By Shaun Orange

Manchester United engage Barcelona in the second leg of the European Champions League semifinal at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but go into the game with more than enough to distract them from what could prove a defining call to their season.

The Red Devils are handsomely poised to reach their first Champions League final since their dramatic 1999 victory at the Nou Camp. They held Barca to a goalless draw in the first leg last week and that performance has swung the pendulum in their favour, given that now the Catalan giants have to visit the Theatre of Dreams.

Alex Ferguson’s side are also atop the Premier League, tied with Chelsea on points, but lead the standings by virtue of a vastly superior goal aggregate.

The Blues beat Man United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to draw level with the champions at the top of the log. However, that defeat was more than just about the result and now threatens to derail Manchester United’s season.

They had Serbian central defender Nemanja Vidic and England international Wayne Rooney substituted because of injury. And while both are expected to be fielded against the Spanish club despite not having fully recovered, Man United also have their boss up in arms with what he perceived to be a “diabolical” decision to award Chelsea the penalty at the end of the game, which turned out to be the winner.

Wednesday might be seen as a different competition, with different opponents and in different circumstances, but these high-profile incidents sometimes take considerably longer to get over than many suspect. And it could well be that Ferguson and his squad will still have it at the back of their minds when Barcelona visit.

Worse still, Man United are the subject of an investigation involving a fracas at the end of the Chelsea game. The bust-up is reported to have been between Chelsea’s groundsmen and a few Man United players.

These issues, however trivial they might appear, often do have a bearing on the players and their psyche. They could undermine Man United’s bid for a unique Premiership and Champions League Double.

The Old Trafford faithful will point out that Ferguson is the most successful manager in the Premier League, that he has seen it all before and thus should come through without a hassle. Well, that could indeed be the case because Ferguson is undeniably the manager with the most silverware in England right now.

But I think that somehow Ferguson will be saddled with the blame if they fail to win neither the Premier League nor Champions League like has been suggested by his second-in-command Carlos Queiroz.

Nonetheless, I think it is safe to say that they will win one of the two; or maybe both. But it is unlikely that they will miss out altogether. Unless, of course, these niggling issues do get to them, and that also cannot be ruled out.

By Shaun Orange

Cristiano Ronaldo has been chosen Footballer of the Year for a second season running. To me, it was not a surprise. It was that we could see coming from a mile off.

And in many ways he deserves it. He has been in tip-top form for much of the campaign, and a lot of Manchester United’s push for a second successive Premiership title and advance to the semifinals of the European Champions League has been down to his contribution, and goals.

He is certainly a highly regarded figure amongst the Premier League players, although not all of them would whole heartedly give him their vote. And a quick quiz of the Premiership’s managers would be even less likely (percentage-wise).

There is absolutely no question that this lad - a Portuguese international, who thrives on penetrating the opposition down the flanks, is a gifted footballer.

He probably is a more of an all-round package than any of his contemporaries. He has pace, he can read the game, he knows all too well how to bring his teammates into play, he can take on and beat defenders, and he has a bag full of tricks -  the one component that endears him to the public more than anything else.

He is spoken of very highly by his Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson (who I must mention, speaks highly of all his players) and that will no doubt have given him more confidence to believe in himself better.

But if Ronaldo has one shortcoming (most players have more than one) then it is that goes down far too easily and that casts a dark cloud over his reputation. Too often, particularly at Old Trafford, you will find the Manchester United winger falling over at the slightest touch (or no touch at all) and then witness him appeal vigorously with his arms in the air.

For me this is the sorry part of a player that has more than enough talent to be whining every two minutes, looking for a free kick, or as he so regularly does, looking for a penalty.

There are some who have said that he has made tumbling over at the touch of a feather and pleading for a penalty look like an art. And this is where he really lets himself down.

I say this because Wayne Rooney, who we all remember was sent off in the World Cup quarterfinal because of Ronaldo’s indiscretions (while playing for Portugal), does not do the same. On the contrary, Rooney stays on his feet when lesser men (or strikers) would have fallen over in search of a penalty.

And the reference is made because Rooney is Ronaldo’s teammate at Old Trafford, and perhaps the winger could learn a thing or two from his mate (if he wanted to).

There has not been any one player to have really stood in Europe this season - Lionel Messi apart, and with only Barcelona left in with a half-chance of reaching the Champions League final, Ronaldo now looks a reasonable bet for FIFA Player of the Year. My guess is he will probably get that as well, although, if Man United do not – for some reason make it to Moscow, Ronaldo’s chances will be cut quite drastically I think. Still, I think he will win it, but not as easy in England.

By Shaun Orange

Chelsea, with the aid of two Michael Ballack goals (one of them a penalty) swept Manchester United aside at Stamford Bridge to draw level on points with the champions at the top of the standings.

This victory, which saw emotional reactions from the home team players in a mark of respect for Frank Lampard’s mother who died earlier in the week after they scored their first goal, was no less than the Blues deserved.

It played out just as expected - a fiery confrontation between the two best clubs in the land and was laden with action. Chelsea, one has to admit, took the opportunity to leave the title race nicely poised to go right down to the last match to see who gets to celebrate with the biggest prize in England soccer.

That chance was really presented to them by Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager. And while one could say there was reason in him leaving the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez and Owen Hargreaves on the bench from the start, it was a move that really backfired on him. He must now be hoping now that he does not live to regret the decision.

Man United are scheduled to face Barcelona in the return leg of the European Champions League semi-finals at Old Trafford on Tuesday. And that is obviously what prompted Ferguson to consign three influential players to substitutes’ role for the start of this crucial encounter, which could have won them the Premier League crown had they beaten Chelsea.

Instead, Ferguson will now have to sweat over whether they can see off Barcelona in midweek and then resume their bid to retain the Premiership next week.

Given that even a draw might done the job for them against the Blues, Ferguson I think made a great blunder by being a bit too cocky and leaving out star players such as the trio who were warming the bench when their teammates were being given the run-around by Chelsea.

I certainly have no sympathy for Ferguson, because in a way it was a little disrespectful of him to come to Stamford Bridge of all places and field a weakened side, while knowing that a victory would have sealed the championship title.

Having watched him since before he arrived at Old Trafford more than 20 years ago, it is simple to understand that Ferguson thought two things and got them both wrong. He figured he could go to Stamford Bridge and win. They did not. In fact no-one has won there in more than four years of league action.

He also tempted fate by assuming that a side minus Ronaldo, Tevez and Hargreaves was good enough to win. They did not.

Now the Scot must hope that they can get past Barcelona in midweek and then win their remaining two games to secure the league title.

Another day or two like Saturday and they could finish the season without any silverware at all, and that would be catastrophic. But ask Arsenal would it feels. They know all too well about it.

By Shaun Orange

Fans of the English Premier League will get to see Thierry Henry first hand again. The French striker will renew his rivalry with Manchester United when he faces them in the European Champions League semi-final second leg tie at Old Trafford next week.

For the home team’s supporters though, Henry’s reception will probably be mixed.

For one, he will be seen as the adversary only this time he will not confront the Red Devils as part of Arsenal’s attack, but rather that of Barcelona, whom Man United face for a spot in the final in Moscow on May 21.

On the other hand, he will be warmly welcomed by others, only because he is a world-class football player who has entertained millions with his enormous talent, and done so unselfishly.

My view is to go along with the latter. Henry has been a good example of what a good soccer star should be like. But I hasten to mention that like all of us humans, he has his weaknesses.

Still, he has upheld with dignity the fundamental principles of this game and it should be taken in that vein, rather than him representing a club that is the opposition. Indeed, all players of Henry’s calibre should be looked at in that context.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, when he looks at Henry, sees a different picture and with good reason. Following in the wake of recent reports that Henry has found it difficult to settle down in Barcelona and that he was contemplating a return to the Premiership, Wenger tried in vain to brush the issue aside.

Deep down the French coach will be praying that his star forward for almost a decade makes a comeback with the Gunners. Henry served Arsenal like no-one else since the Premiership’s inception in 1992/93.

He went on to become a global figure in the sport and much of it was down to the acumen of Wenger, who brought him to London 1999 as a “nobody” and turn him into what he is today -  one of the best strikers in the world.

So for Wenger to laugh off the idea of Henry returning to Arsenal is a little showmanship on the part of the Gunners’ boss. In fact, there are not more than a few teams in England or Europe who would not embrace him whole-hearted if he decided to join forces.

But would he be good for Arsenal? I think not. Not after what has happened at the Emirates this season. Not after seeing them starting so well and then letting it all blow up in their faces just when they needed to take a deep breath before delivering the knockout punch, in both the domestic game and Europe.

The return of Henry would surely create even more uncertainty within the rank and file, and as it is, Wenger will have his work cut for him just trying to get them re-focused on another assault on the league title.

The Arsenal manager also has concerns about some of his star players wanting to leave in the aftermath of their dramatic end-of-season collapse. And the issue of Henry coming in and causing even more pandemonium is something Wenger could do without.

The player himself has said that he is happy at Barcelona, and I hope that it is indeed the case. I also hope that he is well-received at Old Trafford next week. This game needs that sort of thing, not all the bickering that we are forced to live with day-in and day-out.

By Shaun Orange

The debate about who is a better player, Messi or Ronaldo, will probably go on as long as they are playing. And the arguments for both for will be strong as they are presented by those who think either is indeed a better prospect.

Biasness in this case cannot be separated from fact, only because those who put forward the arguments will lean towards the player whom they like better.

But to gauge the strengths of the individuals is something that can be done with reasonable success, but only by those who do not have any allegiance to either party.

The fact that Barcelona and Manchester United are locked in a battle to reach the European Champions League final in Moscow on May 21, has merely added a new dimension to the examination, or contention, depending from which angle you are looking at it.

With the first leg of the semi-final drawn at the Nou Camp in midweek, there was a slight slant to giving Messi the nod ahead of the Portuguese winger. The issues put forward did have some credit, but I think it is not entirely possible to determine which of the two the better player is; judging on just one game.

To come to a reasonable conclusion their performances will have to be gauged over a protracted period of time, and this could be several seasons.

But having said that, one has also got to take into account the fact that Ronaldo is having his best season yet, and Messi has been at the summit for quite a while now.

Beyond this, there are several other factors that would have to be considered as well; things like the team he plays for, how effective is that team with him in it and without, what are the composition of the tournaments (leagues) he plays in, for how long has he been in it and at his best, and the list goes on and on.

So, if we look at it in that perspective, then surely we would have to give the Argentine the lead.

And I think with the way things have developed over the last few years, that is, from the time of Messi breaking into the Barca first team and then the Argentinean national team, and Ronaldo arriving at Old Trafford in 2003 and then establishing himself in the Portuguese set-up, my vote would go to Messi.

This youngster is just too good, for his own good. And if he can stay injury-free for a little longer we might just get to see (again) what a wonderful talent he is.

Ronaldo, for me, is a really good player, but not the best. He might well be chosen FIFA Footballer of the Year, but it would not surprise me, not with the amount of supporters the Red Devils have.

Coming back to Ronaldo, he is too much of actor, rather than a footballer.

I do understand that everyone wants to win and that these days the stakes are much higher than they used to be, because of the money involved, but Ronaldo falls over too easily, appeals for penalties and free-kicks too ooften for my liking. He should be like Messi, go out there and beat the defenders, leave them for dead as you bear down on goal, and show them what you made of.

That’s the way to do it. Indeed, there is only one way to convince us who the best player around is. Show us!

By Shaun Orange

Chelsea drew first blood in the European Champions League semi-finals with Liverpool when they left Anfield with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday. It was a deserved result for the Londoners, even if Rafael Benitez would not agree.

The outcome, though, has certainly set up an intriguing second leg showdown at Stamford Bridge next week. No doubt, the home team will start with a marginal psychological advantage, given the away goal. But Liverpool do have the capacity to come through this one and make it three European Cup finals in four seasons.

Of course, the record books tell us otherwise. The Reds have been dismal at Stamford Bridge since Benitez assumed the Anfield job in the summer of 2004. Nonetheless, Liverpool are a greatly different team than they were even 12 months ago, and in Fernando Torres they have a world-class player who has forged an outstanding partnership with England international Steven Gerrard.

Torres was marked out of the game at Anfield by John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. It might be that way again in the return leg but if the two central defenders give the Spaniard even a half-a-yard they might be consigned to a third semi-final loss to their Premiership rivals in the last four seasons.

However, my feeling is that Chelsea will win outright at Stamford Bridge, maybe 1-0, or even 2-0. My belief is that they will go on to win the Champions League this season, and that is regardless of who they meet in the final in Moscow next month – Barcelona or Manchester United. Avram Grant will pulloff of WOW and leave his detractors eating humble pie.

On paper, Chelsea are the strongest team in England, no doubt about that. On the field of play, Man United are the most efficient. And with these differences, we will almost surely see the Red Devils clinch the league title and Chelsea march into the Champions League final.

Grant has come under some heavy criticism recently, and it is something I cannot fathom because his team have done exceptionally well to still (mathematically) be in the running for Premiership honours and challenging in Europe.

There are countless clubs who would die to be in that position, yet the Chelsea boss gets ribbed almost everyday. Nevertheless, he now has a wonderful chance to hit back in the best, and perhaps only, manner possible – by winning the Champions League.

Liverpool will arrive at Stamford Bridge knowing exactly what is expect if they are to book their tickets to Moscow, and will give it a real good go. But I suspect that when they do go in search of a goal, they will leave themselves vulnerable at the back and Chelsea will exploit this and really knock them over.

It will not be an easy game for either, particularly the Blues. But the calibre of the Chelsea squad, never mind all Liverpool’s experience in tight European games, is just too overwhelming and they can look forward to Moscow with much anticipation.

The result at Anfield will really have made it all possible, no question about it.

By Shaun Orange

Martin O’Neill is held in high regard in British football, and has been for some time now.

He regarded as coach who has the unique ability to get out of his players - mediocre ones at that, a lot more than most men are able to.

He has yet to work at a real big club, but those at which he has plied his trade, he proved beyond any doubt that his acumen to lead a soccer team is among the best in the game.

At Villa, a relatively big club a long while ago and now an ambitious team with a little more money to spend than they have had in the recent, O’Neill is on eth threshold of taking his side into Europe.

Should they scupper Everton’s goal of clinching fifth spot in the Premiership and qualifying for the Uefa Cup next season O’Neill will be feted as Villa’s saviour and looked upon to set the Champions League as their next target.

Looking at things as they stand it is not wishful thinking. Villa have a squad, albeit quite young, who can take on and beat some of the best around. The problem they do in this regard though, is that they do not do it consistently enough to challenge the big four.

But that are in a position to make a realistic claim for fifth spot is encouraging indeed. They trail the Toffees by three points and as fate would have it, these two teams will clash a league match at Goodison Park on Sunday – what cracker that could be!

My feeling is that the Merseysiders will prevail if only because they will start as slight favourites. They are ahead of Villa in the league (even if only just), they do have a more experienced team overall and they did finish fourth not more than a few seasons ago.

But David Moyes should guard against complacency, and maybe more importantly. Stop mouthing it and get on with the task at hand. Everton were handily placed no so long ago to finish in fourth; never fifth, and now they are in danger of finishing sixth.

Villa of course will travel to Liverpool, brimming with confidence. They have hit home 15 goals in their last three fixtures – four against Bolton, six against Derby and five against Birmingham. They could increase that tally at Goodison if Everton do not buck up.

If they do, they will be in pole position to take fifth place in the league. With Wigan and West Ham to come after that, before the season ends, they will fancy their chances. And why not.

O’Neill is indeed a crafty coach and one that many said should have got the England job ahead of Fabio Capello. Well he can still make his mark on the game in Britain and he certainly looks like it. I hope he does.

By Shaun Orange

The issue of England’s manager is never far from the spotlight, even when the Three Lions have got a coach – and a tried and tested one at that.

Fabio Capello, who took over as national team boss last December and won La Liga (in Spain) for Real Madrid last season, was the subject of Bobby Robson’s column in a London newspaper over the weekend. And what the former England and Newcastle boss had to say about the incumbent is best described as taking pot shots at the Italian, and for no apparent reason.

Robson, who guided England to the 1990 World Cup semifinals and is widely seen (in England) as their best coach since Sir Alf Ramsey won the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966, went out of his way to say that Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni would have been a better choice than Capello. Trapattoni assumed the Ireland job in February.

A respected football man, Robson is of the view that “Traps” would have been a better coach for England because his English is better than Capello’s.

He conceded that Capello has a “big track record, was a big player and was successful at Madrid, Roma and Juventus” but then calls on everyone to “wait and see”.

Well I think Capello might not be a poor choice for England at all. I certainly believe that he is a lot smarter (coaching wise) than his predecessor Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson before him.

I would go so far as to say that I think he is better equipped to do the job than all of those who have managed the Three Lions over the last three decades, barring a few exceptions.

If given the chance to do his job in an atmosphere without interference Capello might just win England a first major championship trophy that would be their first since the glory of ’66. I think he will definitely get them to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and go there with a good chance of winning the thing.

When one considers that England will not be in Austria and Switzerland for the European Championships this summer, it gives you a good idea as to what task Capello faces.

This man is a shrewd tactician who gets results on the pitch rather win popularity contests with the British media, or any other media for that matter. A fine example of this was just last year when he fell out with a few people while at Real Madrid, yet still had enough resolve to lead them to their first league title since 2003.

He has also won Serie A (the Italian league title) with three different teams: AC Milan, Roma and Juventus. He has won the European Champions League with Milan and is keen on winning trophies for England, if they can just give the opportunity to do so.

But it looks like that might not happen; not if people like Robson are going to be wounding him without giving the man a chance. And what makes Robson’s analogy quite startling is his suggestion that Capello’s lack of English is his downfall. How Robson can even think this when he himself used an interpreter while at Barcelona, is beyond me. And it was a famous interpreter - one fella who goes by the name of Jose Mourinho. How about that!

By Shaun Orange

Chelsea played were not even in action on Saturday yet they were all over the news this weekend. Some of it had a positive slant to it, some of was just neutral and some of it, or most of it, was painted with a brush of negativity.

To a large extent, it was Manchester United who drew the Blues into it and that because the champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Blackburn. With Tevez’s late, late equaliser the Red Devils moved three points clear of Chelsea with three games to come for both; and the next one is the clash between the two at Stamford Bridge next Saturday.

Man United were expected to see off Blackburn despite Mark Hughes’ team being a bogey sort of side for Alex Ferguson. And if the Red Devils do win the title, as they still are expected to, they might look back at the Blackburn fixture and thank their lucky stars.

Right up until the Argentine struck Man United’s equaliser, the championship race appeared to have swung in Chelsea’s favour. Had the result gone that way, a win for Chelsea next Saturday would have seen them go one point clear of their bitter rivals.

Instead, even if Chelsea do win, they will be level on points with Man United and remain in the runner-up spot because Man United boast a far superior goal aggregate: 53 (Man United), 36 (Chelsea).

That is not all which Chelsea were greeted with this weekend. They were also advised, via the media, that Guus Hiddink will be taking over the job of manager in the off-season, effectively ending Avram Grant’s eight-month reign as Stamford Bridge boss.

The reports suggested that Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s Russian billionaire owner who bankrolls a project or two of the Russian Football Association, is arranging the Dutchman’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, which will be made convenient after his contract as the national coach based on Moscow expires in July.

Grant, despite all the bad Press, is within striking distance of a unique Premiership and European Champions League Double. Not only do they have Man United in their sights in the Premier League, they are also through to the semi-finals of the continental club championship where they will face Liverpool this week.

This is the situation that Grant is in and yet some of (or most of) the British Press choose to hang him out to dry at every opportunity they get. It is really amazing stuff, because if one did not know better, then I would have said they all support Man United and are putting Grant under pressure (which is a fact) so that the champions can retain the trophy.

No doubt there are many of them who do support Man United, but not all (I hope) and for that reason one has to conclude that most of them “just go with flow” so as not to be seen, or said to be out of turn. But that is wrong. Grant should be treated similarly to how Ferguson, or anybody else, is treated even if he is not Sir Avram. And those who don't enough courage or heart to stand up on their own and tell it like it is, perhaps should be prayed for beacuse they certainly do need help.

My thinking on this is that until these scribes change their attitude, England will not win a major soccer championship title. Of course, they (the Press) might say that they are not the ones playing or responsible for selecting the team, so how could they get dragged into it. Well they are (or should be) responisble for a lot and the sooner they figure it out the better for themselves, and also their (so called) national sport.

This Grant thing should give them a hint!

By Shaun Orange

Manchester United announcement that midfielder Michael Carrick and defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown had each signed a new contract came as no great surprise.

One of the champions’ strengths over the last decade and a half has been continuity and the announcement by manager Alex Ferguson merely underlines that point.

Ferguson has with him at Old Trafford a lively and potent squad, and with the success that this team enjoys, it is no wonder why there are so many players eager to get involved with them.

Also, the trio of Carrick, Ferdinand and Brown are central to Man United’s everyday line-up, although Brown does play only when others are injured or he himself has been sidelined through injury.

Man United are unlikely to make any major signings in the off-season, now just weeks away. But Chelsea could buy big and there have been reports that Brazilian ace Kaka is a target.

It has been said that Kaka will be lured from AC Milan to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth some £50 million. And with Nicolas Anelka arriving from Bolton Wanderers in the January transfer window, Chelsea would then also appear to have plugged the last few remaining gaps in a squad that is potentially the strongest on paper.

However, even if Kaka does set up base at Stamford Bridge, they could then also be looking into the possibility of bringing in a couple more players. The only thing about Chelsea’s buying status this off-season is that it is rather tentative because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of manager Avram Grant.

The Israeli is under intense pressure to deliver a trophy this term and there have been suggestions that if he does not win anything then he can kiss the Premier League goodbye.

Arsenal are the one team in England’s big four that could be the most active in the transfer. They might not necessarily figure as the club that spends the most but Arsene Wenger could snap-up a few players, lesser known and also young. He has a reputation of doing that.

And with the way things have gone for the Gunners this season, a central defender and midfielder could be top of the shopping list. Having played such entertaining soccer this season and leading the Premiership for some time before dropping out last week, Arsenal will end this campaign with no silverware and that in itself could spur Wenger to doing some shopping.

In Fernando Torres, Liverpool have the best buy of last year and with Javier Mascherano signing a permanent deal months ago, Rafael Benitez has strengthened his squad considerably compared to this time last year.

The Reds boss is ready to dip into the transfer market again but it is unclear whether there will be cash made available to him, given the boardroom feud at Anfield. The manager’s own position was said to be on thin ice, but he has come out this week to commit himself to the club.

The Meserysiders square off against Chelsea in the European Champions League semi-finals next week, after booting out the Gunners in the last round, and it should prove another nail-biting tie that may well help both sides look at where in their team they want to add to.

It is always pleasing for a manager to get his key players to extend their contracts, like Man United’s trio did the other day, but these big clubs also splash out big bucks anyway and the behind the scenes negotiations are well underway.

By Shaun Orange

Liverpool’s problems just do not appear to want to go away. If anything, they seem to be manifesting themselves into something that could tear the club apart to such an extent that their wounds might never ever heal again.

The boardroom bust-up between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett has reached the stage whereby the two stubborn old Yankees will no speak to each other – bad news for which ever camp you might support.

And now that Chief Executive Officer Rick Parry has been drawn headfirst into this messy situation that could yet spell the end of the reign of Rafael Benitez, Liverpool’s supporters should just hang-in and hope that the saga will eventually play itself out and that things return to normal.

But the revelation that Parry was with Hicks and Gillett when they spoke to the German coach Jurgen Klinsmann last November, with a view to stepping in and taking over from the Spanish coach has really riled the Anfield boss. It has had such an effect on Rafa that there is now a distinct possibility that the Champions League-winning Benitez will walk away from Anfield.

Perhaps, and there is no certainty about this, the fact that Hicks has called for the removal of Parry and has the blessing of the Spaniard, things might lead to the once highly-regarded CEO leaving the club and Benitez staying put.

For Liverpool to continue their progression in catching up with Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premiership, and they have been doing so since Benitez arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2004, it is of paramount importance that he remains the Liverpool boss and sees out the good work that he has started.

Two Champions League finals in three years, one of them with the trophy in the cabinet (Istanbul 2005), and the possibility of a third final in four years, is a good return by any standards.

Benitez now has a squad that is maybe just a rung or two below Europe’s elite. A couple of key off-season signings this year would really put them up there with the best and give them a good chance of competing with the Red Devils and the Blues on an even keel.

But before that happens the boardroom squabbles that have beset this club since the American takeover in the first quarter of last year, have got to be resolved; and the sooner the batter.

There should be no excuses made and if the finger-pointing stopped it would help a great deal. But just how it will all pan out is anybody’s guess. The warring factions in this saga are not yielding an inch, so something has got to give.

We hope that they (the owners) can act and speak with a bit of rationale and let Benitez get on with his task, without the undermining that is evidently causing him, and the fans, a lot of discomfort right now.

Indeed, the supporters of the Merseyside team deserve better, so to do the players and the coach. Failure to act promptly and with good intentions could lead to not only Benitez making a dash for the exit, but also some of their star players. That would spell disaster for the club; and is not what Liverpool are all about.

By Shaun Orange

With Chelsea’s draw at lowly Wigan on Monday, Manchester United virtually wrapped up the Premier League title – their 10^th under the stewardship of Alex Ferguson. And if there was one reason to dispel any doubts about them making sure of the domestic honour, then it has got to be their consistency.

They have been glowingly steady throughout the season, even when things did not quite go to order. They have exercised better than all their opposition, a greater willingness to succeed and a desire to get the job done without a fuss.

Now, with only the ceremonial procession of lifting the title to come, Man United can safely start looking ahead to their European Champions League semi-final clash with Barcelona, the Spanish giants who won the Cup two years ago.

But when they do this, what do they find? They run into one of the greatest players of all time saying that they are not as good as they are made out to be and that the Catalans could scupper Man United’s dream of a rare domestic and European Double.

Johan Cruyff of all people reckons that Barca can vanquish Man United if they just “keep possession” and let the English side do all the running, "as they usually do". The Dutch coach, who led Barcelona to their first Champions League title in 1992, said that he knows how to beat the English teams and that was by crossing the ball in from wide positions.

For all his knowledge about the European game and the limitations of the English, Cruyff does have a point. The continental clubs play a different type of game compared to the hit-and-run of the Premiership, although there are exceptions to the case, and Man United fall into this category.

But even if Man United’s ploy to use the long ball does not work, they are indeed one of the few English outfits who have the capacity to mix it a little and that is where Barca could come unstuck. And the Spanish side’s form is another factor in favour of the Red Devils.

Barcelona are nowhere near as strong as they were in 2006 when they beat Arsenal in the final at Paris to win the European Cup. Even with Lionel Messi coming back to form after a protracted injury play-off, they remain a wee-bit shy of the mentality to drive fear into the souls of the opposition like they used to do.

The impending departure of Ronaldinho for AC Milan in the off-season could lift them somewhat, given that he has been a destabilising force from within for some time now. However, Man United must rate their chances highly anyway, although it would be foolhardy to think that they will just walkover Barca.

The one thing they could take some heart from is the fact that Cruyff, who does know his football, is also an official adviser to Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s club president.

So there you have it, a great player telling a great team that they cannot do it. My guess is they will.

By Shaun Orange

Just as absorbing as the chase is on for the Premiership title, so too is the action captivating for those in a hard battle to stave off relegation to the Championship Division.

Similarly to the tussle at the top of the standings, where champions Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all geared for the last push for the crown, there is indeed a fierce contest at the foot of the table. All of Fulham (19^th on the log), Bolton Wanderers (18^th), Birmingham City (17^th), Reading (16^th), and to a lesser extent, Wigan Athletic (15^th), face the real possibility of going down - of course, a couple of them more likely than others.

Mathematically, even Sunderland and Middlesbrough, in 13^th-place, could be sucked into the relegation fight, although, with just four games to go this probably will not happen. The points difference between Bolton’s 29 and Wigan is a mere five.

Sunderland, who crashed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City, and Boro, who held Tottenham to a 1-1 drew, are on 36 points, and look relatively safe (for now anyway).

Fulham and Bolton, the two teams fancied to join Derby Country (already relegated) in the Championship Division, won big-time over the weekend and have added a welcome dash of spice to the basement scrap.

Fulham’s 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Reading lifted them to 27 points, two behind Bolton, who in turn saw off West Ham with a deserved 1-0 victory at the Reebok Stadium.

What this means, is that Birmingham’s gutsy 1-1 draw with Everton, having had to come from behind to salvage a vital point, left Alex McLeish’s team two points clear of the last three.

Steve Coppell’s Reading outfit could find some solace in the two games in which they must fancy their chances of picking up maximum points and avoiding they chop. They play Arsenal next, but after that they take on Wigan (April 26), and in their last fixture face Derby. In their penultimate match they host Tottenham.

Indeed, full points from two of their remaining matches and maybe a bonus point, via a draw in one of the others, should see Reading retain their Premier League status.

Birmingham and Fulham tangle in a crunch tie on May 3 at Craven Cottage, and my feeling is that if the home team lose this one, then they will surely go down. As it is, they are favourites to join Derby in the drop back into the lower division.

Fulham’s schedule with Liverpool, Man City and Portsmouth, still to come does not bode well for their chances of survival.

Thus, if Bolton can overcome Sunderland on May 3, and pick up three or four points (or more) at Middlesbrough (April 26) and Tottenham (April 26), they could be in with a shout to stay up. They are unlikely to get anything from the last game – against Chelsea.

Wigan, with their five-point cushion, will hope that there is no sting in the tail as the season winds down.  They face, apart from Reading, the prospect of travelling to Chelsea and Aston Villa, and hosting Tottenham and Man United.

Such as the struggles in the relegation zone, but they remain exciting stuff to follow.

By Shaun Orange

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United’s inspiring winger has rightly been billed as the favourite for this season’s Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player of the Year award. If the Portuguese international were to land the coveted award then he would be retaining it and emerge as the top of the pile in the Premier League for a second season in a row.

The Red Devil has been at the forefront of Man United’s push for the Premiership title and the European Champions League trophy. He has rarely put a foot wrong in this campaign and has made it his personal best since his arrival from Lisbon in 2003. He has a goal tally of 37 for the season, and counting. He also appears to have gotten over a poor spat off the pitch and it looks like he is enjoying he life at Old Trafford. This is a far cry from when he returned to the Premier League after the 2006 World Cup and was roundly booed.

He was seen as being responsible for getting Wayne Rooney, his Man United teammate, sent off in the World Cup quarterfinal, from which Portugal knocked England out.

Should Ronaldo go on to collect the award again this season, there will not be many who will oppose his selection.

The inclusion of Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor, Liverpool centre-forward Fernando Torres and their midfield dynamo Steven Gerrard, and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James are also good choices for the short-listed six.

Of the other five, the stand out for me is James. The former Liverpool ’keeper has been the best of the home-grown lot for the last two year and bit, and it was justice that he battled his way back into the England line-up.

James’ experience cannot be questioned; neither can his desire to succeed. And despite him rapidly approaching 40, his reflexes remain as sharp, if not sharper, than most of the younger goalkeepers in the league – English or otherwise. That he duly replaced Tottenham’s Paul Robinson in the Three Lions’ starting line-up did not come as a surprise.

For his critics who go through his performances with a fine-tooth comb, they will point to a few blunders by James that cost England dearly, most recently against France. But that sort thing happens to all goalkeepers, even the greats. Peter Shilton, Gordon Banks or Lev Yashin were also guilty of a few blunders in their time, and there were also some that they would have been happy to forget.

Torres, the 'best buy' of the off-season, and Fabregas are also in the running for the Young Player of the Year award, and it appears a toss-up between the two of them; with the former the most likely candidate.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and winger Ashley Young, and Manchester City's England defender Micah Richards are the other contenders for the youth crown, and like the first category, are also good choices.

But it will almost surely be Ronaldo and Torres who will walk away with the silverware.

By Shaun Orange

One sincerely hopes that after his defeat suffered at the hands of Liverpool in the European Champions League quarterfinals, Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, will have learnt his lesson.

The Frenchman, who is a wonderfully gifted football tactician, must now sit down and analyse just what went wrong for them. They failed to beat the Reds in three games in the space on a week, and two of those were at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium. Following in the wake of this trilogy the Gunners were left winded, and badly so.

In the first leg they drew 1-1, and as Wenger could point out if he could find the courage from somewhere, “you do not concede goals at home” in these types of fixtures.

In the Premiership match, which was sandwiched by the European matches, they lost ground on Chelsea, and made up one point on champions Manchester United. Wenger might say that this result was not as bad as it looks - but (honestly) it is. They should really have won the game, given their ambitions for the league title.

The third of the three face-offs brought with it the most anguish. Arsenal were beaten 4-2 on the night at Anfield and loss 5-3 on aggregate. And while there isn’t great emphasis on the margin of victory in Europe, they were eliminated after coming so far. This one really hurt.

But if Wenger is to sit down and come up with a master plan for success next season, I might offer him a piece of advice - do two things, and do them without fail.

The first is he needs to forget about trying to convert the world of soccer to his bright ideas of thinking he can win the Champions League with youngsters. This is just not on – never has been and never will be.

Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez drove that point home, so much so, that if Wenger does not dip into the transfers market during the close season he could very well suffer even greater pain next term. And that is indeed the other thing he needs to do.

Arsenal have a reported stash of some £60 million the Gunners boss could use, if he so desires. Thus far Wenger has spurned the idea to cough up a handsome lump-sum for seasoned campaigners at left back and central midfield.

These are the areas crucial to Arsenal fielding a squad that is not lopsided as Liverpool so clearly showed over the last week and a bit. And the Frenchman’s reluctance to bring in a couple of players with experience could well scupper his dream of landing the one prize that he craves the most and, almost all of his serious adversaries have – the Champions League trophy (including Benitez!).

Wenger should swallow his pride, give the talk of him moulding young stars into world-beaters a miss for just a season and spend some of that cash. I have no doubt that he will buy wisely, and it would benefit his team immensely.

Of course, if he does not, then this time next season he will be crying again, make sure of that; just like he is now. Only then it might not be Liverpool who will have done the damage.

By Shaun Orange

From the kickoff this season has been projected as one that would be a close run thing, with the “big four” teams all in it and with a real good chance of landing the coveted league title.

Well, Liverpool have fallen by the way side and are totally out of it with no chance of adding to the record 18 championship crowns so proudly displayed in the trophy cabinet at Anfield.

However, Arsenal - third in the standings, Chelsea - twice winners in the last three campaigns, and Manchester United - the defending champions, are still locked in a fierce battle for England’s most prized silverware.

The Old Trafford side though, remain the favourites to win a 10th Premiership title under the guidance of Alex Ferguson. But the Red Devils did themselves no favours by being held to a 2-2 draw at the Riverside Stadium by Middlesbrough on Sunday.

If anything, the sequence of results over the weekend has given the Gunners renewed hope after their 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday and boosted Chelsea’s aspirations unlike anything other time this season. The Blues carved out a gritty 2-0 victory over Manchester City, which in effect has now left them just three points behind Man United, while Arsenal are six points off the pace, with six games to go.

But what really adds intrigue to the whole scenario is that these giants of the game are still to clash with each other, and we have to believe that therein lies the real issue that will unravel this fascinating contest.

Indeed, Arsenal, not a long while ago, looked a good bet to go on a capture their first league title since their triumph of the unbeaten 2003/04 season. They started the new term in style and Arsene Wenger’s talk of his young guns carrying them to the championship crown looked spot-on.

But the Gunners stumbled somewhat in recent weeks and a run of four draws in four games saw their five-point lead at the head of the table turn into a five-point deficit.

Man United took advantage of the Londoners waywardness and assumed position pole themselves - they have not yet relinquished top spot.

Chelsea, meanwhile, after a turbulent few weeks earlier on when Jose Mourinho was given the sck and Avram Grant installed as Stamford Bridge boss, have clawed their way back into contention, and with the Red Devils set to visit on April 26, must be fancying their chances now.

In fact, the Blues could well face a less demanding fixture when Man United make the trip to Stamford Bridge, that is, if Arsenal down the champions in their game on Sunday.

These two fixtures alone could determine where the trophy goes this season. And with so much riding on their outcome, it is anyone’s guess (for today at least) where it will end up. But Man United, with their experience of winning so many titles over the last decade and a half, must be favourites.

They struggled against Middlesbrough and even looked like losing the match. But Ferguson may well use that result to spur them on. And my guess is that he will do just that.

But then again, such are the plots in this riveting campaign that one cannot be certain.

By Shaun Orange

Harry Redknapp steered Portsmouth to their first FA Cup final in 69 years when they beat a gutsy West Bromwich Albion side in the semifinal at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Kanu’s strike early in the second-half ensured that there would be Premiership representation in next month’s final, and their progress to English soccer’s showpiece is no less than Pompey deserved.

Having seen of the threat of Manchester United in the previous round and with three teams from the Championship Division as the only other survivors in this season’s competition, Portsmouth were expected to reach the final – and they did.

But it was not without having to work hard to get past the Baggies. Pompey struggled to find their rhythm early on and only after the goal did they really start showing some good touches.

For West Bromwich, it was a case of being so near, yet so far. On another day they might have rolled over Pompey, particularly when the Premier League were all out of sorts in the first-half – to nick a goal in this competition and then hang for dear life, is not something uncommon.

But while Portsmouth’s fans were busy looking forward to their trip to the final, where they will meet either Bransley or Cardiff City, Arsenal’s supporters were left to rue a league campaign that has gone horribly wrong for them just when it mattered most.

Having led or shared the lead at the top of the standings for long periods this season, the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium and now must realistically accept that their chase for the championship crown is over.

Arsene Wenger, the Frenchman in charge of Arsenal, defiantly said after the second 1-1 draw with the Reds in London in four days [they also drew in the European Champions League quarterfinal first leg fixture in midweek] that they were still in it with a shout. But they now trail champions and leaders Manchester United by five points, have played a game more and there are only six matches to go to the end of the season.

One can sympathise with Wenger though; they have played good soccer for most of the campaign. But his advocacy in the early stages of the season that his youthful side could do the job has come back to haunt him.

Arsenal have been woefully short on experience and depth in these telling final stages of the season and that is what has made the difference between them and Man United, and Chelsea also.

Indeed, Chelsea closed the gap to two points on Man United, who are down to play Middlesbrough on Sunday. Thus, if Arsenal believe they still have a chance, then surely Chelsea could be bolding predicting that they will winning it themselves.

But teams who would think of doing this when Man United are in such fine form and with an edge in the standings, in the run-in to the end of the season, are merely fooling themselves. There is no way Man United will yield, even with the pressure turned up. They are the masters of handling these types of situations – in total contrast to Arsenal falling on their face.

The fans from the Emirates can now only hope that they do enough at Anfield in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal next Wednesday, to start celebrating like Portsmouth’s lot have done.

By Shaun Orange

Serbia central defender Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for anything up to three weeks, following the knee injury he picked up in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg tie against Roma.

Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager is disappointed that one the stars of their season has been sidelined at such a crucial stage of the campaign. Nonetheless, the Scottish tactician said that they have enough in replacements to cover for Vidic and continue in their pursuit for the Premier League title and European Champions League trophy. He was referring to Gray Neville, Piquet, John O'Shea and Wes Brown, who can all fill in.

Adding that he was not unduly shaken by the absence of Vidic, the Man United manager might still be cursing his luck, although they do look a safe bet to reach the semifinals of the Champions League, having chalked up a healthy 2-0 advantage over the Italians in Rome in midweek.

But if Man United do go through they will almost certainly come up against a Barcelona side that could yet include Lionel Messi, and what an exciting prospect that could turn out to be.

In some ways it could be a fixture representative of fielding the two brightest stars of the younger generation – Messi and his Man United counterpart, Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the Messi we hope to see in the next round, and preferably against Man United, might not be the same lad who has on several occasions carried Barca on his own and stirred the imagination of Argentina with his sublime skills.

The 20-year-old has himself been out of action since early March, falling victim of a muscle tear in his left thigh. But now this kid, who is so amazingly talented, reckons he is ready to return to the side and is looking forward to maybe taking a bow against Schalke, whom they meet at the Nou Camp in the second leg the Champions League quarterfinals next Wednesday.

With the Spanish giants leading 1-0 from their visit to Germany in midweek, they too look more likely than not to progress to the next stage of the continental competition; hence the anticipation of a stimulating clash between tow of the world’s best club teams.

A showdown featuring Messi and Ronaldo and on eth same night could be a real major treat, one to savour for some time to come.

And with the Argentine back in Barcelona on Thursday, following his rehabilitation in his homeland, he told the newspaper El Mundo Deportivo that he was dreaming of coming up against Man United and was excited about maybe playing in the semifinals again.

Barcelona are chasing a second Champions League trophy in three years, after winning the European Cup in 2006 when they beat Arsenal.

But if Ferguson was somewhat frustrated by the injury to Vidic, he will have been cheered up by the negotiations involving a new contract for Serbian’s central defence partner, Rio Ferdinand. The Old Trafford boss revealed that they were close to securing a renewed deal for the England international.

The sooner that issue gets resolved, the better it will be for the player and the club. And when the welcome Roma to Manchester next week, they will almost surely have one eye on the semifinals, hopefully to play against Messi and his Barcelona clique.