Arsenal guard of honour for Manchester United

Posted on April 26, 2013 by adminsports

As Arsenal prepare to give Man United a guard of honour, we ask… what's it all about

By
Sam Cunningham

PUBLISHED:

22:51 GMT, 25 April 2013

UPDATED:

00:20 GMT, 26 April 2013

Manchester United are expected be given a guard of honour by Arsenal when they walk out at the Emirates on Sunday – but why

It is not compulsory for any club to provide a guard of honour if they face the newly crowned League champions but is a ceremony agreed between the two clubs.

It is understandable that Arsenal would put one on for United, who first celebrated the Gunners' 1991 league title win, giving them a guard of honour at Highbury.

Old tradition: United clap Chelsea out in 1955

The Manchester club have a history of
respecting opponents and they also honoured Chelsea lifting the Premier
League trophy in 2005. To reciprocate, Chelsea did the same for United
two years later. Everton also celebrated United's title success on the
last day of the season in 2003 at Goodison Park.

But it is not exclusive to the modern
era, and occurred as far back as 1955 when United provided one for
Chelsea. It is not just used for title winners either – a guard was
formed in 2011 by United and Sunderland to celebrate Sir Alex Ferguson's
25 years in charge. Newcastle players also applauded Arsenal on to St
James' Park in 1994 when they won the European Cup-Winners' Cup.

The exact origin of the Guard of
Honour is not known, but early examples date back centuries ago to
Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greek poet Homer wrote about warriors as
fallen heroes who were given a similar ceremony. There are further
examples throughout Classical and Medieval history.

Guard of Honour: United applaud Chelsea on to the Old Trafford pitch in May 2005

Guard of honour: United applaud Chelsea on to the Old Trafford pitch in May 2005

Its roots are firmly in the military.
As military historian John Sadler explains: 'Most established armies
have a guard of honour function and individual members are drawn from
the ranks of the elite, selected for their imposing appearance, bearing
and precision. The prime functions are to (a) provide a guard for
visiting dignitaries, (b) for national civic ceremonials and (c) to
honour the dead/fallen comrades.

'In the UK these functions are
generally provided by the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry, though all
regiments and branches of the service would field a guard of honour,
depending on circumstances. It is easy to see how this could transfer to
sport.'

It is an act that demonstrates a huge
level of respect, but one that jars with some players. When Roy Keane
and Gary Neville faced each other applauding Chelsea on to the Old
Trafford pitch in May 2005 for Jose Mourinho's first title, neither
player wanted to look their opponents in the eye. Neville said
afterwards nothing had stuck in his craw more during in his career and
Keane said it was a good experience because it taught him that it was
one he never wanted to go through again.

Fergie time: the United boss is clapped on to the pitch in November 2011

Basle v Chelsea – live Europa League

Posted on April 25, 2013 by adminsports

EUROPA LEAGUE LIVE: Basle v Chelsea – follow the semi-final as it happens from St Jakob-Park

By
Dan Ripley

PUBLISHED:

03:00 GMT, 25 April 2013

UPDATED:

17:17 GMT, 25 April 2013

Live scores

Click here for the live goals as they go in

Basle v Chelsea

Fenerbahce v Benfica

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Europa League as Chelsea visit Basle in the first leg of their semi-final at St Jakob-Park.

The Blues remain on course to win a European trophy in successive years following last season's Champions League triumph, but face a tough test when they travel to the Swiss league leaders.

Basle have already proven their pedigree against Premier League opposition having eliminated Tottenham in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.

Send me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or via Twitter @Ripinho.

*This page will auto refresh every two minutes*

18.16: From Sportsmail's Neil Ashton:

Interesting Chelsea team in training last night. Luiz defensive midfield, Ramires right, Moses left, Hazard in behind Nando, but no Mata.

18.13: If that's not good enough for you though, if the Europa League ends up at Stamford Bridge this season, Chelsea will become only the fourth side to win all three of UEFA's major club competitions.

They would join Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich (good company) in having won the Europa League, the Champions League and the European Cup-Winners' Cup.

Chelsea won the latter in 1970/71 and 1997/98 and it's still a competition I miss after being scrapped in 1999 (bring it back UEFA!)

The Italian job: Chelsea's Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Vialli lift the 1998 European Cup-Winners' Cup

18.10: For a club often accused of lacking history compared to its current stature, you sure can't fault Chelsea's recent record at trying to make up for lost time.

After becoming the first London club to be crowned European champions last year, the Blues are now attempting to become the first team to win the Europa League a year after becoming champions of Europe.

It's not quite the desired order to achieve the double – but it's uncharted territory nonetheless.

18.05: Kick-off is not for another two hours but we have plenty to keep us going between now and then, including the team news which should be with us in around an hour's time – possibly quicker.

18.00:
At many times this season, the Chelsea ship has taken a number of
hammer blows and has looked anything but stable, but for all the
turbulence we have seen at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are
just one step away from yet another European final.

Rafael Benitez may not be a manager
remembered fondly by the majority of the west London club's fans, but the Spaniard is on the brink of leading Chelsea into the record books

Good evening folks, welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the Europa League semi-finals.

var timeout = setTimeout(“location.reload(true);”,120000);
function resetTimeout()
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(“location.reload(true);”,120000);

On the charge: Chelsea remain on course to lift the Europa League trophy

LIVE: Manchester United v Norwich, Chelsea v West Brom, Everton v Reading, Southampton v QPR, Stoke v West Ham, Swansea v Newcastle, Sunderland v…

Posted on March 2, 2013 by adminsports

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Follow the action from around the grounds as it happens

By
Dan Ripley

PUBLISHED:

04:00 GMT, 2 March 2013

UPDATED:

14:18 GMT, 2 March 2013

Live scores (3pm)

Click here for the live goals as they go in

Chelsea v West Brom

Everton v Reading

Manchester United v Norwich

Southampton v QPR

Stoke v West Ham

Sunderland v Fulham

Swansea v Newcastle

Click here for the live Premier League table

All the latest from the Championship

All the latest from League One

All the latest from League Two

All the latest from the SPL

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Manchester United host Norwich in one of seven games kicking off at 3pm. The league leaders will hope to avenge their defeat at Carrow Road from earlier this season when Chris Hughton's side recorded a 1-0 win.

Elsewhere Chelsea know a win against West Brom at Stamford Bridge will take them back up into third place while Everton will hope to keep up their chances of qualifying for the Champions League at Goodison Park against Reading.

Down near the bottom of the table, Southampton can build a 13-point gap over rock bottom QPR at St Mary's and Newcastle will look to build on recent good form when they visit Capital One Cup winners Swansea.

Trying to avoid getting sucked into a relegation fight, West Ham will hope to improve on a poor away record when they visit Stoke and Sunderland host Fulham with the Cottagers in with a chance of moving into the top 10.

Send me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or via Twitter @Ripinho.

14.10: It's not every weekend we have a double serving of games at 3pm, but as a little bonus click here to follow live coverage of Real Madrid v Barcelona from the Bernabeu in La Liga.

14.05: Well that's a bad start to the weekend – Ryan Giggs is not even in the Manchester United squad!

With that in mind, let's take a huge contrast and focus on West Brom's Izzy Brown. The midfielder (who is still at school) could become the youngest Premier League player this afternoon at 16 years and 54 days old (he is in the Baggies squad at least.)

14.00: We are set to see a few extraordinary things this weekend. As ever the north London derby will be one of them but arguably the most impressive is set to be Ryan Giggs' 1000th senior game.

Team news is coming up for all seven matches, let's hope the Welshman make an appearance at some point.

Milestone man: Manchester United's Ryan Giggs is poised to make his 1000th senior appearance

Scott Parker desperate win an FA Cup winners medal

Posted on January 27, 2013 by adminsports

Parker's desperate to make a mark in the Cup he loves and add to his medal collection

By
Ian Stafford

PUBLISHED:

22:45 GMT, 26 January 2013

UPDATED:

06:45 GMT, 27 January 2013

Scott Parker, 32 and with just one League Cup winners’ medal to show for 16 years in football’s top flight, insists that he is one player who still takes the FA Cup seriously.

‘I love the FA Cup as a competition,’ said the Spurs midfielder as he prepared for today’s fourth-round trip to face Leeds United. ‘It’s something I’m desperate to win.’

Parker’s solitary piece of silverware was won with Chelsea in 2005, though he actually missed the final in Cardiff through injury. Chelsea won the Premier League the following year but Parker missed out on a winner’s medal because he had not played in the minimum 10 matches.

Cup of joy: Scott Parker is desperate to win the FA Cup

Last year’s losing FA Cup semi-final, playing for Spurs against Chelsea, was as good as it gets, he says, which is why he is taking this afternoon’s fourth-round trip to Leeds very seriously indeed.

‘That semi-final defeat still rankles and I know I don’t have too long left to do it,’ admitted Parker, just back from a five-month lay-off following an achilles operation in the summer.

‘I understand why a top-four finish in the League is the priority for a club like Tottenham, but for me the FA Cup is just as important. Within three or four games you’re right in the business end of the competition and you can taste Wembley.

‘Maybe four or five years ago the competition was beginning to fizzle out a bit, with clubs sending weakened teams out to play, but this isn’t the case so much anymore and I, for one, am pleased about that.

‘There’s nothing better to play in or watch than a good old-fashioned English cup-tie between the big boys and a team from a lower division trying to seize the moment. The Premier League is great, of course, but my early memories of football are all to do with the FA Cup.’

Hard time: Parker won the a League Cup winners medal while at Chelsea

A lifelong Spurs fan, Parker’s earliest recollection of the FA Cup was watching his beloved team lose the 1987 final to Coventry.

‘It’s not a happy memory,’ he says. ‘My favourite player at the time was Nico Claesen, but he was on the bench that day and came on too late for my liking. Then I watched them beat Forest in 1991 when Gazza was up to his tricks.

‘Even though I was far too young at the time to remember Spurs winning back-to-back Cups in the early Eighties, I did end up knowing all the words to Chas and Dave’s Tottenham songs, and had them as records.’

Snow joke: Parker training at Spurs ahead of the Leeds game

Being the football romantic that he is, Parker is also full of admiration for today’s opponents, Leeds, and recalls one happy memory nearer the start of his long career.

‘I scored an injury-time winner at Elland Road for Charlton after a mazy run,’ he says. ‘I don’t score many so that one has stuck. Some of the foreign lads in the Spurs team today may not understand how big a club Leeds still are.

‘They’ll look at the Championship table and not understand, but they will when they run out at Elland Road. There’s no way a team of Leeds’s stature should be where they are. To me they are still a massive, massive club, and you can expect the ground to be rocking.

‘Occasionally in the third and fourth round you can turn up and win being at 70 or 80 per cent. Well you can’t at Leeds. We’ll have to be at our best.

‘It will be a tough game. Their manager, Neil Warnock, will get them going and if we fall short of our best Leeds will win, which is why the television cameras are there. They sense there could be an upset. We’ll have to make sure it doesn’t happen.’

Sir Clive Woodward: Funding is the oxygen for British success in sports like basketball… dont cut the pipeline

Posted on January 11, 2013 by adminsports

Sir Clive Woodward: Funding is the oxygen for British success in sports like basketball… don’t cut the pipeline

. Several sports – including basketball – have seen their funds slashed.

There is a growing furore over the Olympic sports which have missed out on funding from UK Sport’s 347m pot of gold for the so-called 'Road to Rio'.

Those sports which are deemed not to be ‘podium contenders’ have been left at the starting blocks and pondering their very future and even their existence.

Understandably, administrators, players and fans are angry and frustrated given the very noisy and public commitment to fulfil an Olympic and Paralympic legacy, which was at the core of our successful Bid in 2005 and to Inspire a Generation.

As someone who has worked at the very
heart of elite sport and performance, I have sympathy and support for
these sports, which include basketball, handball and volleyball, which
all attracted massive crowds last summer.

Struggles: Britain's basketball stars will find it difficult to compete on the world stage

In terms of potential medal winners at Rio in 2016, those who hold the purse strings probably got it right as judged by their own very strict criteria but we must not develop tunnel vision focused only on the podium.

We must adopt a broader and longer-term vision and aspiration rather than leave ourselves accused of developing an unhealthy lust for medals at all costs, and invest and develop other sports, especially team sports on the back of our Olympic and Paralympic triumph.

It is much more difficult to win medals in team sports compared to individual sports and, traditionally, they do not add many medals to the final medal table because they are not multi-discipline events like rowing, cycling boxing, swimming and athletics. In team sports like basketball you usually only have the men’s team and women’s team.

Road to Rio: The countdown is already on for Britain's trip to Brazil in 2016

Yet, if you analyse the low cost and highly accessible aspect of most team sports, compared to other sports and those which sit comfortably in our inner communities, it is completely baffling to me, why funding has been completely stopped in this area.

In the wake of London 2012 I had hope our cities would be crammed with courts for kids to play team sports, emulating their heroes and nurturing a love for team sport and the camaraderie and spirit, such sports inspire.

My solution to this currently unacceptable situation is to make a special case for these sports with a completely separate pool of funds made available through a new specially set up division of UK Sport called the 'Olympic Development Sports' providing specific support for sports where existing funds cannot be justified.

Heady times: London 2012 captivated the nation last summer

These sports should sign up to a long term business plan, say over 12 years with the aim of qualifying for and winning medals not, just for the next Olympics in 2016 but in 2020 and 2024.

This is investing and building for the future and totally fulfils the Legacy aspiration albeit over a much longer period. These sports should be supported and helped to reach a level where funding can be justified in their own right, and at which stage they will be promoted from the 'Olympic Development Sports' category.

After such a momentous year for sport in Britain, it would be scandalous if these sports did not receive the extra funding they need to continue their exciting journeys and help realise the dreams of thousands of youngsters who simply want to throw a ball into a hoop or push a ball over a net on the sand.

Funding is their oxygen for success. Don’t cut the pipeline.

Michael Owen hits back at Twitter trolls with photo of trophy cabinet

Posted on January 2, 2013 by adminsports

Take a look at my medals! Owen hits back at Twitter trolls with picture of trophy cabinet

By
Lee Bryan

PUBLISHED:

23:42 GMT, 1 January 2013

UPDATED:

01:22 GMT, 2 January 2013

Stoke striker Michael Owen hit back at Twitter trolls who were abusing him on the social network site by posting a picture of his personal trophy cabinet.

The abuse started after Owen wrote: ‘Tough game today and not many teams get anything away at Man City. Shame our 10 game unbeaten run in the Premier League is over. #Stoke’

And that prompted many of his followers to reply to the striker – who has been out injured – to ask what he had done to contribute to Stoke’s run and why he was not playing.

Hitting back: Stoke's Michael Owen refused to take abuse lying down

Owen, who has made just four appearances for the Potters this season, then Tweeted: ‘New Year but things never change. About 100 replies to my last tweet so far and every single one is abusive. What a lovely world we live in.

‘Tweet something like that and then you see the nicer side of Twitter. The minority always ruin it for genuinely decent people.’

Here's what I've won: Owen tweeted a picture of his trophy cabinet

He then followed up with a picture of his trophy cabinet that includes European Player of the Year trophy, a Premier League medal, a FA Cup winners medal as well as three League Cup winners medals along with the Tweet: ‘Oh, and just to remind the trolls with a short memory out there.’

That then prompted his former team-mate Dietmar 'Did' Hamann to reply: ‘Hahaha nice one mukka.’

Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 4 match report – Gareth Bale scores hat-trick

Posted on December 27, 2012 by adminsports

Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 4: TREE-mendous Bale celebrates hat-trick in fine festive style

UPDATED:

08:28 GMT, 27 December 2012

Gareth Bale’s first Premier League hat-trick pushed Paul Lambert towards an unwanted record as a second-half goal glut deepened the gloom at Villa Park.

The Wales winger grabbed the match ball – and stuck it on his Christmas tree – following his 23-minute salvo that built on Jermain Defoe’s opener to leave Villa’s boss with a massive festive hangover.

Just three days after the former European champions suffered the heaviest defeat in their history in shipping eight against last season’s Champions League winners, they served up another horror show against Tottenham in front of a sizeable holiday crowd.

Handy: Gareth Bale celebrated a hat-trick as spurs crushed Aston Villa

Isn't that tweet: Bale used Twitter to show fans where he had put the match ball after his hat-trick

Match facts

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Herd, Clark, Baker (Ireland 45), Bennett, Westwood (Albrighton 46), El Ahmadi, Delph, Holman, Benteke.

Subs Not Used: Given, Bowery, Bannan, Lichaj, Carruthers.

Booked: Delph.

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Naughton, Lennon, Dembele (Parker 66), Sandro, Bale (Townsend 85), Defoe, Adebayor (Sigurdsson 79).

Subs Not Used: Friedel, Dawson, Livermore, Caulker.

Goals: Defoe 57, Bale 61, 73, 84.

Att: 36,863

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Latest Premier League table and results

And with Bale at the heart of the
torment, it meant the 12 goals fired past Brad Guzan equalled the most ever conceded in back-to-back
matches in the Premier League. They share the dubious distinction with
Ipswich, Manchester City, West Ham and Wigan.

Make no mistake, this result was no
fluke. The first-half corner count was 15-1 in the visitors’ favour and
Villa did not enjoy a shot on Hugo Lloris’s goal until Marc Albrighton’s
effort three minutes from time.

It is difficult to judge just how
good Spurs were given they huffed and puffed against Stoke City last
time out. However, they at least looked like they knew what they were
doing, which was more than could be said for the hosts.

And once Defoe had broken the
deadlock and Villa were forced to chase the game, Bale exploited huge
gaps to take his season’s tally to nine in the league.

‘He’s up there with the best,’ said
manager Andre Villas-Boas following Spurs’ sixth victory in eight games.
‘And I think he is improving every game.

‘His left foot is wonderful and the
power and direction he applies is wonderful too. It was an excellent
performance from him and obviously he gets the goals and reward. But it
was a very good team performance from start to finish.’

Jermain Defoe makes the breakthrough

Happy days: Defoe celebrates his strike

Gareth Bale on Twitter

Before posting a picture of the match ball on top of his Christmas tree, Bale tweeted: 'Amazing feeling to get my first league hat trick today but more importantly a great team performance to get us up to 4th #matchball'

Asked about the possibility of Bale
leaving in January, his manager said: ‘There’s no release clause in his
contract. He has a market value that is unobtainable to most clubs.’

Villa, who used Christian Benteke as a
lone striker behind a five-man defence and four-man midfield, were
chasing shadows for long spells in the opening period.

Guzan made a superb fingertip stop to
deny Bale from 25 yards in what was the stand-out moment — apart from
the corner won by Villa in the last knockings of the half, greeted by
cheers from the home supporters.

Cool finish: Gareth Bale rounds goalkeeper Brad Guzan to score his team's second goal

Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur scores his first goal

Lambert’s side began the second half
brightly but Spurs found a way through. Defoe, surrounded by claret
shirts inside the area, passed backwards to Bale, who did likewise to
Kyle Naughton.

The left back’s first-time ball inside Matthew Lowton was controlled by Defoe, who finished with the outside of his right foot.

Four minutes later, it was two as
Villa shot themselves in the foot again. Spurs just managed to clear
Benteke’s cross from the right but Ciaran Clark’s pass was cut out by
Aaron Lennon and his pass inside was knocked into Bale’s path by Joe
Bennett. Bale ran forward with Chris Herd in his wake, rounding Guzan
and slotting home.

The whole stadium knew that was game
over. But not as far as Bale was concerned. Twelve minutes later, he
took a short ball from Lennon in his stride, taking one touch and
firing past Guzan.

Triple treat: Bale completes his hat-trick

Clinical: Bale scores his second goal

Hat-trick hero: Bale holds the match ball

Kyle Walker then fed substitute Gylfi
Sigurdsson, who pulled the ball back for Spurs’ man of the moment to
claim his second hat-trick for the club. Who could forget his first It
came in the San Siro against Inter Milan.

While those late goals lifted
Villas-Boas’s side to fourth, Villa now face Wigan on Saturday. If
Wigan win, they will move level on points with Lambert’s side. ‘We rode
our luck massively in the first half,’ admitted Lambert. ‘I thought
there was a foul on Fabian Delph in their first goal.

‘We had a good chance to make it 1-1
but then they go up the park and score again. That’s what can happen
when you are playing those kind of players.’

Asked whether there were problems
defensively, Lambert added: ‘It’s not just the defence. It’s everywhere.
We’re in it together, collectively you have to stop it.’

Villa’s fans – incredibly – ended the
game singing Lambert’s name. They have a Capital One Cup semi-final to
look forward to, after all.

But on this evidence, you wouldn’t
put it past Bradford to reach Wembley. Now that really would shake the
foundations at Villa Park.

Champions League draw: Manchester United v Real Madrid, Arsenal v Bayern Munich, Celtic v Juventus

Posted on December 20, 2012 by adminsports

Ronaldo v Rooney & Fergie v Mourinho as Man United face Real Madrid in Champions League (plus Arsenal v Bayern Munich and Celtic v Juventus!)

Real Madrid to visit Old Trafford for the since time since 2003

Arsenal to play last season's runners up, Bayern Munich

After beating Barca, Celtic must get the better of Italian champions Juventus

Hot favourites Barcelona will play AC Milan, as they did four times last year

UPDATED:

17:09 GMT, 20 December 2012

Full last 16 draw… and when they play

Galatasaray v Schalke
(February 20 and March 12)

CELTIC v Juventus
(February 12 and March 6)

ARSENAL v Bayern Munich
(February 19 and March 13)

Shakhter Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
(February 13 and March 5)

AC Milan v Barcelona
(February 20 and March 12)

Real Madrid v MANCHESTER UNITED
(February 13, March 5)

Valencia v Paris St Germain
(February 12 and March 6)

Porto v Malaga
(February 19 and March 13)

*First team at home first

Sir Alex Ferguson will face Jose Mourinho in the Champions League last 16 after Manchester United were drawn against Real Madrid.

The game will also pitch Cristiano Ronaldo against his former club for the first time since he left in a world record 80million deal in 2009.

Arsenal dodged Barcelona but have been handed a tough draw against last season's runners up Bayern Munich.

And Scottish champions Celtic, who beat Barca earlier the competition, were drawn against Italian side Juventus, who topped Chelsea's group.

Barcelona's match-up with AC Milan is the pick of the rest of the ties, which will kick off in February.

Turkish side Galatasaray
were drawn against Arsenal's group winners, Schalke, while German
champions Borussia Dortmund, who topped Manchester City's group, will face Shakhtar.

Porto, who won the Champions League
under Mourinho in 2004, will play Malaga, while Carlo Ancelotti's Paris
St Germain take on Valencia.

Scroll down for video

Up for the cup: Sir Alex Ferguson is up against his old friend Jose Mourinho in the Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo

The two Ronnies: Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford for the first time since his move to Real Madrid

CURRENT ODDS TO WIN

Barcelona 9/4
Real Madrid 5/1
Bayern Munich 7/1
Borussia Dortmund 8/1
Juventus 11/1
Manchester United 14/1
Paris St Germain 20/1
Shakhtar Donetsk 33/1
Arsenal 40/1
Porto 50/1
Malaga 50/1
Schalke 66/1
Valencia 66/1
AC Milan 100/1
Celtic 150/1
Galatasaray 250/1

Odds provided by Oddschecker.com

The draw comes just a day after Ferguson heaped praise on his old friend Mourinho.

The Scot said: ‘He is very intelligent, he has
charisma, his players play for him, and he is a good looking guy. I
think I have most of those things, too, apart from his good looks.

'He’s
got a confidence about himself, saying “We’ll win this”, and “I’m the
Special One”. I could never come out and say we’re going to win this
game. It’s maybe a wee bit of my Scottishness’

Rio Ferdinand was first to react to the draw on Twitter, writing: 'Oh yes, Madrid!! What a great couple a games that'll be!! @Cristiano see u soon bro!!'

That was followed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who played for both.

He wrote: 'United or Madrid.. Who do I
want to win Played my heart out for them both. Proud to have played
for both. #impossible #MayTheBestTeamWin.'

VIDEO Reactions to the draw

Play Video

Loading video…

DM.has('rcpv32932','BC',
'renderConfig' :

'css' : “videoplayer-large”,
'autoplay' : false,
'muted' : false,
'adUrl' : “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/adssz=8×8&iu=%2F7023%2Fdm.video%2Fdm_video_sport&ciu_szs=&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=xml_vast2&unviewed_position_start=1&url=[referrer_url]&correlator=[timestamp]“,
'playerId' : “1989148206001″,
'playerKey' : “AQ~~,AAAAAFSL1bg~,CmS1EFtcMWELN_eSE9A7gpcGWF5XAVmI”,
'objId' : “rcpv32932″,
'videoPlayer' : “2047986049001″,
'width' : 636,
'height' : 358,
'linkBaseURL' : “http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2251022/Champions-League-draw-Manchester-United-v-Real-Madrid-Arsenal-v-Bayern-Munich-Celtic-v-Juventus.html”

});

Tuning in: Celtic boss Neil Lennon and his team watch the draw at their training ground

Big names: Steve McManaman helped pull the teams out at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon

Names up in lights: The big screen shows the completed last 16 draw

And United's club secretary John Alexander hoped there was a lucky omen in the draw.

He told Sky Sports News: 'Out of several standout ties, I think this is the one. It's the tie that everyone wanted to see – but that nobody wanted to see, they wanted to save it for later in the competition.

'When you think about the traditions of these two clubs they have both been incredibly successful, but of course the past is history.

'One thing going in our favour is that our one victory over Real Madrid in this competition was in the year we won the final at Wembley [in 1968] so let's hope that is a lucky omen.'

THE LAST TIME REAL MADRID CAME TO OLD TRAFFORD

WHEN JOSE MOURINHO FIRST APPEARED ON SIR ALEX FERGUSON'S RADAR

SEEN IT SOMEWHERE BEFORE

In what is claimed to be odds of 5,000/1, the results of Thursday's Champions League draw were exactly the same as the rehearsal on Wednesday. just look at the screengrab from Sky Sports News the day before the draw.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is optimistic his side can see off Arsenal.

He
told Uefa.com: 'I think we enter this match as the slight favourites,
but we can be making the mistake of underestimating them.

Rehearsal: These were the fixtures that came out during the practice draw earlier this morning

'Arsenal
have struggled at times in the league over the last few months, which a
look upon the standings in the Premier League will tell you. But by no
means will this be an easy game for us. I look forward to our game in
London and back home in Munich.

'We want to set the foundations with a good performance in London, that would make things easier for us in our home game.

'I
wouldn't call this a lucky draw, but one that we can overcome. I look
forward to seeing my old friend Arsene Wenger and I hope that we can
reach the next round.'

Indifferent: Arsenal will have sharp focus on the Champions League,with domestic form unconvincing

Better luck this year: Bayern Munich are out to go one step further than they managed last season

Celtic boss Neil Lennon, on Twitter on Thursday morning, had asked Santa to be nice to Celtic.

And afterwards, he said: ‘In terms of
glamour it’s great, in terms of qualification it will be very tough.
But every team would be tough.

‘We’ll look forward to it. We want to go as far as we can and it’s another huge game for us to enjoy.’

Lennon’s side beat Barcelona and
Spartak Moscow in Glasgow after drawing with Benfica as they progressed
from Group G behind the Catalans.

‘The home game is pivotal. We’ll have
to take some sort of advantage to Turin. Celtic Park is a very special
arena and I’m sure the fans will raise the roof again.’

Scot a problem: Having beaten by Barcelona, Celtic have now been drawn against Juventus

United will play the first leg at the
Bernabeu on February 13 with the return at Old Trafford on March 5,
just three days after the Spanish champions are due to play rivals
Barcelona.

Arsenal
will play a week later with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium on
February 19 and the second at the Allianz Arena in Munich on March 13.

Celtic will take on Juventus at Celtic Park on February 12, with the return leg in Turin on March 6.

The draw contained nine former champions of Europe, including United and Celtic, though not last year's winners Chelsea.

Proceedings began with a tribute to Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, who is
having an emergency operation today after suffering a relapse of a cancerous tumour in his salivary gland.

Glory, glory: Sir Alex Ferguson is gunning for his third European Cup triumph

Missing out: Arsenal reached the final in 2006 but were beaten by Barcelona

Sir Alex Ferguson at Harvard: Manchester United boss has nine honorary degrees

Posted on December 19, 2012 by adminsports

Student Fergie: 12 league titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups… but don't forget Sir Alex's NINE honorary degrees (what a swot!)

UPDATED:

12:20 GMT, 19 December 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson might have the most impressive collection of trophies in English managerial history, but he’s also got nine honorary degrees to go with them.

The great Manchester United manager has won 12 Premier Leagues, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and 10 League Cups, just to name a few. And that is not even mentioning the three Scottish titles, four Scottish Cups and the Cup Winners Cup he won at Aberdeen before moving south of the border.

But we did some homework into the student that is Fergie and it turns out he has more honorary degrees than FA Cups and Champions Leagues put together!

Here are the universities who have honoured the great Scot's work:

1996 – University of Salford

Number one: Ferguson holds up his mortarboard after he was granted an honorary degree from University of Salford in 1996

1997 – Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Make that a double: Ferguson received a degree from Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University in 1997 at the city's music hall

2001- Glasgow Caledonian University

The treble: Ferguson picks up his honorary doctor of letters at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2001

2002- University of St Andrews

Ferguson was part of a trio who were awarded honorary degrees by the University of St Andrews, the other two being University of St Andrews Rector Andrew Neil and Commissioner for Public Appointments Dame Rennie Fritchie.

Dr Brian Lang, Principal and Vice- Chancellor of the University said: 'Sir Alex Ferguson's impressive record does not repeating – he has brought great achievement to the sporting life of this country.'

Come forth: Ferguson at the University of St Andrews in Scotland where he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree

2009 – Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University honoured Ferguson for a second time in 2009 having awarded him a with a honorary masters degree in 1998.

The United boss received a Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration in 2009 for his services to football and the city.

Ferguson said: 'It is always a delight to receive an honour in recognition of what I have done in football, particularly from what I have to call now my home city.'

He told graduates at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall: 'Your success in education is being recognised today, but life starts after education and it is what you do with your skills and knowledge that counts.'

Ferguson was honoured by Manchester Metropolitan University in 2009 for his contribution to football and the city

Back again: Ferguson was honoured by Manchester Metropolitan University in 2009 for his contribution to football and the city, his second degree from the university

2011 – University of Stirling

Ferguson was honoured with a doctorate by University of Stirling in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport.

Sir Alex said: 'I appreciate what Stirling University has done for me today, as do all my family. It is a great honour.'

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after being rewarded with an honorary doctorate

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson makes a speech

Keep them coming: Ferguson was honoured with a doctorate by University of Sterling

2011 – University of Manchester

The United boss received an honorary doctorate from The University of Manchester to mark his 25 years in charge of the club.

He said: 'I think it’s always nice to be appreciated and recognised, and getting this recognition is testimony to all the hard work that has gone on at Manchester United in the last 25 years, not just by me, but by everyone at the club.

'The great part for me is still to be out on the field with the players and coaching them. As the game has changed, I have had to change with it; for example, sports science in the last decade has seen a phenomenal improvement and that has become a major development in the game.

'I just don’t think about retirement any more, when you’ve been on the treadmill for so long, 25 years in my case, and my health is good at the moment, it’s just a matter of looking forward to being the manager of Manchester United, rather than worrying about Alex Ferguson.

'I am enjoying it at the moment, we’ve got a good young team and a lot of youth at the club, as well as some tremendous staff, so the future is good and I can keep enjoying it.'

Loyalty: Ferguson received an honorary doctorate from University of Manchester in 2011 to mark 25 years in charge of Manchester United

2012 – University of Ulster

University of Ulster announced in January that Ferguson and golfer Rory McIlroy would be honoured but the ceremony is yet to take place.

Ferguson is being recognised with a Doctor of Science degree for his services to football.

And another: University of Ulster announced in January that Ferguson was to receive an award but ,as yet, the ceremony has not taken place

main building University of Ulster Jordanstown Campus Northern Ireland uk

Wow, that's impressive! Fergie applauds the United crowd... (and his accolades)

Wow, that's impressive! Fergie applauds the United crowd… (and his accolades)

Champions League and Europa draw preview for Manchester United, Arsenal, Celtic, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle

Posted on December 19, 2012 by adminsports

Champions League and Europa knockout draws await British clubs… but will your team land EU beauty or Euro trash

UPDATED:

14:30 GMT, 19 December 2012

At a later date than first scheduled, seven British teams will finally find out their European fate after Christmas when the draws for the first knock-out rounds of the Champions League and Europa League are made.

Two weeks after the group stages were completed, UEFA will begin proceedings in Nyon on December 20 at 10.30am when they make the draw for the Champions League last 16.

With assistance from final ambassador and former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman, (who will be present at the draw in Switzerland) Manchester United, Arsenal and Celtic will be the first British clubs to find out their European fixtures.

Robin van Persie

Gary Hooper

Santi Cazorla

Following at 1pm are the Europa League’s last 32 and last 16 draws where Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham could potentially face each other in the latter of the two.

So with the festive season in full swing, will the British clubs be handed Christmas crackers or Christmas turkeys Here Sportsmail gives you the lowdown on the draws from both competitions.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Despite one notable absentee in holders Chelsea, the last 16 left in the Champions League contains plenty of pedigree with nine former winners of the tournament and just debutants Malaga who have never been at this stage of the competition before.

There are three British teams remaining with Manchester United, Arsenal and Celtic all managing to reach the knock-out stage. Chelsea finished third in their group to drop into the Europa League while Manchester City finished bottom to be eliminated from Europe outright.

Who's left

Group winners (seeded):

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Schalke (GER)
Malaga (SPA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Juventus (ITA)
Bayern Munich (GER)
Barcelona (SPA)
Manchester United (ENG)

Group runners-up:

Porto (POR)
Arsenal (ENG)
AC Milan (ITA)
Real Madrid (SPA)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Valencia (SPA)
Celtic (SCO)
Galatasaray (TUR)

One to avoid: Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid are lurking in pot two

How does the last 16 draw work

The eight group winners will be paired against the eight runners-up in two-legged ties. The restrictions are no teams can face a side they played earlier in the tournament or one from their own association.

The group winners will play away from home in the first leg on February 12/13 and 19/20 with the return fixtures contested on March 5/6 and 12/13

Brit focus:

MANCHESTER UNITED

Story so far:

Never seemed to get out of
second gear in the group phase but rarely did they need to. Despite
going behind in all but one of their matches, United won their first
four games to qualify as group winners before slipping to two
meaningless defeats.

Who they can face:

Porto, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Valencia, Celtic.

Dream draw:

Despite it being a ‘Battle
of Britain’, Celtic’s away form is an achilles heel and one United will
fancy their chances of taking full advantage of at Old Trafford.

Fergie's nightmare:

To be the best you have to
beat the best but United will not be happy with a draw that pits them
against Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid at this stage.

ARSENAL

Story so far:

Despite domestic troubles
it’s been a fairly convincing season so far in Europe. A home defeat at
the hands of Schalke proved humbling but Arsenal never looked in serious
trouble of progressing from the group stages on their way to a
runners-up spot. There will be much tougher sides to face now though
instead of Olympiacos and Montpellier.

Who they can face:

Paris Saint-Germain, Malaga, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona.

Dream draw:

Malaga have already shocked
AC Milan to storm through as easy group winners but Arsenal’s experience
at this stage of the competition would give them the mental edge
against the side from which they signed Santi Cazorla.

Arsene's nightmare:

Barcelona is the obvious
pick based on their scintillating form, but that’s before you mention
that the Spanish club have eliminated Arsenal from the tournament three
times going back to 2006.

CELTIC

Story so far: It’s been an extraordinary
campaign for Celtic who have defeated Barcelona, ran the same side
close at the Nou Camp and finally overcome their away day hoodoo by
winning at Spartak Moscow. Everything else is a bonus from now on and
that takes the pressure off the Scottish champions who progressed behind
the Spanish outfit as runners-up. Along with Malaga, they are one of
two sides left that had to come through a qualifying round before the
group phase.

Who they can face: Paris-Saint Germain, Schalke, Malaga, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Manchester United.

Dream draw: The inexperience of Malaga
will dangle a quarter-final carrot for Celtic, but fans would also
relish the chance of taking on Manchester United.

Lennon's nightmare: Celtic have already proven
they fear no one but even Neil Lennon won’t fancy a draw with Bayern
Munich. Bizarrely, only Chelsea scored more goals than the runaway
Bundesliga leaders’ total of 15 in the group stage.

Fired up: Bayern Munich have plenty to prove after last season's final defeat

EUROPA LEAGUE

All three Premier League clubs in Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle came through the Europa League group stage and are joined in the last 32 by Chelsea, who finished third in their Champions League group.

The Blues’ relatively strong record compared to other third-placed teams from the elite competition makes them a seeded team but there are plenty of big fish swimming around in the unseeded pot.

The draw for the last 16 immediately follows that for the last 32.

Chelsea

Luis Suarez

Spurs

Demba Ba

Who’s left

Group winners/CL drop-outs:

Liverpool (ENG)
Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Fenerbahce (TUR)
Bordeaux (FRA)
Steaua Bucharest (ROM)
Dnipro (UKR)
Genk (BEL)
Rubin Kazan (RUS)
Lyon (FRA)
Lazio (ITA)
Metalist (UKR)
Hannover (GER)
Chelsea (ENG)*
Cluj (ROM)*
Olympiacos (GRE)*
Benfica (POR)*

Runners-up/CL drop-outs:

Anzhi (RUS)
Atletico Madrid (SPA)
Borussia Monchengladbach (GER)
Newcastle (ENG)
Stuttgart (GER)
Napoli (ITA)
Basle (SWI)
Inter Milan (ITA)
Sparta Prague (CZE)
Tottenham (ENG)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Levante (SPA)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR)*
Zenit (RUS)*
Ajax (HOL)*
BATE (BLR)*

* indicates team finished third in Champions League group stage.

Dangermen: Italian giants Inter Milan look threatening in pot two

How does the last 32 draw work

The teams are split into two pots with the group winners and the four best performing Champions League sides seeded in pot one. They will be drawn in a two-legged tie against the runners-up and the remaining four Champions League teams from pot two.

Allocation for the Champions League teams is based on points collected after their involvement in their respective group stages, with the four best performing sides placed in the seeded pot with the Europa League group winners.

The restrictions are no side can play a team they faced in the Europa League group stage or one from their own association.

The unseeded teams will be drawn first and will host the first leg on February 14, with the return matches a week later.

How does the last 16 draw work

The 16 ‘last 32 matches’ are allocated a match number and put into one pot. The first match number drawn at random will play at home first in a two-legged tie against the next match number drawn second. The process is repeated for the 14 remaining balls.

There are no restrictions at this stage thus any side can face teams they have already played in the group stage or one from their own association. The first legs will be played on March 7 with the return matches a week later.

Brit focus:

CHELSEA

Story so far:

The London side have
wounds to lick after becoming the first Champions League holders to
crash out of the group stage. The Blues scored more goals than anyone
but defeats at Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus proved fatal in their quest
to reach the last 16.

Who they can face in the last 32:

Anzhi,
Atletico Madrid, Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart, Napoli, Basle,
Inter Milan, Sparta Prague, Bayer Leverkusen, Levante, Dynamo Kiev,
Zenit, Ajax, BATE.

Dream draw:

Rafael Benitez’s team won’t
fancy the air miles to Belarus and BATE, but the side that defeated
Bayern Munich in the Champions League won’t be expected to cause the
Blues much of a test at Stamford Bridge.

Rafa's nightmare:

Atletico Madrid. If only
to avoid a repeat of their 4-1 Super Cup drubbing from back in August
when the Europa League holders ran rings around the Blues.

LIVERPOOL

Story so far:

The Reds came out on top
in a very entertaining group that saw them finish level on 10 points
with Anzhi and Young Boys. Defeats were felt at home to Udinese and at
Anzhi but Brendan Rodgers’ side have often played with freedom and
confidence.

Who they can face in the last 32:

Atletico Madrid,
Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart, Napoli, Basle, Inter Milan, Sparta
Prague, Bayer Leverkusen, Levante, Dynamo Kiev, Zenit, Ajax, BATE.

Dream draw:

In an unseeded pot that
holds many dangers, Liverpool will also be in favour of facing
relatively unknown BATE instead of a side with strong European history –
of which there are many.

Brendan's nightmare:

They may have seen off
Udinese in the group stage, but there are much stronger Italian teams
left in the competition including Inter Milan and Napoli – who have
the tournament's top-scorer in Edinson Cavani.

Steer clear: Napoli and star striker Edinson Cavani would be a bad draw

NEWCASTLE

Story so far:

Newcastle’s first
appearance in Europe for five years has been an enjoyable stint so far
as the Toon reached the last 32 with a game to spare. Alan Pardew’s team
only lost one match and that was at Bordeaux in their final group game –
a result that still saw them through as runners-up behind the French
outfit.

Who they can face in the last 32:

Viktoria Plzen,
Fenerbahce, Steaua Bucharest, Dnipro, Genk, Rubin Kazan, Lyon, Lazio,
Metalist, Hannover, Cluj, Olympiacos, Benfica.

Dream draw:

Having already seen off
Club Bruges in the group, Newcastle will be content should they draw
another Belgian side in Genk who are of similar quality to their
compatriots.

Pards' nightmare:

Lazio are challenging
for a Champions League spot in Serie A and had two very tight goalless
contests with Tottenham in the group stages.

TOTTENHAM

Story so far:

Unbeaten in their group
but in finishing runners-up to Lazio with four draws it was far from
a comfortable ride. Only home wins against minnows Maribor and
Panathinaikos on the final day saw Spurs through to the knockout stages
of the competition for the first time since 2009.

Who they can face in the last 32:

Viktoria Plzen,
Fenerbahce, Bordeaux, Steaua Bucharest, Dnipro, Genk, Rubin Kazan, Lyon,
Metalist, Hannover, Cluj, Olympiacos, Benfica.

Dream draw:

Like Newcastle, a
relatively short trip to Genk in Belgium would also be in favour of
Spurs who have struggled on their European travels this term.

AVB's nightmare:

Never mind the fact
that Dnipro would provide a very tricky challenge and a long trip to the
Ukraine, former Spurs boss Juande Ramos manages them and would have
something to prove at White Hart Lane.

Sports Bound Guide

Sports Bound Guide. Fresh Sports News

Tag Archives: winners

Arsenal guard of honour for Manchester United

Basle v Chelsea – live Europa League

LIVE: Manchester United v Norwich, Chelsea v West Brom, Everton v Reading, Southampton v QPR, Stoke v West Ham, Swansea v Newcastle, Sunderland v…

Scott Parker desperate win an FA Cup winners medal

Sir Clive Woodward: Funding is the oxygen for British success in sports like basketball… dont cut the pipeline

Michael Owen hits back at Twitter trolls with photo of trophy cabinet

Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 4 match report – Gareth Bale scores hat-trick

Champions League draw: Manchester United v Real Madrid, Arsenal v Bayern Munich, Celtic v Juventus

Sir Alex Ferguson at Harvard: Manchester United boss has nine honorary degrees