United braced for FA call

Manchester United can expect a call from the FA on Monday after seven players were booked in the draw at Chelsea.

* Watch the post-match reactions from Chelsea vs Man United game here!
Despite Sir Alex Ferguson claiming there was not a dirty tackle in the game, the Red Devils still ended up with the names of exactly half the playing members of their squad going into the notebook of referee Mike Riley.
That will be enough to trigger the involvement of Soho Square, who automatically act when the number reaches six.
And they might also end up looking at the clash between Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba right on the final whistle which left the Chelsea man needing treatment.
"It was a competitive game but I did not think there was one bad tackle in it," said Ferguson.
"The game is being screened worldwide. Everyone is watching it and something like that happens.
"People are saying what is going on here but it is difficult to say anything about the referee.
"I do not want to get involved."
Ferguson was clearly unhappy with Riley's performance, as were a number of his senior players.
And United's afternoon did not get much less stormy after they had left Stamford Bridge as their team coach was attacked on the short trip to Euston station.
A bottle was hurled from the pavement, cracking the windscreen, although no-one was injured, with United officials eager to play down the incident afterwards.
"Yes. There was an incident but the matter is now in the hands of the police," said a club spokesman.
At least Riley received the backing of Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who noted the FA's recent 'Respect' initiative aimed at greater co-operation between players and officials.
"I am not surprised," said Scolari. "That is what the referee is there for.
"If players do not respect him, it should be yellow and red cards. It doesn't matter who you are - Liverpool or Manchester United, whoever."
However, the Chelsea coach said he was puzzled at the bizarre ending, with Riley blowing for time as Drogba was about to receive treatment.
"It was strange that he finished the game at that time but we need to accept his decision."

by espnstar.com

Manchester United

Kaka: Milan squad now united

Kaka believes that AC Milan's 4-1 whipping of Lazio has proved that the team are stating to play as a unit again.
The Rossoneri, bottom of the table after two straight Serie A losses, responded in the best way possible by trouncing their rivals from the capital with Kaka in particular showing signs of coming back to form with some delightful play.
"We discussed this week that we are not a bunch of individuals, but a united team and that is what we proved tonight," revealed Kaka.
"There is a long way to go yet, but you can already see the improvements and this will be a good example for the future."
Milan now have the Brazilian trio of Kaka, Pato, and Ronaldinho in their ranks but the Milan number 22 insisted that players deserved the credit for their scintillating performance.
"It's wonderful to play with my compatriots Pato and Ronadinho, but also because I play in a squad with such champions as (Paolo) Maldini, (Massimo) Ambrosini, and (Clarence) Seedorf," he confessed.
Milan's next test is at the Stadio Granillo, where they will take on Reggina in the midweek round of Serie A this Wednesday.
by espnstar.com

Tags: AC Milan, Lazio, Kaka, Serie A, football

Red Devils' bus attacked

Manchester United's team bus was attacked as it left Stamford Bridge on Sunday night after their 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side were making their way to Euston for their return journey to the north west after the 1-1 draw with Chelsea when a bottle was hurled at the windscreen. No-one was injured, although the windscreen was cracked.
"Yes. There was an incident but the matter is now in the hands of the police," said a club spokesman.
Nevertheless, the team continued on their short trip across London without further incident.
Last time United visited the stadium Patrice Evra became involved in a heated post-match exchange with Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell which is still the subject of an FA investigation, while Rio Ferdinand was forced to apologise to a female steward after kicking a ball at her in anger.
Sunday's encounter was not much less contentious, with United picking up seven yellow cards from referee Mike Riley which will now see them fined by the FA.
A Chelsea statement read: "We are aware of reports of an altercation with the Manchester United bus as it left the Stamford Bridge area.
"It appears to be an isolated incident but we have launched a full investigation in conjunction with local authorities.
"We do not condone violence in any shape or form. If, as a result of our investigations, we find that any Chelsea supporters were involved we will take appropriate action against those individuals."
by espnstar.com

Tags: Red Devils, Manchester+United, Chelsea, Premier League, football

Man City dismantle Pompey

Man City's players downed Portsmouth 6-0 with a display that was timed perfectly to impress their new chairman.
With Khaldoon Al Mubarak in attendance, City - inspired by their superstar Brazilian Robinho - ripped Portsmouth apart with a six-goal salvo.
Jo, Richard Dunne, Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips - plus substitutes Ched Evans and Gelson Fernandes - each scored in a stunning all-round display.
It was humiliation for Portsmouth, and in particular a match to forget for goalkeeper David James - who was partly culpable for several of the home side's goals.
Mark Hughes, the City manager, has been promised time to break into the top four by the club's new owners from Abu Dhabi. But after this, expectations will be sky-high.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp started off with an unfashionable 3-5-2 line-up and must have regretted it as City pulled the defence apart from the start.
James had already made two good saves, from Robinho and Wright-Phillips, when City went ahead in the 13th minute.
Jo, a handful for the centre-backs all afternoon, was the man to get it - as Al Mubarak applauded from the directors' box.
Robinho slid a pass that caught Younes Kaboul flat-footed to find his fellow Brazilian. As James came racing out, Jo rounded him easily and side-footed the ball into the empty net.
Peter Crouch glanced a header over the bar from a corner as Portsmouth tried to hit back quickly, but almost immediately were 2-0 down.
James had to shoulder some of the blame for this one. Elano's clever corner towards the near post nearly caught him out, and he could only parry the ball for Dunne to bundle home from close range.
Portsmouth then had a spell where they managed to match City and create several chances, but wasted their opportunities to claw their way back.
Crouch came within inches, slamming Glen Johnson's low centre just the wrong side of the post; then Kaboul spooned a shot over from 12 yards, after Sol Campbell had headed down Nadir Belhadj's free-kick.
Campbell saw his goal-bound header blocked on the line by Pablo Zabaleta, before Lassana Diarra's shot was diverted over his own bar by Dunne.
But Robinho could scent his second goal in as many games and the 24-year-old nearly scored with some outrageous skill, only to be denied by a block.
Within seconds of the re-start, Jermain Defoe burst through on goal ahead of Micah Richards but finished woefully - poking his shot wide ... and that was that for Portsmouth.
City's third goal arrived in the 57th minute - and to general delight in the stadium, the scorer was that man Robinho. It was made by the irrepressible Stephen Ireland, who robbed Armand Traore and floated a ball over the top for Jo to knock into his compatriot's path - and Robinho finished expertly with a low strike into the corner.
The fourth was if anything even more popular with the City fans, as Wright-Phillips made it on to the scoresheet. Ireland was the provider again, delivering a perfect pass for Wright-Phillips to run on to and hammer a shot from a narrow angle past James at his near post.
Evans made it five after Robinho's step-overs flummoxed Campbell; Wright-Phillips executed a Brazilian-style back-heel, and the 19-year-old Welshman completed the job neatly from eight yards out.
Portsmouth were so shell-shocked it was no surprise when the sixth arrived. Robinho's cross from the left was dangerous; James just managed to stop Wright-Phillips from getting to it, but Fernandes followed up to slam the loose ball home.
Robinho was given a thunderous standing ovation when he was substituted with a few minutes remaining, before Evans crashed a volley a couple of yards too high.
Only the final whistle brought relief for Portsmouth.
by espnstar.com

Tags: Robinho, Man City, Portsmouth, Manchester+City, Premier League, football