Fergie Headache Over Derby Selection

Sir Alex Ferguson admits it will be hard to pick his Manchester United side to face neighbours City because everyone wants to be involved.

United are fifteen point ahead of  City going into Monday's clash at Old Trafford, and Ferguson is relishing the prospect of locking horns with their local rivals once again.
He faces a selection dilemma as there is so much enthusiasm within the squad to play against City, and recognises that he will have to consider carefully which players to rest.
"These are the games that everyone wants to be involved in, the derby games," Ferguson told Inside United.

Rafael Benitez Hoping To Manage a Top Team

Rafael Benitez says he will like to be employed by a top club next season but want to satisfy his thirst for silverware at Chelsea.

The Blues defeated  Manchester United on Monday to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals and play Rubin Kazan in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday in their third of six games in 16 days.
Benitez's appointment in November until the end of the season was prompted by the Champions League winners' group-stage elimination from the same tournament and a top-four Premier League place is imperative to return to the competition next term.
The Spaniard, an unpopular appointment due to his prior association with Liverpool, declined to look too far beyond winning the next game, but felt compelled to comment on his own future.
Benitez, who revealed earlier in the year that he will be leaving at the end of his spell in May, said: "If we can achieve trophies and finish in the top three, fantastic. Everybody will be happy. That is my aim at the moment."

Barcelona Receive Huge Messi Boost.

Lionel Messi could be fit for Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final second leg tie with PSG as his hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared.

Messi was substituted at half-time during the 2-2 draw at Parc des Princes with a hamstring problem but in a statement released at lunchtime confirmed the 25-year-old could still be part of the team for the  return leg at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.
Reports in Spain speculate Messi's injury will sideline him for seven to 10 days.

Hammers Olympic stadium New Tenant

West Ham have been officially confirmed as new tenants for the Olympic Stadium after a deal was finally agreed on Friday.

The 99-year lease was announced by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) along with details of the revamped stadium.

The Stratford venue will be transformed into a 54,000-seater stadium set to cost £150m, and the Hammers are expected to move in from August 2016.

Negotiations between the LLDC and West Ham have been long and tortuous since the club was named the preferred bidder in December, but with an agreement finally reached, West Ham have been given the right to use the stadium for all their matches under a 99-year deal, giving the club long-term security.

Ashley Williams Not Leaving This Year Says Agent

Ashley Williams is not looking to leave Swansea City, according to the player’s agent, although he did not rule out a transfer if a top club were to make a bid.

Williams, 28, has been linked with moves to Liverpool, led by former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers, and Arsenal in recent weeks after impressing in the top-flight over the last two seasons.

However, Williams’ representative, Jamie Moralee, said the Wales centre-back would not look to force an exit.

"What I can say is that my player has got no desire to leave Swansea City Football Club," Moralee told the dailies. "There have been stories linking Ash with clubs for the past few years, but his situation now is no different from his situation over the past few years.

"Ash has always remained a Swansea City player. He is happy there, his family are there with him and he is playing better than ever because Swansea have given him a platform.

"He has been captain for much of this season and he thrives on that responsibility.

"If he is drawing the attention of the big boys then that is a good thing, because it shows he is developing and Swansea are developing, but he has never knocked on the chairman's door and said he wants to leave and he has never handed in a transfer request."

Williams is under contract until 2015, but Moralee suggested he would be happy to consider a move to a club like Liverpool or Arsenal.

"If a club comes in and puts the money on the table, I am sure Ash and the Swansea chairman will have a conversation, but we are all pretty chilled and comfortable with the situation,” he said.

"There's nothing other than newspaper speculation at the moment and, as you know, that comes when people are playing well, but that's all it is.

“If one of the big four, five or six decide to target Ash and put the money down, then there will be a conversation, but it's quite early to even be suggesting this kind of talk because there are still quite a few games to be played before the end of the season."

Joe Allen To Miss The Rest Of The Season.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen will undergo surgery on a shoulder problem on Thursday which will see him miss the rest of the season.

The 23 year-old Liverpool and Wales Midfielder  withdrew from the Wales squad on Sunday because of the long-standing issue with his left shoulder, and the club then decided to bring forward plans for an operation.

Allen has had the problem for some time, but it began to get worse about five months ago and has now reached the point where corrective intervention is required.

"Joe Allen is due to have a left shoulder operation tomorrow morning in Liverpool and will be ready to return to football at the beginning of next season," first team doctor Zaf Iqbal told Liverpool's official website.

David Luiz interested In Brazilian Captaincy

Chelsea defender David Luiz has backed Thiago Silva to be handed the captaincy for Brazil's international friendly against Italy on Thursday but admits he would relish the opportunity to lead his country.

Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is believed to be eager to hand the responsibilities to either Luiz or Silva for the upcoming matches against Italy and Russia, as well as next month's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.

Luiz, 25, has asserted his position with theSelecao after a breakthrough season as both a midfielder and a defender for Chelsea, although he was quick to deflect praise onto his compatriot Silva.

"I do not know who it will be. I think both have to keep the spirit of leadership within the team. The most important thing is the team and all players have to try their best," Luiz said.

"Thiago Silva and I have a great friendship off the field too and I'm sure whoever is the captain will do the best for the team. I'm happy with his return, he deserves to be in the Brazil national team. He had some problems with injuries, these are the worst times for a football player, but now I'm happy for him."

Luiz has warned his side to be cautious of Italy's attacking threats, with AC Milan duo Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy expected to line up for the Azzurri.

Having played against former Manchester City striker Balotelli, Luiz believes the 22-year-old poses a significant threat for Brazil.

"I've had the opportunity to play against Balotelli. He is a great player and I hope he doesn't have good day against us," he said.

Although there will be no points on the line in the friendlies, Brazil midfielder Oscar believes it is an opportunity for Scolari's side to gather some confidence and momentum heading into June's Confederations Cup.

"It's a very important match, it's a preview of the Confederations Cup, because we will face them there. It is important we have a great match," Oscar said.

"I think all players have to be playing at a high level. This is what is happening to us here at Chelsea. The friendly is important for us to build our rapport. It will be good to face Russia and Italy to have great games and get confidence too."