Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: secrets to his success as Molde manager

Posted on November 16, 2012 by adminsports

As Solskjaer wins another title in Norway, we reveal the secrets to his success… but could he work as a Premier League boss

UPDATED:

16:02 GMT, 16 November 2012

In England, November is the time of year when football clubs who have had a below par start begin to think about swinging the axe on their manager.

In Norway, or in Molde to be precise, it’s starting to become a month to celebrate after the Tippeligaen side secured back-to-back league titles on Sunday.

Given the history of the club it is a huge achievement and pulling the strings as manager is none other than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

New dawn: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is enjoying instant success in his managerial career at Molde

Matt Lawton: My memories of Ole

He will always, in my mind, be
responsible for the biggest production nightmare in the history of
sports journalism. A player who succeeded in turning a few journalistic
brains to mush in newspaper offices across London as well as in
Barcelona on that extraordinary night in 1999.

I was there as the
Manchester correspondent for my newspaper that night and the ‘baby-faced
assassin’, as my colleague Steve Millar famously called him, was not a
player who took much interest in the media. He was always polite but
very quiet, which made him the perfect professional in the eyes of Sir
Alex Ferguson.

To his credit, the fame and the adulation never changed
him. He remained a model pro and I’m sure that is one reason why
Ferguson invited him to join the coaching staff when he finally called
time on a distinguished playing career.

The former Manchester United striker
has been a revelation back in his native land since taking over at the
start of last year with the successive top flight championships – the
first two in the club’s 101 year history.

Norway
has hardly been a breeding ground for producing Europe’s finest
managers in years gone by (just ask any Wimbledon fan about Egil Olsen)
but the 'baby-faced assassin's' impressive track record is causing a few
clubs in England to take a keen interest.

Aston Villa even made an approach to take him to Villa Park before appointing Paul Lambert last summer, but the 39-year-old declined on the basis of keeping a settled family back in Molde.

Injury forced Solskjaer to quit playing in 2008 and prior to his current post he had only spent two years managing Manchester United’s reserve side – so what is the secret to his instant success

European adventure: Solskjaer celebrates a goal in this year's Europa League clash against Stuttgart

It can’t all be down to playing under Sir Alex Ferguson for 10 years at United (who he joined from Molde in 1996) as we have seen a few former Red Devils stars struggle to make the conversion from a strong playing career into management.

Solskjaer does admit to pinching a few techniques from the 70-year-old, who he still refers to as boss, including inspiring team-talks and guiding the players on how to eat and dress.

However the managerial brain has always seemed to be inside the former Norway international. He’s been interested in coaching since the age of 10 when he guided other kids in the streets of Kristiansund and revealed in an interview with Sportsmail last year he always took notes while at Old Trafford.

Baby-faced Assassin: Solskjaer celebrates his most famous goal for Manchester United - the injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final (below) against Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp

Baby-faced Assassin: Solskjaer celebrates his most famous goal for Manchester United – the injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final (below) against Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp

Baby-faced Assassin: Solskjaer celebrates his most famous goal for Manchester United - the injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final (below) against Bayern Munich in the Nou Camp

Solskjaer said: ‘That manager was always in me. I was at a stage when I wrote what we did in every single training session and then there was a period in my career when I wrote a mental diary as well.

‘It was quite interesting because I struggled with low confidence at times and I used to write about how I reacted mentally to Roy Keane giving me a b******ing, for example, or missing a chance. I was more alert to how I was thinking.

Molde: not something you'd find on an old dinner plate but a successful Norwegian football club…

Since promotion to the top flight in
1974, Molde have established themselves as one of Norway’s most
respected clubs – although they have been relegated five times since
then.

The recent back-to-back titles may be the first in the club’s
history but they’ve been mighty close before having been runners-up on
seven occasions.

Do they have experience of playing in European competition

European
football comes round often in the form of the Europa League, with the
club featuring in the group stage this term, but they have made a sole
Champions League appearance. Back in 1999 they finished bottom of a
group containing Real Madrid, Porto and Olympiakos.

Where do they play

The Aker Stadion in Molde holds just under 12,000 and is an all-seater stadium that was opened in 1998.

Who’s the club captain

At
37-years-old, Daniel Hestad played with Solskjaer at Molde in the
mid-1990s and has experienced five of the club’s runners-up campaigns.
Save for a two-year spell at Heerenveen between 2003 and 2005, the
midfielder has been at Molde since 1993 and has eight caps for Norway.

Who’s Ole's star man

Solskjaer’s
transfer business look up to scratch too as his second signing at the
club was striker Davy Angan, who has since scored 24 goals in 54 league
games.

‘Towards the end, it was a diary on what the manager was saying and the tactical meetings we had. Different kinds of notes. I still go back to them now but most of it’s in my head.’

It is little wonder Solskjaer’s managerial career has got off to a flying start with preparation like that. It’s rare to see a manager have all the power three in productive training, man management and tactical knowledge – but the Norwegian’s career notes suggest a willingness to learn and understand everything on the pitch and off it.

Even tactically Solskjaer is prepared to develop a number of theories. A 4-3-3 system that features rampaging full-backs is a weapon of choice, but he has experimented with a rigid three-pronged attack supported by three central midfielders…and again rampaging full-backs.

But he isn’t afraid to mix it up either and at times has deployed a 4-4-2 that relies on plenty of width from the full-backs and wingers, and features a forward behind the striker.

And that is not all down to inheriting a strong Molde team – on the contrary. Only a short lived but successful unbeaten eight-game spell under former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler kept them in the top flight two years ago.

Solskjaer admits he has to do it his way but having only learnt from the best he can’t help but only practice the winning formula.

‘I look at that as the perfect way of running a club.’ he said. ‘In our little world, with different facilities and resources, you have to make it into a mini Manchester United. How the gaffer runs it is a template for everyone. If it’s good enough for United, it’s definitely good enough for Molde.’

So is he good enough for the Premier League Two historic league titles in as many years suggest he deserves a chance and his popularity in England would give him an edge in the running for vacant posts.

It seems inevitable Solskjaer will return to England at some point but judging by his attention to detail, any strings attached like interfering owners or directors of football seem more likely to push him away.

Playing a vital supporting role in his two years at Molde have been his backroom staff which includes former United coach, Mark Dempsey.

It’s another unknown quantity to add to the mix. If he failed to convince the majority of his winning team to join him at a new club, would he struggle to replicate the same relative success

Tactical brain: Solskjaer, who was a canny striker, oversees his team's preparations on the training pitch

The natural talent for management appears to be there – the trophies confirm that. Solskajer admits to having no hesitation in replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at United once the Scot retires but until he has experience in one of Europe’s biggest leagues, he would be a gamble for any Premier League team.

Molde lack the resources to sustain a credible European challenge until when the trophies are handed out in May, so the Norwegian has already arguably hit the ceiling in Norway.

Solskjaer’s commitment to his family may mean he opts for another year practicing his managerial trade in Norway but he is an ambitious man and November is a month where one or two Premier League clubs advertise a vacancy and make a few phone calls.

Chris Wheeler: Solskjaer is the Fergie of the Fjords

/11/16/article-2234013-022BD43B000004B0-866_306x438.jpg” width=”306″ height=”438″ alt=”Learning from the best: Solskjaer with his long-time boss and mentor at United, Sir Alex Ferguson” class=”blkBorder” />

Learning from the best: Solskjaer with his long-time boss and mentor at United, Sir Alex Ferguson

‘I know for a
fact that one or two of these players won’t be as good next year. They
think they’re Big-time Charlies. So it’ll be thanks and goodbye.’

It
is that ruthlessness and ultra-professionalism that made Solskjaer such a
great player and now one of the most promising young coaches in Europe.

No
wonder the man who has turned down Blackburn and Bolton in recent weeks
dreams of returning to Old Trafford as manager one day.

From the
moment he went back to Molde, he changed the philosophy of the whole
club. The players were made to wear suits and conform to a stricter
routine and diet. Rather than use ice baths, he made them climb down the
rocks behind the club’s Aker Stadion and bathe in the Fannefjord.

‘I
look at United as the perfect way of running a club,’ he said. ‘If it’s
good enough for United, it’s definitely good enough for Molde.’

From
as young as 10-years-old, Solskjaer was displaying a coach’s mentality,
coaching the other kids in the streets of his hometown of Kristiansund
and working on team selections.

Years later, he would take notes on
United’s sessions and even kept a diary of his own thoughts and
insecurities as a player. He still refers to them now.

Sat on the
bench behind Ferguson on so many occasions, United’s superbsub learned
to analyse the game and see it through his manager’s eyes.

It helped
Solskjaer maximise the impact he could have on games, and United fans
loved him for it long before that unforgettable night in Barcelona in
1999.

‘I never had that sulk,’ he said. ‘I always felt privileged
just sitting behind the manager because I had an advantage of watching
the game and thinking tactically.’

Most importantly of all, Solskjaer
is his own man. For all that he has gleaned from United and Ferguson,
he is determined to do things his way.

‘I can’t compromise and be
someone else,’ he said. ‘When I was a player I could never be Giggs,
Scholes, Beckham, Cantona or Keane. It’s the same with the gaffer. He’s
got a few traits that suit me but others that don’t. I try to make that
into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the manager.’

CLICK HERE TO READ CHRIS WHEELER'S BRILLIANT INTERVIEW WITH SOLSKJAER AFTER THEIR MEETING IN NORWAY LAST YEAR

Kevin Nolan: How I rescued Andy Carroll

Posted on November 11, 2012 by adminsports

Nolan: How I rescued Carroll and put him on the right path

UPDATED:

23:51 GMT, 10 November 2012

Andy Carroll's chief concern is to score his first goal for West Ham but his team-mate, Kevin Nolan, remembers a time when such on-field problems were mere trivialities.

A time when, as a star in the making with Sunday's opponents Newcastle, he needed saving from himself and from the paradox that is Geordie adulation.

Old boys: Former Newcastle duo Andrew Carroll (right) and Kevin Nolan set to return with West Ham

The 21-year-old home-town hero was self-destructing and it was at then Newcastle skipper Nolan's door – literally – that the problem was dumped in October 2010.

Carroll was charged with assaulting an ex-girlfriend and to secure bail he needed a place of residence instead of living in a hotel awaiting a house purchase. Nolan answered the SOS.

A combination of Carroll's cooking, Nolan's guidance and the unlikeliest of calming figures – Joey Barton – got the tyro back on the right path.

While happy to laugh off his saviour status, Nolan knows only too well the deadly serious role he played in the rescue mission.

'You can write that if you want, “Nolan saves him!” ' he said. 'I just said to him, and he knew himself, that he had got to keep out of them situations.

'At Newcastle when something goes on, it gets exploded 10 times over and with Andy up there it was magnified a thousand times. It was just because it was him, he's a 6ft 5in lad who's got long hair and stands out.

'He'd been brilliant for Newcastle for 15 months, he was the local boy, everything he did was magnified. You'd have to ask Andy if I'd had an influence on it. Of course I'm going to say yes. As a group we had a committee-type of experienced pros with myself, Joey, Alan Smith, Steve Harper, all different backgrounds, voices and opinions.

Hard going: Carroll is still searching for his first West Ham goal

'The togetherness of the squad and what we were all like at that time helped Andy dramatically. He bought into it massively and he excelled and he's gone on since and I think he'll just even get better and do better things.'

The recipe for turning a boy into a man was all cooked up in Nolan's kitchen.

'I said he could stay, I cleared it with the missus, of course, first,' added Nolan. 'She was down in Liverpool a lot of the time so we were like room-mates. He was a pretty good cook. Pasta with tomatoes, chicken, things like that.

'Since then he has learned so much. There is a different lad standing in that dressing room now. There is a man who can look after himself and does the right things on a daily basis.'

Carroll, 23, will need the thickest of skins to emerge unscathed from what is a fixture laced with potential animosity. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has always felt harshly done to regarding his rapid dismissal after eight months in charge of Newcastle.

Carroll is yet to score for West Ham but his last trip back to St James' Park, with parent club Liverpool, ended with the frontman being booked for diving before storming off after being substituted.

Nolan said: 'I am hoping I'll get quite a good reception, I'm sure Andy will get the worst one. I've got a lot of good friends there and I'm looking forward to going back and saying goodbyes to people I didn't have the chance to.

'Once one goes in for Andy, hopefully on Sunday, I am sure they will come. It would be a great time to score in front of the club he has loved since he was a kid.'

Carroll's goal-shy start to life in east London is in stark contrast to Nolan, who has picked up where he left off in the Premier League by scoring four times in 10 games.

And the West Ham midfielder, 30, admits he is angered about never having secured an England cap, especially in a week which saw 31-year-old Leon Osman get a call-up.

'Obviously, when you see Leon Osman, who I'm delighted for, getting a call-up it does tell you not to give up hope but I don't know how much more I could do,' he said. 'It does hurt that I haven't got one. I think I have deserved at least a call-up and a chance to prove myself at that level whether it be at Bolton, Newcastle and even now.

'A former England manager said if he knew everything I was about before he was England manager, he definitely would have called me up, which was nice to hear. But then I sort of wanted to strangle him!'

Chelsea 4 Norwich 1: Match report

Posted on October 6, 2012 by adminsports

Chelsea 4 Norwich 1: Blues on song as they come from behind to beat Canaries

UPDATED:

16:18 GMT, 6 October 2012

John Terry and Ashley Cole were predictably feted as heroes today as they helped Chelsea come storming back to crush Norwich and move four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Barely 24 hours after both men's reputations arguably reached a new low in the eyes of the wider public, Terry and Cole enjoyed the unconditional adulation of the Stamford Bridge faithful in an all-too-easy win.

Norwich did threaten a shock when Grant Holt justified his recall by firing them in front but they looked every inch relegation fodder defending that lead as Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic put them to the sword.

Easy does it: Eden Hazard puts Chelsea ahead against Norwich

Match facts

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic (Azpilicueta 78), Luiz, Terry, Cole, Mikel (Romeu 82), Lampard (Ramires 67), Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Moses, Cahill, Bertrand.

Goals: Torres 14, Lampard 22, Hazard 31, Ivanovic 76.

Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Barnett, Bassong (Ryan Bennett 78), Garrido, Elliott Bennett, Howson, Hoolahan, Johnson (Pilkington 68), Tettey, Holt (Morison 77).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Turner, Snodgrass, Jackson.

Goals: Holt 11.

Attendance: 41,784

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Click here for the latest Premier League results, fixtures and table

It was the perfect way for Chelsea to go into the international break, one that should see Cole earn his 99th and 100th caps for England despite yesterday's extraordinary foul-mouthed Twitter rant at the Football Association.

Terry was reminded what he had given up by walking out on his country whenever the home fans chanted 'there's only one England captain', all the while displaying their usual banner: “JT Captain, Leader, Legend.”

Cole was treated to a rendition of 'he tweets what he wants', although his 'unreserved' apology yesterday suggested he would no longer be doing so.

The Terry and Cole saga has badly damaged Chelsea's bid to boost their image beyond Stamford Bridge, their status as a global brand highlighted before kick-off today when they formally marked the renewal of their partnership with Singha Beer.

The last thing the club need is to be tainted by the kind of report produced by the independent FA regulatory commission over Terry's racism case and Cole's subsequent Twitter outburst.

Outnumbered: Fernando Torres is watched by Javier Garrido and Leon Barnett

Back in the game: Torres scores for Chelsea

Torres had the perfect opportunity to show the acceptable face of the European champions inside four minutes today but his Jekyll and Hyde form continued when he hesitated horribly after being played clean through by Frank Lampard.

Chelsea continued to press but were left stunned as Norwich took the lead in the 11th minute thanks to three of the players recalled by Chris Hughton.

Terry was hurt defending a free-kick and he was still hobbling when Wes Hoolahan was allowed to cross to Leon Barnett, whose knockdown was crashed home by Holt.

Within 11 minutes, Chelsea had turned the game on its head.

No chance: John Ruddy stands as Frank Lampard's shot goes past him

Mr reliable: Frank Lampard scores for Chelsea

Torres made amends for his earlier miss by timing his run to perfection to head home Branislav Ivanovic's cross and although Alex Tettey might have restored Norwich's lead on his full Premier League debut but for a completely misjudged header of his own, the visitors then pressed the self-destruct button.

They failed to clear their lines in the 22nd minute and were horribly deep as Torres' overhead kick rebounded to Lampard to arrow home first time from 18 yards.

The poor defending continued when Cole headed wide, and hit a new low in the 31st minute as Terry cleared a corner, Mata evaded a lame tackle and was allowed to run unchallenged for 60 yards before threading in Hazard to slot home.

Back doing the day job: John Terry and Ashley Cole both started for Chelsea

It could have been even worse for the visitors, with Cole's shot blocked behind and Oscar brilliantly dancing through but scuffing his finish straight at John Ruddy.

Holt beat Terry to two headers – both just off target – either side of half-time to serve notice that the game was not quite over.

It might have been had Hazard been awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge from Barnett or had Oscar's 20-yard stinger been out of Ruddy's reach.

Up for the fight: Juan Mata battles for the ball with Wes Hoolahan

Job done: Branislav Ivanovic celebrates scoring Chelsea's fourth

Ruddy also came to the rescue to thwart Mata after the winger's superb run onto Hazard's pass as Chelsea really began to turn on the style.

Lampard was replaced by Ramires midway through the half, with Norwich sending on Anthony Pilkington for Bradley Johnson.

Shock lead: Grant Holt puts Norwich in front early on

Good start: The Norwich players celebrate Holt's goal

The visitors looked happy simply to avoid a drubbing and they held out for most of the half, with Ruddy winning another one-on-one battle with Torres.

But he was beaten again 14 minutes from time when Ivanovic smashed home a superb near-post volley from Mata's lay-off, yet another assist for the red-hot winger.

A raft of further substitutions followed but a fifth goal did not, despite Chelsea looking like they could score at will.

London 2012 Paralympics: Sarah Storey equals record after fourth gold

Posted on September 6, 2012 by adminsports

The Storey continues: Britian's Sarah writes new chapter after 11th Paralympic gold

UPDATED:

16:16 GMT, 6 September 2012

Swimmer-turned-cyclist Sarah Storey has won her 11th Paralympic title with an imperious victory in the women's C4-5 road race at Brands Hatch. It was her fourth gold of the London 2012 Games.

Storey joined Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as Britain's most successful female Paralympian with a dominant performance to triumph in the 64-kilometre race.

Flying the flag: Storey celebrates after winning her fourth gold medal of the Games

The 34-year-old from Manchester, who won her first title as a 14-year-old swimmer in Barcelona in 1992 and her 10th in the time-trial on Wednesday, attacked from the start of the eight-lap event and finished in one hour 40 minutes, ahead of the men's C1-3 field which started in front of her.

In taking her Paralympic gold medal total to 11 – and 22 medals in all – Storey equalled Grey-Thompson and swimmer David Roberts' haul.

Home favourite: The crowd were full of adulation for the British star

Mike Kenny won 16 gold medals as a swimmer from 1976 to 1988, with some of his successes coming in a 25-metre pool.

'To be even on the same page as Tanni, to have won 11 is just a dream come true,' she told Channel 4. 'I don't know if it will ever sink in.'

Storey was in contention for a place in the Olympic team pursuit squad until last December and it is feasible she could double up at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, aged 38, as she continues her stellar career.

Class act: Storey claimed her 11th Paralympic gold medal after storming to victory at Brands Hatch

Feel the fourth: Storey is GB's golden girl

Storey has already won the road time trial, the 500m time trial and the individual pursuit.

Poland's Anna Harkowska was seven minutes 22 seconds behind and Kelly Crowley of the United States was further adrift in third.

Harkowska was second in the time-trial, with Crowley third as the top three remained the same in the road race.

Storey, who was born with a partly-formed left hand, was 41secs clear of the field at the end of the first circuit and caught up with the men's C1-3 race, featuring Shaun McKeown and Mark Colbourne, before roaring past.

Sarah Storey

A Brit special: Storey paid her respects to the home crowd who cheered her all the way home

At half distance, after 32km, Storey was 4:51 ahead of her three nearest rivals, with Lane in fifth, 23secs further adrift.

With three laps to go, Storey led by 5:28 and she continued to extend her advantage in a thrilling show of supremacy.

She was able to free-wheel over the line, acknowledging the crowd's cheers, before crossing the line.

She embraced husband Barney and wrapped herself in a Union Flag.

On her tactics for the race, she told
Channel 4: 'I just thought I'd test a few legs on the first time over
Scratchers Lane and I just had gas to spare and got away.

'I've been practising it all year really because we've been getting in small groups in the national series.

'I
just can't believe I pulled it off today. I'm so chuffed. It was
amazing: the crowds around the course and coming into the finishing
straight every lap, I wanted to say thank you but I had to keep my head
down.

'I got tangled a bit with the guys. I was thinking “please don't take me down” but goodness me, I can't get over it.

'I'd
completely forgotten about them until I could see the back of the
peloton. I was thinking, “oh no, the boys are there”. The commissaires
got me through okay.

'I just managed to hold them off but I was dying.'

She
added: 'I just can't thank enough people. 'I'm so proud to be part of
such and amazing team and so pleased to be finished now as well.'

Joe Hart interview: England"s No 1 is getting used to life in the spotlight

Posted on August 26, 2012 by adminsports

Hart: People think Andy Carroll is just some hooligan from up north. But I love the way he plays football

UPDATED:

22:18 GMT, 25 August 2012

Fantasy football 2012

He is young, rich and famous — the undisputed No 1 for England and a Premier League champion, too. He’s got doting fans, a gorgeous girlfriend and has just become the promotional face of a major video gaming company, replacing Wayne Rooney, who was dropped after seven years to make room.

If there is a downside to being Manchester City’s blond, 6ft 4in goalkeeper Joe Hart at the moment, it is hard to spot.

And yet with all the adulation of being English football’s new golden boy comes responsibility, particularly in the aftermath of the Olympic Games, where the Premier League’s millionaire stars have been compared unfavourably to their humble, gold medal-winning counterparts.

Cover star: Joe Hart is one of the faces of the new computer game FIFA 13

Ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield, where Hart can expect the usual amount of heckling and wind-ups from a vociferous home crowd, he accepts that the way he conducts himself — along with the other elite players in the game — will come under scrutiny.

‘It doesn’t change the way I am but I do totally understand how you’re looked at as a footballer, especially by children,’ he admits. ‘I don’t claim I can shape their lives, but there’s no harm in having good manners and being seen to play the game properly.

‘It’s not about putting on grand gestures or going out of the way to make yourself a role model, it’s just about conducting yourself in a good manner. I’ve always found that you can enjoy your life a lot more if you can get on with people. If I don’t get on with someone I don’t necessarily go out of my way to be best friends, but you learn as you grow up how to get on with people.

‘If crowds give you abuse there’s no point standing there and giving it them back, you just move on. You try to spend your energy on things that are positive.’

Flying high: Joe Hart's form helped City win the Premier League crown last season

JOE HART ON…

… Sunday's big clash with Liverpool
They gave us a bit of a pounding last season and knocked us out of the Carling Cup semi-final. Liverpool would never struggle to get up for a game against us, and the 3-0 defeat at West Brom last week might motivate them even more.

…Team-mate Carlos Tevez
His situation has obviously changed from last season — because he's here for a start! The summer of 2011 was an uncertain time for him but that hasn't happened this time. He seems quite happy to be here when I speak to him. He’s still a quality player and he's hungry to play for us.

… His pal Andy Carroll
People don’t know him, they think he’s just some hooligan from up north. He is anything but — he's a gentleman. The (headed) goal he scored against Sweden at Euro 2012 was the goal I would love to score. Everything was perfect about it and that is what he can do.

Hart has already needed to heed some valuable lessons in his short career. City manager Roberto Mancini warned him about his future behaviour when a drinking session with team-mates was captured on video during a golfing trip to Scotland in 2010. Other pictures of Hart ‘enjoying’ himself on holiday by dancing on a bar also emerged.

‘There are plenty of downsides in life for anyone, including me,’ said Hart. ‘Everyone has their own personal worries. Everyone has normal families, with normal arguments. But in football things are going really well and that’s what I want to maintain. That’s one thing I can keep on top of.’

On the pitch, Hart’s career to date reads like Roy of the Rovers with gloves on. Post-David Seaman, English goalkeeping was in the doldrums when Stuart Pearce signed a teenage Hart from Shrewsbury for 700,000 in 2006.

When the club were bought by owners from Abu Dhabi, some of the world’s best players arrived and everyone else left, except for Hart and Micah Richards, who represented ‘old City’ in the FA Cup win in 2010 and last season’s never-to-be-forgotten Premier League title win, clinched by Sergio Aguero’s goal in the final minute of the season against QPR.

Hart lapped up the glory in the summer before going to Euro 2012. But now he’s looking ahead rather than back and last Sunday’s fright against Southampton, which City won 3-2 after falling behind, will have got rid of any cobwebs.

‘Winning the league again and more trophies has got to be the aim,’ he stresses. ‘It’s so quickly forgotten if you’re that team that win the Premier League only once.

Dream goal: Hart says he wished he had scored the type of goal that Andy Carroll did against Sweden at Euro 2012

New man: Hart says Carlos Tevez is a changed man and wants to be at Manchester City

‘No disrespect to Blackburn but that happened to them and they are not regarded as a Manchester United or an Arsenal. We’re obviously a good side at the moment. We’re very strong, but you need to build that legacy for the future.’

Hart’s most immediate test is at Anfield on Sunday against a Liverpool team who City beat only once in four attempts last season.

It’s a task he believes will be made easier if Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers once again leaves out his battering ram of a centre-forward Andy Carroll, Hart’s England team-mate from the summer in Poland and Ukraine.

Lions roar: Hart has established himself as the first choice goalkeeper for England

‘I love Andy. I love the way he plays football,’ says Hart. ‘I love the way people don’t know him, they think he’s just some hooligan from up north. He is anything but, he’s a gentleman.

‘I have introduced him to my friends and they can’t get over what a good person he is. On the football pitch, he loves to get stuck in and give everything. He’s obviously got his issues at the moment with the manager at Liverpool, but that comes in football.

‘I’ve had times when I have had to look elsewhere and I’m sure that may happen in the future. At the moment it’s happening with Andy. If he starts or comes off the bench, you know you are in a game. If you speak to centre-halves, I don’t think they would want to play against him.

Winning the big one: Hart celebrates Sergio Aguero's winner against QPR to win the Premier League title

FIFA 13 cover

‘He might not please everyone but he is a hell of a good player and a hard player. I would back him to succeed whichever way it turns. If he stays at Liverpool, there is no reason why we can’t see him in that starting line-up and everything is resolved.’

Hart acknowledges defending set-pieces may be easier for City if the 35million striker is watching from the bench.
‘At corners, he comes steaming in from 10 yards back while I’m trying to keep someone else from pulling me to the floor. Yeah, he is a great player and a great asset for anyone who has him.’

At international level, Hart has won 22 caps, losing only once in a friendly against Holland under caretaker Pearce. It seems astonishing that only two years ago, Fabio Capello preferred David James to Hart as a starter at the World Cup. But, given the longevity of goalkeepers, Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps could come under threat should Hart stay clear of serious injury.

‘It’s nice for people to say that. but I know from the inside how quickly things can change in football,’ said Hart. ‘I’m only where I am because someone else lost his place, so I’m fully aware that I need to play well to keep mine,’ he said.

‘Nothing is a given, especially given the standard in the two sides I play for. City want to be one of the best sides in Europe and England are one of the best international teams about.’

Watch Joe Hart unveiled as the UK cover star of EA SPORTS FIFA 13 at www.youtube.com/EASPORTSfootball. FIFA 13 is released on Friday, September 28 and can be pre-ordered NOW at www.game.co.uk

London 2012 Olympics: Phillips Idowu fitness worries over

Posted on August 4, 2012 by adminsports

No injury worries for Idowu as triple-jumper reveals plans to join Team GB in athlete's village

UPDATED:

13:33 GMT, 4 August 2012

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LIVE RESULTS |
EVENT SCHEDULE |
MEDALS TABLE

Phillips Idowu has responded to speculation about his fitness by revealing he is finalising his preparations for the triple jump at London 2012.

Idowu, 33, opted not to travel to the UKA's pre-Games training camp in Portugal so that he could continue treatment on an hip injury.

Idowu, who won a silver medal in Beijing, tweeted: 'I'm in London where I have been for the last few wks, finalising my prep and receiving therapy.

London calling: Idowu says he is on course to feature in the triple jump

'My coach knew about this and it has not been a secret. I have to give notification of my whereabouts everyday for doping purposes, so impossible to completely disappear.

'the appropriate people can contact me with ease. there is no story here at all.

'I've only heard about the hysteria about my whereabouts today as I've been on a media lockdown, I'm into the village on Sunday as was planned months ago.

'teamGB have been performing amazingly they need the column inches and adulation for their efforts. positivity GOD Bless.'

Idowu has not competed since injuring his foot when he landed awkwardly in a triple jump competition in Eugene, Oregon, on June 2, though his recent problems relate to a hip problem that flared up at the Aviva London Grand Prix.

Qualifying for the men's triple jump is on Tuesday with the final taking place on Thursday.

On Wednesday, UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee admitted he was 'perplexed' by the decision of Idowu to turn his back on his own coach Aston Moore ahead of the Games.

Perplexed: Van Commenee was unable to explain Idowu's decision

Van Commenee was informed by the British Olympic Association (BOA) that Idowu would be fit for triple jump qualifying on Tuesday but remained thrown by his preparations.

'Up until about two weeks ago, Aston Moore was in regular contact and had seen him in training a number of times, but that contact died,' said Van Commenee on Wednesday, having not spoken to Idowu since a row over his withdrawal from the European Team Championships.

'Phillips decided not to join the team (in Portugal) and by definition in my eyes he compromises his preparation. I find it bizarre. Aston finds it bizarre.

'He's under the wing of the BOA at the moment and we'll support when that's needed, like we always have.

'UK Athletics has supported Phillips Idowu for about 12 years. We pay the salary of his coach, our coach, so I'm perplexed that the last two weeks before the Games he turns his back on us, and I've got no idea why.

'All information we have about Phillips is now coming from the BOA. That information is that he's fit and ready to go.

'Therefore Phillips Idowu is fit to compete and probably in great shape, because that's the sort of athlete he is. I'm sure he'll be a medal contender.'

Wimbledon 2012: Martin Samuel – Give respect to Andy Murray

Posted on July 7, 2012 by adminsports

Pay attention and give respect to the man from nowhere

UPDATED:

23:02 GMT, 6 July 2012

Do you know the most wonderful thing
about Andy Murray He’s Scottish. Now a lot of people don’t agree with
that. They think Murray’s monotone brogue, his roots, his loyalties, are
absolutely the worst of him.

They think it makes him dour and
chippy and they are convinced by this myth that he hates the English.
They drink it all in and then they hate him back, because they genuinely believe he is as small-minded and petty as they are.

Relief: Andy Murray points to the sky after winning the match

Battle: The fourth set was an epic tussle

And they do not understand, and never will understand, that it is precisely Murray’s otherness, his uniqueness, his outsider status, that has taken him to where he will be on Sunday: the men’s singles final at Wimbledon.

If he was typical, if he was the standard issue British tennis player, he would not be where a fellow national has not stood since 1938.

Bunny Austin was the name. He was a bit of a rebel, too — he played in shorts rather than in clothes better suited to the set of Brideshead Revisited.

Even so, that cognomen is a bit of a giveaway. Bunny. There are not too many get called Bunny in Murray’s part of the world.

Applause: Murray laps up the adulation of the fans

Tough luck: Murray and Jo-Wilfried Songa in conversation after the match

Austin was a Cambridge man and a public
schoolboy. He would have had a lot in common with many of the
ineffectual characters that followed him, to little purpose, at
Wimbledon; less with the strangely driven Murray brothers from Dunblane.

In picturing how Murray got to Centre Court on Sunday, one first has to
imagine the two of them, Jamie and Andy, as proteges on the junior
circuit.

‘Every competition seemed to take place about six hours from where we
lived,’ Andy once told me. ‘We were outsiders all the time, so we became
our own little team.

‘There was nothing in Scotland. No tournaments and no players. That is
very unusual in tennis, to have someone come through from a country
without pedigree. I had Tim Henman to look up to and that definitely
helped, but nobody with my background.

Crucial: Andy Murray celebrates winning a vital game

Good start: Murray got off to a fine opening

ROGER FEDERER v ANDY MURRAY

7 Head-to-head 8

30 Age 25

Birthplace

Basel, Switzerland Dunblane, Scotland

6'1″ Height 6'3″

187lbs (85 kg) Weight 185lbs (84 kg)

1998 Turned Pro 2005

39/6 This year Won/Lost 26/9

846/192 Career Won/Lost 349/116

74 Career Titles 22

46m Career Prize Money 13.3m

Now do you understand Now do you get why Murray’s Scottish roots are so
important They made him the man he is. They made him this weird little
exception.

‘Somebody from nowhere’ was how the playwright Joe Orton described
himself, becoming the toast of West End theatre from his origins in a
Leicester council house.

That is Murray, too. Can you conceive how hard it is to become one of
the world’s great tennis players, starting in Dunblane Can you imagine
what the summer season must have been like, the travelling, the sense
of isolation

It is a miracle, a bloody miracle, that of all the British tennis
players to try and fail to reach the final at Wimbledon, the one that
should then do it originates from the heart of Scotland.

To put Murray’s achievement into further perspective, do you know what
happened to the last player to lose to a British opponent in a men’s
singles semi-final at Wimbledon He died in the Battle of Stalingrad on
December 3, 1942.
Henner Henkel was his name and, four years after losing to Austin, he was killed while fighting for the German Sixth Army.

This is ancient history Murray is rewriting here, in sporting terms at
least. We are so used to the now, to the immediacy of modern sport, the
advances in technology and training, that we can barely comprehend an
achievement that has stood since a time when the average house price in
Britain was 545.

Chamberlain met Hitler in 1938. Errol Flynn played Robin Hood. Len
Hutton made 364 against Australia. And Bunny Austin lost in straight
sets in the final to Don Budge. Who knew that would be as good as it got
for 74 years; and what calibre of man it would require to break the
curse

In other times, a player of Murray’s ability would already have trod
this path. He is good enough, he has the game, he has the shots, he has
the determination, he has the stamina. He also has three of the greatest
players in history in a blocking formation before him: Roger Federer,
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The mighty Federer now stands in his way tomorrow.

New balls please: Tsonga was hit in a delicate area by a Murray shot

Rally: Murray and Tsonga in action

Federer did for Djokovic and Nadal exited at an earlier stage, but do
not be fooled. The cynics who claim Murray has had it easy at Wimbledon
so far greatly underestimate the strength in depth of the men’s tour.

Not one opponent has been a pushover and if Murray has made his progress
appear comparatively straightforward that is not to his detriment.

If Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was tamed yesterday, kudos to Murray. He dropped
two points on his service game in the entire second set. Tsonga did not
hold one service game to love.

Against a player whose serve on grass was claimed to be his strength,
Murray’s defence was quite brilliant. If he suffered a third set wobble,
it merely confirmed the danger he faced.

History: Tsonga beat this year's finalist Roger Federer in a thriller last time around

Tumble: Murray reacts to a fall during the match

Of course, Murray would rather have played Tsonga than Nadal, but having
had the misfortune to share his time with men of such exceptional
ability, is it not about time that he caught a break

‘I’m so happy to be there,’ Murray told the BBC after the match,
without so much as breaking into a smile at the thought of a fourth
Grand Slam final. And no doubt some at home will have curled their lips,
too, at this sight. It is they who are the miserable ones, though, they
who need to find the joy in the moment. Murray has already done his
bit.

There are people who did not think they would see this in their lifetime; take Murray away and they probably wouldn’t.

He has become the greatest British tennis player since the year Judy Garland was cast in The Wizard of Oz.

Onlooker: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears

Oops: Tsonga was making several unforced errors

Murray, the Lawn Tennis Association must hope, will inspire a
generation the way winning the Ashes in 2005 turned their older brothers
back onto cricket.

Capering around like a buffoon, cracking wise, bouncing up and down like
an excited schoolgirl is not part of the deal. The journey has been too
long and has taken too much out of him to worry about striking poses.

Just watch the man play and remember where this started. It is not part
of nature’s deal, Dunblane to SW19. This is against all conception of
how it should be done. Credit where it is due. This is the Wimbledon
men’s final: and somebody from nowhere’s here.

Bunny Austin

Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray in Final after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Posted on July 6, 2012 by adminsports

Magic Murray makes history! Andy becomes first British man in Wimbledon final for 74 years after four set victory over Tsonga to set up final showdown with Federer

UPDATED:

18:35 GMT, 6 July 2012

Andy Murray became the first British player in 74 years to reach the men's singles final at Wimbledon with a dramatic fourth-set victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

For two sets it looked like the Scot would have no trouble assigning 1938 runner-up Bunny Austin's name to history, but Tsonga fought back and it was with relief and delight that Murray sealed a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory.

The 25-year-old will face Roger Federer in Sunday's final, looking to win his first grand slam title at his fourth attempt and become the first home player to lift the men's singles trophy at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

Relief: Andy Murray points to the sky after winning the match

Battle: The fourth set was an epic tussle

There was no doubt the Scot went into the match as the favourite having beaten Tsonga in five of their six previous meetings, including in the quarter-finals here two years ago.

The Frenchman, though, has been a consistent improver and beat Federer in the last eight at Wimbledon 12 months ago from two sets down, the first man ever to do so against the Swiss at a grand slam.

Applause: Murray laps up the adulation of the fans

Tough luck: Murray and Jo-Wilfried Songa in conversation after the match

Murray began confidently and aggressively, and made the best possible start with a break in Tsonga's first service game, nailing a backhand down the line.

The Frenchman had started slowly but he began to find his form and forced Murray to save two break points in the fifth game, which he did with aplomb and then fired down two aces to move 4-1 ahead.

Crucial: Andy Murray celebrates winning a vital game

Good start: Murray got off to a fine opening

ROGER FEDERER v ANDY MURRAY

7 Head-to-head 8

30 Age 25

Birthplace

Basel, Switzerland Dunblane, Scotland

6'1″ Height 6'3″

187lbs (85 kg) Weight 185lbs (84 kg)

1998 Turned Pro 2005

39/6 This year Won/Lost 26/9

846/192 Career Won/Lost 349/116

74 Career Titles 22

46m Career Prize Money 13.3m

And he held his advantage to take the set, bringing up set point with a crunching forehand down the line and then clinching it with a simple winner.

At that stage, it was a far cry from the extreme tension of Murray's four-hour win over David Ferrer on Wednesday, let alone his previous semi-finals here against Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal.

Only Tim Henman has ever lost his first four semi-finals at the All England Club, and Murray wanted to keep it that way.

The fourth seed's serve, such a weapon all fortnight, was again proving a reliable ally, and he was also getting plenty of balls back in play off the Tsonga delivery.

The Frenchman's serve had only been broken four times in the tournament before this match, but Murray got his reward for more excellent play in the fifth game of the second set, moving 3-2 ahead when Tsonga drilled a forehand wide, and once again a single break was enough.

New balls please: Tsonga was hit in a delicate area by a Murray shot

Rally: Murray and Tsonga in action

The statistics showed just what a superb performance it had been from Murray.

In the first two sets he hit 21
winners and made only four unforced errors, while Tsonga won just two
points against serve in the whole of the second set.

It was all too easy, this was a
Wimbledon semi-final after all, and victory seemed a little further away
when Murray's level dropped for the first time in the second game of
the third set and Tsonga broke to love.

The 27-year-old was throwing
everything he had at Murray, and, although he missed a chance to move
4-0 ahead, his serve was working very well now and he denied his
opponent a break back.

History: Tsonga beat this year's finalist Roger Federer in a thriller last time around

Tumble: Murray reacts to a fall during the match

Murray had lifted his game again but
the damage was already done and Tsonga took the set despite being
momentarily felled by a shot from his opponent drilled right into a
delicate area.

A shout of 'New balls please' from someone in the crowd caused much mirth, although Tsonga was not laughing.

The start of the fourth set was huge
for both players, and it was Murray who made the first move, breaking
for a 3-1 lead and moving to within touching distance of the final.

Tsonga was not done yet, though, playing some stunning points to break back immediately.

He was the last Frenchman to beat
Murray at a grand slam, in the first round of the Australian Open in
2008 when he went on to reach his first grand slam final.

Onlooker: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears

Oops: Tsonga was making several unforced errors

A second final for Tsonga was still a
long way away though, and Murray had two points for a 5-3 lead when his
opponent, who had volleyed so well, dumped a regulation ball in the
net.

He could not take the chances,
though, twice ending up on the grass, first through a slip and then a
diving volley that landed wide.

It was a big chance, and Murray knew it. Suddenly he looked tight, and Tsonga brought up two break points of his own.

Packed: Fans crowded on 'Murray Mount'

Thrilled: Fans enjoyed an exciting match

The fourth seed was not helped by a
poor line call on a big first serve but his opponent charitably blazed
two shots over the baseline and again Murray held on.

The winners had dried up, but Murray
piled on the pressure with Tsonga serving at 6-5 behind, moving to
love-30, and soon he had two match points when the Frenchman netted a
volley.

There was a deafening roar inside Centre Court, and Murray looked to have taken his chance with a brilliant forehand return.

Dramatically, it was called out, but
HawkEye showed it to be in and the Scot, almost overcome with emotion,
looked up at the sky as he took in his achievement.

Comeback: Tsonga refused to give in after a poor start

Blue sky: The roof was opened before the game

ANDY MURRAY FACTFILE

1987: Born May 15, Dunblane, Scotland.
1999: December – Wins junior Orange Bowl title in Miami.
2004: September – Becomes first British winner of US Open boys' title, beating Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
2005: March – Becomes youngest British Davis Cup player, aged 17, in match against Israel.
June – Defeats Radek Stepanek to become first Scot to reach third round at Wimbledon. Loses to David Nalbandian.
October – Reaches first ATP final at Thailand Open, losing to Roger Federer.
2006: February 20 – Claims first ATP title by beating Lleyton Hewitt in San Jose.
February 28 – Moves above Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski in rankings to become British number one.
April 14 – Splits from coach Mark Petchey.
July 3 – Loses to Marcos Baghdatis in fourth round at Wimbledon.
July 26 – American Brad Gilbert appointed Murray's new coach.

Strong: Murray played the first two sets superbly

2007: January 22 – Loses five-set thriller to Rafael Nadal in Australian Open fourth round.
February 18 – Defends San Jose title with victory over Ivo Karlovic.
October 28 – Wins St Petersburg Open, beating Fernando Verdasco.
November 14 – Splits with coach Gilbert.
2008: January 5 – Beats Stanislas Wawrinka to win Qatar Open.
February 17 – Wins Open 13 tournament in Marseille, beating Mario Ancic.
July 2 – Loses to Nadal in Wimbledon quarter-finals.
August 3 – Defeats Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati to claim first Masters Series title.
August 12 – Suffers first-round defeat by Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei at Beijing Olympics.
September 7 – Beats top seed Nadal in semi-finals of US Open to reach first grand slam final.
September 8 – Beaten 6-2 7-5 6-2 by defending champion Federer in US Open final.
September 21 – Wins his singles matches but Great Britain lose to Austria to be relegated from Davis Cup World Group.
October 19 – Wins Madrid Masters with victory over Gilles Simon.
October 26 – Wins St Petersburg Open, beating Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev.
2009: January 11 – Wins Qatar Open, beating Andy Roddick.
February 15 – Wins ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, beating Nadal.
March – Wins Miami Masters, beating Djokovic.
May 11 – Overtakes Djokovic to become world number three.
June 2 – Loses to Fernando Gonzalez in French Open quarter-finals.
June 14 – Becomes first British player since 1938 to win Queen's Club title, beating James Blake in the final.
July 3 – Reaches first Wimbledon semi-final but loses 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6 to Roddick.
August 16 – Wins Montreal Masters with victory over Juan Martin Del Potro, and becomes world number two.
November 8 – Wins comeback event in Valencia after wrist injury. Later finishes year at world number four.

Murray waits to hear about the final point

2010: January 31 – Loses 6-3 6-4 7-6 to Federer in Australian Open final.
May 30 – Beaten by Tomas Berdych in French Open fourth round.
July 2 – Loses Wimbledon semi-final 6-4 7-6 6-4 to Nadal.
July 27 – Splits with coach Miles Maclagan after two and a half years.
August 15 – Beats Nadal and Federer as he defends his Masters title in Toronto.
October 17 – Beats Federer in final to win Shanghai Masters.
November 27 – Loses 7-6 3-6 7-6 to Nadal after more than three hours in a classic semi-final at ATP World Tour Finals in London.
2011: January 30 – Beaten 6-4 6-2 6-3 by Djokovic in Australian Open final.
June 3 – Loses 6-4 7-5 6-4 to eventual champion Nadal in French Open semi-final.
June 13 – Beats Tsonga to win AEGON Championships at Queen's Club.
July 1 – Loses 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 against Nadal in Wimbledon semi-final.
August 21 – Wins Western & Southern Open crown in Cincinnati when world number one Novak Djokovic retires injured when trailing 6-4 3-0.
September 10 – Loses 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2 to Rafael Nadal in US Open semi-final.
September 18 – Helps Great Britain win Davis Cup promotion with a 5-0 victory over Hungary in Glasgow.

Waiting on the call

October 2 – Beats American Donald Young 6-2 6-0 in Thailand Open final.
October 9 – Beats Nadal 3-6 6-2 6-0 to win Japan Open final.
October 16 – Completes hat-trick of tournament victories by beating David Ferrer 7-5 6-4 in Shanghai Masters final, to take him above Federer and to number three in world rankings.
November 22 – Pulls out of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a groin injury. Federer's victory in the tournament takes him back to world number three.
December 31 – Hires eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl as his new coach.
2012: January 27 – Loses 6-3 3-6 6-7 6-1 7-5 to Djokovic in epic Australian Open semi-final lasting four hours and 50 minutes.
June 6 – Murray's French Open run ends in the quarter-finals with defeat by David Ferrer.
July 6 – Reaches Wimbledon final for the first time with 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Euro 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo has flopped

Posted on June 17, 2012 by adminsports

What's gone wrong with Ronaldo Portugal's superstar has flopped

UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 16 June 2012

It would have been considered blasphemy even a fortnight ago, but a leading Portuguese sports paper, O Jogo, ran a poll this week asking if Cristiano Ronaldo — who has previously enjoyed God-like status in the country — should be picked for the do-or-die Euro 2012 qualifer against Holland in Kharkiv tonight.

To add to Ronaldo’s humiliation, many fans replied ‘No’, saying he should be replaced by 27-year-old Porto journeyman Silvestre Varela, whose dramatic, late winning goal against Denmark kept Portuguese hopes alive after his superstar team-mate had fluffed a series of simple chances.

Worryingly for Ronaldo, the frenzied adulation for a boy who escaped a humble upbringing on Madeira to become a superstar with Manchester United and Real Madrid is now turning into frustration and anger at his rampant egotism.

D-day: Cristiano Ronaldo has the weight of Portugal on his shoulders

Euro 2012 email button

It has been noted that the iconic forward, who has amassed a 150million fortune in his career, was not among the first to congratulate Varela for his winning goal, possibly out of jealousy. Portugal eventually won the game 3-2 after Ronaldo had missed a simple one-on-one at 2-1 and Denmark had gone on to equalise.

The Portugal supporters are carping about why Ronaldo went straight down the tunnel after the opening 1-0 defeat against Germany rather than join the rest of his team-mates in going to applaud those who had made the journey to Lviv.

The public are laughing at a cartoon that has appeared of Spain’s players dreaming of lifting the Euro 2012 trophy while Ronaldo dreams of being handed the Golden Boot for being the tournament’s top scorer.

And the media are sniping, with headlines ahead of Sunday’s crunch game declaring starkly: ‘Ronaldo Still Owes Us’.

Such criticism is alien to Ronaldo, who has enjoyed only unbridled acclaim from his countrymen since he arrived at United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon. And he is not wearing the pressure of playing for his country well, despite scoring 60 goals for Real Madrid this season.

Missed: Ronaldo spurned a glorious chance to score against Denmark

After scoring just once at the 2010 World Cup — against North Korea — he has looked impotent in Portugal’s two games so far. Against Denmark, he miscued so badly when put clean through, there was laughter in the stadium and ironic chants of ‘Messi, Messi’ his great rival to the title of world’s greatest player.

Inevitably, with the country’s Euro 2012 hopes now in the balance, Portugal’s players are rallying round their talisman.

After two games, Germany have a maximum six points, Portugal and Denmark three apiece and Holland, whose star player, Robin van Persie, has had his own problems in this tournament, have none.

Varela, who takes six months to match Ronaldo’s weekly 250,000 pay, said: ‘He has nothing else to prove to anyone and this is not an issue for us. Football is a team game. When then team is playing well, then all the players are also doing well. He’s an excellent player and captain. We are all ready to make sacrifices for Portugal.’

Former United team-mate Nani has been particularly keen to protect his friend. He excused Ronaldo’s abrupt walk-off against Germany by saying he needed to receive treatment for an injury.

All smiles: Ronaldo has been backed by his Portugal team-mates

Ahead of the Dutch game, he added: ‘Everyone misses opportunities. Cristiano doesn’t play alone. He’s training very well and his contribution for the team is good.

‘He defends, he attacks, he didn’t score from the opportunity he had but I’m 100 per cent sure he’s going to help the team and that everybody who plays will do the same.’

Not everyone is so charitable, with some annoyed at his starring role in an advert to promote his sponsors Nike and the fact he is alleged to have two bodyguards with him at all times, with the cost being picked up by the Portuguese FA.

Portugal’s legends have even been lining up to question him. Luis Figo, captain of the Golden Generation, has said: ‘The captain, independent of the result, should always defend the group.’

And Paolo Futre, another popular former player, added: ‘He chose to let Denmark off the hook. He needs to be at his best against Holland.’

Struggling: Robin van Persie

The only thing in Portugal’s favour may be that the Dutch are, arguably, in an even worse state.

Their fans have been calling for Van Persie, the Premier League’s current Double Footballer of the Year after his sensational 30-goal season for Arsenal, to be replaced by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Van Persie has not lived up to his reputation, with a series of bad misses against Denmark and Germany, although his splendid late consolation strike against the Germans will allow him to keep his place and ensure he enters Kharkiv in a more positive frame of mind. Despite their two defeats, the World Cup finalists will reach the knockout stages if they beat Portugal by two goals and Denmark lose to Germany. So, for Ronaldo, everything must come right.

Already established as one of the greatest players of his generation, he needs to light up the latter stages of a big international tournament to leave his mark in history as one of football’s all-time greats.

Real Madrid team-mates Pepe and Fabio Coentrao have played the roles of ‘minder’ this week, putting an arm around him in an attempt to insulate him from the increasing pressure from the outside world.

Come 7.45 on Sunday night, we should find out if Ronaldo really has the heart of a champion to go with his superstar status.

Sir Alex Ferguson has no complaints as Manchester United crash out of Europa League

Posted on March 16, 2012 by adminsports

Sir Alex has no complaints as Manchester United crash out of Europa League

UPDATED:

21:03 GMT, 15 March 2012

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side were well and truly beaten after they were dumped out of the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.

United never looked like overturning their 3-2 deficit from last week's first leg at Old Trafford and fell further behind to goals from Fernando Llorente and Oscar de Marcos in each half.

End of the road: United were soundly beaten by Athletic Bilbao

Wayne Rooney pulled a late goal back but by that time Ferguson had already removed Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs with an eye to this weekend's Barclays Premier League match at Wolves.

'We can't complain. In the first half we gave away a real soft goal. That was the last thing we wanted,' he told Channel Five.

Celebrate: Athletic Bilbao lap up the adulation of the home fans at the final whistle

Bad day at the office: Fergie was left to reflect on a disappointing night in Spain

'At the start of the second half they did really well could have scored two or three more goals.

'We did better later on but nowhere near enough to win.'

United are top of the Premier League and Ferguson admitted he made his three substitutes with Sunday's trip to Wolves in mind.

On his knees: Rooney and Co had no answer on Thursday night

'We decided to take Rio and Michael and eventually Ryan off because we were thinking of Sunday,' said Ferguson, who denied their exit would boost their league hopes.

'It's not a sense of relief (to go out) because there are still 10 games to play in the league,' he said.

'There is still a lot to do. I think the key thing is we have to make sure we win on Sunday.'

Sports Bound Guide

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Tag Archives: adulation

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London 2012 Paralympics: Sarah Storey equals record after fourth gold

Joe Hart interview: England"s No 1 is getting used to life in the spotlight

London 2012 Olympics: Phillips Idowu fitness worries over

Wimbledon 2012: Martin Samuel – Give respect to Andy Murray

Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray in Final after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Euro 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo has flopped

Sir Alex Ferguson has no complaints as Manchester United crash out of Europa League