Patrice Evra wary of Schalke

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has cautioned his team-mates against complacency ahead of the Champions League clash with Schalke.

The Red Devils were eliminated from the tournament by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season, and they now have to face another German club in the last four of the European competition this time around.

For their part, Schalke set up a double-header with United after seeing off holders Inter by a 7-3 aggregate score in the quarter-finals.

"We know Schalke will not be easy. The way they beat the champions, Inter Milan, shows you that," Evra is quoted by The News of the World as saying.

"And we remember what happened playing against a German team last season when we were knocked out by Bayern Munich.

"You have to respect every team and we will.

"I have a lot of respect for Schalke - you can never presume anything."

Juventus will not sell Gianluigi Buffon

Juventus will rely on Buffon now and in the future, says Marotta, who will not be selling his 'keeper in the summer. Juventus sporting director Giuseppe Marotta was quick to play down speculation of star goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s exit from the Turin club after the 2-0 victory over Roma.

Buffon was replaced by Marco Storari for the game in the Italian capital due to illness and the understudy did a spectacular job of keeping his side in the match with a handful of sublime saves.

33-year-old Buffon has been linked to several of Europe’s top clubs for a summer move, however the shot-stopper described any deal which would see him depart the Bianconeri as the “worst case scenario" and Marotta is adamant that Buffon will stay put.

“We rely on Buffon in the present and for the future. We often speak with him and his manager. We will not sell him,” Marotta was quoted by Corriere dello Sport.

Ronaldo, Benzema and Marcelo will miss Hotspur Champions League clash

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Marcelo will miss the upcoming games against Sporting Gijon and Tottenham Hotspur.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed in Friday's press conference that the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Marcelo will miss the upcoming matches against Sporting Gijon and Tottenham Hotspur due to injury.

"The doctors have made it clear that Benzema, Ronaldo and Marcelo will not be ready before the game against Athletic de Bilbao," Mourinho was quoted as saying.

Madrid lock horns with Bilbao on Sunday April 10, but before then take on Sporting in the league tomorrow and Tottenham in the Champions League on April 5, meaning that los Blancos will be without three key players for those two fixtures.

"The game against Sporting Gijon is very important for us. Not as important as the upcoming Copa del Rey final, but more important than the the clash with Tottenham," added Mourinho.

The 'Special One' got some positive news on the injury front as Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain is available again after a long injury lay-off.

"Higuain's recovery is great news for us. He's back to full fitness again and will be very important for us in the final stages of the season. I want to congratulate him and the medical staff on his quick recovery. They've done a great job. I hope that the fans will give him a warm welcome when he returns to the pitch."

The Portuguese coach finally took the time to discuss his future at Real Madrid and stated that he's very happy at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Clarence Seedorf has claimed that the upcoming derby against Inter will be decisive in the Scudetto race

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has claimed that the upcoming derby against Inter will be decisive in the Scudetto race. Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has underlined the importance of Saturday's Serie A clash with rivals Inter by claiming that the derby will be decisive in the Scudetto race.

Many players and club chiefs have tried to play down the significance of the game on the title outcome, but the Dutchman has a differing opinion.

"I say that the match against Inter will be decisive in the race for the league title," Seedorf was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The match will be incredibly important psychologically. People who say something different are liars. This is not a response to someone in particular, but just a comment in general.

"All the players know that the match is decisive. Of course, a loss won't be the end of the world as there's still time to recover, but not a single player om either sides wants to leave the pitch empty handed."

Seedorf then looked back to a previous campaign to prove his point.

Kenny Dalglish comment off England boss Fabio Capello's advice to Andy Carroll

Scot insists that the young forward has done everything that was required of him, and hailed the striker for his "application and dedication"
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has laughed off England boss Fabio Capello's advice to Andy Carroll, and believes that the young striker has been a model footballer since his £35 million move to Anfield.

The 22-year-old was involved in some off-the-pitch incidents during his time at Newcastle United, and the former Real Madrid boss recently cautioned him concerning the consumption of beer.

But with Carroll having scored his first goal for England, Dalglish appears to have no cause for concern regarding the club's record signing.

"Andy Carroll knows what is required of Andy Carroll, and he’s done fantastically well getting back to where he has, with his application and dedication," he said, according to The Mirror.
"Whatever Andy has done, he has done it very well, and somebody else’s opinion is up to them. But he cannot be criticised in any way, shape or form for what he has done since he has been here.

"He’s done really well to get where he is, so I think Andy is focused on his football.

Manchester United should focus on winning the Premier League title

Manchester United should focus on winning the Premier League title. Gary Neville plays down treble talk: Manchester United should focus on winning the Premier League title first. Former captain thinks Alex Ferguson's side's title rivals blew chance to catch them at the top of the league and reckons players should put the cup competitions to one side.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes the main priority for his old team-mates should be to win the Premier League rather than the FA Cup and the Champions League.

Neville thinks the chasing pack which includes Arsenal and Chelsea have squandered opportunities to catch the Red Devils at the top of the table, when Alex Ferguson’s side suffered back-to-back defeats at the start of the month.

Neville told the clubs official website: "I would love to see us win the league as that's our bread and butter but the cups are always a bonus and the Champions League is massive and, when the games come around, you always want to win them. But let's just win that championship first.

"I think it probably is Chelsea and Arsenal [who are the threats]," added Neville. "Arsenal had a couple of bad results when they could've put some pressure on us, particularly in the week we lost to Chelsea and Liverpool. But it is there for us and we've got so close. It is the run-in.”

Jose Mourinho confident of seeing off Tottenham Hotspur

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes his team has the edge on Tottenham and is confident he can end their Champions League odyssey.

Spurs' debut Champions League campaign has already delivered famous wins against Inter Milan and AC Milan, and the reward for Harry Redknapp's side is a glamorous last-eight encounter against Madrid.

Mourinho, who won the Champions League as coach of Inter last season, concedes he has some misgivings about coming up against the tournament dark horses but says he is at least approaching the tie with more relish than he did last year's last-16 encounter with former club Chelsea.

"I didn't want Chelsea-Inter, because last season it was difficult to play against Chelsea," Mourinho said. "I did it, and I did everything I could to help my team, but I was not comfortable. I don't like to play against my friends.

"Any team is difficult and any team is a motivation for us. Tottenham are a good team: they beat Inter, they beat Milan, they have ambitions, they have a very good team and a good manager.

"You can feel that it is a happy team, and happy teams are dangerous teams."

Asked whether Spurs could produce an upset and go all the way, Mourinho added on BBC Radio 5 Five: "It's possible. They have a not very easy draw, but they have not had an easy draw from the beginning.

Champions League Possible Clasico Semi-Final

Champions League Quarter-Final Draw Sees Manchester United Take On Chelsea, Tottenham Face Real Madrid and A Possible Clasico Semi-Final. The Champions League quarter-final draw concluded on Friday with some very interesting fixtures lying in wait for the coming months.

A repeat of the 2008 Champions League final, Chelsea clash with Manchester United in a tie that promises there will be at least one English semi-finalist.

Meanwhile, fellow English side and Champions League new-boys Tottenham face Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid - a remarkable achievement at this stage for a side who were bottom of the Premier League two-and-a-half years ago.

And of course with Barcelona drawing Shakhtar Donetsk, there's the distinct possibility of a Clasico semi-final if both Spanish giants - who will be hot favourites - progress that far.

Italy's last hope, Inter, have arguably the easiest draw of the pack as they face German side Schalke, a team currently plagued by internal problems.

Benzema doubtful for Tottenham Hotspur clash

The France striker Karim Benzema could miss Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Tottenham Hotspur at the Bernabéu next Tuesday, according to reports in Spain.

The 23-year-old was substituted in the 75th minute of France's goalless friendly draw with Croatia on Tuesday after suffering an injury to his thigh. The France coach, Laurent Blanc, said after the game: "He felt a little pinch in his thigh."

Benzema, who appears likely to miss Real's La Liga match against Sporting Gijon this weekend, has scored eight goals in his last five games for the Spanish club.

Xavi believes that Fabregas wants to leave Arsenal

Xavi believes that Fabregas wants to join Barcelona. Barcelona midfielder Xavi has revealed that compatriot Cesc Fabregas wants to leave Arsenal and come to Camp Nou in the summer.

The Spanish champions tried to sign the 23-year-old Spain international last year but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to budge in his insistence that Fabregas remains at the Emirates.

Barceona have continued to try to convince Arsenal to let the player leave and the Gunners themselves are ready to sell the player should an offer of €51.5 million be made, and although Blaugrana president Sandro Rosell has admitted that the club cannot pay Arsenal €50m, he is open to negotiations.

Fabregas’ team-mate in the Spain national squad, Xavi, has now disclosed that the Catalan is ready to move to Camp Nou.

“I would like Cesc to come to Barca and he has also said that he wants to, but Arsenal and Barcelona have to agree,” the 31-year-old told Catalan daily Sport.

Xavi also touched on the two impending matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid next month, one in the Primera Division and the other in the Copa del Rey final, and said that insinuations of doping and Jose Mourinho’s criticisms only make them more competitive.

“It makes us stronger,” enthused the World Cup winner. “The group is united and even if there are negative things in the environment, we have to keep working and competing.

Fernando Torres wants to face Barcelona or Real Madrid in Champions League final

Fernando Torres wants to face Barcelona or Real Madrid in Champions League final. Fernando Torres hopes that Chelsea can go all the way to the Wembley and play against either Real Madrid or Barcelona in the final of the Champions League.

The Blues topped Group F and took down Copenhagen in the first knockout round of the European competition, and are now pitted against Manchester United in the quarter-finals.

And the former Atletico Madrid man is not only looking to get past the Red Devils but is eyeing up a Wembley final against Spanish opponents.

"I would love to play in the European Cup final, with Chelsea, against a Spanish side," Torres said, according to The Sun.

The former Liverpool striker also believes Real Madrid are the favourites to win the competition, but warned Jose Mourinho's side that Tottenham Hotspur, who they face in the quarter-finals, are no pushovers.

"Real Madrid are the favourites to win, although it is not going to be easy," he continued.

"That is more 60-40. The Whites are going to have to play really well to beat Tottenham, who have some great players like Modric, Bale and Lennon."

The club's £50 million January signing also hailed owner Roman Abramovich for his ambition and willingness to open his cheque book to boost the squad in the hope of winning Europe's top prize.

Torres added:"The fact that Roman Abramovich has paid that much money demonstrates that he wants the best team possible.