Man United 1 Arsenal 0

JOHN O’SHEA’S thunderbolt handed Manchester United a vital Champions League advantage over Arsenal.

The home side dominated the game and the Irish full-back put them ahead when he smashed the ball home from close range after 16 minutes.

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had an inspired night between the posts and kept the Gunners in it but United will feel they should have killed off the tie with the amount of opportunities they had.

Asked if they should have scored more, O’Shea said: “Possibly with the chances we had. Their keeper has made a couple of great saves.

"On our first-half display we could have been a couple more goals up.

“But we have the goal, we kept a clean sheet and we know we’re capable of scoring an away goal at the Emirates.

“But it’s definitely not over. We tried to squeeze play up the pitch as much as we could, to keep the pressure on Arsenal.

“It worked very well, especially in the first half. Arsenal are a good team, they kept the ball well at times and it’s hard to get it back from them.

“At the Emirates, we need to improve on retaining possession.

“But overall we have to be happy.”

Spanish stopper Almunia clawed Wayne Rooney’s looping header away from the far post in the opening minute of the game and blocked Carlos Tevez’s close-range effort 15 minutes later.

But the Gunners failed to trouble Edwin van Der Sar in the United goal during the opening exchanges, despite a continued spell of possession towards the end of the first period.

Rooney flashed a curling shot just wide from 20 yards as United looked to finish the half on top.

A short backpass from rookie left-back Kieran Gibbs almost allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to nip in but Almunia once again made a sliding block to make the save.

The second half started brightly for the home side, with Brazilian midfielder Anderson trying his luck from 20 yards out, only to see his shot blaze over.

The visitors pushed forward but Emmanuel Adebayor was deprived of service from the Arsenal midfield and cut a frustrated figure up front.

However, 10 minutes into the second half, the Togo hitman made space for a half-volley after chesting the ball down 18 yards out, but fired his effort over.

United then brought on Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov for the final 24 minutes, as Anderson and Tevez made way.

The Red Devils continued to dictate the play and Ronaldo’s speculative 30-yard effort on 68 minutes rattled Almunia’s crossbar.

Arsenal made a change when Nicklas Bendtner replaced the ineffective Theo Walcott on 71 minutes.

Michael Carrick fired wide from 30 yards as United stepped up a gear in search of a second goal.

Ronaldo threatened to make it two when he got on the end of Rooney’s cross but the World Player of the Year headed over from six yards out.

Giggs had the ball in the back of the net after latching on to Rooney’s throughball before rounding Almunia but his effort was ruled offside.

Arsene Wenger hauled Adebayor off with seven minutes remaining, the African forward being replaced by Eduardo.

But the Croatian's introduction failed to spark a comeback from the away side and O'Shea's early strike means United will take a vital advantage into next Tuesday's second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

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Bojan: We want Arsenal next

BARCELONA starlet Bojan Krkic wants to face Arsenal in the Champions League final — provided his side beat Chelsea first.

The Spanish striker, 18, believes Arsene Wenger’s men play the best football in Europe, matched only by his team-mates.

And while he is expecting a tough semi-final against Chelsea, starting with the first leg tonight, Bojan admits he does have one eye on the final in Rome.

He said: “We really play the most beautiful football in the world.

“We have shown in all our games that our football is really attractive – it’s exciting, fast, imaginative football that people enjoy watching.

“I think that a final between Barcelona and Arsenal would be the most interesting for fans who want to see a good game.

“We and Arsenal certainly offer the most attractive style of play.”

In terms of Chelsea, Bojan admits there are too many match-winners in their side to get over-confident.

He added: “There are no favourites for this match.

“I think it will be extremely interesting – a great match with spectacular football.

“Barcelona and Chelsea are top teams and, when such footballing giants meet, you cannot say who is the favourite.

“They have some of the top players, like Essien, Drogba, Ballack and Lampard – too many great footballers to mention.”

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Barcelona 0 Chelsea 0

SO Guus Hiddink was having us all on, the wily old fox.

The Dutchman said Chelsea would fight fire with fire, that they would take the game to free-flowing Barca.

We were promised thrills and skills and a feast of attacking football.

Instead, Chelsea dug the trenches, put their bodies on the line and, with goalkeeper Petr Cech back to his best, they frustrated the life out of their illustrious opponents.

Barcelona’s ‘Holy Trinity’ of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o, who had rattled in 90 goals between them since September, suddenly forgot where the net was.

It was the first time all season that Barca had failed to score at the Nou Camp and the Blues deserve enormous credit for getting back to London with a 0-0 draw.

It was a tall order for the Blues given their defence has not looked the most solid in recent weeks — conceding four against Liverpool in the quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge before scrambling home 7-5 on aggregate.

But you still would not like to bet which one of these two will make the Champions League final.

A goalless draw in the first leg is one of those scores which often leaves the home side vulnerable in the return, knowing they cannot afford to concede an away goal.

And, as Barca have so many attacking options, Chelsea will find it tough keeping them out again.

They can take heart, though, from the fact Manchester United drew 0-0 here in last year’s semi-final and went through.

Chelsea sailed pretty close to the wind at the end, however.

As the game went into stoppage time, Dani Alves swung over a cross from the right and teenage substitute Bojan headed over from a couple of yards. It was an absolute sitter.

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb could still have given his team the advantage after that as he broke down the left but Cech came out well to block his shot and Hleb then blasted the rebound into the side-netting.

Chelsea had only one clear-cut opportunity all night and Didier Drogba will feel he should have taken it, having seized on a woeful Rafael Marquez backpass late in the first half.

His first effort was saved by the diving Victor Valdes and, when the rebound fell at the Ivorian’s feet again, he tried to chip the ball over the keeper — only for Valdes to get both hands to it to thwart the danger.

Chelsea also had a chance with a flick header by Michael Ballack which went just over the bar.

It became obvious from the moment Hiddink handed in the teamsheet that he had conned us about his approach to the game.

He employed two holding midfielders in Ballack and John Obi Mikel and had the defensively-minded Michael Essien on the right of the three supporting Drogba.

The effect was to stifle the creativity of star man Messi.

The Argentinian never got a grip on the game and full marks to Jose Bosingwa, who had to fill in as an emergency left-back because of the suspension of Ashley Cole.

Maybe if Bosingwa had been booked when he took out Messi early on, it might have been a different story because he could not have afforded another lunge. But the Portuguese escaped and went on to do a commendable job.

Messi could not find space down the flank and, when he cut inside, he just ran into a wall of Chelsea players.

Henry meanwhile struggled to create any room on the left and was restricted to shots from outside the box which Cech saved well.

The Frenchman was, however, pretty miffed at not getting a 74th-minute penalty as he turned in the box and had his shirt tugged by Bosingwa.

It was one of those which defenders get away with most of the time but, just occasionally, a ref spots it. Fortunately for the visitors, German official Wolfgang Stark did not.

Striker supreme Eto’o was also well snuffed out by skipper John Terry and his Brazilian partner Alex.

Cameroon international Eto’o did get past Terry once in the second half when he nutmegged him just inside the halfway line and also evaded the challenge of Alex — but Cech again got down well to save with his legs.

At times it was all very untidy — and Barca players spent a lot of time rolling around on the ground claiming various forms of assault. Alves had a running battle with Drogba but Chelsea did no more than apply a little bit of muscle in all areas of the park, which did not allow those with the twinkle toes to work their magic.

The irony was that it was actually Barca who were punished most when sub Carles Puyol, on for the injured Marquez, fouled Ballack. The shaggy-haired defender was shown a yellow card and is now out of the second leg.

In the event they only had themselves to blame for failing to take those late chances which might just have opened the door to a second successive final for Chelsea.

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Real Madrid eyeing top Man

MICHAEL MANCIENNE has emerged as a shock target for Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants are keeping tabs on Chelsea’s blossoming England defender and hope to cash in on his frustration at Stamford Bridge.

He has played only two games in the Premier League since being hauled back from a loan spell with Wolves.

A Madrid move for Mancienne could be triggered in June following their presidential elections. Ex-sporting director Jorge Valdano is tipped to rejoin the club if Florentino Perez is re-elected on June 14 — and Valdano is a huge Mancienne admirer.

He has already sent scouts to check on the youngster’s progress.

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Roon set for mega 6-year Utd contract

WAYNE ROONEY will be offered a monster SIX-YEAR contract by Manchester United this summer.

The England star, 23, has two full seasons left on his current deal after signing a £100,000-a-week package three years ago.

But United plan to begin discussions on a fresh mega-bucks agreement giving Rooney parity with stars like Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo on £125,000 per week.

Old Trafford chiefs traditionally do not allow their top names to get into the final two years of a contract without starting negotiations on a fresh one.

And with Rooney one of football’s hottest properties, they know a swift statement of intent will ensure there is no repeat of the Ronaldo-Real Madrid saga, which still refuses to go away.

The United hitman has made no secret of his desire to commit his future to the champions.

Now Old Trafford’s powerbrokers are ready to grant his wishes.

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United in for Milan ace Kaka

MANCHESTER UNITED held talks with Kaka yesterday over a sensational summer move.

The Brazilian’s representatives met United to discuss personal terms which would total £35million in wages alone.

A source close to the AC Milan superstar confirmed: “It was a very positive meeting, although nothing was agreed.

“The player wants a five-year contract and wages of £135,000 a week. He is very keen to join United and these are figures that are within United’s pay structure. It’s up to them what happens now.”

The talks did not involve any discussion about a transfer fee but Milan expect to get at least £70m for their star player.

The big question now is how United will find the cash — and whether they will sell Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer to Real Madrid.

Kaka, 27, has already spoken of his affinity for United, saying: “They have some great players in Giggs and Scholes and especially Wayne Rooney.

“One of my best friends, Anderson, is also there — how can anyone say no?

“They are the English and European champions and a great club to play for.”

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Carrick: Don't leave us, Tevez

MICHAEL CARRICK last night begged Carlos Tevez: Please don’t leave us.

In an exclusive interview with SunSport, the Manchester United and England midfielder issued a desperate plea to his Argentinian team-mate to rethink his threat to quit Old Trafford at the end of the season.

We revealed yesterday hitman Tevez, 25, was fed up being sidelined for United’s big games and wants to play abroad for family reasons.

But United’s stars hope he will have a change of heart.

Carrick said: “We want him to stay, Carlos is a top player. He has scored some very important goals for us over the last few years.

“We’ve got a world-class squad, we’ve got world- class players and Carlos is one of them.

“We want to keep moving forward as a team and as a squad so we’d like to keep our best players here.

“But it’s down to the manager. I’m sure he knows the best way to make sure we do keep progressing.”

Carrick also backed United striker Dimitar Berbatov to put his FA Cup disappointment behind him — starting against their old club Spurs on Saturday.

He said: “He’s a vital player for us and I think he’ll show that in these important games we’ve got coming up.

“There’s no doubt he’ll come good and he’s only going to get better the longer he stays at United. The fans will see what a top-drawer player he is.”

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Liverpool are done 4

ANDREY ARSHAVIN blitzed Liverpool’s title dream with FOUR goals — but defiant Rafa Benitez insisted he will battle Manchester United to the end.

The Kop boss insisted: “We know that this result hands the initiative to them but they had it before because they were always in the driving seat.”

The draw lifts Liverpool ahead of United on goal difference but Kamikaze defending cost them the chance to go two points clear. And they have played two games more than their rivals.

Shellshocked Kop fans witnessed their second 4-4 draw in seven days in a real Anfield thriller.

Benitez said: “All the players came off with their heads down even after an incredible performance because they knew we had lost the chance to put big pressure on United.

“But we showed we will fight right to the end. We will keep going and who knows what will happen?

“Arsenal still have to go to Old Trafford and they could clearly get a result.”

Benitez was stunned at his side’s defending. He added: “Arsenal only had four shots and scored four goals, and every single one was from our mistakes.”

Yet Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger promised Liverpool fans his side would go for it just as fiercely at Old Trafford — and paid tribute to hitman Arshavin.

Wenger said: “I have never seen such a brilliant display of goalscoring before. He scored with both feet, and showed great confidence and belief.

“He can play anywhere, and he brings such danger with him.

“What I will say to Liverpool is ‘Don’t worry’ because we will go to United and try to win. I think the title is still very open even now.”

Sadly for Gunners fans Arshavin is ineligible for the Champions League semi-final against United.

Arshavin, the first visitor to score four league goals at Anfield since Wolves’ Denis Westcott in 1946, said: “I’ve scored two hat-tricks before but never four in a game.”

Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were at the thriller after meeting bank officials to start renegotiating terms of their £350million loan. They sat together in a clear show of solidarity.

The 4-4 draw cost bookies Paddy Power £500,000. They quoted the result at 500-1 and 537 punters cashed in.

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Beware of The Hulk

ALEX FERGUSON has told his Manchester United players: Beware of The Hulk.
The Old Trafford boss has pinpointed Porto’s forwards as a huge test of his side's Champions League credentials.

Fergie was unable to call upon centre-back pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for the 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

And the Portuguese champions are next up at Old Trafford tomorrow in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

While Vidic will return from suspension, Ferdinand is still touch and go with a back injury.

And after doing his homework, Ferguson admits Porto's South American duo Hulk and Lisandro will provide the main threat.

He told ESPN: “I’ve been watching the videos the last couple of weeks and they’re very difficult to play against in their own ground — they have a terrific record there.

“It goes down to the first leg. Hopefully we can get a two-goal lead. If we get a two-goal lead it gives us the best opportunity without question.

“And we need that. Looking at their home record and how difficult they are to play against on their home ground I think we’re going to need that two-goal lead.

“Hulk played in both games I saw — on the right hand side the first time and through the middle in the second.

“He is a left-footed player, a big powerful lad with good pace and very, very strong.

“I think he and Lisandro the centre forward are both very important players.”

Ferdinand and Vidic were among six first-team regulars missing at the weekend, with Ferguson's squad stretched to the limit.

But the 67-year-old claims he does not know his best line-up anyway, preferring to keep a horses-for-courses policy.

He added: "It’s true to say that I don’t look upon things as having a first team.

“I could probably pick the best 11 players but not necessarily in the right positions — and that’s maybe easier than picking the right team than for a particular big game.

“You’d have to give a lot of thought as to what team was going to win the game and that involves tactics, which in turn involves who your opponents are.

“And that’s where difficulties arise in saying what your best team is.

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Gerrard scoops £26m deal

STEVEN GERRARD has pledged the rest of his career to Liverpool — for a whopping £26million.

The Kop skipper, 28, agreed a two-year contract extension, taking him to 2013, and will see his wages rise nearly £20,000 to around £125,000 a week.

Boss Rafa Benitez said: “It is a very, very positive message to the players that we have the commitment of Gerrard, which means we can go forward and can concentrate on football.

“We are trying to keep the spine of the team here and with Gerrard we wanted to be sure we keep the captain for a long time.”

The timing of the announcement, a day before the trip to Fulham, was a masterstroke in psychology by the Spaniard.

He admitted: “We want to show everyone is pushing in the right direction.

“With Stevie, as soon as we said we wanted to talk about an extension it was agreed very, very quickly.”

Gerrard’s deal was swiftly followed by a similar extension for Dirk Kuyt and Benitez now hopes to thrash out further agreements with Sami Hyypia, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger.

Yet centre-back Jamie Carragher, who still has two years left, will have to wait until the end of the season for his fresh deal.

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Fergie wants Moyes at United

DAVID MOYES is Alex Ferguson’s choice to succeed him as Manchester United boss.

Fergie, 67, is likely to step down after next season. He said: “David hasn’t got the credit he deserves.

"When you take everything into consideration, he’s done an incredible job at Everton.

“He has not had the resources of other clubs but got all his younger players on long contracts and built around them with the likes of Phil Jagielka, Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott.

“The signings he has made have been terrific and it means he has continuity for years.”

Moyes, a Glaswegian like Fergie, has done a remarkable job at Everton since replacing Walter Smith in March 2002.

The Toffees have finished in the top six in three of the last four seasons and was voted by fellow bosses as Manager of the Year in 2003 and 2005.

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho and Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill have been heavily linked with filling the United hotseat.

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Mido: I'll fill the Zaki Gap

MIDO says he can fill the gap left at Wigan by AWOL striker Amr Zaki.

The roly-poly former Spurs striker is likely to be asked to play alone up front at Everton tomorrow.

Zaki is in disgrace at the JJB after returning late from international duty with Egypt for a fourth time and also falling out with Mido while away.

But on-loan Middlesbrough man Mido, 26, insists he can cope.

Mido said: “One of the best seasons of my career came when I played in this kind of system at Ajax.

“It’s more difficult up front by yourself but I’m feeling good.”

He added: “I have been working on a fitness programme with a coach and I’ve lost about 4lbs so I’m going the right way.

“I just want to do what the manager asks me and work hard for the team.”

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Al warns fans of 'massive' task

ALAN SHEARER says Newcastle fans must forget the hysteria and let him concentrate on the "massive task" of keeping the club in the Premier League.
The 38-year-old was officially unveiled as the Magpies’ manager after he agreed to take the reigns while Joe Kinnear recovers from heart surgery.

The Toon Army reacted with euphoria when it emerged their hero had accepted the role late on Tuesday night.

But Match of the Day pundit Shearer, 38, has moved to play down the fanfare and instead warned the club’s supporters of the huge battle they face.

He said: “The response from the fans has been fantastic but it’s not surprising.

"I’d be daft to say I don’t understand it but we have to get away from this 'Alan Shearer' thing.

"It’s not about me, it’s about keeping Newcastle in the Premier League. We’ve got a job to do.

“I’ve not taken this job for me. I could have been sat on the sofa on Saturday analysing the game but this opportunity was right and I believe I can help them get out of the position they are in.

“The fans know me as well as anyone. They know they’ll get 100 per cent 24 hours a day for the next eight weeks.

“I hope that will be good enough because it would sadden me and the thousands of supporters if we went down to the Championship – they don’t deserve that.

“The powers that be admit mistakes have been made this season but they’ve gone now.

"We’re third bottom in the league and all that’s gone on is history. We can’t do anything about it.

“What we can do is something now for the remaining eight games.

“I love this club and realise they’re in a bad position and I have been given the opportunity to do something about it.

“I realise there is quality in this squad but they’re not playing with much confidence and it’s my job to get that right."

Newcastle are 18th in the Premier League and two points away from saftey.

They face title-chasing Chelsea at St James' Park on Saturday and Shearer revealed his first impressions of his new players bodes well for this weekend's clash.

He added: "I got in this morning and have seen and spoken to all the players and staff.

“Training was superb, they’ve set a standard this morning we want them to keep to.

"If they keep that standard and determination up , we’ll be OK.

"I hold nothing against the players – we started afresh when I walked in this morning.


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"It seems like they haven’t been enjoying themselves recently but they came in this morning and there was a buzz around the place, they were smiling.

"But if we don’t beat Chelsea and the other teams around us win, that puts us five points adrift so we have to get something from the game.

"I want the players to go out on Saturday and show what they’ve shown me this morning. It’s a fantastic feeling playing in front of 52,000 people at St James’ Park.

"I think we can do it – it’ll be tough, but give me eight games in the Premier League that aren’t tough."

Shearer warned he has no intention of taking the Toon top job for the long-term.

He added: "I’m here for eight games and eight games only.

"I want this club to stay up and then the powers that be will decide what direction they go from there.

"I’ve had a reputation as a player but that’s gone. I’m moving onto something else.

"I’ll be judged from now on. I've not come into this with my eyes shut. I know what the stakes are."

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England 2 Ukraine 1

JOHN TERRY rescued England's 100 per cent record by nicking a late winner for the Three Lions.

The Chelsea defender marauded forward to turn home five minutes from time after Ukraine substitute Andriy Shevchenko had cancelled out Peter Crouch's deserved opener.

Centre-half Terry had been a figure of fun earlier last week after his mother's shoplifting shame.

But he was all smiles after knocking in Steven Gerrard's header down.

Wayne Rooney inspired England to a largely comfortable night but they almost paid for never quite reaching peak form.

And they needed a late Wembley flurry to take their record to five wins from five World Cup qualifiers.

Rooney's influence was already clear by the time he finished a slick move in the seventh minute with a neat touch and overhead kick inches high.

That flowing break underlined England's early promise, largely based on Rooney's movement down the left with Steven Gerrard.

Gareth Barry's needless booking for a shoulder-push barely affected England's decent momentum.

And Taras Mykhalyk was soon yellow-carded for tripping the darting Rooney.

Gerrard curved a tapped free-kick narrowly off-target from 25 yards midway England's comfortable first-half display.

Then the Liverpool skipper combined with Rooney to spark arguably the move of a night, Aaron Lennon eventually hooking the ball in for Frank Lampard to flick wide .

Rooney's tireless runs continued to unsettle Ukraine, notably when he nodded Lennon's cross wide.

Nonetheless, when England's breakthrough arrived it was largely after gentle pressure rather than utter domination.

Lampard's high corner was nodded back across goal by Terry for Crouch to swivel home a volley from near the penalty spot - showing poaching skills that Michael Owen would have been proud of at his peak.

Rooney's display simply grew better after that, especially when he raked a pass out to Lennon, then dashed into the middle to fire the resulting cross wide.

Anatoliy Tymoschuk, though, came far closer to an equaliser than he should have done, lashing a 30-yarder that the diving David James fumbled.

Gerrard produced his own fizzing long-ranger just before the break, forcing Andriy Pyatov into a solid block low down.

And, after a tentative start to the second period, England regained their edge, Rooney once again playing with the energy of two men.

But Rooney's temper suddenly reared when his fierce, studs-up lunge on Alex Aliev took the ball but more of the Ukraine player as he followed through.

AC Milan's former Chelsea flop Shevchenko came on for the muted Andriy Voronin - before David Beckham's arrival for the unlucky Lennon prompted one of the night's biggest roars.

Beckham soon dipped a free-kick on to the roof of the net.

Rooney remained England's main man, with Gerrard perhaps frustrated at his rather restricted second-half role on the left.

Yet Shevchenko needed just one chance to wreck England's apparent smooth path to victory.

He latched on to a 74th minute free-kick that deflected off Glen Johnson to flash his 40th international goal through a crowded area and past James.

And with England unsettled, Shevchenko broke down the right.

Rooney twisted to lash the ball past the near post when he should have pulled it across goal.

But Terry saved England five minutes from time, nudging in Gerrard's nod-down.

England: James, Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole, Lennon, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Rooney, Crouch. Subs: Foster, Jagielka, Lescott, Wright-Phillips, Carrick, Beckham, Agbonlahor.

Ukraine: Pyatov, Yarmash, Mykhalyk, Chigrinsky, Shevchuk, Aliev, Slyusar, Tymoschuk, Valyaev, Voronin, Milevskiy. Subs: Bogush, Kalinichenko, Kucher, Rusol, Shevchenko, Seleznyov, Nazarenko.

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Chelsea footballer Joe Cole made £2.5m on Dubai home

Footballer Joe Cole made £2.5million profit by selling his luxury villa in Dubai before prices halved.

The Chelsea ace was one of nine England stars heading to the World Cup in Japan in 2002 who paid about £1million each for properties in the oil-rich Gulf state.

But while most have held on to their pads, Cole sold his last summer for £3.5million.

Homes costing £3.2million last October are now for sale for £1.6million and some are dropping £80,000 a week.

Players who also bought on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah – the world’s largest man-made island – included David Beckham, David James, Gary Neville and Michael Owen.

Celebrity neighbours are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, England cricketer Andrew Flintoff and ex-Formula 1 champ Michael Schumacher.

But the Dubai projects have been accused of threatening the marine environment and Cole felt the bubble had burst.

He said: “It’s overvalued. I may buy in Abu Dhabi next.”

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