[EPL] Man City 0-1 Man Utd

[drivemein]

Tevez is King, says Manchester City boss Mancini
-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-



Roberto Mancini has warned Manchester United that Carlos Tevez is ready to deliver a world class display in tomorrow’s derby battle.

The Manchester City boss says Tevez deserves his place among the world’s best including Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.

While United have struggled to finish the season with a flourish without their injured hero Rooney, Tevez has been in sensational form and is ready to give his former club a taste of what they are missing.

“Carlos is already an important player for us, but he could improve over the next year,” said Mancini. “He has already improved this year, because he has never scored 28 goals before. I am happy about that, and when you pick the top players, you pick Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi and Tevez.

“Messi is the best at the moment. But Carlos and Rooney are very, very close.”

Tevez has the chance at Eastlands tomorrow (12.45) to shatter United's hopes of a fourth consecutive title and keep his side on course for a top four finish.

“It is important that we only want to win for us,” said Mancini. “We have our own target, and it is not important that we win to stop United winning the title. It is better to focus on ourselves. It is important that we continue to play as we have done for the last month.”

[drivemein]

Manchester City need more than cash to be top: Giggs
-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-



It will take much more than money alone to turn City into the best club in Manchester let alone the Premier League believes Ryan Giggs.

Nearly two decades after his first appearance in the derby, United's evergreen winger has claimed that if Roberto Mancini's side do not qualify for the Champions League this season they will struggle to attract players of true quality to Eastlands over the summer no matter how much they are prepared to spend.

Throughout Giggs' time at Old Trafford, United — give or take the odd defeat — have enjoyed the upper hand, but tomorrow they will have to face a revitalised, free-scoring City side in a game they have to win to have any chance of claiming a fourth successive title.

City too have plenty to play for. They currently lie fourth, a point ahead of Tottenham with five games to play — the all-important Champions League place is within their grasp.

Rarely can a Manchester derby have carried such weight at the business end of the table, and with City's ambitions the importance of the fixture is only going to increase.

“I think you've got to say yes, with the money that they've got at their disposal and the fact they've shown they're ready to pay for good players,” said Giggs.

“Whether or not the world-class players will come will be determined by whether they get into the Champions League. If they don't, they might struggle to do that.

“Money can buy you success, but for long-term success you need a lot more. We've broken the transfer record quite a few times, Blackburn did it with Alan Shearer and won the league and Chelsea spent big when Roman Abramovich arrived — but you need young players, continuity and a lot more to sustain that success.”

Giggs spent two years at City's School of Excellence in the mid-80s before joining United where he became the trailblazer for a succession of stellar names who emerged from The Cliff training ground to provide the backbone of Sir Alex Ferguson's title winning teams over the last two decades.

He made his first start for United against City in 1991 — scoring the only goal — and tomorrow will be his 33rd derby.

This season has not proved a vintage one for the 36-year-old, certainly compared to the previous one which ended with him being named as Player of the Year. Wayne Rooney carries United's hopes in that direction; he has been named on the shortlist for both Player and Young Player — but of more pressing concern to United (and City) is his fitness.

Rooney missed Sunday's goalless draw at Blackburn having aggravated his ankle injury in the Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich, but has been training this week and is expected to play some part in the game. His presence was sorely missed last weekend as United struggle to create chances

“He's scoring important goals, which all great players at United have done — like Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona and Ronaldo. They all produced magic when needed and that's what Wayne's been doing. Along with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, he's one of the world's top three players.”

[drivemein]

RIO FERDINAND WARNS MANCHESTER CITY: MONEY IS ‘NOT THE ANSWER’
-dailyexpress.co.uk-



RIO Ferdinand has warned Manchester City that breaking their 34-year wait to land a trophy will not be easy despite all the millions invested in the club by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour.

City are on the brink of breaking into the Champions League for the first time but Ferdinand says actually winning silverware is a different matter.

On the eve of tomorrow’s Manchester derby, he said: “City have the capacity to be genuine contenders because they have so much money and they are targeting the big players.

“But the first trophy is always the hardest one to win and until they do that, there will be a lot of pressure on them.

“They reached the Carling Cup semi-finals this season but came up against us and they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Stoke, so there’s still a bit of work to do.

“I think if they finish in a Champions League spot this season, for them that will be as good as winning a trophy.”

Ferdinand revealed his personal relief over Michael Owen’s added-time winner in the season’s earlier derby at Old Trafford.

In the euphoria of that 4-3 win, he escaped the infamous “hairdryer treatment” from Sir Alex Ferguson for an embarrassing mistake that led to an equaliser from Craig Bellamy.

“That was a real ‘phew’ moment,” said Ferdinand. “I said a big thank you to him at the time and I texted him later that night to say it again.

“It was odd in the dressing room afterwards. We’d won the game so the lads were bouncing around, going crazy. But I was just depressed, sitting there thinking about how lucky I had been.

[drivemein]

Madchester mayhem must stop: City and United warned over derby-day antics
-dailymail.co.uk-


Sign language: City's Carlos Tevez gestures at United's Gary Neville in a heated Carling Cup semi-final

Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini will be told to keep a lid on their players’ derby-day goal celebrations after a warning from Manchester police.

Manchester United face bitter rivals City at Eastlands in a lunchtime showdown, which is one of the most important derby games in years.

It emerged last night that Greater Manchester Police have contacted both Barclays Premier League clubs this week, telling them that there must be no repeat of the provocative player behaviour that has marred the fixture this season.

Two Carling Cup meetings between the teams in January featured crowd trouble inside and outside Eastlands and Old Trafford that Manchester police had not
witnessed for some years and senior officers believe the behaviour of some players did not help.

In a league meeting between the teams last September, City striker Craig Bellamy clashed with a fan on the pitch at Old Trafford, while United skipper Gary Neville was warned by the FA for the way he celebrated his team’s winning goal.

Then, in the Carling Cup at Eastlands in January, City’s former United star Carlos Tevez celebrated the first of his two goals by running provocatively along the touchline and exchanging gestures with former team-mate Neville. In the second leg, Bellamy was hit by a bottle.


Bottle bullet: Bellamy is struck

City have been boosted this week by a return to training for Wayne Bridge who has been out for a month with a knee problem. The former England left back will start tomorrow’s game.

Meanwhile, manager Mancini was yesterday warned about his own behaviour by the FA after admitting a charge of improper conduct.


Jubilation: United got their own back with a 3-1 second-leg win at Old Trafford

The Italian was charged after barging in to Everton manager David Moyes towards the end of a game between the teams on March 24.

He was also handed a £20,000 fine, suspended until the end of the 2011-12 season.

[zudomiriku]

Jelang City vs MU
The Red Devils Mengejar Quat-trick
Doni Wahyudi - detiksport


Manchester -Tiga pertemuan terakhir Manchester City vs Manchester United di Liga Inggris menjadi milik The Red Devils. Bisakah The Citizen memutusnya di kandang sendiri akhir pekan ini? Berikut data & fakta Derby Manchester, seperti dikutip dari Eurosport.

* Ryan Giggs jadi pemain spesial dalam laga ini karena selalu tampil dalam 28 pertandingan Derby Manchester sejak dia menjalani debut derby di Liga Inggris pada Mei 1991.

* MU dan City sudah bertemu tiga kali di musim ini, dari delapan gol yang dibuat The Red Devils, empat di antaranya merupakan assist Giggs. Winger Wales itu juga ikut mencetak satu gol.

* Di skuad Manchester City saat ini, belum ada yang mencetak lebih dari dua gol dalam laga derby di Liga Inggris. Sementara di kubu MU, Rooney dan Scholes sudah menjebol gawang The Citizens empat kali.

* City selalu kalah dalam tiga pertemuan terakhir dengan MU

* Dari 12 pertemuan kedua klub di kandang City sejak era Premier League, MU cuma sekali gagal mencetak gol.

* Carlos Tevez sudah membuat empat gol di empat pertandingan terakhir Derby Manchester di beragam kompetisi.

* Tiga pertemuan terakhir kedua tim di kandang City selalu berkesudahan 1-0: sekali buat City dan dua kali untuk MU.

* Dari tujuh pertandingan Liga Inggris terakhirnya, The Red Devils berhasil membuat lima clean sheet.

* Di tiga pertandingan terakhirnya di Liga Inggris, Wayne Rooney selalu membikin gol, dengan total yang dia cetak berjumlah lima.

* Carlos Tevez tak kalah garang. Dia membuat 10 gol dalam delapan laga terakhir City di Premier League.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jelang City vs MU
Tevez-Neville Diminta Jaga Sikap
Okdwitya Karina Sari - detiksport



Manchester - Tingginya tensi Derby Manchester membuat kepolisian setempat berada dalam kewaspadaan penuh. Pihak berwajib secara khusus juga memperingatkan Carlos Tevez dan Gary Neville.

Pertandingan antara Manchester United kontra Manchester City dihelat Sabtu (17/4/2010) di City of Manchester Stadium. Laga antara dua tim elit ini dipastikan akan berlangsung 'panas', tidak hanya di luar lapangan tapi juga antar pemain.

Publik tentu masih ingat dengan perselisihan antara Tevez dan Neville ketika kedua timnya bertemu di leg pertama semifinal Piala Carling, Januari silam. Tevez yang mencetak gol lantas melakukan selebrasi provokatif yang kemudian dibalas dengan acungan jari tengah oleh Neville.

Meskipun kejadian itu sudah berlalu namun hingga kini keduanya belum menunjukkan tanda adanya 'kesepakatan damai'. Walau begitu, diharapkan Tevez dan Neville dapat menjaga sikapnya agar tercipta suasana yang menyenangkan selama pertandingan.

"Tujuan utama kami adalah menyakinkan laga tersebut menjadi sebuah pengalaman yang menyenangkan buat semua fans," tegas Ian Hopkins, Asisten Kepala Polisi setempat yang dikutip The Sun.

"Ketika sebuah kelompok minoritas melakukan tindakan buruk, maka hal itu akan berdampak buat semua orang," tuntas dia.

Selama pertandingan tersebut, polisi dan stewards akan menjalankan prosedur pengamanan yang ketat. Bahkan polisi akan menyambangi ruang ganti kedua tim untuk memperingatkan kedua kubu untuk berkelakuan baik dan tiga memprovokasi penonton.

[drivemein]

Poster Tevez Kopian Obama untuk Panasi MU
-bola.kompas.com-



MANCHESTER, KOMPAS.com - Manchester City mencoba menaikkan tensi saat mereka menjamu rival sekota, Manchester United, dalam lanjutan Premier League, Sabtu (17/4/2010). City menyewa seniman yang melukis poster kampanye Barack Obama, untuk membuat poster Carlos Tevez.

Seniman Shephard Fairey membuat desain poster Obama dengan tulisan "Hope" untuk kampanye presiden Amerika Serikat. oster itu akhirnya populer dan berkesan.

Saat menjamu MU nanti, Man. City akan memamerkan poster Tevez dengan karakteristik sama dengan poster Obama. Bedanya, tulisan Hope diganti dengan Pasion atau gairah dalam bahasa Spanyol.

Banyak yang menilai, poster itu untuk memanaskan tensi agar memengaruhi psikologi MU. Sebab, Tevez sebelumnya pemain MU. Tevez merasa dibuang oleh Alex Ferguson, meski dia memberi kontribusi besar kepada klub itu.

"Aku tak pernah mengerti maksud dari pembuatan poster itu. Apa intinya? Katakan kepadaku. Apakah ini untuk menyambut kedatanganku di Manchester City atau untuk membuat MU marah, tak ada yang tahu. Tak seorang pun pernah menjelaskan kepadaku," kata Tevez.

"Penting Anda tahu, aku tak punya kaitan apa pun dengan poster itu. Aku malah berharap poster itu tak usah dipertunjukkan di stadion kala MU datang. Aku menghormati semua klub yang pernah aku perkuat. Munculnya poster itu sama halnya tak menghormati lawan," tambahnya.

[drivemein]

Jelang City vs MU
Pertahanan Menguat, Mancio Mau Roo
-detiksport.com-



Manchester - Manchester City mendapat kabar baik seiring pulihnya beberapa pemain di sisi pertahanannya. Maka Roberto Mancini pun menantang Manchester United memainkan Wayne Rooney di Derby Manchester.

Wayner Bridge adalh pemain yang paling ditunggu kehadiran seiring kesembuhannya usai menjalani operasi hernia yang membuatnya absen di lima laga terakhir City. Bridge adalah kekuatan utama City di posisi bek kiri.

Selain Bridge, Stephen Ireland yang pulih dari cedera engkel dan lutut Patrick Vieira sudah sembuh. Baik Ireland dan Vieira adalah pemain yang berposisi sebagai gelandang bertahan atau jangkar. Menyusul ketiga pemain itu adalah bek kanan Pablo Zabaleta yang sudah terbebas dari skorsing dua laganya.

Kembalinya empat orang yang memiliki naluri bertahan itu membumbungkan optimisme Mancini dalam menyambut laga panas dan krusial kontra MU, Sabtu (16/4/2010). Dengan sistem permainan menyerang dan terbuka yang dianut kedua, laga tersebut berpotensi memunculkan banyak gol.

"Pablo Zabaleta akan kembali lagi setelah suspensi dua pertandingan dan kemungkinan Stephen Ireland, Patrick Vieira dan Wayne Bridge adalah berita yang sangat bagus untuk kami," ucap Mancini di ESPN.

"Saya sangat senang mereka bisa kembali berlatih dan kita lihat bagaimana permainan kami minggu ini. Berita baik pemain kami fit semua di saat memasuki fase krusial musim ini dengan banyaknya laga penting di depan," tambahnya.

Jika pilar pertahanan sudah membaik, Mancini lantas ingin menguji sekokoh apa nanti benteng yang dibangun para pemainnya. Maka itu ia pun mengharapkan Sir Alex Ferguson memainkan Rooney yang dikabarkan sudah fit dan bisa kembali bermain.

Hadirnya Rooney yang sudah mencetak 26 gol di Liga Inggris musim ini bisa jadi lawan sepadan bagi sisi defensif City yang dihuni pemain berkualitas. Laga pertama kedua tim di Old Trafford Oktober lalu berakhir dengan skor ketat 4-3 untuk tuan rumah.

"Saya pikir lebih baik jika Rooney bermain Sabtu nanti. Dia adalah pemain yang fantastis dan mempunyai musim yang hebat," sahut pria asal Italia itu di laman resmi klub.

"Dia akan berbahaya tentunya tapi United punya banyak pemain bagus di tim mereka, tapi kami pernah mengalahkan mereka di kandang sekali dan kami akan melakukannya lagi," tukas eks pelatih Inter Milan dan Lazio itu.

"Saya pikir ada baiknya jika kedua tim dalam kondisi full team dan tim yang bisa meraih tiga poin bisa berkata tim terbaiklah yang menang. Dan mungkin itu adalah kami," tutup Mancini.

[Hendy]

ada yang pernah liat foto tevez setengah MU setengah ManCity gak?
gw denger itu dipasang di citi of manchester stadium tuh...

[drivemein]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson: Wayne Rooney could play against Manchester City
-goal.com-



Scot reckons it's the first time City have a chance of 'achieving something'

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that striker Wayne Rooney could feature during the derby game against Manchester City on Saturday.

The former Everton forward has been having problems with an injured ankle since the Champions League game against Bayern Munich, when he aggravated the injury as his side bowed out of the European competition.

"He [Rooney] has done some work over the last couple of days and we will see how he is for tomorrow's game," said Ferguson.

The Scot also maintained that Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs have a slim chance of taking part in the derby date at the City of Manchester Stadium.

The veteran manager then touched upon the subject of media speculation linking Rooney with a possible move to Real Madrid. English tabloid The Sun has claimed that the White House is contemplating a swoop for the England striker (and his national team manager Fabio Capello) after bowing out of the Champions League and losing to Barcelona last weekend in the race for the Primera Division title.

It had been speculated that the mountain of debt accumulated by United's owners the Glazer family could force the club to sell their star striker. But Ferguson insisted otherwise.

"It is the silly season isn't it," he joked.

"It always happens at the end of the season. Wayne Rooney will still be here next year."

Meanwhile, Owen Hargreaves is expected to be given a look-in this season, with the midfielder possibly making his first appearance after some 18 months on the sidelines recovering from injury.

United have also bought youngsters Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling from Guadalajara and Fulham, respectively, to boost the squad next season.

"We have a reasonable structure here. There is nothing wrong with it," said Ferguson.

"We may look at one or two things, but nothing serious.

"It is important not to confuse us with others who have much more buying power. We do not need to worry about them.

"It was the same with Chelsea. We didn't bother ourselves when they were buying. We just try to concentrate on what we are doing."

United's cross-town rivals City are currently placed fourth in the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur - who play host to Chelsea on Saturday - also in the running to finish in the Champions League play-off spot.

And 'Fergie' paid a backhanded compliment to the club's arch-rivals, claiming that this is the first season since his arrival at Old Trafford that the Eastlands club are fighting for something significant.

"It is the most significant derby for a long time," said Ferguson.

"City and Spurs are trying to get into the Champions League for the first time in their history.

"It is the first time since I have been manager that we are facing City when they have a genuine chance of achieving something."

[drivemein]

Man City v Man Utd
-bbc.co.uk-

Barclays Premier League
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Saturday, 17 April 2010
Kick-off: 1245 BST Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, full match commentary on BBC Radio Manchester 95.1FM and DAB, Final Score, live on Sky Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge could make his comeback on Saturday after a five-match absence following a hernia operation.

Stephen Ireland and Patrick Vieira also hope to play after injuries, while Pablo Zabaleta is free from suspension.

Manchester United are confident that Wayne Rooney will have recovered from an ankle injury in time to play.

Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand remain doubts with respective hamstring and groin problems.

Manchester City

Doubtful: Bridge (hernia), Ireland (ankle), Vieira (knee)

Injured: M Johnson & Petrov (both knee), Lescott (hamstring)

Manchester United

Doubtful: Ferdinand (groin), Giggs (hamstring), Rooney (ankle)

Injured: Anderson (knee), Brown (metatarsal), Owen (hamstring)

MATCH PREVIEW

The noisy neighbour could be about to raise the decibel level. Manchester City are banging on the door of Champions League qualification and would love nothing more than to have the final say in extinguishing United's title chances.

Should they succeed, City will have proved more of a nuisance than Sir Alex Ferguson might have imagined when he derided them as a domestic irritant following United's 4-3 win in September.

It's always personal between these Manchester rivals. Just ask Carlos Tevez. The Argentinian felt undervalued by Ferguson at United but he has been the high-octane inspiration behind City's push for a top-four finish, as recognised by his nomination for PFA Player of the Year.

The favourite for that award is Wayne Rooney, whose 26 league goals and overall performances as a one-man wrecking ball give United reason to argue that Tevez has not been missed at Old Trafford. Except, that is, when Rooney has been injured.

United's failure to win in their last two games has coincided with the England forward's absence. Should United lose further ground to leaders Chelsea on Saturday, a record 19th league title will surely have to wait for at least another year.

As for City, they are a club in a hurry; it might not be long before they have something to shout about.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester United have won their last three league matches against Manchester City since a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in February 2008.

• However, City have won four of their last seven home league matches in this fixture - only Chelsea (five wins) have fared better against Sir Alex Ferguson's side in the same period.

• This is the 142nd Manchester league derby. United lead by 56 wins to 37, with 48 draws.

• Manchester City have lost five league matches this season, two fewer than United. It is 20 years since City ended the season with fewer top-flight defeats than their neighbours.

Manchester City

• City have won three successive matches, scoring 14 goals. Victory on Saturday would represent their best run under Roberto Mancini.

• They must win their remaining three fixtures at Eastlands to achieve a Premier League club record of 14 home victories in a season.

• Carlos Tevez has scored 48 Premier League goals, 19 of them for Manchester United. He has scored four goals in as many matches against United in all competitions.

• Shaun Wright-Phillips is poised to make his 250th Premier League appearance.

Manchester United

• Failure to win for a third successive league match would represent United's worst run of form since August 2007.

• The Red Devils have not conceded a goal in their last three Premier League away matches. They have the best defensive record in the division, conceding 27 goals in 34 games.

• It is six years since the club last won their final four matches of the season. In 2002-03 they beat Blackburn, Tottenham, Charlton and Everton on their way to the title.

• Wayne Rooney has scored 148 club goals.

• Edwin van der Sar will make his 150th Premier League appearance for United.

• Wes Brown has made 199 Premier League starts for United, while Michael Carrick's next league start will be his 100th for the club.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Manchester City


Tevez: 28 goals (22 league); Adebayor: 13 goals (13 league)

Manchester United


Rooney: 34 goals (26 league); Berbatov: 12 goals (12 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Bennett

Assistant referees: Michael Murphy & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Mike Jones

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Manchester City (W5-1 v Birmingham, h): Given; Onuoha, Kompany, Toure, Garrido, A Johnson (Cunningham 90), De Jong, Barry, Bellamy (Wright-Phillips 80), Tevez (Santa Cruz 87), Adebayor. Subs not used: Nielsen, Kay, Boyata, Ibrahim.

Manchester United (D0-0 v Blackburn, a): Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea (Evra 79), Valencia, Scholes, Giggs (Gibson 57), Nani, Berbatov, Macheda (Park 65). Subs not used: Kuszczak, J Evans, Fletcher, Obertan.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Man Utd 3-1 Man City (27 January 2010)

Manchester United scorers: Scholes 52, Carrick 71, Rooney 90+2

Manchester City scorer: Tevez 76