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[qbdp]

Totti fires warning to Man.United
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-04-02 09:07

AS Roma captain Francesco Totti has warned Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson not to underestimate him when their two sides play the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final next week.

The 30-year-old striker, who is revered by many Italians as the country's best footballer, was stung when Ferguson forgot to name him as one of the players his side would need to watch out for at Rome's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

"Ferguson, you will learn who Totti is. He will see personally. I hope to make him remember my name," Totti told Italian satellite broadcaster SKY.

Before this season, Roma had never reached the knockout phase of the Champions League, but they pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over Olympique Lyon in the last round to set up the clash with the Premier League leaders.

"We are coming into the match in the right condition at the best possible moment, and we will try to reach another important objective," continued Totti, who is the leading scorer in Serie A this season.

"To have got to this point after so many years is a great achievement, but we don't want to stop here because there are even bigger satisfactions further on in the competition."

Totti signed off by saying he would never consider leaving Roma to play in England.

"I've never liked English football, even if there are some great players there. I don't like England either because the weather is gloomy," he said.

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Sensi: Sir Alex knows nothing

Roma patron Rosella Sensi has told Sir Alex Ferguson that if he doesn’t fear Francesco Totti, “then he doesn’t know much about football.”

Manchester United will face the Giallorossi on Wednesday for the Champions League quarter-finals and the manager insists he is more concerned with Amantino Mancini and Daniele De Rossi than the Serie A Capocannoniere.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, but if Ferguson said these things then he is wrong,” smiled Sensi. “I respect him as an expert in football, but the poor man clearly hasn’t understood Francesco at all.”

Totti did not find the target in last night’s 1-1 draw with Milan, but Roma showed they are in good shape.

“It’s a shame about the result, as the team deserved victory. In any case I compliment the lads because they put in so much effort despite the fact we are so close to a very important game,” she added.

“With a win we would have been almost secure of second place, but that is fine. Now, and only now, we can focus on Manchester. To do so earlier would have been wrong, as the match with Milan deserved the right concentration and the team proved it wanted the points. A victory would’ve been a good confidence booster ahead of Wednesday.”

If Roma get past Manchester United and Milan dispose of Bayern Munich, then the Champions League semi-final would be an all-Italian affair.

“I don’t know, right now we have to think about just getting past this round. If we do get through and our opponents are Milan, then that’s even better.”

Between Serie A and the Coppa Italia this term the two sides have met four times with Roma unbeaten, securing two wins and as many draws.

[qbdp]

Rio: Ronaldo is Europe's best

Rio Ferdinand has hailed Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as Europe’s number one player.

Ronaldo’s brilliant form for the Red Devils this term has already seen him emerge as favourite for both the PFA and the Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards.

However, Ferdinand, who featured alongside Ronaldo yesterday as United maintained their six-point Premiership lead over Chelsea, does not believe the accolades should end there.

“Cristiano has certainly been the best player in Europe,” Ferdinand told Inside United.

“There is no doubt in my mind he will win both domestic awards, but I think he will clean up on the awards front – including the European prizes.

“No-one has produced the kind of football he has produced on a regular basis and there is no other player as exciting as him.

“Ronaldinho hasn’t done it and Samuel Eto’o has been injured a lot.

“Didier Drogba has been very good for Chelsea but I don’t think he gets you off your seat like Cristiano does and I don’t think as many people would pay to watch him.”

Ferdinand accepts Ronaldo faced a major test of character when he returned from the World Cup this season after suffering so much adverse publicity for his part in the demise of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team and his well-publicised reaction to Wayne Rooney’s dismissal.

“He went through a lot last summer after the World Cup,” said Ferdinand.

“When difficult circumstances arise you are able to gauge a person’s personality and see how they react.

“The best players respond in adverse situations by putting in good performances and that is what Cristiano has done.

“The fact he has come back and performed to a consistently high level throughout the season demands a lot of respect and all the plaudits that have been showered on him are well deserved.”

With Louis Saha still missing and Wayne Rooney without a Champions League goal since September 2004, United will be looking for Ronaldo to lead their attack in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against AS Roma in the Italian capital on Wednesday.

And Ferdinand is confident the brilliant 22-year-old will not let the Red Devils down.

“Not only has Cristiano scored goals this season, he has added so much more to his game,” he said.

“When you look back at the winner he scored at Fulham earlier this season it was like Roy of the Rovers stuff.

“It just showed his will to win, the character and the physical attributes he possesses.”

[no_faith]

gd luck to ur team for the trip to rome.

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by qbdp

Sensi: Sir Alex knows nothing

Roma patron Rosella Sensi has told Sir Alex Ferguson that if he doesn’t fear Francesco Totti, “then he doesn’t know much about football.”

2 or 3 seasons ago, i would have agreed. totti used to win 50 freekicks in every match those days, but he hasnt found his top form since he was serously injured before the world cup. perrotta and pizarro are the roma players man utd should also watch out for. these guys are never shy to shoot.

there's a rising attacking midfield italian star in lazio, his name is stefano mauri.

[yinyang]

Anyone here has opinion on latest whinging by JM on chelskis not getting fair shake on epl match timings (ie coming on after MU)?

Other than blowing hot and cold on RM (for obvious contractual payout reasons), this latest speaks volumes of portugal port wine turned vingear

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by no_faith

gd luck to ur team for the trip to rome.

Thanks. I believe we do need alot of it this wednesday. Hope Mourinho is satisfied with your club's Athens logistics preparations and everything else runs smoothly.

Originally Posted by Castrol

2 or 3 seasons ago, i would have agreed. totti used to win 50 freekicks in every match those days, but he hasnt found his top form since he was serously injured before the world cup. perrotta and pizarro are the roma players man utd should also watch out for. these guys are never shy to shoot.

Maybe that Sensi and Totti are right afterall. Fergie is indeed an ignorant old man. Wonder who is the unfortunate player assigned to cage the beast in Totti.

Totti rattles cage at Sir Alex

Roma skipper Francesco Totti has launched a withering broadside at Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and English football in general.

The 30-year-old was angered when, asked to name Roma's most dangerous players after the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals, Sir Alex omitted his name, although the United boss put that right in subsequent remarks. Now Totti is vowing to make Ferguson eat his words when the clubs meet in the Champions League on Wednesday.

He said: "I am not worried about what Ferguson thinks of me as - as (Roma coach Luciano) Spalletti says - he will see for himself. I hope I will make him remember my name."

Totti told Sky that he was expecting to be man-marked by United.

"So they are going to put me in a cage?" said the World Cup winner. "The opponents always make a cage for me.

"When I grow up I won't be a footballer but I will go and work at the zoo with all the cages people have made for me."

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by yinyang

Anyone here has opinion on latest whinging by JM on chelskis not getting fair shake on epl match timings (ie coming on after MU)?

Mourinho isnt asking for all these, is he?

EPL to let him decide the fixtures dates and opponents instead of using computers. Any changes to fixtures due to European and domestic cups commitments are to be decided by him.

Skysports to let him arrange his team's televised kick-off times.

Rival managers to consult and confirm with him on tactics to play against his team. Conditions and sizes of away grounds must suit his team.

Match officials to be confirmed by him and he needs to be informed in advance of any changes.

Opponents to refrain from making contact with his players, else they may get injured and ruin his team's chances of sweeping all trophies.

Every manager/coach of his international players must consult him on their call-ups and the no. of minutes they can play to reduce tiredness and risks of injuries.

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by yinyang

Anyone here has opinion on latest whinging by JM on chelskis not getting fair shake on epl match timings (ie coming on after MU)?

all chelski games will be played at dawn, we'll get live telecast during our lunchtime.

[yinyang]

Gents, your satire bites..

Originally Posted by Castrol

all chelski games will be played at dawn, we'll get live telecast during our lunchtime.

Originally Posted by qbdp

Mourinho isnt asking for all these, is he?

[qbdp]

Charlton dismayed by Ronaldo talk

Manchester United director Bobby Charlton believes speculation about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo is unsettling the player and club.
Real Madrid would like to sign the 22-year-old and Barcelona have also been linked to him, although Ronaldo has insisted he is happy at United.

"They link themselves to whoever they feel fit and it's not right," United legend Charlton told BBC Five Live.

"I don't think it's a correct way to go about their business."

Ronaldo's form for United this season has helped fire them to the top of the Premiership but has also seen him linked with a move to Spain.

Real president Ramon Calderon told a Spanish TV station last month: "We really like him but he belongs to Manchester United and they have to decide to sell him first.

"If that is the case then we'll be first in the queue."

But Charlton is confident Ronaldo will stay at Old Trafford, with the young Portugal star already holding talks about his extending his contract until 2012.

Charlton added: "I can see no reason at all why he should want to play for another club.

"It's really destabilising for both the club and the player to have all this speculation about his future. All of it is coming from abroad and none from our club."

[qbdp]

United fan warning over Rome trip

Manchester United have issued an astonishing warning to their fans about the dangers of hooliganism, crime and the "primitive conditions" they will face in Rome for their Champions League clash on Wednesday.

United have written to their travelling fans to advise them about the hazards that await them in Italy.

The letter says: “There is a real danger you will be attacked by the Ultra' fans of AS Roma. We ask you to consider your own safety and the welfare of being of paramount importance.

“You must definitely not take the metro trains to the Piazza Flaminio.”

United have decided to issue the warning following meetings with the Rome police, the British embassy in Italy and UEFA officials due to attend the game.

Last season three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and 10 others injured during violent clashes with the “Ultras” before a UEFA Cup quarter- final with Roma. Several English fans were taken to hospital after they were attacked in a bar.

Officials are so concerned about similar clashes between fans in the Italian capital that they have even arranged special buses to take United fans from central Rome to the Olympic Stadium.

Around 6,000 United supporters are expected to make the trip, although only 4,500 fans are believed to have tickets for the match.

Undercover “hooligan spotters” from Greater Manchester Police will also travel with fans to Italy.

An official report from the Independent Football Commission on last season's Rome trouble said Middlesbrough fans were attacked by around 40 Ultra hooligans who threw flares into a bar where they were drinking.

It said the Italian fans were armed with knives, clubs and axes and there were reports of oranges being used with razor blades sticking out of them.

During the match Roma fans also broke through the police cordon and charged the fence separating them from the English supporters.

Rome police have said they will keep United fans penned in for 90 minutes after the game and the club have told United fans to be on their guard against being targeted by Italian pickpockets and bag snatchers.

The club said: “Cars are targets for robbers and be particularly wary of groups of children who may try to distract your attention while trying to steal from you.”

United were forced to send season ticket holders another letter of warning about what they called “basic facilities” at the compact Felix-Bollaert stadium in Lens before the game with Lille.

Their pre-match concerns proved to be well founded when overcrowding in the away section caused panic among some fans, who tried to climb the barriers. United are equally as concerned about the shockingly inadequate provision for supporters in Rome, especially for their female fans.

The United letter added: “Whilst this game is taking place in the Olympic Stadium, fans will find some of the facilities provided fairly primitive.

“Toilets, particularly female toilets, do not contain the usual toilet pan facility.”

Meanwhile, Roma players Christian Panucci and Mancini have warned Cristiano Ronaldo that the winger cannot expect “protection” from the referee in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first-leg clash.

Former Chelsea and Italy full-back Panucci said: “Ronaldo's class is unquestionable.

“But I believe he abuses his dribbling talents and always exaggerates his falls.

“A lot will depend on the referee but in Roma, Ronaldo will not be daring enough to do it because we will not fall for his tricks.”

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Romans crank up pressure

Roma stars Amantino Mancini and Christian Panucci have added coals to the fire of Wednesday's Champions League quarter final against Manchester United by branding Cristiano Ronaldo a 'diver'.

Brazilian Mancini, himself blessed with fantastic dribbling skills, has warned the Portuguese flyer that he will face tougher defenders than he is used to when the two sides meet at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, and that any showboating will be met with disdain.

Mancini said: "Ronaldo is almost perfect in the art of dribbling but the Italian defenders are harder than anywhere else and he will be taking a big risk if he ties any exhibition stuff.

"I've watched Premier League matches and he is protected by the referees. I don't think he will be on Wednesday."

Ronaldo has already been on the receiving end of some stark warnings of late, most notably from Belgium goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen who predicted the youngster would leave the field of play on a stretcher during a Euro 2008 qualifier last weekend.

But the 22-year-old seems to feed off such adversity and he has displayed a knack for nonchalantly shrugging off such threats; he scored twice against Belgium as Portugal won 4-0.

Such ability leaves Roma defender Panucci in no doubt as to just how dangerous the hot tip for this season's Player of the Year award is, although the former Chelsea player has urged the referee to stand up to Ronaldo's perceived penchant for over-simulation.

"Ronaldo's class is unquestionable," the Italy international said. "But I believe he abuses his dribbling talents and always exaggerates his falls. A lot will depend on the referee in Roma.

"Ronaldo will not be daring enough to do it because he knows we will not fall for his tricks."

[Mafan]

Heard from my friend that mu is going to sign nani once the transfer window open ?? how true is it?

[qbdp]

Originally Posted by Mafan

Heard from my friend that mu is going to sign nani once the transfer window open ?? how true is it?

So far it's just paper talks regarding Nani. Spurs are rumoured to be interested in him as well. We just have to wait and see if it really happens in Jun-Aug.