man Utd	37	86
Arsenal	37	67
Tottenham	37	66
Newcastle	37	65
Chelsea	37	61
Everton	37	53
Liverpool	37	52
Fulham	37	52
West Brom	37	47
Sunderland	37	45
Swansea	37	44
Norwich	37	44
Stoke	37	44
Wigan	37	40
Aston Villa	37	38
QPR	37	37
Bolton	37	35
Blackburn	37	31
Wolves	37	25

yousuf og loc

Manchester City win Barclays Premier League title

Managers look forward to critical final day

The 20 Barclays Premier League bosses on a season finale with everything to play for

THE TITLE RACE

THE EUROPEAN PLACES

THE RELEGATION PLACE

THE OTHER MATCHES

Captains Kompany & Evra prepare for D-Day

Man City and Man Utd skippers look forward to final day of 2011/12 season

Key Points

Mata: We want to make Chelsea history by winning Champions League

CHELSEA NEW 2012/13 HOME KITS

Manchester City captain Kompany wins Barclays Player of the Season award

TRANSFER ZONE

The Manchester United striker is available for transfer this summer after becoming unhappy with a lack of playing opportunities but he does not want to stay in England.

AVB

Chelsea job will be 'hell', says Luiz Felipe Scolari

At Chelsea - Scolari v AVB