LONDON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell on Wednesday denied charges issued by the English FA following a fracas at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea played United there in April.Both men have requested personal hearings which will be heard at a later date. They were charged with improper conduct over an altercation after the Premier League match on April 26 which Chelsea won 2-1 to rekindle their hopes of wresting the title from United. However, United bounced back from that defeat to lift the league trophy while Chelsea finished second. The Chelsea groundsman was also charged with using abusive language relating to nationality/race, which he denies, said a statement on the FA website. The incident occurred in a virtually deserted stadium about 15 minutes after the match ended when several United players were warming down and the groundstaff were treating the pitch. The FA spent three months investigating what happened and had said in an earlier statement: 'In bringing the charges, the FA used video evidence, CCTV footage and various witness statements from individuals present.' Chelsea had already denied any wrong-doing on Bethell's behalf, saying: 'We believe there is no foundation whatsoever to claims that the incident... involved comments based on nationality or race, which has led to an FA charge against one of our employees.'
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Chelsea will be different under me - Scolari
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari insists he will oversee a culture change at Stamford Bridge - both on and off the pitch.
Scolari has pledged to break with the past by promoting talented youngsters ahead of expensive imports, and he has also pledged to adopt a 'more modest' approach than former Blues boss Jose Mourinho. While the former Brazil and Portugal coach's immediate predecessor was Avram Grant, it is the irrepressible Mourinho against which his achievements will be judged and he has insisted he will go about the job in his own way. The Portuguese famously arrived in England proclaiming himself to be the 'special one'. Scolari said: 'I am not Jose Mourinho, so why compare me with him? Mourinho says 'I will win 10 championships' but I am more modest than that. 'I am from south Brazil and in my culture we never say 'I will win this or that'. I just say that I will try my best to win all the competitions. 'But Mourinho is Mourinho, he has a different culture to me.' Speaking about his recruitment plans he also signalled a significant shift from previous managers who have had access to owner Roman Abramovich's vast reserves of cash. 'Since I came to Chelsea we have only spent £8million on Deco. Jose Bosingwa came in before I arrived. 'Maybe in the past they have spent more money, but now they don't need to spend as much because they already have a solid base. Now they need a coach to develop young players and I think I am that coach. 'The new philosophy at Chelsea is to bring some young boys through the system.'West Ham Utd terminate Ljungberg's contract
West Ham United claim they have come to an agreement 'mutually acceptable to both parties' after reports Swedish midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg was allowed to exit Upton Park with a £6million pay-off.
The 31-year-old has left the Hammers - after joining them only 12 months ago from Arsenal - and has thrashed out 'undisclosed terms' over the termination of his contract, which had one year and an option for another to run.
Ljungberg made 25 starts for the Hammers after his £3million move across London last summer but failed to make much impact following a largely golden nine-year spell at Highbury, where he helped the Gunners win two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
Injuries slowed down his career under Arsene Wenger and he was on the treatment table after his opening match for West Ham last August.
He finished the season with a cracked rib, threatening his participation in the Euro 2008 finals, but was eventually passed fit for Sweden's campaign.
West Ham have denied the decision to let him go has anything to do with his seemingly unreliable fitness, insisting in a club statement 'he proved himself fit at Euro 2008'.
To West Ham fans it will look like the first instalment in clearing the decks after the massive spending on new players under former chairman Eggert Magnusson last season.
Ljungberg, who has asked his agent to see what offers could now come his way in England, Italy and Spain, explained: 'I gave my all at West Ham and enjoyed my time there but the decision is the best for the both of us.
'Now I will take my time to consider my football future.'
Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury said: 'We respect Freddie Ljungberg's position and are pleased we could reach agreement and wish him all the best in the future.
'This deal is mutually acceptable to both parties.'
Although West Ham have since disputed claims manager Alan Curbishley is under pressure to drastically cut the squad and the wage bill this season, their only significant buy this summer has been Switzerland's left back Valon Behrami for £5million from Lazio - following the sale of striker Bobby Zamora and defender John Pantsil to Fulham for a combined £6.3million.
The Hammers have now been linked with a bid for Manchester United's French forward Louis Saha and boss Curbishley could find himself short up front after more injury problems for Craig Bellamy and Kieron Dyer.
The pair cost £13.5million between them a year ago but missed most of the season after Bellamy needed groin surgery and Dyer suffered a double fracture of his right leg.
Comeback man Dyer has since been sidelined again for an estimated two more months after a stress fracture while Bellamy damaged a hamstring against Ipswich in a friendly on Monday night.
Ronaldo: I'm staying
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will remain at Manchester United for another season.The Portugal winger has been linked with Real Madrid throughout the summer, with the Spanish club maintaining their interest even though United repeatedly stressed Ronaldo would not be sold.
At one point United even reported Real to FIFA such was their annoyance with officials at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo has hinted at a wish to move but has never publicly confirmed his intentions.
However, in an interview to be published in Portugal on Thursday, while repeating his previously stated desire to play for Real, Ronaldo has also confirmed he will stay with United for another season at least.
'I will remain with Manchester United for at least another year,' Ronaldo told Portuguese newspaper Publico.
He goes on to praise Sir Alex Ferguson, who flew to Portugal just after Euro 2008 for talks with Ronaldo.
Ferguson returned in bullish mood, claiming he had a frank exchange with Ronaldo, who would be staying at United.
While his stance was viewed as posturing in a battle that would be waged until the transfer window finally closed on August 31, the feeling in Manchester has been growing that Ronaldo has agreed to remain.
That belief was reinforced by Real's surprise announcement yesterday that the arrival of Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg would represent their only major purchase of the summer.
Now Ronaldo has given United fans the news they were all hoping for.
After scoring 42 goals last season as the Red Devils won the Premier League and Champions League double, Ronaldo is widely expected to be confirmed world footballer of the year in December.
His presence at Old Trafford is huge, even if he will be missing until the end of next month following ankle surgery.
Ferguson was always confident he would win the battle to keep Ronaldo but the news still represents a major coup for the Scot, who lost trusted assistant Carlos Queiroz, a close friend of the 23-year-old, to the Portugal national job last month.
Ronaldo said: 'Sir Alex Ferguson heard my arguments, I heard his and, in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay.
'Therefore, I can confirm that, next season, I will play for Manchester United.
'Before rumours emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear - whoever says or writes that is lying.
'I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always.'
Ronaldo has also taken the blame for the transfer saga, which lasted for several months and damaged United's relationship with Real.
He continued: 'I was responsible for all this controversy.
'I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Real Madrid. I ended up being, even involuntarily, responsible for the poor relationship between the two clubs.'
But he repeated that his dream of playing for Real remains and has not closed the door on a future move to the Spanish giants.
He explained: 'I knew Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had allegedly made a very high offer to Manchester United.
'My desire was, for some time, that Manchester had accepted my transfer to Madrid.
'Saying otherwise would be to trick people and my own consciousness.'
Injury concerns for United boss Ferguson
Manchester United 0-0 Juventus
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he is 'a bit concerned' by Manchester United's on-going injury woes.
Ferguson effectively ruled both Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick out of Sunday's Community Shield meeting with Portsmouth as both are still suffering from the virus they picked up in Nigeria 10 days ago.
In announcing that he would be picking from the same squad at Wembley that he had available against Juventus on Wednesday night, Ferguson knows he will be without 10 senior men against Harry Redknapp's side, none of which could be around for the start of their title defence against Newcastle on August 17.
'It is a bit of a concern,' said Ferguson.
'For Sunday's game, we will be picking from the ones we have available on Wednesday night.'
Given his mounting injury problems, especially up front, Carlos Tevez was the last person Ferguson would have wanted to see go down in a heap, although the Argentina forward was quickly to his feet following Nicola Legrottaglie's forceful challenge.
The Juventus defender did not even receive a ticking off from referee Mark Halsey and was just as fortunate to escape when he seemed to chop Lee Martin down in the penalty area.
England coach and former Juventus boss Fabio Capello was an interested onlooker as Tevez flashed a shot over, Darren Fletcher repeating the feat from a better position moments later, John O'Shea providing the astute lofted pass.
Capello might have been more interested to see Rio Ferdinand, one of the possibles for the England captain's role due to be confirmed ahead of the August 20 showdown with the Czech Republic, bundle over both Mohamed Sissoko and Alessandro del Piero in quick succession.
As a former Liverpool player, Sissoko was booed by the United faithful every time he touched the ball, with Legrottaglie getting the same treatment when he wiped out Tevez once more.
This time Halsey did lecture the Italian, with Ferguson no doubt wincing in the dugout until Tevez got back to his feet.
Alessandro del Piero wasted a clear chance for Juventus midway through the half, fatally pulling the ball back onto his favoured right foot, allowing Patrice Evra and John O'Shea to make the block after Vincenzo Iaquinta had provided the low cross.
Ferdinand was quick to recover his ground after some Del Piero trickery, then it was Sissoko's turn to leave his imprint on Tevez with another tackle from behind.
Skipper Ryan Giggs did not make the most of a free-kick opportunity in a decent position, then Fletcher got a firm header to Wes Brown's cross without being able to test Gianluigi Buffon.
Del Piero would surely have been gifted a penalty if he had gone down under Nemanja Vidic's challenge. Instead, the little maestro kept going to earn a corner that Mauro Camoranesi glanced wide at the near post.
Rooney to miss start of season with virus
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could step up his attempts to sign a new striker after revealing Wayne Rooney is losing a battle to be fit for the start of the season.
Rooney picked up a virus during the Red Devils' pre-season tour of Africa and is struggling to shake it off in time to be considered for either the Community Shield clash against Portsmouth on August 10 or the start of the Barclays Premier League season the following week.
That leaves Ferguson seriously stretched in attack with Carlos Tevez and the seemingly out-of-favour Louis Saha the only established strikers fit and available.
Fraizer Campbell, a transfer target for Hull, has impressed in pre-season but may not be ready for a regular starting role, while Cristiano Ronaldo is out injured.
United boss Ferguson was, though, once again eager to put a full stop on the summer-long transfer saga involving the Portugal winger and suitors Real Madrid.
Ferguson told the club's official website: 'I doubt we'll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he's had.
'It's a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it's not a nice one, but quite a few have had it.
'It's such a bad virus and he's got to be training to be fit.'
Ferguson confirmed that Rooney was not suffering from malaria, against which the entire squad had been treated before the trip.
It is deeply frustrating for Rooney, who also saw the start to last season disrupted by injury when he suffered a broken metatarsal against Reading on the opening day of the 2007/08 campaign.
The news will come as a major blow to United, who will also begin the defence of their title without injured winger Ronaldo.
Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery earlier this summer and is not expected to return to action until October.
Ferguson continued: 'I don't know whether we will have a team ready. Nani is suspended, Anderson is in the Olympic Games.
'(Michael) Carrick's come in this morning and he may play a part of the game on Sunday.
'They've said it's a bad virus and Wayne's not back in yet, he's not been training. It's been a long time.'
Regarding the Ronaldo transfer, the Scot added: 'The matter is closed now. He (Ronaldo) is a Manchester United player - it's finished. He'll be playing here next season believe me. It's finished.'
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has also hinted their pursuit of Ronaldo may now be brought to an end after he revealed new arrival Rafael van der Vaart is their only likely purchase this summer.
'Rafael van der Vaart is the first and possibly the only signing of the summer for Real Madrid,' Calderon said.
'We believe that this squad is full of quality, of plenty of talent. It's a team which is a great family, very close.
'We said that the new arrivals would be few but of great quality. That seemed logical after two successful seasons in which we've brought in 19 young, promising players.
'This (the low number of signings) was a request of the board of directors.'
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