Ferguson praised the character of his players after Berbatov’s 88th minute winner pushed them five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the EPL table.

“That is what the character of this club is all about,” said Ferguson after he started his five game touchline ban.
“No other club in the country has got that. We are fantastic at getting something out of a dead situation.

The Reds took full advantage just before half-time when Dirk Kuyt scored from a penalty after John Mensah had hauled Jay Spearing back.

The referee initially awarded a free-kick before his linesman decided that the foul committed outside the box by Mensah was inside the penalty area.

The Gunners had to fight back for a 2-2 draw at West Brom on Saturday, a result that leaves them five points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand.

“This is certainly the most level league, with the least predictable results, since I have been in England,” said Wenger, appointed Arsenal boss in 1996.

The Blues moved into third spot behind Manchester United and Arsenal with an impressive 2-0 win that displaced Manchester City on Sunday.

David Luiz and Ramires got the goals as Chelsea continued their recent run but it may not be enough to keep their title.

Manchester United have emerged as favorites to sign Southampton youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish will outbid any offer from Spurs for Blackpool captain Charlie Adam this summer.

]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/uefa-champions-league-update/briefs---a-round-up-of-championships-news-118242839.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/uefa-champions-league-update/briefs---a-round-up-of-championships-news-118242839.html Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:40:16 PDT

Striker Didier Drogba is to hold talks on his future with Chelsea at the end of the season.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini could axe striker Mario Balotelli after his red card as the club exited the Europa League against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night.

]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/uefa-champions-league-update/manchester-united-draw-chelsea-in-the-quarter-finals-118241699.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/uefa-champions-league-update/manchester-united-draw-chelsea-in-the-quarter-finals-118241699.html Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:25:19 PDT

Alex Ferguson’s EPL leaders will relish the chance of avenging their recent Stamford Bridge defeat to Chelsea in the matches at the start of April.

And Chelsea will be keen to avenge their 2008 European Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat to United in Moscow.

The striker has yet to score in six games since his British record transfer from Liverpool.

Substitute Torres again failed to hit the target against Copenhagen as Chelsea booked a mouth watering Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester United.

The Arsenal manager and his midfielder Samir Nasri have been charged for ‘inappropriate language’ towards referee Massimo Busacca in Barcelona on Wednesday night.

Busacca was involved in an end of match altercation with the Arsenal pair after he red-carded striker Robin Van Persie.

The Gunners face United in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, fresh from their controversial CL defeat at Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Boss Arsene Wenger and midfielder Sami Nasri have been charged by UEFA over comments made to referee Massimo Busacca over his handling of the game.

A realistic Redknapp admitted he was struggling to come to terms with the ‘impossible dream’ after the scoreless draw at White Hart Lane saw his side through 1-0 on aggregate.

Peter Crouch’s goal at the San Siro was enough to send Tottenham into the CL quarter-finals for the first time, two and a half years after Redknapp inherited a side second from bottom in the EPL.

Wenger clashed with the referee in the tunnel after the match while Van Persie branded match official Massimo Bussaca ‘a joke’ after he was sent-off early in the second-half.

The Gunners lost 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate after Van Persie was controversially sent-off for kicking the ball away after referee Bussaca had blown for offside.

The Gunners take a 2-1 lead and Fabregas to Spain for Tuesday night’s second leg clash in the last 16 of the competition.

Fabregas says he will be fit to face his former club after his hamstring injury kept him of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland.

Ferguson, charged by the FA for comments made after the defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday night, refused to speak to the media after his team’s second defeat in a row.

The Scot wouldn’t even talk to United’s own television channel as he awaits charges for remarks made about the referee after the Chelsea game.

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure faces a two year ban from all football after testing positive for a banned substance – in a diet pill belong to his wife.

The former City captain has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full FA investigation.

Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh are vying for the right to replace the injured Robin Van Persie in the big Champions League clash.

Both scored against Orient but Bendtner’s hat-trick may have given manager Arsene Wenger more to think about as his team quickly got over their Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham.

]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/uefa-champions-league-update/arsenal-wigan-chelsea-and-briefs-117169568.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/sport/uefa-champions-league-update/arsenal-wigan-chelsea-and-briefs-117169568.html Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:40:22 PST

Wigan owner Dave Whelan has lashed out at the English FA after Wayne Rooney escaped punishment for his elbow on James McCarthy.

Manchester United and England winger Wayne Rooney has escaped punishment for his elbow on Irish international James McCarthy.

Rooney was caught on camera elbowing McCarthy on the back of his head during United’s 4-0 EPL win at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

Kenny Dalglish finally tasted European success on Thursday night – thanks to a Dirk Kuyt header in a 1-0 home win over Sparta Prague.

Liverpool are through to the last 16 of the Europa League and a date with Portuguese side Braga after their 1-0 aggregate win.

Bayern Munich have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals and revenge on their minds but Manchester United have work to do.

The Germans avenged last season’s European Cup final defeat to Inter Milan when they scored a 1-0 win, thanks to a late Mario Gomez goal, away to the holders in Wednesday night’s Last 16 first leg game.