Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

Photo of the day Rooney’s birthday gift — Ferguson’s autobiography

LONDON: Manchester United team mates have clubbed together to buy Wayne Rooney a special present for his 28th birthday yesterday — former manager ’s autobiography which criticises the forward for being a slow learner with fitness problems. Not that the England and United multi-millionaire is too bothered what Ferguson thinks following the Scot’s retirement at the end of last season. His form since took over has soared, the goals have started flowing again, and he played another influential role as Manchester United beat 1-0 at Old Trafford to go top of Champions League Group A on Wednesday. A little more than 11 years after marking his arrival with a stunning goal for Everton against Arsenal while he was still only 16, Rooney now looks like a man whose time has come. According to reports in yesterday’s newspapers, United players thought the book would be the ideal birthday present for a man in his peak years after a slump in form last season, which he has explained by saying Ferguson played him out of position. After beating Sociedad on Wednesday, Rooney said he was pleased that Ferguson had set the record straight over claims that he had handed in a transfer request last season. “Thankfully he’s come back and corrected the story that I put a transfer request in and he’s gone back and proven that I haven’t,” Rooney told Sky Sports.

ASKED AWAY Marc Marquez (ESP/ Honda) races at the Moto Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, His comments came the day after Ferguson’s autobiography was Malaysia on October 12, 2013 —www.redbullcontentpool.com launched in which the Scot said the forward “asked away” rather than referring to any formal transfer request. “I haven’t seen him since he retired, I’m happy under the new management. I’m working to get results under David Moyes and his coaching staff so that’s the main thing for me. The other stuff doesn’t Ex-Real coaches Mourinho concern me,” Rooney added. Although he did not score on Wednesday, he played a major part in the only goal of the night which came when Sociedad defender and Pellegrini meet again Inigo Martinez diverted the ball into his own net after it had rebounded off the post from a Rooney shot. The England striker looked rejuvenated in a United side that dominated the match and LONDON: If their rivalry as coaches in Spain is anything to go Palace were crushed 4-1 at home by Fulham in another should have won by a far bigger margin. by, Jose Mourinho will emerge victorious, and possibly by a London derby on Monday and look all set for more capital Despite making a sluggish start to their Premier League title big margin, when his Chelsea side play Manuel Pellegrini’s punishment from Arsene Wenger’s in-form and free-scoring defence, United have looked solid in Europe, picking up seven points Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. side. from their opening three Group A fixtures and they put in an encour- Portuguese Mourinho succeeded Argentine Pellegrini as Liverpool could also move into top spot if they win, at aging display on Wednesday. Real Madrid coach in May 2010 and after Pellegrini re-surfaced home to mid-table West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal lose, Rooney linked well with Javier Hernandez in attack, the midfield as Malaga’s manager five months later, they faced each other although West Brom are on a good run, and apart from a looked solid with Shinji Kagawa showing glimpses of his better form seven times in and the Kings Cup in two and a half sea- penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup, are and Antonio Valencia shone on the right flank. Although Sociedad sons. unbeaten in their last six matches which includes a 2-1 win at created chances, the defence remained solid with Phil Jones and Jonny Evans working well in the central positions and Patrice Evra Mourinho emerged on top in five of their seven encoun- Manchester United. and Rafael causing problems out wide.—Reuters ters, including 7-0 and 6-2 La Liga drubbings, before they both The champions, who beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the left Spain for England at the end of last season. Champions League on Wednesday, a scoreline that barely The Premier League is a far more unpredictable competi- reflected their dominance, will be pleased the focus switches tion than La Liga and they will meet on Sunday with little to back to what they do on the field at home to Stoke City rather choose between them on current form. than the revelations from former manager Alex Ferguson’s lat- Chelsea are second on 17 points, City are fourth on 16, est autobiography. Ferguson’s thoughts on his 26 years as both have won their last two league matches by convincing manager made the front and back pages this week, but the scores and both won away in the Champions League this thoughts of his successor David Moyes are firmly focused on week with Chelsea beating Schalke 04 and City winning at making former United player ’ return to Old CSKA Moscow. Both teams have also been tipped as potential Trafford an unhappy one as the current Stoke boss. champions and both at the very least are targetting a top four United have made their porest start to a season for 24 years finish but City have the better recent record having won four and are eighth, eight points behind Arsenal with just one win and drawn one of their last five matches against Chelsea from their last four league games having let Southampton including last season’s Community Shield and FA Cup semi- steal a last-gasp equaliser for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last final victories at Wembley. week. Chelsea could end the weekend in top spot if they beat Moyes, given Ferguson’s full support this week, will be City and current league leaders Arsenal slip up. But Arsenal are hoping that Robin van Persie returns to action after missing making the short trip across London to Crystal Palace who the Real Sociedad game with toe and groin niggles. Stoke are have lost seven of their eight league matches and parted hovering just a point above the drop zone after scoring one company with manager Ian Holloway on Wednesday and so a goal and taking just two points from their last five league Palace win would constitute the biggest of the season. matches. Bad as that is, it is better than bottom-of-the-table Until they were beaten 2-1 by in the Sunderland’s recent run of six successive defeats but new Champions League on Tuesday, Arsenal had gone 12 games boss , whose first match in charge ended in a 4-0 unbeaten since losing their opening Premier League match to hammering at Swansea City last week, will be hoping for a Aston Villa in August. change of fortune on Sunday. Tomorrow’s match will be the first between them since Sunderland host arch-rivals Newcastle United in what is February 2005 and the Gunners have a doubt over midfielder bound to be a typically passionate Tyne-Tees derby, and a first Jack Wilshere who picked up an ankle knock against Borussia win of the season might just be the kick-start Sunderland MANCHESTER: Former Manchester United manager Alex on Tuesday. Palace have far bigger doubts over their ability to need to save a season that seems destined to end in relega- Ferguson’s new book ‘My Autobiography’ is displayed before stay in the Premier League after promotion last season. tion. —Reuters a signing event in a supermarket in Manchester. —AFP